My Parents’ Decision
It was not until seven years later that we came to know there would be the addition of a new member to our family. Although my sisters took the matter lightly, I was deeply concerned. Dad always made it look like he was in some financial crisis although he catered for all the necessary things, but asking for something just important (not just some fancy stuff) was so hard. So, if there was going to be a new family member, that meant money would be tighter for the family. But little was I to know Dad had actually all the resources to run a little bigger family as life was going to show. He only liked to be economic. It was good in one way that he acted like that because by the time we were grown up, none of us sisters fantasized about holding on to a husband. We all wanted to be well established before we got married.
So the grand day arrived. Our little brother was born. He was a tiny, cute length of a bundle. Dad and Mom, especially Dad wondered if they would live to see him all grown up and how many ages would it take. Mom got released from the hospital and she was soon lying on the bed with the baby and us cuddling around to watch him in wonder. Dad was out. So Mom took the opportunity to explain why there was a new addition to the family.
A family needed a son to protect all the properties of the family and overall, to take care of the family in old age and in order to be the pillar of the family. Especially a man like our Dad needed a son. The reasons all sounded good to me but why after all these years and not earlier. After all I was fifteen now. Anyways, better late, than never.