GOOD_ISNT_GOOD_ENOUGH: Episode 3

GOOD_ISNT_GOOD_ENOUGH: episode 3

We touched down in Lusaka at 1pm but instead of going home, we had driven straight to state

house. The President had a meeting with the President of Angola and I had to be there. After

endless talks and meetings; I was finally heading home. The thought of seeing my wife and the

kids got me in high spirits, I just couldn’t believe that at the rate at which marriages were failing in

my country; mine kept growing stronger even after eight years.

I drove into the yard, I and my wife had decided to build the family house in New Kasama. This is

where we would raise the kids, the place they would grow up in and call home each and every day.

I saw the door open and knew it was probably Jason Junior my youngest child, he had taken after

his mother in so many ways and yet he is the one I was closest to. Mathews on the other hand,

was more of me; but closer to his mother. At eight he claimed he wasn’t a child and behaved way

older than kids his own age.

‘Daddy.’ Jason screamed immediately I got out of the vehicle

‘If it isn’t my future President.’ I said scooping him into my hands and throwing him in the air

He laughed, his laughter melting my soul.

‘Did the President greet me, did you tell him that he is my role model and that I want to be like him

some day?’ he asked too fast

‘By the time you reach twelve you will want to be an engineer, at fourteen you will want to be a

doctor. And at twenty, you will settle for what this country will offer you.’ Mathews said walking with

his mother

‘Daddy did you hear that?’ Jason complained making a face

‘Mathews apologize to your brother, you know he can be anything he sets his mind at.’

‘Exactly, how can the future of our country be dependent on a man that watches sponge bob

square pants?’

This sent I and Melisa into a wave of laughter, Mathews wanted to be an entrepreneur whilst

Jason a President but the two kept arguing on the two things they each wanted to become.

‘Can we save this for later whilst I greet my queen?’

‘The heir to your throne.’ The boys chorused as per my common saying

I put Jason down and held Melisa by the waist

‘I missed you baby.’ I said kissing her full on the lips

‘And I missed you.’ She responded wrapping her hands around my neck

We kissed for a while until we heard Mathews and Jason making noise in the house.

‘You need to give me a female child.’ I said walking hand in hand with her

‘I was last in labour six years ago, I am too old to go back there.’ She said shaking her head

‘I swear I will buy you the world if you do that.’ I said in her ears

‘And where will those two live if you buy me the world?’ she asked causing me to laugh

I walked to the bedroom with her, she helped with removing my shoes and shirt. Put the clothes

nicely in the basket and went to the kitchen to start dinner.

When I was done bathing, I wore a pair of shorts that Melisa had put on the bed with a t shirt and

slippers that were nicely put on the rag next to the bed. She had not stopped doing this all the

years that we were married, she was a perfectionist at being my wife.

I walked to the living room and found Jason watching sponge bob, I couldn’t help but laugh.

Mathews was in the kitchen helping his mum set the table.

‘Anything I can do to help?’ I asked the two

‘We gat this.’ Mathews responded

‘You are turning him into a woman.’ I said getting some water from the dispenser

‘I am teaching him how to treat a lady right.’

‘So you are saying that I don’t treat you right huh?’ I asked with a raised eye brow

‘Honey you know what I mean.’ She said defensively I raised my hands in surrender, I knew this wasn’t going to end well and I had learnt through the

years that it is actually better to surrender than finding myself in an argument with her.

‘Dinner is ready.’ Mathews shouted from the dining area

We all moved there and took our usual seats, I facing Melisa with Jason on my side and Mathews

on hers. Jason said grace and we dug into our food.

As usual my wife’s vinkhubala (Caterpillars) were mouthwatering and her impwa mixed with

lumanda just felt like home. The cassava nshima which she cooked each time I travelled was also

delicious.

‘Baby the food was amazing.’ I said after we had finished eating

She smiled.

The rest of the night Mathews and Jason helped each other with the dishes and cleaned the

kitchen whilst Melisa went to put their uniforms in order. When they were done they took a bath

and she waited for them to sleep before she headed to bed. I went to the study to work on a few

things before joining her.

‘You are still awake?’ I asked when I found her head lamp on

‘I haven’t been sleeping well the past few days.’ She confessed before yawning

I touched her forehead to make sure that she was not feeling sick.

‘Baby I am fine.’ She said laughing

I looked at her again just to make sure that she was telling me the truth, I loved her to the bone

and if anything was to happen to her; I don’t think I would be the same again.

I kissed her on the lips lightly before wrapping my arms around her.

‘I love you.’ I whispered

‘I love you.’ She said with a smile