Empire High School - Season 1 - Episode 24

4 years ago

Empire High School - Season 1 - Episode 24

Jeffrey’s POV
“Your dad called me this morning” Aunty
Joke said to me.
I stopped mopping the floor.
“I’m not interested”
“Jeffrey we need to talk”
“Aunty,there’s nothing to talk about”
I moved away from her side and carried
the mop bucket into the restroom. I didn’t
go home after we closed at school. I drove
down to my mom’s store straight Because
I wanted to avoid the discussion with my
dad. And now I’ve to talk to aunty joke.
I inhaled deeply before bending down to
rinse the bucket.

“Jeffrey, listen to me, you have to listen to
your dad and give respect to your
Stepmom” Aunty Joke
“Never”
I went back to the main store and moved
to sit at the counter.
“Kilode to n se bayi?” She asked
(Why are you acting Like this?)
“I can never accept that woman”
“I’ve told you countless time that It wasn’t
her fault or your dad’s”
“No, you don’t know what happened -”
“My sister told me everything”
“Can we not talk about it now?” I said
“I insist we discuss it -” she tapped the
counter

“Your dad said you’ve refused to eat
whatever Lola cooks at home. Why?”
“I don’t want to eat her food”
“Why?”

“I don’t want to die” I spat
“Ah! Jeffrey! This is unfair o!”
“Aunty -”
“Why would you think like that?! Lola mean
no harm Jeffrey”
“Aunty let’s forget about it” I said
She stared at me
“Ema gba mi o! Ehn Jeffrey in your mouth!”
She exclaimed
“Aunty can I stay at your place for this
break?” I asked
I don’t want to stay in that house
She eyed me
“No” she spat
I frowned at her
“Since you’ve decided to do things your
way then don’t come to my house. You are
growing wings now abi” she said
“Aunty no.. Try to understand me”
“Go to your father’s house. He’s waiting for
you. And mind you, am going to report you
to Aunty Lara”
“Ah! Why now?!” I asked
Aunty Lara was my mom’s elder sister.
Grandma had four kids (3 girls and a boy).
Aunty Lara, My Mom (Molade), Uncle Jide
and Aunty Joke.

Aunty Lara was the strict type. I don’t like
really like her. The truth was I’m scared of
Aunty Lara.
“Aunty Joke Don’t tell her anything” I
pleaded
“Don’t beg me”she walked away
I got out of the high stool and followed
her.
“Aunty Joke now.. ”
She pressed her cellphone. She was calling
Aunty Lara!
I thought of what to say to my Aunt.
“Hello Sister Mi” she said

I stood in front of her and gestured to her
not to say anything. I placed my palms
together.

Why won’t she listen?!
“Ehn.. He called you?” She said
Looking at me with a wicked grin. Oh no!
Don’t tell me Dad called her!
“O wa ni bi” she said in her native language
meaning
(He is here). My mom was from the Yoruba
Tribe but my Dad was an Igbo Man.
“Sister Mi Talk to him. Jeffrey is too
stubborn” she said
“Yes, I already told him Lola doesn’t mean
any harm. Three years now, and he’s still
holding grudge against his dad” she
paused

And continued
“Sister Mi eba Jeff soro dada”
(My Sister talk to Jeff very well)
She handed me the cellphone. The bell at
the door Jangles, someone was in our
store.

“Gba phone lowo mi, kin Lo da customer
lowun”

(Take the phone from me and let me
attend to the customer)
She sq££zed the phone into my right
palm.

I placed it on my ear and walked Into the
restroom to pee.
“Jeffrey what is your problem?” Aunty Lara
asked
“Big mummy nothing is wrong. Everything
is fine with me”
“So why are you rejecting Lola’s food?”
“I don’t want to eat her food”
“Why?”
I was silent.
Is it by force to eat food?
“Jeff listen to me the dead is gone. And do
you think your mom will be happy to see
what you are doing now?” She said
A tear slid down my cheek. Memories of my
Mom flooded my mind.

“I already told you, everything that
happened to Lade wasn’t your dad’s fault.
It was her fate and there was nothing to
stop it from happening”
It was a lie!

Mom would have gotten better if Dad was
around to take care of her. No one knew
my mom had cancer until she collapsed at
the store. My dad wasn’t home, he was out
of the country as at that time. I called him
before anyone else and hoped he would
come home in the next two days but he’d
said he was too busy at work. My mom
spoke to him when she regained
consciousness, she begged him to take care
of me if anything happens to her. I became
very scared after hearing her words. I
didn’t want her to die. In tears I asked her
to stay alive but then she confessed the
cancer was in the last stage. I felt bad, and
guilt filled my mind Because I didn’t know
she was terribly sick until she collapsed. I
never suspected anything before that day.
My mom died four days after admittance
into the hospital.

More tears dripped down my cheeks as I
recalled the event. In the morning I was
reading a book to my mom when she gave
up the ghost. I didnt believe it when the
doctor announced her death to me. They
covered her face and soon after breaking
the news to my Aunts, they moved her to
the mortuary in the hospital. It was then I
believed it. She was really gone! She left
me!