Adanike

chapter five

Taking papa to the hospital is very provoking he keeps insisting that his lack of good sight is not an issue and should not be grieved upon,the doctor says that if he cooperates,he can refer him to a group of community doctors associating with CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria) who give free medical assistance to the old and the less privileged in rural areas.

But Papa keeps saying that he doesn't want any assistance.Now we are sitting in the doctors office a nurse permitted us in telling us that the doctor will be with us soon, after we've sat for about half an hour the doctor arrives.

"Good morning doctor"I greet, getting up from the stiff wooden chair having the seat covered with a piece of red suede material fading at the middle due to frequent usage.

He shuts the door slowly and walks over his hands tucked deep in his pocket,a smile on his face but the smile doesn't cover the lines of worry lining his forehead,he pulls his lab coat from a hook hanging on the wall and flips it on swiftly.

"Good morning Miss Kelechi"he answers removing his phone from his trouser's pocket and droping it in a drawer joint with the table, then he adjusts the collar of his lab coat to lap on the collar of his sky blue button up shirt.

"Good morning Papa"the doctor says to Papa who's head is bent down,he hasn't said a word since we arrived at the hospital with the two hours I spent this Saturday morning persuading him to let me bring him here,he rarely speaks these days,he nods his head to Doctor Phillip's greeting.

Doctor Phillip is a member of the Church I and Papa attend even though Papa stopped attending of resent.

He was transferred to Faith Alive a hospital known for its good facilities and services as head doctor.
He met me one day after mass and inquired about Papa's health,I told him all I could say starting from the illness,and the medication that lead to his present condition,he said that the priest told him to help us and that is what he did,our parish is not a very wealthy one but we always support each other no matter what,and Doctor Phillip and his beautiful family joined without holding anything, this great family of God.

Even with Papa's indifference to his help and support doctor Phillip has never relented his rigid support to us, sometimes even coming over any time papa is obstinate to coming to the hospital or taking his medication.

"Ada I called you to come today because I was discussing with a friend and colleague about Papa's  case and he said we don't have much time the surgery has to be done now
Without any further delay,so Papa has to come for a few check ups and then for the surgery,the team has started the exercise at Bassa local government last week and would be moving over to kanke which is a long drive from here,you can tell me when the family and Papa is emotionally ready and stable,I can drive you over there if I am work free or send a friend to help take you there"

He paused,now seated on the side of the table facing papa, fiddling his fingers and looking at us,he notices that I'm getting worried because it will be hard talking to Papa again on this issue.

"Will that be ok Papa?" Doctor Phillip asks,he knows that even if Papa agrees he will not cooperate when the time comes but he still ask, Doctor Phillip gets up and moves over to the swiviling chair on the other side of the table.

"I'll write a letter to the chief surgeon of the exercise he was a tutor of mine in med school and we still keep in touch"he says glancing at me briefly.

"Ada you know why I'm doing this right?"he continues looking straight at me,a concerned look on his face.

"Papa is Just as headstrong as you are but the holy Spirit isn't giving me a break right now"
he says smiling, the smile is quite infectious because I smile too,he starts pulling off papers and gets a black pen then starts writing,as he writes ,he continues

"Thank Jesus you are a christian,so it's not hard telling you to pray,so pray Ada, don't let the devil use any physical distraction to keep you rooted in his lies, believe God no matter what happens,he watches over your family so stay right there,you get?"

"Yes doctor"I reply

"Papa i nuru ihe doctor Phillip kwuru,si ne,oge a diro,si ne surgery hu,ha ga me ya ugbu a"(Papa you heard what the doctor said,that the surgery has to be done now)I told papa who eyes where shut,as if he where sleeping,he nods his head, gets up from the seat signifying that he is tired of the conversation, stretches his hand towards doctor Phillip,who gets up from his chair too, shakes Papa's hand firmly,he then pats me on the shoulder and moves to escort us out,I tell him not to worry but he does it anyways.

I take Papa home,he is quite all through the way home,as the weeks go by,he slacks on everything,even prayers,he doesn't want to have this conversation with me,but we have to discuss this issue now, at least if he gets his sight back maybe his moodiness would reduce,I miss the man who always had something to say to lighten every situation,he always tells us

'See this thing you are crying for would soon be an old story'

This phrase made us worry less of things that troubled us,he always encouraged us to trust God in every situation,thanking him for everything that happens good or bad,but now I can't believe he is the same person sitting slumped on the brown couch his legs joint together as if this where not his house.

I move over and sit close to him resting my head back,stretching my legs forward, I feel like a load is on me but I don't know what it is,im too tired to even cry,it feels like everything stopped then started sinking slowly,kachi then runs inside greets I and papa, Papa nods his head to his greeting, kachi,sits on Papa's laps,he then looks at me,he notices my mood at once and as usual tries to guess the reason,

"Sister Ada,I would start school next week so stop crying"

I look at him his hand fiddling with the over grown beard having spikes of grey on Papa's face,he thinks I'm bothered with the school thing, because I was really angry when we left his intended school on Friday,I kept whispering and hissing till we got home,how can a school be so disorganized and not communicate to the parents of the would be students if a planned meeting would not hold?

But the worries on my mind was pass Kings heritage and it's annoying and disorganized system.

"Where is Tobi?"I ask Kachi

"He went to play ball oh!"kachi replies"when the ball was coming bah" Kachi continues"he kick it and it fly he then fall down and injure his leg"kachi continues demonstrating and running round and round I can't even make sense of what he is saying.

I then notice Papa has slept off his lips parted a bit letting him snore.

I put his legs up the couch and pick his shoes and mine.

I do what I always do when times as tight as these comes,I read God's word that tells me am not alone,that I have no source of strength apart from my creator.

Late again 😑😑😑I Know I'm really sorry to all those who take time to read this story,may God bless and keep you safe forever.❤️❤️❤️