TEN

I entered the house - my worrisome home. Mother welcomed me with smiles on her face than I expected. I smiled back but I knew her smiles were that of relief.

She was relieved I had come to join her in pain.

"I'm sorry dear. I should have just told you the truth, we wouldn't-" she apologized, cuddling me.

"It's fine. It was childish of me to leave like that. I shouldn't have done that." I sobbed.

"No dear. I truly understand what you're going through. Just hang in there, a little longer." She kissed my forehead.

I smiled nodding. A mother's love.
"We would definitely fight this,"

Peculiar neither hugged nor welcomed me. Instead he gave me a kind of - welcome - back - misery look.

That didn't hurt me - staying away from him made me strong. I value myself more now.

Looking at him, I observed some differences. The toothless young man I used to know now had complete set of adult teeth. I almost freaked out. How can a baby possess adult dentition?

I walked straight to my room and banged the door behind me. Inhaling the air, I sighed. I knew I was back.

I knew I could never have happy moments under this roof talk more of a happy ending. I thought been away, far away from home would bring happy moments in my life but I was wrong. Wrong because mother ruined my happiness the very moment she gave me that call.

Was it true that one can never escape his troubles? I had thought I escaped mine few days ago.

I glanced at peculiar's cot from the window. "He no longer needs it. Now he walks. And besides he thinks he's an adult already."

'An annoying baby that fucking walks!' I screamed out loud in my heart but I was sure no one heard me. I wept.

This wasn't the life I wanted.

***************

I hissed, I watched mother.  She too looked different. Restlessness had drained all the blood in her veins. She had loosed weight, lots of it.

I shouldn't have left her to carry the burdens alone. That was harsh.

She looked pale and desolated. I watched her in her gaudy gown. I had forgiven her but it wasn't really easy to let go - to forget my pain.

I just couldn't forget all she did.

Peculiar was drumming. Making a loud disruptive sound. Sounds that made me think of crushing him with my hands. I did give it a second thought.

His blood shouldn't be on my hands. I imagined the kinds of troubles that awaited mother and I. I knew them but wished they wouldn't happen.

We wanted to say things but couldn't. Talking would result to more destructions. I had done it before and didn't like the outcome since it culminated in quarrels.

First day of Walking and so many bad outputs had been recorded.

I had planned to resume work but seeing the condition of my home, I set aside the idea.

Mother no longer sang melodious lullabies like a nightingale for him. That was her way of punishing Peculiar for his troubles but she still cared to brush his teeth and Peculiar wasn't grateful at all. According to mother, a grandchild of hers shouldn't go about with dirty teeth.

There was this one quality Peculiar possesses that marvels me - even with his grumpy attitudes, he still maintained a wonderful hygiene.

Mother was tired, I could sense it. She knew there was this dark spirit in him but feared that I might kill him if she told me. I despised evil things and she thought of poor Peculiar's welfare if I found out. And I never did until......

_________

Hello readers

It's good to be back here. Looks like Jeanie has started to absorb peculiar's troubles instead of reflecting them. Good. He still has more mischiefs to showcase though.

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Thanks and have a lovely day.🤩🤩