***MR LECTURER S2***
Episode 11
As i left my father’s sitting room in a confused state, i ran into my uncle’s wife who smiled and hugged me happily on seeing me.
“how have you been doing my son?. My husband has been looking for a way to speak with you privately” she said happily.
“really?, is Pa Tony at home now?” i asked while the old woman nodded.
“yes you can go see him right away” she replied with a great smile.
I headed straight to Pa Tony’s house without any second thought. The old man was my father’s step brother and the oldest in the family. He also was very fond of me but my recent problems kind of made me hide from my close relatives..
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Pa Tony smiled happily as he saw me enter his sitting room. I greeted him politely, sitting on an empty chair close to him.
“so how have you been doing my son?. I have heard stories, disappointing stories about you. Your life story is now an open secret to everyone” he said seriously while i drew back in shame. The old man was well known for being honest and straight forward.
“yea things are very bad for me. I dug my own grave sir and no matter how much i try to fix things, something else comes up to ruin everything” i muttered quietly.
“do you know Udoka the carpenter?” he suddenly asked.
“yes of course i know him. His eldest son committed suicide last year” i answered, wondering the direction he was heading with the question.
“i was fifteen years old when your father was born. I have watched over him till this day. You are my son and i can never lie to you” he said and kept quiet while my mind began racing towards many directions as i searched for a clue on where he was heading with his words.
“just like Udoka the carpenter, your father failed performing the necessary rites due for every first male child in the community. The consequences of such neglect is what you are having now. Temptations, frustrations, heartbreak and finally death. Udoka refused heeding to warnings because he felt he was the only Christian in the world. I’m also a good Christian. A Christian father in the catholic church, but i performed the rights for my first son. There are things you don’t question in this world. Nobody is asking you or your dad to come worship an oracle or deity. All he could have done then was to send money across to the people in charge. But no he refused, simply because your mother wasn’t in support. As a man, there comes a time when you have to draw a line between acting as a man and acting the script written by your wife” he poured out while i silently listened with rapt attention.
“just take a look at Udoka’s son. He was a promising business man, suddenly his wife dies during child birth, his business folds up and he commits suicide. Then take a look at your own life. You never behaved irresponsibly as a youth, suddenly your promising life is being turn apart just from a single mistake which on a very good day would have resulted to nothing. Now where is your wife??” he asked with a strange kind of certainty that threw me back with fear as his words settled in me.
Oh yes i was raised up in a Christian way. I believed in God, but, but, but this has to do with tradition…..
” now go and confront your father. This is your life we are talking about” he commanded with a stern voice. I instantly ran back to my father like a child who was pursued by an evil masquerade
To be continued.
