Ngozichukwuka

A DATE WITH AGONY

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

News about Mama Uka's tragic hit and fall circulated the whole of Television Street and beyond. Those that never knew her but heard the story line by chance or by gossip didn't cease to reflect deeply on the matter as if they knew the said person.

Uka, Edu, Uju, Chuma, Emeka and Ngo were all seated put in silence in their living room. As for Edu, well he prayed earnestly to God to help him try even as little to forgive himself for what he did to their mother even though it wasn't intentional. No one dared to accuse Edu of what happened to their mother but deep inside of him, he felt every one was doing so; judging and mocking him silently when they came to show support or ask tons and tons of questions about the incident. He saw it in their eyes when they looked at him, heard it in their voices when they spoke to him, sensed it in their body when they hugged him and even in their kisses when they lightly kissed his forehead. Call it paranoia anxiety or whatnot, but Edu was pretty confident of his sixth sense.

''I'm not to blame any more than you all.'' Edu broke the silence.
''Who says we blame you? I can vividly remember that day; we were all ready to attack with or without the planks but all thanks to the Almighty God, the attack came from only you because if we'd hit at the same time.... I don't even want to think about it... They outcome and still it doesn't mean that we aren't guilty too. Edu, none of this is your fault. If you feel anyone is assigning blames on you then we take it all too. What is done is done and there's no undoing it.'' Uka discontinued because Edu didn't seem convinced or whatsoever by what she had said to him.
''Edu.'' She called out to him but he didn't reply nor looked at her.
''You didn't do it deliberately.'' She paused. ''Am I happy at the outcome? No, but I for one, I'm really happy that you didn't slack just like I did. You thought you were trying to protect us and save our shop for God's sake but unfortunately you..... Well...... Did hit our mother.'' She trailed off and Edu turned to look at her.
''As much as I hated to say that but it had to be said. You were plainly brave so end of discussion and I'm just sure that mummy understands that.'' Uka said as she supported her chin with her hand.

They had no idea the condition that their mother was in because the doctor spoke only to their neighbor, Jojo who helped to take Mama Uka to the hospital on the day of the incident. Edu tried to question the doctor but the doctor didn't say a word to him but left in a hurry so he asked Jojo who told him that his mother was doing just great and he shouldn't worry but Edu was already worried. Jojo's reply wasn't enough for him and that angered Edu. He wanted to know the whole general state of things concerning his mother. He paced around the hospital till Uka signaled for him to sit with them as they waited patiently. They were all still in their uniforms as they waited in the lobby but that day, they never went back home with their mother as they hoped.

They sat in silence again till one of their neighbors Fatty Bombo crept in on them. They left the door open because they were sick of having to open it endlessly for whomever wanted to check up on them or show support.
As Fatty Bombo who was an Uhrobo man and was married now to his second wife as his first wife died last year walked in, they didn't show that they noticed his presence so he thought it was because he hardly visited them. He had no surprises there.

''Sannu.'' {Hello} He had to say. They looked at him and said nothing but stared at nothing in particular. They wondered why he came since his wife had visited earlier and had told them that her husband was too occupied and so sent his regards.

''Akwai labari?'' {Is there any news?} He asked them.

''She's stabilized.'' Edu responded as fast as he could because he didn't want Uka to spill the whole detail again as she's been doing to the other visitors. thereby reminding him of what he did due to the wave of energy that was sent through his nerve fiber. He never wanted to be reminded of the incident that had led his mother to the hospital ever again. He thought they had said enough already to all that had visited them.