Caleb's friend, Steve, confronted him with a mix of concern and amusement. "Caleb, you've been MIA from football practice. What's going on?"
Caleb shrugged, trying to brush off the question. "I've been busy."
Steve raised an eyebrow. "Busy? You're always busy, but you never miss practice. And what about CK's bash tonight? You're not going to miss that, are you?"
Caleb hesitated. "Don't think I'll be there."
Steve looked at him in surprise. "Come on, when did you ever miss a party? It'll be great. There will be snooker, and all the girls will be there."
Caleb sighed. "Steve, don't you think there's more to life than just partying? Anyway, I want to study."
Steve looked at him in mock horror. "You of all people! You never need to study, and you always come out tops."
Just then, Deborah and Mary passed by, smiling and saying hello. Since the day of disturbances, Caleb and Deborah had become friendlier. Sometimes, the four of them - Caleb, Joshua, Mary, and Deborah - went to the hospital together, and Mary always said a short prayer. It always made Caleb feel better.
"Jimi Striker! When did you and the Witch start saying hello?" Steve laughed.
"She's not that bad, really," Caleb said.
Steve raised an eyebrow. "Oh well, if you say so. See you at practice."
Caleb arrived at practice late. "Michael, what's the matter with you?" the football coach snarled.
"I'm sorry, sir," Caleb said lamely.
"We have important matches coming up. I would kick you out of the team," the coach threatened.
"I..." Caleb started.
"Shut up! Get on the field!" the coach shouted.
During practice, Caleb kept missing passes. "Caleb, what's wrong with you?" a teammate yelled in frustration.
"Don't know," Caleb said, equally frustrated.
"Michael, you are playing like a legless cockroach!" the coach shouted from the sidelines.
"Don't mind him, he's been going home to eat mama's food," another teammate said innocently.
This was too much. Caleb pounced on the boy, and they rolled on the pitch, kicking and punching. The others had to drag them away.
"Michael, get out of here! Frog jump out!" the coach shouted.
Caleb looked at the shocked faces of his teammates. He knew they were all wondering about his erratic behavior, and he wanted to say he was sorry. Instead, he ran off.
Caleb's world was shattered when his mother, Mrs. Solade, passed away on a rainy Saturday morning. The city gutters were overflowing, and the sound of gurgling water seemed ominous as Caleb made his way to the hospital. He was by her side when she took her last breath. Caleb's voice was hoarse from shouting for the doctor and nurse, who rushed in and gently pushed him out of the way.
The doctor's words were a blur, but Caleb remembered the sympathetic tone. "We did our best, but the prognosis was very poor." Caleb's father put a comforting arm around his shoulders. "We understand." The doctor's apology was heartfelt, but Caleb felt numb, as if he was watching everything from a distance. Someone was wailing, "Mummy! Mummy!" Caleb wasn't sure if it was him.
Their apartment was filled with relatives and friends, all offering condolences. Uncle Kazeem, Aunt Memunat, Aunty Omotunde, and many others Caleb barely knew. His older brother, Michael Jr., arrived from the UK, and Caleb was surprised by the bear hug he received. Michael Jr. had never been the affectionate type.
As Caleb navigated the sea of mourners, he couldn't shake the feeling that his mother would walk into the room at any moment, saying something like, "Imagine them saying I was dead! What would you like to eat?" But it was just a cruel fantasy. She was gone, buried in a private cemetery, and Caleb's heart was heavy with grief.
At the funeral, Caleb's school friends attended, their faces somber. The coffin scraped against the grave, and Caleb's tears blinded him. He stumbled away, desperate to escape the reality of his loss. He found himself in a deserted part of the cemetery, praying that it was all just a terrible dream.
That's when he felt a presence beside him. It was Deborah. "I'm... sorry," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She sat down beside him, and Caleb felt a sense of comfort in her presence. "I don't know... I'm not close to my mother, but I ...but I can see how much you loved yours," Deborah said, her voice trailing off.
Caleb clasped his hand over hers, and she tightened her fingers around his. They sat in silence for what felt like an eternity, until Mary and Joshua came over.
"Your dad is looking for you," Joshua said gently.
Deborah jumped up, looking flustered, and Caleb felt a pang of gratitude towards her. "Thanks," he said, getting up to rejoin his family.
As he walked away, Caleb felt a sense of emptiness wash over him. He knew he had to be strong for his family, but it was hard to keep going without his mother by his side.
The days that followed were a blur of mourning and grief. Caleb's family received countless visitors, all offering condolences and support. But despite the outpouring of love, Caleb couldn't shake the feeling of loss that had settled in his heart.
One day, as he was walking through the apartment, Caleb stumbled upon a photo of his mother. She was smiling, her eyes shining with warmth and love. Caleb felt a lump form in his throat as he gazed at the photo. He missed her so much.
Just then, There was a knock on the door and it was Deborah. "Hey," she said softly. "I'm so sorry again for your loss."
Caleb nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards her. "Thanks," he said. "It means a lot to me."
Deborah smiled and put a hand on his arm. "I was just passing by your house as my aunt sent me on an errand and I decided to check up on you. I'm here for you, Caleb. If you need to talk or just need someone to listen, I'm here."
Caleb felt a sense of comfort wash over him. He knew he could count on Deborah to be there for him.