Sony stayed in bed up to 11:00 am. He did not want any more confrontation with his mother. But this did not mean his mother would agree. She was not the type that gives up easily. He did win the first round of the battle. But the mother, all battles, was calling fast and furiously.
Winter wrestled Sony from his father when he was only five years old. Their dysfunctional marriage came to an end after many years of forbearance and soul searching. She was granted custodianship of her son together with property worth a fortune. And had hoped her son grows up to be the antithesis of her husband by admonishing, encouraging, controlling, pushing pulling, and even begging. While it lasted, she could see herself winning.
Sony is now in eleventh grade. He wants to be modeled, a father figure. He has questions that date back to his childhood days and cannot continue being a good mummy's boy without answers to those questions. Not anymore. He is also hungry and at the same time angry. Mark you, he'd gone without supper and dinner and slept under a couch. While his mother thought he was selfish, he thought it was about time he stood to be counted with men.
A man needs some degree of roughness. There should be a place in a man's character that suggests rebellion; deviance or even defiance.
Creativity is a direct result of rule-bending. So far, Sony has kept all the rules; rules he had not participated in their formulation. He got out of bed and looking out through his bedroom window, saw that both the vehicular traffic and human traffic were slowing down. Vegetable hawkers and bus touts were no longer shouting to attract customers.
The only entity that remained the same was the sun. He kept a sharp eye on all man's activity. Sometimes he hid behind the clouds. Other times he shined the whole day. At night he went for a walk beyond the horizon. But early in the morning, he was back. When a man lost his job, he was there. When he found a job, he was there. When you die, he is there and when you were born, he was there. Some say, he supports life.
At this time, the sun looked down on Sony as he contemplated his next move. He was indifferent, unchallenged, un-ignorable and everybody's taskmaster, Sony included. The sun kept time. He causes the wind to blow.
In the game park, a gust of wind curled upwards, gathered speed, picked a few particles of dust, and subsided. All the speed, the momentum, the effort ended. As fast as it started, it ended, coming from nothing to nothing. His mother also had an opportunity to observe this phenomenon. But the conclusion they both arrived at was not the same.
That's life.
The moon causes tides, not only in the sea but also in the hearts of love birds. The sun causes variation in air pressure, which, in turn, causes wind; wind discharges energy and energy results in mobility. The absence of energy, predisposes lethargy, repressed anger, and subsequently depression, resulting in a wish for death.
A dark wintry night is a frightful melancholic sight. A bright sunny day is a lively, vivacious and lovely day.
Sony was depressed. He left the bedroom and found his way to the kitchen where he was met by his mother, who kept tabs on him.
She said, "Son, please help yourself take a cup of tea as I prepare lunch."
"Good morning, mum," said Sony.
"Good morning, son. I am sorry. By the way, it's almost noon." She added quickly.
Sony said, "I am sorry too, mum, for my rudeness this morning."
She said, "It's okay, son. Eat your late breakfast first."
He told her that he had an appointment with Jose. He figured that jumping from a frying pan to the fire made some difference. A change is as good as a rest.
Winter did not attempt to have him change his mind and stay on for lunch.
She had tea with biscuits for him.
Sony hastily gulped his tea and left for Jose's house. This is how life will run its course.
Jose was just about to set his afternoon meal when Sony knocked at the door. Sony was one person that Jose would love to keep as a friend through eternity. In Sony, Jose saw a son. There was nothing about Sony that Jose did not like. If Jose was pleased to see Sony, he did not show this affection at that time. He had learned to control his emotions.
Even though Sony had sworn never to come back to this house, coming today is evidence that these two people liked each other. Being in their years of the psychosocial moratorium; one was in his teenage years, the other in - the forties, midlife, both sought certifications.
When one peerage carried results for medical examinations, the other carried results for academic examinations. They were peers by circumstance, not by age.
A special force pulled one to the other and vice versa. So, when Jose offered to share with Sony his afternoon meal, it was a matter of certification, approval, and validation of an already existing friendship that Sony accepted.
Jose asked, "When are you opening the school for the third term?"
Sony answered, "In a week" he added, "what's on your mind?"
Jose looked up at his youthful friend. He could see that Sony was bringing on an agile and spritely figure. With pimples, muscular curvature, and bass tone Sony was looking to be identified with men.
Jose answered, "It's quite some time since we spoke and you can be sure much has taken place."
Sony inquired, "What has taken place that I should know?"
Jose answered, "You can help yourself to as much food as you want."
Sony was uncomfortable. What did Jose mean? What was there between them yet to be uncovered? Sony's conscience was not at peace. This was one more aspect of the similarity between them. They were deeply conscientious.
Jose asked, "by the way, Sony, have you filled in your career form?"
Sony answered, "No, I haven't" adding, "there is a difference between a career path and a career choice."
Jose said, "There is a difference between a job and a career too!"
Sony asked, "So?"
José said, "You need career guidance to enable you to choose your best-suited livelihood or if you care, profession. In the same way, all of us need an internal self-audit to ascertain that we are on our desired path in life.
And again, when you invest your time, talents, and treasure in a profession, it shows your commitment to your future."
Sony did not want to go in that direction. He demonstrated this by clearing up the table. José did not stop him. It was an indication that their friendship was blossoming. When Sony was through with clearing, cleaning, and stacking, he walked over to him.
Jose said, "Sony, I am very thankful for your help today and all the other days" adding "I want to ask of you some favors."
Sony replied, "What is it?"
Jose said, "Firstly, help me find a lost key, secondly, send these video photos to the film studio for processing and thirdly, please accept a small gift for a job well done last time."
Before Sony could respond, someone knocked at the door, and Winter, Sony's mother, allowed herself into the room. She was the last person Jose had expected.
Sony had stopped thinking about his differences with her. He was surprised to see her here. She looked at Jose once and then turned to Sony. She repeated the sequence once more and excused herself. But Jose restrained her saying,
"I don't mind having you as a lunchtime guest."
Winter answered, "I had a feeling Sony was here and came to remind him that his birthday will be next week."
Jose noticed that Sony was not excited. He was dejected; downcast, embarrassed.
He went over to Sony and said, "But why Sony, why do you keep good news such as this to yourself? Aren't we friends?"
Without waiting for an answer, Jose proposed the venue for the event and the rest fell in place. Sony was to invite whoever he wished to attend the birthday bash at Jose's expense. Now Jose turned to Winter. He said, "How have you been since we last met?"
Winter answered, "So-so."
Jose cocked his head waiting for details. When none was provided, he casually announced that he had some work to do and Sony was here to help him. With nothing more to say, Winter excused herself as Sony and Jose got busy. Finally, the key was found and now Jose's next task was to specify Sony's itinerary. The third agenda was deferred, and since there was no other business, Jose and Sony parted company at around three.
Jose was always thinking about Ellaisaire.