ELI Jonson’s Secret (ii)

The next day Cordelia went to Eli’s school. She sent Eli into his classroom and wanted to talk with the teacher so she asked the teacher to step out of the room. Eli secretly heard everything. The teacher said her mother called to inform her that she had a really high fever that’s why she couldn’t come to school today either. Eli got really worried and started crying Cordelia was shocked she hurriedly went and asked him what happened? Eli with teary eyes spoke for the first time after all those times, he hugged Cordelia and requested to take him to meet his friend. Cordelia was so happy that Eli was talking again she happily agreed. She asked the teacher for the address and promised Eli that she would take him to meet her after school. She wiped Eli’s tears and asked him to go to class now. Eli went to his class; he was patiently waiting for the class to end. He believed Cordelia that she would take him to meet his friend. But she didn’t come, it was his father who came to pick him up. Eli was sad ad said why didn’t mom came? His father told him that mom suddenly fainted so the doctor told her to rest. Eli got worried but his father told him not to. When he went home Cordelia said sorry that she couldn’t keep her promise, Eli was glad she was okay so he just hugged her and said nothing. Jonson and Cordelia were very happy that their son was talking again. That night Cordelia asked the chief to cook everything Eli’s favorite, she wanted to cook but Edson didn’t let her, she was asked to take rest for at least two weeks. The doctor said it was stress and lack of sleep, Cordelia thought that it might be because she was really worried about Eli. They had a lovely family time and dinner that night. Eli was happy too but deep down he was worried for his friend as well, he thought that when tomorrow she will come then he’ll ask her how she was? He had a good sleep. The next morning Edson helped Eli to get ready for school, he didn’t want to disturb his wife’s rest. Cordelia was sleeping due to the medicine's effect. When she woke up Eli and Edson were about to leave for school, Edson told Cordelia, my lady, you may rest today I will take our prince to school. Cordelia smiled and said goodbye to them and went back to sleep some more. Eli happily entered the classroom thinking that he will get to meet his friend but she was not there today as well. Worried Eli really wanted to meet her so he secretly thought of going to their house. He heard the address when the teacher was telling his mother, Eli was a smart kid, his parents told him how to check routes while traveling in bus or train. Since he had the address and some money which he got on his birthday from his father as a present. He checked the map and took the correct route, then he finally reached the bus stop. Eli never did this before so he was nervous, he was only a 10-year-old kid after all. When he reached the bus stop, he saw many kids of his age who were either going to school or somewhere else, alone. Eli’s clothes were branded but the other kids were wearing normal clothes. Eli looked at them and wondered he really might be a prince. Then the bus came, he got on the bus, gave his ticket and went to his seat. A lady tried to talk to him that where his mom was, Eli said she was at ho resting, he chatted some more with the lady then the lady got off on her stop. This whole bus ride was a new thing for Eli so he really enjoyed the ride. He finally reached his station, but he couldn’t find the house, so he asked some passerby f0r the address and they showed him the way. He was really happy as he stood in front of their door, he reached the doorbell after a long struggle with height. But when the door opened it was the landlord, Eli told him about his friend but as he didn’t know her name he could only say that she used to go to the same school as his. When the landlord saw Eli’s school ID card he recognized it and said that they left the house just last evening, the child’s father had a sudden transfer so he had to leave really quickly. The landlord said that he knew Eli. The landlord was an old man he had no family so the little girl was really dear to the landlord. The landlord said that she was preparing a gift for her friend’s birthday. She was really happy. The landlord even said that she told him, her friend couldn’t talk so she had to protect him. The landlord even helped the little girl to make the card. Eli heard everything and broke down in tears. He really wanted to ask her name. the landlord took Eli in his arms and he tried to calm him down. Eli cried for a long time and fell asleep in the landlord’s arms. He was a really kind man, he laid Eli down on his bed and got his school diary out of his bag. He contacted the school, and let them know that Eli was here, as he couldn’t find Eli’s parents' number in his school diary. It was written at the end of his routine page but the old landlord somehow didn’t see it. The school quickly called Eli’s parents and told them the situation. The school didn’t report Eli’s absence since it was their rule to report only after the class has ended. So no one actually knew where Eli was the whole morning. It was thanks to that old landlord who reported the school. Cordelia rushed when she heard the news. When she reached there Eli’s class teacher was already there. When Eli saw Cordelia he again started to cry hugging her tightly. She picked him up and kissed him so many times. Then she got him to the car and made him sit, she puts on the seat belt and told Eli to wait for her. She went back inside to thank the landlord then the old man told her everything. Cordelia understood that Eli was really heartbroken. She wanted to cheer him up. So he took him to an ice cream shop. At first, Eli didn’t want to but later he gave up. They had ice cream, they went to the toy store, and then the book store. Eli didn’t touch any toys but when they went to the book store he picked some books. Cordelia bought them all. They went back home. After coming home Cordelia asked him to freshen up and come meet her at the garden. Eli came, the breeze was really fresh, Cordelia asked him to took off his shoe and walk with her. He and Cordelia both barefooted started walking around the garden. Cordelia held his right hand said

“I was never kind to you, do you hate me?

Eli quickly reply and said no. Then Cordelia said, “I am sorry I was not a good mother to you in the past, will you please forgive me and give me another chance, will you let me be your mom again?”

Eli happily agreed and said you are my only mother I don’t want anyone else. This made Cordelia happy. Then she promised Eli that she will always be there for him no matter what she will always be his mother and she will always protect him.

Hearing Cordelia’s word Eli was very happy. Eli never hated her, he simply wanted her to love him. He wanted to call her mom so many times. Although he was really sad this morning, now he is very happy. Then Cordelia asked if he liked the girl, Eli got embarrassed and said it was nothing like that. She laughed and said so my son had his first love, Eli got even more embarrassed and just

“MOM!!” Cordelia laughed again. She strokes his hair and told him

“if we miss someone then we should go meet them, if we don’t know where they are then we must find them. If we love them with all our heart, then one day for sure we will meet them. Today you might have lost your friends address but if she really is that much dear to you, you must keep her in your memory and one day when you’re old enough you should try looking for her if she still holds that much dear position in your heart” Eli didn’t understand everything but he knew she was important to him so he just said yes in a loud voice. Cordelia smiled at him and said let’s go back inside its getting cold out here. Edson was in their room and he saw everything and he was really grateful that Cordelia finally accepted Eli. Since then Eli never felt the sadness of not having his mother’s affection anymore. And soon he grew up. One day he heard his parents arguing a lot. At that time he was 16 years old. He was about to get admitted to a new school for his high school studies. That was a serious argument and Eli heard them saying that Eli should know about everything. Eli entered the room and asked them to not hide anything anymore. He requested them to tell him everything, he will always love his parents no matter what.

Eli’s father asked him not to misunderstand his parents, they did everything because he was their only loved child. Cordelia was really against this but still, Edson said everything.

It turned out Edson was not Eli’s father nor was Cordelia his mother. Eli was Edson’s younger brother’s son who has died even before Eli was born. Edson’s younger brother was a free soul, he never cared about anything, always living life freely with loads of money. As he was youngest Edson never objected to anything. At that time Edson was already married. Eli’s father's name was Elson. He never had any lack of women so he never cared but he was finally trapped in a courtesan’s love. He loved her dearly and soon she was pregnant. Elson was really happy. Elson told everything to his father. At first, they were both happy to know about the baby but when they heard about the mother’s background none of them were happy. His father was against it with all his might but Edson still wanted to support him since it was about a child. So he supported his brother but their father banished his second son from everything he said if he has to come he can come only with the baby not with the woman but Elson wanted to marry that courtesan so he left the house, his brother tried to stop him but none of it worked. At that time Cordelia was in States for her higher degree studies she didn’t know any of these. Elson left the house went to veronica the courtesan's house. This house was also bought by Edson for them to stay till he could manage his father. The courtesan only wanted the second son’s money. When she saw that there was no end to the father's anger she understood she will never be accepted in that house and she didn’t even want to lose her figure for the pregnancy she didn’t have any love for the child or his father. She wanted to get it aborted and stage a miscarriage and get more money from Edson as compensation. But Elson saw her doctor’s papers. He understood everything. He tried to stop her then she revealed her true colors. She started to say bad comments about Elson, that she should’ve seduced Edson instead of him, Elson was heartbroken, he begged her to keep the child he will get her more money from his brother. But she didn’t hear a word when Elson tried to block her way she took a knife and stabbed him twice, Elson fell on the floor. She went out for the abortion. Elson called his brother crying to save his child. Edson rushed to save Elson when he reached there the ambulance was already there, the neighbor had reported the crime. As they were taking him stretcher Elson begged his brother to save his baby, Edson said that the police had already caught her so the baby is safe, Elson was relieved. But the wounds hit his vital parts by the time they reached the hospital Elson already died. This news broke their father, although he was a strict man he really loved both of his sons. and only for his son he didn’t want a courtesan to step into his life but still he couldn’t protect his youngest child. The old man was drowned in his grief. Cordelia heard the news and returned. She never saw her father-in-law in such a broken state. Edson was also divested. The whole family had to go throw a very rough time. At that time Cordelia wanted to ask how did this happen but she simply couldn’t increase Edson’s pain by asking him all this. She only knew that Elson’s wife to be killed him over an argument. During that time Edson had to go to the police station a lot of time for many formalities. He even had to check that woman so she doesn’t harm the child in her stomach anyway. Cordelia didn’t know anything. And Edson never told her all these since she was in her final years, he didn’t want to stress her out. After 9 months, on 6th August, Eli was born. Edson wanted to let that woman see her child one last time before going to prison but she didn’t want to see the baby’s face. He bought the baby back home and told Cordelia this was Elson’s baby. He believed her husband. At first, she was really affectionate towards the child but gradually her anger grew as someone was provoking her and her mind with misunderstanding it was the evil nanny who tortured Eli so much. That nanny also wanted to trap any of the brothers of their father and be the mistress of that house. As Elson died Edson or the old man was the only option nut the father was also on his death bed so she wanted to break Cordelia’s marriage with Edson so she kept provoking him saying that Edson had an affair and the child is the proof. She loved her husband so much and didn’t want to believe the nanny but where did Edson go all those times she thought while he was either at the police station or the hospital. Later on, when the nanny was arrested she understood everything. Because she couldn’t marry and be the mistress of the house she used to went out her frustration on the poor child.

As Edson was telling Eli everything, he mentioned that both his grandfather and his father loved him a lot so he should not feel that he was unwanted. After Edson finished telling the whole truth Eli hugged both Cordelia and Edson and thanked them for giving him so much love and care. Cordelia broke down in tears and said you will always be my son no matter who says what I will always be your mother. Eli hugged them and thought how stupid was his father to lose his life for fake love. He will never love nor will he tell anyone even if he loved is what he thought.

A few days later Eli joined his high school and despite saying he will never love anyone,

There he found his long-lost childhood love.