Posts
When you realize that many kids do not have parents who love them well enough to beat them, you appreciate parents who do.
I can't even front, my parents beat Christ into my body that year. The fear of my dad's beating stick was the beginning of wisdom.
My mom didn't flog much. Her speciality was her wicked mouth. When she tongue-lashes you, the tears just flow freely fam.
We detested our dad's beating stick just as much as we detested our mom's evil tongue. Sometimes we preferred the whip though.
My mom lashes you with her vitriolic tongue and you start wondering if you weren't really adopted.
Words have a lasting effect on a kid's psyche. Some things my mom said then, I can't forget. That's probably why we're not so close today.
I remember the last time my dad tried to flog me. I was almost 17, hormones raging. He'd found some pornographic pictures in my wardrobe...
The moment I was told he was looking for me, I knew something was wrong. I checked the wardrobe and my heart sank. The end.
Pornographic material in a CHRISTIAN home. Taboo. TABOO! I was going to die, it was clear. What lie could I tell? None.
The journey from my room to his room remains the longest and hardest ever. My legs were made of steel.
When I got there, he was sitting on the bed. Eyes bloodshot, porn pictures on the right, bible and beating stick on the left.
Pop, in his calmest voice told me I was a big disgrace. A whole assistant choir director, Sunday school teacher, etc, with porn materials.
I was standing by the door, ready to bolt if he comes close. I guess he realised my plan so he asked me to come inside and lock the door.
I was young but I wasn't stupid. Locking the door meant certain death. So I refused. He yelled, but I didn't budge. That riled him the more.
He stood up with the beating stick and lunged at me. The whip landed on that curve between my neck and my shoulder. I saw 13 stars.
I was seeing the 14th star when the whip went up again. I don't know where the courage came from but I grabbed my dad's hand and said NO.
Well, since I was going to die anyway, I decided to try my luck. So in the deepest voice my 17year old lungs could muster, I said NO!
I don't know which shocked him more. Holding his hand or telling him no. But he paused. And that was all the motivation I needed.
I calmly continued. "I'm not a child anymore dad. This will be the last time you'll flog me. The bible says we should honour or parents...
...so that we may live long. But it also says parents shouldn't provoke their children to anger. Don't make me angry dad. Don't."
I will never forget the look on his face. He aged by like 10 years. My all powerful retired-soldier dad suddenly became frail. Old.
All this while I was still holding his hand. I dropped it, thought about picking up my porn pictures, but respected myself and walked out.
I never saw those pictures again. I never saw the beating stick either. And till today, nothing has ever been said about that incidence.
Csho Chilala
No comments:
Post a Comment