Mum, I'm still a teen.

Intro:

Every teenager wants their freedom, but in this house, "freedom" has a price that hasn't been mentioned. It’s the classic struggle of a child trying to find their own path while a mother holds on a little too tight—and a little too dark. Dive into a story where coming of age means coming face-to-face with a reality no teenager should have to handle.

Being a teenager is hard enough without the shadows in the hallway watching your every move. Behind the closed doors of a seemingly normal home, a silent war is being waged between a mother’s iron will and a teen’s desperate plea for a normal life. But in a world where bloodlines carry more than just DNA, "normal" was never an option.

The Marriage Ultimatum

"Kelvin Jones! What in nine hells are you doing?"

"Sorry, Mum, I need to talk to you about something."

"You can just tell me while I'm packing," his mum said, throwing her hands up in exasperation. When they got into his room, he asked her to sit down, and then he paced from one end of the room to the other. "What has gotten into you, Kelvin?"

Without warning, he got straight to the point, "Mum, I'm getting married."

"Yeah, congratulations, now can I get back to what I was doing?" His mum said, a hint of irritation in her voice.

"I'm serious, Mum."

"And so am I, Kelvin."

"But, Mum..." She cut him off. "Don't 'but' me, Kelvin, what has gotten into you?"

"I'm in love, Mum."

She laughed. "LOVE! Do you even know what love is? A few days ago, you told me you were just a teen," she said, mimicking his words. "Mum, I'm still a teen. And now you're talking of love and marriage?" 

She just shook her head and stood up. When she reached the door, Kelvin couldn't help but try one last time. "Mum, I'm in love with Sharon, and we just shared our first kiss after I proposed to her."

"Sharon?"

"Yes, Mum, we are both in love."

Rose Jones could do nothing but stand there, baffled at her son. Deep down, she was happy her son was coming out of his shyness and the battle with introversion, but this was too much to bear. "You don't know what you are talking about, son."

The Father’s Fury

At that moment, there was a large crash at the front of the house, followed by a bang at the front door.

"What the hell?" Rose exclaimed, hurrying out of the room. Kelvin rushed to his window. He could hear the gruff voice of Mr. Michael Bale, Sharon's father. Rose ran to the door and flung it open. "That is enough, Mr. Bale. Before you resort to such measures, there's a bell right there."

Mr. Michael Bale looked at her, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "Sorry for my poor manner. Where is your son?"

At that moment, Kelvin appeared on the landing. Mr. Bale shifted his gaze to him. "You! What have you done to my daughter?"

Kelvin felt a knot of fear tighten in his stomach. He was startled by a voice. "Daddy, I told you we're in love."

Kelvin looked up to see Sharon standing beside her father. Her eyes met his, and he saw her give a slight nod. 

"What are you doing here?" Mr. Bale rounded on his daughter. "I asked you to stay at home while I deal with this matter."

"No. I'm done, Dad," Sharon declared, her voice steady. "We are getting married, or we will run away."

Mr. Bale wasn't exactly known for his handsome features; he had a receding hairline, a prominent apple-shaped nose, and a substantial stomach. His daughter was the opposite – beautiful and seemingly perfect.

"Kelvin, are you trying to ruin my daughter's life?" Mr. Bale demanded. Kelvin turned to his mother, seeking support, but she stood firm.

"Mum…"

"Don't 'mum' me," she cut him off. "You want to marry, yet you can't stand up for yourself."

Three Years or Forever

"Kelvin, I'm not Santa Claus, and I can't grant wishes," Rose said firmly. "A kiss with Sharon doesn't mean you're in love; it's just your hormones playing tricks on you."

At that moment, the phone rang. Miss Rose went to answer it while Mr. Bale looked as though he could kill. He thought of Sharon's mother and his own mother—both had caused him heartache. 

He was brought out of his thoughts by Miss Rose's return. She beckoned both Kelvin and Sharon to come closer. "Kelvin and Sharon, I will agree to let you marry on one condition."

"What's the condition, Mum?" Kelvin asked.

Miss Rose took a deep breath. "We will allow you to marry when you turn eighteen, which is in three years."

Kelvin and Sharon exchanged a look, then both shouted, "No! That's a very long time, Mum."

"It is not a long time. Besides, it will teach you patience and responsibility. That reminds me, Kelvin, the call I received was from work. I have a new posting."

"A new posting to where?"

"Africa. Specifically Nigeria."

Mr. Bale was now smiling. He savored how smart Miss Rose was. "Three years, indeed. Anything can happen. I agree with Miss Rose's condition."

Exile to the Giant of Africa

Chapter Two

A NEW LIFE IN A STRANGE LAND

It was Kelvin's first time flying a Boeing 737. Overall, the flight was pleasant, but the first thing Kelvin noticed as they left the airport was the heat. It hit him hard, and he staggered. His mum steadied him. "What's wrong, Kelvin?"

"Mum, it's the heat."

"Sorry, son. This is Nigeria, and the weather is different from what you're used to. They have only two seasons: dry and rainy."

"So this is Abuja? The capital of Nigeria and the so-called giant of Africa?"

"Yes."

"Why the giant of Africa?"

"I guess it's due to their population size. SURPRISED, right?"

Lessons in the Heat

"So, how come the country's capital looks like a county in Nevada?" Kelvin asked.

Kelvin's mum couldn't contain the laughter that escaped her. "Nigeria used to be one of the greatest countries in the world, and its currency was even stronger than the US dollar."

"So, what changed that?" Kelvin asked.

"The country used to be one of the biggest exporters of Cocoa and Groundnut products. Back then, Oyo State used to have a pyramid of groundnuts."

"Wow! A pyramid? Like the one in Egypt?"

"Yes, but this was made entirely with groundnuts arranged like a pyramid."

"So what happened?"

"Well, crude oil happened to the country. After it was discovered in 1958 in a village called Oloibiri in Bayelsa State, the government stopped investing in agriculture."

"That was stupid," Kelvin said.

Kelvin's mum ruffled his hair. "Yeah, it was a rather short-sighted decision."

Broken Minds & Twisted Realities

The Fog of No Return →

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Paradise at Price →

Perfection hides something cruel—every desire comes with a cost you can’t undo.

The Last Day That Bring Curse →

A quiet day turns into a slow, inescapable descent into something far worse than death.

The Veil of Treason →

Trust shatters as hidden truths begin to warp reality and loyalty turns deadly.

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