The widow had to work hard to bring up her little son alone. This was
after her husband’s early death. She and her son lived in a wooden
house. It was a small house with only one bedroom and a kitchen.
Mariam wanted Sam to study hard to get good result. So
she would not let Sam help her do any household chores or wash his own
clothes. The years flew by. Sam sat for his SPM examination and pass
with flying colours.
His mother was very happy. She went round telling her
friends, “My Sam will be leaving for the city to study in a college. He
will become a Manager one day. I’ll move to live with him in the city.
Then, my struggle is worth it.”
So Mariam continued to work hard to send money to Sam
who was studying a business degree. For Mariam, it was a tough life.
Meanwhile, Sam kept on phoning home to ask for more money. Mariam even
had to borrow from her neighbours and friends to send her son the money.
Three years Sam stopped calling home. He did not even
let his mother where he was. When she phoned the faculty, they told her
that he had graduated and left for job. However, they could not her
more. Mariam was baffled. Where was Sam? She was so sure he would come
back and fetch her for city. So, she started to pack some of her bags
and boxes.
Three months later, there was still no news or call from
Sam. One day, Mariam’s niece, Kate, came to talk to her about Sam. She
told her aunt, “Auntie, a friend of mine met Sam in a bank. He’s the
branch manager. This is his address.”
Early in the morning, Mariam took the first bus to the
city. At the bus station, she took a taxi and showed the taxi driver the
bank address. On the way there, she told the driver about Sam and what a
filial son he was.
The driver stopped his taxi in front of a tall building.
She got out of the taxi and smiled at him happily. This was the moment
she was going to meet Sam. She imagined him showing surprise and delight
at meeting his mother. Inside the building, a security guard asked her
who she was looking for. She told the guard Sam’s name.
The bank staff saw an old lady holding a worn-out
handbag. They were wondering, “Who is this woman? Why is she asking for
our manager?”
Meanwhile, Sam pretended he did not know his mother.
Feeling disgusted and ashamed, he asked the security guard to ask her to
leave. Mariam was shocked to hear that! She looked Sam in a
disappointed feeling ever, and ran out of the bank.
Back in her house, Mariam cried the whole night. She
cried and cried till she had no more tears. The next morning, she was
sitting by the window with Sam’s photo on her lap. She saw him walking
towards their house. Soon she was shouting and crying, “My Sam is back!
My Sam is back!”
Sam ran towards her and hugged Mariam as he never let
go. He was so sorry and regretted the way he behaved. His colleagues
were the one who made him realized his big mistakes neglected his
mother.
The neighbours heard her. They too shouted and cheered, feeling happy for her.
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