The Heir Son

Seydou: hello sir

Mendouga: ah sacred Seydou. I see you in good shape today

Seydou: not really sir

Mendouga: what is going on? What could make you out of shape on such a sunny morning?

Seydou: we are going to leave the city sir

My father quickly put down the newspaper he had in his hands

Mendouga: I don't understand

Seydou: I'm going back to Garoua with my family. My children need some grounding

Mendouga: but, why now?

Seydou: it had to be. I've always been putting off this moment but now it's imminent

Mendouga: I hope it's not because of the problem that there were weeks back huh

Seydou: wailay! Sir nothing to do. I spent a lot of time here in Yaoundé I was as reliable as I could by your side. You are a good person sir. But, I also have a family that calls me. I want the best for each of my children

My mother listened to their conversation. She hid herself and was even very discreet. She seemed to know everything Seydou was saying as words.

Mendouga: in any case, I won't find another like you huh

Seydou: it goes straight to my heart

Mendouga: I'm coming!

My father had gone up to his office and had come down with an envelope that had filled it well. He had given it to Seydou who for his part was happy

Seydou! Thanks a lot. Sir, take care of your children. Watch over Gideon this child is an angel fallen from heaven

My mother had come out of her hiding place. When Seydou saw it, he hid his envelope directly in his pocket.

Sarah: Hello. What is happening here ?

Seydou: I'm leaving Madam... Lowering her eyes

She had had no sympathy

Sarah: oh

Mendouga: I will explain everything to you

Seydou: I'll leave you. Have a good day

Mendouga: thank you for everything Seydou. Best wishes

Sara: goodbye

Seydou was gone. He had gone home with his head held high. He was reunited with his wife and three children.

Wife: my husband

Seydou: I'm here

Woman: how did it go

Seydou: I spoke with the chef. 9a went well. He gave me this envelope

His wife opened the envelope. She was shocked to see such a sum in her hands.

Woman: oh allah

Her husband looked in the envelope

Seydou: oh Al-hamdu li-lah (expression of thanksgiving)

Woman: He's a good man

Seydou: he was disappointed that I was leaving. Luckily he gave me this before his wife arrived

Woman: What did you tell him?

Seydou: what I was supposed to tell him. We are going to live in Garoua with the children

Wife: his wife was really mean

Seydou: it works on everyone, you know. She's a well-placed woman

Woman: she is lucky

Seydou: we are as we are. We live on what we have. You have nothing to envy him. Life is like that

Woman: Yes you are right. What do we do with this money?

Seydou: we're going to keep that and already start counting it

They were happy. It was a kind of thank you for all these years of loyalty.

A few hours later, someone knocked on their door. Their daughter Khadîdja had left to open.

Khadidja: are you coming to see dad? Hello

She let the person in and rushed to her father's room to warn him of the visit. Seydou was surprised to see who was facing him

Seydou: Mr. Mendouga?

Mendouga: Seydou

Seydou: but take a seat

Mendouga: oh, I won't be long

Seydou: is there a problem?

Mendouga: none. Just, I don't know why you left. If I am certain of anything, it is that you will not go to Garoua

Seydou: I don't want any trouble sir

Mendouga: you will have no problem

Seydou: Okay!

Mendouga: I know that the atmosphere was no longer the same after what had happened with my eldest son

Seydou: yes it was no longer easy to be looked at as a thug by your wife

Menduga: I know. I just came to tell you that your choice is completely respected. I know you are a straight man

He gave her a card

Mendouga: on this sheet, there are the contact details of a friend of mine. He's looking for a driver and I know your abilities. He wants a driver on site who will be housed with his family

Seydou: what?

Mendouga: if you agree, he accepts you whenever you want. He moves around a lot, which is why he takes care of the family's accommodation.

Seydou: what a coincidence

Mendouga: It's not really a coincidence. He was looking for a faithful driver because the other had stolen from him. He hasn't found anyone since.

They laughed

Seydou: I will talk about it with my wife

This one was in the corridor and listened to everything. She purposely left

Mendouga: oh Aminatou

Aminatou: Mr Jean

Mendouga: how are you?

Aminatou: yes, very good. I take this opportunity to say thank you for the envelope

Mendouga: It's nothing. Alright, I'll leave you

They had said goodbye. Mendouga, my father, had gone back to his usual occupations.

With us, everything was going well. Life was as usual nothing had changed in everyone's behavior at home. Seydou had been taken on as a driver but he had made it a condition not to start until the next school year. The time that his children end up in the school where they were. Which had been the case.

A year had passed and there was nothing new. My brother and I still didn't love each other more than that. My mother always had this rather unpleasant behavior with the people around her. A few months later, we were off to college.

My brother was even worse. Worse than usual. It did not improve over time.

Four years later

While we were in the fourth grade, things were going to get even worse. My father had gone on a business trip for a week.

A party had been organized by some of our comrades. They had voluntarily skipped class. My brother was among the disorderly gang.

They had organized an orgy. There was everything at their mini party. Alcohol and other narcotics they wanted to test.

My brother was with fifteen to seventeen year olds. It is true that Aristide was tall for his age. It worked in his favor to mingle with delinquents bigger than him.

Their party had gone wrong. They were at a young second and the big brother of this one had returned unexpectedly. He wondered where that noise, that smoke, was coming from.

When he entered his house, he noticed that there were young people in the middle of an orgy. Young people who didn't care and filmed themselves half-naked.

The big brother of this sophomore was angry and he showed it. Except that while chasing his offenders, things had turned into a fight and a young girl in third grade had been seriously injured by a beer bottle that had been broken on her head.

They panicked and many fled. Including, my brother.

The older brother who had arrived in a hurry had informed her parents and had led the young girl to an infirmary. He had called our establishment to report the girl who had been recognized by the absence list.

The accident was serious. So serious that the principal of the establishment had gathered all the students in the course to make a speech on the deviant behavior of young people.

Principal: I know that today is not Monday. But, I wanted to bring you all together because a member of this establishment was affected. Young people had fun fleeing class to party yesterday. One of these young people whose only practice is truancy found herself affected and is still today in a hospital bed with loss of consciousness.

Dear young people, if you are on these benches, it is for your future. Avoid skipping class for alcohol or drugs. It won't do you any good except destroy you

When the principal had finished, we all left for our respective classes. My brother lived as if nothing had happened while he was present at this party

The parents of the young Embolo Natacha had come to complain. They wanted to know all the young people who were at this party. But others were quickly gone. They didn't all know each other. My brother, until today had never been accused. His name had been crossed off the list of absentees.

My mother had arranged everything with the general overseer.

My father had never known about this story. It had passed just like many other such stories. This was a background from my childhood. Now you know everything about me. Who is this Sarah, my beloved mother? This Aristide, this business father and myself. Who are we really? We were the perfect family in front of several people. But, things were much deeper than that. Each family has its own particularity and growing up, I understood that.

Two brothers with different behaviors. Everything was going well until Gideon's big brother, Aristide blamed their driver.

This had set fire to their house and caused a problem between the driver who had received a slap from the angry mother.

When the driver came to pick us up, my older brother Aristide was not there. When she explained this to my mother, she didn't want to hear anything and just wanted to see her darling son.

Seydou: Madam, I swear on what is dearest to me on this earth that I looked for your son. I was about to leave since you and your husband weren't responding.

Sara: yes. We are busy people. If you are left with the simple task of picking up children and you do not arrive, then you are worth nothing

Seydou: Madam, I respect you a lot. I accept your humiliations. You know why ?

Sarah: I don't care about your life and your reasons. Poor mop

Seydou had said nothing

Sarah: let's get my child

Seydou had taken over the wheel. He searched again and again. It was six o'clock when I heard the sound of my big brother's bedroom door. I ran in that direction

Gideon: where were you?

Aristide: you are not the Gestapo

Gideon: You're weird sometimes. With Seydou we looked for you everywhere you were nowhere

Aristide: you are the weird one. let me get dressed

Gideon: what's on your lap? Did you fight?

Aristide: it's none of your business

Gédéon: through your fault, Seydou received a slap from mom

Aristide: I did nothing

Gideon: are you doing it on purpose or what?

I came out of his room and called my mother.

I had explained to him my big brother was at home. They rushed home

Seydou was following my mother when she called him to the door. He was not allowed to enter his sumptuous house. In was just a driver for her

Sarah: my son you gave me one of those scares

Aristide faked tears. I did not understand anything

Sarah: What is it?

Aristide: it's Seydou. This morning he scolded me when I was eating my bread in the car. Coming home today he was angry and told me to get out of the car. Let him drop Gideon and come back for me after

Gideon: what? It's wrong

My mother didn't seem to want to listen to what I had to say. She had a look red with anger. Only God knows what was going through his mind at that exact moment.

Sarah: he will feel me

She had gone out to find Seydou. Poor guy, he didn't know what was going to happen to him. She left and entered immediately. She rushed to the kitchen and came out with a bucket of water filled with ice cubes.

She poured it out to him as he sat in front of the fence.

Sarah: I say no more. You're gonna get out of here tonight

I was talking to my brother who came out of this story well

Gideon: why did you do that?

Aristide: I did nothing

Gideon: everyday I really find it hard to believe that we are brothers

Aristide: you're a fool huh. Who did you think your brother was? Do you think that since you're dad's favorite, I'm going to love you too much?

Gideon: you are mom's favourite. Besides, unlike her, dad has no preference

Aristide: leave me the camp or I will beat you now

Gideon: I don't care. Who do you even think you are? Look at this

My brother hit my head. I was so angry that day because of what he had done that I had made him even stronger

But, when I returned to her, my mother arrived

Sarah: hey ha

Gideon: he started it

Sarah: you want to kill me right?

I didn't know what to say. She had brought us to our knees. Aristide was injured so he had not been punished.

My father came home at six-thirty. He had found Seydou wet waiting for him. My father had come in with him, which infuriated my mother even more.

Sarah: What is he doing here?

Mendouga: who?

Sarah: him there

My father had found me on my knees and he had just asked me for a bottle of water.

He had sat down.

Mendouga: why is Seydou soaked from head to toe?

Sarah: Who are you asking?

Mendouga: over to you

Sarah: let him answer you

Mendouga: he explained everything to me

Sarah: so you have your answer

Mendouga: hey ha. Aristide where were you?

Aristide: I have already explained. He left me and I had to manage to get back

My dad just laughed

Mendouga: Seydou has always been reliable

Sarah: So it's my son who's lying? He's fired, he can carry his stuff

Mendouga: he will not go anywhere. Seydou, I'm sorry about that. This must not happen again. You have your week take good care of your family. You can leave

Seydou had returned home after this humiliation by our mother in front of us.

Mendouga: I know each of you as if I had made you. Aristide, I'm not going to ask that a third time. Where were you ?

Sarah: do not threaten me the child Jean Mendouga

Mendouga: my patient has limits Aristide

Aristide: I was with friends

Mendouga: why did you lie?

Aristide: I was afraid that I would be scolded

Mendouga: is that what I taught you? At the age if you start like that? Do you know what it means to be accused unfairly? You don't know Aristide. I always told you here that...

Sarah: what? You traumatize me the child with your cries

My mother always used to defend my older brother. He was like an egg in her eyes. It was unbearable for my father. My mother did too much but she often didn't realize this mother hen behavior.

Mendouga: hum! You have no more pocket money and lunch. You will often leave with the bread and everything in your bag

My father had gone up to his room.

Gideon: bleurk! sticking out his tongue

My mother had followed him into the bedroom

Sarah: I didn't like it

Mendouga: what exactly? You ridiculed that poor gentleman in front of the children. He has children bigger than yours Sarah

Sarah: so what? He thought about the stress I could feel?

Mendouga: this is where we are going to spoil ourselves Sarah

Sarah: Cabri is dead can he still die? You let him into my house Mendouga thin

Mendouga: what is happening to you Sarah? What is it?

Sarah: you know very well what is

Mendouga: I've always told you that you don't raise a child like that. More of a boy. What exactly do you want to teach him

Sarah? What are you training a future bandit. Your son there lies like he breathes. Only nine years old. It is unacceptable

Sarah: I made the child there alone?

Mendouga: I had a big day Sarah. The boss, the director. Can I have some rest?

Sarah: you are not a victim eh Jean

My father no longer answered him. He was calm. He didn't talk much and just acted. Unlike my mother who when she was somewhere, we had to know. My father was rich, coveted but very simple.

When we sat down to eat, my father was not there. He was angry and wanted to be left alone.

When we were done, we each went to their rooms.

The next day, as usual, we headed to school. It was not Seydou who took care of accompanying us. It was another driver.

My brother was quite calm. The whole week was quiet. Seydou returned the following week. My mother was avoiding her, she hadn't even apologized for her gesture.

His wife had asked him to stop working for us. But, he was used to it and he was well paid, he had told her. His patience was remarkable.

The following week, my mother secretly gave my brother some money. My father didn't know that. She yielded to all these whims. It was Aristide or nothing. And, a lot was explained / During her delivery, my mother had suffered a lot.

She had lost a lot of blood and her life was at stake. There was something strong that bound her to my brother. It was like his life.

When she found out she was pregnant with me, she wasn't very thrilled. Often she says that my arrival didn't let her take advantage of my brother.

It was his opinion and nothing else.

Days passed and there was nothing new. One day, Seydou came to pick us up at home. He told us that was the last time he was with us. J3 wondered if my father knew about this. It's true that he couldn't really be quiet anymore. He was in conflict with my mother.

I had accepted the news. During the night, my father and my mother were talking in their room. She continued on this momentum that Seydou had threatened Aristide and that was the reason why the latter had lied.

My tired father had accepted Seydou's resignation. He had given her a good envelope. But, what had happened? Why had he changed his mind a few weeks later?

Sarah: Wake up. you will be late

Mendouga: you start again with your cries in the morning like that, honey

Sarah: you know very well and just like me that these children are always late

Mendouga: it's the age eh darling

Sarah: except that it's starting to annoy me

It is six o'clock in the central region more precisely in Yaoundé in Cameroon where we lived with my parents, Sarah and Mendouga or Mr. Jean Mendouga. And my big brother Aristide.

My father is a very influential man with several businesses in his possession. He knows several personalities of this country to believe that he himself would end up a politician. His wife, Sarah, maiden name Morena, works in the tax department.

Currently, I am eight years old and I have only one dream to be like my father. A man respected by all but above all, a good father. Always present and attentive.

I get up as usual, always before my big brother who loves sleep. I rush to his room to avoid mum scolding him.

Gideon: Aristide, you have to get up, mom will get angry

Aristide: releases; You're always here bothering me. What's your problem if she scolds me?

Aristide and I were only a year apart. It wasn't huge. My mother who was always in the square had given birth immediately without wanting it

Sarah: what are you still doing here?

Aristide: Mom, Gideon is coming to bother me. He doesn't even make me want to get up. He can very well go to the shower while waiting

My mother began to squeeze my arm as she pushed me down the hall.

Sarah: I always told you that if you get up you can go get ready. Why are you coming to disturb Aristide? Huh... Fear it more

Gideon: I'm sorry mom it was...

Sarah: Shut up. Go to the shower and try to tie your shoelaces well I don't want to see that as a kind

Mom didn't like it when I went to my brother's room in the morning or at night before bedtime. She thought we were noisy when we were in the same room. Which wasn't completely wrong. My brother didn't like to see me he did everything to keep me in trouble.

Of course, we were from the same parents. But, we were completely different. Very different even especially at the behavioral level.

I rushed to the shower as my mother had ordered me to. I was taking my shower when my brother started to argue.

Aristide: I want to wash I'm hungry

Gideon: I came before you

Aristide: yes but you had all the time

Gideon: I haven't even been here for five minutes

Aristide: I'm going to hit you huh stuip

Gideon: ekie! Hmm type then. Because of you mom scolds me and what are you doing to me like that

Aristide: you have your chance huh. Hurry up

Gideon: stiippp

My father who was passing by took the opportunity to greet us

Mendouga: how are the children?

Aristide who was yawning very loudly

Aristide: yes dad

I had heard him behind the shower curtain and I had answered him by swallowing soap suds without doing it on purpose.

I hurriedly showered. Quickly, I left to get dressed and join my parents.

Mendouga: ah, my champion

Gideon: yes dad

Mendouga: I see that you are very well there. Another day of attack

Gideon: to be like you daddy

Mendouga: that's my son

My mother looked at us with disdain.

Sarah: Go sit down for lunch. You are very nonchalant so you are quick

Sometimes she was very tough. But, I know it was for my good. I had lunch without waiting for my brother who had just taken a toast because there was no more time. Before leaving, our father repeated his favorite phrase to us.

Mendouga: work well huh. Only that pays off. Pay attention in class

Aristide: Dad, every day?

My mother burst out laughing

Gideon: see you tonight daddy

We had left to join the driver who was already waiting for us

Seydou: hello children

Aristide: sorry, we are in a hurry

As you will have seen, my brother was very arrogant. He had no respect for anyone. It was the perfect shot of a rich kid...

Gideon: hello Seydou. How are you this morning ?

Seydou: my little one, it's fine

We were in the car when the driver noticed that my older brother was putting bread crumbs everywhere.

Seydou: Aristide, don't you have a handkerchief or something?

Aristide: why?

Seydou: my little one, look how you dirty the car

Aristide: and then, there is a good why? What are you good for? Is it your job to keep the car clean or not?

The driver no longer dared open it. Seydou had worked for us for several years already. He was keen on this job which was well paid in order to feed his wife and three children. He was a straight man who did well what he was employed for. He knew what he wanted and knew how to keep his cool. I shook my head at my brother's response. I found him so oblivious to several things.

Gédéon: Seydou, you know, it doesn't matter

My brother looked at me with fury then, he continued to manipulate his tablet.

Seydou: thank you my dear

He dropped us off at the entrance

Seydou: see you tonight. Work well

Gideon: thank you Seydou

My brother had taken his bag and rushed to his friends. I had left a smile to Seydou who started to go home

Seydou: this little one will go far... He said to himself as he started

I had joined the classroom. I was the youngest. I had a good academic level that I had to skip a class. I was in the same classroom as my brother. But sometimes we were like strangers.

When the master entered the classroom, he was still chatting with his friends. As if there was no authority in the classroom.

Mr. Bikok: hello everyone

Class: hello sir... Getting up

Mr. Bikok: you can sit down. You had a good weekend ?

Class: yes sir

The teacher began to count to mark the numbers on the board. Then he asked if we had done our math exercises

Everyone had done their exercises. We were pretty brave in that class. The middle course one was not that difficult after all. The teachers were considering offering the primary school certificate to several of us. But, my father was opposed to it especially for me.

At recess, I went out to eat with my friends.

Joy: I don't understand your brother huh

Gideon: Me neither.

Cédric: are you going to the fair?

Gideon: no

Joe: why?

Gideon: I'm not interested

Joy: with the girls we will come

Cédric: I will also come

Gideon: okay

My mother barely arrived at her job. She often used to arrive a little late.

Sarah: hello everyone

Secretary: hello madam director

Sarah: honey, what shoe is that?

Secretary: Excuse me ma'am?

Sarah: You heard me right. You should take some fashion classes huh

She burst out laughing

Sarah: you come to work here and wear Morguier's shoes?

A colleague had burst out laughing in front of the ashamed secretary

Colleague: wer Sarah does not finish me. How are the mortuary shoes?

Sarah: brother, are we going to teach the staff everything?

They walked into my mother's office. During their break, she had gone to join two of her friends in a restaurant.

Sarah: my besties

Lucy: look how bubbly you are... taking off her sunglasses

Aicha: my luxury coconut

Sarah: my luxury bamoun

She kissed her friends

Sarah: What do we say then?

Aicha: my darling, it's been a long time

Sarah: It's time. When you're a busy woman, it's really difficult

Lucy: my darling woukouuu it can be seen that you are in great shape

Sarah: Are you saying that? Look how you shine. you are nyanga

Aicha: sorry, the nyangalitos leave me. I'm hungry. We order nor

Lucy: famine leaves no one

They had ordered, ate and told their lives. They tended to exaggerate a bit. Their friendship was a bit of a did you see me? Who had the most fun and interesting life? It was all about that.

My mother was a very proud and arrogant woman. Everything for her and nothing for the others. She tended to forget where she came from. She didn't hesitate to put people down to trample them even more.

In all of this, people feared and respected her.

The driver had come to pick us up and as usual, my big brother Aristide was acting up.

Gideon: good evening Seydou

Seydou: hello champion. Where is your brother?

Gideon: I don't know. I didn't see him in class

Seydou: we will wait here

That day, we had waited for over an hour. We knew that he used to come after a few minutes to the car.

Seydou had gone with me to look in the establishment, but he was not there. We waited again and then looked in the surrounding streets. There was no trace of my brother. We had called on his phone and nothing. We had contacted my father but it was going to the answering machine. Same for my mother. We had then returned and that day, my mother was already at home. But, she had her phone turned off

Gideon: good evening mom

Sarah: where is your brother?

Seydou didn't know my mother was there. So, to walk the streets with me, he dropped me off and decided to go back in search of my brother.

Gideon: I don't know mum

Sarah: how so? Where is Seydou?

Gideon: I had just pointed the finger at the court

My mother ran towards him. She screamed because he was already leaving

Sarah: Seydou where is Aristide?

Seydou: I'm going to look for it like that

Sarah: I see that you are joking with me... By tying her loincloth around the pelvis

Seydou: Madame, when I went to pick up the boys as usual, he wasn't there

Sarah: say rather that you forgot it

Seydou: what? Lady no. That's by no means what it's about.

I went out to watch the scene

Sarah: You are just an incompetent. If anything happens to my son you will see a mother's anger. We pay you well and you do anything

Gideon: Mom, Aristide wasn't there. We looked for him, called him and he didn't answer

Sarah: you close that for me and you go to your room immediately

I had gone up to my room. Upstairs I had seen how my mother slapped the poor driver who could only accept. He suffered the humiliations of my mother for the good of his family. It was shameful.