We all know what story this is, don’t we? Been quite a ride seeing it in this style, though, right? Let’s see it out!

“Leonard! Leonard! You’re back! Oh my God, you’re back!”

Leonard was stunned at the sight before him.

What a relief it had been to walk through those iron gates once more! Thinking back to the day the taxi drove him out those gates, he shook his head. How stupid he had been!

As he walked down the driveway, he heard a loud, familiar voice. As he looked up, amazed was a small adjective to describe what he felt. Of all the things he ever thought he would see once he walked through the gates of Hollyland Manor, this was not one of them.

His father Johannes, running towards him.

Standing still as he watched the owner of this magnificent edifice run towards him with reckless abandon, it hit him right there and then.

Contrary to his initial fear, this man had not forgotten about him. This man had not discarded his memory as a bad and forgettable one. The man had been waiting for him.

Waiting for him to come back to his senses and return to where he truly belonged.

This was true love. Unconditional love.

He choked up as his father continued to speed in his direction, his arms now wide open.

How was this man rushing in his direction with so much relief after the way he had treated him? His father had every right in the world to explode with fury upon seeing him. Especially in such a wretched and pitiful state, which in itself spoke volumes of how brainlessly his inheritance had been used.

Yet, here he was, clearly delighted and relieved that his child was back home.

“Leonard! Oh, Leonard, thank God you’re back!”

Johannes met him and wrapped him up in the tightest and most heartfelt of embraces. “Oh, Lord, Leonard, thank goodness you’re back. I thought I’d lost you forever.”

The last string holding Leonard’s composure gave way, and he broke down, weeping in his father’s arms.

This welcome was one he so did not deserve, and he knew it.

For a minute or so, he just cried his heart out while Johannes kept him in his embrace, still coming to terms with this unexpected show of unconditional love from the man he had insulted and shown contempt for.

As Johannes’ grip on him decreased, he immediately moved downwards, ready to do what he had to do.

“Father,” he began, sobbing as he knelt down before Johannes, “I’m sorry. I’m so, so, so sorry. Father, I’ve failed you. I’ve been such a fool. I don’t know what came over me. I thought there was real life out there, and I literally forced you to give me my inheritance just so I could live an aimless life that’s amounted to nothing. I’m sorry. I’ve wronged you so badly, and I know it.

“Please, I come back here, knowing I’ve sold off my right as a child with my idiocy, and that I have no right to claim it. Please, take me back as a servant…”

“Please, son, please. Stop. I don’t wanna hear it,” Johannes interjected, shaking his head and smiling as he lifted his son to his feet. He wiped the tears on his and Leonard’s face. “You never sold off your right as my child, Leonard. You never can. No matter what, you will always be my son. I’m just happy to see you come back home.”

Still sniffing, Leonard was lost for words as his father placed an arm around him.

“There’s no greater pain of a father than to lose his child. I thought I had lost you forever the moment you walked out that door. You have no idea how painful it was to see you go. So now that you’re back, my heart is too full of joy. Come along, son. It’s time to celebrate! Where’s Nellyn… ahh, yes. Nellyn! Nellyn! Quickly, tell Mister Cola to get Leonard some fresh clothes and jewelry. And tell Miss Nucca to inform the kitchen staff to change dinner to a feast! We’re celebrating, yes, all of us! Leonard was lost, but now he’s back! Time to celebrate!”

***

Later that evening, as the feast was in full effect, with everyone joining in the celebrations and rejoicing that the recalcitrant son was back home, a tired Lennart drove through the gates of Hollyland Manor. It had been another one of those days of hard work, supervising all activities carried out on the farms and being as productive as possible. The day was done, and a date with his bed after a good dinner beckoned.

As he drove up to the main compound, however, he saw the lights, heard the music and laughs, and immediately got confused.

Is there some party or something? Coz I certainly didn’t get the memo on any special visitor coming in tonight…

Just then, Miss Nucca stepped out of the front door, holding a trash bag.

Lennart honked the horn of his truck and beckoned at her. As she approached, he demanded, “What’s going on? Is there a visitor at home or something?”

She looked unsure as to what to say for a moment, then shook her head. “It’s not a visitor, please. It’s your brother, Leonard. He’s come back home.”

Lennart’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets. “WHAATT!”

Miss Nucca nodded. “Yes, please. Leonard is back home.”

“And that’s the reason for this party?”

“Yes, please.”

“And it’s my father that is throwing this?”

“Yes, please.”

The surprise on Lennart’s face quickly turned to rage. “All this is for that irresponsible oaf? This young man who’s gone and most likely wasted all his fortune on senseless things? That’s why my father is throwing a party? Really?”

Unsurprisingly, Miss Nucca went silent.

Lennart, after breathing heavily in his seat for a couple of seconds, then turned to the steering wheel. “Okay, cool. Tell my father I’m home, and I’ll be sitting in the truck.”

“Pardon?”

“I said tell my father that I’m home, and that I’ll be sitting in the truck!”

The forceful tone in which he repeated that was enough for Miss Nucca to know that he would not appreciate another question about joining the party. “Yes, please,” she gently responded before moving away to discard the trash bag in her hand.

***

“Unbelievable,” Lennart muttered to himself, after a few minutes. “How in the world do you do that? After the way he disrespected you and treated you like you’re nothing, you welcome him with open arms like that? You throw a big party too on top? Goodness, I’m disappointed. So, so disappointed. Left to me, that boy wouldn’t even be allowed to walk through those gates. Ah!”

He paused to adjust his seat to allow him to relax. Once satisfied, he continued. “It’s not as if the boy has even made anything out of his life. With what I heard from those servants a few minutes ago, the boy was in some tattered and dirty clothes. What didn’t I tell him? I told him that foolish lifestyle of his wouldn’t amount to anything. Now the chickens have come home to roost, and he’s running back to daddy. Such nonsense…”

“Lennart.”

Lennart sat up and looked out the window.

Johannes stood beside the truck, a look of concern on his face. “What’s wrong, son?” he asked gently. “Miss Nucca came and told me you said you’ll be staying in the truck instead of coming in. Why?”

Lennart looked at him dryly, convinced that the man knew exactly why he was as upset as he looked.

Johannes seemingly got the hint, sighed and moved over to the other side of the car. He opened the passenger door and got in. “Lennart-“

“Father, please allow me. I want to ask a question.”

Johannes looked a bit surprised, but responded, “Sure. Go ahead.”

“When was the last time you ever threw a party for me? Just because I work hard and do everything you ask me to?”

Johannes looked a bit perplexed. The wonder on his face lingered for a few seconds.

“Yeah, of course. You never have. That’s the problem, Father,” Lennart stated as he sat up and stared his father in the eye. “I’ve been here from the beginning till now. When you told me to join this family business, I didn’t complain, did I? I went all in from the very beginning. Whatever you asked me to do, I did it. You sold me the vision of the farm business, and not once did I complain or tell you I had other dreams or ambitions. I followed your ways, and I’m still following them. I do all this and yet not once have you done anything within a fraction of this. Not that I demand it or anything, but you’ve never held a party or anything to show me some appreciation. Never.

“Yet, that boy in there. The same one who waltzed into your office and foolishly demanded you give him his share of the inheritance. The same boy who ignored every word of advice from your mouth. This boy, who simply went and squandered an entire inheritance on skanks and all that rubbish, walks back to this house with his tail in between his legs, and you think it fit to throw a major party for him? Someone who’s being punished for his stupidity? Honestly, Father, honestly. I’m just… I’m just speechless. This is such a disappointment…”

Johannes, who remained silent throughout the tirade of his older son, shook his head, then placed a hand on Lennart’s shoulder.

“Lennart,” he said gently but firmly. “Look at me.”

Lennart obeyed his father, turning to stare at him.

“Listen. Everything you’ve said is true. All true. You’ve dedicated yourself to making this farming business work, and I’m always grateful. Always. And look, once I still have breath in my lungs, what is mine is yours. There’s absolutely no doubt about that. What is happening in the house is not a matter of me regarding Leonard as more important than you. I need to make merry, because Leonard left us, and for a short time, I thought I’d never see his face alive again. To see him alive is joy unspeakable let aflame in my heart.”

Lennart remained silent, resisting the urge to argue with his father.

“I’m not giving him a free pass for his failures or claiming that he did nothing wrong. I’m simply letting him understand that the love of this man he calls Father is unconditional. It’s not based on what he does, it’s based on who he is. My son. Just like you. And if he’s walked away from his father’s house, come to the realization that it was a wrong choice and has come back home, how can I ever walk him away? That’s not my nature. I can never do that, and I will never do that.”

Lennart sighed inwardly. Inasmuch as he hated to admit it, his father’s words were solid. Any attempt to dispute or debate them would lead to him chatting rubbish.

“Now come on,” Johannes encouraged, his hand returning to Lennart’s shoulder. “Let’s go. The party’s still on, and I think Leonard has a lot to say to you, now that he’s come to his senses.”

Lennart let out the sigh he had held in.

“Sure. Fine. Let’s go.”

THE END

And that brings to an end the State of Dabar adaptation of the parable of the prodigal son!! I know y’all could tell how this would go once the first episode. Glad you stuck around to the end.

Thanks for reading, and as always, continue to enjoy yourself around the State!