BEING ALONE
EPISODE 3
Mummy: Amanda, get inside.
Emeka reluctantly left me and I made fast steps into the room. On a second thought,I c@m£ back and hid behind the curtain.
Mummy: What’s the talk about going to Tansian? Who made that decision in this house?
Emeka: Mummy,I had told daddy about it and he supported the idea.
Mummy: Did he also support that Amanda goes?
Emeka: Yes mum. In fact, he said that we all can go to Tansian. He…..
Mummy: If you all go to Tansian, who would stay with me? The house will be so lonely and dead. You know I nee-d company especially now that your father is no more. Maybe you and Nenye can go while Amanda will go to Esut or IMT.
Emeka didn’t say anything. There was silence in the sitting room.
Mummy: Daddy talk to me nau.
Emeka: Till we get back to Enugu first. Amanda also has to make a decision y’know.
Mummy: But…..
Emeka: Mum plea-se don’t stress it. I’ll be inside.
I quic-kly walked down the corridor to my room. I prayed like I had never prayed before,asking God to see me throu-gh.
I didn’t mind going to any school so long as I was going to further my education and get a degree.
Our journey back home wasn’t bad. The driver drove us and we didn’t say much on the way. As soon as we entered our compound, I knew I was back to being the slave. We all got down and was waiting for the driver to come open the boot when mum called for our attention.
Mummy: Drop all the luggage downstairs. We’ll be having a meeting now.
Nenye: But mum, I’m hungry. Can’t we at least eat something before the meeting.
Mummy: Don’t worry dear. Its going to be a short one.
Emeka looked at me and smiled. I was too nervous to smile back? Instinct told me I was the reason for the meeting. He c@m£ to me and patted my shoulder.
Emeka: What’s the matter?
Me: Nothing. I’m fine.
Emeka turned to know if anyb©dy was close but he saw mum opening the door while Nenye stood behind her complaining of something.
Emeka: I know you’re worried about this sudden meeting. You have to always believe me, I’m here for you and I’ll always be. You nee-d not worry about mum and her wahala. You’ll be safe okay?
I nodded, trying ha-rd to fight the tears and st©p them from falling.
I lifted my box and dragged it into the house. Mum and Nenye were alre-ady seated. I quic-kly dropped my box where Nenye had dropped hers and took a seat. Emeka entered shortly and the meeting began.
Mummy: First of all, I want to thank you all for the good behaviour you all put up in the village. It shows you all are now matured enough to know between right and wrong. Thank you very much for not disgracing me at the village.
Nenye: Don’t you trust me mummy. I knew that those wicked men and women at the village will be monitoring all our movements so that they’ll have something to gossip about when we return, but I’m glad there plan didn’t work at all.
Mummy: That’s my girl. Now, to the reason why I called this meeting, I’ll go straight to the point.
I adjusted in my seat, waiting for the worst.
Mummy: Amanda!
I swallowed ha-rd . Here it comes.
Me: Ye…..yes mummy
Mummy: I want to state how the affairs of my family will be ran from now onwards. If you’re not happy with it, you can pick your box from that sp©t and walk out, I’ll be kind enough to give you transportation fair although I know that you made new b©yfri£nds at the village who gave you enough money.
Nenye chuckled and my eyes got we-t.
Mummy: Did you get me clear?
Me: Yes mummy.
Mummy: Good. From today, you’ll be seeing to all the domestic chores in this house; cleaning, washing, mobbing, drying, cooking, every d–n chores. Did…..
Emeka: Mummy plea-se wait.
Mum: I’m not talking to you. Will still get to your p@rt.
Emeka: But mum, if she handles all the chores, what will Chinenye be doing?
Nenye: Mummy tell Emeka not to call my name there again o. Is it bad if I don’t do anything?
Emeka: Ihere mee gi (you should be ashamed of yourself). Look what is coming out from your mouth. At your age, you can’t do any thing. Spoilt br@t. If its to have b©yfri£ndnow, you’ll know how to do that one. Emulate Amanda for once and……
Mummy: Now shut up both of you. Nob©dy is going to speak anymore until I’m done. Do you get me?
Nob©dy said anything. Was I talking before?
Mummy: As I was saying, Amanda will handle all the domestic activities of this house. After this meeting, you’ll go back to your former room, pack out everything you have there and move them to the boys quarter.
I raised my head in shock. I was alarmed. I never knew it would get to this. Tears ran down my face and I began to miss daddy.
Emeka: Why? Why will she move to the boys quarter? Has the rooms in this house finished? What will you do with all the rooms here? Mummy this is wickedness. It is not fair.
Mummy: Ikwusigo? (are you done speaking?) Nob©dy will flaunt my orders in this house not even you Chukwuemeka.
Emeka sprang up immediately like he’s being bitten by something.
Emeka: I’m sorry mum but I’m going to flaunt your orders this time. Amanda is not moving to the boys quarter but if she must, I’ll also move in with her.
Mum sprang up immediately and launched an attack towards Emeka. He stood his ground and looked on as she approached. She raised her hand to give him a sl@p but somehow,she missed the target. I quic-kly went between the two of them and knelt down.
Me: Mummy plea-se, Emeka biko. Don’t say anything anymore. I’ll move to the boys quarter. Don’t fight because of me. Mummy, I’ll do anything you say don’t just fight anymore plea-se.
BEING ALONE
EPISODE 4
Emeka: If someone else was treating Nenye like this,how will you feel about it? I don’t see any wrong Amanda has done but if you insist that she moves to the boy’s quarter, fine. I’ll move in with her.
Mum stepped back and her eyes were filled with rage. I kept on kneeling, waiting for the next reaction.
Emeka: Listen to the voice of reasoning mum. If daddy were here, would you s£nd Amanda to the BQ? You’re just doing all this things because daddy is no more. This is wickedness.
Nenye: Don’t talk to mother like that. Even if you will, not because of this thing here.
Emeka: Call her a thing one more time and I’ll sl@p out a tooth from your mouth. Look at you, spoilt br@t. Trust me, you’ll regret all this in the near future.
Nenye: That’s your own cu-p of milk. I’m beginning to wonder if you two are up to something secre……
Emeka rushed to her and held her arm and she cried in pain.
Emeka: You should be-d grateful that I’m your brother. One more word from you and I’ll beat you to pulp. Look how mummy has spoilt you. God forbid but I’ll never attend same school with you because you’ll end up ru-bbing mud on my face.
Mummy: That is one place you’re right my son. You don’t nee-d to tell her that. You’ll be going abroad to further your education.
There was silence in the room. I was shocked. This was a plot to s£nd Emeka away. I looked at Emeka. I couldn’t look at anyone else. He started with a smile and then he started laughing. I bec@m£ confused. Why was my life like this? Every saviour I had known always left me alone. Why?
Emeka: If you’re still planning, better st©p it cause I’m not going and if you’ve planned it alre-ady, I’m sorry because you just spent your money on nothing. I’m not leaving Nigeria for anywhere. Dad never wanted it and I’m going with dad’s decision. I don’t care how you’ll do it but just give up the pas-sbooks to our accounts and we’ll see ourselves throu-gh school.
Mum: Chukwuemeka, what do you think your mother is? Nenye will go to Tansian, Amanda will go to open university and you’re going to oxford. Take it or you leave it.
Emeka: That’s your business mum. I…..
Mum: Mind how you talk to me boy
Emeka looked at his mum and shook his head.
Emeka: ma-king your hatred for Amanda go this far has made me loose all the respect I have for you. Eat your Oxford. I’ll be in this house and see how you’ll maltreat Amanda.
He turned to me.
Emeka: Get your bags. We’re going to the boy’s quarter.
He picked up his bag and left. I remained in my position, with streams of tears running down my cheeks. I could feel there eyes on me. I nee-ded no Jupiter to tell me that.
Mum: And you, get out before I loose it.
Me: Mum plea-se I’m sorry for……
Mum: Get out. You’re worthless and I don’t care about whatever nons-en-se you want to vomit from your mouth. Get out.
She was screaming so loud that I thought her voice would ache from it. I got up and picked my box and made to leave.
Nenye: Mum had said you should take the things from your room upstairs as well.
I turned around and went upstairs, packing everything I called mine including daddy’s pictures which hung on the wall.
Two hours later, I was in my new room at the BQ. I had put everything in place with the help of Emeka. We had sat down to rest when I got a text message on my phone.
“will you just sit down there and lazy about? get your sorry self in here and make lunch for my children and I”.
Me: Emy, I nee-d to go and make lunch for us.
Emeka: They should prepare it themselves.
Me: Are you not hungry? Won’t you eat as well?
Emeka: Listen sisi mi, so long as they don’t want you in the main house, we won’t go there either. We’ll make do with what we have here. I’ll go out now and get some money from the ATM so I’ll buy some foodstuff we can use here. Don’t worry yourself. We’ll be fine here. By Monday, I’ll go and see Barrister Kelechi. He was daddy’s lawyer. I believe he’ll help us out a lot.
Me: No plea-se. I don’t support this idea of yours. Mummy deserves our respect and……
Emeka: Now don’t provoke me. Sit down here and I’ll be right back.
Me: Wait Emy. Let’s go and discuss it with mum first.
Another text c@m£ into my phone and before I could re-ad it, my phone started ringing. It was Mum. I looked at the screen and Emeka took the phone from me. He picked it and put it on speak out.
Nenye: Bia, mummy is coming there now. You better come out from there and come and make food o.
She hung up before Emeka could say anything. He dropped the phone on the be-d and walked to the door. The door flew open hitting Emeka so ha-rd and he fell, hitting his head on the wall before falling down on the tiled floor. Mum c@m£ into the room just as I stood up to run to Emeka. She froze on the sp©t. What has she done.
We were at the hospital. I was pacing around the reception. Mummy and Nenye were sitting down. Both of them were crying. My prayer was for nothing to happen to Emeka. I looked at my wristwatch, 7:45pm. The same day we c@m£ back from the village, how could things go wrong like this? I heard some footsteps and I turned around to see the doctor walk into the waiting room. We rushed to him but I stood behind mummy. The doctor’s face wasn’t encouraging at all.
Mum: Doctor, how is my son plea-se?
The doctor shook his head.
Doctor: Its terrible madam. His condition is very critical. I don’t know if he’ll survive this.
Mum: No doctor. plea-se do anything. Do something plea-se.
Doctor: We’ll try our best. For now, let’s pray he survives.
I carried myself to a nearby chair as tears ran down my cheeks.
Mum: Doctor, he’s my only son. plea-se do something to help him.
Doctor: Like I said, let’s pray he survives.
Mum: Can we see him?
Doctor: Yes. Follow me.
We walked down the corridor into the pri-vate ward. We entered one of the numerous rooms and there was my brother, lying stiff with closed eyes, bandages on his head, his face obvious he was in pains. Some nurses were attending to him. I moved forward and went beside the be-d. The nurses and doctor left us. I t©uçhed his head and my tears fell on his che-st.
Me: Emy nothing will happen to you. God won’t let anything happen to you.
I looked at mummy and Nenye and they were both crying. What hatred would do to someone. Look how Emeka is suffering because of his own mother. I hated her that instant. She noticed the way I was looking at her and she left the room. Nenye c@m£ closer and sat on a chair close to the be-d.
Nenye: Ejimam (my twin), plea-se open your eyes. plea-se fight this thing. Mummy is sorry. She didn’t mean to harm you. Open your eyes plea-se.
None of the words we said got him to open his eyes. Nenye left the room crying. I went to the chair she had earlier occu-pied and sat down. I wondered if he was still alive. If he could hear us after all. If there was a better word to qualify my feelings at that moment,I would have explained how I felt, watching my saviour lying helplessly on that be-d. What caused all this? Food right? I hated mummy that moment. I was still lost in my thought when I fell asleep.
I was hearing my name in whispers. Who could be calling my name in that manner? I opened my eyes and looked around. Memories of what happened c@m£ to me immediately. I heard that faint whisper again and I looked at Emeka, his eyes were open just a little. I looked at him to be sure he was the one whispering my name. Hisl-ips moved and that whisper c@m£ again.
Me: Emeka, you’re awake. Oh! Thank you Jesus.
The wall clock took that instant to sing its 12:00 hymn. I looked at the clock and it was strange. It wasn’t here earlier when we c@m£ into this room.
I looked at Emeka and he was smiling. The bandages on his head was gone.
Emeka: Sisi m, I’m healed. I’m well now.
I was confused. What’s going on. He was just whispering my name some seconds ago and now, he’s fit. I looked around and this was no longer the hospital room.
Me: Where is this place? We’re supposed to be at the hospital.
Emeka: Yes, I know. Its only those who are sick that nee-d the doctors and hospitals. I’m here because I’m not sick. Sit down let me talk to you.
I sat down, not removing my eyes from him. His smile was constant now, like it was a permanent birthmark.
Emeka: Nothing happens without a reason. I’m here today is because that is how God wrote it in my destiny. Don’t live in fear of anyb©dy because you’re the light shining in our family. You’re a great girl sis and nob©dy can ever take away your light.
I smiled. He always knew how to praise me and he used every opportunity he had to do that.
Emeka: You’ll go to school. I may no longer be there to support you but trust me, you’ll go to school. No matter the school it is, just put in your best to it, something good will come out of it. Another thing, don’t fight them. plea-se don’t. They’ll find every reason to taunt you but just don’t fight them. You’re a great girl and you’ll go places.
Me: But………
Emeka: Wait for me. Daddy is calling me.
Before I could say anything else, he walked away. I decided to wait for him on that chair. I relaxed on it and closed my eyes.
Some minutes into my sleep, I felt the urge to ease myself. I opened my eyes and I was back in the hospital. That was when it bec@m£ clear to me that I’ve being dreaming. A look at my wristwatch told me it was twenty minuted past 12. I shrugged my shoulders and went into the toilet. I did my business and c@m£ out. I looked at Emeka and he was breathing heavily, like it was difficult to get the air out of his lungs. I rushed to him but I didn’t know what to do. I ran out to the waiting room to call the nurses there. I also woke mummy up, she was slee-ping at the waiting room.
Me: plea-se help me nurse. My brother is breathing heavily.
What I said got mummy standing up immediately, waking Nenye whose head was on her l@ps. We all rushed back into the room and this time, the tears ran down on their own. Emeka was throwing his arms around, like he was struggling with something. His eyes were now open but he was still breathing heavily. The nurse ran out to call the doctor while mummy went and sat on the be-d and carried Emeka on her l@ps. His struggle didn’t st©p. He fought whatever it was. He fought with his strength, not taking his eyes away from me. Suddenly, he st©pped struggling. A tear ran down to his ear. I saw his che-st go up and with a loud gr-unt, it fell back heavily, his eyes still on me, but he was no longer breathing.
I went closer and mummy shook him. My throat suddenly went dry and I couldn’t speak. The doctor c@m£ in that minute, he asked mum to leave him alone. Mum stood up and Emeka’s b©dy fell back on the be-d. The doctor straightened him up,ran his f!ngersin some areas of his b©dy while the nurse wrote down something in a file. I watched as the doctor used a sheet to cover him entirely and Nenye started wailing. The doctor turned around and the next thing he said after looking at his wristwatch was; “time of death,12:30am.”
I pas-sed out.
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 5