SPEECHLESSNESS
EPISODE 2
“Mu… M!!,you scared me!!!! ” he stuttered amidst fear
“George, why are you still up at this hour of the day? “she asked with a perplexed look
He took a closer look at his mother, her dressing shows she’s just returning from the office.
” Mum dont tell me you’re just returning from the office? “He asked her with a concerned look
“Yes dear, we just finished an important meeting with our investors,”
“I’m sorry I didn’t check up on you, i retired to my room early cause I needed to wake up in the middle of the night to read and where’s dad? Is he not supposed to be with you?”
”He went to drop off someone, he’ll soon be back“ she said yawning tirelessly
”Ooooh mum, you must be tired and hungry, let’s go to the kitchen and prepare something to eat“ he told his mum
She dropped her handbag on the sofa and removed her shoes, she saw her food in the Microwave and warmed it, George made a cold tea and they went to the dinning to eat,he watched his mother eat hungrily.
”Mum, cant you quit working with dad, he can easily open another business for you, a business that won’t keep you out late at night, I know Mirabel must have slept off while waiting for you, I dont know why dad is not complaining, ok, just check the time you returned home, what if something bad had happened to you on your way home,but mum, daddy can handle the company, Must you be there?“ he lamented
”Hahaha, it’s not as easy as you think, just let sleeping dog lie, i promise to make out time to spend with you and your sister, i’ll make it up to you”
She pecked him and he smiled sheepishly
“So tell me how you’re preparing for your WAEC”
“I’m leaving no stone unturned,dont you trust your son? “he winked at his mother
” I trust you love, so what were you doing in the sitting room alone? ”
“Mum,our neighbours were at it again tonight, they disturbed my reading, so i came down to get a cold tea, but the noise suddenly dwindled, seems they have gone to bed”
”As i was driving into the compound, i heard their gate open, and they zoomed off almost immediately
“i pray all is well with them”
“So, have you been able to convince your sister to accept being moved to a boarding school? “she asked him changing the topic
” She still doesn’t want to hear about it,mum why dont you allow her attend her school from home ”
” When you leave for the University, there will be no one here to take care of her, i cant leave her under the care of a maid. Pls talk to her, you know how busy your dad and i are, i wont always be around when she needs me”
“Thank God i’m grown, at least i can take care of myself, i’m happy that no matter how busy you seem to be, you always make it up to us,… I’m happy we’re one small happy family,we understand each other very well, So mum where will we spend this year’s Xmas? ”
” I think Kenya, I want to tour round Africa, ”
” Kenya?, mummy please dont do that to me, thought i heard you say London”
“But i changed my mind”
As they were arguing on the country to visit, the front door opened and his dad walked into the sitting room looking tired and worn out,
“Good morning dad”he greeted him
“Morning George, why are you still up at this hour of the morning, “he asked looking surprised
His wife stood up and gave him a kiss
” Sweet heart, i was beginning to get scared, have a seat let me get your food, “she said removing his suit
She served him his food and they ate happily talking about the meeting they just had, George admired his parents affection for each other,. He loves his family so much and wishes no harm will befall them, he gulped down his tea and hurried back to his room to sleep to avoid being late for school.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The knock on his door woke him, he lazily opened his eyes and glanced at his alarm clock, it was 5.25am, he dragged himself out of bed, he cursed his alarm clock under his breath for failing to wake him up on time,
“It’s time for morning devotion, everyone is waiting for you,” Mirabel informed him
It’s a tradition for the Ufomba’s family to always pray together in the morning before leaving the house. Every member of the family including the house girl and driver partakes in the devotion,they lead the devotion in turn,George sighed remembering it was his turn to lead in the devotion, he quickly rinsed his face and rushed downstairs with his bible, he greeted everyone and led in praises, after that he led them in worship, then he said a short prayer before reading out a verse in the Bible, he spent ten minutes explaining the verse, then said the final prayer and everyone retired to their respective rooms to get ready for the day’s event .
George bathed and got ready for school, he went downstairs to have his breakfast with his sister,he met his sister already waiting for him at the dining, he patted her on the back and took his seat, their mother served their breakfast and watched them eat,
“Son i enjoyed your preaching this morning, you’re really doing great”his mother praised him
“Thank you mum,”
“You were speaking like a real man of God, and i was touched ”
” Thanks mum, “he said blushing
”Mummy, dont worry, when it’s my turn to lead in devotion, you ‘ll enjoy my preaching more than his”Mirabel chipped in
“Hmmmmm, see my children turning to evangelists o, eat up you’re almost late for school”
“What about you mum, aren’t you going to the office today,? “George asked his mother
”I’m taking a break today, i’ll pick you up from school, i want to prepare something special for you and your sis to make up for yesterday ”
”I love you mum, you‘re the best mum in the world, “Mirabel screamed pecking her
The honk of the horn made them realize that the driver was waiting for them
”I love you too kids, now get going the driver is waiting ”
They picked their school bags and left.
******************
Debbie had a warm bath and got ready for school, she came downstairs to have her breakfast only to meet everywhere quiet,… She checked the kitchen and there was no sign of the cook.
She clutched onto her grumbling stomach and called out their cook,
“Nkeiru!, Nkeiru!!!!!!! ”
The cook ran out of her room looking exhausted.
”Small madam, good morning“ she greeted
”Why is breakfast not yet ready, or do you want those wild school functionaries to devour my meat this morning for lateness, and where’s Thelma? Where’re my parents, why is everywhere quiet” she queried the cook
“Small madam I’m sorry, I just returned from the hospital”
“Hospital?, what did you go there for?, are you sick? ”
”No ma, it’s your sister Thelma, her head was broken last night by your parents, the doctor said she’s fine and would be discharged later in the evening
“And no one informed me?”
“I knocked at your door but you didn’t open it, let me quickly rush and prepare breakfast for you”
“Ooh pls forget it, I’ll eat at the school cafeteria, hope the driver is around, or is he also at the hospital? ” she snapped at the cook
”Yes, he’s around, he’s waiting for you”
She carried her school bag and was about leaving when her parents walked in looking worn out.
“Morning sweetie “her mother greeted her pretending nothing happened.
She gave her mother a stern look
”Just pray nothing happens to Thelma!!!!”
She threw her face at her parents and brushed passed them
”Titus!, come and take me out of here, I need some fresh air” she ordered the driver.
In few seconds they were on their way to her school.
******************
“The out going prefect of the school will deliver his final speech today, The school principal, the vice principal, teachers and my fellow students permit me to welcome on stage, Senior Ufomba George!!!!! Heads were rolling, all the girls were drooling, the tall, fair, handsome and intelligent senior prefect walked to the stage filled with confidence, he knows the effect of his charisma on the students especially the female students, but he swore never to date either of them, Mirabel and her friends were screaming on ecstacy,
He gracefully walked up the stage, he greeted everyone and gave his speech, he thanked them for the wonderful time he spent with them in school, he also gave the students some words of advise, there was resounding ovation in the hall as he descended the stage.
“I’m proud of you, George” his Chemistry teacher praised him
“Thank you sir”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
His mum arrived before the dismissal time, she waited patiently for them before they came to meet her, she drove them to an eatery, where they bought ice cream and shawarma before heading home to devour the delicious meal prepared by their mum.
*************
Debbie was restless in school, she was tired of everyone asking for her sister, she felt bad for her,she begged the driver to take her to the hospital to see her before driving home.
She got to the hospital only to be informed that her sister has been discharged, she was angry with the driver for intentionally allowing her waste her time coming to the hospital knowing Thelma have been discharged.
“Why didn’t you tell me she has been discharged?“ she asked him looking furious
” I didnt know she was discharged, maybe they used the other car
“Please take me home”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
She ran to her sister’s room to check on her only to meet an empty room, she was on her way to her room to shower and have a change of cloth when she bumped into her mum.
“Sweetie, I’m sorry for what happened last night, it wasn’t intentional, i’m on my way to pick your sister from the hospital, we will talk about this when I return ”
”To pick who? the doctor said she has been discharged, ”
”What?, who picked her up?“ she asked no one in particular
She called the doctor who told her that her daughter was discharged in the afternoon, and she left claiming they boarded a taxi for her.
”Doctor you have killed me!!!, my daughter have been kidnapped, I’m dead oooo ” she cried over the phone
”Calm down madam, this is not the first time she visited the hospital, she comes here alone sometimes when she’s sick and you’re not around, she knows her way around“ the doctor tried to calm her down
”You said you discharged her this afternoon and she’s not yet home, doctor, my daughter has been kidnapped!!!!“ she said cutting the phone
Debbie who was tired of her mother’s drama leaned on the wall waiting for her to end the call.
”Mum, where‘s Thelma? “Debbie asked
”Aaaah, your sister is missing oo, I’m finished “she said rushing out of the house, she entered her car and zoomed off.
”I knew this girl was planning something all along, running away from home is not the end of our family problem, anyway that serves them right, they will spend time searching for her, at least there will be no fighting for today, i pray nothing happens to my secretive sister. “she muttered to herself.
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