TRAPPED- Episode 4
I was shocked to find Mama’s car parked in the compound when I got back from school with my siblings around 2:30pm. I attended the same school with my other siblings. The school had both primary and secondary school. I was already in SS2; the youngest in my class. My education was quite fast because of how intelligent I was. Our usual routine was for me to return home with my siblings after school. I would heat up food for them and ensured they did their homework. We never had any house help; Mama did everything herself with my little help.
Mama’s closing time was 4:00pm and she usually got home around 4:35pm. I was curious to know why she got back home that early. A part of me was happy because I actually loved having Mama around. The entrance door was not locked; we entered the house and found Mama lying on the sofa in the sitting room. When I saw the huge blanket she covered herself with, I immediately knew something was wrong.
With an alarmed look, I greeted her as my younger ones jumped on her with excitement. Her voice was a bit shaky and slow as she welcomed us. She got up and sat on the sofa. As she unbuttoned my 7 years old younger brother’s shirt, I noticed her hands were not steady. I could not bear it any longer; I had to ask Mama if she was okay.
“David, you can behave like an adult…I’m okay my son…I prepared delicious jollof rice for you people…lets go to the kitchen” Mama said struggling to sound firm.
“Jollof rice….” My younger ones screamed excitedly
She got up from the sofa and made an attempt to move. As she took the first step, she staggered and fell. I quickly rushed to lift her up. The excitement on my siblings’ faces turned to confusion.
“Mummy sorry…” we all chorused
“David give me my phone I need to call your father…I am not feeling fine” That confirmed my curiosity.
I fetched her phone and gave it to her. Still shaking she dialed Papa’s number. The call was on speaker.
“Good afternoon Papa David”
“Afternoon….what is it”
“I am feeling very sick…I need to go to the hospital please”
“Onome go to the hospital, I am not the doctor that will attend to you there….stop behaving like a child …I am very busy at work and you know that” He ended the call immediately.
Mama was taken aback by his reply. She asked me to call our neighbour Mama Fejiro.
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Mama Fejiro’s younger brother drove Mama to the hospital in Mama’s car. Mama was too weak to drive. Mama called her younger sister to meet her up at the hospital while I was asked to stay back with my younger ones.
As usual, Papa got back home very late; 11:45pm to be precise. His closing time was 5:00pm but he never got back home earlier than 11:00pm.
“Daddy Migwo” I greeted him
“Vrendo…where is your mother?”
“She’s at the hospital”
“Hospital, she has not come back since then…is it that serious”
He asked rhetorically.
As I returned to my room, I heard him talking to Mama on the phone. He promised he would see her the next day.
TO BE CONTINUED…
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Written by Evelyn Ivie Ojo
