Shadows Of The Past

The End?

Raymond's POV[Present day]

       Life went on normally for about a week after the night mum told the story of her past; the past that my father ceased to exist.

     Then my own story began

I came back from school that day thoroughly exhausted. Meeting mum at home was quite unusual because she was usually still in the market by the time I arrived.

Furthermore, there was something else that seemed unusual; the fact that she had a visitor. No one ever came visiting asides few neighbours who were often responded to outside.

A closer look at the man seated on the plastic chair in the living room revealed that he had long beards and dark lips that gave way to reveal his scarcely arranged teeth with a colour that matched his lips. A can malt with half of it's content in a tumbler was placed before him on a very low stool(the stool we usually sat on to make yam flour paste smooth)

They were so engrossed in the discussion that they did not notice my presence. I came closer and prostrated before my mum

"Good afternoon ma"

She turned her head with so much force that made me fear that it would snap

"Bawo ni?", she eventually replied,after a short stare that showed how surprised she was.

" Who is he?", the man asked,staring intently at me

"My nephew", my mum said almost immediately, still staring at me without blinking an eye

" Wow!, the resemblance is striking ", he replied,his gaze still fixed on me

I was getting uncomfortable with the stares already

" I get that a lot", she replied,now glancing at the wall clock behind me

"Go to your room. I'll be with you in a jiffy", she said again, this time casting her gaze upon me again.

"Okay ma"..

As I inched closer to the door, about to pull the knob, I heard him say;

" I would like to take my leave now. I really mean everything I said. So, please think it through ", he stood,flattening the small creases on his neatly ironed cloths with his palms.

Speaking of his cloth, he was dressed in a well tailored safari suit and had a small cap on his small  head that was not in proportion with his body. His shoes were...

" Raymond! ", mum drawled,turning her head to my direction and shaking it disapprovingly.

The man chuckled and shook his head with amusement

" Such a curious young boy. Come nearer", he beckoned with his hand

My curiosity gave way into fear as I looked mum's way with teary eyes

"Didn't you hear him?", she asked, impatience laced in her voice

I moved steadily towards them, totally nervous and unsure of the events about to be played out

He chuckled again and fished out two brand new notes from his pocket

" Come on, I don't bite", he said as he walked towards me and stuffed them into my palm.

I fidgeted so much that they almost dropped. Mum had warned me severally not to collect things from strangers. It was also a tradition that gifts from an elderly person are not usually rejected because it was a sign of disrespect. Stuck, I glanced at mum at the other end of the room to read her expression

"Won't you say thank you?", she asked to my utmost surprise

" Th--Thank- yo-you sir", I stammered, prostrating before him

"It's alright my boy. Take care and be a good boy. Okay?"

"Yes sir", I replied, wiping the sweat that had formed on my forehead with my hand.

" So Martha, we will talk later. Take care of yourself "

"Thanks for coming", she replied, following him as he made way for the door. She halted as soon as she held the knob and turned around
.
" I want to see him off. Go and take your uniform off" , she said, looking stern

I nodded. As soon as she left,I opened my palm to see what he put there and was startled

Two thousand naira! Half of my school fees!

Maybe he is a very rich man, I thought. But what is his business with us?, I reasoned again. Why had mum called me her nephew?

After gaping at the notes for a while in amazement, I tucked it under the maltina can and moved to the room to carry out her instruction

As soon as she stepped in

"Mummy, who was that?", for I was about to burst with the magnitude of curiosity that swelled within me

Bawo ni?- How are you?

Tell me the striking character resemblance that exists between Martha and Raymond and get a chapter dedication from me

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