Pearls of Love (Episode 15)



Saturdays are not my best days as you would have expected since it's supposed to be my work free day. I always have mixed feelings about Saturdays. It is usually hectic in the morning and sometimes you are nervous because everybody is around. Sundays are better; you go to Church in the morning and meet new people. There are activities in the church and most of the time you don't get bored. We were Catholics but I am not an extremist, I dislike hypocrites. I believe people should be allowed to practice their belief they way they feel best.

Discrimination of belief is one of the things I disliked a lot, aside that I didn't participate in any of the extra-activities in the Church, I mean like belonging to a choir group or being an usher. I went to church regularly and gave good offerings too, but that was it, no groups! On Saturday mornings, we usually tided up the house and I did regular exercise with Ann and Peter.


So this Saturday we are paying a family visit to Ken and Kate. Kate had called earlier to find out if we were coming for breakfast. I did my exercise earlier while Ann was in the kitchen.

Michael Bolton’s music filled the house from the sitting room, while the smell of fresh fried egg came from the kitchen. Ann, she knows what to cook and how to cook it well. I sometimes wonder at her talents. She was just perfect in domestic things.

When we met newly back in school I remember she had problems with her cooking, I had to help her out with it, until she became a better cook than I was, now she hardly remembers I taught her how to cook. Before then, I got very angry at her foods, and a lot of time, I rejected whatever she cooked until, we worked a way through, she’s better for it now.

Peter feels, he is a man now, he baths by himself, I did a little supervision. I agreed, at six, you should be allowed to do some things for yourself. He was suddenly becoming me. I was exhausted from the exercise, did some pushups, and a few weight lifts, and had so much sweat had to rush to the bath.

Most other weekends, I bathed with Ann, but couldn’t today since she was in the kitchen, I needed to get off the sweat. Sometimes even after bathing, she will still insist I stayed with her in the bathroom, while she bathed. We had a lot of fun.

When we bath together, we spent longer time in the bath, talking about things that come to mind at such times; sometimes we end up on the bed and may have to go back to bath again. Sometimes we end up canceling an outing if it wasn't very important.

One morning before we married, we were supposed to go out for shopping. We were in the bath.

“Ann, the more I see you like this the more I love you. It is contrary to what people say about lovers'. I told her stroking her breasts gently.

“What do people say?' she couldn’t look me in the eye, I think she was shy.

I held her from the back, so that my hard on was on her back.

“Dan', she called. I held her ear with my lip and whispered gently into her ear.

'They think when lovers see themselves too often; they get tired of each other'.

She moaned something, and tried to lose my grip of her, but I held her back.

'Common Dan, we are going out', she said, but I saw the urgency in her eyes. We ended up in bed and while in bed decided not to go out the whole of that day. We cooked together and ate in the bedroom. We watched some movie and played games all through the day. The entrance door was not opened the whole of that day. It was the following week we did the shopping.

I was bathing when Ann came into the room I heard her whistling to herself. It was Michael Bolton. I just imagined the way she was. I like stealing looks at her; it made the whole thing even more romantic.

A perfect relationship I had with Ann. I know a lot of people had respect for us because of the way we handled the relationship. I am not still sure if any relationship ever existed like ours. I still believe not even Romeo and Juliet's. I remember at a time, during the early stage of our relationship. I had a fight with a neighbor and he had come rushing with a knife to stab me. Ann pushed me off and stood to be stabbed. I was shocked and had to do something on time. I rushed at the neighbor and the people around took the knife away from him. There were so many fascinating things about her.


We were best of friends and defended each other against enemies.

I hated it whenever she was hurt, especially if I was the one responsible, but there are times we just had to hurt each other. But it doesn't last. Sometimes I wonder what she would have done to herself or to me, if she knew what happened between Rita and me.

I think the three of us has something in common though; we are determined people, having dreams and goals. There's no limit to success when you keep trying and striving. And failure is as easy too when you don't make efforts.

I chose the clothes for the outing, while Ann was bathed. She was always excited whenever I did that. I think I am good at choosing the best outfits for occasions. I hadn’t seen her on jean in quite a while and so I choose a jean and a tee-shirt for her and same for myself. The tee-shirt was sent to us from Ann's sister in Florida during our second wedding anniversary. The tee-shirts were the same design, only that mine is bigger than hers.

It is good looking sporty; we might go for some sports with Ken and Kate. I had missed playing snooker and tennis.


Ann had Pat's hair tied to the back, while she wore a very beautiful short skirt. Peter was also looking smart in a blue jean with tee-shirt. Ann, sure knows how to make beautiful kids. You know, one of our desires before getting married was to have beautiful kids, neat and intelligent, and to spend my earnings to take care of them.

Well, Ann is not just a good lover, wife, but also a very good mother. Good enough our house was not in rowdy neighborhood. It was just on its own. No much houses around. The few houses around were owned by people who also lived stylish and reserved. It was the kind of life I had always cherished, where you can be on your own without anybody interfering with you. Everybody around, lived a busy life style.

'Peter, you don't know how to skip-jump" Pat challenged him Peter was carrying his ball.

'You can't play ball too', Peter told her.

'I can play ball', Pat replied. Ann and I watched them in silence.

'Ball is not meant for girls', Peter told her.

'Girls can play ball too, but boys can't skip', Pat Challenged.

'Boys play ball and ski-jump girls ski-jump and play ball too'; Ann told them to end their argument.

'Girls don't know how to play ball', Peter said disagreeing with Ann. 'little girls can't'.

I smiled and knew Pat was going to keep arguing especially now that Peter had talked about little girls, and so I cut in

'Ann, please give us our food'. I said standing in Pat's way, she was standing on the chair while Ann fixed her hair.

'Sorry darling, just a minute more and we are done'. She flashed a smile. Ann, just too beautiful, especially when she flashes this smile she has. She's just wonderful. I couldn't help looking at her admiringly. Don't blame me after all she's my wife. She blushed and it was the sign I needed for us to have ended up in bed if it were some years back, now with kids, you have to be more careful at what you do, you know kids learn so easily these days, and I bet you don't want to teach your kids such kind of things. I wonder at some parents, they hardly have time for their children. Some parents are selfish, pretenders, morally indiscipline and do not show their kids love, this turns the children into what you can refer to as loners, some end up being sadists and a few even commit suicide, and you wonder why!. Those that are wise enough withdraw into their shell and develop talents to make them productive people in later life. When such parents discover how productive they are, they try to become nice to them. We'll, I intend to love my two kids equally, and make sure they achieve the best things of life. My girl was going to get married one day, but she has to marry someone intelligent like her father. Of course she's intelligent and beautiful like her mother.

After eating, we drove in the Land cruiser to Ken's place. They lived in a busy part of the town, there were many of the company workers in their area, and so we had to stop twice before driving into Ken's compound to greet some people we know.

As I drove into a parking space, Ken and Kate came out from the entrance door. They both look alike and you wonder if they are of the same parents. I remember Ann and I had been told several times that we look alike in spite the considerable difference in our build and heights. I am quite taller than Ann. But people tell us that we are just alike, not just in the way we behave but even in our looks. I have now come to accept the fact that when you live with someone for a long time, there are chances are that you and the person start behaving a like or even having similar physical appearance.

Nice seeing you guys again', it was Ken. He said as we all shook hand.

'Uncle Ken" Peter called out walking hand in hand with Pat. I love the pair. Compatible mate

'We want to see baby', Pat said.

Ken carried Pat up.

'Beautiful lady', He pecked her on the chin.

Ann and Kate talked and I marveled at the two ladies. They enjoyed talks about fashion, especially on hairstyles, latest gown designers and even earrings not to talk about shoes.

I have had to quarrel so many times with Ann about her craze over fashion. I prefer her dressing to cover every part, but she liked sleeveless clothes, but not the types that expose the breasts. So many times we have had to fight over some of these clothes.

I can't really tell what exactly it is with me, but I dislike men looking lustfully at my wife, call it jealousy I know I don't care, but I know I want my wife to be as reserved as possible. Not the usual hot-chick thing most guys are crazy about. I keep telling her, she's very beautiful and doesn't really need too much of the make-up to be noticed. Sometimes, she thinks I'm old – fashioned, but I don't think the same way.

Ann! I lost myself in thoughts watching her and Kate talk as we walked to the sitting room. Ken walked with Pat and Peter while I was lost in my own world, thinking about my wife, the woman I loved.

'Thinker', I suddenly heard Ann's voice called out. She could hardly stay alone without me for too long. The same way I couldn't let her be for too long. We were best of friends.

I looked at her and smiled. Ken and Kate had gone into the inner rooms while Peter and Pat were playing monopoly.

'Can I share your thoughts?' she asked.

I knew she was going to ask that. It is no longer like it used to be. Then, whenever I am in one of my quiet moods, she picked offence, rather than trying to find out why I suddenly became quiet. It usually caused us a lot of problem until after three years after our relationship that we learned a better way to handle that. I told her when I am like that I had things bothering me which I was thinking about, and they are usually my best moment of getting good ideas for my book.

'It's this magazine thing?' I told her

'Ssh...' she placed a tip of her finger across my lip 'not here'.

'Hey, what are the lovers doing?' it was Kate

I smiled; they had gone upstairs to get the baby, who was asleep. Peter and Pat quickly got up from their game to see the baby.

'Hey, don't wake her up" I cautioned them.

'Can I carry her" Peter asked, looking at Kate.

'No', I replied from where I was.

Ann took the baby from Kate and came to me. She looks so calm, oh babies. I love them. They don't know any troubles; they are just in their own world of peace. They are so loving, the way they cuddle. But I am usually scared of carrying little babies, they are so tiny.

'Hey boys, let's leave the girls and get down to some games', it was Ken.

'Yes uncle'. Peter replied holding his ball.

I looked at Ann to get her approval. She smiled, and nodded.

'Lovers- Hey! Kate teased.

'Don't mind us', Ann replied.

We left for the gym. It was long I worked out. I wasn't sure if I should play snooker or work-out.

'I think Peter have to play ball with Uncle Ken while I work-out'. I told them.

We stayed one hour at the gym before leaving to join them outside. Ann was making Kate's hair. That's another thing Ann was good at doing. She knows how to make hair well; she even makes her own hair by herself.

Pat was sitting with them; she looked tired. Immediately she saw us coming she rushed to meet Peter.

'What have you been doing?' she asked challengingly.

'What you can't do', Peter replied.

'Give me the ball', Pat made to collect the ball from Peter.

'You can't play it'. Peter told her, and they both struggled for the ball.

'Hey, common Peter, leave the ball for her" It was Ann.

Peter let go of the ball, but with a grudge. He grumbled some things, and then went to sit at the staircase. Ken went over to meet him; they have a way of understanding each other.

'Daddy, lets play ball', Pat requested.

'Okay', I replied

She started rolling the ball with her foot until she got to where I was standing.

I carried her up and kissed her lip.

'It’s no time for playing ball', I told her.

She didn't say anything, she knew she lost it.

'Can you join us to some snack up here?'

Ken called out. Ken and Peter where upstairs helping themselves to some snacks. I took Pat along with me. Before we left for our home that day, it was evening. The first thing I noticed as we approached the gate was a light on in one of the rooms in the house. It was unusual.

'Did we leave any light on?' I asked Ann as I parked the car in the garage.

'We must have', Ann replied.

It wasn't anything, but I felt a sudden fear. Something was wrong. I locked up the gate and we went in from the garage entrance, I felt panicky, I knew Ann was too, and I was sure that the kids also were, I needn't show the kids that Ann I were scared of something.

'Ann, I have a feeling something is wrong ', I told her quietly.

Now, I remember some of my experiences while in the high school, I had been a member of a cult group and had lived most of my life in the school in fear. Experiences from the past had thought me to be careful whenever I had premonitions.

'You think someone's up there?' Ann asked

"Yes"

'Let’s go up now" I told them and I held the two kids, while Ann followed. I locked up the garage door and we entered the open space containing the stair case, from which we climbed into the living room. The light was on; I suddenly heard a foot step from the duplex stairs. I knew my instinct was right. I heard Ann let out a gasp.

'Hey, none of you should move'. A man, about 6ft plus height stood on the stair-way, a machine gun held in his hand was pointing at my family. 

Categories: Short Stories & Articles

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