Daddy's little Secret

part TWO

Funeral.

It was 3:43pm when Fola got the call that her sister had died. She was on a queue at Bobby's, the most popular cafeteria in school, when some unsaved number had called her. It was quite unfortunate.

She was asked if she knew who Miss Dara Williams was and to establish her relationship to her. The confusion and shock, the unwillingness to accept that the death that occurred was her sister's. Fola doesn't remember if she fell onto the tiled floors with a thud or if she fell slowly, holding unto nearby tables and chairs for support.

It was ungraceful, a nasty sight to see, there at the cafeteria as she collapsed. She was asked to come in as soon as she could so that she could identify her sister's body, as Dara used to be all that she had left. The policeman on the phone was quick and to the point, the call ended with an "I'm sorry for your loss".

It was the third time in her life that she'd heard those words.

Students gaped and watched the unpleasant scene unfold, most of them gathered around to see if Fola was dead even. The pain that coursed through her body, so physical and heart wrenching, it was too much for her to deal. Never had she imagined, that at 20, she would have no nuclear family members left.

The tears didn't come until at Dara's funeral. Dara's boyfriend was at the middle of reading the eulogy he'd written when Fola had burst into tears.

"...and we all know how hot-tempered Dara was," he had paused as the people around chuckled lightly and smiled. "She was never slow to letting people knew what she thought of them. And in as much as she didn't always have the best words, she was the most transparent person I had ever known."

They buried her the week after Fola had been informed of her death. Unable to imagine how she would afford to make any preparations, talk less of actually making plans, Fola felt helpless till Wale insisted that he handled all the finances and arrangements.

If one would choose to think that Fola's aunts and uncles would step in and take care of all the necessary affairs pertaining to Dara's burial, one would be shamed. Their so-called family didn't try to put any things together.

Dara's coffin was laid into the earth and everyone said their goodbyes to her. If not for Wale, Fola may have gotten into the coffin with her sister. Relatives that hadn't bothered to take responsibility, that Fola hadn't seen since her father's burial, came to honour Dara's demise. All telling her how sorry they were and how they prayed for God to be her comforter.

Physically, Fola stood and existed for some time. Most times, her mind wandered off into deep thoughts and daytime nightmares. The hugs and embraces, countless as they were, she didn't even feel. She itched for the nightmare to be over and for her to go home and meet her sister watching tv or making some jollof rice.

Amidst the cries and despair, there was something off about the state of things. Fola started to feel it in her gut when the funeral was over. One man, who appeared to be around six feet and was dressed in a black shirt and a pair of jeans, never came over to offer his condolences.

He even looked very shady, literally, he'd had these really dark shades on. And even though she didn't want to, Fola had noticed him at the beginning of the funeral standing afar off next to a small car. When the funeral was over, he didn't leave, not even when all of Fola's extended family had left for their vehicles so she could be alone with her sister's grave.

Fola turned to Wale, the only man Dara had ever loved whilst she lived, he was a few feet away - trying to mask his wet eyes. She motioned for him to come nearer.

"Are you okay?" He asked immediately. "What do you need?"

Fola placed her hand gently on his forearm and spoke into the ear closest to her. "There's a man over there, he seems very suspicious."

Wale, suddenly eager to see who the possible threat was, turned his head to each side, trying to see for himself who this strange man was.

Fola who was scared, shouted in a whisper. "Do it small small ah."

Wale apologized and did as she asked. When he eventually got to see, the strange man swiftly entered into his car and left the area.

"Wale, did you see who it was?" Fola asked, panicking.

"I saw his face but not completely," his face twisted into one of confusion. "But I saw enough to know that I don't know him."

Fola who had been clutching unto Wale's arm, let go and failed to conceal her fear. "Wale ooo, what's all this one now? Are we safe? Abi, do you think Dara knew him?"

Wale started to calm her down and tried putting pieces together in his mind, but nothing fit. "See, don't panic. Especially not now. I'm sure he was one of her friends from school, maybe he was too shy to come over or even, too sad."

"Are you sure? That man did not look like any of her friends that I know."

"Yes I'm sure. Maybe it's that Jeffrey guy she met in her final year, the one she was always saying stopped speaking to her?"

"Okay okay." Fola began to calm down. "Let's just leave this place, o kan mi o bale."

"Yeah sure." Wale led her to the parking area, into the white bus that had brought them to the funeral. Seated, he said to her, "Don't worry, you're safe." He knew Fola was still thinking of the man, the distress was all over her face.

"That man was probably nobody dangerous. I'm sure he was Dara's friend."

Fola nodded to his words of assurance but she didn't know Wale had lied.