*YOU ARE READING EPISODE 7 AND 8 OF LIFE I DIDNT WISH FOR*
EPISODE SEVEN
I was in the kitchen trying to cook a pot of concoction rice with palm oil as the main ingredient which has always been our savior since Thy kingdom come when I heard my name Sholape!
Oh Mummy I’m coming, let me light the stove.
Saturdays are always good to me. At least I get to spend enough time with my mother and Sunkanmi. Even though we don’t have money, we still make ourselves happy in our own little way. Mummy I’m here, I said to her.
Oko mi (my dear) I don’t feel okay at all, please boil water to make pap for me when you’re done cooking my mother said.
Mummy I will but before then, try to lighten up a bit, I don’t like your look I said to her.
She looked at me with a smirk on her face. Oh my mum! If only I was old enough I would buy you the world, I thought to myself. My mum has been feeling this way since two days ago when the last rain feel.
It has filled our room as usual. If only she had listened to me when I told her to lay on the bed with Sunkanmi while I sleep on the floor but she insisted. She always wants to take care of us not knowing I want to take care of her in return too.
If I wasn’t home, she would have done all the house chores by herself despite the fact that she’s sick.
She’s so hard working. I turned back to give her a look thinking she would look at me in return so that I can tell her everything will be okay but she was lost in thought.
Oh my God is it just me or is she really looking this way?? My mother looked so old, older than her usual self while she sat on the stool in our backyard.
Not only was she looking old, she also looked small and unkept as she tied a navy blue wrapper around her chest with one side of the wrapper loosed making it seem like her breast is going to fall out of the wrapper if she makes a slight movement.
What could be wrong with my mother? Could fever make someone have such a drastic change within a short period of time?? Could something be weighing her down?? I know she’s thinking of how to make a better life for us.
Oh maami I’m sure if there was a problem, she would have told me. We don’t hide anything from each other. Nothing will happen to my mother, l said shaking my head in disapproval bringing myself out of my thoughts.
I gave her a look again but she doesn’t seem to realize I’ve been standing there all along.
I went back to the kitchen to start the preparation of my concoction rice while I sing “Mummy oh oh oh wa pe laye, Mummy eh eh eh wa jeun omo, e ni ba ni ko ni ri be a fo lo ju, a kan lapa ko si enu trailer a run tu we” (Mother, you’ll live long, mother you’ll reap the fruit of your Labour, whoever says contrary to these will be disabled and will die of an accident)
While singing, alot of thoughts crossed my mind again. What if something is really wrong with my mother and she’s not saying a word to me? Who will cater for us?
Who will be there for us? Olorun ma je I said so loudly not realizing I spoke out of my thought.
The pot of rice was done I was about boiling the water for my mum when she walked passed me telling me it’s getting late that I should be quick with whatever I’m doing so we could eat on time.
Hmmm was the only thing I managed to say because I was too busy concentrating on her trying to figure out if something could really be wrong and she is not telling me.
Her look was all that seem different, she looked weak but still walked the same. It’s probably the fever I said to myself.
I served our food and the rest of dinner was silent with a heavy sigh from my mum breaking the silence.
I looked at her immediately and she looked away as if she was trying to hide something from me.
She hid her face even when I was going to take our plates to the kitchen. I ignored her because I didn’t want to push further. It was dark and the power has being seized. She was already on the bed when I walked in.
Oh my God, it seems it’s going to rain again, I went to get wrapper to cover my mother. I was about covering her body when I felt her temperature. What?? I drew away from the feeling of her body, it was as if I dipped my hand into an oven.
Mummy you’re running temperature I said to her, it’s nothing Sholape I’ll be fine.
Mummy lets go to the hospital, Rara ooo with which money?? She replied
Mummy but …….don’t worry oko mi, it’s Nothing, before tomorrow, I’ll be alright.
Okay, I said.
I sat on the floor, praying the rain doesn’t fall while I watched my mother and brother sleep. I was determined to watch them all through the night but I soon fell asleep as nature can’t be cheated.
EPISODE EIGHT
It was early in the morning when I woke up. I couldn’t find my mother on the bed, while my brother slept like someone who has no worries.
Of course he doesn’t, I mean what does a child know? Thank God it didn’t rain, I said quietly almost in a whisper.
I got up lazily from the bed in search of my mother as if she was missing. I can’t go a day without my mum.
Mummy! I shouted. where are you?? Mummy! Mummy!
She’s nowhere here, I kept walking and shouting her name when I spotted her at the backyard.
Mummy, good morning ma. What are you doing here all alone?? I asked.
Good morning Sholape, how was your night?? She said all these while she was trying to to hide her face from me, bending her head as if she was going to enter the ground. Mummy what’s wrong??
Why aren’t you looking at me??
Have I offended you?? She didn’t say a word but she kept moving her head left and right.
Are you crying? I squat too look at her as if I was going to go back inside her womb. I raised her head up, I was surprised at her look. She looked worse than yesterday.
What could be going on mummy?
What are you not telling me? I asked. She didn’t say a word while she kept crying like a baby. For a moment, I wished she was a child that I could beat so she could talk.
Mummy talk to me. Sholape I’m sick, she finally said.
By this time, I couldn’t hold my tears back. I hate seeing my mother in such pain.
Mummy what kind of sickness??
She didn’t reply, she just kept on saying I’m sick. She started praying at the middle of her sob saying my effort won’t go in vain, I’ll reap the fruit of my Labour while she cried hard saying the evil plan of my enemy won’t succeed. I kept saying Amin.
Mummy why are you taking like this?? Don’t worry, no one will take my place, she said.
This isn’t fair, why is she not saying anything? At this point, I was thinking all sort and crying like I wanted to make a pool out of my tears. The rest of the day was sad and quiet.
It was lunch period. I was the only one left in the class, all of my classmate had gone for lunch.
What is my joy? What is lunch in my life at this moment? My Mother is lying critically ill at home and she wouldn’t even tell me what’s wrong. What if she dies? Ha God forbid!.
Sholape this is the third time I’m calling your name, you were lost in thought what are you thinking?
Are you not going for lunch?? Kayode said.
I’m not hungry, I replied.
Baby something is wrong, why won’t you tell me, he said, I looked at him wishing he could read my mind because I wasn’t ready to talk.
I wanted to tell him everything but I couldn’t find myself talking. It seems like I’ve lost my voice. He kept on saying talk to me.
I managed to say Mummy when tears found its way. He didn’t take his time In pulling me closer for a hug, rocking me back and forth saying everything is going to be okay, Calm down baby, don’t rush it, you can talk to me whenever you want.
I’m always here to listen, he said.
I was calm and he told me to sit down, He would get my lunch.
By this time, I wasn’t crying anymore. He left, I’ll tell him as soon as he’s back. I just want to talk.
He came in with a bottle of Fanta and a pack of food which I have no idea of what’s in it.
He was about getting close to me when I said; my mum is very sick, She looks old and weak, She won’t tell me what’s wrong, I said to him.
The look on his face changed, shaking his head sympathetically.
I’m sorry to hear this, She’s gonna be fine, You won’t lose her, He said to me trying to smile, in other to convince me.
He managed to hug me and make me happy telling me I should remember he’s always there for me. I wish we could go further than hugging but he’s been trying to obey me seems I told him I wanted to keep myself till the night of my wedding.
*YOU ARE READING EPISODE 7 AND 8 OF LIFE I DIDNT WISH FOR*
EPISODE SEVEN
I was in the kitchen trying to cook a pot of concoction rice with palm oil as the main ingredient which has always been our savior since Thy kingdom come when I heard my name Sholape!
Oh Mummy I’m coming, let me light the stove.
Saturdays are always good to me. At least I get to spend enough time with my mother and Sunkanmi. Even though we don’t have money, we still make ourselves happy in our own little way. Mummy I’m here, I said to her.
Oko mi (my dear) I don’t feel okay at all, please boil water to make pap for me when you’re done cooking my mother said.
Mummy I will but before then, try to lighten up a bit, I don’t like your look I said to her.
She looked at me with a smirk on her face. Oh my mum! If only I was old enough I would buy you the world, I thought to myself. My mum has been feeling this way since two days ago when the last rain feel.
It has filled our room as usual. If only she had listened to me when I told her to lay on the bed with Sunkanmi while I sleep on the floor but she insisted. She always wants to take care of us not knowing I want to take care of her in return too.
If I wasn’t home, she would have done all the house chores by herself despite the fact that she’s sick.
She’s so hard working. I turned back to give her a look thinking she would look at me in return so that I can tell her everything will be okay but she was lost in thought.
Oh my God is it just me or is she really looking this way?? My mother looked so old, older than her usual self while she sat on the stool in our backyard.
Not only was she looking old, she also looked small and unkept as she tied a navy blue wrapper around her chest with one side of the wrapper loosed making it seem like her breast is going to fall out of the wrapper if she makes a slight movement.
What could be wrong with my mother? Could fever make someone have such a drastic change within a short period of time?? Could something be weighing her down?? I know she’s thinking of how to make a better life for us.
Oh maami I’m sure if there was a problem, she would have told me. We don’t hide anything from each other. Nothing will happen to my mother, l said shaking my head in disapproval bringing myself out of my thoughts.
I gave her a look again but she doesn’t seem to realize I’ve been standing there all along.
I went back to the kitchen to start the preparation of my concoction rice while I sing “Mummy oh oh oh wa pe laye, Mummy eh eh eh wa jeun omo, e ni ba ni ko ni ri be a fo lo ju, a kan lapa ko si enu trailer a run tu we” (Mother, you’ll live long, mother you’ll reap the fruit of your Labour, whoever says contrary to these will be disabled and will die of an accident)
While singing, alot of thoughts crossed my mind again. What if something is really wrong with my mother and she’s not saying a word to me? Who will cater for us?
Who will be there for us? Olorun ma je I said so loudly not realizing I spoke out of my thought.
The pot of rice was done I was about boiling the water for my mum when she walked passed me telling me it’s getting late that I should be quick with whatever I’m doing so we could eat on time.
Hmmm was the only thing I managed to say because I was too busy concentrating on her trying to figure out if something could really be wrong and she is not telling me.
Her look was all that seem different, she looked weak but still walked the same. It’s probably the fever I said to myself.
I served our food and the rest of dinner was silent with a heavy sigh from my mum breaking the silence.
I looked at her immediately and she looked away as if she was trying to hide something from me.
She hid her face even when I was going to take our plates to the kitchen. I ignored her because I didn’t want to push further. It was dark and the power has being seized. She was already on the bed when I walked in.
Oh my God, it seems it’s going to rain again, I went to get wrapper to cover my mother. I was about covering her body when I felt her temperature. What?? I drew away from the feeling of her body, it was as if I dipped my hand into an oven.
Mummy you’re running temperature I said to her, it’s nothing Sholape I’ll be fine.
Mummy lets go to the hospital, Rara ooo with which money?? She replied
Mummy but …….don’t worry oko mi, it’s Nothing, before tomorrow, I’ll be alright.
Okay, I said.
I sat on the floor, praying the rain doesn’t fall while I watched my mother and brother sleep. I was determined to watch them all through the night but I soon fell asleep as nature can’t be cheated.
EPISODE EIGHT
It was early in the morning when I woke up. I couldn’t find my mother on the bed, while my brother slept like someone who has no worries.
Of course he doesn’t, I mean what does a child know? Thank God it didn’t rain, I said quietly almost in a whisper.
I got up lazily from the bed in search of my mother as if she was missing. I can’t go a day without my mum.
Mummy! I shouted. where are you?? Mummy! Mummy!
She’s nowhere here, I kept walking and shouting her name when I spotted her at the backyard.
Mummy, good morning ma. What are you doing here all alone?? I asked.
Good morning Sholape, how was your night?? She said all these while she was trying to to hide her face from me, bending her head as if she was going to enter the ground. Mummy what’s wrong??
Why aren’t you looking at me??
Have I offended you?? She didn’t say a word but she kept moving her head left and right.
Are you crying? I squat too look at her as if I was going to go back inside her womb. I raised her head up, I was surprised at her look. She looked worse than yesterday.
What could be going on mummy?
What are you not telling me? I asked. She didn’t say a word while she kept crying like a baby. For a moment, I wished she was a child that I could beat so she could talk.
Mummy talk to me. Sholape I’m sick, she finally said.
By this time, I couldn’t hold my tears back. I hate seeing my mother in such pain.
Mummy what kind of sickness??
She didn’t reply, she just kept on saying I’m sick. She started praying at the middle of her sob saying my effort won’t go in vain, I’ll reap the fruit of my Labour while she cried hard saying the evil plan of my enemy won’t succeed. I kept saying Amin.
Mummy why are you taking like this?? Don’t worry, no one will take my place, she said.
This isn’t fair, why is she not saying anything? At this point, I was thinking all sort and crying like I wanted to make a pool out of my tears. The rest of the day was sad and quiet.
It was lunch period. I was the only one left in the class, all of my classmate had gone for lunch.
What is my joy? What is lunch in my life at this moment? My Mother is lying critically ill at home and she wouldn’t even tell me what’s wrong. What if she dies? Ha God forbid!.
Sholape this is the third time I’m calling your name, you were lost in thought what are you thinking?
Are you not going for lunch?? Kayode said.
I’m not hungry, I replied.
Baby something is wrong, why won’t you tell me, he said, I looked at him wishing he could read my mind because I wasn’t ready to talk.
I wanted to tell him everything but I couldn’t find myself talking. It seems like I’ve lost my voice. He kept on saying talk to me.
I managed to say Mummy when tears found its way. He didn’t take his time In pulling me closer for a hug, rocking me back and forth saying everything is going to be okay, Calm down baby, don’t rush it, you can talk to me whenever you want.
I’m always here to listen, he said.
I was calm and he told me to sit down, He would get my lunch.
By this time, I wasn’t crying anymore. He left, I’ll tell him as soon as he’s back. I just want to talk.
He came in with a bottle of Fanta and a pack of food which I have no idea of what’s in it.
He was about getting close to me when I said; my mum is very sick, She looks old and weak, She won’t tell me what’s wrong, I said to him.
The look on his face changed, shaking his head sympathetically.
I’m sorry to hear this, She’s gonna be fine, You won’t lose her, He said to me trying to smile, in other to convince me.
He managed to hug me and make me happy telling me I should remember he’s always there for me. I wish we could go further than hugging but he’s been trying to obey me seems I told him I wanted to keep myself till the night of my wedding.
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