HIM

CHAPTER 6

"Linn, come sit beside me, "Mum said ushering to a cushion next to her.
"Yes Mum, what's up? " I asked.

Yes there were several occasions when we'd sit down and have talks but the tone was different tonight.
She had made supper,and we'd had it already. Talks are not good on an empty stomach.

"Do you have a boyfriend? " Woo-oh!! I didn't see that coming.

"No Mum, I don't. "

"Well, am not advising you to have or not to have one, but I just feel it's fine if I let you know some things. " she spoke gently but concernedly.

"Yes, am listening. "

"Linn, you know about your father and I...you know what I mean. "
Of course, I was there when it all happened;and I wasn't a chicken either to forget.

She went on, "My dear,I don't want you going through what I went through, OK? Don't let anyone deceive you, don't let anyone disrespect you, if they can't love you for who you are, walk away. No one, my dear, no one was born to beg for love, OK? "

That was deep, real deep. And this woman seated a few inches from me was struggling with her emotions, she didn't want to look weak. Wow! I admire her greatly! That was my mother;my greatest treasure.

"Mum, why did you decide to tell me all these tonight? "

"Flen came here,but you said you are just friends. That is when I realized you're a grown-up girl. Maybe he isn't your boyfriend, but sooner or later someone else or even him will be. And I just want you to have the best. "

"Thank you so much, I'll keep to your words."

I was from school on that particular evening. By then I was just in my upper primary. But from the gate, I could hear voices on top of each other; my parents were having a fight. I took a step closer to the door so I could listen keenly. I managed a peep into the living room, and I didn't like what I saw: Mum was in tears. Why?
It was just definite that it was my dad who made her so.

I was about to get attentive when someone walked past me straight into the house; it was my brother Jamie. He was three classes ahead of me. Though we went to the same school, we walked different ways each day from school; we didn't share friends that is.

I heard him shout to dad to stop yelling at mum. Father hit him hard on the cheeks and pointed a finger at him. That was the moment I stormed into the house crying. I ran past the living room to my bedroom and threw myself on my bed. Dad was wicked! How could he make Mama cry then hit Jamie for stopping him, what then would he do to me?

I had cried for long before I heard footsteps towards my door. I faced the wall and pretended to be asleep, trying to feign calmness as much as possible.
Then a hand landed gently on my back.
"Honey, am sorry you saw all that. And am sorry for doing what am about to do. I hope you'll forgive me someday if not today. "
Oh my God! What was he going to do, kill me? I kept my cool, though I was really struggling to do so. Nothing happened, I just heard the door close and footsteps getting away. Couldn't wait any longer, I left my room for the living room, just in time to see him leave with suitcases behind him. That was it.

I took to their room, Mama was crying, Jamie on her side. We both hugged her for the next twenty minutes, before she finally settled. Wiping her tears, she motioned for us to get to bed. I didn't need an interpreter to understand anything here. Daddy was gone, and Mama was left to fend for us. Indeed Daddy was wicked! We all slept in one bed that night.

Mum worked at a coffee shop as a waitress. That meant she couldn't manage the bills and still have enough for our upkeep. That was when it was decided that Jamie should go stay with grandma in the village. Jamie loved Mum, and if that meant relieving her off some burden, he'd do it a thousand times, I knew it.

We stayed with her, I would go to her workplace on weekends. Then one day grandma called informing us that Jamie had received an invitation abroad over his award winning at an artistic competition. He loved to draw, we had so many of his works in one particular room. If he really won this then he did deserve it.
Mum was hesitant about letting him go. She tried talking it out with grandma but she insisted that it was time she let her son's talent explore around the world. And that was how he got himself to board a plane to Canada, after coming home to bid us farewell.

It was just two days after Jamie's departure. We were all glued to the TV set watching some news. Then it came; breaking news. There had been a plane accident, the plane was headed to Canada. The weather had changed drastically, the plane lost control... No one survived. That is when it hit me: Jamie was gone!
Mama cried, I cried. How could life be so ruthless in the shortest time? Had we not suffered enough? Did a young boy after his dreams have to go so soon?

Mum lost it, her pressure rose. I called for help to the hospital. She took days, but only seemed to be getting weaker. I wasn't going to lose her too, No! That Thurday afternoon, I walked to her bed, held her hand and told her,

"Mum, you have to live for me. "

Brief as it was, I knew it had touched her deeply. I saw the smile in those tears. And true to it, she lived for me.

And now here she was, wanting the best for me. Wow!
"I love you Mum, " I said, getting closer and hugging her tightly.
I couldn't love this woman more than I already did. She meant the world to me.
For the first time, she let her emotions free. I felt them flow, I let mine flow too.
"I love you my daughter."