The awakening of the howl to the unusual cold wind against Nyri's balcony made her shiver down to her spine. Nyri Quinncy could tell that the wet season had begun paving for the dry season, to emanate from the Sahara. She sat on her balcony watching her favourite season creep in with an uneven silent whisper, she could tell from the hushing of the weather, her courtyard would soon become windy and dusty.

Nyri thought to use this time to come up with a compelling excuse to convince her sisters... she didn't want to attend the family and friends dinner party. The Host was her father Pete Quinncy.

Any lie that'll sound true to the ear was her best option. She hated crowds and occasions and definitely despised the fact that she is forced to do what they wanted, always acting in her sisters shadow... she had little role to play in dictating her personal life... She was a grown woman capable of making her own decisions, but someone would have to scream it to her Family's hearing.

Nyri knew herself well enough and how much of her dreams and accomplishment had come to be, but deeply, it all seemed empty, if only her sisters would see. Being twenty-three and her family still saw her as twelve was hurting. She wished she could let her opinion known to her everyone but it would appear defying... She knew this because she had tried before and it didn't turn out well, it just painted her saucy and ungrateful in the mist of everyone else.

Nyri Quinncy, the youngest of three stately charismatic ladies whom uphold themselves with a cautionary refinement... She was the favourite daughter of Victoria Quinncy a tall slender woman with a heart shaped face and an enchanting smile that always lightens Neriah's lousy moods. And Pete Quinncy, a professor whom specialised in the nature of biotic fossils, a determined archaeologist in his late sixties, with his tall slender frame and his grey spongy hair, dark eyes, with a slight hunch due to aging. He still had the good look he had in his late youth.

Victoria had witnessed a drastic scene. she was found in the mist of a shoot out on her way back from an evening concert. she watched lives go by like nothing. It became difficult to dismiss the scene that came repeatedly to her sleep.

Nyri spent most of her time learning to read with Victoria She was twelve when she learnt of what was happening. It was difficult to let go of her mother's arm when she leant that Victoria was to be flown out for medical attention due to her pressure increasing and unending illusions...

She'd skip school to spend more time with her____ It was more heart breaking when she learnt that Victoria needed time alone to compress the nightmares she had been having. To get better, she would have to see things from a different perspective and shear thought with someone that'll probably help her get better.

Spending her earlyteen years without her mother, she focused her time praying for her to get well soon and come back home, which was almost every Childs prayer for a sick mother... Victoria never showed, Neriah decided to shut everyone out, She spent most of her days locked up in Pete's library. It became difficult to freely rapport with her siblings especially her eldest sister. She stopped socializing with everyone in the family... except Fred her cousin whom had his little tricks of pulling her out of her shell to go hiking.

Roy Kohath stared continuously at the white envelope on his desk, pondering on what was inside, probably an invitation to another wedding. He wondered why his mother would go through the stress of having it sent to him at the office and not wait for him to arrive home. Unless it was that important and couldn't wait, but what could be so important, he thought while opening the envelope.

It was an invitation obviously, but to a family and friends dinner party... not so important to him but very important to his mother for her to get him an invite. He looked at his schedule and decided to make it work for her. He needed a little break from work anyway and the party would take his mind off the rig for a while. He cleared his desk and drove home.

The drive home was quick and short. When he arrived, he noticed the dinner table was arranged with meals for more than ten persons, Roy saw his mother beaming at him and asked her

"Are we expecting guests mother? I thought it's just us"

"us" referring to himself and his parents. His mother smiled and said

"I have prepared everything that you like, I know how stressed you have been this week"

"It looks great" he replied. "Let me go freshen up, I'll be right down" with that, he excused himself and went to his room.

The meal wasn't a silent one, Richard asked him questions concerning his meetings with foreign investors interested in their company.

"has the deal on the refinery prototype been engrossed?"

"Not yet father, still working on it" he replied back

"How about the crude oil well, you wanted to start drilling by next month?" His father asked again

"Can't disclose anything yet" he said, getting a little irritated by his father's questions.

"But it's coming up" he added.

Roy looked over to his mother and noticed she was lost in her thoughts, he figured, or else she would have been rambling on and on and not allow him and his father talk about business during a family dinner.

"Mother are you alright? You seem to be quiescent?" he asked her. "Well I've just been thinking Roy" she said

"About you" she continued

"What about?" He asked,

" Well you know your not getting any younger and well" She paused

"I just want to see my grand children and I want a daughter-in-law" she continued. "I just want you to have a life"

"I have a life mother"he cuts in

"Well something outside of work!" she yelled, trying to defend herself

"I am feeling too lonely in this house, don't ask about your father, he has tried to make it up, you did when I had you, but there's still lots of room for a daughter-in-law and grand children... They will fill the void in my heart".

Roy was out of word after hearing this. He calmed down and tried speaking to his mother again

" I know you're worried about me mother but you don't have to, I am just twenty nine and who says you are old, you're still very young you're just fifty"

"And who said fifty's a young age?" She cut in

"My patience is getting very thin Roy, either you get a wife or we'll get one for you" she said moving her pointed finger between her and his father. Her heart ached as she said this, she never thought it would get to that but she meant every word she just said.

Roy gave his father a "are you in, on this look" but the older man showed no emotion, just listened to what they both said. He turned his gaze back to his mother, she looked upset and her eyes were teary. Roy apologized and knew there was nothing more to say and continued with his meal, glad he hadn't lost his appetite.

After the meal, Roy thought of his mother and decided they both had a lot to think about; rather than going to his room, decided to go for a drive to no where in certain. He walked over to the fire place and found his mother by the fire board

"I'll be going out for a drive" he calmly said.

"The meal was great by the way. Thank you" he added taking his leave.

"Roy" she called out too, walking hastily towards him.

She took one of his hands with hers and lead him to the couch in the room to sit. With her hands still on his, she pressed it against her chest,

"At least promise me you'll make an effort, I know you are all grown up and you have your work to think about but please..." she cried

"Make out time to do this Roy" she begged with tears in her eyes.

Roy not liking the sight of his mother in tears promised her

"All right mother, I promise I'll get a lady, it would take a while but it will be under my own terms" he said

"And don't try to push me or push any lady into me okay? He added.

His mother feeling a bit disgusted that he's addressing the issue like its another one of his business deal, but was glad that he promised to try. She knew her son always keept to his word.

"Well that's okay Roy" she said "And please try and work with your heart this time and not your head okay, I know you are smart" she added.

"Well thank you mother" with that he kissed her and left.

***