12/04/2018
*****DAILY DIET*****
===== FATHER AT 17 (Episode 6)=====
Written by
Ofmat Austus Ofmat
The look on my father’s face as he stepped into the house summarized it all.
“Good afternoon sir” Tega’s Uncle greeted, after noticing the resemblance between my dad, and concluding that the man that just walked in was my father.
Silence thrived in the room after the salutation which my dad did not respond to. He did a good survey of the scenario right at the door step.
“A girl, a man and my son, in my sitting room” I’m sure my dad thought that within himself, as he walked passed us. He came to a sudden stop right in front of me, as if he just remembered something. I lifted up my head, to look at his face.
“How could he have known all of a sudden?” I asked myself as I expected the unexpected to happen.
“Get up!” He said, reminding me that I was sitting on his favourite seat with a knock on my head. The knock seemed to do some magic in me, the same way Tega’s slap did. I got up, and went towards the door, heading outside.
“Where are you going to?” My dad asked with a strong voice, bringing to my attention that I was not supposed to leave.
“Sorry sir” I said, as I sat on the only available chair which happened to be right beside Tega.
Life has a way of making some things work out, eventhough they are things you don’t want. As I sat beside Tega, it occurred to me that we both are sitting right opposite my dad and Tega’s Uncle, who were sitting beside each other, on two different chairs. No doubt, we both looked like a crime suspect appearing before a merciless jury.
Sitting beside Tega, brought our shoulders together, and once again, I felt her soft skin against mine. The feeling of her soft skin against mine resurrected the memories of the day we met. After waiting under the shade for several minutes for the rain to stop, we were fortunate enough to see a young boy with a big family umbrella.
“Let’s join him” I told Tega, disregarding my friend who we both ran under the shade.
“Hey boy!” I called, trying to stop the boy who we later joined and shared his umbrella. My friend was at the boy’s right hand side, while Tega and I were at the left hand side of the boy.
“Shopu yen ni mo n lo o” (I’m heading to that shop). The boy said, as he pointed to a shop a distance away.
Although, the distance between where we joined the boy and where he was going to, was not so much, but walking side by side with Tega was fulfilling in itself. As our shoulders knit into each other, I felt a strong Chemistry. A Chemistry different from what our Chemistry teacher taught us, and I wondered if he would even understand that aspect of Chemistry felt by me alone.
“How may I help you sir?” My dad asked Tega’s Uncle. His voice, bringing me back from my reverie.
“My name is…” Tega’s Uncle started.
I was lost the moment Tega’s Uncle tried to introduce himself, as the reality of my predicament dawned on me. I had impregnated a girl, and there was no doubt that my family would not take it lightly with me at all, especially my father. Thoughts of my future plans and aspirations came rushing to my head like an opened dam. Thoughts of writing my SSCE and JAMB examinations the following year, and becoming a medical student in the prestigious University of Ibadan. Thoughts of putting on lab coats and performing practicals that would build me into being a distinguished Medical Doctor in the next few years.
“…and our daughter here is pregnant” I heard Tega’s Uncle rounding off his speech, after counting his words severally with his teeth. The words “our daughter” caught my attention.
“Those words are only used during an engagement ceremony” I wondered.
The concluding part of his speech was like a Boko Haram bomb dropped on my father’s laps. He looked at me with utmost disdain and disappointment. A look that summarized how I had let him down. I dropped my head feeling unworthy of his look and presence. Although, deep down in me, I wished I had not dropped my head. I wished I had not felt unworthy of his look and presence. After all, he wasn’t for once ever remorseful for beating my mum, neither does he feel unworthy of our look and presence. But then, I had to still drop my head. I had to feel unworthy. Not of his presence, but of my bright future which was going down the drain right before me, and I could not help it.
The rest of the conversation escaped me as I was totally lost in thoughts. After speaking for a while, Tega’s Uncle stood up, and my dad stood up too. They shook hands like business partners who just agreed on a business deal. Or, maybe they just did. But, it was unfortunate that me and my bright future were the deal that was agreed upon, and I knew nothing of the terms and conditions of the agreement, which I must abide to.
“Thank you so much sir” Tega’s Uncle said, as he stepped out of the house.
“Let me see you off”
As my dad stepped out of the room, I knew that hell would be let loose when he returns. From nowhere, the look that would be on my mother’s face when she gets to know that I had impregnated someone flashed through my mind. I could see her vividly, crying and telling me I had disappointed her. The pictures of my friends and classmates when they hear the news also flashed through my mind. Within that short time, I felt like the world was upon me, beating me and pulling me down. I felt a big load on me. A load that goes beyond what the strongest man on Earth can carry or pull. It was a load of disappointment and shame.
“Iku ya ju esin lo” (death is quicker than shame) I resorted within me, as several pictures of people I have disappointed kept flashing in my mind, uncontrollably. I was determined to bring everything to an end, afterall, everything ended with Tega’s pregnancy. As I walked into the room, I had no idea how I would end my life. But, I was very certain I would. The knife on the table called me as I stepped into the room.
“Who could have kept this knife here?” I wondered.
But, at that point, it didn’t matter who kept the knife there. What mattered most was bringing it all to an end. I grabbed the knife with my two hands, just as I have seen in several Nigerian movies. I could boldly say I was experienced in matters like that. It was very easy to do.
“Just hold the knife pointed to your stomach, and thrust it in with full force.” A voice said within me.
I followed the voice step by step with ease, and the only place I experienced difficulty was thrusting the knife in my stomach. As I held the knife against my flat stomach, I wondered if that was how it would all end.
“Good afternoon my dear” My dad greeted someone again. This time, his voice was very solemn, but his footsteps against the staircase was not, and I knew I had but a limited time.
©2018. Ofmat Austus Ofmat
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Life can be funny sometimes. I mean, very funny and painful. If not so, how then do you explain what one has worked and laboured for, going down the drain by just one mistake? We have seen great businessmen going bankrupt, just because of one thing they did or didn’t do. We have seen dreams blown away like a helpless candle, simply because of a costly mistake. Well, I guess life is not ready to soft-pedal for anybody, and that means, it is left to us to look before we leap because not leaping at the right time or leaping too early, or not even leaping at all can cost us our dreams and aspirations. Well, the story remains FATHER AT 17, and I will bring the next episode to your doorstep tomorrow as usual. For the record, tomorrow is my birthday. So, start sending in your gifts, because I would soon stop receiving gifts. Lolzzzz….see you tomorrow.
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OFMAT AUSTUS OFMAT
Inspirational Speaker/Writer/Editor/Publisher
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