Chapter 4: Urgent Situation!

"Watch'a doin?" I asked playfully.

She smiled but instead of replying to my playfulness she said, "alright you man child instead of lazing around over there help me prepare the table."

I nodded in affirmation and proceeded to do the task asked.

Looking at my mother, on her face there was visible evidence from the passage of time but it did made her look old rather added a motherly charm.

I settled the utensils at the table and proceeded to sit at the circular table mad from hardwood. Looking at it, it is homemade created by my father who works as a carpenter during the day explaining as to why he is not around the house at the moment.

Knocking me out from my thoughts, a fragrant smell of a luscious dinner aroused my appetite and I turned to look at my mother nearing the table carrying the 'dinner'. My look similar to a puppy with rounded eyes begging for the master to give it food.

I supressed my salvating mouth and swallowed it back down as my body trembled slightly as a shock of electricity ran through my spine. I turned to look only to find my mother glaring at me with those eyes carrying a hint of discipline.

I adjusted my mindset and turned back into proper human from being a hungry animal and waited attentively for the food to be served.

My mother put down the container the food and sat at the opposite side of me, we facing each other.

After a solemn prayer to express our thanks we proceeded to eating where again I turned back into a hungry animal from a human. I mean what can I do I'm a growing child, teen and a man on top of that.

Halfway through a middle aged man came through from the front door with smile plastered on his face as he treaded experienced to the back of my mother which coincidently has her back facing the front door assuming a position impossible for her to see the man.

The man was like a snake as he slowly slithered into my mother and wrapped his hand slightly around the bosom and hugged her.

I saw my mother smile at that brief moment but her eyebrows twitched at the scene. Experiencing, her hand reached out to the waist of the man and with a grip akin to a sharks jaw she pinched his waist making him cry out loud.

"You and your tricks, you father and son duo are always teasing me" she poutingly said accentuating her motherly charm.

After that ugly cry the man burst into laughter after hearing what she said. "Haha, but we all know that you like it if not how could I even marry you in the first place if it wasn't for my constant teasing, " he said while grinning foolishly that the edges of his mouth reached all the way up to his ears. I smiled and nodded in agreement at that point thinking out loud ," I probably inherited his suaveness."

...

After that small dinner episode the family sat on the living room discussing the good news brought back by the pillar of the family.

"I was suggested by my manager to accept the position of being his assistant. That will make my work drastically change from a simple carpenter to the one who supervises the carpenter, isn't it a good news to behold, " he said expectantly as he peered through my mothers still pouted expression from the 'dinner episode'. Her expression softened and a surprised expression gradually replaced the former sour mood she was in as she continue to listen to my fathers news." That's really a good news specially regarding for our son whose going to be 16 and you know what that number meant, coming of age and is now allowed to study at the capital," she said almost losing her composure. I felt warm inside seeing that my mother truly cares about me." "mhmm... hmmm..., " my father nodding at the statement coming from my mother, 'a good wife indeed that just prove the quality of my suaveness that managed to charm this woman,' he thought while that stupid grin is once again resurfacing unto his face. I sensed on what he's thinking so I raised my hand and smacked down hard at the back of his head waking him up from his fantasies. "eherm... Now that's settled I think its time to go to sleep," she said while looking at the clock and then turning to give a glare to my father who on the contrary shuddered feeling her piercing gaze. I nodded in affirmation.

...

I got up unto the bed and started hearing 'papapa' sound from across my room where my parents room lies. I sighed and shook my head as if it's a common occurance and I just got used to it, but what can you do with only wood seperating the rooms. I proceeded to lie in bed, my hands at the back of my head.

I closed my eye and I cleared my mind slowly accessing 'my' memories and scan through them.

...

I opened my eyes and got up to fix the bed. Peering through the window the sun is still on its way in rising to its peak. Once I got out of my room I saw my dad facing the mirror with both of his hands at his butt cheeks applying medicine to 2 terrifying balloons of pure soreness. Maybe the result of last night, his face still carrying a sliver of fear and and pain painted all over his face.

I grinned as I walk up to him and said, "hey dad, quick question how's the beating last night?" I asked as I imitate the grin on his face last night. Looking sullen he answered, "not looking too good here son, she gets worse each time and what's horrifying is that she did not stop up until now and only let me off to prepare breakfast" then he shivered. "Then don't go overboard in teasing or else you'll be much better off being impotent," my mothers voice was heard through the kitchen carrying a hint of playfulness in her voice.

Proceeding to the kitchen I met mother who wore a satisfied smile from last night's torture and I shivered from seeing it. I greeted her while thinking, 'of that were to happen to me', as I felt a shock running through my spine. Hastening my actions I approached the table and settled the dished and utensils and proceeded to call my father at the living room inviting him to eat.

The family sat at the table eating merrily and happily as if the last experiences was just a passing thought. Helping my mother clean up the mess I readied myself and accompanied dad on the way to his work.

Halfway through the journey we separated as I go to the cliff where I was at yesterday. Not too far away from that cliff there is a hut made of straws and wood with a small vegetable garden. By the way, thus is my work as I puffed up my chest nodding as I approached the garden.

After the days work I was a bit of a hurry to go back home as we're gonna be a having a small feast to celebrate my father's promotion as he was going to accept it this morning so I skipped my hobby of going to the cliff and watching the sun set.

Back home I saw the table already filled with 3 dishes much grander than the other and right after I sit, father came through the front door and joined the table after settling his tools. And the house was filled with joy and laughter. Ah, I love my family.

After the sumptuous feast which finished late at night I proceeded to my room and caught a glimpse of my father handing money to my mother and on the topic of discussing the money being a cash advance and to be used for my schooling. I entered my room and slept like a log.

...

Late at night I suddenly found myself awakened by my father with my mother behind him both with anxious looks on their faces. That was also the time I realised that the 'ding dong' sound I heard during my sleep was not my heart beating but rather the village bell swinging in full alarm.

I hasten to get up from the bed and followed my parents through the backdoor...