"You're the most dumbest boy I've ever known, get out of my sight dummy"stepfather yelled. Just few months after he got wed to my mother, Sir Lucas has unveiled how cruel he was to me. Whenever mother is away for work, Sir Lucas would scold and yell at me.

Despite being in my fourth year in the university, I felt belittle by his harsh words. I thought to myself just a small mistake and I've already been labeled a dummy. What's his definition of dummy I wonder. 

For a while now, I have kept it all secret from mom, but tonight I will tell her all about Sir Lucas's intense harshness towards me. 

"I'm home, Nicholas!" his mother, Emily called out softly. 

"Nicholas rushed out of his room hearing his mom's voice. Welcome back mom, you look exhausted, how was your day at work? He asked.

"It was fine sweetie," Emily replied. "Could you help me take these things to the kitchen while I go take a shower."

Right away mother, Nicholas said. 

"Mother look exhausted perhaps I should go prepare dinner." Nicholas thought to himself. 

On his way to the kitchen, Just as he headed to the kitchen, he heard a knock on the door. Nicholas went to see who it was, It was his best friend Benjamin. Come in, come on in dude !

Benjamin asked, "Did I come on time?" 

"Yes you did, only you came a bit early." Nicholas replied with a wicked face smiling. 

I was about preparing dinner. Come lend a hand, knowing full well how lazy Benjamin was. 

"I can go and come back when you are done, I'm here to eat not to help prepare it" Benjamin said with a big laugh on his face . 

Nicholas laughed. "You will never change."

Nicholas and Benjamin went on to the kitchen, both chatting and laughing.

What are you boys laughing at? Emily interrupted. 

"Benjamin was just telling me about a scenario that occurred earlier today," Nicholas replied. 

Evening Mrs Emily, Benjamin greeted Nicholas mother. How was your day at work? Ma ! 

"It was fine my dear," Emily replied. 

You're both preparing dinner, let me help out as well. 

Benjamin quickly said, "we have got everything under control here Ma, moreover you look exhausted. So it's best you retire to the living room and rest while we take care of the cooking."

"Yes mother, go and wait in the living room,"

Nicholas supported. 

Nicholas and Benjamin went on chatting and laughing while preparing the meal and in no time the meal was ready. Nicholas went on set the table and saw mother dozing off already. Nicholas gently woke her, saying, "Mom, dinner's ready." 

"I was starting to fall asleep, today was a very stressful day" Emily said. Emily stood up from living room to the dining table and sat.

The three of them sat down at the dining table together.

"Would Sir Lucas be joining us tonight?"Nicholas asked his mom.

Emily replied, "he's running late, we can't wait for him. 

Emily said a prayer and they're all started eating. After dinner, Emily stood up, smiled, and said, "You boys, good night. Don't turn the television volume too loud, okay?"

She then headed to her room, leaving Nicholas and Benjamin to their evening.

Nicholas and Benjamin cleared the table, afterwards played game untill the night wore almost off. They both slept in the living room on the couch. 

Lucas came back home in the morning, "Look at this two boys," he thought to himself. Always sleeping carelessly. He crept through the living room, his footsteps muffled by the soft carpet. He was careful not make a sound, not wanting to disturb the stillness of the morning. As he got to his door, he pushed open the door, he was surprised to see Emily, his wife, wide awake and busily preparing for work. She was standing in-front of the dresser.

Emily was 9-to- 5 worker . She said, "Welcome back honey, you look exhausted". Let me finish up my make up and I'll make you some coffee. 

"You're going out this early, why?" Lucas asked.

He added rudely, "the make-up is more important than making me coffee." I want the coffee now ! He yelled softly.

Emily replied, "Yeah I've got an appointment with a client this morning and I don't want to be late. Then She left the make-up and went downstairs to make the coffee. She got to the living room and woke up Nicholas and Benjamin saying gently, you both will be late for work if you don't get up now. 

Nicholas woke up and followed his mother into the kitchen. As she was preparing to make the coffee, he said, "There's something I want to talk to you about mother."

"Is it about school or your job? Emily asked. 

Nicholas hesitated before responding, "It's about Sir Lucas and how he treats me when you're not around.

Emily sigh deeply, "I know he can be tough a-times but he's a very nice man". 

Nicholas was about to protest, Emily quickly said, "I'm running late for work, we should continue this discussion when I'm back".

"Okay mother," Nicholas replied sadly. 

Emily made four cups of coffee, these two are for you and Benjamin, take it to him. Nicholas headed to the living room where he found Benjamin still sleeping on the couch. He woke him up and handed him a cup of coffee. 

As Emily left to her room. Benjamin saw her and greeted, "good morning Mrs Emily, hope you slept well and hope you enjoyed the meal I prepared last night?"

"You what !" Nicholas said with a smiling face.

Emily replied with a laugh, " Good morning Benjamin, yes, I did. The meal was fantastic."

You both go and prepare for work so you won't be late. 

Nicholas and Benjamin chimed in unison, we'll get ready for work now, Ma."

Emily went back to her room and hand Lucas a cup of coffee. 

"What took you so long?" Lucas said unappreciatively. 

Emily apologized and continued her make-up. "When she finished, she said, I'm done , Off to work." 

Lucas replied with a strange expression , "have a nice day, Emily."

As Emily left, she thought to herself, "that's weird - Lucas called me by my name. I know Nicholas was telling the truth, but i hope Lucas changes."

Benjamin took a bath at Nicholas place but was still wearing his old cloths from the previous day . Nicholas, who was already dressed, asked "you changing those clothes, right?"

"Hell Yeah ! I am" Benjamin replied loudly. 

Benjamin added, "And you need to follow me home so mother won't be curios as to where I slept. They both headed to Benjamin's place and found his mother setting the table for breakfast. 

"Morning mother," Benjamin said with a happy expression. "Where you did you sleep last night?" She asked. 

I slept at Nicholas house, Benjamin replied 

"Good morning Mrs Abigail" Nicholas greeted. 

"Morning my son how are you?" She replied. 

"I'm fine thank you" Nicholas replied.

Abigail invited them to eat, "Come, boys! breakfast is ready." 

Benjamin excused himself, " I need to change my cloth; I will be out in a minute," and rushed to his room.

Nicholas sat and started eating with Benjamin's mother. A few minutes later, Benjamin joined them. 

After finishing breakfast, Benjamin said to his mother, "we're off to work, Ma."

Nicholas bid farewell, "Bye, Mrs Abigail."

Benjamin's mother replied, "you both better behave yourselves. Bye!"