EARN YOUR KEEP!

Michael staggers into the house in the early hours of the morning barely keeping himself together. He is mumbling to himself while fumbling with the keypad code to the door.

"I shouldn't have had that last shot".

He eventually gets the code right and staggers into the sitting room where he sees his mother, Mrs. Oyinkansola Akinseloyin sitting patiently on the couch obviously waiting for him. She is a very beautiful woman whom Michael inherited most of his good looks form.He shakes his head twice to clear the fog of pounding in his head.

"Mom, what are you still doing awake?"

"Welcome Michael. I was waiting for you. Come and have a seat beside me."

She taps the space beside her on the couch to indicate where she means.He makes his way carefully towards her hoping that he could somehow hide the fact that he was drunk from her.

"What is it, Mom? I am tired, I need to get some shut-eye." He takes his seat beside her, belching as he did so.She looks disdainfully at him before clearing her throat.

"I want us to have a serious conversation."

Oh! No. Not now, please. Can't it wait till morning?"

"It can't Michael.

It's been a long time coming. You know better than to argue with me when I have made my point clear."

Struggling to stay awake, he resigns to what his mother said. He of all people knows that she can be a pushover once she sets her sights on something.

"Alright, Mom. Just please, make it snappy. I need to be in bed soon."

"I won't keep you too long I promise".

"Have your way. You already did anyway."

She smiles affectionately at him and pats his back.

"Your father told me he had a discussion with you before you went out."He rubs his forehead and groans out aloud.

"Not again! He had a discussion with himself. The discussion as you called it was one-sided. I can't say I participated in it."

She ignores his remark.

"So, tell me, what was the outcome?"

"It didn't have a good outcome at all which I am sure must know. By the way, why are you asking me? I am sure your husband must have told you everything. After all, you both conspired against me."

"We didn't conspire against you in any way. We only want what's best for you. Your life should already have a purpose, and definition at this age. The lifestyle you are living is cause for concern for your father and I. Just look at the time you came in. You came in a few minutes after two. You left home since evening, and you just deemed it fit to come home now reeking of alcohol and cigarettes. Take your brother, for instance, he has made us proud......."

"He cuts her off,"

"I didn't know you called me here to compare me to Mitch. You are proud of him and ashamed of me right?"

"No one is ashamed of you my darling son. I am only trying to make you see reason. It's been many years since you finished school with no purpose nor direction. You just left your certificate in the house to accumulate dust. I mean how long do you plan to keep this up? I admit it's our fault for making you feel like we expected nothing of you. Everything you have always wanted has always been given to you without stress. Is it too much to ask that you be responsible? It's the least you could do for us as your parents."

"Haven't I been responsible? I am grateful that you and dad toiled to have all we have. But, why are you both hell-bent on forcing me to work? We have more than enough already. What more could I possibly earn that would add to this wealth? It's all in place. You both should leave me to enjoy my life in peace."

"You don't understand. If you did, you wouldn't be talking this way. Do you think you would have everything you need at your disposal if your father didn't continue earning money to add to it? If all everyone does in this house is spend money without working for more, what would be left? If your father dies, and you spend everything he leaves you, what would you leave for your kids? I ask you. This situation is not complicated at all. All we want is for you to be responsible and earn your keep. It's not so difficult. You have always been brilliant and intelligent. I am sure you would enjoy working in your father's company and contributing your brains to the development of the company. I trust that you would excel should you set your mind to it."

He is silent for a few seconds apparently mulling over his mother's words.

"You think so, Mom? You really believe I have something to contribute to dad's company?"

"Of course, Michael. I have that much faith in you.""Do you know dad threatened to cut me out of his will?"

A smile twitches at the corner of her mouth, but she quickly suppresses it before he sees it."Your father won't cut you out of his will as long as you do what he wants. That's part of the issues. If you had your money, and you are financially stable, you wouldn't have to worry about your dad's will. You would be confident enough that you can do well enough with or without your father's wealth. Let me tell you something. Do you know that your grandfather left nothing for your father apart from his name? Everything your father has, he built from scratch. Now, look at everything we own today. It's only hard work and persistence that got your father where he is today. Ask yourself, what sort of legacy do you want to leave for your children? I certainly hope it's not drinking, smoking and whoring around town."

Come off it, Mom. I have heard all you said. I would think about it over the weekend."

"There's nothing more for you to think of except resuming work on Monday. You have to leave that irresponsible lifestyle of late-night crawling behind. You have outgrown it all."

"Okay, Mom. I would make changes I promise. I would still go to the club on occasion though. At least once I start work, you would back off my matter."

"No one would hassle you anymore as long as you decide to work, and not laze around the house all day. Your going to the club should be reduced to the barest minimum. That reminds me, did you apologize to the girl your father told you to?"He nods his head in confirmation.

"Yeah, I did. I sought her out yesterday night and apologized. It's just that she still seems stuck up on me. She said she has forgiven me, but she wants us to be together claiming she loves me and all that shit!"

"I have told you to stop using words like that in my presence anymore."

"I'm sorry, Mom."

"So, what did you tell her? I told her I was sorry for the hurt I caused her, but we can never be together in that way. I mean I only picked her up from the club one night. So, why is she acting like I took her virginity? Besides, the last time I had anything close to a relationship was in secondary school. Apologies mom, but you women can be so confused at times."

"Apology accepted. Why did you string her along when you knew you weren't ready for a relationship?"

"I didn't string her along at all. It was a one night stand which ended with us parting ways. I had totally forgotten about her until she started calling to threaten me. She's just plain greedy. A typical example of a gold digger I have always been warned to avoid. The entire situation is just something else."

"You see son, sex is a very powerful commitment between a man and a woman. It shouldn't be taken lightly at all. It's just that your generation has lost all morals by engaging in premarital, casual sex. How many women have you slept within the course of your quest?"

"Ewwww, Mom. I refuse to talk about my sexual life with you, it's private. It's embarrassing just to be here discussing it with you. Let's just leave it at that. I won't be involved with any woman I don't have serious intentions towards anymore. Is that okay with you? Can I go to bed now?"

He looks at his mother to see her smiling coyly at him.

"What Mom?" He smiles back at her.

"Nothing, son. You can go back to bed now, Mister private sexual life."

They both burst out laughing as Michael stands up to make his way into his bedroom.

"I love you, Mom. Thanks for everything. I promise to make you and dad proud of me henceforth. I hope Dad didn't touch my credit cards though."

"You do that. I love you too son, so much. I wouldn't know about your credit cards, you said you didn't want them anymore yourself."

She smiles at his retreating figure,

"See you in the morning."

She calls out after him.

Michael heads into his room and his mother soon makes her way into hers to join her husband in bed.

"That went better than I expected."

She thought to herself before closing her eyes to sleep in the bed.