My wīckèd step mother
Episode 13
I was numb, I didn’t know what to say. Teddy came weeping all the way towards me, I never believed he could cry that hard. I went hugging him immediately and he felt really under my control.
“Why were you so careless with the banana peels?” I asked Teddy as I pretended to not have known anything about it. He couldn’t talk much, he just looked at my face and kept on weeping.
The whole house was silent, dad hadn’t returned home yet. I had cooked noodles for Teddy and I, I literally had to force him to eat. He was really in a bàd shape.
The car honk brought our gaze to the window. Teddy immediately stood up from the couch and raced towards the door, I followed behind him. Mr John alighted the car and he looked so exhausted.
“How is my mom now?” Teddy said sharply with his eyes all focused on Mr John. “She’s fine now, we thank God,” Mr John said as he moved closer to us.
“Your dad said I should come pick you up, he has been worried that you guys are all alone at home,” Mr John didn’t finish ending his sentence when Teddy had jumped into the car.
Mr John and l glimpsed at each other and we both went into the car. The journey was a 30 minutes journey to the hospital. Mr John took us to where dad and Sandra were. Teddy’s face lightened up as he saw Sandra on the bed.
He ran towards her and went folding her on the bed. Sandra laughed and both mother and child were sharing happy moments. Dad stood up from beside Sandra and went standing by the window of the room.
Anger was written all over his face, he was still angered by Teddy. Sandra was later examined again and as we had it, she was okay to go home.
We left for home in the evening, there was total silence from the hospital till we were home. I made sure I made attempts to put smiles on dad’s face. I had to make him happy.
Dad wasn’t moved by my moves, he looked really worried, I knew something was wrong. Dad had really scolded Teddy, he made him feel worthless. Teddy had gone cold, one would know he was passing through a difficult phase especially for what he didn’t do.
I saw how this worked, how using Teddy worked perfectly well in making things hèll for Sandra and dad hàting him. Sandra was really weak, she couldn’t prepare dinner that night.
Teddy offered to prepare supper but dad acted as if he wasn’t aware. Dad was in the room all the while that Sandra was in bed resting.
Teddy sat with me by the dinning table and l continued to encourage him. He really needed someone he could confine in. Teddy was preparing jollof rice, he knew how to cook.
Dad quietly walked downstairs and he came directly to us at the table. He sat down at his usual position and we all had our eyes fixed to the floor.
” What happened today is really beyond me, it’s beyond my control. We could have lost your mom but thank God she held onto life.”
Dad paused as his voice got thicker, I could sense he wanted to shed tears but he controlled it. ” As usual, I have somethings to tell you tonight, I pray God gives us the heart to bear it,” dad said and he immediately got up from his seat and headed upstairs.
Teddy and l looked at one another, he immediately looked down and heaved heavily. ” Go check what you are cooking, it should be ready by now. And the hot water, I think you should make her the tea now.”
I told Teddy and immediately Teddy went into the kitchen. He spent some minutes in there and he reappeared saying the food was ready. He began walking upstairs and I immediately got up and entered the kitchen, I was fast with what I went to do in there.
I sat back on my seat and waited for Teddy to come. He rushed down stairs and back into the kitchen. He brought out the food and came setting the table for dinner.
I went in to assist him and he was really happy at what he was doing. Sandra and dad came walking down the stairs, dad held onto her as she walked gently on the stairs.
We were all settled by the dinning table and we ate silently. Sandra wasn’t eating, we understood what was wrong with her. “What about the hot tea I told you to make?” Sandra said looking at Teddy and he immediately got up from his seat and he poured hot tea from the ceramic jug he had poured the tea he made from the kitchen.
He smiled at Sandra and went back to his seat. Dad coughed, clearing his throat and he began to talk. “I’m thankful to God that Sandra is back home and safely. What happened today should never happen again.”
Dad said as his gaze fell on Teddy and Teddy pretended not to have noticed. “I told you I had something important to tell you guys, I’m going to now,” dad said and we all listened attentively.
I prayed in my heart that the news should be that I would no longer be going to a boarding school anymore. I just had to play my cards well.
Sandra coughed and she went sipping her tea. She screamed and went pouring away the tea in her mouth, “Jesus! What is this? Sandra said and we were all alerted.
“What’s wrong darling,” dad asked as he looked so surprised. She immediately smiled and said , “it’s nothing, I’m fine,” and she went squeezing her face.
Dad immediately went to her seat and got the cup of tea from her hand. Dad spat out the tea from his mouth and he smashed the cup on the floor and his countenance changed immediately.
“Who made this tea? Dad asked angrily. Teddy was already trembling as he raised his finger up. “Why did you put salt in the tea? Wait, what’s your mission?” dad thundered as Teddy went standing to his feet.
“Please calm down, it must have been a mistake,” Sandra said as she was pleading for her son. Please, do not annoy me, you want to cover up for your son till he kîlls you, right?” dad responded as he moved closer to Teddy.
“How did salt get into the tea,” dad thundered as a heavy slap landed on Teddy’s face. “You made your mom fall down the stairs and she almost lost her life. Now, you want to poison her?”dad yelled at the top of his voice.
Sandra got up as she went inbetween the both of them. I got up from my chair and stood at a distance watching them.
“You are an evîl child, your mother just lost her baby because of you. Now you want to poison her,” dad said and all of us were shocked at what he had said. “What did you say?” Sandra said as she held my dad’s shirt.
My dad went bursting into tears, “you lost the baby and it’s because of your son,” dad said as tears went dropping down his eyes. Sandra sat on the floor and tears began falling down her face.
“Teddy, what have I done to you?” Sandra said as she placed her hands on her head and began sobbing like a baby. I wanted to cry, a baby just dîed because of me.
I controlled myself and l still kept on watching what was going on. I had poured salt into the ceramic jug, and Teddy was being blamed for it.
I watch as Teddy was shaking profusely with tears in his eyes. I pray the baby forgives me, I never wished it deàth.
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ROSANLA SEYI
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