Every fourth Saturday was set aside as a meeting day for all the descendant of Don Hilton - the biggest and most successful supplier of timber worldwide, having close to a hundred branch outlets. The children hardly had time to meet one another mostly because of their tight work schedule.
Even the eldest grandchildren of Don Hilton had a share of work of the family's company. Only those below the ages of eighteen weren't eligible to be on the family's payroll.
It was a beautiful day for the family's usual meeting and undoubtedly, it was the best thanksgiving day. Rida felt it in her soul. Having so many people around; her cousins, uncles and aunts and especially her beloved grandparents, always made her look forward to days like this.
She was always enthusiastic about the food and company and most importantly, the goodies she retrieved back home after every visit. Time flew quite quickly as she quietly received an official employment letter from her grandfather's company. A week prior, she clocked twenty thus becoming a freeman from the punishment she served for two years on the cause of her foolish decision.
Rida had always been a bright girl, a breath of fresh air around those she came in contact with and she was loved a little more by her grandparents than the other grandchildren. But she was a chatterbox. It was the only flaw that stained her perfection.
Don Hilton was an epitome of wisdom and wit. He always acknowledged the flaws in all of his descendents and when it was time to put any one of them on the business family tree, he would help curb the flaw with a rather simple task. Rida wasn't an exception.
Two years ago...
Knock on the door.
"Come on in", a matured voice beckoned the person knocking to enter.
"Good day grandfather, you asked to see me", Rida casually sat herself down before been offered a seat in her grandfather's organized study.
"Yes my dear, I did. Are you having fun today?", he cheerfully asked, knowing the reaction he'd get from his energetic granddaughter.
And as expected, she began blabbing on about this and that happening in the house. The special cookie her grandmother had made and packed for her in secret. What her uncle Ben said and what her aunty Rachel did. Every drop of tiny detail, she unraveled to her grandfather. The old man patiently waited for her to finish.
"Rida my dear, he began, "you know very well the traditions of every grandchild of mine once they clock eighteen?"
"Yes grandfather", she replied, composing herself on hearing the firm words of the older man seated on a three-seater brown leather couch across the room.
"Good girl", he smiled at her, easing up any tension she might be feeling which painted her face. "You have come of age and I'm more than glad to fix you up right away which is a little contrary to how it used to be done".
Rida could remember how her cousin John who was three year older than her, got his employment out of the blue on his nineteenth birthday, instead of his eighteenth. It was a surprise that grandfather had prepared for him and on other occasions, has he pulled this trick. Maybe hers was going to be a little different, she chuckled softly to herself.
"Rida, you will go out, back into the ongoing feast and pretend like we never had this conversation. Can you keep this little secret of ours safe till I find time to make the announcement about your spot in the company?", Don Hilton winked at his granddaughter.
"Yes grandfather, I will", the teenage girl happily threw a hug at her beloved grandfather and hopping like she won a lottery, she made way out of the study.
There was food, so good, no one wanted to stop having a bite. And the lovely attractive cake grandmother baked for dessert. Having a bite from it was like walking on the clouds. The punch available was healthy and tasty at once. To top it all up for Rida, she thought of going back home with an official employment later to begin working. It was all too good to her and she was happy about it.
It was getting late. Everyone was preparing to be on their ways back home and still no announcement as promised by grandfather. She wanted a confrontation but he wasn't to be found around, so she went instead to her grandmother to ask of his whereabouts.
No reasonable answer from grandmother made Rida ask her parents, then her uncles and aunts and a few grown cousins of hers. No one knew where he was.
And as supposed, the family members asked questions of why she was so desperate to see him. She didn't seal up her lips. Instead, she told the secret. Just as she was making the last statement, her grandfather emerged from behind her, disappointed and expectant.
"Rida, we had a deal and you unremorsefully couldn't keep to your part. I am disappointed!"
He then told her of how badly she had failed this little test of hers. She spoke too much and it was not good for business, he said. "And on that note, I will be postponing that announcement till further notice", Don Hilton finished.
It was a shattering night for Rida. She learned her lesson the hard way and made a promise to herself nevertheless be caught off guard like she just was. For the first time, this party that always have her joy, made her sour.
She reminisced of the tragedy and lesson of that day; approximately two years ago as her received a sealed brown envelope containing her employment letter from her tricky grandfather who smiled encouragingly to her. The family made a toast at the end of the day to celebrate Rida's success and this time, she least expected it.
