SERIES::THE MISSING KEY (EPISODE 16)

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John gently raised his head
when dad walked into his
room.To dad, he looked like he
was tired of life. He slowly sat up as
dad entered.He couldn’t understand
why dad was in his room. But
dad wasn’t looking angry and that
helped calm him down a bit.
Dad sat beside him, a moment
of silence lingered. Dad couldn’t
help but stare at John’s childhood picture on mini drawer beside John’s
bed. He picked it up, looked at
it, smiled slightly and dropped it
back.

“You know I
attempted smoking
when I was quite
young.” Dad
was gentle, John
listened. “I
really didn’t want to
do it,
but then, my
friends would
think that I was too
dull and
wouldn’t want me
to continue to
be their friends
again.But then
my grades began to
depreciate
and luckily for me
one of my
teachers called me
to order.I
heard one of them
became
addicted to drugs
and is
presently in a
psychiatric home
now.”
John shifted
uncomfortably on
the bed.
“And if I hadn’t
changed from
bad ways, I
wouldn’t have been
able to have a
wonderful family
and even be able to
carter
for them.” He
stopped and
stared directly at
John “Why did
you do it son?”
John looked up into
dad’s face
in confusion. Then in
a very soft
tone, “Why did you
make the
choice to start
smoking at a
very young age?”
“I… I don’t know
dad. My friends
were doing it and… ,
I wouldn’t
be their friends if I
didn’t join
them.”
John stammered.
“But didn’t you
know it was
wrong?”
“I… I knew it was
wrong dad
but… I didn’t have
anybody to
talk to. I was afraid
of losing my
friends. I couldn’t
talk to you or
mum and my
teachers are
always mean; I
couldn’t
possibly talk to
them without
getting my friends
into trouble.”
Dad sighed “I am
really sorry
son for not being
there for you.
But always
remember that
there
are times when you
must make
decisions on your
own.the fact that
you are just
14years old does
not mean you
should
not be wise in
making tough
choices”
“I am sixteen dad,”
John
injected, but with a
smile. He
was already
overwhelmed with
the way dad was
talking to him.
“sixteen? Wow!”
dad was really
surprised. When did
you get to
sixteen? My little
boy is almost
a man,” he said,
hitting
John lightly on the
head.
“We all have
conscience son and
we
always know when
we make the
right choice. And if
you are
confused about
making any
choice, come and
talk to me.”
“But you are always
at work
dad.”
“I promise you that
as from
today I will always
be there for
you to talk to. Don’t
worry
about my work; I
will work out
something that will
be fair to
every one of us.”
“Thanks dad,” John
said, he was
deeply glad.
Dad stood up and
stared at him
for some time, “You
know I
can’t believe how
big you have
grown.
John smiled
sheepishly.
“Do you have a
girlfriend?”
John looked sharply
at dad, “No”
Dad regarded him
for a while,
wondering what he
was doing
with a sachet of
condom.
“Girls don’t like me
and I am
scared of talking to
them” John
found himself
saying.“That’s not
true; you are a very
handsome
young man. You see,
girls like
intelligent and
confident men.
That’s why you
must concentrate
on your
studies and build
your self
confidence. All these
you can’t
achieve by missing
classes.
Right now your only
priorities
are your studies.
If your friends can’t
accept this
decision then you
leave them.
People will respect
you more
when you make the
right
choices
always.Thank God
you
were even thinking
of
protection,
but can you handle
the
consequences? No.
it will only
succeed in
distracting you from
your studies.” Dad
preached.
“I am sorry dad,”
“I want to trust to
make the
right decision and
talk to me
when you are
confused. I want
you to promise me
that you will
concentrate more
on your
studies,be a good
boy and make
better grades this
term. Will you
do that?”
“Yes dad, I
promise,”John said
with a smile.Dad
patted his back
and left.
John felt happy for
the first time
in a very long time.
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WATCH OUT FOR
EPISODE 17!!!