TENSIONS

An uneasy silence hung over the Masiyas house throughout supper. There was this feeling of tension in the air as the Masiyas ate in silence quietly avoiding making an effort to politely skirt the elephant in the room. Strict table manners were in strict observance and supper time conversation was was not on the menu that evening.

The only talking that happened was with the eyes with Mrs Masiya discreetly stealing glances at Mr Masiya as he ate, when she thought he was not looking. While Mr Masiya would sneak glimpses at Mrs Masiya taking care not to let her catch him staring. Peggy Sue watched them both hide behind the cover of politely passing the salt or a water pitcher while engaging in secret contest of wills to show whose poker face would show first.

The unease would have driven anyone else to leave the supper table prematurely . Fortunately Mrs Masiya had outdone herself in the kitchen and supper was super delicious prompting father and daughter to accept second helpings. Mrs Masiya was only too glad to oblige with a light hearted smile playing on her lips as she dished out for them.

Though they had not said it outright, she knew they were enjoying the meal. After all it was Sunday, the one day the family could just be together without the intrusion of work or school. The day could not be treated like any other and deserved a special treat.

Even as the silence hung in the air like a wet blanket threatening to ruin what was left of the day, the delicious aroma of the food filled the room and it's immediate surroundings replacing the dull atmosphere with it's cheerful presence. After eating for some time in complete silence, even in Mr Masiya's mood changed perceptibly becoming light hearted, and he could not help but commend his wife on her excellent cooking skills.

All seemed to be well, the hurts of earlier seemingly having been washed away and the Masiyas simply enjoying a delicious meal as a family. Peggy Sue gobbled down the last morsel of food on her plate with a loud smacking of her lips making her parents laugh and further helping to relax the mood. Taking advantage of the improving atmosphere, Peggy Sue pressed on the advantage to innocently ask, "Daddy?"

"Yes dear?" Mr Masiya responded pleasantly to his daughter.

"Why did you leave when I was talking about that boy who sang in church?"

The question which was asked with disarmingly simple innocence, seemed to hit both her parents with the explosive force of a nuclear bomb. Temporarily rendering them unable immobile with with a mixture of shock and anger. Both adults stared at their beautiful young daughter temporarily incapitated, unable, unwilling to believe the evidence of their own ears.

Mrs Masiya was the first to recover from the shock. "Sweetheart if you are done you can go to bed", she advised diplomatically doing her best to keep the tone of her voice calm.

Peggy Sue would have protested but one look at the stoney appearance on her father's face was enough and she scooted of to bed. Mrs Masiya waited until she was sure Peggy had retired to her bedroom before confronting her husband.

"What's going on Alex?", she asked Mr Masiya," I thought you said the boy moved in with relatives".

"Please just don't start with me on that issue!", snapped Mr Masiya struggling to keep his tone from rising with his voice still pregnant with a hint of anger.

" Tell me the truth me the truth did you kick that innocent little child on to the street?" pressed on Mrs Masiya.

"Honestly I don't know darling", replied Mr Masiya, his tone softening. " Mr Panganayi was the one who told me the boy would be moving in with relatives".

"The truth is plain to see, why else would that boy be staying with father Michael if his parents relatives had taken him?", questioned an emotionally charged Mrs Masiya.

" What would you have me do, take the boy in !?", retorted Mr Masiya.

"I just don't feel right living here knowing that our being here is the reason for depriving that boy of the only home he knew", insisted an emotionally distressed Mrs Masiya.

Mr Masiya just gave his wife a blank stare.

"Why Lucky?", Father Michael asked Luckson, his voice not betraying any emotions. " You broke that little girl's heart.

"She stole my heart!", Luckson burst out emotionally.

Father Michael was temporarily taken aback.

"She broke my heart first", went on Luckson.

" You know the girl?", asked Father Michael

"She is the little girl who lives at the house where I grew up". She was even playing outside with my ball when I went round there with Reuben".

"How does that make her responsible for the hurt you feel inside?", calmly asked Father Michael.

"I was happy living in that house with my parents. What happened to me is unfair", blurted out Luckson emotionally.

"It is also unfair to lay blame on a little girl who has no control over her life". returned Father Michael. She is just as much a victim of circumstances as you are".

"How can you compare me to her father?" Luckson asked bitterly.

"Calm yourself, I am only saying that girl has no say in how her life is run from one day to the next. Her life is in her parents hands, she is just an innocent soul", Father Michael counselled.

"As I once was", affirmed Luckson looking up into Father Michael's eyes. In that instance when their eyes locked, fellow feeling was expressed, sympathies were shared, there was an understanding that went even beyond the powers of verbal communication. What was discussed in that instant did not require any words. Mutual understanding was instantaneous in that moment of speechless dialogue.

The conversation carried on with Luckson giving vent to his emotions and bursting out, "l used to live the life that girl is living with my parents in that house, that was my life!", Luckson charged emotionally.

"Then what happened?", asked Father Michael sympathetically.