Liza

Picture used for illustrative purposes only

It was Liza’s third time at the police station in one month and she was fed up with all the drama in her life caused by her son Greg. Greg got into a fight earlier in the month in school and stabbed his classmate in the arm. Liza and her husband paid the full cost of treating the boy and the worst part was that Greg felt no remorse and threatened to kill the boy next time. The boy’s parents got the police involved and Greg had to sign an undertaking at the Police station.

 

Shortly after, he got into trouble again with road traffic officials and he ended up in a police cell, this last time there was a theft in his school hostel and Greg was the main suspect. Liza broke down there at the station and wept her eyes out as she waited for her husband to arrive. In the end they offered to pay some of the money involved as Greg never owned up to committing the crime.

In her quiet moment, Liza went down memory lane on how she was the obedient child in her family of four girls. She never got into any trouble, never partied and was very good in her academics. She was a reference point for the other siblings and their parents never failed to praise her at any given opportunity.

She met her husband Sony in school and he was just like her, serious minded and very focused, it was a perfect match and they got married as soon as they graduated from school.

Her older sister fell pregnant for her married lover that same year and brought so much disgrace to her family. Their sons were given birth to in the same year and because Bisi her older sister was passing through a rough time Liza took on the responsibility of caring for her sister’s son who came five months after own son. She took care of her nephew for one year and as soon as she could handle it Bisi was reunited with her son.

Bisi went on to have another son for another married man but this time it was without challenges, her business was thriving and she had accepted that she was the black sheep of the family and not a good example to her younger siblings. And so with less drama she took on the task of becoming a single mother of two children.

The story is that Bisi’s boys are exceptional, they grew up with a single mother who has jumped from one man to the other, left them severally with maids to go on her supposedly business trips and who is not exactly the society’s idea of a good mother, yet they have turned out well and nothing about them shows that they have different fathers.

Bisi’s first son Vin who is five months younger than Greg in fact acts like Greg’s older brother, he is in his final year in the University and currently on a very high GPA. He has won everyone’s heart including Liza’s. He sometimes comes to help her run one or two errands and whenever Sony, Liza’s husband wants anything done well he calls on him to help out.

He is the only one Greg is comfortable with and seems to be in his best mood whenever Vin comes to spend time with his family.

Bisi’s second son Olu sings in the choir in church and plays three musical instruments very well even though he had no formal training in them and is also following in his brother’s footsteps academically.

What was going on in Liza’s mind that afternoon was how life can be quite unpredictable, she has a normal family; a very good husband who is successful and provides for the family, she has a good job which also gives her time for her home.

They have never failed in their duties as parents and provided everything that their two children ever needed. Their second child a girl at the age fourteen struggles academically but is very kind hearted and provides some comfort to the heart ache that Greg causes his family.

Is this what the “Irony of life” means? She remembered the times she discussed her sister with Sony in the comfort of their bedroom and how they feared that her sister Bisi’s children would not turn out right. At some point she even offered her sister some assistance in raising her boys which caused a big problem in her family.

Their parents supported her and they called Bisi to let her know that it was best to let her sons live with Liza because her lifestyle was not a good example to her young sons. Bisi felt very bad that her family judged and ignored for several months till Liza extended the olive branch.

Now who needs some tutorials in parenting? I really wonder why life plays this sort of tricks on us sometimes but it makes me understand that there’s more to life than meets the eyes. 

PS:This story was shared by one of Liza’s sisters and the all the names have been changed for privacy sake.