Must Read: A man

7 years ago

Must Read: A man

CHRISTIANA
DOCTOR KATE WAS BRIGHTER THAN USUAL,
she walked in smiling chirpily. “She’s fit.”

She informed.

Richard’s unhappiness turned to joy again as
he rushed to his feet. “You don’t mean this.”

He smiled.

Doctor Kate kept on smiling, looking cheerful
and giving a dazzling smile. I looked at her
and smiled, I think lines are now falling in
plesant places for me, I think God has finally
heard me out to assist today. I pray this will
be a new chapter in my life, to forget the
moments of pains and agony, hatred and
babbling, hysterical thoughts and berserk
mood.

“Really?” I asked Doctor Kate, looking happier than earlier.

“Yes.” She replied me, licking her lower lip and moving closer to probably hug or shake me.

“She’s now under a general anesthesia, the
operation will commence soon but money
must be paid.” She said as she protracted her
hand, to shake me.

“About the money, don’t worry.” Richard said as he stared at her. “What.. I mean how much is the money?” He asked her.

“Ninety thousand naira.” She told him,
blinking her eyes.

“Hmmn…” He sighed and rushed out of the
hospital to get the money for the operation.

My only concern is that how will he get the
money to pay for the operation that day? I’m
pretty sure he has no money with him, it’s a
big thing of concern to know where the money
would be gotten at ease.

“We’ll be back.” Jay said as he stood with
Uche to leave. Who knows if they are going
out to get the money too?
Thank you lord for sending the unknown to
help me. If I even die today, make me worthy
of your side.

******
Richard parked at the front of his parents’
house and stared at the building for a while,
before knocking. “I want to see my parents.”

He said to the gate keeper who was on fire on
seeing Richard.

“They are busy, come later.” He said to him
and wanted to shut the gate when Richard
pushed the gate backward with full force and
entered. “I think you are insane.” He said as
he entered forcefully, breathing heavily as if it
was a stationary car he pushed.

“Oga, you can’t go in..” The gatekeeper rushed after him and held him by his brown shirt.

“E be like say craze de worry your mama!”
He wriggled off his hand and proceeded in his
walk inside the house.

“Wait, do you wish to die?” He got his shirt
again.

Richard wriggled off his hand again but this
time turned to him and slapped him before he
walked inside the house properly.

The gatekepper had no other choice after
receiving a thunderous slap from Richard’s
heavy fist. “You go learn today.” He walked
back and leaned against the gate while
Richard walked to the main door and knocked.

He waited patiently until his mother walked
out and got the door. “Good day.” He greeted.

“Yes, what can I do for you?” She asked,
wearing an angry face.

“She’s down again, we need money now.”

He said.

“Money? From who? Who’s your mother? By
the way, what has come over Musa that made
him let you into my compound? Now, leave!”
I’m pretty sure she’s is not her biological
mother, not even mine. It is not possible for a
mother who carried her for nine months and
backed her for years will be rebuking her now.

What has come over her? It is absolutely not
possible for her to be the real mother.

“Do you want her to die?” He asked, looking
ferociously.

“Do you wish to die even before her death
too? I said leave!” She shouted. “Musa!”
She called the gatekeeper from the was kept
staring at Richard until the gatekeeper got to
her place. “Get him out of this house.”

“Oga, abeg make u na dey go.” Musa said
grabbing him from behind.

“Are you…” He couldn’t finish the statement before his phone buzzed. “Yeah, who is this?”
He asked.

“It’s Doctor Kate, just come!” She said,
sounding so frightened.

Is she dead? What is happening? Several
questions ran through his mind in
microseconds. “What? What is happening?”
He asked again.

“Doctor Philip!” He heard Kate shouting
beneath the call, probably calling other
Doctors. “That’s the ward.” She told the man bwfore she replied Richard again.

“Please come, it’s urgent.” She said and ended the call.

PEMISIRE

Why are these Doctors rushing into
Christiana’s ward? What is happening to this
lady? Even the Anesthesiologist left me for her
ward, God please don’t do this, don’t let her
die, please!
My gaze swivelled over the waiting room as
the ambulance doors swooshed open into
chaos; beds lined in hall and each holding an
accident victim, the nurses that were in blue
patterned scrubs hurried up, shouting the
names of the ER Doctors. The waiting room
soon turned around to be filled with even
some Doctors like the man who introduced
himself as the Geriatrician to check what was
happening, even the nurse that was with the
digital thermometer had lost control as he
approached them. Is the person one kind of a
celeb?
My ears would soon be deafened by the
squeaks of rubber soles against the tiled floor,
then, the grinding surgical drills had gone
down and the patient were rushed into the ER
ward. I can’t see the patients from where I am all, do I even look like I care? All I want is for
her to be alive, I don’t wish the patients’ death too but I don’t want her to witness any pain again.

I can see one, this is Richard! I shouted.
…..