Chapter 9
By
Rejoice Igbinovia Aluyi
...Mother shouted,I couldn't believe my ears too,they had already entered Benin, before the accident happened,she was told he had been rushed to the general hospital, she rushed into the house,took some money and was rushing out, going to the hospital,I ran after her,,and where do you think you are going,she asked me,am going with you to the hospital I said,will you take yourself inside,she shouted..mother I am going with you to the hospital,I said with all seriousness...
She just gave me the disgusting look and kept going, while I followed...
We soon arrived at the hospital,and requested to see one of the accidents victims who had been brought there...
Oh I see,am afraid many of them were brought in dead,the nurse said.....
Immediately she said that, goosebumps covered my body,I was practically shaking...
May I see the survivals,mother asked, obviously scared too...
Okay, please come with me to the emergency ward...
We went with her to the first ward,and we saw very critical cases,father wasn't there,oh my God,let this not be true,father can't be dead,I was thinking within,my legs all of a sudden became too heavy for me,as I was finding it difficult to move...
We went to the second emergency ward,and there father was lying looking lifeless, his legs and waist had been badly hurt,...
That's my husband,mother ran to his side,I exhaled,as though sometimes had left my chest..
The doctor soon came in, asking us to go out,we went out and father was attended to, while mother went to get card and make necessary initial deposit....
After about a week, father was able speak gradually,he was very happy to see me beside him,mother had gone home, Osato had gone to school and Nathan had only visited twice, staying for just a few minutes...
Esohe,,I Know you have been here,I keep hearing your voice,I Know you have been praying for me,even if It was my time to die,for your sake, I'd come back,he teased,we both smiled... please stop worrying,I am here....
I shook my head happily..
Let me get the doctor,I said.
I told the nurse that father was able to talk,she informed the doctor,and soon they were both with father,the doctor then asked that father be transferred from the emergency unit to the ward....
Mother arrived later and she was happy at the progress,the doctor requested to see her,she went and came back in few minutes looking very sad, what's it,I asked her,father also asked her what the doctor had said,and then she said the doctor had said it will take only God's grace for father to work on his own again,as his legs and waist was greatly affected...
I felt so bad,father didn't deserve all this, he's a very good man,I thought within...
The news made him so said,a man he was so full of life and very active,now will be confined to a wheelchair,it wasn't easy on him...
After about three weeks,father was to be discharged,mother had used almost all of father's money to sought the bills,she also got a wheelchair,and then we were on our way home....
Getting home, neighbors, family and friends had come to join us in thanking God over father's life..we were very happy....
The next Sunday,we all went to church for Thanksgiving,for preserving father's life..
Weeks later, things weren't thesame,father was the bread winner of the family,but of course,he couldn't continue working,mother didn't have a stable business, sometimes she sells jewelries at home,other times fairly used clothes,she just wasn't consistent with business,she was in and out ...
Things became very hard for us, eating was very difficult,Osato had to stop going to school, because she couldn't pay her bills...
Father wouldn't stop thinking,which wasn't good for his health,I didn't know how to help. Nathan on the other hand was becoming something else,he would leave the house and come back very late, smelling of alcohol, he was always complaining of his inability to continue schooling...
After much thought,I decided to visit uncle again, hoping he'd be able to help....
I went to uncle's place and thankfully he was around.....
Kor daddy,lamosun,I greeted him...
He looked at me and nodded...
I greeted his wife too..
How are you Ese,and your husband,I heard what happened to your father-in-law,so sorry oh, how's he,she asked pretending to care because uncle was there...
He's fine, I replied...
I went inside to say hello to my cousins....
I returned to uncle outside...
Daddy, please I really need your help,I said stuttering....
He didn't say anything,but his wife was already looking at me, paying adequate attention....
Daddy, please I really need your help,I Know,I have failed and disappointed you,but it wasn't my intention,I am sorry for bringing shame to you,it was a one time mistake and I regret it so much,I was already in tears.....
He was looking at me,I could still see the love in his eyes,though clouded with pains,my uncle really wanted much more from me ..
What do you want from me Esohe,he asked....
Daddy,things have been very rough since Nathan's father got involved in an accident,he lost his job since he's confined to a wheelchair,as I speak, there's nothing to eat at home,I haven't been able to attend my antenatal for sometime because there isn't any money,father hasn't taken his drugs for almost a week,there isn't any money to buy.. Nathan's father is a very nice man,he is the only one who treats me Nice in that house,he treats me just like his daughter,if not better, he's the reason I am able to scale through this situation in hope, daddy please I beg you,I need financial assistance, please daddy,I said in tears on my knees...
Uncle exhaled deeply.....
Stand up Esohe,get up,he said helping me up...
You broke my heart into a thousand pieces when you got pregnant at such young age,it hurts so much,as I had promised my sister,your mother to make a decent woman of you,but then,one doesn't throw a child away along with the bathing,I am going to see what I can do for you,at least assist you with some moneyyyyyyyyyyy
Daddy,his wife Interrupted him,you know you promised to give me money to add to my business,I think Ese can wait,after all she's no longer our responsibility,she said....
Isoken,my niece is and will always be my responsibility,more over your shop is doing alright,I promised to assist you on my own free will,and that I shall do, uncle told her... Ese you are going to come back on Monday evening,let me see what I can do,he said,I was happy,I knelt thanking him...he raised me up hugging me,I was so happy,his wife was boiling in anger...
I stayed a little longer with my cousins and uncle, and was on my way home...uncle gave me 4000, to buy something for myself,I was very happy....
On my way home,I bought the most important of father's drug,about two thousand Naria and also some food stuffs as there was nothing at home....
Getting home,I happily told father all my uncle had said and done,he couldn't stop praying for him,I also showed him the things I had bought with the money,he was very happy especially for his drug,as he always finds it difficult to sleep without those drug,as he was always in pains..
Mother on the other hand,was angry I had spent the money roughly,can't the drugs wait till Monday when your uncle will give you something tangible,she quarried....I couldn't help but wondered how mean she was...
Monday soon came,and I went to uncle,to my greatest surprise,he gave me the sum of fifty thousand Naria,I didn't know if to give mother the money, father,or Nathan......
To be continued
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