“Big bro come and see something.” My kid sis ran to me holding a paper.
What's it? I questioned her trying to keep attention on my washing.
But you know I can't hold a paper now because my hands are wet except if you want me to destroy it.
Just take a look at this. Her persistence made me remove my hands from the water. I cleaned my hands with some of the clothes I haven't put in the water.
My eyes could not believe the papers, it was almost a million dollar business plan. Where did you find this? My mouth couldn't close as I flipped pages, my eyes widely focused on the paper.
“I saw it in Dad's bedroom when I was cleaning the room,” She replied.
But how could this be possible? When we even struggle to feed, could it be that this man has been punishing us or he just put something on paper trying to exercise the level of his faith? We all laughed at that statement.
Let's just believe he is doing it with the hope that It might come true because you and I know very well that even the last time we bought food stuff it was Aunty Tina that gave us money to get those food stuff, So I wonder where he will get such an amount to kick off such a huge business plan.
So, we assumed it was just an act of idleness because Dad retired from his work with barely nothing to even keep the family running I wonder how he wouldn't even plan for the future but yet he was giving people money even when it's not necessary and yet his immediate family are the ones bearing the cross now.
I just took a deep breath as I handed over the paper to my sister.
“Please take it back to where you got it from.”
“If he had such a great plan he would have saved a lot of money instead of languishing on things not necessarily important.”
Let's just hope he has got some savings somewhere that no one knows about.
I mumbled words when I saw that stuff, not wanting to believe it but then a part of my heart was excited that at least he has got a great plan that can redeem the wasted money and time.
Not long after the whole drama, Dad walked into the house with a polythene bag filled with fresh maize he harvested from the farm that has been his office since he retired.
He has the zeal to make farming a big one but his zeal is limited by strength and finance.
He can't use his strength to do it as he already has run out of strength his old age has taken the better part of him, the only thing that would have helped him achieve that is only if he had enough resources or should I say capital to hire some machineries to make it happen but unfortunately the money is not there.
Two things are lacking: physical strength and financial strength.
He sat on a bench with his shaggy clothes, he was looking tired when his voice echoed Benjamin please get me a cup of water. I turned my head to look at him once more, I just smiled and continued what I was doing.
Benjamin brought the water and sat close to him. I knew he was about to ask for something from my dad.
Daddy, please I need money… I don't have money to give to you please!!! right before he could even complete the statement my dad replied to him.
“All you do is always ask for money, are you not in this country or are you not seeing the way the economy is bad please just allow me to rest. I have had a long day on the farm today, please get me some water to bathe.”
If some small amount of money is difficult to get, how then will this man fund a million business plan?
Benjamin's face could already tell that he is angry but I called him and regardless of what the money will be used for I promised to give it to him since I used to get some little money from my home lesson.
But then we watched closely at our Dad to see how the miracle would happen.
Days pass, weeks, months and when we were about to count it to be a year from the day we discover that papers boom the business was set up.
How he managed to do it we never knew since he refused to disclose his secrets to anyone.
But my problem is why will he choose to keep the whole house in such a state when he has something great coming his way?
All we imagined came into existence within just a month of establishing the business but then my sister could not keep it to herself.
One evening while we were eating our dinner she asked Please Dad, where did you store up such an amount of money without the knowledge of anyone and how were you feeling when you kept us in the condition we were in before you decided to surprise everyone?
My Dad could not say a word as the last statement got his heart.
All he could say was “ I am sorry that you all have to pass through all these just so I could achieve this dream”.
My Sister couldn't keep it anymore her anger rose and with tears rolling down her eyes she mentioned the statement without any remorse “Dad you are wicked”
Then she left the table for us to finish the food even though at that point no one was able to take even a sip of water since the atmosphere had been tense and everyone at that moment had lost appetite.
I could feel her pain because there are days we have to go without food, it really hurts. How will you have such a plan and not carry the family along?
Dad pleaded then he decided to tell us how it was a grant from the government.
He was ashamed that he retired without thinking what the future will be like, he Only came to realize when he had already retired. So all he wanted to do is pay for the lost time.
All the strange movements, strange calls, and all hidden agendas are just to make sure he gets the family into a comfortable place.
But I have one question for you. My sister came back from the room where she had been listening to all my Dad was saying.
We all wheeled our eyes to her position as we anticipated the question.
What's the guarantee that you will manage this business properly and make sure we never pass through what we have been passing through as a result of your mismanagement in the whole of 35 years of service as a civil servant?
That question struck everyone’s heart but then the reply came from my dad.
“The future will tell that”
Please try to make yourself very comfortable and henceforth all needs will be met in the house.
Just call this a new leave, he added as he opened his arms for my sister to come into. Her face brightened up a bit as she ran into his arms.
And Indeed it was a new leave for the whole family.
