JUNE BREAK
Episode 59
By AMAH’S HEART
I walked into the compound, is smaller than expected.
There’s no security guard at the gate and the compound and house appears small compared to our old house.
No car packed, my Dad used to have his long time blue BMW
And is always parked within our compound back then
But no bicycle, no car and nothing fanciful about the house, not even flowers.
I’m not sure I’m in the right address
Mario must have given me the wrong address
The thought of my parents and siblings living in this kind of place makes me feel a little uncomfortable.
I thought when they sold their house, they planned moving into somewhere bigger
The compound is very neat and there’s a beach resting chair outside the door right in front of me.
Could this be part of the dïsgúise, maybe they thought that buying a smaller house will make people not to put too much interest in them.
This could be my mom’s idea, maybe she thought whatever that took me will not come back if they make few changes to their lives.
But I had my doubt, if this is even my parents place
I breathed in and was about to walk up to the door and knock when somebody walked into the gate.
I quickly turned to check.
It was a young woman, holding lunch bags with two kids in uniform.
She obviously went to pick them up from from school.
I don’t recognized her, this only means I’m in the wrong house.
I said it, I was in doubt that this can’t be the house my people moved to.
They can’t go from “very comfortable” to a lower standard.
Why will Mario give me the wrong address,? so I will have to go back to him for the right address?
This is too much unexpected trøuble for me.
I stepped down and greeted her.
Is mid afternoon and the sun was scotching.
“Yes, good afternoon… can I help you..? She asked
“Probably! I was given the wrong address. I was searching for somebody and the address I had led me here..”
“Oh! Sorry about that. Are you from around here?
“Well, I’m not really from here..”
“Okay, your face kind of looks like Mr James, your facial physique. He’s the tenant that lives in this front apartment with his wife..”
She pointed towards the house facing us.
“Wait, did you say his name is James..?
“Yes, we call him Mr James. His an elderly man, not so friendly though but he’s nice. Everyone keeps to their business in this compound. I live behind the main house, at the mini apartment with my family and there’s another tenant at the back too. Mr James and his wife occupies this front apartment..”
“Wow.! I exclaim loudly.
“…the person I’m searching for, his name is also James but not too elderly. What of his children..?
“You should go ahead and knock, he may end up being the one. Beside, you have some resemblance with them. I hardly see his children, Maybe once in a long while. I think he has only two and can’t tell anything about them..”
“That’s great then, thank you! You’re very helpful. My name is April..”
“I’m Lydia. Take care and good luck..”
She and the kids walked away, I watched as they passed through a small passage way, at one side of the compound.
Her daughter looked back and waved at me, I smile and waved back at her.
I guess the small passage way will lead them to their own apartment which she said is at the back of the compound.
I breathed in slowly and exhale out quietly.
Could Lydia be right, that the tenants living here are my people?
Tenant? Why will my parents sell their house only to become tenants in this place, this house that’s not even up to the standard of their sold property.
That’s ridiculous
I doubt if the occupants are even my parents. Is not possible.
Coincidentally, the man’s name is James and we kind of share resemblances, that’s according to Lydia
It’s all a coincidence and deep down, I’m prepared to start throwing another apology at whoever that lives here.
After knocking and they come out, I will as usual apologize for disturbing them and let them know that is a wrong address.
I need to hurry up so that I can return back to Mario and let him know that is a wrong house.
I forgot to collect his mobile number that day, I could have called him right away.
I’m just a bit worried about his wife that will start accessing me from head to toe, to know the worth of my attire.
I gasped out rapidly.
I felt really nervous as I climbed up the few steps that leads to the front door.
I raised my hand to knock but immediately drops it back, i breathed in again and then out
I need to get myself together and focus.
I decided to wear a black shade, I don’t know why I thought of using an eye glass,
I guess is to disguise and to get my confidence back.
I raised a hand to knock again after another long breath and immediately, the door swings open.
“Yes?? Who are you…?
“…we noticed that somebody have been standing here, in the front door and feeling reluctant to knock. Who’re you…?
He asked again with a frown, it seems he was in the middle of something and I just distracted him
He was acting impatient, I guess he wanted to go back to whatever he was doing before I interrupted.
I néver thought anyone could see me.
The door was made with metallic products and glass.
They must have seen my shadow standing at the door.
I watched the wrinkled line on his face with grey hair lined up on his trimmed mustache and also on the short hair on his head
I was standing face to face with my Dad.
This feels so unreal, I don’t really know how to react
I felt frozen to the spot as I watched him.
The changes is too much for me to take in
My Dad has aged so sudden. Just five years interval and he aged this much.
He looks like he was in his late seventies but I know my Dad should be in his early sixty’s
He still maintained his trade mark look of short hair and well trimmed bears.
Except that he slimed down and appears more aged than normal.
Every other thing is still the same with him.
“…Young woman, who do you say that you are here to see? I have things doing inside and don’t have all day to wäste..”
He paused all of a sudden and looked at me closely this time.
“…Apri!..April? is that you..?
“Dad…is me..” I replied quietly.
He looks confused as I gently removed my black shade from my face, it was indeed like a dïsgúise but I guess my Dad still figured out that I’m the one.
“April!..” his voice breaks as he called my name again while looking at me straight in the eyes.
His face was expressionless
I can’t really tell if he’s happy or sad.
This is too emotional than I ever thought.
Seeing my Dad after all this years, makes me want to burst into a loud cry but I blinked back tëars severally as I stood before him
Awaiting judgement of either condemnátion or acceptance.
JUNE BREAK
Episode 60
By AMAH’S HEART
He looked me over again, gasped and said
“You… you look gigantic..”
That wasn’t what I was expecting but it was a great relief
I giggled a little
“I can’t say the same about you Pa..”
Pa used to be the name I call him when I was a little girl.
I dropped it off during my teenage days and started calling him Dad like every normal person.
He managed to smile as he opened his arms
“Welcome home April, my prodigal daughter..” he chuckled as he said that.
I rushed into the awaiting arm
It was far easier than I thought.
He led me inside
“April is home…”
He said quietly into the empty house.
Obviously there’s no one at home because the entire house looks so desérted and lonely.
It smells more of medicine and earth.
I saw picture frames on the wall of the sitting room, just like it used to be in our old house.
I saw my parents picture, me and my brothers.
My picture was actually there
It was not taken øff despite I went missing.
Seeing my innocent childhood and teenage picture I became so emotional.
“Where’s everyone…”? I said quietly looking around the entire sitting room.
My Mom, business woman must be out as usual
I wonder when she will return
I can’t wait to see her.
The inside house painting looks dull and strange.
Apart from the chairs, TV and dining table there was nothing else fancy.
The inside house was so stuffy and a bit dark.
No enough ventilation
Only one window was open.
No air conditioner, no standing or even a ceiling fan
How do they survïve in this kind of place with little air?
I was sweating all over in no time because I easily get sweaty.
My Dad walked into a door that seem like a kitchen, he took water in a plastic cup and went to a closed door that from my guess, is the bedroom but a bit dark.
I wish my Mom can come back now, I so much look forward to seeing her again.
My Dad came to join me in the sitting room
He managed to smile as he sat in the next sofa close to mine.
“Dad…I went to our house searching for you all and was told it has been sold..”
I paused and continued
“…i went asking around until I visited Mario, your friend. He was the one that gave me the right address finally. Not many people knows of your whereabouts..I guess you choose not to tell anyone..”
He breathed deeply before gasping out again.
He looks exhausted.
“I..I can’t still believe that this is you. I’m trying to wrap my head around this whole thing..”
“Is me Dad. You may call me the prodigal daughter, that’s actually who I am. I found my way back and you can’t start imagining what has happened this past years…”
He nodded as he heaved.
I needed to keep talking to keep the mood warm
My Dad wasn’t saying much.
I guess he was indeed shock
“I’m sorry Dad that…!
“… I don’t know where to start apologising from Dad, I’m back and I regret my teenage decision of ever leaving home. But if I’m to be sincere, I did not totally regret everything, although my life was exposed to danger but it also opened room for me to meet a great and caring man.. Phil. Philip is a kind man and he took care of me when my life was in disarray…”
“Philip..? My Dad asked and I quickly nodded.
“…He’s the same guy that you took off with..?
Before I could say anything my Dad continued immediately
“… I’m glad that you were in a safe hand. We searched everywhere, involved different police. They promised to find you or the guy but nothing was heard..”
“… At the bakery where you used to work, they described the guy that usually come over to check you but no one knows anything about him. The day you left, somebody saw you getting into his car with your backpack and they described the car to the police but they still couldnt track it down. Every searched proved abortive. We put up your picture on social media, paste on the streets and road, different organisation and worship centers were also informed in case they see you anywhere, they should try and call the number on the flyer…”
He coughed out, heaved again
“…No one had any useful information about you. We supposed to move from the house earlier than we did but we waited and kept hoping you will return but after two years no sign, we decided to leave..”
“… your Mom saw the short note you left. You mentioned that you can no longer take in the ill treatment we melted out to you…”
“…April, i realized that we were a bit shrewd without even knowing it. All I wanted was for my first daughter to have the best upbringing. Maybe we went hard on that without even realizing. I can’t start explaining how much your disappearance has caused us. Is a good thing that you found yourself home. Although you look way bigger than I envisage, I was not expecting this huge transformation. What have you been eating or what did the Phil guy fed you that made you so big…” He said and this time, he managed to laugh out.
I joined him in the laughter.
“..i know you’ve a whole lot of things to tell us but we can always catch up later..”
“Yes Dad, a whole lot and the guy I took øff with is Louis. Phil is a good samirithan who saved me. There’s a whole lot to tell.. maybe later like you said…”
“…Where’s Mom, I can’t wait for her to return. What of David, Mark and Rachel.. where’s Rachel? I guess she’s in school now…”
I didn’t wait for his reply, and went on talking
“…Dad.. I’m sincerely sorry that I caused you and Mom so much pain to the extent you’ve really gone down in size. You sold your house Dad, all because of me. You moved to a rented apartment, inside here is sùfføcáting because of the little air coming in. this is far from your kind of house. You like space, comfortable and enough air offcourse. I’m sorry for everything that you and Mom went through because of me…”
“We didn’t sell the house because of you April, rather because of your Mom…” My Dad said as he stood and asked me to follow him.
I was still trying to understand what he meant as I followed him to the room he previously took a cup of water to.
I carefully walked in and stood close to the door.
A window was open and the second one was closed.
The breeze blow gently, flying the light white curtain around.
The room was a little bit scanty, I saw a drip poll standing close to the bedside with a drip on it.
There’s a trash can close by, the trash in it looks like packs of drugs and tissue paper.
I looked over at the bed and noticed there was somebody there.
The cup of water my Dad took in earlier was on a table close to the bed.
The figure was looking all bone and skinny.
The head was wrapped up with a scarf.
My Dad stood watching whoever the person with so much pain in his eyes.
“Dad… who’s there..? I asked like a whisper while still standing close to the door and stretching my neck to see if I can really recognize the person at all.
Dad urged me to move closer.
I did, I stood beside him but still couldn’t recognize whoever the person was.
It was a female obviously, so skinny that I can trace out her skeleton bones from the nighty hanging loosely on her body.
There were so many medicine container lined up on the cupboard close to the bedside.
Almost everything was close to the bedside
I guess why is so is because whoever the sick person is, she can easily stretch her hand and get whatever she wants
“… Dad..?
I became scared that I had to look away.
“Your Mom..” he said quietly without turning to look at me.
“what do you mean my Mom? I queried as I looked at the unrecognizable sick person on the bed.
“…No..no way, Is not possible. This can’t be Mom..” I said covering my mouth with my hand to avoid screaming.
“… this can’t be Mom. How… what happened. This is impossible, you’re joking right…” I said still trying to avoid the sleeping skinny figure on the bed.
“Your Mom has cancer. Is three years now April. The sickness is traveling with speed…with no mercy it beat her hard. We’ve spent almost everything we have yet the sickness do not want to let go. She has seen too much suffering but we’re not giving up on this…”
I couldn’t stand any longer
I rushed out of the room, I couldn’t believe what I just heard and saw.
Is this some sort of expensive joke
It can’t be true.
I heard her coughing hard and long.
I peeked through from the open door.
Her entire body shakes with each cough.
She poured a sputum, brown mucus into a tissue which she threw into the waste bin by her beside.
My Dad took out some drugs with the cup of water, he moved it closer to her mouth.
She calmed down and the cough subsided after taking the drugs
She relaxed back on the bed.
I walked to the sitting room.
This whole thing is way too much for me to take in.
“God ..!
I exclaimed quietly as I wiped off a tear rolling down my face.
Tbc