Just the other day, Dad did his normal trip for official duties to the state where I school, I went to the office to see him and we strolled to a nearby restaurant where we ate, and he gave me some money to go buy some stuff afterwards. It's not the first time I'm having these experiences with him. But seriously speaking no matter how long we've been doing this now, it just seems so odd.
See me asking myself if it's the iron man I use to know haha.
If you grew up in a home where your parents handled you with an iron hand you'll sure understand what I mean. My Dad was the no nonsense type. you don't dare to misbehave or make silly mistakes around him.
Those days, ones we hear the sound of the horn in the gate which means Dad is back from work, you just clean your body quickly, run inside to the palor and fix your eyes on the textbook you've kept standby on the table as though you've been reading all day.
I don't know if other children had similar experience growing up as me and my siblings, but I know growing up as an African child, especially in this part of Africa where I come from it's regarded as an offense for you to talk back at your parents when they are quarrelling you, talk more of talking back rudely at them or even daring to shout at them ahhh, hehehe.
I could still remember clearly I was in junior school then, JSS 3 to be precise. I don't know if it's the youthful exorbitance or the boldness I've began to develop from being a school prefect that betrayed me that day, but it happened so quickly that I didn't know when the words left my mouth.
Mum was talking to me about how my younger siblings were always complaining of me beating them both in her presence and in her absence.
I think I replied her with a popular pidgin: them no dey ever hear word!
Then she asked the popular question: what of you, you sef dey ever hear word ?
Then I shouted I'm not going to take any nonsense from anybody in this house!! While turning to face the door to walk inside the house, only to go and jam my Dad the iron Man just in front of the door. He seems to have been listening to the flow of conversation between me and my Mum. Only looking at his face I knew I was in deep pot of soup, hehe. I immediately said I'm sorry sir even before he said anything to me. But sincerely speaking, the no nonsense thing I just said was referring to my siblings, but this time I know I wouldn't have any opportunity to explain. He then softly asked me as his manner is and with his deep voice Did you just shout at my wife ??
Already I knew I was in for it that day. And one thing about my Dad is that he likes you answering his questions. Even if they are rhetorical questions hehe. So immediately I said no Sir. Then he asked further what did you tell her just now ? I replied with exactly what I told her because I knew I would be worsening the situation if I told any lie. But the truth can't save me at this point. I knew I'll surely receive some lashes of cain.
He ordered me to go inside his room and locked the door, just me and him inside the room. My mum and other siblings were outside in front of the door, Mum was already begging him to take it easy on me as she knew what he was going to do.
Inside the room he kept shouting how dare you shout at my wife ? While he landed strokes of cain all over my body. At that point all I could say was I'm sorry Sir. But I kept wondering why he's calling her my wife as if she were not my mother too.
Seeing myself now geasting and chatting with my Dad while we make plans and go to places together always brings back memories of those times he would beat you to stupor if you acted stupid or silly around him. I and my siblings still call him Iron Man haha.
Long story short, I learnt my lesson in a sad way, in an African home, don't ever lose your temper any how. And don't shout at your Mum,also especially, don't ever try it in front of your Dad haha.
