THE K1LLER'S KNIFE
The K1ller's Knife - Episode 2
To say I was terrified was an understatement. If my father sees me here, I am simply finished! My brain emergency sensors became automatically activated thinking of what to do.
If I run, I would attract more attention through my footsteps racing noisily on the bushy path. So I hide behind a mahogany tree and did a quick scan of the bush.
My eyes travelled on a shallow pit not far from my hiding spot and i dived into it without thinking of the possible dangers I might encounter in the shallow pit, such as bush traps set by the farmers in my village.
Thankfully, my leg did not catch any traps but sustained only a few bruises from my diving into the pit. The footsteps drew nearer and my heart began to beat loudly. It suddenly stopped a few steps to where I was and there was silence except for the loud thud of my heartbeat.
I summoned up courage and peeped from my hiding place.
I could see his large feet a few inches to my hiding spot. He was scanning round if there was truly an intruder.
Just then, a big squirrel ran past his legs making him to jump. The squirrel ran through the bushy paths making noise. My dad hissed loudly.
“Stúpid squirrel.” He cúrsed under his breath and began to walk away.
“Did you find anything?” I heard Flora ask my father in hushed whispers.
My dad chuckled and stretched his body.
“It’s just a stupid squirrel.” He assured her and pulled her close to him. “Let us continue my love.” He told her.
She shook her head in disagreement. “I think we need to find another hiding spot. I’m not comfortable with us being here.” She murmured.
Father caressed her arms.
"Flora, come on, I have told you there is nothing to worry about. No one will find us here.” Father assured her again but she was not convinced.
“Jamie, I know what I am saying. Anyone can see us here in the bush at any time.” She folded her arms akimbo.
“...See I have to go now.” She added standing up but father pulled her back to him.
“Ok sweet Flora, I have heard you, but at least you can’t just go like that without me eating from your sweetness.” Father attempted to kiss her but she blocked his mouth with her fingertips.
“Not so fast Jamie, what about the money you promised me?” She had an alluring look on her face as she asked him.
Father chuckled and cupped her brëåst in his hands, tapping a hand in his left pocket.
“The money is right here my sweet Flora, just let me have a taste of you as usual.”
Flora curved her lips into a smile at the mention of what father said.
“You can give me the money now so that I don’t forget it by the time we are done.” She stretched out her hands.
Father brought out a lot of money and handed it over to her. She was all excited and jumped on him to kiss him.
As they continued in their unwholesome indulgence, I quietly crawled out of the hole I jumped into earlier and walked as quietly as possible out of their zone, taking the path that leads home.
My face wore a frown of total disappointment at my father for cheating on my mum.
When I got home, my mum was already in the kitchen preparing lunch. Our kitchen was detached from the main house and facing the entrance of our yard, so I tried to sneak in but it was too late.
She already saw me.
"Jacob, why are you just coming?” she questioned me furiously.
"...i sent you to go and look for your father and not be long, but you used the opportunity to go and play?” she queried me.
I looked down. “No mama, I didn’t go to play, I went to look for father like you asked but I didn’t see him.” I responded sadly.
I must not tell her what I saw.
“So because you didn’t see your father, you went to play.” She eyed me.
“No mother…..”
“Shut up your mouth! Look at your clothes, very dirty. You don’t just know when to stop! Even your younger sisters will not dirty their clothes like this!” she said pointing at my clothe.”
“...At your age Jacob! A 14 year old boy and you are already giving me troubles…..”
“No mama…..” I interjected, trying to explain.
“I said shut up your mouth!” she shouted.
“I’m going to beat stubbornness out of you today, and your daddy must hear this….. go and kneel down in the parlour and wait for me. Next time, you will learn how to be obedient to instructions.” She instructed furiously.
I left her presence ângrily and knelt down, furious that she never gave me any opportunity for an explanation.
By the time father came home, evening had come already and I was helping Erica; our last born with her assignment and also doing mine.
My mom had released me from punishment.
“Welcome back”
mum greeted father with a smile.
If my mother knows what father has been doing in secret, she won't stand their smiling and welcoming him like a king.
My siblings and i greeted him as well.
He only nodded his head and went straight to his room to change his clothes, before returning to the parlor to settle on his crane chair; the chair he specially made for himself.
“Where is my food?” he asked mum authoritatively.
“Your food is ready my husband, let me go and bring it.”
She said and scrambled to the kitchen. She returned with his food and dropped it carefully on the table.
Sometimes I have a nagging feeling that my mom was afraid of my dad because of his rigidness.
My father opened the plate cover and stared hard at my mom. “What is this?” he asked in his deep husky voice.
“This is potatoes with chicken and veggis, while this other plate is rice and fried beef with cabbage sauce, your special. I prepared it the way you like it.” Mom told him.
Father frowned more.
“You should have asked me what I was going to eat before preparing all this food” He lashed at her.
“My husband, don’t be angry, I sent Jacob to look for you in church to ask you what I should prepare for lunch, but he didn’t see you. so I decided to use my discretion and prepared this.” Mother explained to him subtly, careful not to anger him.
Father casted a brief look at me and I felt my heart skipped a beat.
I hope he doesn’t get suspicious that I followed him to the bush. He returned his gaze to my mom.
"You should have asked me in church before returning home rather than send this dúllard to look for me.”
I paused from my assignment to look at them.
First of all, I am not a dullard! I might not be the most intelligent student in my class, but I do not like the sound of anyone calling me a dullard even though I play a lot.
Secondly, I fervently hope that my mom would not tell him that I came home looking so dirty.
My mom simply nodded in agreement and said.
“It skipped my mind to ask you but I will do that next time.” She told him.
I heaved out a deep sigh of relief.
Father grunted a few words and began to eat quietly. After he was done, mom cleared out the dishes and sat opposite him.
A usual silence ensued before mum finally broke it.
“please Jamie, I want to remind you again of Jacob's school fees. His school fees are long due already. He was even sent out of school on Friday and if not that I went there to beg the proprietress, Jacob would have stayed at home. I had to promise the proprietress that we would pay his fees latest by Monday. Tomorrow is already Monday.” Mom explained.
Father cleared his throat, picking on his teeth with a toothpick.
“You can tell the proprietress to give you more grace, I don’t have any money now.” He replied her in aloofness.
There was an air of uncomfortable silence.
“Jamie.." mother's soft way of calling father "Jamie" shows how much she adores him
"...but you promised me you were going to give me the money tonight.” Mom retorted.
“And I said I don’t have the money now! Business has not been moving well.” Father replied rudely.
“Why don’t you try to get the money? it’s been six weeks since he resumed school without payment. Do you want him to be sent out of school?…..”
“Woman! I said I don’t have the money now, stop nagging at me!” father raised his voice.
She threw her hands in the air.
“When it comes to your children’s education, you don’t always have money. Fine!” she turned to me.
“Jacob, since your father says he has no money for your school fees, don’t bother going to school tomorrow, just stay at home." She said in ånger.
I paused from my assignment and felt ánger wash through me.
So my dad Preferred to spend money on his mistress rather than spend on his family, his children's education?
I know where he keeps his money
And there's still some money in the clothes he wore today
After giving some to flora I'm sure there's still more left.
I stood and walked away
I pretend like I was going to the outhouse
I sneak into my father's room, sighted the clothes he wore today which he dumped on the ground for mother to come pick up and wash.
I quickly searched through the clothes but saw nothing.
I rushed to the place I know he usually hides his money
And there it was
I was thinking of my next action
Sometimes, I don't want to get mother into trouble, because father may accuse her wrongly
But at this stage, I don't really care.
I took out his money box and was about taking some before I heard noise approaching the room.
I quickly rushed into his wardrobe and hide among his clothes
Somebody entered the room and I couldn't see from my hiding place who exactly it was.
I quietly try to adjust well so that I can see the person but suddenly the money box slipped out of my hand and fell out of my hiding place into an open space.
Whoever was in the room must've seen it.
Father will skin me alive
I'm in another big mess.
(Do not take credit or Plagiarize AMAH'S HEART stories)
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