Getting Acquainted

Today, the residence of the Ojongs was as quiet as a graveyard. This was the kind of atmosphere Ogar envied at the moment. No gust of wind hissing to announce its passing. No birds chirping. No children playing. Just a plain, neutral morning.

Ogar had a severe headache. He felt weak in his body. He reached out for the cup of water on the stool by his bedside and took a gulp.He placed the cup back and covered it with a lid. He heaved feeling a little relieved from the headache.

After the discovery that night Ogar laid in bed but he couldn't sleep. He could hear uncle Travis weeping like a baby. His heart sank because he knew it would take a while for him to recover as it did when Ogar lost his mother. That was the first time he saw his uncle's tears.

As a man, crying in public is believed to be for the weak. It's not masculine to cry especially in the presence of women. That explaIned why uncle Travis controlled his tears. He had watched him since their return from the restaurant the day before. He had not had anything to eat. He has not said a word to Ogar. He has been sulking like a little child.

Ogar felt disappointed in aunt Sheila for the first time since he had known her. She needed to pay for this. She has broken her uncle's heart by omission. Will Minka do the same? Ogar wondered. What will uncle Travis do now? What will happen to the relationship between himself and aunt Sheila?

Will it continue? Will they part ways? They seemed a happy couple. Will they be happy with other people? How does he feel about aunt Sheila? He had the urge to ask his uncle these questions when the time is right. Ogar felt she had hurt his uncle deeply yet she still remained that hospitable lady who took him in when he needed a roof over his head.

Why did she do what she did? He wondered. Maybe I should ask her. Uncle Travis says you need to hear everyone's side of the story before you judge. This was a hard thing to do in this scenario. Omission is like the sin of betrayal. Yet he felt aunt Sheila deserved to be heard. Ogar promised he will at least try to find out more. He will hear from aunt Sheila first and then take a descision.

He had to do his chores at least and look for something to eat. He went to his uncle's room to check on him. The door was left open. The bed was empty. Among the rumpled clothing there was something else on the bed. A cardboard. Ogar frowned wondering why a cardboard will be on his uncle's bed.

Out of curiosity he decided to see what the red inscription on it said. It read 'SHEILA'. As he stepped back in suprise he stepped on a twine. A long twine. It looked like someone had cut out of it. Ogar's heart began to race quickly. He shivered and clenched his first. He tried to put out every other thought and concentrate on looking for his uncle. He will not let worry overwhelm him. As much as he knew, there might still be something he can do to salvage his uncle's situation.

Where did he go? Ogar wondered as he knocked on the bathroom door and received no response. He opened it. It was empty. He checked the kitchen and the store. There was no sign of him.

At times he used to sit out in the study to do a little meditation . Ogar

was disappointed to find out that he had not been in the study. He sauntered in the direction of his room. Maybe his uncle had come to look for him. He checked his toilet. Ha! That cardboard on the bed!

Ogar could no longer suppress his fears. His hands trembling, he stood on a spot and screamed out "uncle Travis!!"

He heard a muffled cry and ran in that direction.

"Uncle Travis!" He called out again. He heard the same muffled cry and he ran in the direction of the parlour. Lo and behold uncle Travis sitting in his rocking chair with his favourite bottle of spirit by his side. He was looking drowsy and his arms dropped by his side as he turned to the left and to the right.

He reeked of spirit. His breathe, his body. Every part of him.

"Uncle" he called out.

"Yes?" He managed to replied as he gasped for breath.

Ogar heaved a sigh of relief. He had not checked the parlor. Oof!

He held on to his uncle's right hand and sat on the floor by him for some moments.

He said nothing but just stared into space. He knew that he could not afford to loose the man. He was his only true family. He heaved another sigh of relief as he envisaged the twine on the ground and the cardboard on the bed. Who ever thought uncle Travis will do such? He needed to be more vigilant. He needed to monitor his every move. He was the parent now. Tears welled up Ogar's eyes as his uncle's hand dropped onto his rocking chair.

There was a knock on the door. Ogar stretched out as he dragged himself out of bed to check who was at the door. Through the peephole,he could see Ramses. He frowned in displeasure.

What is he doing here? He wondered. He already came and put the gathering of yesterday in disarray and now he was here again? What did he want?

Ogar looked at his uncle and quietly opened up the door. The chain lock was still in its place.

"Good morning" Ramses began with a smile. He looked day Ogar for a moment. He didn't return the smile back.

"How are you doing today?" He asked.

"Good morning" Ogar responded Ashe refused to answer the question. Who did the intruder think he was? He even had the guts to show up in front of their home with a smile?

"Look I am really sorry about yesterday. It was all my fault. I should have told my mum I was on my way down here" he replied and studied Ogar's face for an answer.

Ogar said nothing.

"Dude, you know how you miss your mum so much you want to give her a suprise?"

"No" Ogar returned coldly as he shut the door. "My mother is in heaven"

"Oh my goodness. I am so sorry buddy. We have come off on the wrong foot again. Forgive me"

No response.

"Buddy?" He called out again this time, knocking on the door softly.

Ogar refused to answer.

Uncle Travis turned in his sleep.

"Look it is not a good time. Uncle Travis is asleep"

"Okay"

"Who is that?" Uncle Travis asked in a muffled tone.

"It is Ramses"

"Let him in" said uncle Travis.