EPISODE 4 (Kasala don Burst)

EPISODE 4 (Kasala don Burst)

Mum received a message from Dad in the following week, saying he would not return as early as he'd promised.

I knew Mum would not want to hear that, she'd been lonely for days. Dad haven't went so long like that, the maximum he could was 1 or 2 days.

Mum would claim she wasn't hungry despite being a pest on Bioye to be quick with the dish after morning prayer. The money Dad gave her wasn't her problem, she had hers to spend. She was a Medical Specialist at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital. She was on two-month leave to take care of her family, (as she told me).

I found it hard to believe despite the oath sworn to leave families and attend to lives instantly. I couldn't ask if that was the real reason she requested for the leave because she obviously had no little baby to take care in the House.

Although, she wasn't the only Medical Specialist at the Hospital anyway, there were other Professionals. I have never thought in my life to be a Medical Doctor let alone spending the rest of my life in Hospital to smell those unattractive scents of drugs.

I studied Mechanical Engineering at University of Ibadan which I finished my Youth services 2 months ago. Bisola was a graduate 2 years back as a Student in Mathematics department in Lagos State University and she was already at one of the top Secondary Schools in Ekiti, teaching Mathematics. The School was on a week holiday before they would start coaching lesson; it was a private Institution.

“I need to develop my skills in teaching” She'd said to Mum when she says she don't want a Teacher in the family. She tell if she could not be a Scientist, she should be an architect. She wanted her to continue from where her Parents stopped.

Dad encouraged her anyway, he told her to be professional and some years to come, she would be a Senior Lecturer at a Prestigious University in Nigeria. Everyone knew Dad was also hoeing to his own side, his mother was a Village Teacher.

Bioye was still in school, a 200lv Medicine Student at Obafemi Awolowo University. She wanted to continue from where Mum would stop, she had been playing with needles and medical equipments when she was young. Her school authority had been on an indefinite strike for two months whereas, they needed to write second semester exam a week after the Students staged the protest.

I went for my course just because I wanted to be a Professional Mechanic. I don't want to be gasping for breath before I off my Coat and lie below my Car to give the fault its medicine. I had tried it with Mum's Car, I also removed tyre from the hub the day Dad travelled. I wasn't at work yet but, Dad promised to fix me in a slot he would get from his Company soon.

Mum was in the room at about 8:00am, she was still in bathrobe, sitting in bed, sticking her palms with her jaw. She placed her left leg on the bed and the right leg touching the tiled floor faintly; she wasn't that tall because the bed was about 2 feet tall.

She swept her palm on her loosen hair and yawned, letting her hand to form a punch in front of her widely opened mouth- I saw her through the open phase of the door's lock. Mum had never used an attachment, so as my Sisters.

She said the hairy coats were cut from the head of a monster. If it was true, that means the wife of our Reverend would also go to hell fire. And despite the fact that they didn't use it, their hairs were as long as something else.

I knocked by the door.

.

“Who's that?” She requested for identity with warmth voice. I didn't answer her till I pressed down the lock. She asked again loudly before I could appear in her sight. She calmed herself, places her right leg back on the bed and relaxed. I left the door ajar and moved towards her.

“Is that how you met it?” I went back with swag, knowing she would comment. I used a leg to close it, making it to create a harsh closure.

“Haha!” she rose from the bed, leaving unpleasant lines on her brow “Why that? Do you want to break it?- naughty boy” her statement carried less weight of anger and I smiled and plodded until I reached her.

“See how he is plodding” I didn't comment. I rather prostrated and greeted again.

“How was your night Dear?” I replied it was fine.

“Mum, why are you not out yet?” I asked, showing a little sign of concern and sat beside her. Mum didn't answer but caught her eyes staring at the asbestos. I looked at it also perhaps she was reading the text but, later discovered she just kept it steady.

“Do you sleep well Mum?” I asked again, getting myself deeper in the discourse. She didn't answer again, she rather turned her back to me and managed to stretch her hand on the stool beside the bed and took her phone.

“Read this text” She put the phone on my palm with less care. I looked with suspicion, wondering how she would give me the phone without her monitoring. Mum rarely give her phone to me, she would say I was pressing so hard.

“what's it Mum?” I asked back without looking at the screen.

“ I told you to do something and you're asking me question (hiss) that's why you students fail” She said with less anger as if she wasn't a student nor failed before.

 She had said she failed Mathematics at standard 5 which she had to repeat the Class. I dimpled my cheek, hung my head to the phone; it was a message from Dad.

“I am sorry for leaving you alone dear. It's all good here if not to say the opposite. I told you I will be back this week but, several meetings came up. I will be back anytime from next week. My regards to my gorgeous daughters and my intelligent Soldier.

All my love, ÀKÀNJÍ ÌKỌ́”

I squeezed the phone with fingers. I looked at the wall mirror in front of me and discovered Mum was within, monitoring me. She collected it roughly, telling me not to destroy it like I did to my previous phones. Dad knew Mum won't be happy if he'd called but all was good to me. At least, he kept her aware of his movements.

“Mum” I turned to her, she'd already married her chest with Dad's pillow. “Mum, you have to take heart...” She cuts in with an expression on her face that was too heavy to carry.

“Do I tell you something happened to him or don't you read it well?” lines of force displayed on her neck as she has diverted it to the general intuition. She thought I wished him bad luck but, never attempted to ask if I was also ready to lose my own Father.

“Sorry Mum.. I didn't..” She raised her hand to avoid further utterances.

“Has Bioye prepared the breakfast?” She asked in a low, calmed voice.

“Yes” I jogged, lifting my head high and low in a mini-fast speed as if I was beckoning someone to come. 

“ But, you woke her up around 6am that you're hungry. Why..” She didn't allow me finish my statement let alone the question I wanted to ask.

“I'm feeling hungry now. I feel like eating it here” I was surprised.

“Eh? What about on the dining table? At least, you are not a Patient in..” She cuts in again

“Do as I say (shrugs), like father like son” I chuckled.

“Mum..” trembles my finger at her as I stand “You're funny” I finally said and found the lost smile on her face. She dimpled her cheek and covered her teeth being exposed widely. She had a wider diastema (gap tooth),one of the reasons Dad preferred a kiss.

“But, I can take it here also” She looked at me fiercely. I rarely does that let alone serving food on the dinning table.

“You?” she traced a finger from my head to toe.

“Mum, stop that. I'm now a big boy” I managed to rebuke the embarrassment.

“Oh, I see” looks away and says silently in the same breath “Big boy with little senses”

“ha” I swallowed my words not knowing how to proceed. I should have accepted what she'd said earlier.

“See, what about Bisola?” I counted seconds and it reached 3 before I could reply.

“They've started the coaching today” It was a Monday. The lesson starts by 8:00am at the school.

“Oh,” she held her brow, facing down and gave me a signal to carry on but, she called me back on my attempt to open the door.

“Come here, where is Bioye?”

“She went to her friend's birthday party” I says.

She gently eased herself from the bed and mistakenly pressed her hand on the phone she left beside her but, lucky her that it wasn't her I-phone 14.

“You mean Bioye left this house without informing me? What got into her head?” I wished Bioye was there to answer the questions that weren't meant for me.

“Wait, what kind of cloth did she wear? That torn Trouser?” she had told them to stop wearing trousers, especially torn ones we call crazy jeans.'

“Maybe but, the one with swag”

“Tunji!” she raised her voice “ get your phone and call her to come back home now!”

Mum made me to feel somehow. Bioye had left about 7:00am and the time was 8:30. I doubt if she would still go back after changing her clothes.

"Mum, she had left.."

"Keep quite! Why would you allow your Sister to wear a torn trouser out of the house? Not even a normal one, a crazy jean! Is she a male and is she crazy? Tunji, do as I say. Call her now and tell her to meet me at home immediately.. Haha, what kind of rubbish is this?" She said as if someone else was with us.

I knew she was now serious about it, she could get me in the Car to drive her to the party. If only I could help her but, I have been too forward to tell her the name and the area that her friend lives.

Bioye had offended Mum in two ways. One, she didn't tell her before going out. Two, she wore a tattered trouser.

"I don't know what kind of an elder brother you are!" She says whilst I was checking my phone in my pocket. I was still wondering why she couldn't call her herself. At least, to hear the story rather than the report I would tell. I told Mum that I left it in my room.

“Make sure you come back and call her in my presence” She said to me as I left her room.

Besides, I didn't support her for not telling Mum before going out neither do I encourage her to wear such jean but, she'd told me it was the outfit they chose.

''Move closer to me and let me hear her voice" She ordered. I called, rang for three times but, she didn't respond.

"Really? Get the Car ready, you will take me to her friend's place" I was shocked. She didn't even allow me to say a word before she opened her wardrobe to change her dress. I doubt if Bioye would withstand such embarrassment.

"Get the car ready outside" She shouted at me before an attempt to render an accusing question and I moved out immediately.

Though, I tried to help her but, Mum overrode me. I didn't call her phone number. It was Bisola's second Phone(Nokia 1280) that she left at home I called. She didn't lock her room and I put the Phone on silent and changed the name of my Phone to Bioye to convince Mum.

But unfortunately, Kasala don burst, things have fallen apart for Bioye; even if she would fire me for not protecting her, my Creator and hers were witnesses.

TO BE CONT'D