Johnson fiddled nervously with the cigar stick held between his fingers while he waited for his half-brother outside the grocery store. Both had gone to shop for groceries, special groceries, for a special occasion. The special occasion was the return of their elder brother, Lucky, from Norway, where he had gone to do his post-graduate studies. Lucky was the brightest of all the children in the family, he had gone through college on scholarship, his post-graduate studies was also on scholarship. And now he was coming back after 3 years, and as his siblings were expecting, he would be bringing back the lady he was engaged to to meet with his family.
The atmosphere around the house was that of excitement and fun. It was a fairly large family, composed of 7 siblings, their father Mr Dakota and his second wife. Mr Dakota had been married twice in his life, 5 children from his late first wife, and 2 from the present one, Eva.
The kitchen buzzed for hours and finally the dinning table soon bore the wait of various types of assorted delicacies. And the family sat around, as Mr Dakota said a short prayer, most importantly thanking the Almighty for the safe sojourn of his first son in a far away land and his safe return. After that cutlery-clinking sounds filled the air.
As they ate, light discussion flitted around the table. Pat was asking Lucky about the lady he had informed them he was bringing for introduction. Lucky was about to swallow a mouthful and reply when their father, who had heard Pat, spoke.
"Yes, Son." Mr Dakota set down his cutlery and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "You informed me of your intention of bringing home a lady to introduce to us. You know, as my first son I am worried about you, when you are gonna settle down and have a family. You are well over the age, and I would love to see the children of my first son before these eyes of mine finally closes forever."
The feeling of peplexity that lingered on Lucky's face for a few minutes didn't escape the notice of his siblings, especially Pat who was watching him closely. Lucky stammered a little as he answered.
"Yes Dad. I think the day after tommorow would be best. We planned flying back together, but Nora had a lot to tidy up in Norway, so I had to leave her and fly home. She would be touching down on Friday, and I think that would be a good time for the introduction."
Mr Dakota was disturbed by his son's reaction, but he chose to say no more until after the meal. After the meal he called his son to his room.
" Yes, that lady of yours, Korra..."
"Nora"
"Yes. Hope she will be good enough** for this family. Who is she anyway. What's her nationality?"
Luc**ky felt like a fly caught in a web at that instant. He was aware his father, he had always told them very early enough, was against any of his children getting married to someone from the United States.
"She is American, Dad. But her mother is of Ecuadorian descent..."
Mr Dakota cut his son off abruptly. "American? You know I will never be in support of such a union. Son, why would you choose an American? Aren't there good beautiful girls here amongst us?" The old man paused. " Maybe it was a mistake allowing you to go overseas for your education."
"But Dad," Lucky sought to press his case with his dad to enlighten him. " Dad I really love her, and I couldn't live the rest of my life with any other girl. She is the most lovely girl I have ever met, and between us there is extraordinary chemistry. But what's wrong with Americans, what's wrong with marrying outside our tribe?"
Mr Dakota didn't reply. His son knew quite well why he would never be in support of such a union. He signalled the end of the discussion by calmly waving his son away.
Mr Dakota's rigid stance against any of his children marrying an American was because of the deep resentment native Indians had for Americans because of how their ancestors were massacred by the Founding Fathers and their lands taken. Mr Dakota's great great grand fathers had perished in that war. From that point the head of the Dakota family was warned by his progenitor never to have anything close to do with a US citizen, especially marriage. Now that age-old resentment had reappeared and threatened to shatter the peace and calm of the Dakota household.
Finally Nora was introduced to the Dakotas by Lucky. They were surprised by their dad's amiable disposition towards Nora. Maybe he was accessing her character to know if there was room for compromise in his marital beliefs. The tension was almost palpable.
Nora was a lady who charmed everyone she met. Beautiful, courteous, smart, and indeed she had every admirable quality that could make a woman attractive. Everyone in the Dakota family soon warmed up to her after the introduction. Then a brief discussion, especially between Mr Dakota, his wife Eva and Nora.
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Lucky persisted in his little crusade of winning his father over, but the resistance held out longer than he had expected. In the end he decided to go ahead with the nuptials to the woman he loved, without his father's consent.
Mr Dakota didn't attend the wedding, lovely, lively wedding it was. All his children's efforts to convince him had failed.
Nora became super-useful to the Dakota household. She was of course the daughter of a US senator. Through the influence of Nora's father, several of Mr Dakota's children got high appointments in the civil service. Infact Nora's wedding into the Dakota family changed the family, improved their finances, their social standing, and everything. But still Mr. Dakota never supported her union with his son, not even when he heard of how well she was raising her children, his grandchildren. Or how well she lived with his son, or her immense usefulness to the Dakota family. He did at last but on his deathbed.
Mr Dakota had fallen under the affliction of the liver disease and the doctor said he he had eleven months to live. During the fifth month he rang his son, Lucky and asked to meet him, his wife, Nora, and their two children.
Lucky was surprised that his father apologized to him for not supporting his marrying Nora while he lay on his sickbed. His father had been the proud and domineering type and rarely apologized to anyone.
"I thought it good to iron out our difficulties before my passing so I meet the good Lord with a pure heart." Mr Dakota paused. "Aside that, I have, during all those years of silence and lack of communication, considered the matter of your marriage well, and I have to say it is not my place to choose a spouse for any of my children. My role as a father is to guide you in making that choice and not to force upon you my will, because it is a decision the maker will have to live with all days of his life. Also your wife has brought a lot of good things to our family and will bring more. If good things as these can come from marriage affiliations who am I to say no because of some ancient resentment held by our forefathers?"
Here Mr Penn paused and stretced out his hand, and grasped the hand of his son
"Sorry son." he said, and tears rose to the eyes of Lucky.
"Sorry my son." he said again, then paused and looked around him and saw his daughter-in-law. "Come close my daughter. And these children of yours how lovely they are, I am indeed happy to see the children of my first son before I go."
"Nora," Nora held her father-in-laws hand. "Continue being a good wife to my son, and a good mother to my grandchildren and always look out for my son, he can be very silly at times." Lucky smirked a little. " I pronounce this day my blessing on your union and my acceptance of it, and now my peace is complete. May you both and your two children, my grandchildren, always have the best in life wherever you go."
Mr Dakota spent some time with Jeff and Jerry the children of his first son before they went to the living room with their mum leaving Lucky alone with his dad.
Mr Dakota passed painlessly in his sleep a few days afterward. While Lucky mourned the death of his dad he was comforted by the knowledge that both had made up before he died. He was also happy that his father retracted on the decision for none of his children to marry an American, at least it would be easier on his siblings and he would carry on with his blissful marriage with Nora and his sons without being burdened and troubled by the fact of his Dad not being in support.
Insignificant as it may seem, his father's blessing on their marriage meant a lot to him. He was sure it would have caused him much worry and he was glad for that retraction that happened at his father's death bed before he passed on. And maybe his father had had a change of heart on his previous decision because of Nora, how good and useful a woman she was to the Dakota family. Maybe if Lucky had married another lady things might have remained exactly the same.
The End.
Thanks For Reading.
Hello, @aloysiusmbaba this was a lovely read:) It must be so hard for people in love with each other to deal with objections due to one's nationality and past events. You told the story diligently, and it's grat that there was reconciliation before his dad's passing.
We thank you so much for sharing your story with us. We encourage authors to engage with other authors on their stories, and we do trust that you'll leave feedback on other members, as we strive to build community spirit and rapport.
Thanks for your compliments and for reading my story. On the matter of engagement with the write-ups of others in the community, I think I dropped about 6 comments last week.
Thanks a great deal.
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I have seen relationship crumble because of personalities, nationalities, and differences. I'm so glad that he accepted her at last.
@cescajove, Indeed. Thanks for reading my story.
I liked this story, I can understand wanting to perserve the tradition of the family even when you know it's not good for you or your children, but I'm happy that Dakota realized where he was wrong and made up with his son before his passing.
When you parents forgive you and/or apologize to you, it's really a comforting feeling.
Have some !PIZZA with !LUV
@ahmadmanga, Indeed. It is a good thing his father changed his decision and apologized to him before his death. Thanks for reading and thanks for the tips.
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