CHAPTER 21
BY
Rejoice Igbinovia Aluyi
......I couldn't believe my eyes when I walked in,father was looking very pitable,so unkempt,his beads had overgrown,he was looking so different...
Mother and Osato where drinking garri,I mean for breakfast....
Kor daddy, lamosun,I greeted hugging father tightly,,he hugged me back...kor ovinwen,,vbee oye hé?,how are you,he asked....
Father I am fine,I replied slowly,I couldn't ask how he was,as he was definitely not fine....
I walked up to mother,and Osato,mother bent her head to the ground,in shame I guess...
Kor mummy, lamosun I greeted....
How are you my child,she asked raising her head gently...
Did I hear her right,like seriously,he daughter?...
I nodded my head in the affirmative...
How's my granddaughter doing,she asked standing up to see Mimi who was w
Srapped at my back..I lossened the wrapper and she brought Mimi out, carrying her like it was the first time of seeing her since she was born....
Father,you look really unkempt and rough, what is it,are you okay,I asked bending to him....
I am fine my child, don't worry about me,he said....
Father I will,....I said
My daughter,things had not been thesame since you left,we have been surviving by God's mercy,mother said...
I was starring at her, wondering why a woman, would be so lazy,,my eyes soon went to the TV position,and the tv wasn't there anymore..
What happened to the TV,I asked father.....
It was sold,along with so many other things,my expensive wrappers and shoes,just so we can eat,mother said...
Isn't this shocking,that just a month and few days I moved out, things had become so rough,how possible is this,I wondered...
My child, God brought you to us as a gift,even though we do not deserve you,but we, especially I,took you for granted,my daughter, please forgive us,forgive me,mother said going down on one knee..
I quickly stopped her,mother please do not place a curse on me by going on your knee,I hold nothing against you,I said helping her up.....
Aunty Ese,Osato said walking towards me,I am.so sorry for all I did...
Aha, Osato called me aunty, could my ears be painning me,I hugged her smilling, telling her I hold nothing against her...
Where is Nathan,I asked her...
He had gone out to look for daily jobs,so that we can eat something proper maybe, mother said....
Give me Eloghosa,father said to mother....
Eloghosa smiled beautifully as he carried her,she had probably missed her grandfather too...
I was about walking out,are you leaving, please don't go,mother said....
No,I want to get something outside,I said....
Okay, Osato oya follow your brother's wife,mother said...
Brother's wife Indeed,I thought within me...
Osato followed me,she wasn't comfortable and free with me,I believe because of all the rubbîsh she had done in the house....
Osato,I told you I hold nothing against you,you have to be free with me,and the aunty thing may not be necessary,I am Esohe,call me that,or Ese for short, I said....
You are too nice,she replied almost shading tears....
We went to a Mimi market in the area,where we do buy foodstuffs,and I bought items to make a pot of soup,and even stew,, Osato smiled brightly...
What is it,I asked wondering why she was all smiles...
Ese,I can't remember the last time we ate a well prepared soup or stew,she said....
It is well,was all I could say...
We went home and I headed to the kitchen,to my greatest surprise,the freezer wasn't there anymore,and I had hoped to store the stew in it...
Where's the freezer,I asked Osato,who was with me,,mother sold it,she said.....
What?, that's so much,I mean, it's well I replied...
I soon finished making the pot of melon soup,and made eba,I served the table for us all,and for once,we ate as a family...
While we were eating I placed the meat for the stew on fire....
Mother,why didn't you continue with the business,even if you didn't want to go hawking,I was also making good sales at home,I believe that would have helped as well,I asked.....
My daughter,I tried,but no body bought from me,we ate them all,and to think I even borrowed the money to start up the business...she said...
Who would blame them for refusing to patronize you,when you had quarried with almost everyone in the area....I thought within...
When we finished eating,I made the stew, then,took father to the Barber shop,which was about three houses away from ours,and have his hair cut and maintained......
Father,how has it been with you,I asked him again,while we waited for his turn...
My child you have seen it na,I am now a shadow of myself,he said...
Father, what about the notice,has mother gotten a place..I asked.
My child,we that have not been able to eat,is it Money for apartment that we would have,but don't worry my child,we shall be fine,he said...
Father please come with me, I said to him..
My child,a real man doesn't run away when it gets tough,he only learns to get tougher,he said
Father soon cut his hair and we went back home....
Getting home,we met Nathan eating,he smiled at me upon seeing me....
I didn't reciprocate the smile,but greeted him...
Good afternoon Ese,he replied
Mother told me this food is your hand work, thank you much,he said.
I nodded...
You look good,and our baby Mimi, she's looking fine,he said....
Thanks I said.....
He was looking very thin and unkempt too..
We stayed till evening,and then we were on our way home....
Esohe, can't we come with you to your house,we are the only ones left in this compound,and the landlord won't let us a moment of peace,we even found out he sold the house,and the new owners are coming to demolish it soon, he has given us three days to leave,please my child,mother said....
Mother my apartment is very small, it won't be enough for all of us,I am sorry,i said..
She nodded her head gently,like one who has lost all hope.....
I strapped Mimi to my back,and carried my big handbag containing Mimi's things and was about leaving when Osato,came to me and took the handbag,let me help you with this to the junction, she said...
Thank you,I said still surprised at the gesture.
Please Ese,let me finish my food so I can see you off, Nathan said,I was still surprised..
Oh,never mind, I'd justtttttt
Please Esohe,I insist,he said....
Okay,I sat down, waiting for him to finish eating,which was very fast by the way and soon he was ready to see us off ..
I gave mother #5000, meanwhile I had given father #6000 at the salon,and bidded them goodbye...
Osato and Nathan saw me to the junction,I took a vehicle and off I was..
Getting home,I was thinking about everything. ..what a life,who would have thought that Nathan, Osato and even mother would treat me with so much love, respect and affection,hmmmm,indeed some people would never realize your worth until you are away from them,I thought..
How I wish father agreed to move with me, he's the only one that genuinely cares and loves me..
The next day,I went to Mama Ada's place and told her about the previous day's experience....
Hmm my child,you know, it's possible they have really changed,but it could also be an act,but which ever way,I no go fit advice you waiting you go do,,the decision is yours and yours alone to make,she said....
I can't possibly allow them be like that, God is blessing me beyond what I deserve, perhaps am blessed to be a blessing to them,but what if Mama Ada was right and it's all an act,hmmmm, let's see how it goes I concluded in my heart...
It was six days after my visit to them,at about 6:30pm,my phone rang,it was an unknown caller,Helloooooooo,I said from my end.
To be continued
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