Beyond expectations

Episode 5 - Shattered Echoes

Months turned into years. The children were enrolled in a school not far from home. Mr. Adeshina worked several minor jobs to support his family, while Mrs. Adeshina had gone rogue. Following Sandy's advice, she became a stripper. Victor played every day, neglecting his studies, but Damilola was always at the top of her class, earning numerous academic excellence awards. She longed for change.

Aishat noticed the strange things about Mrs. Adeshina. Her mother claimed to work night shifts, but she lost all her pregnancy weight quickly and came home smelling of alcohol and cigarettes. Aishat noticed her mother's expensive lingerie while washing her parents' clothes. It didn't add up. Her father was oblivious to the turmoil in their household, as he left for work early and returned late at night. Victor, on the other hand, received a lot of money from their mother, which he used for drinking and gambling with his friends. They became notorious in the neighborhood, frequently in and out of prison.

Each day was a struggle for Mr. Adeshina. He juggled multiple jobs, desperately trying to make ends meet. He left home early, returning late, exhausted and worn out. He noticed the changes in his wife, but he convinced himself it was just the strain of their difficult lives. His love for her blinded him to the reality. He believed they were doing their best to hold the family together, despite the challenges.

Mrs. Adeshina felt trapped. Following Sandy's advice, she took up stripping, telling herself it was just temporary, a means to an end. The guilt gnawed at her, but she numbed it with alcohol and cigarettes. She hated the double life she led, but she saw no other way to provide for her children. The lingerie was her armor, her disguise. She dreaded going home, facing her children, especially Aishat's perceptive eyes. She knew her daughter suspected something, but she couldn't bring herself to admit the truth.

One morning, Mrs. Adeshina didn't come back. Aishat wondered why but said nothing, assuming there must be a reason. After two days, her absence raised alarms. They started calling her friends until neighbors came knocking on their door. Victor opened the door, and Sandy handed him a document. "Give this to your dad," she said. Victor took it and closed the door.

Victor was indifferent. His mother had always been a source of easy money, nothing more. He turned to his dad and started opening the documents. Aishat, her voice edged with annoyance, interrupted, "Why are you opening that? Didn't she ask you to give it to Dad?" Victor turned to her, his face contorted with anger, and yelled, "Just shut up, you fool! Who said I wasn't going to give it to him?" He reluctantly handed the documents to his father, who was too deep in thought to notice their argument.

As Mr. Adeshina took the papers, his hands trembled, and he suddenly burst into tears. Victor watched from a distance, his expression unreadable, before turning away, uninterested in their tearful drama. Mr. Adeshina's voice broke the silence, "Your mum wants to dissolve our marriage."

Aishat's heart pounded in her chest. She rushed over and snatched the documents, her mouth falling open in shock. She was speechless. "Why would she do this?" she thought, her mind racing. Mr. Adeshina stood up, his face a mask of determination. He wiped his tears and said, "I'm going to work. I'm not signing those divorce papers. She can do her worst."

As he walked out the door, a chilling silence filled the room. Aishat clutched the documents, her mind swirling with questions and fears. What would happen next? The uncertainty hung in the air, thick and suffocating. She glanced at Victor, who was now pacing the room, his face a mix of anger and confusion. "Victor, what are we going to do?" Aishat asked, her voice trembling.

Victor stopped pacing and looked at her, his eyes hardening. "I don't care, Damn. I'm done with this family drama." With that, he stormed out of the house, leaving Aishat alone with her thoughts. Victor headed to his usual spot, a hidden alleyway behind an old jazz club where he and his friends gathered to unwind. The air was thick with the scent of smoke and the distant sound of a saxophone playing a soulful tune. As he approached, he saw his crew already there, lounging on crates and leaning against the brick walls, illuminated by the flickering light of a single streetlamp.

"Yo, Vic, what's good? Why you lookin' so down?" asked a white boy among them, his voice cutting through the murmur of the city night.

The tallest of the group, a lanky figure with a confident swagger, stepped in front of Victor, "Man, you always the life of the party. What's up? You killin' the vibe."

Victor sighed and looked up, his face etched with frustration. "Man, it's just been one of those days. Nothin' goin' right."

One of his friends, a burly guy with a kind smile, patted him on the back, "That ain't good, man, but it's gon' pass."

He then shouted at the youngest in the group, a wiry kid with a mischievous grin, "Yo, you stupid ass, pass me that cocaine. Let my man get a little high. This gon' bring your soul back, Vic."

The youngest handed over the drug, "Here you go, Vic. This gon' fix you up."

Victor took a sniff and felt a bit of relief. "Thanks, y'all. I needed that."

They cheered him up, and with that, they continued their usual wayward routine, the night filled with laughter, banter, and the occasional clink of bottles.