Jailbird
Episode 18
The Commander points in the direction of Chris, and then he turns
and looks Effe, who is holding the hand of Junior and has a
shocked expression on her face.
Junior sees his father, and he drops his mother’s hand and
screams.
JUNIOR
DAAAADDYYYYY!
Chris turns, surprised.
Eyram’s arms drop, and she steps back quickly.
She watches as Chris rushes forward, drops to his knees, and
catches his son in a fierce embrace.
Across the bodies of father and son, the two sisters look at each
other.
Effe has deep surprise on her face as she sees the traces of tears on
the cheeks of her sister.
Eyram’s face only holds sad resignation.
Chris stands up and grins down at his son.
Junior grins back at him, and as the two sisters look at them they
marvel at just how much they resemble each other.
Junior is holding unto his blue piggy bank.
He extends it to his father.
JUNIOR
(proudly)
I saved some money for you, Daddy. It’s all in here. You can
have it.
Chris tussles his son’s hair. He is very touched, and for a moment
he is unable to speak.
He puts his arm around his son’s shoulders.
CHRIS
(tenderly)
Listen, Champ. I’ll need that money, but right now I have to
look for a job to do. Tell you what, as soon as I pin something
down, I’ll let you know, and then you can loan me your money.
Junior looks shattered. His whole face collapses, and for a moment
it looks like he is going to cry.
JUNIOR
(voice trembling)
But you gave all your money as offering, Daddy. I really, really,
really wants you to have this, Daddy.
They stare at each other. Chris reaches out and takes the piggy
bank, and he sighs deeply at the depths of the strong emotions
buffeting him.
CHRIS
(softly)
Thanks, Champ. I love you.
JUNIOR
(smiling, tears in his eyes)
I love you very much, Daddy.
They embrace tightly.
Effe sighs tremulously and looks at Eyram, who has tears in her
eyes.
EFFE
(calmly)
So you came to bail him, just like you said you would.
EYRAM
(softly)
I didn’t have to bail him, Ef.
EFFE
(raising her eyebrows)
And why’s that?
EYRAM
You didn’t hear? The girl retracted her story. She says she lied.
She admitted she had a little fight with Chris, and then she lost
her footing and fell into the glass. She now says Chris saved her
life.
Effe stares at Chris, then at Eyram, and her eyes narrow. She
shakes her head numbly.
EFFE
But it doesn’t up. Chris was also hurt. Has she changed her story
simply because she’s scared of-
She stops because Chris has turned, and has fixed her with his very
cold eyes.
CHRIS
Scared of what, Effe?
His voice is bitter, and filled with such pain that for a moment Effe
cannot speak.
She looks dejectedly at her son and former husband, and feels the
sting of their accusing eyes.
EFFE
(firmly)
I’ve never hidden my feelings from you, Chris. Maybe Baaba just
doesn’t want to drag the issue.
CHRIS
(nodding sadly)
So, you still believe I tried to do her harm, don’t you?
EYRAM
(softly)
Actually, Ef, Baaba told me this morning that I should tell Chris
to come and visit her, because she has missed him so much. She is
also sorry for telling lies about him. Do you think a girl who has
been subjected to the trauma of near-r@pe, would say such things to
her attacker? There’s something wrong with Baaba, I’ve been
watching her at church….she’s definitely a weird one.
CHRIS
(sadly)
Don’t waste your breath, Eyram. Your sister will never believe in
me!
Effe’s defences come up, and she glares at him defiantly through
the sharp pain his words has opened in her heart.
She detests the fact that she suddenly feels so guilty.
She remembers how she had behaved at the hospital when she heard
the police were coming for Chris.
To be told that Chris is innocent of the crime is really hurting her.
She feels so terrible.
EFFE
(furiously)
And do you blame me, Chris Bawa? Do you blame me for doubting
you, for thinking bad of you?
Junior reaches out and holds his father’s big middle finger.
He stands beside him, and looks at his mother with hurt eyes, and
slowly the words die from Effe’s lips.
She is aware that she is incurring the displeasure of her son, and
that stops her tirade.
CHRIS
I’ve to go, Eyram. Thank you very much.
Junior tugs at his father’s hand, and Chris looks down at him.
JUNIOR
(earnestly)
We’re on vacation now, Daddy. Mommy says I can spend some
time with you, please.
Chris sighs deeply, and his eyes are troubled.
CHRIS
(tenderly)
I know, Champ. I also want to be with you, but right now I have
no job, and no place to stay. Let me try to fix that, and then we
can spend some time together, okay?
Junior nods, and even though tears come into his eyes, he smiles
bravely and hugs his father.
EYRAM
(hurriedly)
That’s one of the reasons I came here, Chris. The hospital has
accommodation for its doctors. My bungalow is huge, and it has a
two-bedroom Boys’ Quarters which is empty. You can stay there
until you sort yourself out.
Junior does not notice the sudden tension that has come between
the adults.
He lets out a cry of happiness and suddenly rushes forward and hugs
his aunty, his face alight with incredible happiness.
JUNIOR
(extremely excited)
Really? Really, really, really, truth-truth really, Aunt Eyram?
You will give my Daddy a place to stay?
Eyram ignores Effe’s stunned and frantic eyes and smiles down wanly
at her nephew.
EYRAM
Really truth-truth really, my dearest Junior. But I don’t think
your Daddy wants to accept it.
CHRIS
(uneasily)
Well, I need to-
JUNIOR
(breaking in)
Oh, Daddy! Say yes, yes, YES! It’s not far from our place! If
you stay there I can spend more time with you! I can even sleep
over, Daddy. Say yes, please, please, pleeaaaase!!
Chris looks unhappily at Eyram. He is reluctant to stay with her,
especially with Effe looking so furious all of a sudden.
However, he can’t deny the fact that he doesn’t have anywhere to
stay, and that he has no money and no possessions.
A place where he can lay his head and see his son regularly is
really appealing, and reluctantly he accepts.
CHRIS
This is what we’ll do. We’ll all go over and look at it, Champ. If
you like it and I like it, then I’ll accept it!
JUNIOR
(excited)
Alright, let’s go! Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, Aunt
Eyram! Let’s go, come on! Mommy’s car is outside, Daddy.
Let’s go sit in it! She’ll take us.
He pulls Chris’ hand and drags him towards the entrance.
Chris stops and shakes his head gently.
CHRIS
I’ll ride in Eyram’s car, Champ, if you don’t mind.
JUNIOR
But I want to sit with you! Okay, I’ll go in Aunt Eyram’s car
too! Mommy, can I sit with Daddy?
Effe has to drag herself almost physically to the present.
Things are happening like a whirlwind, and
she is being s—-d along against the tide!
Her desperate eyes search Eyram’s face frantically.
Before she can speak Junior reaches out, grabs Eyram’s car keys,
presses the right button on the remote control, and the car beeps as
the doors unlock.
Junior opens one of the back doors and quickly scrambles inside,
dragging his father in.
The two sisters are temporarily alone.
EfFE
(earnestly)
My God, Rammy! What the hell do you think you’re doing?
Eyram looks calmly at her sister.
EYRAM
Giving the father of your son a place to stay, Ef.
EFFE
And when did you arrive at this grand idea, Rammy? Don’t tell
me it was just now, because I know you! You took a decision like
that and you couldn’t communicate it to me last night? What’s
going on, Rammy?
Eyram moves close to her sister.
EYRAM
What’s the fuss about, Ef? He’s your ex-husband. He’s been in
prison. He’s the father of your son. You’ve left him, his family
has abandoned him. Society calls him The Beast now, thanks to
your aggrieved bridesmaid. He has no money, no work, no place to
live, nothing! That Baaba girl just falsely accused him, and he
could’ve been in serious trouble if she hasn’t told the truth. He’s
all alone, Ef! The father of your son is all alone and despised,
even by you! Is it a sin to help him, Ef? This is not you!
That brings tears to Effe’s eyes.
She looks away, and for a moment she can’t speak.
Junior opens the door a crack.
JUNIOR
Auntieeeeeee! Let’s goooooo!!
Wordlessly Eyram turns and enters her car.
She drives out of the parking lot.
JAILBIRD continues
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