Mr. Benson is a strict man with principles; he doesn't take no for an answer, including from his wife and children. He always wants his orders to be followed by letters. He exerts his manship authority over his family and even among his friends. People know him to be a strict man, while some call him a wicked man, yet he doesn't care.
Mr. Benson has always wanted his only son Timmy to be a barrister, and as a man who wouldn't take no for an answer, he made it compulsory for Timmy to study law at a higher institution after secondary school.
"The law," Mr. Benson teased Timmy one morning after the morning devotion; this was when Timmy finished his final secondary school examination, known as waec. "You will be registering for the jamb (joint admission matriculation board) examination next year; I'm giving you enough time to read and prepare yourself ahead because you will be studying law," Mr. Benson said to Timmy as he smiled.
Timmy, who was feeling uncomfortable with his father, gathered the courage to mutter out some words. "But Dad, I don't want to be a barrister; I would love to be a footballer. You know I'm good at it," Timmy said to his father, who had already frowned on hearing what Timmy said. Mr. Benson hissed and stood up from the cushioned chair he was sitting on as he headed to his room to prepare for work.
Timmy's mom, Rebecca, who had been listening to her husband's conversation with his son, said to Timmy, "You know how your father can be; give it time, okay?" She hugged Timmy and headed inside to prepare for work. Timmy, who was now angry at his father's reaction, stumped his feet on the ground and sat on one of the sofas in their living room.
"I don't want to be a barrister; can't I just do what I want? I'm tired of this family," Timmy murmured to himself. After about 30 minutes, Mr. Benson came out of his room all dressed for work. He is a lecturer at one of the universities in his state of residence. "Keep the house clean, and don't open the door for strangers," Mr. Benson said to Timmy as he headed outside to his car. A few minutes later, Rebecca, Timmy's mom, also came out of the room looking gorgeously dressed; she is the manager of one of the well-known commercial banks in the state where they reside. "Take good care of yourself; see you in the evening," she said to Timmy, kissing him on the forehead.
Immediately after Timmy's parents left home, he changed his clothes and rushed to the nearby football field in an area where other children come to play football just for fun. Timmy has been sneaking into the field for quite some time now, so he is well known. Other children gave him the nickname Ronaldo in respect to a football legend whom Timmy said is his mentor, a man he looks forward to becoming in a few years.
Timmy enjoyed playing football; it came effortlessly to him, while his father didn't want to hear the name football at all. His mother is a neutral body here, ready to support whatever her son wants, but to respect her husband, who will never accept Timmy becoming a footballer, she had to agree with her husband, Mr. Benson. After training that morning, Timmy rushed back home to pretend as if he hadn't stepped out.
He continued to go for the training every morning except for weekends when his parents were around. When his parents returned from work that same day in the evening after dinner, while the family was watching television in the living room, Mr. Benson interrupted the program they were watching. "You were saying something in the morning about football; can you repeat yourself?" Mr. Benson asked Timmy.
"I want to be a footballer, Dad, Timmy replied. "Oh, okay, I get you now, no problem. I'm sure you've saved up enough money for your school fees because I won't be the one paying for them. I can't say about your mom, but as for me, I will not," Mr. Benson said, giving Timmy a stern look.
"Timmy, you are going to study law; is that clear?" Rebecca, Timmy's mother, said to Timmy, whose facial expression speaks that he isn't in support of his father's choice of profession, but he had no choice but to oblige since he had no power or ability to sponsor himself to school.
Fortunately, Timmy got admitted to the university where his father lectures to study law. It was a dream come true for his father. Amidst the learning, Timmy does find time to go to football training without the knowledge of his parents because he was privileged to live around the school, scouting with one of his friends. Their school has a nice sports team that comprises different sports such as football, volleyball, basketball, lawn tennis, badminton, and many more.
Timmy joined the football team, and he has been playing and trying his best not to allow his extracurricular activities to disturb his studies. One afternoon while he was playing on the field, after the match, one of his teammates said to him, "You are good at this; wetin you dey read law for (you are good at this, why are you studying law?".
"It's for my dad; he wants me to become a barrister, but as for me, football is my desire. You know how parents can be," Timmy replied to his teammate. They shook hands and went their separate ways. Timmy continued to study hard and also engaged with the football team wholeheartedly. Everyone on his team called him Ronaldo because of the special skills he possessed.
Timmy's school football team was invited to play against another school's team, and he was chosen as one of the players to represent their school as he had shown good sportsmanship. Timmy had to go without the knowledge of his parents, which he did successfully.
Timmy's team was victorious in the match, and they brought home the cup. It was announced on their school's online platform and also posted on the school notice board with the team's picture and Timmy's name and picture as a man of the match. Timmy happened to score their three goals, which crowned them as the winners.
Timmy was celebrated with the rest of the team, and Mr. Benson got to know about it. He was furious when he invited Timmy home. "How dare you?" Mr. Benson said it in a rage. "How did you want to make it as a barrister when all you do is go about playing a circled object?" Mr. Benson further said this as he threw a stern look at Timmy, who was standing with his head bowed.
"Honey, you have to take it easy; you asked him to study law, and that's exactly what he is doing; can't he involve himself in an extracurricular activity at school?" Rebecca, Timmy's mother, said this to her husband, who was boiling with rage on the sofa where he was sitting.
"Thanks, Mom and Dad. The certificate is for you, Dad, not me. All I want is to become a football player. I will graduate as a barrister and give you the certificate, then pursue my dream," Timmy said as he stormed to his room. At this time, Timmy was in his fourth year of school, studying law.
Timmy continued to play football at any given chance, and one day his school team went to play against another team; this was his final year at school. While playing, a man who was one of the guests took notice of how good he was, and after the match, the guest invited Timmy and his coach to have a word with them.
"Sir, I saw how wonderfully your boy played on the field; he sure shows good sportsmanship," the guest said to Timmy's coach. "Thank you, sir; that's how he has been; he is so good at it," Timmy's coach replied. "I would love to help him if he doesn't mind," the guest further said. "I don't mind, sir; I would be glad," Timmy replied to the guest with a bright smile.
"Okay, that sounds good. Here is my card, coach. Contact me, and then we will talk about how to go about it," the guest said as he handed over his business card to Timmy's coach. "Thank you, sir," said Timmy's coach, and Timmy chorused and bid the guest goodbye as he turned to leave.
This was a happy moment for Timmy; he told his mom about it, and Rebecca was very happy. She instructed Timmy not to tell his father about it. After some weeks, Timmy and his coach visited the guest and had discussions on how to help Timmy fulfill his longtime dream. "The country's national team needs some players, and I can see you are a defender. I am the acting sports commissioner for the country; I was invited to watch the match by the school's rector," the guest, who is now identified as the acting sports commissioner of the country, said to Timmy and his coach.
Timmy's joy had no bounds because his dream was about to come true. "In a few weeks, you will be invited again; get yourself prepared because soon you will be on the national team," said the sports commissioner.
"I will await your invitation, sir. I will be writing my final year examination next week, and by then, I'm sure I will be done with my examination," said Timmy. "Oh! That's nice; what's your discipline? asked the sports commissioner.
"Law, sir; I am a barrister in the making," said Timmy. "He is," his coach added. "That is awesome; I'm glad; no problem, boy; you will be invited soon," said the sports commissioner as he shook hands with Timmy and his coach.
Timmy and his coach left the sports commissioner's office with joy and happiness, and Timmy immediately informed his mother. Timmy sat for his final examination, and after a week, the sports commissioner invited him; this time he was told to come with his parents and the coach.
Timmy couldn't tell his father directly; he went home and told his parents to follow him somewhere. Both his father and mother were curious, asking Timmy what the problem was. Rebecca, Timmy's mother, knew about this, but she had to play along. Timmy took his parents and his coach to the acting sports commissioner office, and immediately they got to the gate. Mr. Benson could tell where he was, but he remained silent.
They entered the acting sports commissioner's office, and he had a few words with Timmy's parents. "We have found your son worthy of joining the country's football national team; I'm sure he told you about it," the acting commissioner asked Timmy's parents.
Rebecca, Timmy's mother, who couldn't contain her joy, quickly answered, "Yes, he did." Mr. Benson, Timmy's father, was smiling in his seat. "Then, the good news is that Timmy has been requested to join the country's national football team," the acting sports commissioner said.
"Thank you so much, sir. I must say, I am so impressed, and my joy knows no bounds. It is a great privilege to be the father of a successful man like my son," Mr. Benson said to the acting sports commissioner. This was to the surprise of Timmy and his mother, who were expecting entirely different words from Mr. Benson.
"Though the mother and son tried to keep it away from me, but I'm not that bad; I'm his father after all," Mr. Benson said jokingly, and the room was full of laughter.
"I told him about it, and I'm glad he accepted and is ready to support you all the way," Timmy's coach said. This was a big surprise to Timmy.
"I just have to let you follow your dreams, and thank you for listening to me and studying law," Mr. Benson added, patting his son on the back. All the paper work was done, all processes were completed, and after a few weeks, Timmy joined the country's national football team. To Rebecca's surprise, her husband now finds pleasure in watching football and is always serious whenever his son is playing.
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