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The duty of the only child is more than you can imagine. If it were that I was the only child by accident, then I would've struggled with all of my heart and maybe all I did would've been spiced up with smiles from the fact that I do what I want plus what my parent required from the only child. But me being the only child was their doing and it was on purpose, nothing hurt than knowing that what they did to me was on purpose. I lived my life with devices as my best friend and although they thought they were paying much attention on me, they were actually looking after themselves.
Well, I've grown up. Each day I grow to forgive them and I found the peace in being alone. So I grew up to find more comfortable and interesting strategies in being on my own, and I can never call it loneliness. The peace I get from my alarm each day, my morning prayers alone with me pouring my heart to God, my drive to work with a beautiful music or voice from the radio, and me finally at work, listening attentively to my receptionist, working on something new or having a good argument and mind pouring activity with my employees, and although I got many negations from them, I was their boss, whatever I said stood and if it failed or it turned out a success, I didn't mind taking the credit. Well I must appreciate my parent, however they trained me helped me become a man with wide, exceptional imaginations. I was too engrossed in my work and the future of my company that women were never my thing. Ella had told me in secondary school that I was very cute.
"But you're weird" she had added in a pout. "But I like you anyway"
As much as I liked her first comment, the second had spoilt her third sentence. I thought I was unique not weird.
"I think you're weird too" I told her and her face gave out as output a confused frown. "And I don't like you"
So many people heard me and my fame spread, and girls backed off and I was cool with that. In the university I held to my pastor's advice, I stood out. Standing out was my profession anyway but I put in more effort at the university. I was always in the library or at the cafeteria. I avoided friends that were not like me and I graduated with a first class result in Computer science. So you can imagine. With my life style, I'm supposed to be shy but I'm not. I think I'm a perfectionist, I want things exactly my way and when I don't, I end up doing it myself. Well my life was bright and I was living for myself until my mother showed up in my office on my thirty fourth birthday morning. She didn't wait for my receptionist to inform me she was around, she just pushed my office's door open and barged in like I owed her something. I stood up as a form of respect although it was out of enthusiasm.
"Happy birthday sweet" she said with opened arms then she threw her bag on my table and a small wrapped box. She reached for me and hugged me.
"Thank you" I said after she had released me from her hug. I as well organised my shirt she had rumpled then I pushed my glasses up the bridge of my nose for it to settle there, then i took my seat and expected her to do the same—although opposite me. My mother liked to talk and I am sure it is a normal duty for every woman to talk excess. I was patient to hear from her, if I complained, I'd just be digging a pit of sermon for myself.
"Here is your present" she said as she stretched out the small box to me. "Open it" with that she sat down and crossed her leg. Her intense look at me made me sense something strange, I knew my mother was in for trouble. "Go on, why are you looking at me? Open it"
I opened it, and what I saw made me look back at her in confusion. It was a ring and a piece of paper.
"Thank you" I said sarcastically. "But I don't..."
"Read the note" she urged with a relaxed expression on her face.
"Get married" I read
"Yes. Get married" she repeated then she sat up straight and held my hand. "This is the best gift I have ever given you. I and your father have been worried. We didn't even know how to approach the situation. I had to take the bold step, we are worried"
"So you gave me a ring and a piece of paper as a..." I tried saying with my eyes analysing the two things.
"Yes. It's too big for words. With that ring you will engage the lady. I know you have someone" she said in an anticipating smile. "What are you waiting for? Men wait to be rich, you have the money and you're not getting any younger you know right?"
"mommy please." I pleaded. I couldn't believe that was her issue when I had a lot of things on my Head.
"Please what?" She asked in shock, with narrowed brows. "Engage the lady this week and bring her to us. We've waited for so long"
"Mommy there is no lady" I said and it seemed like I slapped her. Her face turned red for a while then it straightened, I knew she viewed my words in another dimension.
"I know it's not easy to keep a woman. I mean we women have a lot of problems, we want the perfect man and everything but it's up to you to tell her no man is perfect. Then say some promising words to her. That was what your father did to win me" she blushed. "So you know, I understand. But you can win her heart back with this ring"
I made the ring roll to my mother on the the table then I turned to my laptop and positioned my glasses well in front of my eyes. The silent treatment I gave made my mother confused, I could see her confused face partially. "What is it? Did the both of you break up? Did she break your heart? Don't give up on marriage? Maybe she was never God's will for you, you'd find the right one..."
"Mommy there was never anyone" I said in frustration. The thought of a common talk active woman breaking my heart vexed me. "I can live without a woman. I've been living..."
"Don't you even think of it" she barked. "What are you thinking?"
The rest of the morning and her presence was a sermon. She moved from how I'd be lonely to how I'd miss every good thing then to how I won't have children and to the main point which was how much she needed a grand child.
"You are our only child. Where else would we get a grand child from if not from your loins?"
"So that is it? This is the real reason"
"And I always wanted a female child but because I and your father agreed on one child, I lost the chances of having one but if you get married, your wife would be like my daughter"
I sighed roughly.
"Above all, I don't want you to be lonely. Forget the daughter talk and everything. I need you to have a life partner"
"I've heard you" I assured. "Bye mom, have a nice day"
"So...you'd find a woman this week?" She asked with wide eyes but I frowned in shock.
"How am I supposed to do that?" I asked in confusion and was surprised that her response was a smile. "I can start searching next year" I muttered.
"God forbid" she rejected. "That is why you have me. Relax, I will search for you. I have nothing to do, I'm idle. Why would I bring up an idea if I have no solution. Before your thirty fifth birthday, this whole issue will be settled" she assured.
I was not sure of everything my mother introduced that day but one thing I was sure of was that I could always find a way out of every situation I didn't want. I so much believed in my self. It was good that my mother did not bother me for a long time after our discussion, I assumed she was busy searching for the perfect woman for her son, so I didn't bother. My father did not leave himself out of it, he made out time to meet with me, that week was like the most ridiculous week of my life. I had my parent's trimming up my work and personal time, I couldn't breath, they refused to give me space. With time, my Saturdays were dedicated to my mother and one woman or the other. It took her about a month before she introduced the first woman to me. I couldn't keep her name but I could not forget the fact that she stood up and left I and my mother when she heard me say I was not interested in her.
"Femi!" My mother shouted with watery eyes when the woman left. "What is wrong with you? Do you know you hurt her?"
"Mommy I'm sorry but I don't like her. She looks like a prostitute, with the too much lipstick only God knows what she is covering"
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