"A light purse makes a heavy heart", my next story, tells us that there is no easy way out in life and one has to own up to what one has done. Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
A light purse
makes a heavy heart.
That was what
I always used to tell myself. We were poor. Ever since Father’s demise, Mother
has been working tirelessly day and night to make ends meet. The number of
wrinkles on her face evidently showed the years of devotion she had selflessly
put in to support the family. Sporting bone white hair and a body almost as
thin as stick, Mother looked as old as the hills. Despite being told of the
importance of ‘wants’ and ‘needs’, I just could not seem to stop shooting
envious glances at what my classmates could very well afford. Take for
instance, the latest phone model that made me as Jealous as a Spaniard. Can I
buy it? The answer was very simple – NO! One fateful Friday afternoon, I just
could not resist to give in to my temptation of stealing money to purchase the
object, I longingly desired to own.
Like a
routine, I took a stroll, prodding on with a facial countenance as glum as an
oyster. Till this day, I still could not persuade Mother into purchasing a
mobile phone for me. The generation gulf between us was simply too wide. Does
Mother ever understand my thoughts and feelings?
Out of the
blue, I caught a glimpse of a brown leather wallet on the ground. Opening it, I
could not believe my eyes! So much money! I can now purchase the latest Samsung
phone that I had a burning desire to have! Grinning from ear to ear, I pocketed
the wallet as audacious as the day before leaving in a hurry.
On reaching
the floor where my apartment was, I saw Mrs Gan, our neighbor. From her facial
expression, it was evident that something was worrying her. What was happening?
Why was she so perplexed? Seeing me, Mrs Gan rushed over and asked, “Have you
seen my brown wallet?” Brown wallet? Did the wallet I just steal belong to her?
Not wanting to admit the truth, I answered her question as an innocent child
would do so. With a straight face, I answered with a ‘No’. Then, I rushed into
my house before I was questioned any further.
My relief was
short-lived. As soon as I entered the living room, there stood Mother, her eyes
fixed on the brown wallet bulging out of my pants’ pocket.
“What is that
wallet doing in your pocket? Isn’t it the brown wallet that belongs to Mrs
Gan?” Mother asked, her voice edged with suspicion that I had stolen Mrs Gan’s
wallet. My futile efforts to defend myself failed to prove myself innocent.
Defeated, I searched Mother’s face but it told me nothing. Nothing at all. It
extremely agonised me. Moments later, with a deep sigh which wrung my heart,
Mother turned her downcast eyes on me. I could tell from her deep-set eyes that
she was utterly disappointed with my behavior, with me.
As she cast
her disappointed eyes off me in disgust, I stood rooted to the ground,
reflected on my foolish actions and made up my mind to admit the truth to Mrs
Gan.
It was not
easy. Even after my apology, I had to endure hell and hot speech that sliced
through my eardrums and broke the otherwise pregnant silence. After being let
off with a stern warning, I returned the wallet, hung my head low and walked
back home, cheeks burning with shame.
‘As you make
your bed so you must lie on it’. That was Mother’s favourite catchline. Well, I
certainly learnt it the hard way. That horrendous incident had rid me of my
honesty, leaving the only viable senses like greed to overpower me, throwing me
off the path of good that day. Yes, the incident not only taught me a harsh
lesson, I also swore never to steal again, so as to not get myself into bigger
trouble in the near future and disappoint Mother once more …
Till the next time,
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