The next day was a Saturday, I was super excited at least I wouldn't have to face Angry Arika and Troy neither would I set an eye on irritated Anthonia and her excited Twinny, I had decided to stay indoor and work harder on my lyrics...
I woke up at a very late hour cus I slept late trying to focus on my song but kept on thinking about Mom... " is she fine???, hope all is well with her, when would she be coming back??? oh damn!!! I miss her so much!!!" were the thoughts running through my head... but I had promised myself to take my mind off her and focus on being the better person people never expected of me...
I said my prayers and for some reason, I interceeded on behalf of my mom, for her safety, I didn't pray to God to bring her back, no never, I wanted her to come at her own convenient time and not because I begged for it...
Hour passed by and I didn't hear from my Dad not even a footstep nor a sound from his annoying stereo he likes listening to every Saturday morning... I looked down my window and couldn't catch a glimpse of his car, he is out as usual, it didn't feel strange, rather I was disappointed at myself for expecting anything good from him, just a day ago, he was so caring an all, now he is back to his normal old annoying habit... I bet he had gone to have a nice time with one of his concubines, but what do I care???. I knew he was only being nice cus he felt some kinda pity for me or something...
I left the window side and took a walk down to my bed and picked up my phone which has been lying there helplessly ever since the incidence that night. I looked at at the screen and saw missed calls from Troy and a message from Akira, from the night before, which I read out loud.
" Yo man!!!! Wake up!!! Why aren't you picking your call, we've been expecting you on the group chat ever since but you are not where to be found, anyways Troy and I have decided to vist the kens for some drink and karoke after school tommorow, inform your mom you won't be coming back home anytime soon..
Love ♥️Akira"
I felt heartbroken, I knew my words would have hurt them a lot, How would them perceive me now??? As a monster???, I didn't want my besties having such thought about me, it doesn't feel right, but we've gat to do these, we would leave each other some day why not break the bond now?? rather than later when we would be madly pained about it.... I was tempted to beep Troy but I could remember the anger in his eyes and his words to me, I wasn't ready to face him and properly brake our friendship in a cool way, I wasn't in for another session of pain. I dropped my phone and reminisce on our lovely memories together when I heard my tommy grumble, I needed to something to take in before the worms in me starts to feed on me..
I hurried down the stairs and was wondering on what to make myself when I suddenly hear voice coming from the kitchen, I tiptoed and peeped and could clearly see two women, one in her early fifties and the other probably in her late twenties. I wanted to move forward to have a closer look and probably listening to what they were discussing when I stepped on a can of temeric which made a loud sound and turn all heads, what the fuck was that can doing on the floor???, it should be in the cupboard and not on the floor!!!!. Before I could say a word the younger one, a burnette came over and placed a hand on my shoulders...
" Hey there, you must be Anthony rii!???".
" Yeah, he is can't you see the resemblance with Sir williams, a total replical if his father!!!"
chipped in the old lady who was cutting some groceries. I get that statement a lot, I didn't know of it was a compliment or an insult cus I didn't want to look like my father who cares about no one in the world but himself. I wanted to yell at her and tell not to compare me to a beast anymore, but I wasn't brought up that way. I took a step forward away from her and asked with my hands akimbo
"Yh I am, and who are you??? if I may ask"
For some reason I wanted her to day she was Dad's new wifey, I knew he had an affair outside but he dare not bring it in here, I wasn't going to live with mom's rivalry, Never!!!, like I have a choice if he does . She gave me a warm smile showing her dimples which melted my heart.
"Well, Am Tina and over there is Mrs Benedict and we are the new helpers your Dad has employed, it was nice meeting you, settle down in the dining room, we are going to serve you soon. I know you must be very famished".
My mind was a little bit at rest, I didn't mind them using mom's kitchen cus she never made use of it for once...it was from one helper to another. The last one we employed was Hannah, a very good cook, I was still wondering what she did wrong for mom to send her packing, we've had a lot of cook as well... that was a story for another day.
Right now I was curious to know where my Dad at, at least, he showed he cares by getting cook to attend my needs, what else would he be doing around???. Tina, as if reading my mind came in with a bowl of casseroles which placed carefully on the table...and said
"Well.. your Dad had gone to your neighbor's, they are throwing an house party and her car brook down when going over to the mall... so...she needed your Dad's help, which your Dad was glad to offer... isn't that amazing??".
I wasn't surprised my Dad offered to help with the car issue, he tend to be nice to outsiders, I just wonder why he couldn't keep that same energy and stop mom from going, if he had, he wouldn't go through the strength of securing an helper or taking the neighbor to the mall cus mom would have gladly done that to..
The neighbors are throwing a party!!!!, I knew that meant trouble, Dad would definitely want me to be there at all cost and one thing I wasn't interested in that day, was setting an eye on the twins not to talk of spending hours with them. what an unfortunate situation!!!. I was lost in thought and didn't notice when the table was been filled up with food
"Tony, would you please fill your plate with something and stop staring at the food, it's going to get cold my dear"
I didn't see who was speaking, but I knew it was mrs "what was her name again" cus of the rapsy and weak tone. I had totally forgotten about my worms which needed to be fed.. I hurrilly picked some salad and chicken on my plate and rushed it down my throat... I didn't pack up when I was done, it was the job of the helpers, I went straight to my room and decided to act sick so I would be exempted from going over to
the neighbors, I can't handle Akira's disgusted eye today. I could hear my Dad horning his car for some kids to pass by and with a hurrilly covered myself with my blanket and pretended to be asleep..
Minutes passed by and I could hear my Dad conversing with the maids I couldn't hear it was all about tho, then heard his loud and commanding footstep on the stairs and I knew he was going to come over to my room frist.
My door was flunged open and he came in
" Good afternoon son, what are you doing under the duvet by this time of the day??,it's unlike you dear, are you okay, do you need to see the doctor??"
He sounded worried and disturbed and sat on my bad touching every part of my body which felt like an harassment.
"You have no temperature, neither do you look sick and I thought the maids said you've taken in something?? so tell me what's wrong???"
" I am just a little bit weak that's all, I don't think I can stand up from this bed, not to think of going anywhere outside this house, maybe to the Mall or an house party"..
I had spilled the milk before realizing what I did, my Dad is an intelligent one, he would get to the bottom of this matter.He laughed out loud and looked at me straight in the eye
"Sit up son (I did) I noticed what went wrong yesterday and Thonia told me the attitude you pulled up in school yesterday, I just want you to know you would always need people around, the fact that you miss your mom, which I also do, doesn't mean you have to push people away from you"
I was surprised at his sudden confession and couldn't contain my tears which I had been fighting back "since forever".
" You Miss mom!!! then why did you let her go??? why are you planning a divorce with her!!!, what are we to you??? A joke???, why couldn't you just beg her to stay back??? you didn't want to let go of your ego??? why???!!!!!!"
I broke down and pushed him away as he tried to wrap me in between his hands,
"Look at me Tony, look at me!!!"
He said with authority and plead in his tone but I didn't, I didn't want to look at him, I didn't want to let loose my demon's, maybe I would someday but not now!!!
" Tony, there are certain thing's and people in your life you have to let go for peace to reign and one of them was your mom, we never showed love or cared for each other, she had wanted to leave for a very long time but you were the one holding her back, she couldn't stand leaving you alone at a very tender age, she wanted you to grow, now that you have, she dimmed it fit to leave, Humans is are like bird's, they shouldn't be caged my dear"
I wasn't taking any of that, Mom wouldn't want to leave if he hadn't frustrated her...I looked at him finally and yelled with a low voice.
" How about me Dad??, how about me???, you could have held her back for my sake!!!"
He took my hands which were trembling which were trembling and cupped my face in his other hand while cleaning the tears rolling down my eye like an ocean.
" I am here for you son, I will always be here"
I didn't know if I should be comforted with those words or I should hate him the more for not being there when mom was around, we could have lived a peaceful life as a family as I had always wanted. I just sat in my bed and allowed myself to be consoled by him..
We were like that for hours and I was a little bit relaxed knowing that I had someone who would be there for me in times like this even if I hadn't forgiven him... he suddenly jerked up as if waking up from comma and looking into his face I realized he had also been crying, isn't it funny, he acted all manly and nonchalant when she was leaving, what changed???..
He stood up and walked towards the door and said in a rapsy voice.
" Rest a little bit and then get ready for the party, when it is time I would call on you"
He left and I buried my face in my duvet and cried my heart out... There was no one to pick the perfect outfit for the party, no one to put me through on my choice of clothes, no one to make me dress up early so we wouldn't be late for the party, I was like that for minutes and decided to go get dress before Dad get angry at me. I am sooo loving this new bond but it was nothing like Mom being there for me, maybe we haven't gotten that intimate...
I took my bath quickly and picked a black blazers, blue top, blue jeans and a pair of black shoes which mom had gotten for me for Christmas last year I could remember the controversy over the shoes. I was mad at her for getting me the wrong pair different from the ones I "prescribed" for her. It was such an annoying incidents which brought both smile and tears to my face.
I looked at the mirror and was quite impressed at my dressing but found out my face had become swollen and red from the tears. I wasn't going to let anyone see me that way, I wasn't the one to let the world see my weakness as mom had always thought me. I immediately took out took in deep breaths for minutes to calm myself down and wait for Dad's calling.