THE LOATHESOME SON-IN-LAW

The man snored loudly for a while, opened his blue eyeballs and raised his head from the bed as the giggling sounded louder.

"How will I sleep when she took away my alcohol?" He asked himself, standing up from his tiny mattress and shaking his head in resentment.

"She won't allow me to step into the kitchen, and forbade me from the liquor store."

His source of anger is not the murmuring and giggling of the pairs in the parlour downstairs, but against his wife who dares take away his source of contentment, after rubbing him off his right.

Out of curiosity and a mind to steal, the young man put on his shirt and trousers, stepped towards the door and seize his breath when the creaking sound of the opening door sounded louder in the silent night.

"Now I have to sneak around in our house. It wasn't like this when grandfather was alive-," he paused his murmuring, halted for a while, and only resumed when the couples resumed their amorous affair, "so bad."

Their whispering became audible as he tiptoed closer, and like before, the lady he called his wife was romancing another man inside her matrimonial house.

"Won't you spend the night with me?"

"No, honey. We still need to be discreet about our relationship, until you can be able to apply for divorce."

"Am glad the clause on our contract marriage allows me to divorce him after ten years," the lady moaned softly and let out, "I will be miserable to spend the rest of my life with him... I am glad I will be able to get rid of him in a year."

"A year is a long time. But I understand why you have to wait for the dead man's decision."

"Thank you. If not for the shares involved, how will I descend so low to marry a clown?"

"You will only have access to your share of your grandfather's fortune if you can bear to stick with this horrible man for one more year."

"We can elope and start a new life with the fortune that just comes my way. Why must we tarry because of golds that can be made when we are together?"

"No, honey. We need to accumulate more wealth. Let's play along until you are free from this unhappy married life."

The young man's destination is not the parlour, and he only eavesdrops on them to amuse himself.

Constant rejection, insult and tormenting had made him grow thick hair to the woman's taunt and unbelievably promiscuous life. And it had reached the stage where he no longer gives a damn.

As silent as a mouse, he tiptoed through the white-painted corridor and arrived at his destination.

After looking like a thief in search of a bounty, he dipped his hand inside his pocket and brought out a bunch of keys.

"Am glad Grandpa gave the master key of this house to me before his death. I guess he knows I will need them to stay alive after he leaves for the world beyond."

He froze his movement when the wooden door creaked louder, peered over his shoulders and promptly stepped into the wine store.

"I better carry two cartoons. I don't know when I will have this kind of opportunity again."

A smile appeared on his pale face, and he instantly stooped down to pick his choice among the cartoons of liquors and wines, grunt softly when he lifted two cartoons, and then tiptoed out of the store, and locked the door after.

Their voices boomed louder as he stepped closer. But this time around, the contented man hardly cast a look at their side but walked with alacrity towards his room.

The corridor was in total darkness, and he could hear the woman's moan and the man's grunt as they consumed their unholy passion.

"Is that why you off the light?"

Finding his way through the dark corridor is an easy task that he gladly performed, and he was at the steps in a few minutes. And that was when tragedy struck.

"Oh my gosh!"

It was too late, only a misplaced step send the man rolling back to the ground, and the shattering sound of the bottles of liquor sounded louder after.

"Am hurt!"

He was blinded and wasn't aware when the light was turned on and the woman and her lover appeared in nudes.

"I know you are a thief, but I don't believe you will descend so low to steal my cartoons of liquor."

"Please help me up... My left knee is dislocated."

"Serve you right," the fat and older man let out, turned towards the scornful-looking woman and resumed his speech, "no wonder you despised him so much."

"He is a lazy man and only lives his life eating and getting drunk. Why did grandpa hate me so much and decided to force me to marry this horrible man?"

"Help me, Andrea," he seized his breath, grab the swollen leg and cried out, "please help me for the sake of our son."

"It is time for you to tell him the bad news."

"I guess you are right."

"Just help me to call an ambulance, and forget about telling me any news. There is no news that will be as bad as the pain in my dislocated knee."

"Unfortunately, there is. The boy you called your son belongs to this gentleman over here."

"What did you mean?"

"Am sorry for the awful news. But I think it is time I tell you the truth. Johnson is not your son."

"You are kidding?"

"Am I? I will show you the DNA result if you are eager to see it. But that will be tomorrow."

"Please don't leave me like this. Call the ambulance... Am dying."

"Good riddance to bad rubbish... Just die... I hate you, Andrew, and your death will be the best way out of my pitiable situation."

Andrew knew she won't mind even if he die when she wrapped her arm around her lover, stuck her tongue out and both of them walked out of his sight.

"Daughter of Jezebel!"

The man in tears announced as the pain became unbearable, and his crying was drowned by the moaning of his wife as she was pleasured by their family lawyer.

How their relationship deteriorates into this state within a year after grandpa's death is still a mystery to him.

After letting her night visitor out of their house, the satisfied woman climbed the step up and banged on the door.

"Open this door before I break it down."

"Why are you here?... Please go away."

"I will... After telling you why am I here, and not before. Now open this door before I shatter it to pieces."

I can't move. Use the spare key with you."

She swore loudly, turned and descended the stairs. And promptly returned after.

"You aren't just a lazy thief, but as dirty as a pig," Andrea placed her palm over her nose, cringed her face and asked, "why is your room smelling like a pigsty?"

"Are you here to taunt me more?"

She ignored his red and teary eyes, loomed closer and asked," why did you embarrass me in front of my guest?"

"In front of your lover will be more appropriate, but since you claim he is your guest, am sorry for humiliating you and acting like a glutton and a son of nobody in front of our noble family lawyer."

"My family lawyer, and not yours. Have you forgotten you are adopted and have nothing to share with O'Connor's family? Grandpa was just bewitched by your sham loyalty and charisma, but am glad he is no more."

"Please leave my room. I need to bemoan my fate alone."

"I will. But I want you to keep your mouth shut and never tell any of my family that Johnson doesn't belong to you. I will kill you if I heard it outside."

"As your majesty wishes."

Andrew pleaded back because he didn't have the strength to argue. He just wishes Andrea will leave him alone to wail about his injury and fate.

"I will send you away from this house when grandpa's will is read. And until then, I want you to stay at your side of the house and don't dare trespass into my compartment."

"I won't... Please go."

She stood up, hissed and spit on the miserable-looking man, "I had called my mom and informed her about your shameful act. Expect her tongue-lashing tomorrow."

The man in pain shrugged and sighed as his tormentor finally leave his room.

Like mother like daughter, Mary O'Connor is wayward and possessed the worst temper on earth, and it is quite unfortunate that her wagging tongues will be directed to curses and abuse Andrew when she comes by daybreak.

To Mary O'Connor, Andrew is the most unpleasant son-in-law their family will be plagued with, and she had severally drummed it in his ears how glad she will feel when they finally get rid of him.

As for Timothy O'Connor, the timid man will always be controlled by his possessive wife, and whatever is good in Mary's sight, is okay for him.

Poor Andrew is the only outsider among the O'Connor family, and it was his devious ambition that made him juggle Grandpa to support him to marry the Cinderella of the family.

At least, that was what the dwellers of Arkansas were made to believe in.

But in truth, he was hoodwinked into the marriage, and it was his helpless position that made him accept to marry the woman who never likes him since childhood.

As far back as he could remember, the O'Connor family always see him as a gold digger and an opportunist, and only Grandpa stood by him through thick and thin.

Andrea didn't love him, nor did she make any effort to appear so. And their relationship was like that of a cat and a dog when Brain O'Connor was alive. But when the old man suddenly slumped and died, the rejected son-in-law of the O'Connor family was made to go through hell on earth.

Thanks to Brian's last statement which made it compulsory for Andrew to remain in his Villa and as Andrea's husband, the rest of the family would have erased all his links to their family name.

Truth be told, Andrew looked forward to being free from this captive, and he had made up his mind to seek greener pastures with his share of Brian's will. Of course, the compassionate man will be kind enough to leave something for him as well.

When his wife began to show her real colour, he was cajoled to go and look for a job, despite the large grant that their family were receiving every quarter of the year from grandpa's trust fund. But wherever he submitted his application form, he was immediately rejected when the employer discovered he is the son-in-law of one of the richest names in the country.

Brian's wealth lies in his shares with several companies, and because he was an inactive worker, his wealth keeps accumulating, even after his death.

Being an outsider, Andrew realized he had no right to the dead man's estate. And he is only staying here to honour his last wish.

As for the O'Connor family and their frivolous lifestyle, let them all go to hell after.

According to Brian, Andrew is the grandson of his only friend and the soul survival of his family. And because of the circumstances surrounding the death of the rest of his family, Brian decided to change his name, and the boy was brought up in his villa and bears his surname.

Though Andrew agrees he will always be O'Connor, even if he finally discovered who he is. This promise was made to the dead man promptly before he takes his last breath.

"There is nothing for me anymore in this house, if Andrea can prove that Johnson is not mine!"

When Andrea declared openly three years ago that she was pregnant, the whole family taunted and ridiculed her for agreeing to be put in the family way by someone as worthless as Andrew, and it was only Brian who was very happy and even decided to throw a party when Johnson arrived nine months later.

Now that the old man is dead, and his last link to the O'Connor family is nothing but a mirage, there is no reason for him to remain here, except for the dead man's last wish and the few golds that may come along with it.

As expected Mary O'Connor was as angry as a mad bull the following morning and even her husband cowered at the sight of her outrage.

"Where is that irresponsible son-in-law of mine? I heard you disgrace my daughter in the presence of our family lawyer?"

"Am so sorry, Mrs Mary. It was-."

'Whack!'

Andrew felt a sharp pain as Mary O'Connor slapped him on his face, and felt faint when she marched his wounded leg with the heel of her shoe.

"Did you want to kill this poor man here? Remember he is our responsibility until my dad's property is shared among us."

"That doesn't give him the right to be embarrassing my darling daughter in front of her visitor."

"We could at least hear what he has to say to defend himself and not be biased in our judgment."

"What did he have to say? There is nothing worthy from a criminal's mouth."

Andrew held his swollen knee until the pain subsided and he can glint a kind of sympathy on Timothy's face, albeit for a while.

"Tell us what you have to say to defend this allegation against you?"

"I can't sleep because of my sad mood, and Andrea had locked the wine store and kept the key away from me."

"How did you enter the store when the door is jammed?"

"I met the door opened, and-.''

'Whack... Whack!'

"Let him be. I don't want to be indicted for murder."

"He is a thief and must have stolen the extra keys to all the rooms in this villa... Let's check his body."

"Get your goddam hands off my pockets."

'Whack!'

"Stop hitting him. I feel pity for his-."

"I said it, didn't I? Is this not a bunch of keys that open all the rooms in this villa? Andrew must be the one that stole my diamond chain."

Andrew closed his eyes and wish death will just visit him now and save him from this disgrace.

He knew Mary O'Connor did not have any diamond chain, but who will believe he wasn't a thief when the spare keys to all the rooms were found in his pocket?

"How did you come across this bunch of keys?"

"Grandpa gave it to me."

"Liar. I said you are nothing but a cheap liar. Make sure he didn't run while I called the police."

"We need to tread cautiously. Andrew is still bearing our names and it will be disgraceful when people associate a convict with us."

"I don't care. He had been stealing valuable things in this villa, and I will imprison him until he divulges where all his bounties were kept."

"I swear before God and man. Brian gave it to me before his death."

"What have you stolen so far?"

"Nothing... Except for these two cartoons of liquor."

Mary O'Connor tried to slap the poor man on the floor, but her husband stands in the way of her thrust, held her hand and dragged her out of Andrew's room.

"If you won't allow me to beat him to death, forbade me from handing him over to the police, then don't quibble when I paid some bunch of hired goons to teach him the lesson of his life."

"He is hurt and will probably remain indoors for a month, is that not enough punishment for his crime?"

"Not to me. I will rather take care of his wound until he is fully healed than send him an errand into the midst of my disciplinary committee."

'Do what you want. Just make sure he isn't killed, at least till our shares of Brian's assets are given to us."

Mary O'Connor seemed to be agreeing to her husband's suggestion for the first time since they got married, and this promptly makes the soft man grin with excitement as he was ordered to call the ambulance.

Timothy could vividly remember his dad wasn't a wealthy man by birth, nor did he amass wealth in his youth. The man was an ordinary farmer until he received a mail one day, and off he went.

Three days later, he arrived with a baby on one shoulder and a bag of dollars on the second shoulder. And that was the beginning of an abrupt rise of fortune for the country farmer.

Months later, a beautiful Villa was constructed, and lots of racy cars adorned the large grassland. And the name O'Connor was henceforth associated with riches.

Andrew was as happy as King when he heard the sound of an ambulance. Unknown of Mary O'Connor's plan against him, the young man was cheerful when a dose of painkiller was injected into him, and he was asleep before the ambulance drove into the hospital.

Overnight was the worst day of his life, and he had prayed for the death that never come during his trial moment. Since Nature can't be cheated, he was lost in dreamland for a very long time, and the pain in his knee lessened when consciousness returned to him.

As expected, his consciousness also comes along with the memory of his dejected situation.

When the alarm on the hospital wall clock chimed to announce the arrival of a new day, the forlorn man realizes this will be the thirty-two lonely birthday of his life.

How time flies!

To some, life is not a bed of roses. But to poor Andrew, his life was always filled with thorns and pains.

To be fair to him, he had a reason to be depressed.

No wife, no child and not even a penny in his pocket.

Worst of all, his name was borrowed.

Andrew felt like an alien in a world filled with humans, and the certainty that he will forever remain poor and alone made him soak in his tears till daylight chased the darkness away.

"I pray Brian will give me enough share to at least make me live a comfortable life."

That is Andrew's last hope, and any disappointment from his guardian will lead him to a mental breakdown.

"Good morning, Mr Andrew."

A man in laboratory clothing walked closer and offered a beaming smile.

"Where am I?" Andrew asked in a whisper, and then frown his face as the remembrance of what brought him here dawned on him.

"I hope you are feeling better."

Andrew nodded in response as the physician checked the log book in his front, bobbed his head and let out, " since there is no major fracture or dislocation, I will inform the nurses to discharge you."

"Thanks, doctor," he answered back as he stood from the hospital bed.

"You are welcome. We are always happy to give attention to the O'Connor family. Let's I forget, a man came to check on you and asked me to give this to you."

Andrew collected the wrapped packet from the doctor, stare at the strange telephone numbers, and shrugged as he put it inside his trouser's back pocket. And he was walking lamely out of the hospital when he remembered it, pulled it out, unwrapped and peeked at the credit card in his hand.

"Excuse me please, can I use the hospital phone to make a call?"

The lady in white apparel gawked at him, and it was her respect for the O'Connor family that made her wave her left hand and let out, "go ahead, but make it quick."

"Thanks," Andrew said, walked towards the telephone and quickly dialled the number on the package.

"Hello, this is Andrew-,"

"My lord," the voice at the other end of the line cut into his speech, paused for a while, and let out after, " "that credit card contains a million dollars, please use it to take care of yourself for a while, I will get back to you."

"Who are you?... Hello... Hello," he gawk at the telephone in his hand, back at the credit card, and then muttered out in disbelief, "a million dollars!"