Dysfunctional Family - Season 1 - Episode 19

Episode 4 years ago

Dysfunctional Family - Season 1 - Episode 19

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Amos was leaving his mother’s ward when he ran into his father. The two froze on their spots and were awkwardly silent as each didn’t know what to say to the other. They’d spoken on phone about an hour ago when Amos had found his unconscious mother laying in a water filled bathtub.
“S--t,” Amos had cussed after walking for a distance. He realised he’d left his wallet home and to think that that’s the main reason why he had gone back in the first place only to have his mother throw a beer bottle at him.

“She’s slowly losing it,” he mumbled while turning back to go get his wallet.
Upon arriving home, the silence hit him as odd so he decided to check on his mother in the bedroom. She wasn’t there.
“Mum?” he was heading towards the bathroom and noticed the door was ajar. He turned to leave and that’s when he saw her. “Mum!”
Within a flash, Amos was reaching for his mother in the bathtub and carried her out of the water. He took her drenched form to the bedroom where he lay her on the floor and performed mouth to mouth.

His heartbeat was escalating with each passing second as the fear of losing her gripped him tighter.

“Wake up, mum. Am sorry…didn’t mean any of the crap I said. Am nothing without you, mum!”

She didn’t budge but he didn’t lose hope either so he continued performing mouth to mouth until she burped water. That’s when he got relaxed enough to give his father a phone call.

The call almost went unanswered as Donald only picked up on the final ring.
“I am quite busy right now, Amos.”
“Really? That’s the first thing you say to your son whom you haven’t spoken with in weeks? No matter, are you too busy to hear mum attempted to commit suicide?”
“She what?” Donald all but shouted. “If this is a joke then it’s a really sick one, Amos.”

Amos couldn’t believe his ears. “You know how much I adore mum so I don’t appreciate you f-----g telling me that am joking! She attempted to commit suicide because she’s been wallowing in self pity ever since you left her. Us, if I may correct. Now if you care an ounce about her, you’ll come to UTH where am taking her right now.” He hang up without further adieu and rushed outside to book a taxi.

Now father and son stood before one another and stared at each other with so much bitterness..Donald was more on the receiving end of the bitterness than Amos.
“She’s now consciousness,” said Amos begrudgingly and walked out on his father, not giving him the chance to say anything.
Donald stepped into the ward and patiently waited for the doctor and nurse to leave so that he could be alone with Juliet.

“Suicide, like really? I have to say, I didn’t expect that from you.”

“Is that why you’re here? To tell me what you expect and don’t expect from me, Donald? If so then it’s better you just leave.”

Donald looked at her pitiful state and the last thing he could feel for her wasn’t pity. It was rage, disappointment and sheer embarrassment. “Weren’t you thinking about Amos when attempting to end your life? Alice too, what about her? And me?” “What use is thinking about people who have turned their backs on you?” She was emotional but managed to fight the tears. “You and Alice left..And then Amos indirectly threatened to leave me too so I figured I’m not needed in this world and as such am better off dead.”
“Wow!” Donald rubbed his hands against his face. “You’re one of the most selfish human beings I’ve come across in my entire life!”

“Say what?”
“You heard me right the first time so I needn’t repeat myself. Didn’t you stop for one second to think about why everyone is leaving you? You’re the one pushing them away, Juliet. Your nasty attitude is pushing them away. And instead of playing the victim card, I reckon you woman up and right your wrongs before it’s too late,” that being said, Donald pushed back his chair and stood in readiness to take his leave.

Juliet asked, “Where are you going?”
“Home..to my daughter whom I won’t allow to see you in this pitiful state.” After seeing the expectation in her eyes, he added, “What did you think? That I’ll come running into your arms because you almost ended your life?”

“Am hurting, Donald. Just come back home..please.”

“Who do you think isn’t hurting? Woman, let go of all that toxic hatred you harbour inside and then we can talk about me coming home. And you attempting to commit suicide just pushed me farther away cause it proves how desperate and manipulative you’re. Have a nice stay in the hospital, Juliet.”
How was it possible that her husband had turned that cold?

Juliet could all but wonder once he was gone and that’s the only time she let the tears flow. She wasn’t suicidal so it baffled her that she’d taken such a bold step..or was it sheer cowardice at work?

Donald found Amos leaning over his (Donald’s) car, waiting for him.

“I wanna have a word with you, Dad.”
“Move aside, let’s get in the car and talk.”
They got in the car and Amos who had no business beating around the bush said, “When are you coming home?”
“When your mother changes her wicked ways.”

“You might as well be waiting for Jesus’s coming then. Mum is who she is and I doubt you two being on separation will change a thing. Now I don’t know what caused the two of you to spiral apart but all I know is you’re handling the issue the wrong way. Home is not the same without you, Dad.”
Donald was having a hard time believing Amos was talking a bit of sense in like forever. But his mind was made up. “I need my space from your mother so am afraid nothing you say will change my mind..why don’t you save your strength and use it to reason with your mother? Am sure she’ll listen to you. Anything else you’d like to tell me?”

A hurt Amos shook his head. “No.” And got out of the car.

“You can come visit whenever you like,” Donald called as he put the car in drive. “Lubesha is coming for a holiday tomorrow!”

“No, thank you,” Amos curtly replied and headed towards the hospital entrance.


☆☆☆

She looked at her frail reflection in the mirror and almost burst into tears which she withheld because she didn’t want to ruin her make up. The heavy make up that she had spent over an hour applying.
She looked great in her yellow sleeveless dress even though it didn’t envelope nor compliment her curves as much as it had done only months ago.
I’ve lost so much weight, she thought while grabbing her handbag and sunglasses. She wasn’t sure about what she was doing but there’s no harm in trying, is there?
Juliet put on her sunglasses as soon as she was outside the house and got into the Chevrolet. Once at Donald’s workplace, she texted his friend David informing him she had arrived.

He replied with an ‘okay’ and was by the car within two minutes. She unlocked the doors and he entered.

“Hey. You look nice.”
“And you look cool in your lab coat too.”
“I heard the news,” David bid his time. “I am sorry.”

“We all have our fair share of problems, don’t we, David?”

“We sure do,” David half chuckled due to his embarrassment. “Not to be rude but I’m kinda busy so..how may I help you?”
It was time to pull the drama queen card.
Juliet immediately began choking on her own voice and tears were rushing down her cheeks in no time.

“Now I know I haven’t been of much help to you,” she sobbed. “but I believe you and I have had so many chats together that we now fall under- under the friend zone. It’s Donald, David. He’s tripping and am nothing without him..You being his friend and all, I figured you’d talk some sense into him..I really love him.”

“Is that all you wanted me to do, talk to him?”
She sniffed and nodded.
“Consider it done,” he offered her a reluctant smile which brightened her red eyes. David even went as far as giving her a hug. “I’ll talk to him, I promise.”
Over his shoulder, Juliet maliciously grinned. She wasn’t going to give up on Donald easily.
David and Donald were having energy drinks during their lunch break, which they rarely had, when David brought Juliet up.


He was saying, “Your wife paid me a visit earlier today, she looks truly sorry for whatever it is that she did to you, man. And I could tell she loves you to bits.”
“I already know that.”

“Then why don’t you just move back in with her?”

“Because she’s got this nasty attitude which is beginning to irritate my soul.”
He didn’t mean to laugh but still ended up laughing anyway. “Oh come on, Donald. You’ve been married to this woman for over a decade so I don’t get why her attitude should be an issue now.”
Donald took a drag of energy drink before sternly asking, “Do I meddle in your marital affairs, David?”

“Um..no.”
“Thank you..I’ll appreciate it if you quit meddling in mine as well.”
David said with a shrug, “There’s no need to get like that..I just thought us being friends meant I can give you advice and vice versa. Anyway, I’m sorry for meddling.”


☆☆☆

It was dark outside and so was the classroom. Two grade eleven pupils were whispering sweet nothings in one another’s ears while giggling from time to time.
“Have I told you to say you the best thing that’s happened to me in the sixteen years I’ve spent on earth?”

Tracy nibbled at his ear and seductively whispered. “Show me you mean those words,” and she locked lips with him.
“Yoh..take it easy,” Lubesha managed to say in between the kiss. “Don’t you think we’re kinda rushing into this?”
“It’s just sex, Lulu. We’ve been together for over a year now and I don’t see anything wrong with us showing each other how much we love one another. You’ve been shunning away from this for way too long now and come next term, we’ll be in our final year,” she groaned and then sighed. Besides, we’re closing schools in two days time and I believe this is the part in our relationship where we take this step.”

“You sure you wanna do this, Tracy? I don’t want you to think I used you or something.”

“Are you planning on dumping me after sleeping with me?”

“Hell no!”
“Good, then am more than ready.”
She locked lips with him again while her hands fumbled for his belt.

Lubesha had been countlessly teased of being a virgin by Sylvester and that night he decided he was going to change that fact. Not to be mistaken, he wasn’t doing it to rid himself of the taunts Sylvester regularly threw his way. He was doing it to please Tracy.

“Since we’ve taken this bold step,” they were cuddling on the cold floor, naked, and out of breath. “Why don’t you tell me why that bracelet is so important to you, Tracy?”
Tracy looked at the roofing sheets above and sighed. “You were amazing, by the way.”
Lubesha beamed. “Thanks. Tell me about the bracelet now and don’t try to change the topic like you just attempted to do.”

“Alright,” she exasperated and felt her eyes sting with tears. “I’ve never known my mother, all my life, Lulu. She died when I was still an infant. Dad tells me she had been so sick after giving birth to me and was in and out of the hospital..she eventually died.” “I am so sorry.”

“It’s fine. The bracelet is the only thing I have that reminds me of her. It was hers.”
“I- don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything..just kiss me.” Lubesha gladly did so and whispered. “I love you, Tracy Fulilwa.”

“I love you too, Lubesha Pondamali,” and she knew, he was the one for her.
Schools closed and Lubesha went to Lusaka to spend his holiday with his uncle and favourite cousin as he’d done for over a year.

As usual, the holiday was fun. Could it be mostly because it was Juliet free? Lubesha was glad he no longer had to endure her torture but was also saddened by the fact that his uncle wasn’t as happy as he had been when he was with Juliet.

Alice and Lubesha still got along very well and when schools opened, Lubesha went back to Hillcrest Technical School only to receive the most shocking news of his life.


The news was so shocking that it left his emotions and senses scattered all over the place.