Distrusted Uncles

Gül Işık
“How am I going to survive these huddles alone? The ones that are supposed to give me advice are no more. What would become of me? Will my family members stand a chance of helping me? Won’t they come for my father’s properties?” Michael was sobering, but his friend would leave his side even though he had nothing to render.
“Don’t worry, you and I will pass through this together; I shall not leave your side, come rain, come shine.” David was so concerned.
The death of Michael’s parents weighed him down, and his mode of thinking was just alarming. He was not thinking straight just because of the fact that he witnessed the accident. He was in his dad's car, but nothing happened to him. He was the only survivor. His father has a mansion and a supermarket, which his mom controls. With Michael’s age, he would not be able to handle those properties until he is 18 years old and out of the university.

The news got to his family members, who came over to bury the husband and wife.
They gathered as they began to dictate where the two would be buried. Michael’s uncle raises the point that they should be buried in the cemetery.
“How would my parents be buried in the cemetery? At least they have a mansion here in Lagos. I want to see the grave of my parents in the compound.” Michael raised an alarm, but his words were rendered useless, being a child not up to the age of 18.

They began their conversations, and finally, they concluded on burying the two in the cemetery. Michael began to weep, but he had no choice, as no one was there to support him. Every one of them ganged up to make the decisions in their favor. After the burials, the uncles came to the house.
“we will stay with you in the mansion, and I will manage your father’s business until you are done with your university. Remember, you are still 16 and you are not done with your university yet,” the eldest uncle said while the second one sat crossing his legs, feeling unconcerned about what had happened.
“I disagree with you people. Just take your bags and leave at once for peace to reign,” he said, but then he had no choice as he was still a child.

“Just take heart; all shall be well soon,” his friend, David, consoled him.
“How will all be well when they have stylishly come to take over my dad’s sweat? I will not allow this to happen,” Michael said.
“But you have no choice other than submitting to their words,” Daniel opened up.
When he was 20 and had finished his education, he demanded his rights, but his uncles turned him down. They told him he had no right over those properties. This got him angry and sober.
“Let me relate this issue to my dad,” Daniel said, as his dad is a lawyer.
After two days, his dad was at home, and he related what had happened to his best friend. His dad asked to call Michael to hear the major issue from him.
Meanwhile, Michael began to face tough times with his uncles. They began to suffer him right to the point of starving him.
“Michael, I know your dad’s lawyer, and I spoke to him a few hours ago.” Michael was relieved after hearing the good news from David’s father.
“Thank you so much,” Michael replied while some smiles emerged on on his face.

Two weeks later, the lawyer showed his face. David’s dad called Michael to come over after hearing the reason the lawyer vanished into thin air.
“Tell Michael what you just told me,” David’s dad said.
The lawyer started pouring out his mind about how Michael’s uncles blackmailed him to vanish into the air without showing his face.
“But this time, I’m ready to tell the truth, as the original documents of the supermarket and the mansions are with me,” he said.
It was a relief to Michael after hearing those words.
“This time they can’t hunt me ever again, as I have cleared my name totally of what they had accused me of.” The lawyer was so determined to proceed with the issues without imbibing any fear.
“How would my uncle behave this way? Anyway, thanks a lot, Sir,” Michael said.

The next day, the lawyer prepared and matched Michael’s compound. The uncles were so shocked to see the lawyer. “How come he’s here?” the elder uncle said.
“Are you avoiding him, or what’s the matter?” Michael asked, smiling stylishly.
After a few hours, the secret was revealed, and Michael reclaimed his father’s properties while his uncles walked out of the house and were asked to submit the keys to the supermarket.