JEWEL

A family story

After school, Jewel joined a marcapolo heading home. In the vehicle, few people had to stand because all the seats are occupied. Jewel was lucky to get a seat for himself. It was a long ride home. He needed it. He had pity on an elderly woman standing next him. He took her like his mother. He couldn't bear to enjoy such comfort on his seat for a long ride while his mother would stand. His mind melted with compassion and guilt for even sitting at all. He stood up and offer his seat to her. The woman smiled and thanked Jewel before she claimed the seat.

Jewel arrived home and locked himself in his room. His mother returned from work tired and called out for Jewel. "Jewel! I'm home! Jewel! Where are you?" she screamed. She proceed to the kitchen to keep the food stuffs she bought. She stumbled on dirty plates and cups on the washing sink. Her tired looking face caused by stress at work was further marred with an anger that burst into flames. "Jewel!" Her voiced echoed. It sent tones of bitterness to Jewel's hearing. Tension seized his mind. "Yes mum!" Jewel answered as his heart drummed heavily. That tone sound familiar. He's grounded. He dashed out of his room to meet his mum. He ran into the kitchen. The look on his mother's face startled him. He stopped at the door with his hand on the knob, he flicked a quick look at the dirty dishes and stammered "Mm... mum wel..welcome." Fear curled his fingers into a trembling motion as he tried to worry about the punishment his mother would give to him. "You must be very stupid and insensible. You left the door ajar. You didn't know when I came in. A thief can as well sneak in and leave unnoticed. I called you and you couldn't answer. What sort of a foolish child are you? Look at the dishes. Didn't it occur to your lazy brain that I expect you to wash them before I return?" she asked Jewel with a facial expression that doesn't expect a reply from him. "Mum i'm sorry. I was up in my room drawing a..." His mother didn't allow him to finish. "Sorry for yourself. And oh yes, you're at it again, drawing drawing drawing! Is that the book I expect you to read? I've warned you never to draw again in this house! You are so very stupid. I don't want to meet this dishes in this ugly state again. Do your duties!" She finished and abandoned Jewel with the dirty plates.

Jewel quickly attend to the dirty dishes. He was so eager to finish his drawing and paint it as well. He sneaked out of the house to buy the colours he'd need. He returned and met his mum waiting for him. The excitement he had over the purchase of his colours faded. "Where are you coming from?" She asked him. "I...I...I am coming from the book shop" Jewel answered with a trembling voice as he tried to conceal the colours he bought. "Let me have what you're concealing now!" She snapped at Jewel. Jewel walked closer to his mother. "I'm sorry mum. Please I need this colours. Please mum I beg you." Jewel pleaded. "Oh you left the house without my consent to buy these. You must be very stupid. Jesus! I can't tolerate this anymore. You're trying my patience Jewel. I've warned you severally that I prefer to see you read than draw." She took the colours from him. "And this is the last time I'd have to speak to you on this. No more drawing. Never again. Are we on the same page?" She asked this time with a mean face that could abandon a slap on Jewel's chick. Jewel's weak gaze dropped to floor. "Okay mum." He said and darted to his room.

An old friend of Jewel's mother visited. They were discussing when Jewel's mother called him. She introduced Jewel to her as her son. Jewel's mother felt uneasy at the way her old friend was staring at Jewel. So she sent him back to his room. "Is that your son?" She asked with a probing look. "Of course. Why?" Jewel's mother answered. "Wow I wish I could have a son like him. He's so considerate, wise and caring." She said joyfully. Jewel's mother was a little lost. "You've caught me unprepared. Have you met my son before now?" She asked with an avid interest to get a reply. "Yes today in a vehicle on my way to the city here. It was a long ride. All the seats were taken. I had to stand. But your son took so much pity on me and did the noble thing by offering his seat to me. He was the only humble kid among many other kids in the vehicle. I was very impressed and envied whoever the mother is. I love his wisdom and sensibility." She said. A sweet smile stamped an obvious happiness on Jewel's mother. She tried had to stifle it but it escaped. "Thank you." She said and adjusted his body on her chair. She was proud of her son.

Later at night, Jewel's mother couldn't find sleep. She was tormented at the way she had treated his son earlier that day. Especially after what her old friend had said about him. Her old friend called him wise and sensible but she called him foolish and stupid, even insensible contrary to her old friend's confessions. She shoved her bed covers and slide out her bed. She got to Jewel's door and felt weak. Too weak to knock. Too hurt to move a muscle. Too guilty to touch the door's knob. She finally made effort to open the door slowly not to startle his son. Jewel was fast asleep. She walked calmly to his bedside and watched him remorsefully. Her gaze turned to Jewel's table and fell on Jewel's drawing. It was a birthday a card Jewel was making for her. Tomorrow was her birthday. It didn't even hit her. She totally forgot her own birthday. That moment little tears formed into a drop and trickled down on her chick. She has discovered why Jewel couldn't do his chores. Why he had sneak out of the house to buy the colours she seized from him. And all those time she was hard and mean on him. "I'm sorry." She heaved a tear and whispered to her sleeping Jewel. She left his room and return with the colours. She kept it at Jewel's door step not ruin his surprise for her. At least he won't know she has seen the gift he intend to give her. The next day before Jewel was up, she left the house to buy the most expensive colour, with the highest quality. She wrapped it up with some drawing materials. A gift for his Jewel on her birthday. Just imagine how Jewel will feel when he recieves them. His mum bought him drawing materials? Surely he'll feel like a cat that swallowed the canary:)

Sometimes we should let our children breath and enjoy their hobbies even when it doesn't connect to their academic pursuit. Yeah, we're spending much on their academic and you expect them to face their book squarely. Remember, their hobbies can make you a proud mother. You might benefit from it. Let the children live.

The small world is becoming even smaller. Lets be good to strangers and people leaving around us. The world is shrinking everyday as technology advances. One may never know what connections strangers and familiar faces share.

One day, just one day technology will scrunch up our little world into a tiny millet.