I slept in snatches that night and I woke up very early. I was nervous at same time happy. It was going to be a day of joy for me. I had never traveled out of Granville for sometime the last time was while Grandpa was alive. Grandpa always invited most of the family over for Christmas. He would insist that all his grandchildren come so he could see them. He was a funny, Slender, dark skinned man. He kept Alot of mustache and no beards, Grandma had once made a joke that his mustache was the main reason she married him. She loved him so much they hardly fought about anything, Mum would always say they understood each other right when they were young.
I laid on my bed looking through the window to see as the sun made its way out of the shell no matter how long it took. I had been thinking about what mum had said the night before and was terrified at same time nervous. This was the first time I was gonna stay alone.
"Arrrrrrghhhhhhhh!!!" I groaned out of my thoughts as the alarm blared. I switched the alarm off and grabbing my towel got into the shower. I was used to this daily routine as mum had made me do it for almost all my life. Mum made sure I woke early and did my personal hygiene on my own most especially after he turned 7. I was disciplined by mum a lot, she never let me do many things even as a kid, you could probably say my childhood was short. Mum had always wanted me to be mature and ready to face anything. She had escaped death and didn't know when she was gonna die because she had Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) after dad left her. She had never told me this even though she was always on medication.
Mum had also woke up early so she could make breakfast for the family drop me off at the airport and make it back to work even tho she had taken a leave for some hours. My flight was gonna take off at 8:00am, the flight was for 2hrs so I would be there in time to check into the hostel and put my stuff together.
She was already making breakfast when I came out of the room all dressed and ready to go.
"Good morning mom" I said smiling,
"Good morning dear, how's your night" she said not even looking at me.
" It was fine ma'am" I said standing at the kitchen entrance to observe what she was cooking before rushing upstairs to greet grandma. Grandma who had just finished praying sat on her bed staring at the sun as she silently took her coffee. She was the only one who took coffee so mum had it made every morning and placed on a small table in her room while she was praying. She had gone very quiet and didn't talk much since after Grandpa died. Mum said she was still a little traumatized about his death. He had died in after being severely ill for a month. He had leukaemia and even though the doctors had tried all they could he could not be saved. Grandma always said it was his time to be laid to rest and the doctors could not change that . Grandma always attributed all her wins and woes to God, she said he had been her refuge in times she lost hope.
"Good morning grandma" I said as I peeped through the door without knocking cause it was ajar.
"How are you junior" she said turning back and placing the coffee cup back on the saucer.
"I'm fine Grandma" I said smiling
" Are you going to school today? " She asked taking another sip of the coffee
"Yes grandma, the flight is by eight" I said so she would know he had little time left at home.
"Take care of yourself and always pray to God to guide you.." she said coming closer "...I will also be praying for you so you don't get yourself I to danger or go against your teachings from home, be a good boy you hear me, junior" she said putting one of her hand on my tapping his shoulder a little. She called him junior cos he was the second of his grandfather, she said he was a reincarnation of her husband.
Soon I packed all his luggage and was ready to go Mum didn't say much that morning. The breakfast was quiet and brief, Mum had already packed some food into a can that I could make use of in the evening if he couldn't eat at school.
I began loading my luggage into the booth. Mum had a Toyota RAV4 2016 model she had got it a few years back. I was happy I was leaving but still sad because I was going to miss home, my neighbourhood, my friends. The place was a nice place to live.
"Safe journey Junior" Grandma said as she was not gonna see him off to the airport. He got into the car and mum began the trip. It was long yet short mum played some country music to lighten up the mood but it was still tense. The trip to the airport was quiet since mum didn't say a word.
Mum was speechless and troubled, she didn't know how to react and what to say to her son as I was gonna be leaving home to College. She had always dreaded this day. She was yet to get over her trauma with my father and she hated it so much. Finally she broke the ice," Is anyone you know going to same college?" She asked looking at me briefly.
"Yes ma'am, my best friend Collins" I said looking back at her. She didn't say a thing again till we were at the airport and after verification of details at the airport. We sat together waiting for the flight to get ready when she said in a low tone " Don't let anyone tell you what to do, Do what you know is right" I was astonished and I knew I'd miss mum so I gave her a big hug and she said silently " Always remember where you're coming from and where you're headed to, I love you Nubby."
" I love you too mum" Isaid in a very low tune.
Soon the flight was ready for take off and after seeing Norbert to the plane, Mum went back to the car. She sat in for sometime and after a big sigh zoomed off.
I was used to flights so I didn't have much to worry about I just put my headphone on and played 'Lucid Dreams' by Juice Wrld and zoomed off into my imagination.