"Aunty Chichi, it wouldn't be entirely easy to leave my mom here and stay with you" I explained to my mom's sister over the phone that Monday evening. I was at the meshai stand, waiting my turn while talking with my aunty.
"Mirabel, I am proud of you," she told me, "In fact, I have never been disappointed in you. I am proud that despite the sudden greyness of your mom..."
Now that's euphemism I have been looking for!
"...you still want to stay till she's colorful again," she continued. "You won't completely leave her. You would tell her you have to go to boarding school" she told me.
I bit my lip.
Can she cope being separate from me?
"Miracle our sister had to leave for boarding school one time so it is like reliving her past and you told me the doctor said it would help her heal"
"Yes. I did"
"So every Saturday, I will let you go and see her. Before you leave, you will stock the fridge and give her time table. She was messy when she was a baby"
I giggled then my eyes stung.
No! No more tears!
"So what do you say?"
"Ma, em, what about school?"
"You will continue going to your school"
"Okay!" I breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm sure you're excited" she said.
"By God's grace" I assured her.
"Wonderful! So when are you coming over?"
I bit my lips.
"Ma, by em Friday...this week"
"Perfect!"
***
My mom watched me pack my things Thursday evening
"Do you have to go?"
I must say, I had gotten used to her so I wasn't at all scared of her hurting me or scattering the place because I was leaving. I had learnt what to say to her and how to say it.
"Janet, it's not my fault. Daddy said I am not being serious with my academics so I have to go to boarding school"
That was Aunty Chichi's lie there. She told me it was what happened that made Aunty Miracle go for boarding school so it was ninety nine per cent the truth.
I looked up and caught my mom staring at me. She seemed lost.
"Janet!" I whispered.
She revived with a shiver and shook her head with her eyes closed as if she was trying to remove an image from her mind. I just stood and watched her confused.
***
The next day, myself and my principal saw during lunch break.
"Have you found a relative you can stay with till your mother gets better?"
How will she get better without me?
"Mirabel?"
"Huh..." I responded with a sudden shake.
"This is why I said you need to stay with a relative. You've not been sleeping well"
YOU ARE READING
Handling Grief
Teen Fiction"Leave me alone, Dianne!" I protested, shaking my cousin's hand off my shoulder. "Mirabel, I'm only trying to help. Think about it na. Your dad is dead and your mother is insane...!" "...my mother is not insane...!" I screamed at her, raising my pre...
