~~THE GAMBLE~~

THE GAMBLE

By HENRY W. BWANALI
~~THE GAMBLE~~

“I'm sorry Peter I never meant it, please

forgive me”, Linda said while crying.

Peter was an accountant and the husband

of Linda a beautiful lady he had fished
from Tchezero village. Linda was a beauti-
ful and elegant woman. She was attractive,
yet still faithful to her husband.

Linda's mother had always wanted her to

marry a rich and decent man. Peter though
was the opposite. Peter was a middle-class
man who spent most of his wages on gam-
bling. He lost nearly all the time.

One day Linda went to the bank to with-

draw some money. As she checked the ac-
count balance. She was shocked to discov-
er that the bank account was empty. Peter
had already emptied the account the previ-
ous night so that he could gamble some
more.
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~~THE GAMBLE~~

“what is wrong with this man”, Linda

yelled in fury. She quickly left and went to
her aunties house.

When she arrived she was greeted by her

auntie and was welcomed into the house.

“How are you Linda , is everything fine ? ”,

her auntie asked.

“I’m not fine at all auntie”, Linda answered

in a sad tone.

“What’s wrong, are you sick ? ” her auntie

asked her with a confused grin in her face.

“No its Peter, he has done it again”, Linda

said as she burst into tears.

“Again ?” her auntie asked.

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~~THE GAMBLE~~

“Yes and this time he cleaned out the en-

tire bank account.” Linda said while sob-
bing.

“I told you your husband was no good, did-

n't i tell you. I knew that man was an irre-
sponsible fool the minute I saw him.” her
auntie said.

“What should I do”, Linda asked.

“You should divorce him !” her auntie said

”Remember when you were engaged to
him, I told you that he was no good, but
did you listen, NO! “

“Are you sure, don't you think that’s a little

bit too drastic ?” Linda asked.

“What has that useless husband of yours

ever doe for you Linda ? Grab the chance

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~~THE GAMBLE~~

before you regret it. Don’t be naïve , be-

sides you're still very young and beautiful,
you can find another husband in no time.”
Linda's auntie said.

“Okay your right ! I’ll do it” Linda gladly

accepted it.

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~~THE GAMBLE~~

Linda left immediately and went to the dis-

trict council to file for a divorce. Linda man-
aged to get all the divorce papers before
four o’clock in the afternoon.

Linda took the papers and went home. She

prepared Peter’s favorite dish, so that she
could bring him at ease as she tells him the
shocking revelation. Peter arrived late from
work ad was surprised to see packed lug-
gage in the living room.

“Linda ! What are all these bags doing

here ?” Peter asked.

“Don't the bags, come you should sit down

and eat” Linda said.

Peter sat down and Linda served him some

food. They all started eating ad Peter broke
the silence.
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~~THE GAMBLE~~

“Linda I know that you’ve noticed that our

bank account is empty, see that’s be-
cause……” before Peter could finish his
statement Linda interrupted.

“No need Peter I….. I …….. I have filed in a

divorce” Linda pulled two papers and gave
them to Peter.

“I don't think I can manage this charade

any longer. I have endured for quite a long
time and think we should part ways” Linda
said briefly without sparing any words.

“Di...Di….Divorce ! What is this ? Why Lin-

da why ?” Peter exclaimed ”If this is about
the bank account, I have a very good expla-
nation. I can explain” Peter pleaded with
his wife.

“No! Its already been done. All you need to

do is to sign the papers. I've already talked
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~~THE GAMBLE~~

to my lawyer and my parents are fully

aware.” Linda said.

“But why Linda, don't you love me ?” Pe-

ter asked desperately. His face was pale,
he had tears running down his face.

“ I do, but I cant allow you to ruin my life

because of you’re ignorance and you’re
petty gambling.” Linda said “ Sign the pa-
per Peter.” Linda said in a commanding
voice.

Peter signed the papers and gave it to

Linda. Linda put the papers into her bag.
She took her luggage and went to board
the taxi she had hired.

As she was about to leave peter said “

But there is something I wanted to tell
you.”

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~~THE GAMBLE~~

“No! there is nothing more to say. Goodbye

Peter.” The taxi slowly started moving and
drifted away to the distance as Peter stood
there in disbelief.

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~~THE GAMBLE~~

One week had passed since Linda left Pe-

ter. Linda was having her breakfast at her
mothers house when a close friend called
her on her phone.

“ Hey…..Linda ………. Have you heard

what’s happened to Pe.. Pe ….. Peter”

“ What ? Tell me “ Linda asked.

“ He ……. He has .” before she could finish

her statement the call was disconnected.

“ Linda wondered why her friend inquired

about Peter. She quickly ignore the phone
call.

As she was reading last week’s newspaper,

she saw the headline and it pierced

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~~THE GAMBLE~~

Her eyesight.

The NEWS BULLETIN read

“ TWENTY-SEVEN YEAR OLD PETER

BANDA HAS HIT THE PREMIER BET
JACKPOT AND WON
K480,000,000.00”

Linda a chill run down her spine as she

read the newspaper. Tear ran down her
face in agony and despair.

“ That’s what he wanted to tell me the

night I left him. Oh No! what have I done!”
She thought to herself.

Linda quickly grabbed her phone and

called Peter.

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~~THE GAMBLE~~

“ Hello Peter, my husband I miss you. I’ve

changed my mind, I’ll cancel the divorce
and we’ll come back together. I really miss
you” She said.

“ Unfortunately! That’s not going to hap-

pen. I know that you have already heard
the news that I have won MK480 Million
with my gambling habits you so despised.”
Peter responded in a calm.” I was going to
tell you about it the night you made me
sign our divorce against my will. I was so
excited to tell you the news, but I was dis-
appointed.”

“ In the midst of my depression I meet a

very nice young lady by the name of
Catherine. We are planning on an engage-
ment next month. We will be going to Paris
where our wedding will be hosted next
year in January.
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~~THE GAMBLE~~

“ I'm sorry Peter, I never meant it. Please

forgive me.” Linda said while crying.

“I’m sorry but the damage has already been

done. Now excuse me I need to attend to

my fiancé. GOODBYE FOREVER Linda” Peter

said as he ended the phone call.

As soon as the call ended Linda passed out

and woke up at the hospital……

THE END !

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