He had left
the house very early in the morning to play football with his friends in a
small field three streets away from his home. He was nineteen years old and
awaited his result to gain admission into the University. It was the second
time he had written the exam. When he
returned home at 9:30am, he went straight to meet his mother for breakfast.
“But I went
to…” He tried to explain but she cut him off.
“Shut up
your dirty mouth before I do that with the back of my hand!” She spat out, her
eyes raging in anger. “Who is your slave in this house?”
“No one
ma.” Etinosa said and bowed down his head. He felt bad. It was not intentional
to get his mother in such mood; he loved seeing her smile and watching her in a
furious attitude made him sad.
Mrs. Vasco
dropped the knife on the chopping board she was holding to slice some
vegetables. She jagged a finger at her son. “You are the only one giving me
problems in this house. How can you leave as early as six ‘O’clock to play
football with children that have no future? Are you a footballer? Can’t you
read your books at that time so that you can pass?”
He raised
his head and looked straight into her eyes. She noticed his facial appearance
changed into a frown. “Most of my friends are already in the university. They
have bright future and I don’t play with agberos.”
She set her
hands on her waist. “That is your business! Try to change. Your younger sister
is doing well at school. You have to come out in flying colors. If not, don’t be
surprise when your sister enters into the institution before you. Be serious and
act like Osaro, be like him. He is better because he behaves well! He does
not give his mother headache like you.”
He did not
act surprise. He expected her to compare him with the son of her best friend, gossip
partner and neighbor. Osaro was already
a 300 level student in the university and twenty years old.
“Have you
heard me?” She asked.
“I’ve heard
ma.”
“I know
your father will never say anything but he is tired of you running around doing
nothing meaningful!”
“Mama
Etinosa!” A tall and slender man in his early sixties said. They never knew he
was standing close to the door. “Leave this boy alone.”
She glanced
at him and hissed. “Why should I when he has refused to listen to me?”
“Can’t he
play football again? It is also a form of exercise. I will advise you to join
him next time. You need to shed some weight.”
Etinosa
burst into laughter and quickly covered his mouth the moment his mother made
eyes contact with him.
She eyed
both of them. “I don’t blame you and your son. Instead of you to advise him and
emulate my friend’s son but you won’t listen. You would rather support him.”
“Why won’t I
support him?” Mr. Vasco asked his wife. “He plays very well and if he wants to
be a professional footballer, I will give him my blessings.”
“God
forbid!” She said and snapped her fingers. “Not in this house. He will go to
school and behave like Osaro. That boy is a good example and I wonder why
Etinosa has refused to get close to him. Osaro goes from the house to school
unlike the dullard that insisted he wants to live in the hostel when he miraculously
enters the University. Osaro comes back home after his lectures. He assists his
mom in the kitchen and reads his bible every day.”
“How do you
know all these things?”
“I go to
their house and I am aware Osaro has invited Etinosa to church programs and
even night vigils. He always gives him silly excuses.”
Etinosa
shook his head.
She faced
her son and continued. “Pray to God that you should pass when your results come
out in few days’ time otherwise one of us will leave this house.” She walked
out of them.
“I don’t know
why mom keeps comparing me with Osaro.” Etinosa said to his father. “Is it by
force to behave like him?”
“Don’t mind
her. Dish your food, eat, bath and rest.”
He grinned.
“Thank you dad.”
Mr. Vasco
cleared his throat and wore a serious facial look. “But don’t put me to shame. I
hope you will pass.”
“I will
dad. I had a minor issue in the examination hall the first time. I won’t fail a
second time.”
He faintly
smiled and left.
*****
Two days
later, in the evening, Osaro was holding a bible and a wallet. He was dressed decently in black
pants, yellow long sleeve shirt with a brown tie. He was wearing leather sandals on his feet. Osaro went into the residence
of the Vasco’s and requested to see Etinosa. When he came out, he invited him to a night
vigil close to his school.
“I can’t
go.”
“But you
promised to follow me the last time I invited you.” He said in a calm tone.
“I am busy,
maybe another time.”
Mrs. Vasco
voiced out. She had been listening to their conversation at the dinning. “You
must go!”
Etinosa
knew his father was yet to return and it was an opportunity to force him and
follow Osaro. He grabbed his stomach and started shouting he was having severe
pains. His mother panicked and ran to grab olive oil to rub on his forehead and
belly. Osaro began to pray until Etinosa said he was getting better. Osaro decided to go alone. He requested Etinosa should stay at home and rest.
*****
The
following day at 5:30pm, Etinosa and his parents were gazing into a laptop. The
three of them were about to check online his result when they heard the siren
of police vehicles close to their house. They abandoned the computer and rushed
outside to check what was happening.
Their jaw
dropped as they watched Osaro whisked into the car in handcuffs. Etinosa noticed
he was leaping. Mama Osaro was weeping hard. Her friend went to console her and
asked what happened. Mr. Vasco went to meet one of the policemen for answers.
“He is an
armed robber.” The officer said in a loud voice for everyone to hear.
Neighbors, passerby’s
were in shock.
“It is
impossible!” Mama Osaro cried. “My son can never be an armed robber. My son
went to church.”
“Lies!” the
officer said. “He managed to escape last night but we caught the other members.
Did you ask the cause of the injury on his leg?”
“He said he
mistakenly fell into the gutter on his way home and that I shouldn’t worry, he
would take care of it.”
He gripped
Osaro out of the vehicle and raised his trousers upwards. He removed the scarf
he used to tie the leg, Osaro whimpered in pain. All of them saw a deep sore, dripping blood.
“He was
shot before he ran away!”
She placed
her hands on the head. "My life is over! I trusted my son! Oh my God!"
Everyone
exclaimed in shock. Etinosa shook his head when his mother looked at him. She
was speechless. He went back into the house to check the result by himself.
After few
minutes, his parents marched into the house. Etinosa was all smiles.
“I passed.”
He said and showed them.
Mr. Vasco hugged his son cheerfully and congratulated him.
Congrats o" Mrs. Vasco said softly and scratched her head before walking away to her room. She got there, entered and shut her door with the key. Etinosa and his father could hear her crying.
*****
The end.
Interesting read
ReplyDelete11 things to expect in an average bus trip in naija
I laughed at the end. All that glitters is not gold.
DeleteShame no allow the mama celebrate with her son. All that glitters is not gold but some people no dey hear word.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. Etinosa should praise God he passed
ReplyDeleteAll that glitters is not gold. Some mothers can complain and compare their children with their friend's son or daughter.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful piece, great moral lesson!
ReplyDeleteWish more Nig. Mums would read this.
Nice one dear...
ReplyDelete