Ami's New Friend

Ami's New Friend

After having her siesta, Ami was very hungry, so she decided to make herself lunch. When she got to the kitchen, she met Auntie Bella cooking spaghetti. She wished she was on good terms with her because the aroma was mouth-watering. She walked past her and greeted her, but Auntie Bella acted as if she didn't hear her. Since Auntie Bella was cooking, it was obvious she couldn't make lunch for herself like she intended to, and she was really famished. So, she wore a more covering cloth and went outside the compound to get herself snacks from a nearby kiosk.

When she met Denis, he sat under a tree outside a big building with a sad face. She saw him while she was going and decided to mind her own business, but until she got to the kiosk, her mind was trying to fathom why a boy slightly older than her was outside looking like that. Was he mentally deranged? she soliloquized within herself.

What amazed her more was the fact that she met this same boy while coming back from the kiosk, this time in a sympathizing state. She was moved to confront him. When she did, she discovered that his name was Denis, and he's a son of a popular business tycoon, which obviously suggested that his parents were well-to-do.

After much encouragement from Ami, Denis told her about what was going on in his family, about how his mom and dad got into arguments on a daily basis, and how his mom was rushed to the hospital after being beaten by his dad, despite being pregnant. Ami took a deep breath and thought within herself, "Why do parents of this generation do things without considering the impact it will have on their kids?"

She sat beside Denis under the tree and encouraged him not to be sad, that his mom would be fine, and also talked him into being familiar with his parents' attitude. She also told him what was going on in her family, too. They talked at length before Ami left for her house.

When she got home, she was welcomed by Auntie Bella's usual ranting. "You left the house since twelve PM, Bella. Where did you spend 2 hours at? Don't tell me it's the kiosk because that's not true," Auntie Bella said with a voice almost louder than a mic. Ami rolled her eyes. "I owe nobody an explanation," she said almost unnoticeable as she walked into the room.

It was very obvious Auntie Bella was infuriated from her expression, but she could not just think of something that she would do to Ami to demonstrate that anger because it was obvious Ami was not getting annoyed by her excesses anymore. After some time, she took a deep breath and snapped her fingers while she walked to her room.

On the other hand, Ami was in her room pondering why parents seem to be undisturbed about how their actions were affecting their kids. Could it be that all parents are the same? Could it be that it's not actually their fault? Because she could remember her parents were one of the best parents one could dream of before they started acting the way they do. Could it be that stress changed them?

Then a quick thought came to her mind: Will she also behave like this towards her own kids one day? Will she change from being a lovely, caring parent to a parent that doesn't care about how her actions are affecting her kids? God forbid, she quickly said to herself as the thought crossed her mind. But what if she tried having an open conversation with her mom and dad? Could it be that it's not actually their fault?