Now, the other aggrieved Family Heads raised their voices and interrupted him.
“We will not accept that cock-and-bull story.”
“Please sit down, if you don’t have anything to say.”
“You can give him your wife and daughters to abduct.”
When Brown heard someone say, ‘You can give him your wife and daughters to abduct,’ he was ashamed of himself and quickly sat down.
Then, the Patriarch took over and pointed out Brown’s flaws, “Thank you all for your patience. I thought his Family Head would have started by apologizing to Oscar and his wife.”
“Yes, Our Patriarch,” the house chorused in unison.
“That explains why Stephen did not have a proper upbringing. If a Family Head cannot think of an apology unless he is reminded, what do you expect from his family members?” a disgruntled Family Head remarked.
Now, Brown was infuriated. He walked to the last speaker, pointed at his nose, and declared, “I will not have you insult me or any members of my family. Watch your tongue.”
Now, the Family Head rose swiftly from his seat, pushed him and he staggered backward. The other Family Heads held him and enabled him to balance up.
Then, the Patriarch hit his hand on the table and shouted, “Order. What had come over you? Is there no respect or orderliness in this forum anymore?”
Now, the house was momentarily calm while some Family Heads were staring at Stephen’s Family Head with murderous intent.
Meanwhile, Stephen’s Family Head had returned to his seat with humiliation. Denise, who was having fun as his elders were displaying juvenile delinquency, maintained an expressionless face.
Now that the house was calm, the Patriarch faced the couple and continued, “On behalf of the entire Bailey family, Oscar and Zoey, kindly accept our apologies.”
Before Oscar and his wife could speak, another Family Head jumped to his feet, defiling protocols, and blurted out, “I will not be part of this. If Stephen will not be ostracized from the Bailey family, my family will pull out. We have suffered enough embarrassment from him. From having a child outside marriage to stealing and kidnapping. Now, it is the embezzlement of indigents and beggars’ money. We are tired?”
The Patriarch watched him as he spoke his mind, as well as others who had the same opinion as him. He was aware of the magnitude of his claim and it would be a shame on him that the family disintegrated during his reign. That will be a mark of failure and spitting on the graves of his ancestors.
Then, he calmly pleaded, “I am pleading with us to put down our swords. No matter what, we are still one. Stephen is our son and our ancestors will not be happy with us if we allow him to be wasted. We are here to find a solution to his plight. As you can see, his business place had been bombed by angry beggars, whom he stole their money.”
Now, Denise maintained his gaze with the Patriarch as he spoke as though he was not aware of what he was talking about.
“We will speak with the authorities involved to pardon him and use the money he had embezzled as compensation for the damage done to his resort by the beggars and indigent.”
Denise, who was aware that he did not embezzle any money, smiled, which others misunderstood as an agreement with the Patriarch’s opinion.
Furthermore, the Patriarch’s address brought calmness to the gathering as he mentioned their ancestors, and they began to reason together as one.
“Yes, Our father. Your suggestion is right.”
“You are right, Our Patriarch.”
“I think it is fair enough,” the Family Heads said in agreement with the Patriarch’s idea.
He was pleased with the progress and went ahead to mention the matter that was as good as fiddling with the lion’s tail, which may eat him up at a glance when it roars.
“Thank you all for your cooperation and understanding. Finally, I think that he needs a wife….”
Some of the Family Heads who were thinking like him interrupted him.
“Yes. You took the words out my mouth, Our Patriarch. He needs a wife.”
“You are right, Our Patriarch. A woman can help him to organize his life.”
Then, the Patriarch moved on, “I think it was the urge to have a woman, that led him into kidnapping another kinsman’s wife. If he had a wife, he would put an end to such obnoxious behavior.”
The Family Head who shamed Brown when he said, ‘You can give him your wife and daughters to abduct,’ was pleased with the idea but had his reservations. He lifted his right hand, and when the Patriarch permitted him to speak, he got up.
“Thank you, Our Patriarch. Your proposal is good, but I am afraid that you would be responsible enough to take care of a woman. I would not have us delve into such a delicate matter without seeking his opinion. I rest my case,” he pointed out and sat down.
Then, the Patriarch acknowledged him, “You are right. But I presume that in these unfavorable prevailing circumstances, our opinion as his fathers supersedes his.”
“Yes. Get a wife for him so that our wives can go to work freely,” a family head flattered.
Nevertheless, another Family Head put up his right and stood up without waiting for permission from the Patriarch and spoke, “We should not over flood this issue. I wish to know how you would get the woman for him. Or are you giving us the task of going on a wife hunt?”
Before the Family Head could answer his question, the house erupted into an intense objection.
“I will not take part in such a mission.”
“I cannot wife hunt for a man with a questionable character.”
“I cannot waste my energy on such a venture.”
Now, the Patriarch hit the table to calm the house down.
“Order. You are not going on wife hunting on his behalf. I already have a wife for him,” he declared.
“Better,” the Family Heads responded and calmed down.
“That is good.”
Then, he continued and everyone listened with rapt attention to find out the woman.