Strong Emotions - Episode 13

 

    It has been two weeks since I left the hospital but dad was still in Mercyland hospital for further treatment, he was diagnosed with Ischemic stroke. The doctor needed to restore blood flow to his brain and a therapy with clot-busting drugs must started within 4.5 hours,  and the sooner, the better because the doctor said quick treatment not only improves his chances of survival but will improve his health. He will also be given Intravenous injection of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) which we paid for the day he got admitted.

     I applied for an online full-time degree programme in Durham college, Oshawa, Canada . I wanted to study business administration because according to Mr Lanre's advice, I need to study a course pertaining to how to manage a business although my first degree was Bsc economics . Mr Lanre had really helped me with his fatherly love and advice, he was taken aback when I told him the stories about my pregnancy, how dad went into syncope and how I had a miscarriage. He felt bad that he didn't know on time so as to render his assistance.

       He called me one afternoon to announce to my utmost surprise that I had been given admission and he had already prepared my travel papers and that I have to go home and prepare to take a flight to Canada the next day. My joy knew no bound, finally I'm moving to my greener pastures

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/strong-emotions

. Mum was in the kitchen preparing a dinner when I barged in with smiles.

     "Mum, guess what!". I said with a beam.

      "What darling? You know I'm not good in guessing. Just tell me what's wrong? "She asked anxiously.

      "Mr Lanre surprised me this afternoon, he had checked my result and found that I have been given admission into Durham college in Canada to study business administration." I said with so much happiness.

          "Wow!". Mum exclaimed while she hugged me so dearly. I have never seen her so happy like this atleast for the past few weeks. 

        "So will you go to London first to see your aunt Theresa? Or how do you plan to do it?" Mum asked in a worried tone. I know that if dad had been healthy and around, he would prefer me to stay with my aunt instead of going elsewhere for my education.

         "Mum I will be alright, Mr Lanre had taken care of my accomodation, I'm going to stay in one of their school hostels". I said with a smile in an attempt to calm her nerves down. She worries alot and I feared it wouldn't lead to stroke like dad's, I just want her to calm down, pray and have a positive mind. She wanted me to leave the country yet she is scared I might not survive or be comfortable when I get there. 

            "Okay no probs. I have some gifts for you to take along dear". She smiled and stroke my hair.

          "Gifts?....hmmm let me see them mum. I'm sure today is not birthday nor my wedding day so how come you got me a gift?". I asked partly confused and partly teasing her.

"Darling, you don't have to celebrate your birthday or your wedding before I get you a gift. The gifts I have for you is just to show you how much you made me proud. Despite all you have been through, you were still able to stand on your feet." Mum said while she hugged me once more, I felt like a Superstar. I grabbed the laddle she was holding, "I will be incharge of the kitchen tonight". She stared at me and smiled.

    "If you cook rubbish, you will eat everything yourself". She said with a chuckle. I found the words funny and laughed, as contagious as my laugh was, mum bursted into an uncontrollable laughter.

    "I could remember the day your father invited me to his apartment to cook before we got married. I decided to cook pounded yam with egusi soup, I wanted to prove to him that I was a good cook..."

   "Hmmm...I trust my mummy". I interrupted to show I was listening to her story with Keen interest.

      "Don't trust your mummy yet because your dad do mock me whenever he remembers that event. I got to the kitchen and I love it's sight, it's shelves were neatly arranged with pots of different sizes, Cutleries arranged in a small basket and a small neat gas for cooking was placed beside the shelf. I found the mortar and the pestle on time , boiled the yam and prepared to pound. I wish you were there to see how I was sweating and panting while I pounded vigorously. Meanwhile while I was pounding, your dad sat in living room watching a football match. I proceeded to cook the egusi when I was done pounding through yam, I did the normal procedure of cooking the soup and when it was time to add the salt, unknown to me   I took the jar with sugar content instead of salt and I had already added it to the soup before I tasted and realized it was sugar I added". I couldn't help but burst out laughing, mum continued with her story "and when I finally found the salt jar ,I added salt to the soup hoping that the taste will change from sweet to a normal sour taste but instead it got worse and I had no choice but to serve your dad my pounded yam with the sweetest soup ever. He frowned his face when he tasted the soup..." Mum burst out laughing, she held her stomach to suppressed the laughter. I smiled, she looked younger and pretty when she smiles or laugh. I wish dad was also here to share his own part of the joke. I could imagine his look and how he felt when he tasted the soup, yuck! So disgusting!

     "Mum, you know what? I'm preparing grilled chicken wings and sausage tonight. It's gonna be yummy!". I said exictedly.

      "That will be great but please don't add sugar to it instead of salt". She teased and I smiled.

    "Trust me, it will be delicious. You know what mum, just sit in the living room and relax. I will serve your dinner right there ". I held her hand and took her to a seat. I pecked her forehead and rushed back into the kitchen. 

       Thirty minutes later, my promised grilled chicken and sausage was ready but on getting to the living room , mum had fallen asleep. Oh No! She can't possibly be asleep ,she needs to eat and we still had more to talk about, I had no option but to tap her gentle on her arm. She jerked awake, startled. 

    "I'm sorry dear, I couldn't help it because I'm fatigued". She apologized.

     "I understand mum, but I can't watch you sleep without eating nothing". I replied, she nodded in agreement and drew the food closer.

      "Thank you my love, your children will take care of you darling and may they show more kindness to you". She prayed before she picked the fork to eat her meal.

       After we finished eating our meal, I engaged mum in a tidbits asking questions about her youthful days, how she met my dad and how their relationship started and she gave full description to my answers. 

    "I never had a perfect relationship and my love life was similar to yours. My first relationship was with David, who is now a pastor in one of the biggest church in Nigeria. We started our relationship when we were in secondary School. I love David so much but unfortunately he didn't reciprocate the love towards me, he took the love I had for him then as an opportunity to play with my feelings, David was a rich spoilt brat, handsome and he love sports alot, he was attracted to different ladies and whenever we are in the midst of other ladies, David will introduce me to them as his sister and if I confront him, he will threaten to end the relationship. Since I loved him so much, I wouldn't want him to jilt me. Oneday, I saw him kissed one of my friends and when I confronted him, he threatened to quit the relationship and I confidently urged him to, he was surprised I didn't beg him to stay and he came back asking for my forgiveness. With the type of spirit I have, I wasn't ready to continue been in such a relationship and so I found the courage to forget him and move on. It hadn't been easy then, sometimes I would cry and wish I didn't tell him to go but atimes I would be glad I did. I thought I wasn't going to find love again untill I met your father. He came as a blessing in disguise." I clapped after she ended her story, I knew what happened after she met my dad, she made the right choice by quitting the relationship as well as the choice I made to erase Alfred away from my mind. I reminded mum about the gifts she got for me and she led me into her room, I was shocked with all she bought, where did mum see money to buy such expensive things for me. She bought two wrist watches, five new dresses, three stilettos and three handbags to match, two Brazilian wigs, and lots more. I hope it's not from the company's money.

    "I save too Enny, so please don't think it's from the company's income. We have to keep the company running since there is no tangible source of income for now " Mum said as if she knew what I was thinking. 

   "Ok fine, don't worry ma. I told Mr Lanre to send some amount of money into your account so you can have something to spend and take care of dad while I'm away." I could see she felt relieved, been an house wife is the worst thing I would ever wished for in my entire life. Such life is so boring, oh Lord! Mum is really trying.