COMPARISON; A THIEF OF JOY EP.2

When I got home, the unexpected had already happened but they couldn't tell me because they were trying to protect my mental health and help me concentrate on my exams. On arrival, I met everyone well, and I was welcomed with my favorite food, pounded yam and efo riro as usual, I was elated as I ate my food and when the day finally folded up, I got a knock on my door, it was my mum, and she asked if I was up for a conversation. I didn't tell you that my parents don't attempt a conversation when I'm not interested, they know when my mind is settled and ready is when they should talk to me and that is one of my favorite things about them. So I told her that I was free at the moment and the conversation began.

"Olanrewaju, oko mi, how are you?, I knew something serious was about to be said but I couldn't place my hands on it prior to that time because the mummy that I know rarely starts conversation this way, but I played along. So I replied, "Apart from school stress, I'm very fine Mum, what about you?". "Hmmmm, Olanrewaju oko mi, in everything, Oluwaseun (thank God)". "Mummy, se ko si ma? (Mummy hope there's no problem?), I asked, and she said ko ma ba si no ni mo se wa ri e oko mi (I'm here to see you so that there won't be my dear). "Ok, I'm all ears ma", I replied her calmly.

"Olanrewaju", she began, of a truth, everything is not alright. We've been trying to calm our nerves all the while you are in school". I couldn't hold nor take the suspense anymore so I just cut her short with a question, "Mummy, ki lo sele gan gan? (What exactly is happening?)". "Your Dad no longer has his job", she replied. I jumped up from the bed, I thought she was joking, and at the same time, I thought I didn't hear her well, "mum, what did you just say?", I asked again and she repeated what she had said earlier the same way she said it and I bursted into tears. She tried all she could to console me, and I stopped crying till she left the room.

The moment she stepped out of the room, I started asking myself alot of questions. Questions like, where exactly do we start from? How are we going to cope? How would my school fees be paid? What is the next step? When will...? These questions and more popped up in my head till I slept off.

The morning arrived quite early (oh sorry, I was the one that slept late) and it came with an heavy headache but I struggled and dragged myself for morning devotion.
"Good morning Jesus, Good Morning Lord, I know you came from heaven above.....", they already started, so I joined quietly and sang along. We sang a couple songs for few minutes and Daddy led us in prayers. Then everyone started their day with Daddy going back to his room, mummy followed, my sister went to the kitchen, while I helped out with the sweeping and remainder of the house chores.

At 9am, mummy was ready to go to shop, my sister was ready to go to school and I'm apparently just going to be at home with my dad that hadn't said a word to me since I got back. My confusion dipped in again and the thought of what to do clouded my mind and I felt an heavy burden on me that left my mind almost paralyzed because I couldn't think of what to do. My mum has always been the first person I talk to but she said she'd be busy all day, so I just went to my room, knelt down and muttered some words of prayers and I slept off.

To be continued.......