For about ten minutes Esi just scrolled through the various TV station channels and seemed not to find one to settle on. Her brother Caleb who was resting on the couch and was busily playing his video game stole glances at his sister in wonder.
“Boring!” she murmured.
“Then switch it off?” her younger brother who had just completed SHS told her. “You’re idle! Come, I’ve got work for you! Come and cheer me! I’m already winning in this football game!” he said to her with a wink.
“You aren’t serious!” she sneered after which she got up from the couch then went to stand by the window. She seemed so bored and was wondering what she could do to cheer herself up.
“Sundays are always boring! It’s either all the channels are showing church stuff, or showing some kinda Jesus movie! I’m so bored! I’ve virtually watched all the movies on my laptop over and over…. I wish I could even go out…But it looks like it's about to rain” she added as she drew aside the curtains then peeped to take a look at the sky.
“Then just sit and listen to any of the preaching on TV?” Caleb said to her still focusing on his game. “After all, it will be like you’ve also had church service in your home!”
“Ohh… I miss school! This long vac is getting unbearably boring! If I were to be in school I’m sure I’d be having some Sunday time out with my baes, you know! Caleb you should hurry and get to ‘Uni’ soon! There’s so much fun over there!”
“I know right!” Caleb added. “It’s just been 2 weeks since I completed high school, and I’m already sick and tired of mum and dad’s daily quarrel! They ‘fight’ like something!”
Esi turned bleak upon what her brother said.
THE CHARGE - EPISODE 2
Esi turned bleak upon what her brother said. Deep down her heart, she was afraid that their parents’ marriage would soon hit the rocks of divorce. There seemed to be no understanding in their marriage.
Ever since Esi was 15 years they'd been quarreling- mostly over trivial stuff, or issues like money, trust and fidelity. Many times she would just go to her room and cry.
At the age of 20, her parents had still not come to understand themselves; Esi had witnessed countless moments of verbal and physical abuse between her parents whenever they quarrel. She knew that divorce is disastrous, but somehow it seemed inevitable in her parents’ marriage.
Suddenly, Esi and Caleb heard a loud bang from upstairs that was followed by shouting and ranting. It was something they had become familiar with at home. And they knew their parents were at it again.
Mostly Mr. and Mrs. Owusu would quarrel from upstairs then bring it downstairs whenever their children were downstairs, as though they wanted their audience. They obviously didn’t realize that it was troubling their children emotionally.
As the siblings stole glances at each other when they realized that the footsteps and voices of their parents were drawing near, Caleb quickly went to lock their store room whiles Esi also went to lock their kitchen. They had witnessed an incident where their parents started fighting with a mop and a frying pan, and for that matter they always would lock those rooms when their parents begin to quarrel.
Unexpectedly, they heard a loud knock on their front door, and some chattering.
“Now what again!” Caleb grunted as he went to peep through the window. He was hoping it wouldn’t be one of their inquisitive neighbors coming to pry in their family matter again.
But when he realized that it was Enam with her angry looking father at the door, his heart almost skipped a beat.
#TheCharge
Dorothy Budu-Arthur
Watch out for
Sign up here with your email
