Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 3
The Breadwinner Episode Three
"Why haven't you picked the children from school up till now? You are completely idle at home, doing absolutely nothing. You are just here, eating and sleeping and waking up for free. While I go out there to work and look for money to feed you, the least you can do is to help take good care of the home front. Am I asking for too much?" Miriam just returned from school where she works. She's unhappy that her children are not home yet and John failed to pick them.
"You have not answered me. Are you now deaf and dumb? That you are poor does not mean you can't talk. Open your mouth and talk. Or has the joblessness sealed your lips as well? Why are the children not here? Why have you failed to pick them up from school?" She asked again shouting at her husband with a loud voice.
"There's no fuel in my car. I was thinking there's still fuel in it but when I wanted to go and pick the children, I turned on the ignition and the car refused to start. When I checked the fuel, I realized it got finished yesterday. You know I used the car to visit a friend to know if he could help me get a job where he works." John responded to his wife with his head bow. He felt very powerless because of his state of joblessness and empty pocket. It has only been a few weeks but his ego as a man has gone down to zero. Poverty is a bad thing. It could make a man to tolerate rubbish.
"Are you listening to yourself? You are jobless and idle. You know you don't have the money to buy fuel for your car, but you are still driving around town as if you are rich. I gave you money to buy fuel for the car yesterday with the hope that it would last for few days for you to use and pick the children from school, but you prefer to use it and visit friends. Now, the friend that you visited, did he give you the job?" Miriam was speaking with emphasis and each word she dropped hit John like a piece of shrapnel.
"He said there were no job openings at the place where he works. But he promised to inform me if anything good comes up. I gave him my CV as well. Who knows, I could get a job from there. "John said to his wife who was still livid with anger.
"Look at you. You don't even have rich friends who can come to your aide in times of difficulties. Your friends can't even get you a job. Your friends are as useless as you are. You have nothing to offer and your friends have nothing to offer. Bunch of 'efulefus'. That's what you people are." Miriam fumed.
"My dear wife, remember that before I lost my Job, I was once the breadwinner of this house. I took very good care of you and the children. I paid the rent for this house. I paid the children's school fees and even bought you the car you are using now. I'm not a lazy man. It's just a job that I don't have. Please, stop saying that I'm useless. Even without a job, I'm still doing my best to keep the family going. Please, stop the insults, because it is becoming too much for me to bear." John pleaded with his wife. He was almost shedding tears as his emotional state became very tensed.
"So if you are not useless, what are you?" His wife asked.
"I'm useful." He responded.
"Can you still feed the family? If I don't bring money now, can you pay the house rent and pay the children's school fees?" Miriam asked her husband in a way that made him feel mocked.
"I can't do any of these because I lost my job. But I used to do them. And I will start doing it again soon when I get a job. You need to stop the insults and show me the respect I deserve as the man of the house." John replied.
"You are no longer the man of the house. That title belongs to me because I pay the bills here. I decide what happens. Please, find a way and bring my children back from school or there will be no food for you in my house today. I give you an hour to rush and pick them." Miriam said with a very serious tone before she started walking into her room. John was startled and rattled.
"How am I supposed to go and bring the children when there's no fuel in the car? Please give me money to fuel the car. I'm begging you. Give me money even if it is N5000." John pleaded but his wife turned deaf ears.
"You have to trek to the school and pick the children." His wife responded.
"The children's school is far. How am I supposed to trek to that place? Please give me money for fuel. John asked, almost shedding tears.
"No way. You have to walk." Miriam said as she entered her room.
John had no option than to walk to the school. When he was walking home with his two children, they started asking him why they were trekking home instead of riding in his car as usual.
"Trekking is beneficial to health. Sometimes, it is good to trek so you can enjoy the fresh breeze in it's fullness. Also, walking makes you physically fit." John tells his children. He knew he was telling lies but there was no other excuse to give to the kids. Poverty is a disease.
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