Visit to My Parents

My phone beeped, it was a text message from the same number that sent me a message earlier, Rachel's.

Rachel: Mommy's boy, I will be going to work through Jahi, could you please be at Next Cash and Carry supermarket between 7:45 and 7:50 am?

Me: Good morning Rachel, I will be there by that time, thank you.

Rachel: Okay, cool [face with sunglasses emoji].

"Rachel isn't letting go of 'mommy's boy' she calls me and she is determined to not let it go," I thought to myself.

My body could not move because I was tired and mentally exhausted and needed to sleep but at the same time, I needed to go to work. On my third day at work and I was not ready to miss it, it was better I slept at work than stay home to sleep and miss work and as a result, get fired.

There was no control over my body and taking myself outside the house became tedious but somehow managed to get myself to the junction. My legs felt the weight of my body as I stood waiting for Rachel to arrive.

Rachel came late when my legs almost gave up on the weight of my body and in haste, I got into the car to sit down to avoid stressing my legs.

Rachel noticed how tired I was looking when I got into her car. "Are you well, today?"

"Sleep left my room last night and returned this morning," I responded tiredly.

She could not understand what I was saying. "Sleep what?"

"I have not had enough sleep, I need to sleep."

"That is how mommy's boy behaves everywhere, I am not surprised," said Rachel.

Without a word further, I turned to look at her and closed my eyes almost immediately to take a power nap while she drove us to work, where I sluggishly got down from the car and made my way to my workstation.

I shook my head as a way to greet my colleagues at work so as not to waste crucial strength talking.

A few minutes into the start of the day's work, the manager, Miss Josephine called me on the office desk telephone line and asked me to come to her office.

"I heard you aren't feeling too well today, what is wrong?" asked Miss Josephine when I entered her office.

"I am not feeling too well. You heard?"

My response came off as a surprise to her. Likewise, her question was a surprise to me.

"But I am feeling well," I thought to myself.

And I didn't know who must have given her such false information about my health.

"Are you feeling well? Because Rachel told me you weren't feeling too well today."

"Rachel did? cool," I thought again.

"Oh, I am not well..." I nodded in agreement.

"I wanted to give you a day off so you can take good care of yourself, but it seems you aren't sure if you are well or not.

"You can go back to work then."

"I am not well, ma. I didn't expect you'd be told or something," I lied.

"I have to know everything that happens in this branch and be able to account for everyone, including their health and wellbeing." She stood up and walked to me, then adjusted my tie.

It was such an unusual circumstance to be in but I was thankful because there was a presented opportunity to have a proper sleep, on the other hand, I remembered that my parents wanted to see me, so I put a call through to them.

"Mom, good morning. Are you and daddy home? I want to come this morning to see both of you."

"Good morning, John. Aren't you supposed to be at work rather than come see us at work this morning?"

"I was given a day off that's why. So I chose to come to see you guys instead of stay home."

"Where are you now? Let me send the driver to pick you up and bring you here."

"The driver? Mom, there's no need for that."

"I am not seeking your permission, tell me where you are so the driver will come to pick you up," she ordered.

"I am at the bank, at work. Lexious Bank, the one at Wuse 2, close to Banex Plaza."

The driver was at my location in no time, and Rachel walked me to the car.

The distance from my workplace to where my parents live in Maitama was not up to 15 minutes.

While on the trip, Rachel called to tell me to check my WhatsApp and she sent me a message, but I told her I was out of subscription and she should send me a text message instead.

Rachel: The ride you entered, is it a bolt ride you ordered? I have never seen anyone use a Buick Enclave to run Bolt or any ride for that matter.

Me: No, it is not a bolt ride. Is there an issue?

Rachel: is that your car? Where are you off to?

Me: I thought you knew I was going home?

Rachel: I knew you were going home, but that's not the way to your house.

"Good morning, sir."

I look up and noticed I had gotten to my parents' house and I was greeted by Corporal James, my father's orderly.

Me: We will talk about it later Rachel.

I texted.

Corporal James ordered the security man to open the gate for the driver to drive in

"It has been long sir, how have you been?

"Let me show you the way in, your parents' have been quite busy, they have made lots of changes to the house so you might get confused a little because it has been a long time since you were here," said Corporal James.

"Good morning, James. What's been happening? It's been such a long time." We kept having little conversations as we walked.

Corporal James helped me with my bag as we walked in. Indeed, there were lots of changes to the building and more renovations were still going on.

My parents were so rich and I was poor, still trying to get my life in order. My father was an army general and my mother was the Central Bank governor but immediately after I got my bachelor's degree, I had talks with them about fending for myself and living alone, I stopped receiving any assistance from them, monetary or otherwise. Our agreement was with a condition that in less than 5 years I'd be able to get myself completely sorted out and it was exactly 5 years and nowhere near getting my life together. The purpose of our meeting was to review our agreement and conditions of 5 years ago and judging by the situation of things, they were not going to let the issue go until there was a formal agreement on every term presented to me. After my school, my father wanted me to take over the family business because of their busy schedules, I would be in charge of all the businesses owned by the family, but I declined because I wanted to be a banker, gain experience and work through the ranks and become a Managing Director of a bank someday in the future and it was a tough tale for them to digest but they did and that prompted my mother to use her position to get me my first job.

It was supposed to be an easy route for me to start being independent because I was a fresh graduate and already working in one of the top 5 banks in the country, it was a sure bet to better living. My father assisted me with money to get my first apartment and I was settled, happy and living the life I ever wanted, but everything came crashing when I lost my job.

"Good morning, sir," I greeted my father.

He was standing outside supervising the work going on in the compound when I met him and he walked up to me and embraced me, Corporal James saluted him, I collected my bag from him and he left. My father's warm embrace made me remember the prodigal son, who left rich and came back so poor, I began to see myself as that prodigal son and that thought singlehandedly tore my mood.