Mothers' cry (1994 - 1998) - Episode 1

 

The whole compound was serene, it was the sound of birds singing that could be heard. It was obvious that pupils were in their classes. Tayo drove in to the Headmistress’ office, Mrs Chinwe Okonkwo dressed in a free-yard skirt and a shirt. She stood to welcome him to her Office. She put a call through intercom.

They were still exchanging pleasantries when Miss Nike came in with Tayo’s Son, Wale. The headmistress had written a letter through Wale to him yesterday to come for an urgent meeting about the boy . He thought it will be another meeting to convince him that Wale should write Secondary School Entrance Examination from Primary Four, he was sure of his ability to pass the examination but was skeptical about his performance in secondary school.

“Mr. Tayo, I invited you because of Wale”. He headmistress continued “there have been reports that he is a bully, he beat a girl in her class yesterday” She paused.

“We have to beg her parents this morning because she lost a tooth” Miss Nike added.

Tayo was visibly angry, he dragged Wale closer to himself, he slapped him, it was the headmistress that forced Wale away from his hand, Wale cried. He threatened to descend on him like a hungry lion but Miss Nike begged him.

Wale’s mouth was stained with blood, his lip swelled, he tried to open his mouth and it was full of blood.

“Dad, is that not how you bully everybody at home, you beat Mum to stupor

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/mothers-cry-1994-1998

. I am like you Dad”.

Tayo can’t believe it came out of his Son’s mouth.

Read " Talent on the Street " by the same author ( taiwo emmanuel )

. He was perplexed, he picked his car key on the table and left angrily without talking to anybody.

He concluded in his mind that Ireti has been feeding the boy with bad words, she wanted to pitch Son against Father. He will beat hell out of her in the night when he returns home, he was sure they will tell the entire School Community what transpired in the Headmistress’ office.

He was waved down to stop by Soldiers at a checkpoint, he was curious why they are mounting road blocks.

“Good day Oga” a Soldier greeted him.

“How you dey Officer” he replied.

“Identify yourself and where you dey go”

He brought out his identity card from his pocket. “I am going to Office….” Before he finished his statement, the office has left with the card. He was wondering why the Officer took his card away, he stepped out of his car and waited for few minutes before the Office returned with a superior Officer.

“Mr. Tayo Adeosun, you are a Journalist, please be careful of what to write now”. The superior Officer handed his identity card to him and order that the roadblock be removed for him to pass. It was after he left the checkpoint he noticed armed Soldiers along the streets. Has there be another Coup? That can’t be possible, he tuned in his car radio to Radio Nigeria to confirm his fear, the station was playing military tune.

“I told you that Maradona left Abacha behind to plot another bloodless coup to unseat Shonekan” Francis told him as he entered Office.

Francis, a fresh returnee from England, he studied Journalism and Media Studies at Oxford University, vibrant and full of youthful exuberant. When he sent his resume through a postal service that he planned to return to Nigeria to practice Journalism, Tayo felt the boy who was just in his late twenties a years was kidding. When many Nigerians were seeking political asylum in foreign nations because of persecution from military government who has been harassing agitators for return to civil rule.

It was dawned on Tayo that Military has taken over power again, he gave Babaginda benefit of doubt when he announced that he is stepping aside with other senior military Officers. “Is Babaginda part of this deal?”

Edward who just finished talking with Medical Doctor turned Activist, Beko Ransome Kuti to know what is the plan of  Civil Societies to the latest political development interrupted their conversation when he started singing Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s popular lyrics “Mathematicians add am together, ARMY ARRANGEMENT !!!”.