I have always warned my elder sister about gossip, but she never listens. A few years ago, a young couple moved into our neighborhood, and they seemed like the happiest people on earth. Since they were young, they became friends with our family quickly. I never cared who my mom made friends with, as long as they weren’t bringing any drama into our home.
This couple, known as Mummy Ire and Daddy Ire, became very close to our family. I later found out that the wife was in her early 20s and the husband in his late 20s. The wife was always at our place, chatting endlessly with my sister. They bonded fast and tight. I often saw them whispering, laughing, and having long conversations. Only God knows what they were always talking about that never seemed to finish.
Many months later, my sister randomly walked into my room. She sat on my bed, scrolling through her phone, unusually quiet. This is someone who hardly ever steps into my room — especially not for peace. We have learn to always avoid each other's space except it was important.
"What is it? What do you want? I don’t like the fact that you’re in my room, sitting on my bed so quietly. Say what you want to say and go out," I said calmly after turning my chair to face her. I didn't want to be rude. She's my elder sister, after all.
She gave me this weird smile, dropped her phone, and said,
“Do you know Mummy Ire and Daddy Ire are fighting?”
I rolled my eyes, uninterested. But I remembered she once accused me of being too cold and distant, so I tried to give her a little listening ear this time.
“So have they now settled?” I asked, trying to speed up the gossip session.
“No, they haven’t. They’re just smiling outside, but they’re fighting inside. Mummy Ire said her husband is seeing someone else,” she said with that nosy excitement that irritated me.
“Why is she telling you all this in the first place?” I asked, now genuinely surprised.
“Well, I noticed something was off with her, so I kept asking and asking until she finally opened up,” she replied.
I stared at her. Deep down, I wanted to shout "Mind your business!" but I held back and said something more junior brother like
“Well, I think you should stop talking to her about her family issue and stop asking questions. Being too curious always gets the cat killed.”
She felt like I had scold her and she became angry then left my room.
Fast forward a few weeks later, I was in my room when I heard people raising their voices to talk in our living room.
“That is not what I said! I never said so!”
That voice, I recognized it; it was Mummy Ire. I paused what I was doing and rushed out. In the sitting room were my sister, my mom, Mummy Ire, and her husband, Daddy Ire.
Apparently, my sister had gone to Daddy Ire behind everyone's back to “advise” him. She told him she heard he was seeing another woman and wanted to help fix things between him and his wife. She even offered to talk to Mummy Ire and help her adjust, in case it was something she wasn’t doing right.
Daddy Ire was shocked and angry. He came straight to our house, dragged his wife along, and asked,
“Why would you tell her I’m seeing someone else? What exactly are you people saying behind my back?”
Mummy Ire was looking surprised, like she was a 5 year old child.
“Me? I never said such a thing! Why would I say my husband is cheating when I know nothing like that is happening?”
Everyone turned to look at my sister, and at that moment, she was dumbfounded. She stood speechless, her eyes fixed on Mummy Ire.
“I just wanted to help,” she finally muttered. “I thought… maybe if I talked to him, he’d open up and I could help fix it... I didn’t mean any harm.”
But the damage was done. It didn’t matter what her intentions were, it came off like she was trying to cause trouble and destroy a happy home.
My mom had to step in and calm everyone down. She apologized to Daddy and Mummy Ire, reassured them that it wouldn’t happen again, and scolded my sister right there in front of them.
I sat quietly on a chair, watching my mom fix the mess. And when my sister finally muttered a tearful apology and walked to her room, our eyes met.
I didn’t say a word. I just gave her the “I told you so” look.
Everything was eventually settled, but my sister learned her lesson and never ask people about that business. Curiosity is good but being too curious kills the cat.
The End.
Thanks for reading; My name is Fashtioluwa. *All images used are mine.
