06/07/2025
THE STEP SON..
In a quiet village where time seemed to pause, lived a woman named Mama Ada, known for her kindness and strong Christian faith. Years after losing her husband, she remarried a man named Chief Obieze, a wealthy cocoa trader. Chief came with a son from his lat£ wife—Chuka, a quiet boy of about ten, whose eyes always looked as though they had seen too much for his age.
Mama Ada had two children of her own, Amarachi and Ebere, and while she tried to treat all three equally, the difference in affection was often clear. Chuka was reserved, obedient, and rarely spoke unless spoken to. While her daughters ate fresh fish and wore new clothes, Chuka often received the leftovers—both in food and love.
"He's not my blood," she once whispered to a friend. "I do my best, but it's not the same."
Chuka knew he was different. The walls of the house reminded him every day—he slept on a mat near the kitchen while the others had beds. He wore second-hand clothes while the girls were dressed in lace. But he never complained.
One rainy evening, Chief Obieze fell seriously illl and was rushed to the city. Days turned into weeks, and finally, the news came—he had passed. Mama Ada w£pt, but fear crept in her heart. Without Chief, Chuka was nothing more than a reminder of her late husband's past.
Soon, the boy became a house help. He cooked, fetched water, cleaned the compound, and was no longer called “Chuka,” but “that boy.” Mama Ada’s relatives even suggested he be sent back to the village of his mother, but there was no one left there to take him.
One fateful afternoon, a wealthy stranger arrived at the house. He was searching for Chuka.
“I was Chief Obieze’s business partner. He left a will. And in it, he left everything—his land, bank account, and cocoa farms—to his son, Chuka.”
The entire compound froze.
Mama Ada could barely breathe as the lawyer brought out the documents.
"Chief said," the man continued, "that Chuka may not be of many words, but he is the one who truly has his heart."
That day, the boy they once ignored walked out of the house, no longer the step-son, but the heir. And as he left, he turned back and said quietly:
“Thank you for showing me how not to treat others.
The end....
Written by Amaka
