"I wish you were never born!"
Pa Aloy looked up at the heavens as he shouted this, oblivious to his 12--year--old granddaughter, Nana's,Nana's, presence,presence, even though her question had promoted his outburst.
She looked at him, hurt by this declaration..
"Why would you say that, grandpa?"
Pa Aloy was jerked back to reality and realized he had said his thoughts out loud.
"I'm sorry, my darling. It's not about you in particular. I meant your generation and the ones before yours. It's not personal;; I'm sorry."
He takes a sip of his drink from a cup before sitting on the stool.
"Why would you say that?"
She asked, settling back in her seat beside him on the balcony in her pparents's house. Her parents were on the verge of,divorce, and her grandpa had come to intercede to see if the relationship could be salvaged,salvaged, but no one was holding out any hope.
"You asked me what I missed the most about my early life."
"Yes,sir, I did."
"Well, I miss the good old days when things occured in their natural orders without everything that's wrong with the world currently."
"What do you mean, grandpa?"
"You see......"
He started his story the best way he could.
********************
Aloy walked into the room and shook hands with all his friends except Joe, his best friend. The others exchanged surprised glances but kept mute.
"Aloy, what's wrong between you and your best friend Joe? You snubbed him earlier today."
Ishmael,another one of his friends, asked after classes.
"Well, it's none of your business."
He snapped and walked away, anger clearly reading across his features,its vapor seemed to seep out of his clothes.
"Bro, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."
Joe pleaded with Aloy, sweating hard.
"I'm not going to cover up for you this is the height of it. How can you go to my girlfriend's party and steal from her? You still had the guts to try to sell it in her area. How stupid can you be?"
"I'm sorry, Aloy; I don't understand how it happened; I was just trying to survive. I'm my family's breadwinner, and you know it. It's not an excuse; I'm sorry."
Aloy softened and looked Joe over; he was his family's breadwinner,, but it wasn't an excuse. He shook his head and walked off, leaving him standing under the tree in front of their department after classes.
"I swore that whoever stole my Jewelry would go to jail; why did it have to be you?"
Anna shouted furiously at Aloy as he kneeled in front of her to apologize.
"I'm sorry, I just got backed into a tight spot,spot, and I needed urgent money."
"And why didn't you ask me? I would have given it to you, and you know it."
"I'm a man; my pride took over my common sense. I didn't want to have to ask you for help always."
"I wish it wasn't you; I can't stand to see your face around me anymore.. Just go."
"I'm sorry, Anna. It was stupid of me, but I'm sorry."
"Just get out; I'm done with you."
He stood up on his knees and walked out, his head hanging in shame. He loved Anna,Anna, but he couldn't stand to watch his best friend and brother go to jail.. It had to be done. He shook his head and walked away, downcast.
********************
"I thought you were tired of me, Aloy. I thought you didn't want me anymore."
Olusayo looked into her husband of thirteen years eyes.
"Why would I never want you anymore?? You are my life. I still love you as much as I did the day I asked you to marry me. Sure, it gets tiring or boring sometimes, but there's no one else I would rather spend the rest of my life with."
"Are you sure?"
She asks, smiling shyly.
"Of course I am. What gave you that impression? Come here."
He draws her closer toto their matrimonial bed and places a kiss on her forehead.
"I actually even thought you were going to divorce me."
He opened his mouth wide,wide, like he had heard an abomination.
"Divorce? Never!"
He shook his head firmly.
"That's a relief."
"As long as there's no violence involved in our affairs, no cheating, and no toxic no toxic atmosphere whatsoever, it's a lifetime thing. I signed an agreement acknowledging that it's till death do us part. I love you, my darling."
"I love you too, but the atmosphere isn't so lively."
She says, batting her lashes at him slyly.
Catching on to her meaning, he smiles.
"I think I know what to do; I'll just have to take you out tomorrow and spend the rest of the week spoiling you."
"I really deserve to be spoiled."
"And spoil you, I will."
She snuggles closer to him and lays her head on his chest.
*************************
"I will drag you; I'm a Gen Z baddie, purr."
The slim girl in a tight mini skirt and tank top told the driver matter of factly.
Pa Aloy tried to smooth the waters by interfering; it was just a minor misunderstanding of where to alight. There had been a miscommunication somewhere, and now the other passengers in the bus were held up too.
"You either get down here or do your worst."
The driver fired back at her, unyielding.
"Young lady, why don't you alight and get another bus to your destination? You are keeping the rest of us waiting by going back and forth with the driver."
She turned back on her seat in the bus, took one look at him, and,
"Shut up your stinking mouth, old man. No one asked for your input."
He felt himself shrink inwardly and kept quiet.
It's true he hasn't brushed his teeth this morning before rushing out because his toothpaste is finished and he was in too much of a of a hurry to leave the house. He exhaled in his palm to perceive the odor emanating from his mouth, and it was true; his mouth was stinking. How did she know by the way?
What sort of moral decadence made a young girl dress half naked and insult an elderly person? Something no one dared do in his generation.
Henceforth, he was going to have to ensure he brushes his teeth before leaving home and keep his mouth shut, stinky or not.
************************
"You see, my dear, it's hard not to miss the good old days. That incident with my friend would have ended up on a podcast if it had happened now, or maybe on social media. My wife and I had our rough moments, but we knew divorce wasn't an option, and we were better for it. The Gen Z baddie thing? Never would have happened in the good old days; all we had was a radio, no social media challenge, whatsoever."
Nana nods in understanding.
"I can understand you, grandpa, even though I don't agree. I can't imagine a world without social media and the right to choose your peace of mind over wanting to stay married. I'm glad I wasn't born in your generation, grandpa."
"Well, how are you liking the idea of your parents divorcing right now?"
She responds gloomily,
"I hate it."
"You have made my point for me."
He stands up painfully, an effect of old age.
"Let's go inside and see if there's anything we can do about your parents issues."
He downs the rest of his drink on his feet.
"To the good old days."
He says and drops his cup.