Hello guys, it’s been a while. Trust we’re all doing well. If you are a newbie, welcome to the family and thanks for joiningđ. Please start reading from here. If you’re an old fan, welcome back, and let’s finish hardđȘđœ. If you missed out on or you’ve forgotten the previous episode, here you go. Enjoy today’s readđ€©
Willâs Residence.
Mom is in the kitchen as usual when I creep up on her. With her back to the exit, I tiptoe stealthily towards her and tickle her sides. Startled, she almost drops a plate of freshly-chopped onions and tomatoes as well as bell peppers meant for the stew she is cooking.
âGood Lord Will! Will you behave yourself?,â Mom scowls and with a tight frown, turns back to face the vegetable stew sizzling on the cooker.
âSorry Ma,â I plead, not feeling the least remorseful.
âBut you used to like it when dad did that,â I add mischievously, a naughty grin carving its way across my lips.
âOh please!, I almost dropped a plate!â Mom snaps, her frown still tight in place, albeit, I can see through it like oil-stained paper that sheâs actually very happy to have me worry her.
âAlmostâŠBut you didnât?,â I continue my defense with goat-like stubbornness.
âWhatever. Anyway, how may I help you mister?â she asks, giving me this sideways look.
I jump up, and seat my posterior beside the sink, leaving my legs deliberately dangling in mid-air, to and fro.
âReally, mom? How may you help me? Hmm,â I scoff, âSounds like something Fafa would say.â
âI know right!â Mom laughs, âThat girl is a breath of fresh air. I really miss having her around.â
âMe too,â I reply quickly without second thought, kicking my legs against each other, and sucking air in between my teeth.
I donât notice my momâs puckish looks for a while because my head is bent down, admiring the designs on our kitchen floor tiles. Her impish sideways glares smell of mischief.
âWhat mom? Am I not allowed to miss her?,â I blurt out, after my eyes meet her gaze when I raise my head.
âI haven’t said anything, have I?,â she replies sweetly, almost as innocently.
âWell those looks have!â
âReally?â she says giggling, âWell, I guess itâs just the way you said it. You knowâŠâ
âAnd how exactly did I say it?â I ask, a look of perplexion drawn on my face and hop down.
âIsnât there anything I can do around here. Iâm bored to death in my room,â I add quickly, in an attempt to change the conversation before it gets too awkward for my liking.
âWhy donât you go out and spend some time with your friends dear,â Mom suggests, while pushing a bowl of freshly washed carrots my way.
âHere. Help me chop these, will you?â she says.
âPlaying with my friends, hmm. Thatâs also there. But itâs been so long, I think Iâve forgotten how to do that. Iâve been in touch with David lately though. Says he has this basketball game coming on at his place around sundown. Says I can pass through, probably play, if only Iâm interested. But, Iâm still undecided.â
âAnd why is that? Donât you want to see your friends?â
âI do. Sometimes. Other times, Iâm unsure. Because it has been a while, and Iâm not sure how the reception will be. Iâm still a little scared to put myself out there again, honestly.â
I ask Mom to please pass me the knife and she does.
âI wish everybody in this world could be like Fafa, you know. She makes talking to her so easy. I donât know how she does it. But I just feel at home whenever Iâm with her. Itâs like I donât have to hide or shield any parts of myself. Itâs been a while though. Wonder whatâs up with her?â
âWell, since you miss her that much, I think you should at least try and find out for yourself.â
âM-o-mâŠ?â I say raising my brows.
âCall her or visit her house. Itâs that simple.â Mom retorts with a suspicious grin.
âWhy do I suspect that thereâs something youâre not telling me?â
âNo. Iâm in the dark myself. And this time round, you are finding out. Youâve gotten used to her always being around. Itâs your turn now, young man.â Mom responds with a matter-of-fact look.
âYeah, I guess youâre right. I should probably check on her. Here,â I pass mom the chopped veggies and ask, âWhereâs dad?â
âOh, your father? He should be sitting in the summer hut outside⊠I think. I havenât really seen him all morning. But he is in the house somewhere for sure.â
âYou havenât seen your own husband, mom?â
âWhat? Iâve been busy all morning. CookingâŠcleaning..â Mom says in her own defence.
âAnd that brings me to ask, why are you always cooking when thereâs only just three of us in this house? I feel like you cook enough food to feed an entire neighbourhood.â I say throwing
may hands in the air.
Mom bursts into fits of laughter.
âYouâre right honey, I donât know. Itâs just a hobby. And I love doing it. I donât know what else to do,â she says, still giggling while stirring her sizzling vegetable stew.
âM-o-m,â I call out to her suddenly, after a while of complete silence, except for the cluttering of plates being put in the sink to be washed later.
âYes baby.â
âSo, what would you have done ifâŠ,â I pause, ââŠif I had really gone that time?â
As soon as the words tumble out of my mouth, I regret having uttered them in the first place. Mom turns swiftly, her expression crisp and curt, her eyes glinting and a little doleful. She drops her wooden ladle and reaches for the salt atop the kitchen cabinets. She doesnât speak for what seems like ages.
Then slowly, she says, âI donât know. I donât know my son, because I have never thought of it. I donât know what would have become of me. I didnât think of it then, I donât think of it now. So never think or talk of such things.â
The glint in her eyes slowly giving way to tears causes me to mutter gently, âIâm sorry mom. Sorry for asking, sorry for doing that, sorry for thinking about that, sorry for being selfish. I am sorry for everything.â
I go behind her and give her a big teddy bear back hug; one that lasts long enough to start to feel uncomfortable.
âYou better not squeeze the life out of me boy,â Mom grumbles affectionately and giggles.
I smile and let go. I give her gentle pecks on her cheeks and forehead and tell her, while looking straight in her eyes, how much I love and cherish her. She smiles and reciprocates the kiss, saying sheâs always grateful for my life.
âMmm. You know what mom? I think I just might go and play that basketball game.â
âYou should dear,â Mom responds cheerily. âHave fun. And be safe as well.â
âSure, mom. Iâll see you later.â
I skid to my room, change clothes, and five minutes later, Iâm hauling down the street to Davidâs in my sleeveless, bright-yellow jersey and my black and white sneakers. I donât know what will happen but I feel ready to allow myself to live again. David meets me at the gate with our usual greeting and call signs.
âMan, itâs good to have you back bro,â he quips excitedly, while we shake each others hands vigorously.
âYeah. Me too.â
âSome of the boys are here soâŠâ David hardly finishes his sentence before I am buried in a clatter of hugs and high-fives and âYo, is that Will?â, âOh boy, long time charleyâ and âWhatâs upsâ from a couple of old schoolmates and friends.
It isnât as scary as I had anticipated at all. In fact, I could only think to myself, âWhy did it take you so long?â
I return home around six in the evening to meet my mom and dad in the living room. Although, the TV is on, they are discussing something else, rather than watching it.
âMom, dad, good evening,â I greet them, all sweaty and puffed out.
âGood evening,â they each respond.
âLooks like someone had a good time. How was the game?â Mom chips pleasantly.
âIt was alright,â I say casually in response, âEverything went fine.â
She smiles and nods and as I leave, I see her whispering something to my dad after which they both smile. I couldnât hear but I neednât hear to know it was definitely something good, and about me.
After freshening up, loosening myself under a cold shower, I plop on my bed and bring out the sparkling rose wine that Fafa had given me weeks ago. I turn it this way and that, as though expecting to see something strange inside it. Iâve kept it in my drawer for almost two weeks now, waiting for the perfect time, if thereâs anything like that; that is. Today feels like it. Anyway, itâs actually because I want to call her but I canât. Because I know it would be the first thing sheâd want to find out from me. Sighing, I go downstairs, to the kitchen and get two wine glasses. Momâs eyes light up immediately she spots me from the corner, even before I pop into the living room. She is too smart to not figure what I am about.
âYou know what Patrick? Erm, thereâs actually some few stuff I need to tidy up in the bedroom okay. Iâll be back shortly.â
With that said, she leaves, smiling broadly, her eyes shining from so much excitement and joy, winking at me along the stairways to her room. I return the gestures.
âMm-mm,â I clear my throat as I fully enter the living room. Dad turns to look at me with his dull, watery, almost-yellow eyes that were fixed on the TV seconds ago.
âHi dad,â I mange to roll out, although most of my words are starting to stick in my throat already, âCare to share a drink with me?â
Dad chuckles, a bit taken by surprise. Then he nods, and smiles.
âHave a seat boy. Let me see that,â he finally voices.
I sit beside him, a few inches away, and politely hand him the wine.
âLooks good. Excellent choice,â he says after examining the wine for some time. He starts to open it and I offer to help.
I smile silently to myself, knowing itâs going to be a long night. But I have never been so ready. This is the time I’ve been waiting for.
âThanks dad. Actually, it was a gift. From someone,â I say smilingly while pouring the wine.
Heya lovely reader…. glad you made it to the end of another episode. Thanks for reading. Please drop a comment in there for your girl to know how she’s doing. Don’t forget to hit that share button as well. Share!, share!, share!, as many times as you can. Bless up and stay safe till the next episode…âïžđ„°
Loveâ€ïž
Liz.
Mm- mm. Can’t wait to read another episode. Well done Lizzieđ
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Thank you very much dear. I appreciate your readership â€ïžđ„°
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Charlieeeeee…. I’m totally overwhelmed, great write-up. Dear keep it up.âŁïž
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Thank you so much Wisdom. I really appreciate your kind words and readership â€ïžđ„°
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Fantastic dear, please keep it up đ„đ„đ„
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Thanks again Wisdom. I appreciate the love đ€©â€ïž
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So you decided to leave us hanging again….cha..I hate suspenseđĄ…anyway, very nice piece but pls continue alreadyđđđcan’t waitđłđł
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Hehehe….suspense is the soul of every good story. I’m glad you made it. Thanks for reading. I appreciate đ„°đ€
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Aww tell herđđ
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đđđ,…you people cannot bully me oo. Relax and anticipate âïžđđđđđ
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Love and untold pain?
I missed the other episodes…
I love it!
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Thanks Jess. I think if you start from the very first episode, you’ll love it more đ€©âïž
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I sure will.
Thanks. đ
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You’re welcome dear đ
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Huh, another suspense đ. Always keeping us in suspense. Please hurry for the next episode sake of I can wait for long đ. I love it đ
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Awwwwww… Because of you, I’ll release the next episode earlier than planned okay đ€đ€đ€đ€©đ€©đ€©. Keep on being awesome Lot. You’re an amazing individual and I’m grateful for your support â€ïž
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Lizzie suspense, suspense, suspense…you’re so good at it. Keep it up girlđđcan’t wait for the next episode dear.
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Aww thank you so much baby…. can’t wait either đ€đ€©đ€©đ€©
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Please please I want moređđ
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Aww….more is coming your way soon. Anticipate đđđ€©đ€©đ€©
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Very interesting but the suspense dierr đ.
Keep it up sweetheart
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Thank you so much sister Vashti. Your support is much appreciated â€ïžđ„°
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The mother-son relationship is crazy… It reminds me of the good old days with mum. I couldn’t be less annoying.
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Aww glad I could bring back some memories. Thank you for reading Bentil!
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