“THE WEEKEND”
By Sokes Naths Allamogu
EPISODE ONE
MONDAY 7:10 PM
“Hey, fellas! I’m heading home,” Adewale announced as he grabbed his car keys.
“Come on, it’s only 7 pm, Wale,” Max exclaimed, visibly surprised at Adewale’s early departure. Weekdays typically found them leaving the bar around 10 pm, extending to 12 am on weekends.
“I’m a family man; I need to get back to my kids before bedtime,” Adewale explained, draining his cup. “Starting now, I’ll hangout with you guys only three times a week and every other weekend.”
“Haha!” Victor burst into laughter. “What’s the deal? Does showing up here every day make you irresponsible?”
“The only irresponsible one here is you,” Adewale retorted, turning his attention to Victor.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Victor snapped, his anger rising.
“Come on, guys, let’s not start this,” Max pleaded.
“Where’s our money, Victor? We trusted you, and you guaranteed the business was legitimate,” Adewale questioned, his frustration evident.
“Wow! I thought we were past that. It was a bad investment,” Victor defended himself.
“We all agreed to let it go and bear the loss,” Max attempted to calm Adewale, while Isaac observed the tension, wondering why Adewale seemed on edge tonight.
“But this loudmouth buys a car just a month after losing our money,” Adewale accused.
“What are you implying? Are you calling me a thief?” Victor stood up angrily.
“Hey, easy, guys,” Max intervened, trying to diffuse the tension.
“I bought that car with my own money,” Victor insisted.
“Which money? Last I checked, you were as broke,” Adewale countered.
“Oh, you thought I’d never return from that fall?”
“Can you guys sit down? You’re causing a scene,” Isaac finally spoke up.
Both men reluctantly sat, and a sudden silence fell among them, though Adewale glared at Victor.
“What’s happening, Adewale?” Isaac inquired.
Adewale sighed and shifted his gaze from Victor to fixate on the empty air. “Eugenia was bullied in school for an entire term, and I wasn’t aware of it.”
“Oh,” was all Isaac could muster, while Max and Victor exchanged concerned glances.
“My sister-in-law came around and noticed Eugenia was always sad when going to school. She engaged with her, and Eugenia opened up to her. Can you imagine? When I asked her why she didn’t come to me, she said I’m not always at home, and she only gets to see me on Sundays during lunch.” Adewale sighed, dropping his head. “It dawned on me that I haven’t been spending quality time with my kids. All she said was true. I don’t help with their homework, I don’t drop or pick them up from school, I’m not there to read bedtime stories, and I don’t get to see them throughout the week. I spend more time with you guys than with my family.โ
He signed and continues, โI work hard, thinking I’m providing them with a good life. There’s so much I don’t know about my kids, like their favourite color, food, and their best friends. I’ve left all the parenting to my wife. Now I understand why she is unhappy and nags all the time.”
Adewale looked from one friend to the other, their eyes were glued to him. “I hanged out with you guys every night, reveling in my selfishness while my daughter goes to bed in tears, mocked and called FAT in school every day.” Adewale stood up, pointing angrily at his friends. “You all don’t have a family to return to, so I’m going home.” He left without saying goodnight, and no one tried to stop him, just watched him leave in silence.
“Wow! That’s sad, poor Eugenia. I guess there’s more to parenting than just providing for the family,” Isaac sighed as he returned to his drink.
“And there’s also more sacrifice and responsibility in marriage than in a relationship,” Victor remarked, crossing his arms on his chest. “So, you have to choose wisely, either to be married or remain single. As for me, single all the way.”
Isaac ignored Victor and turned to Max, who was quiet and lost in thought. “This is a lesson for us, not to make the same mistake as Adewale.”
“Well, that applies to both of you,” Victor pointed at Max and Isaac. “I’m not planning to settle down, let alone have kids.”
“That’s sounds self-centered and immature,” Isaac retorted, irritated by Victor’s choice of words.
“No, life is a choice, and I choose how I want to live it,” Victor maintained.
Isaac ignored him, but Max couldn’t shake himself out of his thoughts. He had been planning to propose to his girlfriend this weekend, and the looming responsibilities of being a husband and a father were beginning to weigh heavily on his mind.
Thanks, to be continued…
Jumie Naths
