OBODO OYINBO

Obodo Oyibo

"Yey! Ogene oooooo!"

My mother's loud voice jolted me back to life. I didn't realize I was fast asleep, the last thing I remember was me in deep thoughts about how my life is a piece of shit. For some seconds, I sit on the damped bed looking confused. My warm sweat had romanced with my bed sheet as a result of the wicked heat. We are in the heat period and the hoodlums responsible for supplying power to poor Nigerians, are feeling too big to do their job. They are negligent to what is expected of them but are quick to request for bills, collect bribes or cut off our wires if we refuse to cooperate. I hope the area boys in our street deal with them ruthlessly on their next visit. 

"This woman has started again, must she scream at any slight issue?"

 I quietly hiss and drag my lanky body off the bed to the sitting room, wiping off the bead of sweat that rested on my large forehead.

Behold! A dramatic display by my 53 year old mother, rolling back and forth on the roughly cemented floor as she weeps bitterly. I try to restrain myself from mentally awarding her as the best actress of the year, her exaggerated display would easily pass for a good impression in the movie industry.  A poignant feeling suddenly grace my body. The last time she behaved this way was during the death of my father. Bless him.

My sleepy eyes immediately gains full consciousness.

"Mama what is the problem? Why are you crying so hard this hot afternoon?" 

I rush towards her, trying to help her sit properly on the floor but she keeps falling off like a loose 'spaghetti' strap.

Her wrapper slips off her chest, making way for her saggy breast to stare at me. Mama regardless of my attempt to pacify her, keeps screaming, wailing, breathing fast and singing a dirge song. Mama has a hoarse voice, when she sings or speaks some of her words get lost in her throat. It wasn't also helping that she sings so passionately. It took maturity, the respect for my late father and the grace of God for me not to laugh out loud  as she sang sorrowfully during his funeral. 

"Mama what is the problem na, you're scaring me o"

I begin to panic. My thoughts jam against one another.

Is she re-mourning papa who died few months ago?

Was the landlord very serious about chasing us out of the house because, we are yet to pay our rent fee?

Are Papa's relatives coming to share what's left of his property like they had threatened the other day?

Is she scared we are going to sleep under the bridge and beg for alms like those abokis at Iyana Ipaja market?

Did she take me serious when I told her I was going to drop out of school? Well, I was actually serious.

By the time she finally agrees to sit properly, her wrapper is already off her entire body, her hair disheveled, legs spread east and west respectively and her nose; dripping mucus. I try not to concentrate on these things, her dramatic display is embarrassing enough. She coughs and swallows the content back into her throat, use her wrapper to wipe her mucus and heaves a huge sigh. 

"Your brother is dead o Ese! Obodo Oyinbo has taken my only son away from me!" She finally breaks the news.

It is ugly. It is harsh. It isn't the news I want to hear this hot afternoon after waking up to the realization of how miserable my life is. I watch my mother slap her laps aggressively with both palms before resting her hands on her head in the most pitiful way, paving way for her grey hairy armpits to see daylight. Is Runo truly dead or mama due to her knack for jumping into conclusions, has  concluded that he is dead?