Why Aren't They Out There Striving?

There were only two couches in the living room, one was long, and one was normal. But none of the couches were looking good.

They looked so old, and the foams in the couches were already coming out, and they left them like that. It added to lessening the beauty of the living room.

I couldn't judge them though, all these were as a result of poverty. I'd experienced poverty to an extent, so I understand completely. Who am I to judge anyone?

..There were three people in the house when I entered along with the boy.

A certain woman that looked older than the others in the room. A certain guy that seemed like he was in his early to mid 'twenties, and a girl that seemed like she was in her late teens to early 'twenties.

The woman must be their mum, and the guy and girl must be her kids along with the small boy that just entered with me right now.

It was just as the boy told me, his mum, his brother, and his sister were at home. Their faces weren't bright at all, they were looking somehow gloomy.

The vibe around the house was so dull, you could get depressed easily when you're in here. And I was wondering why a full-grown boy and girl were at home.

..Aren't they going to school or working?

For sure, this family needed help. There's no way they wouldn't accept whatever I give to them with both hands. But I needed a valid reason why they were in this condition before I'd help them out.

"Who is this person?". The woman uttered glancing at the small boy.

I could see the guy and the girl glancing at me...they were sitting on the long couch in the living room.

"Mum, he approached us..."

I didn't even let the boy finish speaking before I voiced out, "Hi, my name is Casper, and I have a reason for coming here".

"And what is the reason?". The woman inquired, not in a rude way though.

"I want to know why the family's situation is like this". I voiced out once again.

"And what do you mean by that?".

"I don't want you to pick offense, I have a perfect reason for asking this question. I'm here for a good purpose".

"I'm not picking offense, I only asked you what you meant. Can you elaborate on what you mean by 'why is the family's situation like this?".

..How would I say what I wanted to say now without it sounding offensive to the ears.

She wanted me to elaborate, and there's how I'd elaborate that might end up hurting her and the others in the family which might result in anger.

Well, she wanted me to elaborate, and I'd have to do so.

"This is the hood, a ghetto. Stepping foot into this house, I noticed the vibe flowing around isn't nice at all, everywhere looks dull. You guys don't look happy, the situation seems bad. I can't find a TV, so you guys don't watch one for entertainment and to pass time,

According to what I'm seeing, you guys aren't doing well financially, there doesn't seem to be money. That's what I meant by why is the family's situation like this". I explained.

After I was done explaining, I hoped none of them picked offense, especially the woman. She told me to elaborate, and I'd done so.

She breathed in and out before saying, "You're good at noticing things. Everything you said is true, we aren't happy, the situation is bad, there's no money. We're barely feeding every day,

There are some things we'd like to have but can't due to lack of money. For example, the TV you mentioned, not like we wouldn't love to have one, but there's no money to buy one,

If there's enough money, we wouldn't even be living here. The family's situation is like this 'cause the world is unfair, the rich keep getting richer, the poor keep getting poorer,

My husband is barely helping out with anything, he's lazy. At least, he's trying to drop money every day which we use in feeding and all that. He gambles a lot, and he also drinks a lot,

He comes home drunk a lot of times, there's a very high possibility he's either in a gambling house or bar right now drinking himself to stupor".

..She paused for some seconds, closed her eyes a little, shook her head, then continued speaking,

"The worst part is that out of all my kids here, only one managed to complete high school with a lot of struggles. And that is my son here, my daughter didn't complete high school to talk of going to college".

Then she pointed to the small boy I came in with and continued speaking...

"That is my last child there, he is supposed to be in school currently, but there's no money to send him to school. So he's been roaming about for a long time,

There are other kids like him in this hood that are supposed to be in school now but are roaming about due to lack of money. The situation is hard...pretty hard".

Now, was this family in a bad situation? Yes, really bad one. Did they need help badly? Yes, it was completely evident.

But there were still some things I needed to confirm before I'd then decide if I'd render help to them or not. There needs to be a valid reason why they were in this situation.

Does that mean all the explanations from the woman weren't valid? They were. But they weren't valid enough, as said, I needed to confirm some things.

"Why are they at home?". I inquired, pointing to the guy and the girl.

"What do you mean?". The woman inquired.

"Considering the situation of the family is hard, aren't they supposed to be out there working? You know, even though your son only got to complete high school and didn't go to college,

And your daughter didn't even complete high school, that doesn't mean they're doomed. Going to school doesn't mean automatic success. There are successful people out there that didn't even go to college, some didn't even complete high school,

While there are some out there that completed high school and even went to college, bagged a degree, and all that. And up till now, they aren't successful, they haven't tasted a bit of it".

While saying this, I was thinking of how I suffered to sponsor myself to college and graduated with a degree to my name.

..Now, did I ever use the degree to secure a good-paying job? No, not even once.

I claimed to be a university graduate with a degree to my name, but I couldn't stand on my feet as a man. I never got to become successful on my own until I married Layla.

So I was speaking out of experience...

I was still speaking, "Your son and daughter should be out there striving, and they could become fortunate. They'd be so surprised when success befalls them,

Even if they don't become that successful, at least, the family's situation wouldn't be as bad as this. It would be far from this, the vibe around wouldn't be so bad. Why aren't they out there striving?".

I noticed the guy and the girl glancing at me with a kind of irritated facial expression...I'm sure it was because of the statement I made just now.

The woman glanced at them for some seconds, then she glanced at me and said,

"My son worked a certain job, but he was sacked after months of working there. They accused him of theft, but I'm sure my son is innocent, he wouldn't steal?".

'How do you know? Were you there? He sure looks like a thief'. I thought to myself while the woman was speaking.

She was still speaking, "And after that incident, I told him not to work for anyone again. I don't want him to get accused again, so I told him to be staying at home for now. At least, their dad is dropping something, and we're managing to feed every day,

The same thing happened to my daughter, she was accused of theft at a certain factory she was working at. And after that incident, I told her to stay at home for now".

..Can you believe the utterance that flowed out of this woman's mouth just now? She wasn't even ashamed to say it.

I almost laughed 'cause of what she said, but I just held myself. No wonder they were in this situation, and they'd remain in this situation for a long time or maybe forever.

Look at their small mindsets, such foolishness...