Sunrise and Sunset in Florence

Chapter Six

Mike had also made his papers except mathematics so he had to wait another year at home to re-sit it but he didn't take it too hard on himself. He wasn't keen on rushing into the University so he made up his mind to get some lucrative job and probably learn some handwork during that time.

I told him about myself and Lizzy and how things had turned out. He seemed really happy for me. Himself had gotten a girl of his own taste and we even had some lovers night out together, the four of us.

The Joint Admission And Matriculation Board (JAMB) exams came and I had some issues on what course to apply for. My dad wanted me to study Civil Engineering but I've always loved computers so after discussing with mum and also with Lizzy, I decided to opt for computer engineering.

Lizzy told me of her desire to become a nurse as she has always had a thing for helping people in pains, be it physical or physiological, but her mum wasn't that financially bouyant to put her through medical school. I offered to help out and it made both herself and her mum very delighted.

I and Lizzy both got admission into the same college but we didn't stay in the same area. She was given a room in the school dormitory while I rented a room far from the school but we did see a great deal of each other and I never forget to take her out on weekends to show her off. I also made sure to take her home from school everyday. It was my idea of maintaining territoriality and making it known to the guys on campus that she was already taken.

I earnestly wished Mikey was here and it would be just like old times again. I miss that chap. What silly thinking, I thought.

I was in my second year and our first year results had just been released. I cleared every single course, having some A's and my least grade was a C. I felt so proud of myself and needed to celebrate the perfect state of things. I called Lizzy and a handful of my very good buddies in school and we all went out to celebrate in a bar.

After having some bottles of drinks at the bar we were all buzzed out and then we despatched to our various homes. It was already late into the night and I couldn't take Lizzy to her dormitory so I took her to my place.

We were both dead tired when we got inside the room. I literally jumped onto the bed with my clothes and shoes on and she followed suit but not after locking the door. The blue curtain on the window was drawn up as I had left it before going out and the fan was rolling too at top speed above us. I've surely had more than enough liquor. My eyes were dazed, the room was spinning, I was being ushered to sleep.

*****

My phone rang. I checked. It was Katie.

"Hey, little sis, how are you," I spoke into the phone, putting it to my ear.

She was sobbing. Whatever could be wrong?

"What's the matter, Katie, why are you crying?"

"Brother Raymond," she said in between tears.

"Yes Katie, what's wrong? please tell me!" The confusion and terror was evident in my voice already. I didn't know what to think.

"It's dad," Katie whimpered from the other end of the line.

"What did dad do? Did he beat you up or what?"

"Dad... Dad..." she was weeping profusely now and her voice becoming incoherent. I could barely hear her.

"Yes, what about dad? Tell me, Katie, tell me!" I screamed.

"Dad is no more, brother Raymond, Dad's dead! She wept.

At that instant the whole world spun in front of me. I fell down and just let my phone slip off my hand and down to the floor. I didn't know what to do. I gritted my teeth, I wanted to shout, I wanted to cry but the tears were too hard, too thick they wouldn't fall out. Not now, not now when everything in my life was so perfect.

"Arrrrrrrgh!" I groaned deeply in pains and anguish.

I had to go home.

When I got home the place was literally swimming with sympathizers, those whom I recognized and those I didn't. I rushed into the house to meet mum but couldn't find her.

"Welcome, my son," said one of the sympathizers. "The whole incident brought too much grief to your mother she couldn't hold herself anymore so she fainted and was rushed to St. Patrick's hospital. She's alright but herself and Katie are not yet back."

I was almost in tears now as all the good times we've had with dad came rushing back to my memory. The beautiful red bike he bought me when I was still a youngster in primary school.

I got to the hospital and found Katie and mum together. The tears have not dried from their eyes. Mine were coming out now. All attempts to hold myself as a man were failing. No words could be said. I moved towards them and embraced them. The sorrow in our hearts was heavy, we couldn't hold it in anymore. There we bonded in each others arms and gave in to the tears. I cried.

"How did it happen, mum?" I inquired after some moments of intense weeping in silence. "What happened to dad?"

"Katie go outside and tell the doctor I'm fine now and ready to go home," she said.

Katie quietly went. I felt so much pity for her. I wonder what it was that mum wanted to say in Katie's absence.

"Raymond, for me the world has ended," continued mum. "You can't believe the series of tragedy that has taken place, Raymond."

"What? Just tell me already."

She was quiet for a minute. I didn't even try to imagine what could have happened. My brain wasn't working anymore.

"Mum?" I said softly.

"We got a call in the morning."

"Yes, what call?"

"That..." She burst into tears again.

"That what, Mum?"

"That the bank we have accounts in just folded up and shut down without a reason! All our money gone!" she burst into uncontrollable tears once more.

Jesus Christ! I couldn't believe my ears. I must be hearing things, I thought.

"Just last week he was defrauded of 300 hundred and fifty million Naira in a supposed contract as well," continued Mum. "And as if that was not all... As if that was not all..." Her tears were flowing again.

I didn't know if I was ready for another blow. I had already heard enough to wreck a man's soul and anything more might have driven me to insanity.

"I was with him, neither of us knowing whom to console the other, when he got his last call," mum continued. "The last horrid call that he was ever going to receive in this life, that his shipments for the company coming in through the Atlantic, everything sank into the bottom of the sea. Ah! Your father was a strong man but no, this time his heart failed him there and then and he slumped upon the floor right before my eyes. Doctor said it was cardiac arrest. Oh how I wish we both went down together."

"Noooooooooo!" I wailed. "Nooooooooooooo!"

Mum tried to hold me but I couldn't help it anymore. My world came crashing down in that very moment and I gave myself in to the tears.

A/n
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