TRAPPED Episode 2 – Evelyn Ivie Ojo
Mama was my world, she meant everything to me. She taught me virtually everything I knew. I was the first out of her four children. Not minding the fact that I was a boy child, she taught me how to cook and even tidy up properly. She was an auditor in Delta State Hospitals Board. If she had decided to leave Papa, she would have been able to take care of us because she earned quite enough to take care of me and my siblings.
As for Papa, he was a manager in one of the oil companies in Warri. I would have hated him if not for Mama. He was never there for us; always very distant from his children. A perpetual night crawler, that would want Mama to stay awake till he gets back home. He was greatly feared by Mama. He had his own special chair where no one ever sat on.
No one could talk freely when he was home including Mama. He stopped her from making friends even though he had a lot of friends because he felt they would influence her negatively. I never saw Mama complain; she did everything he commanded. He would always raise his voice each time he spoke to her.
I eventually became Mama’s best friend as I grew up. I went with her to the market every Saturday. We would cook together, wash cloths together and tidy up the house together. Mama taught me how to sing and she loved God deeply. Everyone in our church and neighbourhood loved Mama because she was kind-hearted. She would give to those in need both in church and outside church. Mama was as harmless as a dove; very easy going. She never wore what she was passing through in her home on her face; always smiling.
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It was a Sunday afternoon, papa’s friend Mr Peter had come to visit him. I was cleaning the bookshelf in the sitting room. Mama served them rice and stew and went back to the kitchen.
“Onome …..Onome….” Papa called Mama angrily
Mama quickly rushed to the sitting room.
“Why is there no salt in this rice?” Papa asked as he scooped out some portion for her to taste.
“Efe there is salt in this rice now….e be like say your tongue nor dey work again…Onome don’t mind him…please go and continue with what you were doing” Mr Peter said frowning at Papa’s complain
As Mama turned to take her leave, Papa pulled her back roughly.
“Did I tell you to go, who called you here, me or my friend?” Papa yelled
Mr Peter’s eyes widened in shock; he was speechless.
“So-so-rry Papa David, I thought you were done” Mama stuttered in fear.
“Keep your sorry to yourself, just go please”
Mama finally left for the kitchen as Mr Peter watched in amazement.
“Efe what was all that about?” Mr Peter managed to ask Papa
“Nothing, didn’t you see she was disrespectful”
“No, she wasn’t”
“She shouldn’t have left when I had not permitted her to”
“Don’t tell me you are playing African Lord in your house with all your exposure and education”
“Please I am an African man. As an African Man, you must discipline your wife”
“Common Efe, your wife is to be loved and not to be disciplined, the bible says so”
“Who told you I don’t love my wife”
“It’s obvious you don’t with what I just saw”
“Peter please; don’t teach me how to run my home ” Papa said frowning.
I was shocked to find Mama’s car parked in the compound when I got back from school with my siblings around 2:30pm. I attended the same school with my other siblings. The school had both primary and secondary school. I was already in SS2; the youngest in my class. My education was quite fast because of how intelligent I was. Our usual routine was for me to return home with my siblings after school. I would heat up food for them and ensured they did their homework. We never had any house help; Mama did everything herself with my little help.
Mama’s closing time was 4:00pm and she usually got home around 4:35pm. I was curious to know why she got back home that early. A part of me was happy because I actually loved having Mama around. The entrance door was not locked; we entered the house and found Mama lying on the sofa in the sitting room. When I saw the huge blanket she covered herself with, I immediately knew something was wrong.
With an alarmed look, I greeted her as my younger ones jumped on her with excitement. Her voice was a bit shaky and slow as she welcomed us. She got up and sat on the sofa. As she unbuttoned my 7 years old younger brother’s shirt, I noticed her hands were not steady. I could not bear it any longer; I had to ask Mama if she was okay.
“David, you can behave like an adult…I’m okay my son…I prepared delicious jollof rice for you people…lets go to the kitchen” Mama said struggling to sound firm.
“Jollof rice….” My younger ones screamed excitedly
She got up from the sofa and made an attempt to move. As she took the first step, she staggered and fell. I quickly rushed to lift her up. The excitement on my siblings’ faces turned to confusion.
“Mummy sorry…” we all chorused
“David give me my phone I need to call your father…I am not feeling fine” That confirmed my curiosity.
I fetched her phone and gave it to her. Still shaking she dialed Papa’s number. The call was on speaker.
“Good afternoon Papa David”
“Afternoon….what is it”
“I am feeling very sick…I need to go to the hospital please”
“Onome go to the hospital, I am not the doctor that will attend to you there….stop behaving like a child …I am very busy at work and you know that” He ended the call immediately.
Mama was taken aback by his reply. She asked me to call our neighbour Mama Fejiro.
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Mama Fejiro’s younger brother drove Mama to the hospital in Mama’s car. Mama was too weak to drive. Mama called her younger sister to meet her up at the hospital while I was asked to stay back with my younger ones.
As usual, Papa got back home very late; 11:45pm to be precise. His closing time was 5:00pm but he never got back home earlier than 11:00pm.
“Daddy Migwo” I greeted him
“Vrendo…where is your mother?”
“She’s at the hospital”
“Hospital, she has not come back since then…is it that serious”
He asked rhetorically.
As I returned to my room, I heard him talking to Mama on the phone. He promised he would see her the next day.
#OpraDre TRAPPED TRAPPED TRAPPED TRAPPED TRAPPED TRAPPED TRAPPED TRAPPED TRAPPED TRAPPED
TO BE CONTINUED…
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Written by Evelyn Ivie Ojo
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