Rats, Roses And Paper Bones

CHAPTER 21: A saxophone tale

I was repulsed by my dad. The things he said to me and about me, and the way he treated me made me so furious everytime. There was hardly anything that could change that feeling.

But then, I saw the way Victoria was looking miserable and crying like a baby because her dad was ill. A hint of affection lit up my heart. She loved her dad so much.

I wished I could love mine the same, but it was so difficult. She even preferred her dad to her mum. The reverse was the case for me. It was my mum who stood up for me and fought for me whenever my dad started his drama.

"She wouldn't tell me what was wrong with him, she just told me to pray for him, I'm so worried because he barely gets sick". She said amidst tears.

The illness must be serious then, if they didn't want her to know about it. I said to myself.

I sighed and patted her on the back to comfort her.
"Don't worry, your dad will be just fine". I said.
"Just don't cry again"

"Instead, pray for him as your mum instructed and trust God, the great healer to heal him". I wiped her tears with my palm.

"I will"
"Thank you doyin". She said, looking up at me.

"Good, Now let's go back to the field". I dragged her from the chair.

"Okay." She said, her face lightening up.

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"Welcome back, cinderella."
I sneered at bolaji as those words came out from his mouth. With any slight chance I had, I could squeeze those words out off his mouth.

He still hadn't stopped calling me that name even after much warning. I just had to give up.

I had actually grown quite fond of him over the past few weeks. He was kind, thoughtful and gave me useful advice everytime we had night prep.

I sat down at our prep table and faced him.

"What's going on?". He asked.

I smiled.
"Aren't you forgetting something?". I said.

He looked confused.
"I don't understand." He said.

I sighed.
"You said you were going to tell me why you took a break from playing the sax".

"Oh". His face suddenly turned pale.
"When did I mention that?". He asked, looking even more confused.

I scoffed.
"Wow, you have a pretty bad memory". I said.

"No I don't". He said, sounding offended.
"Wasn't it this Sunday, when you played the keyboard for us?". He said, trying to prove me wrong.

I laughed.
"So you actually remember".

"Yeah". He replied, looking down.

It seemed it was a personal matter. That was probably why he was skeptical about it.

"It's fine if you don't want to tell me, I'm sorry for prying". I quickly said.

"No, it's fine". He replied.

"I'll tell you later, prep is about to begin".

"Alright." I said and moved to my side of the table.

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"I used to play the sax from a very young age". Bolaji said to me as we were walking to the hostel later that night. Night prep was over and all the students were returing back to their hostel. Victoria had left me behind when she saw talking to Bolaji. She seemed pretty angry though. I'll just talk to her later.