Roses and Thorns – Episode 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

By Jennifer Godwin

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Ezenwa clutched his school result close to his heart while Okenwa his brother showed his own result to their father who was all smiles. He watched with sadness as his father praised his younger brother because he took the first position as usual, Ezenwa made to leave when his father’s baritone voice called him back.

“Come back here useless child, where are you going to? am sure you came last as usual, can’t you borrow a leaf from your brother?” the man shouted.

“Am sorry Dad” Ezenwa said almost crying.

“Don’t sorry me you dullard, i waste money on your education but yet, you don’t want to learn anything, are you not tired of being a failure?” he barked.

“Dad, at least check my result this last time, i didn’t take the last position as usual” Ezenwa said wiping his tears.

“Let me see” the old man said snatching the result from him, he opened it and scoffed “35 out of 40 students, is this the best you can offer?, your best is not enough young man” he howled.

“But Dad, i used to be the last, am trying my best, who knows? i might be among the first 20 by next term” Ezenwa said with a glint of happiness and hope evidently written on his face.

“And i said your best is not enough, you can never be like your brother, you will always remain a failure” he thundered chasing the young lad away from the parlour.

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The stalker gritted his teeth and closed his eyes in anguish, he poured wine into a class cup and drank all of it.

“Who turned me into a beast?” he asked himself drowning another glass full of wine “You did dad, you have never treated me like a son, you dehumanized me everyday with your words, i tried my best but you always chose my brother over me” he stood up, went to the window, drag the curtain to the side and then grinned.

“And am glad i killed you old man” he laughed out loud.