STRUGGLING STARS
© Kikelomo Fadugbagbe
EPISODE 5
Imma left early for school the following morning in the quest to see Rebecca.
“That’s Rebecca over there,” Gladys said pointing in her direction.
He wheeled his chair to meet her, Rebecca was so happy to see him. Imma greeted the mother but she snubbed him.
“Ma, I’m sorry for what happened the last time” He apologized
“It’s ok,” she said, carrying her zobo cooler and left, leaving Rebecca with him.
Imma don’t know how to communicate with her, they were just there gazing at each other.
Gladys ran to him, “Imma your exam has started”, she helped him get into the hall as quick as possible, and Rebecca followed too. She and Gladys waited outside till he finished writing.
Imma was glad to see her waiting. Rebecca signaled she want to go home with them.
“Aunty Gladys do you understand what she is trying to say?”
“She wishes to go home with us,” “Her mum will not support it, I’m very sure of that” Imma replied
They looked for her Mum, but could not find her, as it was getting dark they had to take her along. She collected paper and pencil from Imma’s bag.
“Stop staring at me, say something, you can write them, I can read so well”. She wrote
Imma smiled after reading
“You are beautiful and brilliant” He replied to her, that was how they get into talking using written words.
“Tell me about yourself,” Imma asked
“My name is Rebecca Rollins, I’m 18years old, my father is deaf and dumb, I inherited it from him, I attended a school for deaf and dumb where I studied fine art but could not finish due to financial problems. Don’t worry about my mum, she will not be looking for me, she sees me as a problem.” She wrote
Imma comforted her and promised to give her the best.
He encouraged her to continue drawing as he helped her monetize her artwork. She also taught Imma sign language. He could now communicate with her without writing. They rounded up the waec exam every one earnestly waited for their results.
“Imma, I will be traveling to my village in preparation for my traditional wedding, I’ve been trying to call your mum so she can stay with you till I return. but her number is not going”
“Aunty Gladys don’t let that bother you, Rebecca is here with me.”
“ok now. I will still keep trying the number” Rebecca and Imma shared memorable experiences while Gladys was away. They attended conferences. Went shopping, and also went to the studio for photographs. People laughed at them but they were not bothered.
One fateful morning, Rebecca sighted her mum from the window, “Imma my mum and some men please tell them am not here”
“Why?”
“Just tell them am not here please,” she begged to hide in a box.
“That box is tight you won’t breathe” Imma warned
“Don’t worry I’m fine,” she forced herself inside the box.
They walked in, and showed him their ID card “we are police officers, we are here to search for a missing person, Rebecca Rollins by name. Information reached us she lives here with you.”
“She is not here” He stammered.
The police began the search which lasted for an hour, when Imma noticed they are taking too long, he voiced out.
“She’s in there,” He pointed at the box, the police opened it with force but Rebecca had already suffocated. Rebecca’s Mum began to wail. They called for an ambulance immediately while Imma was arrested.
Gladys and her newly wedded husband returned to the house as agreed by Imma’s Mother;
Mrs. Davidson. They heard the news as soon as they returned but Gladys’s husband stopped her from going to the station.
Rebecca could not survive it. Imma was apprehended in prison., there he met other men suffering from one disability or the other. He was arranged in court weeks after being charged with the case of kidnapping and murder.
To be continued…
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