Dysfunctional Family - Season 1 - Episode 8

4 years ago

Dysfunctional Family - Season 1 - Episode 8

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A MONTH EARLIER…

Donald led the way through the driveway while his new workmate slash friend followed suit, they parked their cars side by side. They got out and as Donald ushered David into the house, he was saying, “This is my humble home, man.”

“I like it..Nice place you have here, Donald.”
“Thanks.”

Donald ushered David to the living room and offered him a seat. “Make yourself at home while I change.” and then he called, “Sweetheart!” “Babe!” called Juliet from the bedroom.

“We’ve got a visitor!” called Donald in response. And then to David, he said, “Let me just freshen up while my wife serves you something to eat.”

“I ain’t hungry..a drink will do.”
“Alright, man. A drink it is then.” As he went to the bedroom, he bumped into Juliet.
“Who’s the visitor?”

“A workmate slash friend of mine. Be nice, Juliet.”
“I’ll try.”

Juliet had a tendency of being rude to most of her husband’s friends as she thought most of them had a negative impact on him. She’d been right on the previous one who had turned out to be a wife battering maniac..Anyway, she promised not to be prejudicial this time around.

When she saw David seated on the couch with the remote control in his hands, flipping through channels, Juliet swallowed and silently swore at herself for wearing a chitenge and old top. She wished the floor could just open up and swallow her.
The man was d--n hot! Donald wasn’t bad looking but she wasn’t blind either. This ‘friend’ of his was totally eye candy.
She froze and fantasized doing crazy stuff with him in bed. She was lost in her daydream that she didn’t notice David staring at her not until he spoke.

“Are you okay?”
“No..um, yes!” she sheepishly pressed and went closer to extend her hand in greeting. “Hi.”

“Hi.” “Am Donald’s wife.”
“I figured,” said David awkwardly. “My hand, please..”

“Oh,” she let go of his hand immediately, embarrassed. “What shall I get you?”
“A drink will do, preferably pure joy.”
“On it.” she scuffled off to the kitchen where she took a deep breath. No man had left her this week. D--n, what spell had that- and then she realised that she didn’t even know his name.

Whatever, she thought as she grabbed a clean glass from the cupboard.
Donald freshened up and joined David and Juliet in the living room.
“Honey, David and I are going out to watch soccer.. I’ll be back before 10PM though.”
“Have fun.”
“Thanks for the hospitality,” David said to Juliet as he rose to his feet.
Her smile was flirty. “Anytime, David.”
David deciphered from the way she pronounced his name that she was flirting with him while Donald was too reluctant to notice the tension between his friend and wife as they shook hands.
David thought, she ain’t pretty but has a great body to make up for her looks…mmmmh, not bad.

David and Donald drove to David’s favourite bar and watched the match while sipping on some whiskey. Donald’s team lost and he was so hurt and disappointed that he gulped down whiskey like crazy.

“Yoh…take it easy, buddy. Remember you driving. You don’t wanna get wasted, trust me.”

“I know my limit, David. Trust me.” David arched his eyebrows. “Do you?”
Out of the blues, images of Juliet mistreating Lubesha began flashing in his head and unable to carry the burden alone, Donald decided to share it with his friend.

“David?”
“Mmmm.” “There’s this post I saw on social media and it really got to me, you know. Apparently some lady mistreats her husband’s 13 year old nephew and the husband has tried reasoning with her but she won’t budge..they’ve got three kids together and he loves his wife so much but also loves the nephew a span too. He’s literally stuck between a rock and a hard place. What would you do if you were in his shoes?”

“That’s a tough one..” David gulped down more whiskey. “But I think the less the wife and nephew see each other, the better. I’d probably take my nephew to boarding school….”

And now seated in the head teacher’s office, Donald knew there was sense in David’s advice.
Let me just wait for Lubesha to complete his eighth grade before I can take him to boarding school, he decided. After all only a term is left.
“Let’s go, Lubesha.”
With a heavy heart, Lubesha stood and followed his uncle to where the car was parked. He knew hell was awaiting him at home.

Juliet waited for the following day when Donald wasn’t around..to punish Lubesha.
She summoned him to her bedroom and made him kneel down. And then she summoned Amos.

“How would you like to get back at this stray dog for what he did to you yesterday, son?”
Amos smirked. “I’d love it.”
“Don’t worry, mama’s got your back. Grab a belt of your choice and flog this idiot.”
Happy beyond words, Amos did grab the belt and flog Lubesha he did with immense pleasure. Lubesha was slowly getting accustomed to the pain of being smacked and whipped. Pain being inflicted on him was becoming a routine so today he didn’t flinch nor shed a tear. He was rigid on his spot as he watched Amos flog him. He didn’t think about the pain..he could feel it but knew it would go away soon. He wished for it to go away soon. Their suspension came to an end and Lubesha sat for his end of term 2 tests while Amos sat for his Grade 9 mock exams and Alice for her Grade 7 mock exams.
When the results came out, Lubesha came out 3rd in his class and was immensely disappointed while Alice did exceptionally well and Amos terribly failed, as expected.
“If you don’t pull up your socks, Amos, am afraid you’ll fail the final exam!” said Donald hotly once they were home. “Just take a good look at your sis and see how well she’s doing..or better still, have you seen how good Lubesha’s academic performance is?”

“That’s them, Dad. Am me.”
“Don’t you dare talk back at me, boy!”
“And don’t you dare yell at him like that!” Juliet intervened. She patted Amos’ shoulder. “Go to your room, you’ll pass the exam.”

Amos stood but Donald snapped he sit back down. “You spoil this boy too much, Juliet. And as a man, I’ll step up and discipline him…” so he gave Amos the longest of lectures and told him that henceforth, he had to study for at least 3 hours on a daily basis and no more playing video games nor going out to play soccer.

By the time Donald was done reprimanding Amos, Juliet and him (Amos) were sulking. They angrily left the living room.

Donald said to a sad Lubesha. “Don’t be gloomy about your results, insansa kucinjanya (happiness ought to be exchanged). I know you’ll do better in your next exam but am proud of you nonetheless so brighten up. And Alice, daddy’s proud. You know what?” Donald beamed. “Get dressed..Am taking the both of you out for a movie.”
“Yay!” screamed an excited Alice who kissed her Dad’s cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”

Lubesha was genuinely happy so he said, “Thanks, uncle.”
The holiday was hell for Lubesha but he endured..endurance had become his norm after all.

Term 3 commenced and they were only a few weeks into it when it happened…
Lubesha was in class seated beside Carlos as they learnt Geography. Their Geography teacher was teaching them about the grid reference when there came a knock at the door. “Come in,” called the teacher.
Two men accompanied by three pupils, Amos amongst the pupils, walked into the classroom.

The entire class abruptly rose. “Good morning, sirs.”

“Good morning, class. You may take your seats.”

“Thank you.”

The class noisily sat.

One of the two men said, “Am Mr. Luneta and my colleague here is Mr. Kapenya. We work for the Drug Enforcement Commission(DEC) and my team and I are here today to sweep this school clean..”

“So if you know you are in possession of chamba or weed or dope or whatever you call it,” said Mr. Kapenya grimly. “Please stand before we do a thorough search.”
“You heard the man,” added the Geography teacher.

Nobody stood. “Fine..these three here,” Mr. Luneta said, gesturing towards the three pupils. “Have been caught with chamba and as an example will be expelled from the school with immediate effect.”
A ripple of murmurs broke out and died down when the teacher ordered for silence. All the three pupils looked ashamed while they faced down.

“The search begins..now!” announced Mr. Kapenya.
To everyone’s surprise, Lubesha stood.
“You have drugs, boy?” asked Mr. Luneta.
“No..” Lubesha shook his head.
“No? Then why are you on your feet?”
“Because one of those boy’s drugs aren’t his..they’re mine.”

People gasped and murmured in awe.
Carlos pinched Lubesha by the arm and angrily murmured. “What are you doing?”
No response.

“Really?” Mr. Luneta seemed interested. “Might we ask how the drugs got in his bag then?”
“I put them there. Amos and I live together. Tell them you’re innocent, Amos.”
Amos was as shocked as everyone else. The drugs were clearly his so he didn’t know why Lubesha was saving him but he anyway said, “Yes..as I said earlier, I don’t know how the chamba got into my bag.”
Four hours later, Alice, Amos and Lubesha were home seated in the living room while Juliet and Donald paced around them.
“Weed? I can’t believe this, Amos!” yelled Juliet. “What were you thinking?!”
“Am sorry, mum. I just wanted to give it a shot, that’s all.”
No sooner had he uttered ‘all’ than Donald smacked his face. “You’re a disappointment! Now because of you Lubesha has been expelled from school! And Lubesha, what were you thinking? Taking the blame like you did?”

“Amos is in an examination class and I figured him being expelled would affect his exams and future..I wasn’t thinking properly I accept but I couldn’t stand there and watch him get expelled. I just couldn’t.”
“Wow! What a big heart you have,” amused Alice. “I doubt I’d do that for Amos. What?”
she asked Amos who was giving her a bad eye. “You know it’s true.”
Donald on the other hand found himself hugging Lubesha tight. “That’s the stupidest and bravest thing a kid your age has done..you’re a blessing, Lubesha.”
“Oh please,” Juliet clicked her tongue. “We all know he’s just trying to get into my good books. Nice try, boy. But I ain’t that easy to please.” with that, she stormed off to her room.

When they were alone in bed, Amos said to Lubesha. “You can be sleeping in my bed from now on.”

“Thanks..but am fine on the floor.”
Amos shrugged. “At least I tried.” he later said, “I don’t know why you did what you did back at school today but am thankful, man. You saved my a-s.”
“You’re welcome.”

“That don’t mean we are best pals now though,” said Amos with a chuckle.
Lubesha chuckled too. “I know.”
And he knew deep down in Amos’ heart lay some humanity.

Meanwhile in their bedroom, Donald was saying to Juliet, “Lubesha still has to continue school, you know?”
“That’s your baby to nurse, Donald.”
“Why do you hate him this much?”
“Am not in the mood, Donald, so let me get some sleep in peace.”

“You know one day you’ll kneel before that boy and ask for forgiveness from him, right?”
She found his statement funny so she laughed. “Really? What are you now, a fortune teller? Donald, I said I want to sleep!”
“Whatever..I just wanted to inform you that I plan on taking him to a good boarding school.”

“It’s your money you’ll be wasting. Good night,” she closed her eyes and feigned falling asleep.

He had expected her to freak out so her reaction left him baffled.

In her head, Juliet was doing a happy dance. She was happy she’d no longer have to see Lubesha’s face. She hated him that much. But she also had to do something about the love and respect Donald had for Lubesha. She had to take him out of the picture..Excuse you, Juliet was no murderer. According to her, all she wanted was for Lubesha to end up on the streets where he truly belonged.

She inwardly and maliciously told herself, ‘Boarding school is the best place for me to paint Lubesha as a bad person..I’m yet to figure out how I’ll achieve my goal and make Donald send him packing but I know I’ll figure something out sooner or later. They do not call me Juliet for nothing!’