A FRIEND

NATHAN

When it was getting late, I then thought it would be wise to call Mr Nate and inform him about my absence but when I headed towards my phone, the battery was down.

"Mother, just a minute" I said as I stood up from the floor after she'd given her approval with a nod.

I went into my room to charge my phone . When it came up , I was shocked to see 14 missed calls from Mr Nate.

I hurriedly called him. He picked up after the first ring " hey,where are you!!??" He shouted.

I moved my phone away from my ears " I'm sorry I couldn't tell you before hand sir, my phone was down"

"And where are you ?"

"My father's memorial. I don't think I can make it to work today , sir "

"And where is that ? I'll be there "

I was shocked. He was coming here but why ?" Sir , you don't need to -"

" Send me the location, now !!" Mr Nate shouted and I had no other choice but to oblige and sent it to him .

I left my phone to charge and rejoined mother in the living room.

" Mother, my boss is coming over. Is that okay?"

Mother nodded her head and stared at father's picture. "did you know ?your father loved us very much "

I grumbled" Not that again mother, please "

Mother broke down in tears " don't hate your father. Let him go in peace . "

This was one reason I couldn't stand my mother. Nothing father did was wrong in eyes. When he would beat her up , she would say it was her fault and she deserved it.

No one deserves to be beaten up like that especially by someone they claim to love and who loves them back.

I made a promise to myself when I was younger that I would never become like my father, never.

A knock on the door and I stood up to open it ; it was Mr Nate.

"Sir , what about work? You don't have to be here"

He looked up at me " I have to because I'm not here as your boss but as your friend"

I was startled and relieved at the same time " friend?"

"Why ? You don't want us to be friends? Hey , then what did you mean when you said 'there's nothing wrong between friendship between a man and a man ' huh?"

I smiled despite myself" you are the one who said it doesn't make us close "

"Anyways today, I'm here as a friend.can I come in ?"

I nodded my head " please do "

Friend. I thought. I'd never had a friend before. I was always an outcast because of how poor I was back then in school that no one wanted to associate with me .

But now I had a friend. And one who came when I least expected.

I smiled . Mr Nate is sure full of surprises.

***