THIRD PARTY IN MARRIAGE
EPISODE 21
Ever since they got back from Abeokuta, Annie refused to talk to anyone. She became sullen and withdrawn overnight. The cries of the boy kept ringing in her head, his agonized gaze as he looked up at her. She felt like she could almost feel all the hurts he had passed through in his short life on earth. She wanted to go back there so much but there was no one to take her, which saddened her so much.
Paul: “Annie, we are going to see that boy tomorrow which is Saturday. Will you like to go with us?” he said that morning as they were preparing for work while prepared for school.
Annie: “Yeeeees! She said jumping up excitedly. “let’s get him plenty gifts, I will give him all my toys even Elsa”
Paul: “You like him that much?”
Annie: “Yes I like him very much, he looks as if he is my brother”
Paul: “Really? Brother from another planet heart right?” he teased her.
Ralph: “Looks like someone is back. Welcome back baby, we missed you” he said pecking her on the cheek with the foamy teeth paste in his mouth.
Annie: “Uhnnn! 1 st daddy, you are dirty” she said using her towel to clean her cheek.
===
At the hospital, The POP on his leg had been removed while some of the bandages still remained. He kept thinking about the girl who had saved him. She looked exactly the same age as his Annie, for this one fact, he wanted to see her so much. As he was thinking, he heard shuffling of legs outside, he looked sideways and there she was, standing right there grinning gleefully.
Annie: “Oh my God! You look better friend. Thank God He answered my prayers” she said walking towards him slowly afraid that if she walked fast, she will find out that it’s all a dream anyway.
Sammy: “So you’ve been praying for me?” he said sitting up.
Annie: “Of course! Meet my three dads. This 1st dad, 2nd dad and 3rd dad” he said pointing at them one after the other.
Sammy: “1st dad, 2nd dad, 3rd dad? Are those their names? How is it that you have three dad? What of your mum?” he asked after he had nodded greeting to the three dudes standing like her body guard.
Annie: “They refused to tell me where she is. What about you? But what is your name? I don’t even know your name”
Sammy: “My name is Samson but everybody calls me Sammy. What about you?”
Annie: “My name is Annie…”
Sammy: “Annie…?” his eyes almost popped out of their bruised sockets.
Annie: “What happened Sammy? Why did you shout?”
Sammy: “It’s nothing, what is your full name?” he asked hopefully.
Annie: “Annabelle”
Sammy: “Oh I see! It’s not Anita? Oh that’s fine”
Paul: “Is something wrong young champ? You look pale” he asked with concern registering in his voice and face.
Sammy: “Nothing really, just that she reminds me of my sister who was snatched from my arms some years back”
The three men exchanged looks.
Ralph: “What was her name?”
Sammy: “Her name was Anita but we called her Annie” he said looking so downcast.
They exchanged confused looks again.
Ralph: “Do you still remember the date it happened? How old was she?”
Sammy: “That was one day I have inscribed into my memory. It happened on the 14th of March, 2011 around past 10p.m at night. We haven’t found her till now, not even her dead body. It was as if she vanished into thin air. Meanwhile she was just three months old” he had tears in his eyes when he was done with his narration.
Dickson: “Oh my God! How many were the men who had snatched her from you?”
Sammy: “They were two on a bike”
Ralph: “Let me see you guys” he said walking away from Sammy’s ward into the corridor while his friends followed suite.
Paul: “Are guys thinking the same thing I am thinking?”
Dickson: “I am short of words right now, I don’t think I can even breathe. Those two seem to be siblings, oh my God!” he said using his hand to fan himself.
Ralph: “Let’s not jump into conclusion yet, it might just be one big coincidence. We cannot take everything hook, line and sinker just yet. We need more proof”
Paul: “You are right. I absolutely agree with you” he nodded his head in agreement.
Dickson: “What other proof do you need? Annie was like three months when we found her, there were two men with a bike parked beside them. As if that is not enough, we found her on the 15th of March. I noticed the striking resemblance between them though but I thought it was just a coincidence. Annie must be the missing sister he is so longing to see again. We cannot just close our eyes to this just because we are afraid of losing her”
Ralph: “You are right too though but we still need more proof and until I have it, I will not release her to anybody” he said, walked back to the ward and met the two of them having a serious discussion.
Annie: “Tell me about Annie your sister please?”
Sammy: “My baby sister was a very charming girl. Her smile could lit up the darkest of souls. She had dimples just like yours, actually her dimples were my doing. I dipped my middle finger in each of her cheeks every day until the dimples became permanent” he gave a short mirthless laugh.
Annie: “Hmmmm! You are wicked o…I wish I know your sister though, we will be very good friends”
Sammy: “Yeah! I have a feeling you will get to know her soon. What did you say happened to your mum?”
Ralph: “Uhmm! We have to go now, it’s getting late. We will be back to check on you later okay?” he said intentionally changing the direction of their discussion.
Sammie: “Awwwwwww too bad! When will you come back again please? I have not really gotten to thank Annie for saving my life” he became melancholic in the twinkle of an eye.
Annie: “Do we really have to leave now? Can’t I stay with him? Tomorrow is Sunday anyway” she said pleadingly.
Sammie: “No Annie! You should go with them, it’s not right for you to stay here all by yourself. They are just trying to ensure you are safe. Trust them, they will bring you back and by then, I would have gotten better and we will be able to play around. I will even show you lots of stuffs”
Annie: “Okay Sammy” she replied brightening up. Her dad exchanged another surprised looks at how easily he was able to convince her.
A nurse entered the ward with a message for them…
Nurse: “The doctor asked me to give you this card, his dad requested that you call him whenever you are around, he wants to see you I guess” she said handing the card over to Ralph who collected it.
Ralph: “Thank you, I will call him but not today anymore. We are just about to start heading home” he replied with a forced smile.
Nurse: “It’s okay. Call him next time you are coming then” she replied and strutted out of the ward.
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