I reached the hospital, and as I hurried into the women's wing, I met the receptionist. "Welcome, she says, the doctor asked for you," she said.
"Okay, where is his office?" I asked her.
"You should take a right and walk straight," she pointed to her left, then take two rights and then a left, she added.
I was already walking towards the direction, before I rushed back to tell her "thank you"."
I did as she told me and arrived in front of an office door. I could see the name tag on the door, I knocked gently and waited after a while. I did not hear anything, so I knocked on the door again, this time I used more strength.
"Come in," he said.
I push the door, and as I walk into the office, the motions for me to sit. I see his eyes, I try to probe for answers. I want to know why he wants to see me, but his face doesn't give me any, I only notice how tired he looks.
I wait impatiently for him to speak, he begins, "Do you have any relative, maybe a guardian apart from your parents that you can stay with?"
"No, is my mom going to be okay? What do you need to make her better?'
I can.....
You don't need to do anything, I was hoping you have someone to stay with.
This is a really trying period, and you need all the support you can get".
What happened to my mom, I asked as I ran out of his office, straight to the room where my mom was. I opened the door and there she was on the bed with a white sheet covering her face just like my dad.
I wanted to cry but my voice was dry, I could not say a word. I wanted to call her, I knew she would hear me.
tears warm my cheeks as my heart grew heavier, and the weight had increased.
I rushed and opened the sheet to see her face. I dropped the food by the side and pushed her to stand up.
Two male nurses came and pulled me out of the room,
There were other patients there, they pulled me out and asked me to lower my voice.
I watched them leave, and I rushed back in and soon they came back with a nurse who handed me some papers to fill like earlier.
I filled the same funeral home like I had done earlier, I haven't even gone to see them. My mom's bag was by her bedside, I picked it up and made my way out of the hospital and I rode to Saint Charles funeral home, which was a fifteen minutes walk from where I lived.
I got there and there was a queue. I waited in the reception, my stomach was growling, I needed to eat something . I left the food in the hospital.
I was walking to the door when i heard my name, a stout black man called my name
"Dave Thompson! I heard him call again.
I walked towards him and he asked "are you Dave Thompson?"
I nod in affirmation and ask him, "Is there a package for two people?" I want to bury two people."
"Yes, there is but the discount is just five percent. I hope that will be okay?"
"Yes, that will be fine." I replied.
He hands me a coffin photo book to look at, and I tell him to pick the less expensive ones. I tell him the bodies are at the general hospital.
He looks at me , and says when do you want them buried?
Over the weekend , I have to inform all those who were acquainted with my parents.
I have to inform the church too.
He passes a piece of paper, checks this out and when you come back we will prepare them, all of the packages have the five percent I told you about."
I don't study them yet, I just put them in my pocket and make my way out and rode home, i make myself some noodles and eggs , after taking my bath, rush to the church to inform father timothy, i ask him to help me with the preparations, i don't want him to show much pity as i hurry to Wilson bar again.
I was sad, but I need to work, the month was almost over, I need to get my pay for the funeral, my phone was ringing, I made my way to the back t answer, it was my mom's colleague, she had called to ask about my mom, it was strange my mom had no friends, I don't ask her who she was before she explained herself.
I tell her my mom has passed, my heart breaks, as I say it, I struggle to pull myself together as she tells me to take heart, she tells me she would inform the others, she asks when they would be buried, and I tell her it's this weekend, and then she grows silent.
I cut the call and went back in. I ask Mr. Moses if I can get my pay before the month ends, he says to me, "not a chance".
I tell him my parents are dead, he looks at me in shock, he looks at me suspiciously and then like he had remembered something the look in his eyes had switched to empathy.
I will put a word for the manager on your behalf, you should go and inform him right away, so you can have the rest of the month off, i will be filling out for you he said.
Thank you sir, i am really grateful, I say as I walk to the manager's office.
I knock and wait, i hear his raspy voice, he yells "come in"
I walk into his office and stand by the door, "what can i do you for? He asked.
"My parents have passed," Mr. Moses says, he will be filling in for me. I can take the rest of the month off.
Also, I want to ask for my salary and a possible advance. I want to pay for the funeral.
"I am sorry," he said.
I can't give you an advance, but what I can do for you is give you your salary for this month. Since Mr. Moses will be covering for you, I will have to hear him say it himself before I agree to it.
"Okay sir", I replied. I walked out to meet Mr. Moses at the bar,
He told me to go home. and assured me he would talk to the manager.