“Ore, what’s your thought concerning what the native doctor said,” My mother asked Mrs. Don as soon as we left the native doctor’s place.

” My dear, I will beg that you don’t involve me in this matter. It’s a family matter. All I want you to do is to fight for the freedom of your daughter. She is the one that will take care of you when you are old. However, handle everything with wisdom.”

My mum was not convinced, she carried me to go and meet her elder sister and narrated everything that happened to her.

“My dear, please be careful. You need to apply wisdom in this matter. Don’t lose your marriage because of it,” her sister advised.

“Are you saying that I should allow the life of my daughter to be ruined because of marriage? I should not ask questions when necessary?” Mummy asked her.

“I never said so. All I’m saying is that you should tread with caution. If it later turn out that he is innocent, he might not forgive you.”

“I don’t care. All I want is the solution to my child’s problem. I need help. If you can help me, please do. But if no one is ready to help me. I will do it any how,” mummy said firmly.

Things did not remain normal at home from that moment. Mummy was frowning and snapping at my daddy and Ken. All my father’s effort the find out what the matter was proved abbortive. What mavels me the most was how stray bullet was hitting my younger brother Ken. He kept wondering what was going on.

December 30th of each year was always the end of year party in my dad’s private hospital. All the workers normally bring their family members to the party. While we were younger, we had always looked forward to it because of the fun. I and my younger brother, being the Managing Director’s children were treated as celebrities.

However, for some years, I have not been there. Daddy doesn’t allow me to go for fear of the embarrassment I could cause him. Even when mummy pleaded with him to allow me to join them, he did not agree. Dad was getting ready to go for that years ceremony. bBut surprisingly, Ken my younger brother was watching television.

“Ken what is your problem?” Daddy rebuked him. “Why are you not dressed for the occasion?”

“Dad I am not going for the party,” Ken said firmly.

“Is that supposed to be a joke or what? That party is for the entire family. I have asked your mother why she is not preparing for the party but she kept mute. My workers will be there with their husbands/ wives and children. Am I childless?”

“If the party is for the entire family, why is my sister left out. Each year we leave her and go for the party, by the time we come back, she had cried her eyeballs out. Yet no one cares. I can’t take that any more. If she is not going, then I will not go.”

The anger in daddy vanished immediately. He took a deep breath and calmly explained his reason for not allowing me to attend the party.

“But you know that it is not my fault. Judy is my only daughter and I love her. But I am scared of the embarrassment she could cause us there. Anyway Judy, get ready for the party. After all we are one family.” daddy announced.

My brother hugged me in excitement and we prepared for the party. I also went to my mum’s room to convince her to join us.

It was time for dance and majority of the people went to the dance floor. Shortly after the dance, a woman opened her bag and raised alarm that her phone was missing.

“I saw this girl when she opened the bag and took something out of it. That was when people were at the dance floor. I thought the bag was hers.” The boy was pointing at me.

“Judy, what is that boy talking about,” asked Mummy in agitation.

“Mummy, don’t mind the stupid boy. He doesn’t know what he is saying,” I replied. But Mummy was not convinced. She was visibly shaking.

I gave them my handbag to search but they did not see the phone. At that point, my younger brother; Ken, who could not take the insult being meted out on his sister gave the boy accusing me a slap across the face which caused pandemonium.

I was happy with the turn of events because it was diverting attention from the main issue. The owner of the phone quickly apologized to my parents and declared that she was willing to let the phone go.

My father was destabilized. His body language shows clearly that he believed I knew something about the missing phone. All of a sudden, one man who in my opinion does not know how to mind his business suggested that they should dial the woman’s phone number. That suggestion did not go down well with me.

Unfortunately, I was not a decision maker in the issue; I was an accuser. In a matter of seconds, the phone was ringing inside my cloth. I never had ample time to switch off the phone before tucking it inside my cloth. My wardrobe was littered with phones that I stole from people. I had never been caught because immediately I took it, I normally do the needful which is switching it off. But they say ‘every day for the thief but one day for the owner of the house.

My father ordered me to bring out the phone and hand over to the woman, who happened to be one of the cleaners in the hospital. Mum quickly took me home.

“Judy, why did you steal a phone that cannot browse form a hospital cleaner when your father just bought an expensive phone for you? Why are you bent on dragging the name of this family on the mud?”

“Mummy please I am sorry. Forgive me,” I pleaded even as I wept uncontrollably.

“Anyway, I am waiting for your father to come back. We can’t continue in this manner If he dare beat you for this, then he will see the stuff I’m made of. I can’t continue being silent and allow your case to deteriorate.” my mum threatened.

Watch out for the next episode