" Don't bother about that. Go and eat the food I covered on the fridge. It is yours", she said, pointing at the not so visible fridge at the corner of the living room.
"Bu.. But mum..."
"No buts", she interrupted
" And be quick about it because we still have to go to the market",she added
I walked on to the fridge morosely. Why does she always keep things from me?
"How much did he give you?", she called after me
" Two thousand naira", I replied lowly, struggling to keep the tears at bay.
"Good then, I'll make it a deposit for your fees first thing tomorrow morning", she said in a voice that did not show a hint of surprise
" And hurry up! We are running late!", she yelled
******
All was fine until a month after. I had gone home after school, changed my clothes and set out for the market to help her with few chores
However, her stall was locked when I got there with so much litter piled at the entrance. I hurried to the next stall, confused and fearful
"Good afternoon ma. Please did my mother come here today?"
"No oo. I have not seen her. I have even been wondering why. Hope there is no problem"
"I just got back from school ma. We cooked together this morning before I left. She is not at home too"
"Don't bother yourself my dear. I will call her now. Maybe she went somewhere. I'm sure you'll be back soon", she replied, reaching out for her phone.
I took the phone and sped to give it to her where she was sluggishly trying to leave her seat. Relieved that I had lessened the burden,she sat back and started dialing
"Ma worry nitie". She'll be back soon. Sit on that chair", she chuckled, while gesturing for me to sit
After many calls, I could not help not to be worried despite her efforts to soothe me
"She'll be fine. Maybe she went to restock the foodstuffs that she'll be needing tomorrow"
"We just did that! We have enough to last another week"
"Or maybe she went to your grandparents. Do you have their numbers so I can dial them"
"I don't have grandparents. They're dead", I replied somberly, placing both hands on either sides of my head
There was a long pause
"Let me go back home to check if she arrived already ma"
"Go quickly my dear, be careful oo"
"Alright ma", I whispered weakly as I turned to start trudging home...
****
Night fell and morning rose without traces of her. Few neighbours had gone to the nearby police station but she could not be declared missing until after 48 hours. The neighbour closest to us had also offered to let me spend the night at her place.
The morning after, I was instructed to go and bring a change of clothes from the house. So, I did just that.
The room seemed decongested as I went in. Some things were missing! All of mum's clothes were gone!
I took to my heels and raced back to the neighbour's house. With short gasps and tears threatening to spill out of my eyes
" We.. We.. Have.. Been .. Robbed"
"What?"
We went back to the house with some men. Shock evident in the way their faces were contoured as they paced from one place to another.
"We need to report this to the police! I'll branch there again before I go to work", one of the men said,while still pacing.
"This is a note oo", the woman I stayed with for the night exclaimed as she stared at a white paper in her hands
" How do you know that? Can you read what is written there?", another man said, clearly uninterested
"Someone who can read should read it aloud then", another said
Silence enveloped the room
" Let me read it", I managed a squeak,eager to know what it was about
"Very well then, give it to him and let him read it aloud. Be fast about it Raymond because I have other things to do today", the first man said, already loosing his patience
" Yes oo. Owuro lojo", the woman replied, retying her wrapper securely on her waist and handing me the letter afterwards.
I skimmed through the letter, not believing what I was seeing
"What does it say young boy?", one of them scowled
" Raymond,
By the time you read this letter, I would have arrived Abuja. I met the man of my dreams and I would resume school again. What more could I hope for?
Forgive me if this is thoughtless of me but I just wanted a better life. You know, a break from those ten years of life I never dreamed to live.
I'm really sorry it had to be like this. I tried severally to resist the offer but I never saw joy in your coming. It just never clicked.
I know I'm really far from someone who would wish you well but I really do!
Take care,
Martha Ola.
PS: I left the document of the house under our mattress.
Ma worry nitie- Don't bother
Owuro lojo- Literally means morning is the day. The Yorubas' believe that morning is the best time to work and the morning defines the day.
160+ reads. Not encouraging but thanks to y'all that made it happen!
#6 in reallifestory out of 300+ stories
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Guess Raymond's age and get a chapter dedication and a shout out from me
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Shadows Of The Past
Non-FictionFor Raymond, hustle was the last resort when his mum left.. Eventually, he got a head way 🔳. But there was only one way to forge ahead, Re-visit the past and sort issues out Which isn't all that easy... Rather, it's one hell o...
