The Story of Bob - Part 5

Now dad really know how to throw a party.. it's party with a capital P. The tables are groaning under the load of food, and the cooks are still doing their job inside the kitchen! There is a full band on the dance floor, the best one in town. No expenses were spared in decorating the place, dad got the hostest with the mostest for the job. The finest wine was free flowing and the guests were just enjoying themselves. What about Bob? Well.. Bob stil wore that stunned look to get such an unexpected welcome. He was prepared for sweeping the stables, shovelling dung, dirty looks, but this?... Party time? Succulent lamb instead of pigs pods? Finest silk and linen robes instead of lousy coarse cotton? Wouldn't you be stunned too?

And dad.. well.. he looked like the cat that caught the burung pipit, contented and so happy. He was going around making sure the guests were well fed and their cups were constantly filled. He was also telling everyone that Bob is back, in case they hadn't noticed. Haha.. Dad was happy, which is actually an understatement! happier than he had been for a while. He had lost his son, and now he had found him again. So, it was a happening party (on the history books to be THE party of the year) .. when suddenly BANG.. everyone jumped.

There standing at the door of the hall was Art, Bob's eldest brother. Oh.. if looks could kill, Bob would be dead, and then some. Art was furious to see that the party was in Bob's honour. He had asked the servants when he came back to the house after tending to the animals, the reason for the music in the air and the smell of food wafting out, and found out that Bob is back. That no good son of his father is back, after all the pain he put the old man through, the shame his family had to endure, the snide remarks his friends, family and neighbours had thrown at them, his father throws a welcoming party for Bob? "I knew it, the old man is getting senile," thought Art. "I should start thinking about retirement homes, before he gets worse." He continued thinking as anger rolled over him, at the injustice, the shame.

He couldn't bring himself to go to the party, but he just had to see it, hardly believing it could possibly be true. But it was. There was Bob, in the best robe (did I even see dad's ring on his finger?) eating the fattened calf, the animal that He, Art himself had fed everyday? Bob Bob Bob.. Dad's thoughts had always been about Bob! Art felt sick in his guts. He just turned and left...

So.. which person can you identify with most? Bob? Art? Dad?

To be continued...