27

*
    
    We gathered around the table; I, Mark, Helen, Robert and Madam Theresa. We ate quietly, It was Robert who broke the silence first.
    "It's a pleasure to be here"
    "You had better stop being too respectful. C'mon Robert, it's makes me feel like I'm big. We are agemate remember?" Mark said.
    If everyone in the world is a replica of Mark, the world would be a good place 'cos Oh My God! Mark treats everyone equally regardless of where they came from or what they are going through.
    
    "What about your brother, Liam?" Madam Theresa asked.
    "Liam has fever" I responded before Mark could.
  "Oh My God, is it that bad?" She almost freaked out.
 "No, it's not at all. He has eaten and taken some drugs. I'll be back on his feet by the time he wakes up" Mark said.
  "What does it sound more like a bad news?" Robert said.
    "Jeez Robert!" I cautioned him.
  "I.. I meant the part he said 'Back on his feet' it goes a long way" He added then said; "Sorry" when he noticed that I was giving him an hard look.
    
    "My brother is not that bad. Or maybe he is but not as bad as you all think" Mark said.
    "Robert is sorry about what he just said" Helen said.
    
  "No it's fine. You know there is one thing about Liam.. He does crazy things in order to get some respect and..errm a reasonable space. He detests anything that could cause disorder and thereby won't appreciate it..." Mark told us.
    "What can we say, you know him best. He is your brother" Robert said.. I know he was being sarcastic.
    
    "Yeah right and..errm Liam  has been going through a lot "
    "What's that?" Madam Theresa and I asked at the same time.
  "Can one have money and still be unhappy?" Helen asked.
  "Money is not everything. Money can't buy happiness" Mark said.
   "Yeah I agree with that" I said.
    "You do?" Helen and Robert gazed at me.
   "Err.... Yes...Yes?" I know right, it depends on the situation you find yourself in, but for me.. I think Money is almost everything.
    
    "To everyone out there, they think my family is the best "
    "Well..." Robert wanted to say something again but Madam Theresa hushed him: "It's no joke, Mark is being serious " she said.
    
    "For crying out loud, what kind of father do we have?" Mark said as he stopped eating and dropped his cutlery on the plate.
 "Our Father does not even care about Liam! His health"
"Maybe because he is always yells at him" I replied innocently.
  "I am the calm one but he doesn't give a f**k about us. Dad never had this lackadaisical attitude "He shook his head in negation.
    
    " That's true. I can relate to that, I worked for Mr Maya for seven years" Helen said.
    
    "It's Saturday, he is supposed to be at home with us, or if he really has to go out... It should be work related or something even better but..but.." He paused..."He is with a woman right now, can you believe that?"
    "Huhh...What..!" We exclaimed like it's one very bad thing. Actually it is, His son is ill but his father didn't check up on him instead, he went with a woman. I am not even jealous at all, like eww eww.
    
 "My girlfriend, Jasmine lived close to a hotel, she said she saw him walk into the hotel with a young whore" He said; "I have given up on his absurd attitude but the fact that does not put his family first hits me really hard " 
    
   "Sorry Mark, He will change sooner or later, there is always a way out" Madam Theresa said.
    
  "I know we are grown up! Fine! Even when we have our own family; it doesn't mean we shouldn't look up to a father that we can genuinely tell what's going on in our life. Liam is a graduate now but Dad knows nothing" Mark let out.
    "Liam is now a graduate?! " We questioned simultaneously.
    
    "Yeah, but Dad is waiting for us as usual to leave the house, so that he can bring in his sluts... " Mark scoffed then he added; "Unknown to him that we always have our ways to find out what's going in this house"
    
    "That is the uhmm visitors I was referring to, remember when you asked me about people who visits..." Robert was talking to me and I nodded, feeling sort of distressed.
    
    "It's getting beyond control, Liam might..."
    
   "Well well and well..." Liam suddenly emerged, clapping his hands.
 "What happened to the table manners?" He quarried but we look at him shockingly. When did he get here?
    
    "Liam, you are awake! How do you feel now?" His brother asked him.
 "Very better. You know you are too loquacious Mark!" He said..then his expression suddenly changed to a stern one.
  He folded his hand and asked; "Why are you guys talking about my Dad and I? I heard everyone's voices and I know for sure that Mark didn't only do the gossiping " He said.
    
    Damn! The true Liam is back on his feet again!
    He really meant it, when he said it's gonna be a payback time as soon as he gets better.
  I thought he changed, ... Now what's with this wicked expression?
    
*

    "So why are you guys talking about my Dad and me? I heard everyone's voices and I know for sure that Mark didn't only do the gossiping " He said, folding his hands and giving us a stern look.
   We looked at him; speechlessly and our hearts were racing, Robert was more scared because he knew he said something bad about Liam.
    
  "Okay! That was a joke" Liam finally smiled and we heaved a heavy sigh of relief.
   "How do you feel now Liam" Mark, Madam Theresa and I asked at the same time.
   "Yeah. I'm better" Liam replied as he took his seat.
    
  I stood up, move towards him then I placed my palm on his forehead and my other palm on my own forehead to compare our temperature again.
   "Your temperature is normal now" I said..and he smiled.
    
    I returned to my seat to finish up my meal. No one was saying anything that was when I realized that they were all staring at me.
    "Uughh.?" I halted the awkward silence...
  "What did you just do?" Helen whispered into my ears.
    "I...I only checked if his temperature is not high" I explained to her and she responded by giving me an awkward head nod.
    
   "Okay... I am done here" Madam Theresa stood up.
 "I need to do my work quickly because my little children are waiting for me at home" She drank some water before climbing the staircase with her working materials.
    
   "We weren't gossiping about you Liam; I was only trying to impact a good impression about you into them since you won't show it to them yourself, " Mark told Liam.
    
    "I'm also done" Helen stood up and carried the meal she hasn't finished eating.. then she exit.
    "Me too" Robert stood up and did the same thing.. Leaving Mark, Liam, and I. Mark glared at me; guessing I might leave too.