The College Life Requires Commitment

At the age of 45, Edgar enrolled for his first college degree and his motto was "age is just a number". Tall black haired and dark in colour, the man was known for his unwavering way of doing things. Whenever he sets his mind to do something, even hell would not change his mind. "Edgar darling, do you really think that's a good idea considering the fact that we are old, the kids are all grown up, we have our good life, it's high time we focus on enjoying ourselves", said Hilda one Sunday afternoon as she was discouraging her husband from going to school. "Did you know my motto sweetheart, age is just a number" said Edgar. "I have read of a certain old lady who started doing her first grade at the age of 84, can you believe that babe?" The black man grinned looking into the face of his beautiful house wife as they were driving down the slippery road that led to their plantation. "I hate people that do things only because somebody has done it. You should be able to listen to your wife for Christ sake" yelled Hilda.

Having been married for 15 years, the couple had 4 children. The oldest of them had completed his engineering degree and the last born was doing his primary education. Apart from being a man who should provide for his family, Edgar was a father who needed to be there for his children. "So daddy tomorrow we are going out for fishing right, it has been a long time before you have taken us out", said Joe the last born jumping on top of the table on which his father was doing his assignment. "This stupid child, you are disturbing me, can you not see that I am buzzy?" Edgar shouted out of frustration. The little boy had not done anything wrong, honestly just like any other time in the past, he wanted to play with his father. This day, the pressure on his father would not allow his to "waste" any second. The school was draining a lot of energy from him. His wife was not there to support him.

One Monday afternoon, Edgar almost killed his entire family as he was coming from his plantation. "I want to see this whole job done within the next 30minutes". Edgar was talking to his manager. "Yes sir, " the manager replied as he had already started running to make sure that he would preserve his job. The previous night, the owner of the plantation had spent the whole night studying to cover up for the time he had travelled to India on a research mission. Edgar had developed an attitude of not listening to his wife even though at times she was right. "I think you need a rest Edgar, you cannot fast sleeping and win". This was Hilda parting his husband's shoulders. Edgar on the other hand even though he knew he needs to sleep he could not because of the work that was ahead of him. This Monday afternoon as they had finished working on the plantation, Edgar was exhausted and sleepy but he could not admit it. As they were halfway to their house, he fell asleep on the steering. The car veered off the road and overturned once then rested in the ditch. Fortunate enough no-one was seriously hurt.

Being a student and a father at the same time is not an easy task. There is need for balancing the two but at the end one side will be left unattended. The pressure that comes with this responsibility also needs a supporting family. Some pleasures are forsaken, kids might end up feeling like they are being neglected. It takes the strong ones to make it through.