Lineage

Bankole Ajayi Part 6

The next morning Mama could barely get out of bed. She was hurting all over. She felt as if she was the one who was flogged. They both went to bed last night without eating, and she did not feel like eating this morning. She was full of regret for flogging her son in the manner she did. She had promised herself that she would never beat her child the way African mothers do. It was a struggle to get out of bed, but she had to see how Bankole was doing. He was still sleeping without his shirt on she saw the blisters of the cane on his body. This brought her to tears. Never again, no matter what he does, she would never flog him in that way. What if she had killed him? She shivered and shook her head as if to get the thought out of her head. Some parents have been arrested for 'accidentally flogging children to death.' She quietly left his room to make them breakfast. What should she do now, apologies for flogging him in that manner? Talk to him about the stealing, it's a late for that now. The talk should have come before the flogging, she pondered. 

Bankole heard his mother come into his room, when she left he sat up on his bed looking at the blisters on his arms and legs. He knew his back and butt would look the same. He was still hurting from the beating. Bankole got out of bed and did his usual morning routine, made his bed, and brushed his teeth. He knew his mother was sorry for what she did, it was totally unlike her. As he walked into the kitchen, Mama was still busy with breakfast. She saw him and he saw the sadness in her eyes. He greeted her, and she responded but did not look at him. She gave him breakfast, two tablets of Panadol for the pain, and then went to lie down on the couch.

It was a long weekend and by Sunday the scares on Bankole's body had began to fade. He had got over the whole incident, but not Mama. She barely ate anything and had complained about body aches and weakness. Monday Mama  went to the hospital. They carried all kinds of tests out on her, and she had to return in three days for the results of the tests. The doctor gave her some drugs for the pain and weakness. Just as she was on her way out of the hospital, she bumped into the doctor who took care of Bankole when he was ill. After exchanging pleasantries, she asked about Bankole. Mama told her he was doing OK. Then she remembered that the doctor had said she had seen cases similar to Bankole's before, and so she asked her to please explain. The doctor explained that it was during her service year posting; she worked in the medical center of a small town. Late one night, nine children were rushed to the hospital and all of them presented symptoms like Bankole's. She and the other doctor on duty that night did all they could to help the kids, but that night four died by the next morning two died. They were all between the ages of seven to nine. They all attended the same school, two were siblings.

"At first we thought maybe it was some kind of contagious disease and expected more children to come in sick, but none did. Then we thought maybe it was something they ate. I asked the three that survived if they had eaten anything and they all said no," the doctor said.

"We could not explain why the kids died and the parents would not allow an autopsy to be done on their children. They feared that the organs of their children would be sold to ritualists. Six children died in less than twenty-four hours. The good news was, it did not happen again. At least throughout the rest of my stay in the town. After the service year, I left town as quickly as possible even though they gave me a wonderful offer to stay. That was five years ago and I have never seen such a case again until your son."

Mama was speechless and then the doctor added, "I was so devastated by the death of those kids that day, I remembered I had sat at a corner crying when one of the cleaners who saw me, walked up to me and told me it was witchcraft. Of course, I pushed it aside I am a scientist but again this is Africa."

Mama asked the doctor the name of the town where this all happened, it was her mother's hometown. Mama had never been to her mother's hometown, and neither of her parents talked about that side of her lineage. She pondered on the possibility of Bankole being a witch. It might explain his behaviour change. Although she is not a superstitious woman, she would not in denial of the existence of unseen evil forces. You cannot believe in God and good without believing in the Devil and evil. However, she'd rather not delve into any form of spirituality. She goes to church sometimes, prays sometimes, and that is it. But could her son be a witch? How can she confirm this, she thought out loud.

When she got home, Bankole was not yet back from school, game day, or some after school stuff. Good, she can get some rest. The trip to the hospital had got her tired and her body was hurting all over. Mama had some slices of bread with peanut butter and a cup of tea, then took her med. She then laid down on the couch and soon afterward she fell asleep. She didn't know for how long she slept and then she had a dream. In her dream, she was naked, surrounded by children who were laughing at her. It was dark, but she noticed their eyes; their sclera were green made lighter with yellow.  The iris and pupils were round and black. When they laughed she saw their sharp-edged as if filed, reminding her of a documentary on human cannibalism she had watched some time ago. She was afraid and could not run away, in fact, she could not move. She tried screaming, but no sound came out of her mouth.

Suddenly she was staring into the eyes of one of the children, and now she could make out facial features. His brow bone and cheekbones were protruding with sunken cheeks. From the forehead and left eye to his left jaw had black scales like a reptile. The rest of the face was human except for the green eyes and protruding facial structures. His lips were human, and they looked like Bankole's lips, for he had a mole at the top left corner of his upper lip. It was a birthmark. She knew it was him, this was her son! She could still hear the other kids laughing as she stood transfixed by his gaze. As he came closer, she saw the dagger. He raised it to stab her. She screamed and woke up.

As she open her eyes, she saw Bankole standing right over her, looking down at her.  For a fraction of a second his features dark like what she saw in her dream. Because she faced the window and the  sunlight behind him made his face dark such that she could not make out his image. Mama jumped out of fear only then could see clearly that he was carrying a tray of food for her. The image of his dark face shook her, and now she feels quite uncomfortable with him being so close. Mama thanked him for the meal and they share a few small talks. She looked at him thinking, this is her baby, could he be...? She refused to allow herself to think about it any further.

Later that night she went to her son's room. He was lying down on his bed. She told him they pray together. She wasn't a religious person and not so much for praying. But she remembers the 23rd Psalm and recited it. Bankole could not say the words, he knew the words but he could not say the words. He mumbled something under his breath following her rhythm and only said out an Amen. When it was over, his Mama held him close and told him she was sorry to have flogged him the way she did. She also told him she loved him so much, he meant the world to her and she would always want the best for him. This brought tears to his eyes at the same time felt some pain in his chest. He tried to tell his Mama he loved her but choked when tried saying it and started coughing. His mother patted his back and then rushed to get him a cup of water. She still felt a little uncomfortable about her son, hoping their prayers worked.