Micheal Sullivan

By Bayo Dotun

While in the college, Elizabeth was very popular because she was a good athlete. She recorded many success stories on the tracks, which fetched her fame and considerable fortunes. But when she was choosing a career, she did not hesitate to join her father’s growing business empire in spite of her success and fame on the tracks. Her choice of career was not informed by fame neither by easy fortunes that she could easily make on the tracks but by her childhood dream. When she was growing up, her only ambition was to become a member of one of the many rich business conglomerates around. She wanted to be known as a creative business woman, respected and admired by all and sundry.
The journey was tough and rough in the beginning but she was now a woman of substance and accomplishment. From her humble beginning as a junior manager, she had risen to become the director of planning and production, a position which made her the most powerful woman at Derby Chemical Company. The post was a coveted trophy for her doggedness and loyalty to the company. It took her twelve painstaking years to earn it. Being a woman, it was her own little achievement here. None of her predecessors were women and they were all white, driven by good ideals and robust ideas.
The intrigues involved in the selection process were not lost on her. In fact, there was another cruel twist to the story. Twelve years ago, nobody was willing to consider her for her present job because of her relationship with the founder and chairman of Derby Chemical Company. Being a hot seat, the occupant of the post must be brilliant and versatile. It was unethical to trivialize such an exalted position. Such sentiment could jeopardize the bright future of the company. The company had made such costly mistake in the past and had paid dearly for it.
Everything that could go wrong had gone wrong before the situation was rectified. Even the company’s profit margins were not spared. Then, it was as though the company would crumble and would be liquidated. But common sense prevailed and sanity was restored. How this was achieved was the tapestry around which this interesting story is woven.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bayo Dotun
• Release date: Mar 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311354914

Bayo Dotun

A BRIEF NOTE ON THE AUTHORBayo Dotun studied BioChemistry atObafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife,Nigeria. He lives in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Book preview

MICHEAL SULLIVAN

By

BAYO DOTUN

Published by

CREATIVE BOOKS

Suite 13/14 Block E, Expoyo Complex, Sanngo

P.O.Box 10692, Dugbe, Ibadan

Nigeria. Tel: [phone]

© Bayo Dotun 2016

All rights reserved. This book is sold subject to the condition that is shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

A BRIEF NOTE ON THE AUTHOR

Bayo Dotun studied BioChemistry at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife,

Nigeria. He lives in Ibadan, Nigeria.

MICHAEL SULLIVAN

Wars could mean destruction, blood shedding, intense pains and misfortunes. But peace could not be confined to a narrow border line .… it could not be solely defined as absence of war and conflict. After all, security of stomachs, prosperity of minds and pockets were undoubtedly important condition for a peaceful world.

This book is the story of two protagonists and their son who intends to print his name in gold in the history book.

He has the noble dream of championing campaigns against war and violence. The intrigues, romances and power-plays that characterize the pursuit of his dream in part form the kernel of this suspense-filled, interesting novel.

War means destruction, pains and losses. But peace is not just the absence of war as security of the stomach and prosperity too is an important condition for a peaceful world. This book is the story of protagonists with a noble dream of a world without war and violence. The intrigues and power-plays that characterize the pursuit of this dream form the kernel of this suspenseful, interesting novel.

Elizabeth and Charles knelt before the birds and were feeding them with biscuit crumbs when he chose to drop his bombshell. Without humour, he deflated her inflated expectations of marriage. Elizabeth, he continued softly. But in spite of what I had said so far, I may not be able to promise that I can be faithfully to you until I drop dead but I shall be faithful as long as circumstance permits me to do so. Long years of association may reveal some intolerable traits in me. It may be that I shall become and continue to be the most devoted husband but I cannot promise it, he kept silent and studied her face. Though she looked pale, sad and angry but she still kept her calm.

Every young girl always looks forward to a life of romance where feelings would not be hurt nor pain experienced. But the reality of our situation is different. This much was what Charles tried to let his young lover know.

The book, Michael Sullivan is a portrayal of the ups and downs that make up our life. It is woven around a couple with interplays of other colourful characters whose appearances, actions and utterances would make any reader ponder deeply about this life and the individuals that populate it.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

HE IS THE ALPHA AND OMEGA.

While in the college, Elizabeth was very popular because she was a good athlete. She recorded many success stories on the tracks, which fetched her fame and considerable fortunes. But when she was choosing a career, she did not hesitate to join her father’s growing business empire in spite of her success and fame on the tracks. Her choice of career was not informed by fame neither by easy fortunes that she could easily make on the tracks but by her childhood dream. When she was growing up, her only ambition was to become a member of one of the many rich business conglomerates around. She wanted to be known as a creative business woman, respected and admired by all and sundry.

The journey was tough and rough in the beginning but she was now a woman of substance and accomplishment. From her humble beginning as a junior manager, she had risen to become the director of planning and production, a position which made her the most powerful woman at Derby Chemical Company. The post was a coveted trophy for her doggedness and loyalty to the company. It took her twelve painstaking years to earn it. Being a woman, it was her own little achievement here. None of her predecessors were women and they were all white, driven by good ideals and robust ideas.

The intrigues involved in the selection process were not lost on her. In fact, there was another cruel twist to the story. Twelve years ago, nobody was willing to consider her for her present job because of her relationship with the founder and chairman of Derby Chemical Company. Being a hot seat, the occupant of the post must be brilliant and versatile. It was unethical to trivialize such an exalted position. Such sentiment could jeopardize the bright future of the company. The company had made such costly mistake in the past and had paid dearly for it.

Everything that could go wrong had gone wrong before the situation was rectified. Even the company’s profit margins were not spared. Then, it was as though the company would crumble and would be liquidated. But common sense prevailed and sanity was restored. How this was achieved was the tapestry around which this interesting story is woven.

PROLOGUE

At thirty-three, Elizabeth Sullivan had no reason to celebrate any of her numerous successes because the word ‘failure’ was alien to her. Her career was unmarked by disappointment, failure and betrayal that had become the three most famous plagues of this century. She passed out of the college at twenty-two with a gold trophy. At twenty-four, she got married to a man whom she loved and gave birth to a bouncing baby boy at twenty-five. Two years later, she was elected into Knightsbridge’s hall of fame because of her sterling contributions to community development and charity organizations within her domain.

While in the college, she was very popular because she was a good athlete. She recorded many success stories on the tracks, which fetched her fame and considerable fortunes. But when she was choosing a career, she did not hesitate to join her father’s growing business empire in spite of her success and fame on the tracks. Her choice of career was not informed by fame neither by easy fortunes that she could easily make on the tracks but by her childhood dream. When she was growing up, her only ambition was to become a member of one of the many rich business conglomerates around. She wanted to be known as a creative business woman, respected and admired by all and sundry.

The journey was tough and rough in the beginning but she was now a woman of substance and accomplishment. From her humble beginning as a junior manager, she had risen to become the director of planning and production, a position which made her the most powerful woman at Derby Chemical Company. The post was a coveted trophy for her doggedness and loyalty to the company. It took her twelve painstaking years to earn it. Being a woman, it was her own little achievement here. None of her predecessors were women and they were all white, driven by good ideals and robust ideas.

The intrigues involved in the selection process were not lost on her. In fact, there was another cruel twist to the story. Twelve years ago, nobody was willing to consider her for her present job because of her relationship with the founder and chairman of Derby Chemical Company. Being a hot seat, the occupant of the post must be brilliant and versatile. It was unethical to trivialize such an exalted position. Such sentiment could jeopardize the bright future of the company. The company had made such costly mistake in the past and had paid dearly for it.

Everything that could go wrong had gone wrong before the situation was rectified. Even the company’s profit margins were not spared. Then, it was as though the company would crumble and would be liquidated. But common sense prevailed and sanity was restored.

After that horrible but memorable period, the company had readjusted its rules and regulations in conformity with acceptable standard and practices. Elizabeth knew the history of the company well. She also knew that her proven record of achievement was the only criterion that the company considered before she was promoted to her present exalted position. The members of the management of the company were aware of her brilliant expositions while she was a deputy director. They cited her technical expertise and the creative contributions she had made towards the progress and the strength of the company as the reasons behind her promotion.

Expectedly, she had been performing her duties creditably well since she was appointed. Her major area of interest was to expand the scope of the company’s business interests and spread its sterling tentacles across the globe. She had already sent applications to the foreign trade office and to the office of the chancellor of Exchequer for necessary approval to open a cosmetic plant in Africa in partial fulfillment of her dream and goals. As soon she got that approval, she would commence the building of the plant. She had made the necessary preparations to avoid any hitch. Nothing must impede her progress. She would not allow anything to hamper her dream of becoming the head of a powerful global conglomerate. And of course, her own expectation of good tidings.

She was a trail blazer. Nothing was sweeter than success. Her successful exploit had won many admirers for her. It also provided for her a good house, many good cars and personal staff. She had good plans and the means to execute the plans. Her office was big and contained modern conveniences to make her job smoother and faster. In her own little way, she was an achiever.

She leaned back in the chair and smiled broadly. She could afford to smile now as she swam in luxury and wealth. She had many reasons to be grateful to the almighty God. Her career was progressing as anticipated and she had a happy and a healthy family. Indeed, she had many reasons to be grateful to the Almighty God.

On impulse, she picked the photo frame of her husband and son placed at a corner of her huge table and brought it under the light. The photo frame featured a muscular man and a young man silhouetted against the background of a snow-capped mountain. Just as she was replacing the photo frame back to its former position, the telephone on her table rang stridently. She replaced the photo frame and picked the telephone.

Hello, who is on the line? Elizabeth asked. Her voice was thin and soft.

This is George. E. Woods, her caller identified himself at the other end. War has broken out in the Middle-East.

Elizabeth ignored the concern and the pain in her father’s voice. She could not place his interest and concern. His business enterprises had no outlets or interests in the Middle-East. Who is the new Hitler? She asked good-humouredly.

Don’t be a fool. You must never joke with a bloody business like this one again, George chided her harshly. He lambasted her further before he hung up rudely. Without any doubt, it was obvious that her father was angry with her.

She sighed deeply and replaced the receiver back. She would not understand why her father was mad with her. To hell with any dirty war and any sympathy for it. As soon as she replaced the receiver, the telephone rang almost immediately. She allowed it to ring thrice before she picked it.

Hello, this is Robert. E. Woods from New York, Robert said rapidly. It was a long – distance call.

Hello, Uncle Robert, she shouted excitedly. She loved the man at the other end. Are you ……………………

There is war in the Middle-East, Robert interrupted harshly and began to criticize Israel’s western supporters. He was bitter and he railed and railed and railed on the telephone.

When he was finished, she heaved a sigh of relief as she replaced the receiver. What was going on? Why was everybody hysterical? In spite of her two callers’ disposition, she could not be persuaded that the war had anything to do with her. She was not a political animal. In fact, she did not have any interest beyond Commerce and Industries.

She was bitter that her father could insult her over issues that were beyond the precinct of her social and commercial interests. This was one situation that she could not accept. She had enough problems on her own. Twice this month, her doctor had insisted that she should find time to rest. Maybe, the man was right. Perhaps, what she needed was a vacation in a very nice and peaceful place.

The idea of a nice vacation came to her as a sweet relief. She had begun to plan mentally for its actualization. She would contact a tourist agent immediately for advice and souvenir. But she needed to discuss the idea with her husband before taking any decision. Charles would not be difficult to be persuaded. He would give in because of her.

PART ONE

THE CONCEPT OF LEADERSHIP IS A TRAGEDY. IN A TWIST OF REASONS, IT COMPARES MAN WITH GOD. BUT NO MAN IS PERFECT.

CHAPTER ONE

Her life story was replete with message of praises said too often in honour of her beauty which took her years to tend. At every gathering, fair comments were always passed on her smooth skin which was yet to be spoiled by old age. From her head to her toes, no part of her anatomy was spared of the poison, left behind by sharp inquisitive eyes which could become mischievous as well.

Initially, she thought that it was a crime to be beautiful. Of course, men could be nasty and stupid as well. They could trivialize anything and everything whenever they were in the grip of lust. Even her first success on the tracks was rubbished due to their parochial interests. She was sixteen then and she had just won a gold medal in an athletic meeting in Athens. Expectedly, many newspapers carried the news of her successful exploits on the tracks the following day and she became a national hero. She was a star now with her own numerous fans. And mails were coming in from her fans.

But she was in for a big surprise. Oftentimes, fame could turn out to be a big burden. While many of the letters commended her talent and were written according to the dictates of civility and decency however few of the letters were pure nonsense. Even one of her supposed fans wrote that he would be too glad to see what she would look like in his bedroom. To him, her nude body was more honourable than her talent on the tracks.

An impression was created in her young mind - and the impression stuck on her. Her narrow-mindedness was a big barrier to positive objectivity. She was fond of misconstruing admiration from the opposite sex for something sinister. When she was in her late teens and was fully grown up, young men of her age always tried to squeeze her breasts and slid trembling hands under her skirt at parties or in streets corners and she always rewarded them with dirty slaps. Many of her female friends confessed that they were delighted with the pranks of their boyfriends and hinted that she might be frigid but she dismissed all of them with puerile dignity as misguided youth.

She earned the tag of a frigid girl quite all right and grew up with it but she was not bothered. To her, men were prisoners of lust. However her perception of love and man changed drastically when she got married. She found an exception in Charles Sullivan. He was a compassionate companion for every woman desirous of marital bliss and peace. He accepted her for what she was and not what he thought she ought to be.

"Lizzy, are you ready for your knight with his shining armour? Charles asked softly from the bathroom.

I am ready, she replied sweetly. And she rolled over to her back on the four poster bed where she lay. She was enjoying every minute of her stay in the luxurious suite of an hotel which was called Leslie. Leslie hotel was located in the heart of Alvechurch village. The village was a journey of thirty minutes from Birmingham.

She loved the idea of staying alone with Charles in this little village which she considered to be a paradise on earth. In this village, she was not bothered by the trends in global politics or the news of upheavals from any part of the world. She was content to think only about herself, her eight year old son, Michael and Charles and their promising future.

She turned her head in the direction of the bathroom just as Charles started leisurely towards her on the bed. The masculine outline of his smooth body thrilled and excited her. It set her wild imagination free as she prepared herself to enjoy the husband of her youth.

Her eyes roved over his hair and the distinct features on his face as renewed excitement flared up within her. Oftentimes, the mind might be a fertile ground for intrigues and suggestive languages when the demarcating line between realities and imaginations became confusing and unstable. Yet it could not be otherwise, to most people, sex was a game of strength and sensitivity. And Charles was blessed with these two virtues. Besides, he was strong and big.

And these two important parameters were contained between the thighs of Charles. He was strong and big.

An hour later, Elizabeth was sleeping peacefully beside her husband who was too excited to sleep. He was in a strange though peculiar mood. Adrenalin was flowing in a continuous flux into his system. Life would be boring and idle without women. Women were lubricants needed to turn the wheels of progress. Without them, mankind would be doomed and condemned. Their feminine approaches to issues were the respite needed for a smoother world. Male Chauvinism was often fraught with violence and unbridled corruption. Oftentimes, it was menfolk that led us to wars but women had definitely saved us from experiencing them many times before. Charles considered himself lucky to have a beautiful woman as a wife. She was everything a man could dream for in a woman. He stared at her face as he recalled his recent past with affection.

They met each other fourteen years ago when he had gone on a shopping spree in a store off Oxford Street, recommended for its fair bargain and quality stock. In haste, he had picked his needs from the shelves and was pushing a trolley to the counter when Elizabeth appeared from nowhere and stopped him. Though he protested mildly nonetheless he stopped in spite of the fact that he had an urgent appointment at kings’ cross.

As he straightened up in anger, his eyes caught the soft blue in her eyes and the sparkle of her hair. Within a twinkle of an eye, his anger disappeared and was replaced with a broad smile. He had been swept off his feet by the beauty of the lady standing in front of him. The ancient chemistry of attraction between a man and a woman was in action again. His heart started to pound rhythmically in response to the sweet drum of desire being roused somewhere in his brain.

Yet he did not know how to express his feelings to a stranger whom he met barely few minutes ago. The lady would dismiss him as unserious and stupid. Of course, the situation was pretty better many decades ago however civilization had made everybody suspicious and cautious nowadays. Strange ideologies and new doctrines had replaced good old traditions and customs. Honesty of purpose and integrity had been defaced by sheer lust and immoral courage. It was rare to come across a believer of Love at first sight. Yet he was in love. He fell in love at first sight.

Afraid to be dismissed as an unserious adult by the elegant lady, he kept silent and studied her face with open admiration.

Elizabeth smiled at him. Hello, so much in a hurry

The pressure of work, Charles said casually and threw his hands up in the air as a gesture of helplessness.

It is a common plague in this century, she said and put a table clock and a calendar in his trolley. We are helpless about it.

He raised his eyebrows in irritation. I won’t need a table clock and a calendar now.

She smiled faintly. They are not for sale. They are your Christmas gifts. This store appreciates your patronage, she said crisply.

I am very grateful, he said cheerfully. But you are new here.

That is true. I am the new manageress of this store.

She was prompt and formal. After the Introduction, she excused herself and went to meet the other shoppers. He grinned broadly when he remembered what she said. There was nothing in her disposition to suggest that she acknowledged the open admiration on his face. It was too bad that her reaction was not encouraging at all. Reluctantly, he pushed his trolley to a female cashier and paid for his purchases.

He left her store that evening as a captive of strong passion. It was amazing how his love for this woman had changed his perception about marriage and marital bliss. His love for Elizabeth grew in folds as spent hours became days and days became weeks. In spite of her disposition, space and time constraints, Charles was unrepentant in his resolve to woo her.

She was the angel beside him each night on a cushion of air under the bright rays of the moon. She was the imaginary beauty queen that made him had wet dream each night. Indeed, she was many things in countless dreams he had had until he was fed up cuddling imaginary body that was too far from him even in a dream land. Two weeks elapsed before he thought of wooing her and he was successful as he had anticipated.

Their first outing was as memorable as it was exciting. They went to a restaurant at Park lane where expensive service did not prevent him from speaking out his mind. Emotion flew continuously as a man drunk with love confessed his feelings over delicious meals served hot to a lady who was suspicious of his motive. His speech was versed in the poem of true love. He added nothing and subtracted nothing from his feelings. He did not stop talking until the hardness in her eyes turned to a soft glow of warmth and understanding.

Captivated by his confidence and enchanted by his oratorical skill, Elizabeth became his reluctant admirer. Though she could not talk of love yet. If she were to be honest with him, she would tell him that his mouth was coated with sugar. But she was restrained by ethics and guided by good manners while she was replying him back. She asked him to give her a chance to think over everything he had said. This was better than rejecting him outrightly. She intended to play it soft with him. Even in personal relationship, diplomacy might be very important.

Charles could not be swept under the carpet just like that. There was something unique in him. It was in his stubbornness. At times, determination and persistent spirit could yield robust dividends. And she agreed reluctantly that there was nothing else she could do to deny him of his desire. Against her wish, his affectionate messages had softened her heart. After being jilted twice, her heart began to beat again in response to the rhythm of love messages being sung by the young man who was ignorant of her past.

She began to believe in the vast potentialities of his love for her and dismissed the two disappointments which she had suffered in the past as irrelevant in a moment of decision taking. Indeed, Charles had many sterling qualities. After all, he was different from some men who had tried to corrode her past. His easy smile and charms could make many women to melt on their feet. It was true that love grew with time but with the two of them, it grew in a hurry. After six months of blissful courtship, both of them were joined together in holy matrimony before an aged Anglican priest. Since then, their love for each other had continued to wax stronger.

There had not been a dull moment for the two of them since they began life as husband and wife exactly thirteen years ago. Their marital life was a story of joy and laughter. Their marriage was about understanding, sharing and caring. The two had not witnessed the kind of occasional strains and pains predicted by Charles a month after they were married. The young man was not being pessimistic; he was just trying to tell his spouse the other terrible sides of marital life.

He was rather blunt that day when he was trying to impress it on her the fact that marriage was not a bed of roses in a small park outside London. He was forthrightly honest with her to the point of creating unsolicited tension.

You are a wonderful and caring wife. Your presence in my life makes me a complete man, he had confessed to her in that park. For some years now, I have been looking for a woman like you and I have been conscientious and thorough in my search. I know that you are a woman of virtues. Proud yet humble, beautiful and glamorous. Since I met you, I have been thinking seriously about marriage not as a social contract though but as a sacred commitment ordained by God and the rules governing it must be observed strictly.

He paused and stared straight into her eye. He saw affection and joy in those blue pair. He was glad that she was happy and he smiled. Steadily, he rose to his feet and held out a hand to her. He pulled her to her feet as she grabbed his hand, and they started towards the flocks of pigeon at the other end of the park.

Both of them had knelt before the birds and were feeding them with biscuit crumbs when he chose to drop his bombshell. Without humour, he deflated her inflated expectations of marriage. Elizabeth, he continued softly. But in spite of what I had said so far, I may not be able to promise that I can be faithfully to you until I drop dead but I shall be faithful as long as circumstance permits me to do so. Long years of association may reveal some intolerable traits in me. It may be that I shall become and continue to be the most devoted husband but I cannot promise it, he kept silent and studied her face. Though she looked pale, sad and angry but she still kept her calm.

Charles felt pity for her. His actual intention was not to make her unease but to allow her to get a clear picture of the kind of roles he could possibly play in their marital life. It was his intention to let her know that she must not expect too much from him. He also wanted her to know that marriage as an institution called for tolerance, sacrifices and compromise from all the parties involved, I shall strive to make the love between us to grow stronger, he continued defiantly. But I shall not allow your definition of love to be of any hindrance to my pursuits. I cannot promise to conform to your ways neither would I bend to your wishes always though I shall try to do so.

When he was finished, Elizabeth eyed him in horror. Reality was proving too hard for her to accept. Why on earth did her husband want to spoil her fun? She was not happy with him but there was no bitterness on her face to betray her feelings. The thought of a ruined marriage was scary. Was it not ridiculous of her husband to be talking on the threats to their young marriage? Was it right of him to be predicting doom for it? Charles, it is rather unfortunate to be predicting doom for our young marriage. Why did it take you so long to confess your misgivings about our association? She asked bitterly. She was angry too. She hated the way her husband was talking about marriage as if he were talking on betting and horse racing where the stakes were limited and oftentimes temporary. His words were like cruel jokes in her ears – the kind of humour often associated with barbarians.

I am not predicting any doom for our marriage he said swiftly and calmly. Neither do I entertain any intention to hurt your feelings deliberately. However, I am obliged to let you know the difficulties so that we may avert them.

I don’t want to know about these difficulties. I think this is not the right place. You have no right to spoil my joy in this beautiful place. You should have waited for the right moment, she complained angrily.

His eyes became narrowed with pain. One must always learn from the mistake of the past. My parents’ marriage failed because they failed to discuss the difficulties associated with it in time.

Oh I see, she said weakly as she began to weep. Selflessness is an important character of any happy marriage, she thought. It requires of the two parties concerned to be considerate both in thought and in action. It was Charles’ insensitivity and utter disregard for her feelings that were making her to weep. In spite of his argument to the contrary, the reason why he spoke harshly of their future struck her as entirely insensitive, vague as evening sun in justification and wholesome cruel to their marriage.

You are spoiling my bright afternoon, Charles, She accused him amidst tears. This is no place to mention your fear

She continued to weep until she was tired. When her anger subsided, she was able to pick some vital points from his advice. It had dawned on her that he wanted the best for the two of them. She understood his points and promised to become an understanding wife. As anticipated by Charles, she had changed for good as she promised. Elizabeth was a matured woman now who could not be angry with her husband. Thank goodness, his recklessness in that park only strengthened the love between them. It had made the woman sleeping now a better wife.

He shook her arm gently. Are you awake?

She smiled but she did not open her eyes. Not really, I am exhausted.

He grinned. That is too bad. The day is still young.

I am getting out of the bed now, she declared sweetly and pushed away the cotton spread on her before she crawled out of the bed. Do you remember the treat you promised me at twelve?

He crawled out of the bed too. I do. It is going to be a big treat.

Both of them started for the bathroom. Within a minute, they disappeared into the bathroom and closed the door behind them.

You promise me a big treat, Elizabeth said as she wrapped her arm around his waist. They were on their way to a restaurant called Height where Charles was intending to spoil his wife in a big way.

Maybe, we can stop at the lake when we are coming back from the restaurant, Charles suggested calmly.

She smiled sweetly. I like the idea. It is good to explore nature with filled stomach.

He shrugged indifferently. Food cannot hinder fun.

They walked down a busy street and headed towards height restaurant, picking their way amidst hordes of farmers and farmhands in soiled clothes and heavy boots.

As they passed these people, Charles thought of his father’s desire but he dismissed the thought as quickly as it came. His father’s wishes belonged to the past, only the future mattered. And the lady beside him was the future. She was one of the few people on earth that he could not afford to disappoint. In a matter of priority, she came first. He preferred to see her smiling and happy.

The couple clutched their hands together as they walked past bars, stores and cottages on their way to the restaurant where they had planned to dine and wine on the eve of their departure from this village which harboured them for one happy month. They sighted the restaurant at a corner of a wide street and she became excited.

The restaurant is beautiful and modest, she said and smiled broadly. Her enthusiasm was infectious. I want you to spoil me a little. She said and stared at her husband straight in the eyes with tenderness.

For a reason not quite clear to Charles himself he averted her eyes and stared ahead. In the distance, he saw the signpost of the restaurant suspended in the air by a steel rod. Beyond the sign post was a flight of steps that led to the entrance door of the restaurant.

He grinned as he locked his eyes with her’s. I promise it and I shall fulfill it.

Two minutes later, they were in the restaurant. They chose a table at a shady terrace overlooking a green field where countless fat sheep were grazing. Both of them liked the scenery beyond the concrete balcony. They felt like going out there. They loved the green grass and the fluid movement of the animals grazing on it. It was not their fault. Nature had a way of luring people to revel in its beauty. The breath-taking picture of a still lake had the same pull as the beauty of snow-capped mountains.

They were still watching the grazing animals when a waiter approached their table. Reluctantly, they turned their heads away from the direction of the open field. Both of them stared at the waiter and Charles said something about the wonder of nature before he ordered for a bottle of wine, grilled lamb, salmon steaks, bacon and egg. He had it at the back of his mind to spoil his wife in a big and bizarre way. The waiter thought his order was ridiculous. Charles saw the funny expression on his face and shrugged indifferently. There was no way anybody could change his mind.

The waiter was puzzled. Do you want everything he asked incredulously.

Get going my friend, Charles said sharply. We are having a ball here today".

She winked at her husband. Your style is unique though bizarre.

Remember my promise. I promise something big and spectacular, he said seriously.

My great expectation, she shrieked delightedly when the waiter came with their order. Her mouth watered as steaming grilled lamb, salmon steaks, bacon and eggs and a bottle of chilled wine were placed on the table. This is great.

What are we waiting for? He uncorked the bottle of wine and poured it into two glasses. Afterward, there was clinking of glasses.They began to eat in silence but they were soon distracted by a woman who sat three tables away from them. The fat woman was sobbing profusely.

Charles studied the woman out of the corner of his eye. She looked sad and had red eyeballs. Obviously, she was disturbed. As she began to dab her swollen eyes with handkerchief, he stopped spying on her. He pitied her though he did not know why she was sad. Though he wanted to be of help but he didn’t know what to do. When he could not think of any, he abandoned the thought and concentrated on the sumptuous meals before him. It was after they had finished their food and were on their way out of the restaurant that his wife mentioned something about the sobbing woman. Charles merely shrugged his shoulders and stared blankly ahead.

I pity that woman, Lizzy said as they stepped out of the restaurant.

Charles gestured to her woman to keep silent. Suddenly he loathed the idea of discussing anybody. She is none of your business, he snapped.

You are an unfriendly man, she said bitterly. She hated the sourness in his voice.

Nosy English woman, he grinned boyishly. "My mother used to