It was supposed to be a small gathering of some twenty or so of friends. Most being in their prime and some sprinting to join them it was a group you would dream of having. I knew a few things about group even before the incident I’m about to tell you as a fellow I knew was a member. The invitations were sent weeks before for all to be at what was supposed to be an early lunch gathering at 11:00 A.M. on a Sunday. All have arrived at the top of the hour except the couple who were hosting the event; a couple who seem to have so much expendable money they say they threw one party or another almost every other day. That said, so the guy tells me they weren’t showing off, like most of the wealthy do. With all their four children abroad they craved for company.
A half hour passes something which never happens within their group. The greater part of them all having experience life abroad the abuse of the time was unimaginable. If one of them was a couple of minutes late he/she will, have the perfect excuse. On that day the half hour brought up the gloom on an otherwise on a sunny Sunday. Repeated calls to both their hosts having gone unanswered their concern gave way to worry. Something not nice must have happened to them! Finally it was decided for two members to drive to the hosts’ residence and find out what was happening.
As the duo arrives at the residence nothing out of the ordinary caught their attention. Normality reigned. Their knocks on the door was answered by a domestic helper they were familiar with. They ask her if their hosts were home.
“They are sleeping,” she answers. What the hell! Sleeping at this time of the day while two scores of the very friends they invited were a waiting for them in another corner of the town! Yes, something has happened.
“Are they sick?”
“Oh, no!” and she meant what she said.
“Then why are they sleeping so late?”
“Yesterday they had two wedding invitations. They got back home long after midnight.”
The duo didn’t know how to react, Should they be angry and stomp the ground? Should they break down doors all the way to the bedroom and knock a head or two? Should they go to Facebook and vent their rage at being so badly treated posting compromising pictures of the rich couple who failed to keep their words badly defaced their pride? One of them was about to call the others and tell them the shocking news; but the other insists they tell them in person. Once back the main story was the story of a long and intact friendship showing the first cracks.
Later the hosts tried to apologize but the damage was done. They gave so much attention to their pride and ego (not in a bad way) the entire group refused to budge. Let me tell you what worsened the saga. It was that thing we call the final nail in the coffin. Even if the wedding invitations didn’t happen the story would have made no difference. The hosts had already decided to postpone the event for another couple of weeks; and they tell no one! It hurts, and hurts bad.
How is it so easy for people and groups to call off things which have been talked about and were sure to happen so easily? You see an advertisement on TV about a musical concert in which one or two of your favorite musicians are scheduled to appear. So on an early weekend you head to the place where the concert was scheduled to take place. But somehow while early arrivals mull around the entrance was no activity about the doorways. If you take they said in the advertisement word for word the doors should have been already opened. But they were closed and sort of padlocked like you’ve never seen them before. What in the world is going on?
“What happened?”
“The concert is called off.”
“What do you mean called off?”
“They say it has been postponed and will take place after about a month.”
And they don’t announce such an important decision on any media. Not even their Facebook page! They have spoiled an entire day for you and others and they don’t even bother to say “Sorry!”
Ephrem Endale: Contributer
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 20 MARCH 2022