Last time on I RAN, I stopped at the
point when my pop insisted we go to my school together to pick my report sheet
and I composed a runaway letter…now seat back as I unfold the rest of the
story
.
I couldn’t
sleep that night; my eyes were wide opened, and my heart beating to every
second that ticked. My mind was flooded
with different thoughts. I looked at
the naive sleeping faces of my siblings who had no inkling of what I was up to. This room is our haven where we initiated our
bond hence it’s sacred.
For a moment,
I thought about confiding in my elder sister whom I felt should have a better understanding
and advise me accordingly, but then I remembered how edgy she could be, she’s
an alarmist, and would publicize the news like a native town crier even at the
dead of the night. I heaved a heavy
sigh, God was the last option, I prayed fervently and recited all the verses I
knew for a miracle but I guess my faith wasn’t strong enough as I assumed my
prayers would prove abortive and eventually the worst thoughts came.
When the day
broke, pop came to our room to wake me up and reminded me of our outing, I heard
him but pretended to be asleep. I dawdled to the bathroom, the sponge was rather
heavy and the water suddenly felt like melting ice, it was so sad on me that I
wasn’t just deceiving my folks but also myself. I wish the drama could end with
just a smash of my head on the walls…nah, I wasn’t considering suicide. Ola!! Jade ooooo!!! (Ola come out of the
bathroom) pop screamed, apparently I had spent longer time in there, I picked
up my towel and hopped out within the split of a second.
The dinning
was set, I joined dad for a fast breakfast, I wasn’t hungry, it took a lot of
shout from mum for me to put some slices of bread through my throat, I wasn’t
just in for this. Then the bell struck, my brother reached for the door and it
was Mrs. Kasunmu crying uncontrollably with blood dripping from her forehead
and ankle. I wasn’t really surprised
though, she has always suffered battering from her irresponsible husband, the
drunken husband bonces on his wife each time she complained about his
negligence. Her experience prompted me to shun alcohol but trust me, that’s a
herculean task in this time.
Mum rushed to
Mrs. Kasunmu and consoled her, while she narrated the events that led to the
lashing; Mrs. Shobowale finally resolved to leave the marriage within
24hrs. My mum was infuriated and couldn’t help hurling insults at the absent
husband. Pop being the wise man he is reassured Mrs. Shobowale he would take charge of the situation. My Dad isn’t
just the estate chairman but also the peace maker, we’ve always advised him to
extend his selfless services to political quarters.
Pop asked me
to wait for him as they all went (mum inclusive) while my brothers and sister
were ready for their summer classes, I gladly shut the door as the last feet
stepped out.
Now it’s
Ola’s world, then I needed to plan my move well. Yes! Izu Edet came to mind, he was a friend
in school who always boasted about his wealthy father. He was one of those who
claimed to have a street in London, lived in a Nigerian-Buckingham palace &
could feed an entire community. Despite his father’s acclaimed riches, Izu would
go on to bring the most admired game, Game Boy, to school for rentals. He
charged N5 per 30minutes, and he gained the respect he wanted. So I decided to leave for Izu’s house (which
I have never been to before) but not until I had written my runaway letter:
“Dad and Mum, I’m sorry that I failed my promotional
exams and I was advised to repeat, which I will never do. I have decided to run
away and you might be lucky to meet me alive”….. Bye – Olamide
I wrote this
with tears in my eyes, I carefully pasted it with some rolls of eba on the
entrance to the children’s room. I ran again to the kitchen to take some raw
plantain and butter for survival and I fled. I looked back at my house after a
few distance and l wandered the drama that would be staged later. I imagined
how mum tearing apart when she receives the news, the furiousness and shock on
dad’s face, and how the neighbors’ reaction to the news. I was bold enough to
take my mind off the implications and hit the road, but then I meet the shocker
of my life….. Watch out
Its
Bellz
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