Episode 15
NAOMI
Aunt Tracy couldn’t believe her eyes. She as well as I myself expected to see daddy hitting mummy just the way he used to back then. But there he was, holding the baby to his chest and humming silent music for him while he (the baby) was trying to pull out his beards.
“What are you doing, Dennis?”. Aunt Tracy couldn’t hold it anymore.
Daddy ignored her, as he struggled with the baby to let go of his beards.
“Joeboy, now leave my bear-bear alone”. He said.
“Ever since he started talking, he’s been calling your name all the time”. Mother was saying. She has returned to her place after realizing that daddy has diverted from trying to hit her.
“What happened to his eyes?”. He asked, looking at his eyes.
“Oh! it started two weeks ago. I have taken him to the hospital, and he was given a drugs”. Mummy said.
“No, we need to take him to a good hospital”. He said.
“Dennis, what are you doing?”. Aunt Tracy repeated the questions.
Again, daddy ignored her and instead gave the baby a peck on forehead before putting him down again.
“I will be back”. He said, and went inside.
Aunt Tracy and mother stared at each other with so much hatred in their eyes.
While they were at it, I bent over to see the baby’s eye. He has a lump on each eyelids, and it hurts when I tried touching it.
I was interrupted by a loud hiss from one of the women. I didn’t know whether it was coming from my mother or from Tracy, but when I looked up, aunt Tracy was already walking back inside.
Mother watched in disgust until she disappeared into the house. She sighed and turned to face me.
“Naomi, my daughter, what has that woman done to you?. I am still your mother, no matter what”. She asked.
“I don’t think I need a mother again. I have been through a lot alone, I don’t need you again”. I said.
“Naomi…. “. She exclaimed.
At this point, daddy came out already dressed.
“Let’s go”. He said.
Mummy hurriedly picked the baby up and followed behind him.
I watched them got into the car, and drove away.
He returned later in the evening. I was in the living room watching the television when he entered.
“Good evening, daddy”. I greeted as soon as he entered.
“Ehe, Naomi, how are you?”. He responded. And instead of going into his room straight like he normally does, he sunk on the couch beside me.
“Daddy how is Joshua?”. I asked.
“He is fine. I took them to the hospital, and he has been booked for a surgery”. He announced.
“Surgery? is it that bad?”. I muttered.
Just then, his phone began to ring. He picked it up, and after speaking for a second with the caller, he handed it over to me….it was Madam Beatrice. She had called to check on me.
Clara’s voice could also be heard from the background pleading to speak with me.
After praying for me, madam Beatrice finally handed the phone to Clara.
“Just for two minutes”. She warned her.
“Hello, bestie”. She began to tell me everything that have taken place in my absence.
While we speak, aunt Tracy came out to meet him. And that was the first time she was coming out after that morning drama.
“Dennis, what was the meaning of that act you displayed in the morning?”. She asked.
“What act?”. He asked.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. She moved closer to him and sat on the cushion arm.
…. Dennis, what was the meaning of that?”. She said.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about”. He insisted.
“You don’t know what I’m talking about. So where have you been since morning. Today is Sunday, you won’t tell me you went to work”. She asked
“I took my son to the hospital”. He replied bluntly.
“What’s the noise about?”. Clara asked.
“It’s my parents”. I replied, but before she could say anymore, I guessed madam Beatrice took the phone from her because it disconnected.
“I don’t think I owe you any apology. All I did was show fatherly affection to my boy” Daddy was saying.
“And you’re proudly saying that to my face?. Dennis?. Do you know that you humiliated me this morning?. You chose her instead of me, making me look like a fool”. She began to cry.
“Point of corrections, I didn’t choose her over you. I did what I did for my son, not for anyone else”. He said.
She sighed, and went back in.
The next day, they were at it again.
“… Dennis, you’re a confused man. You have to choose who you want to be with. Me or the other woman?”. She asked.
“But you’re the other woman here”. I blurted out.
That was when they noticed my presence.
“Naomi, now go inside”. Daddy commanded me.
I stood up and went inside.
I was mopping the living room later in the evening when aunt Tracy came out with her luggage. Daddy followed behind her, pleading that she stays back.
“…Leave me alone, Dennis. I have told you what I want you to do if you want peace to reign”. She said.
“Tracy, stop!, please, stop that”. He pleaded
She pushed him away.
“When you have made up your mind on what you want, you know where to find me”. With that, she was gone.
