The Lives We Lived

9: Short Dress

Kemi leapt off her bed as her alarm blared into the stillness of the morning. She looked beside her to notice that Osa wasn't in bed beside her. Where could he be? She slipped her small feet into her flip flops and walked to the bathroom. The foul smell of human excreta slapped her hard across the face. She heard the sound of liquid waste splashing in the toilet seat.

"Osa, are you in there?"

The only answer she got was his loud groaning before his excreta flowed out of his body. She opened the door and stepped into the toilet. Her husband's face was contorted in pain. His eyes squinched, mouth drawn back and held tight against his face; he looked like he was being stabbed rather than passing out poo.

"Baby, are you okay?"

He glared at her before resuming the battle he was engaged in. Kemi picked her nose to keep out the stomach churning smell.

"Are you stooling?"

"What do you think?" He snapped.

"I'm just worried about you." She replied. She was showing concern and he was snapping g at her.

"Just go away please." he said.

"So you can't poo poo when I'm here?" She asked, placing her hand on her waist. Their eyes locked for several seconds before his eyes shut again.

She went back into the room and made the bed before hurrying back to the bathroom. Osa was done and he was trying to flush the toilet. Kemi quickly splashed water on her face and went down the staircase.

Her mother-in-law  was already in the kitchen. "Good morning, mama."

Her mother-in-law didn't even glance at her. kemi busied herself with doing the dishes from last night before she began to prepare the meal that Osa would take to work. While her mother-in-law crafted a meal of yam and pepper soup, kemi prepared white rice and fried vegetables. After which she quickly prepared pancake and tea.

She set his breakfast on the table. ignoring his mother, she went up the room to call Osa down for breakfast.

"Osa honey, breakfast is ready." She called at the door expecting to find him on his feet. He was sitting in the bed clutching his stomach.

"I don't want to eat." He said.

"You need to eat breakfast."

He was quiet for a few minutes before asking, "You - is my mother awake?"

She avoided his gaze and pretended to be more interested in searching for what he would wear to work. All his clothes were already pressed. She would be wearing a purple gown and black shoes. So she chose an equally purple shirt for him along with cream shoes and a black trousers.

"Do you want to wear a jacket today?"

"I..I don't know." His answer was followed by a deep prolonged groan. She narrowed her eyes at him.

"A vest?"

"Not really. Just pick anything." He said.

"Your breakfast is already on the table. It's going to get cold."

"I'll be there in a few minutes." He said.

"Okay, I'm going to take a shower now." She laid his clothes beside him in the bed. She got into the shower, had her bath and returned into the room to find that her husband had dressed up and left the room. She quickly applied make-up, dressed in her clothes and picked her cream bag. Then she hurried downstairs only to find Osa still clenching the balustrade.

"Why aren't you going downstairs?" She questioned.

"Nothing. I just-" He paused.

"Be honest with me. Are you afraid of your mother?" She asked. She held his face and stared  into his eyes.