The Young Shall Grow

You must’ve heard that particular clause somewhere before and stuck to a particular definition of it. Permit me to show you another side to this fascinating clause as we journey into the family of the Williams. How does the setting of the family affects the children? What will be the fate of Joseph and Rachael? Read more to find out.

THE YOUNG SHALL GROW
“I’m going out now. You know I’m travelling today.” Someone whispered into my ears . I shifted on the bed, obviously annoyed by the disturbance and could not make out who it was in my sleepy state. 
I guess the person got that and said “Joseph, it is dad.” I suddenly jolted back from my half-asleep state and looked at him. He was wearing a black trouser, white shirt, blue top and navy-blue necktie. He really looked ready for work. From the facial features, you could tell he is my dad because I really resemble him. 
Realizing he was staring back at me, I asked “Where to? You didn’t tell me you would--”
“Oh son, I did,” he interrupted me. “I told you I would be travelling to South Africa to attend a conference. Just that the date got shifted and I have to go today or I may not meet it.” He explained.  
“Ooh, I see,” I said, rubbing my eye with my left hand. “When will you be back then?” I asked. “Hope it will be soon because PTA meeting will be held soon.”
“Son, I know it’s in two weeks.” He said and I huffed. “But I won’t be back before--” he continued.
“It’s next week dad, next week. I told you countless times yesterday.” I said. “So what do you plan to do? Because mum said she won’t be available and the principal--”
“You don’t worry about that.” He interrupted again. Ooh, how I hate this. “I will call the principal of Graceville College and--”
“Dad, again??” I interrupted. He looked at me totally lost and when I saw his still confused state, I spoke up. “It’s Victors’ Academy dad, not Graceville College”
A look of guilt flashed across his face for a brief moment and with his head hung low, he murmured lowly “Sorry son, I always forget.” Then he looked at me and said “Maybe old age?” laughing while I remained indifferent. Seeing my face, he slowly coughed and added “Anyway, I will call him, and let him know I will not be available.”
“Alright,” I replied not bothering myself to tell him our principal is a female. I pulled my bed cover to cover myself when he cleared his throat.
“I won’t be back till next month, so be good.” He said and I nodded. I shifted uncomfortably on the bed wishing he would leave already. He started to leave to my happiness, but when he got to the door, he turned back.
“I’ve put the money for your school project on the dining table so you can pick it up there. I also added your allowance and that of your sister till the month ends. I hope all is settled now.” He said.
“All is definitely settled sir,” I said with a smile. “Thank God he remembered. What would I have done?” I thought to myself. I was pulled out of my thoughts as dad bent over and gave me a big hug. I reciprocated and just then, he pulled away. 
I laid back on my bed as I watched him leave. I rolled over to check the time on my alarm clock which showed 5am. “I still have an hour and half to sleep,” I thought to myself. 
I rolled back into a comfortable position. As I closed my eyes, I heard the sound of the door closing. “Dad is gone again as usual,” I said to myself as I yawned and yielded to sleep.
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My name is Joseph Williams. I am 17 years old and in SS3. I come from a family of four. I’m the eldest child and I have a younger sister. My dad is a businessman and my mum, a journalist. Dad doesn’t even know the name of our school, talk more of knowing the location. He has travelled again, and as always, mum won’t stay at home, so I am used to staying home alone with my sister, which we do just once in a blue moon.
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AN HOUR LATER
I WAS BUILT TO BE THE BEST, NUMBER ONE AND NOTHING LESS. LEAVE ME TO MY DESTINY, I HAVE WAITED PATIENTLY…
“Oh God! Who’s calling me this early?” I muttered as I rubbed my eyes. I picked up the phone and saw the time was 6am. I put my phone in silent mode, ignoring the caller whose contact I do not have. I got out of bed to check on my sister, only to hear her voice from the passage. I assumed she was on a call and turned back. I only wanted to check if she was awake anyway.
I took my bath, prepared for school and went downstairs all set for school. I met mum setting the table and realized there was an extra plate.
“Morning mum,” I greeted. She muttered a good morning and walked towards the kitchen. Suddenly, she turned back facing me. “Has your father left for work?” she asked. 
“Yes, he told me while leaving.” I replied. “He didn’t tell you?” I asked and she shrugged. Just as I opened my mouth to question her about the extra plate, the doorbell rang.
“I’ll go check who’s at the door.” I said as I walked pass her to the living room. I opened the door and a man in black suit walked in. 
RACHAEL
I walked down the stairs in my uniform with my bag on one hand, and a book on the other. I had forgotten we had an assignment in Biology. Tayo, my best friend, reminded me when he called this morning.
Dad came home the afternoon of the day before yesterday, went to the club and came home drunk in the night. He went out yesterday morning to God knows where, came home in the evening and slept throughout the rest of the day. He has travelled again this morning for a conference or business meeting as he always says. 
He’s always running from pillar to post, never taking time off to spend with his family. When he still comes home, he spends the time outside and comes back drunk. He is very ardent and has much ardour towards his job but nonchalant when it comes to us. It is commonly said that you make time for what you love so it is normal for him to make no time for us since he is stoic. Even we do not mind, so far there is no paucity of allowance.
I was pulled out of my reverie when I heard Joseph talking to mum who was entering the kitchen holding a plate and a cigarette on the other hand. 
“It’s too early, mum.” I thought. Just then, the doorbell rang and Joseph went to check.
My pen fell out from the book I was holding, so I dropped my bag and the book, and traced the biro as it rolled away on the smooth tiles.  As I bent down to pick my pen, I saw a pair of shoes before me so I picked it up and came face to face with none other than the owner of Desmond & CO., my classmate’s dad, Olawunmi Desmond, and my mum’s concubine; Mr. Femi Desmond.
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My name is Rachael Williams. I am 15 years old and in SS1. I took much more of mum’s facial features than dad’s, unlike Joseph. I have a best friend, Omotayo Rotimi who is a guy. Mr. Femi and his daughter are the two people who Joseph and I have a feeling for in common which is hate. Wunmi is a perfunctory girl, pugnacious and foolhardy dog. She is popular only amongst the guys and never devoted to one. She thinks only of number one and would feather her own nest even at the expense of others, just like her father. If her father had thought of her, he wouldn’t cheat on her mum with our mum so I do not blame her for being thoughtless. It runs in their blood.
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JOSEPH
“Hello Joseph. How do you do?” Mr. Femi greeted me. Giving no answer, I picked my bag from the chair and turned to leave. 
“Don’t you dare walk out of this room without greeting!” Mum said fuming with anger. I turned to Mr. Femi who had a smiling face and anger burned within me.
“Hello, dear concubine of my mum. How do you do?” I took his hand and shook it. Signaling to Rachael, I carried my bag and left the house while I heard mum apologizing for our rudeness.
I remember the very first time I saw Mr. Femi. It was over two years ago and our first day in senior class. He had dropped Wunmi in school. I had greeted him and went to my class as he followed Wunmi to get her textbooks. I had not bought my notes and decided to buy it outside the school since the bookshop was full and I had the class just twenty five minutes from then.
I left the premises and went to the bookshop beside the school but it was closed so I increased my pace since the next one was a bit far and I did not want to go back. Suddenly, a car was parked beside me and I saw Mr. Femi flagging me down with his hand. He asked me where I was going, took me there and took me back to the school. I thanked him and rushed back to class thinking Wunmi was indeed truly blessed with a good father.
Because the school is not too far from the house and we have such responsible parents who have three cars, we walk to school every day. That afternoon, as I walked back home with Rachael, I kept telling her about my morning helper. After I locked the gate, I started hearing muffled voices. Confused and carefully, I quietly pulled the door and it opened, surprising both Rachael and me. 
We saw our mum with a man heatedly osculating in the living room. Rachael gasped, hereby gaining attention and they turned, only for me to see the same man who had helped me that morning, Mr. Femi. Instantly, my love for him turned to hate. Since then, they had not even bothered hiding it any longer and I discovered the reason Wunmi is a pr-stitute.
RACHAEL
I know that Joseph is thinking the same thing I am by the look on his face. I doubt that dad has no idea of mum’s infidelity and his indifference means he also has an affair somewhere. Even though we have not seen him with another woman, we have seen his car in several places in the city when he claimed to be in another state or outside the country. If he was not stealing, then he must have been cheating. 
I, personally, do not mind whatever he does, so far he keeps the wolf from the door and foots our bills. I guess others do not either, since everyone knows what the other does and there is no complaint. Dad and mum have never gone at it hammer and tongs. Dad does not mind that mum smokes, mum does not mind that Joseph and I go for late night parties or drink because even she does not stay home and is not any better. We all keep it dark, though the situation is all open.
JOSEPH 
I looked at Rachael and saw she was deep in thought. We had maintained silence since we left home and we were almost in school. I could see the school gate from a distance now. I heard my name being called faintly and turned back to see the silhouettes of two people approaching us from afar.
I squinted my eyes and saw Jacob and Kiara running to us. Jacob is my friend and Kiara is his girlfriend who is in the same class as Rachael. So we bonded easily and she became Rachael’s best female friend. 
“Hey dude” I greeted Jacob who hugged me and put his arm on my shoulder. I looked to my side and saw Rachael and Kiara squealing and giggling already.
“Already, ladies?” Jacob says pointing to them. “It hasn’t even been seconds since we got here oo” he continued. He got glares and fierce looks from them and suddenly hugged me like his life depended on it, asking me to save him while they laughed.
“So why are you guys in uniform and not in school?” I asked as I leaned on the nearby building.
“We were in school but Mrs. Cullen called in sick so there will be no test today. We only have five classes today and they are all the boring ones, I tell you. I suggested we spend the day out and Kiara agreed. We were on our way to your house when we saw you two” Jacob said.
“It’s fine by me but does Rachael not have an assignment to submit?” I asked, facing her.
“Oh, it’s cool. The deadline is tomorrow so I’m safe.” She said smiling then suddenly frowned “Oops, I left my dress for tonight’s party on the bed.” she said, still frowning.
“Worry not, baby girl. We can head home later to pick it up. Mum won’t be home anyway.” I said, eliciting a smile from her.
“Firstly, let’s have a change of clothes in my house since it’s just around the corner. We can’t go around in uniform.” Kiara said and we all nodded in agreement. The four of us have some pairs of clothes in one another’s houses because of days like today.
“Come on, let’s go!” Jacob said and we all turned in the other direction.
 WRITER
In the society today, there are different people from different families with different backgrounds, having different experiences. Just like a virus can enter the body and multiply itself to damage the whole body, a small seed of hatred, cheating, and so on, can multiply itself to damage the whole person in which it is sown. No wonder the rate of social vices is on the up and up in the society. The family is the smallest level of organization, yet, the most powerful and most influential. 
Parenting is not just giving birth to a child, it involves much more. The parent will always have an influence on the child as he grows; good or bad. Adults today were children yesterday and children today will be adults tomorrow. Adults today are what they are as a result of the influence of some parents yesterday, directly or indirectly. Children today will become responsible or irresponsible adults tomorrow, depending on the seed sown in them today. What will be will not be in the society, it depends on the values our families hold on to. Remember, THE YOUNG SHALL GROW.

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