What're friends for? Episode 10

What're friends for?

Episode 10

At his home, Nath was changing his clothes when Rita came knocking. Nath opened the door and what he got from Rita was a fat hug. “I’m sorry for everything. Please forgive me.” Rita said while she held him tight.

After few seconds of silence, “sorry na or what’s doing you sef? She said. I know i messed up real bad but forgive your girl now, I’m back and better” she said all these whilst being pushed away slightly by Nath.

Nath couldn’t hold on to his anger any longer as a faint smile dropped from his face then he chuckled until he finally laughed out loud. Afterwards, he started blushing and couldn’t look at Rita’s face. When he finally got the nerve to speak he said "big head, I’ve forgiven you a bit, but to complete this, let’s rush down to Pam's place because he needs us right now” he held her right hand as they rushed out of the room.

Various kinds of footwear with different sizes and colours covered the entrance, with the doormat nearly out of sight. The door was opened at a ninety degree angle which allowed the ray of light go few miles into the living room. Just like the entrance, the sitting room was also filled with different people. A bowed head sat on the floor close to the entrance grumbling while few others were seated in the cushion chairs in different styles everyone looking sad, and seeing through their eyes, you wouldn't need to check twice before knowing that they'd given out lots of tears. The sitting room was so silent that you would only hear a sound when anyone changes position or when one of them suddenly bursts into tears with words like “Mom! Mom! Mom! Please where are you? Don’t leave us this way in this world,
I want to be with you wherever you are now” Others come close to console him/her, only for them to join in the weeping.

“I promised you that I'd take good care of you mom and make you proud with how much you’ve tried to take care of us after that man left us for another woman without looking back to check on his children- he’s not even my father! Mom! How can you leave now after years of witnessing my search for admission, and when you’re supposed to sit, relax and watch your son grow to be a graduate you then surrender to death? God, why?” these thoughts kept replaying in Pam’s mind as he sat secluded behind the longest chair and since he wasn’t talking, he couldn’t hold it in anymore. He hits the wall close to him severally “God why? Why me?” he bursts into tears and wanted to leave the sitting-room but his elder sister drew him back and they wept more .

Nath and Rita came around and heard the sounds coming from inside. At first they stood few meters away from the door eavesdropping and were at loss for the right words to say when they go in. Few minutes later, they walked slowly to the entrance and greeted but didn't get any response. Nath walked straight towards Pam and Rita followed. “Tell me it’s not true Pam. No! No! God why?” he slumped and hit his head on the wall. Rita helped him sit beside Pam and hears them cry while she consoles them.   Three of them remained together for about two days before Rita left for school and came back on the day of the final burial. Two days after the burial they all left for school.

Getting to school was like a new beginning to them as they got closer. Rita stayed more at their house and most times slept over. She does the chores and cooked the meals they ate, at the same time encouraging them to cheer up- this new beginning fostered openness amongst the three friends.
           
One night, few months after the burial, Pam suddenly kept quiet and secluded himself from his friends, he was obviously in deep thoughts. Nath and Rita moved close to him after getting the food prepared and bidding him to eat but he told them he wasn’t eating. Just like most people will say, he said he was fine when asked what was wrong . After much pestering, he broke into tears and as weird as it may seem, Rita joined Pam crying too and when it was as if Nath wouldn't join in, he started slowly and cried louder.

“Guys, i can’t just stop thinking about mom because of how much she suffered for us. There were times she'd not eat just for us to be satisfied which is part of what contributed to her illness. It started with ulcer and look at what it resulted into. I just pray not to ever meet that man that calls himself my father or if i meet him, i shouldn’t recognize him, else, what I’ll do to him, I wouldn't mind going to jail.” He cried the more. Rita moved closer and placed his head on her shoulder for a while. “Rita! That man left five children for a girlfriend and didn’t even look back. Which reasonable father on earth does that?”

“See, i understand your pain Pam some people are just not responsible and do not deserve to live. They shouldn’t be given the 'Father' title but 'Devil'. Imagine my own dad. He calls himself my dad and...” she moved from crying to weeping and was already at the highest stage of weeping. “Even if he becomes the world richest man, i can never forgive him. How can someone that calls himself my father find it easy and pleasurable to...” she paused and continued sobbing

Watch out for the next episode!!!