LOST is an original Lapatutu fiction following Henry’s life journey. All characters, locations, and events in this work are fictional; any resemblance to real entities is entirely coincidental. [Click here if you missed Part 7]

Janine was Henry’s only sister among four siblings, and their connection had always been special. Her dream in life had always been to be a midwife, and she had achieved it. After her O’Level, she enrolled in a midwifery course at a health institute in Miraje, where she emerged as the top-performing student in her cohort.

To her, the opportunity to assist mothers during childbirth was the ultimate fulfillment of her purpose. This was probably the biggest difference between her and her elder brother: where Henry wanted to earn all the money in the world, Janine was content with her work at Miraje Health Centre IV. It was while serving there that she met her fiancé, a young medical doctor straight out of university.

The wedding was four weeks away. One thing about weddings in the countryside is the overwhelming sense of community. The whole of Miraje was eagerly anticipating the wedding of the doctors! Pledges had been pouring in from the moment the announcement was made in church. Sacks of flour, rice, and sweet potatoes were pledged by eager neighbors. Families offered their young children to be part of the bridal party, and in this communal spirit, the wedding was basically set.

As soon as he got off the phone with his sister, Henry immediately went through the process to request that Saturday off. It was the first time he was making such a request ever since he started working at A-Z FM, so he easily got the green light from HR when he mentioned it was a family engagement. He had been somewhat shocked when his sister mentioned she didn’t need any money for the wedding, but he quickly brushed it off and decided he would simply outshine everyone with a lavish wedding gift.

He remembered growing up in Miraje and how he had always desired a cold drink, but they couldn’t afford a fridge. Therefore, he bought a Samsung fridge with a dedicated freezing compartment, arranging for it to be delivered to Miraje on the Saturday morning of the wedding.

He also decided to buy a gift for his parents. The last time he had brought them gifts, they had been suspicious of how he was earning his money. But this time round, he felt confident that he had a job that was fully legitimate in their eyes. It was time, he felt, to finally get the admiration he deserved from them, so he bought them a new 32-inch Samsung TV.

Now able to drive, he took the company car he had been assigned and set off for Miraje early in the morning. He was received with warm hugs and cheers as his car pulled into the compound. Everyone was happy to see him. There was something beautiful about the moment—he was loved simply because he was Henry, not because of his status. Yet, after years of chasing status, Henry could no longer grasp that kind of affection.

So as soon as he finished greeting everyone, he frantically reached for his phone to find out where the delivery truck was. To him, it was only the gifts that could make people truly happy.

The delivery truck arrived about thirty minutes after him. The sheer size of the vehicle caused an instant stir across the compound, bringing the chatter of wedding preparations to a sudden halt. Henry’s eyes lit up as he watched the giant truck maneuver into place. As the workers hopped down and began unlatching the back to unload the heavy appliances, a surge of pride washed over him. This, he believed, was what would finally earn him their respect.

“Before some of you get scared, I’m now a Sales Executive at A-Z FM. The biggest radio in the country! So, with my salary, I’m able to get you these gifts; a fridge for your dear sis and a TV for you mum and dad,” he announced, expecting adoration.

His father’s eyes widened as he looked from Henry to the massive boxes being carefully navigated through the doorway. A broad, proud smile broke across his face.

The excitement caught the entire house. Neighbors who had gathered for the wedding prep crowded around the doorway, ululating and clapping as the delivery men hauled the packages into the sitting room. Henry took it in! He felt amazing!

“A whole television? And a fridge for Janine?” His father stepped forward, extending a hand before pulling Henry into a firm, warm embrace. “First of all, congratulations on finishing your studies, son,” his father said, stretching out his hand to shake Henry’s. His mother joined in, congratulating him as well.

“We’re very happy to see you. How wonderful that you got a job immediately after university,” his mother remarked, her tone warm but laced with a hint of concern. “Many people here struggle with finding work after their studies.”

“This A-Z, is it the one for Edmond Mwibetu?” His father asked.

“Yes, yes! Edmond is my boss,” Henry replied, excitedly, eager to flaunt the connection.

“Isn’t that the man that left his wife and got a younger… model?” his mother asked, her voice laced with a slight hint of judgment.

This was like an insult directed at the man he now deeply admired, a direct challenge to his newfound source of power. He quickly came to Edmond’s defense.

“He never left her, he just got a second wife. And besides, he has enough money to look after all of them. What is wrong with that?” Henry argued, his voice rising.

A small silence followed.

“My goodness,” Janine chimed in softly. “I really hope my doctor never makes that kind of money if it means bringing a younger woman into our marriage.”

The silence was now louder.

Henry was somewhat confused. The sheer innocence of his sister’s thought cut deep into him, but it wasn’t enough to make him discredit Edmond.

“Trust me sis, money is a good thing in any marriage, it brings security…” He tried to defend his position, but it wasn’t a very strong stance. Standing in his childhood home, this corporate logic felt out of place against the simple, unshakeable truth of his sister’s words.

“Okay, everyone,” his mother interjected, sensing the rising tension. “Today is a wedding preparation, a day of celebration, and our son has come home to join us. How about we spend the rest of the day being happy?”

“Just be careful around Edmond, son; many people say he is not so honest,” his father added.  Then his face relaxed into a soft smile. “For now, as your mother says, let’s get ready for the wedding. And thank you for these gifts, Henry. We love you so much.”

The reception took place in the Miraje County Library gardens, a beautiful space dominated by lush greenery and towering, century-old trees. People had gathered from all over the county, giving Henry a stage to reunite with long-lost acquaintances. For most of the locals, hearing about his position at the famous radio station sparked instant, genuine admiration—a small, yet deeply satisfying consolation after the morning’s confrontation with his family.

The high point of the reception came when Janine took the stage. After honoring their parents, she paused and smiled directly at Henry.

“I must express our deep gratitude to my brother, Henry,” she said into the microphone. “He surprised us today with a grand wedding gift—a very big refrigerator.”

Henry leaned back in his chair, folding his hands over his chest, soaking in the collective gasps of the village guests. This was the moment he had paid for.

“But as my husband and I discussed earlier,” Janine added effortlessly, “as many of you know, our new home—like most in Miraje—runs entirely on a small solar. That big fridge will not work there. Therefore, my husband and I have agreed to donate the fridge to the County Youth Resource Center.”

Applause broke out across the lawn. Aunties cheered, and elders nodded in deep approval of the couple’s noble work. The youth present ran around, shouting in joy and kneeling on the ground in appreciation.

The Youth Resource Center was not just a hub for vocational training—it also housed Miraje’s primary child immunization clinic. As one of the very few facilities in the parish connected directly to the national electric grid, the center had long struggled to keep temperature-sensitive vaccines properly chilled during routine health drives. A double-door refrigerator was precisely what the clinic needed to safely store life-saving vaccines for hundreds of infants across the county.

Watching the crowd shower his sister and her husband with admiration, Henry felt some anger rise inside him.

It baffled him how casually they could give away a fridge that cost him serious money—money earned through grueling corporate politics at A-Z FM. To them, it wasn’t about rejecting his gift or viewing it as an inconvenience; their decision came strictly from a place of compassion and service to their community. But to Henry, seeing an expensive luxury item repurposed so effortlessly felt like a total dismissal of his hard work. Who didn’t want a fridge in their home? If power was the issue, he could have eventually worked on getting them connected to the grid!

Second, they had stolen his spotlight. It was clear that Janine and her husband had earned a lot more praise for their gesture than he had for buying the fridge. He swallowed his bitter ego, forcing his hands into a stiff, rhythmic clap alongside the cheering crowd.

Nothing infuriates a man desperate for status quite like watching others receive it effortlessly.

Henry had come home to show Miraje how far he had climbed. Instead, the village had quietly shown him just how far he had fallen from the reality of doing something purely for the good of others.

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© An original Lapatutu Story.

Henry leaves Miraje with a bruised ego. In the next chapter, he heads back to the city to join his boss, Edmond, for his first major client meeting. Away from his family’s scrutiny, he gets to step back into the corporate game—where metrics replace morals, and status is what truly counts. See you next Wednesday.