My aunt and uncle's house was actually the venue for our entire family to celebrate my cousin Abimbola’s 30th birthday. The backyard was filled with lots of food, drinks, and lively music. There was a moment when I found myself standing by the barbecue grill talking to Jimmy, Abimbola’s husband, while we waited for additional small chops and assorted meat to be served. The talk was fun and informal as we sipped our drinks because Jimmy and I have always gotten along well. "Guy, I cannot believe Abimbola is hitting the big 30," I said. "Does she not seem like she is finally starting to settle down a bit?"
Jimmy laughed at it. "Guy, you have no idea. Abimbola has been nagging me for months to have a child." I went along with it, thinking he was joking. "Oh really? Then you had better start working on that" I winked as I stated. However, Jimmy’s expression grew serious. "To tell the truth, we have already started the attempt. But so far, things have not been easy." In the first place, I did not understand what Jimmy was saying. "What are you trying to say? similar to...conceiving issues?" Jimmy gave a serious reply. Yes, we have been trying for over a year now without success. The doctor said we actually likely have fertility problems.”
I realized I had just unintentionally discovered a very personal matter that Jimmy and Abimbola were dealing with, my eyes opened. One that the whole family was obviously not supposed to know. I lowered my voice and apologized, "I didn't mean to pry about something so personal." I looked at Jimmy. "It is all good, I should not have said anything." At that moment, Abimbola innocently was walking over, holding a refilled glass and smiling happily. "What are my two favorite guys talking about over here?" I talked in a moment of heartbreaking judgment and said, "Jimmy was just telling me about you both issues to have a baby."
It sounded like a pin dropping. Abimbola froze, her smile disappearing as soon as she heard the words. Jimmy seemed to have taken a slap. "Why the hell did you say those words?" Jimmy tightened his teeth and shouted at me. Tears began to fill up in Abimbola’s eyes. Her voice grumbled as she questioned, "Why...why would you say that?" I realized right away that I had gone too far by revealing their personal information in such a careless manner. The uneasy chat turned heated at that very moment since I was unable to shut my big mouth when it came to the child bearing troubles. I tried to take it back. "I am so sorry, it just slipped out," However, the harm had already been done.
Upset and uncomfortable that I had revealed their very personal issues in such a careless manner, Jimmy walked off. In the course of her own birthday celebration, Abimbola started crying. As other family members became worried, they began to circle around to find out what was wrong. I accidentally threw a sign of trouble in a mistaken attempt at light conversation, unintentionally creating an extremely uncomfortable scenario from which Abimbola and Jimmy would have to deal. All because I was unable to keep quiet from myself an undisclosed secret regarding their difficulties having a child.
I sat down feeling like a total heel as the party broke up under a dark sky and Abimbola left with tears in her eyes. I did not control my mouth, and one careless, insensitive word had taken a happy occasion and poured fuel all over it. I had been painfully reminded of the trouble of spreading rumors based on information that was not rightfully mine.
