Story overview
The gentle deception of grandmother's smile
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20
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Nathan my father, a family man. Who loved his family and parents. Working a good paying job, did everything for his family. My grandma and her daughters always found a way to come between my parents. He did support them, supported all of us, but they wanted everything for themselves didn't care about us. I loved my grandmother's place their evilness didn't bother me. I love spending the nights, weeks and months there until I went to stay there permanently well it was supposed to be permanent. I thought they loved having me around only to find out they only cared about the benefits that I came with, MONEY. Some days they would shout at me, hide goody things from me, give my other cousins. At school we would have different lunch boxes, mine just ordinary lunch box and theirs good stuff and they would have more pocket money than me. My dad was the provider of all that but I never got the benefits. I was young and naive, I loved them so much I didn't care. They would say they hated my mother in front of me, and their hate wasn't justificated they hated her because she told them the truth about their evilness. One December daddy was sent to school by his bosses and he didn't get paid during that period. Christmas was nearing, he couldn't afford to buy us the clothes. He asked his mother and sisters to buy for us. They came up with excuses. Forgetting that the previous year they were the ones in that situation and my dad bought for their children without any questions asked and expensive clothing like us. He never differentiated. My father started to change he started cheating and my grandma supported him, she never showed him the right way instead, she allowed him to pay Lobola for the woman she was cheating with named Ntokozo. She even allowed them to move in to her house and my father mortgaged our home, granny benefited the most from that money. He retired from work also grandmother benefited, he was his golden child atleast I thought so. Life was good for them , dad's cheating because a habit, he changed women like he was changing socks. Grandma never had a problem, never reprimanded him, as long as she was taken care off. Her 2 daughters died, dad's money started to depreciate. Uncle on the other hand began a strange mission visiting traditional healers, looking for get rich quickly schemes, he even used traditional ways to take all my father's luck and possessions. Dad was now broke, unemployed had nothing. Uncle was now shining and had everything but he has never worked a single day in his life. First grandchild Leticia followed in uncle Amon's footsteps went the dark traditional route to get money. We now had two rich guns in the family. They would host ceremonies, parties you name them, me and my 2 brothers we were never invited. My grandpa had died without receiving his pension fund. My dad claimed on behalf of his mother, money she didn't even know anything about. When she received the money, she didn't give my dad a cent not even a mere thank you but gave all her children and grandchildren something except for us. I wasn't hurt just happy that I now knew were i stood in her life. Granny gave uncle amon the rest of the money to keep for her. Uncle and cousin Leticia were the apple of her eyes now, every thing they said was law no one was allowed to go against them even my dad being the eldest. My dad was just a thing because he's breathing but to her it was as if he's dead. It happened that my uncle died brutally murdered by gun shots by fellow businesses men who ordered a hit on him. Time for the inheritance after burial he had 5 children and 2 wives, war broke. Granny demanded everything saying everything was hers, uncle had her money and he's her child. 1st wife got everything and left with a new man. Granny, Leticia conspired and plotted with 2nd wife to get back everything from the 1st wife. Lawyers were involved, things got ugly they even denied that the 1st wifes lobola negotiations ever took place. Negotiations they were part of and celebrated. Claimed she forged everything. They never got anything, first wife and her daughter got all the inheritance. Now that 2nd wife was off no use to my grandma. They turned against her. Every teenager when growing they experiment with alcohol, we did that too except for the golden child Leticia. They would gossip, badmouthing,say negative, bad things about us both with Leticia. But now that its Leticia you drinks like a brewery its a good applaudable thing, they even drink together. How drastically the will have turned. Now its the both of them against the us and the world. How the love and greed for money has turned my grandma into a follower. Will her gold digging ways ever change? Will humanity kick in soon or will death do them apart. She said I hate her,I could never hate her. I just chose myself, chose to distance myself from fake love powered by money. Granny let Leticia disrespect my dad, a kid to him just because she has money. Other people's feelings are invalid. My heart bleeds for my dad because he doesn't see the wrongs and injustice his mother is doing. I guess your mom is your mom nomatter what
Table of contents
- 1Grandmother's Warm EmbraceThe narrator's childhood innocence. Fond memories of grandmother's house, unaware of the family's underlying greed. A stark contrast to the eventual harsh realities.
- 2A Father's DevotionNathan's unwavering love for his family and parents. He works hard, providing for everyone, yet his mother and sisters subtly undermine his efforts for their own gain.
- 3Whispers of DiscontentGrandmother and her daughters sow discord between Nathan's parents. Their manipulative tactics begin to surface, though Nathan remains oblivious, focused on providing.
- 4The Golden Child's ShadowThe narrator's naivety. Spending extended time at grandmother's, enjoying the perceived affection, unaware that the family's interest is purely financial and transactional.
- 5Seeds of BetrayalThe narrator observes subtle favoritism: different lunchboxes, varying pocket money. The grandmother's family hoards benefits, despite Nathan being the sole provider.
- 6A Mother's TruthGrandmother's family openly expresses unfounded hatred for Nathan's wife, who dared to expose their manipulative nature. The narrator witnesses this unjustifiable animosity.
- 7Christmas Promises BrokenA financially strained Christmas. Nathan's father, unable to afford gifts, seeks help from his mother and sisters, who cruelly refuse, forgetting his past generosity.
- 8The Serpent's CoilNathan's moral compass shifts. He begins an affair, with his grandmother's full support. She even facilitates his marriage to the woman he's cheating with, benefiting from the mortgage.
- 9Golden Years, Fool's GoldGrandmother reaps financial rewards as Nathan mortgages their home. He retires, further enriching her. His perceived status as the 'golden child' blinds him to the truth.
- 10A Cycle of DeceitNathan's infidelity becomes a habit. Grandmother remains unbothered, prioritizing her financial security over his moral conduct. Her silence enables his destructive path.
- 11The Uncle's Dark PathTragedy strikes as Grandmother's daughters pass. Meanwhile, Uncle Amon embarks on a quest for wealth through illicit traditional means, targeting Nathan's fortune.
- 12Fortune's Favor, Family's RuinUncle Amon prospers unnaturally, while Nathan is left broke and unemployed. The narrator witnesses this stark reversal, where hard work is replaced by dark magic.
- 13The Heir Apparent's AscentCousin Leticia follows Uncle Amon's path, seeking wealth through dark rituals. The family now boasts two prosperous but morally bankrupt individuals, excluding the narrator's family.
- 14Pension and BetrayalGrandpa's pension fund goes unclaimed. Nathan claims it for his mother, who, upon receiving it, gives nothing to him or his family, favoring other relatives instead.
- 15The Shifting Tides of AffectionGrandmother entrusts Uncle Amon with her remaining money. He and Leticia become her favorites, their words absolute, even overriding Nathan's status as the eldest son.
- 16Brutal End, Bitter InheritanceUncle Amon is murdered. A fierce inheritance battle ensues. Grandmother claims his wealth, citing her money, but the first wife secures the entire estate.
- 17Alliance Against AllGrandmother and Leticia, now allied with the second wife, plot to reclaim the inheritance from the first wife, resorting to legal battles and accusations of forgery.
- 18A New EnemyThe second wife, no longer useful, becomes Grandmother's target. Their shared indulgence in alcohol, once a bonding activity, now highlights their moral decline.
- 19Choosing MyselfThe narrator distances from the toxic, money-driven family. They prioritize self-preservation over fake love, recognizing the manipulation and choosing a healthier path.
- 20A Father's Unseeing EyesGrandmother allows Leticia to disrespect Nathan. The narrator's heart aches for her father, who remains blind to his mother's injustices, trapped by a misguided sense of loyalty.
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