That Kind Of Risk

Olamide stood up and stares his mother in the eye. “So we should worship a witch like she is God because her birth brought about good luck?” Olamide’s statement made Mrs. Olayinka to go hysterical. She hits him on his head nonstop while throwing curses at him.

“She will bring good fortune to the family. But you have been deceived. The evil people that killed your father wants to use you to take away Lanre’s life. It is better you had died. You were sick when I gave birth to her. It was the money her birth attracted that we use to pay for your treatment. Baba refused to treat you without money. But Olanrewaju brought money with her into this world, and you want to kill my daughter for me? You should die instead! Die!” The mother cried.

Olamide immediately felt weak. Nobody told him about this. He thought his parents loved Lanre more than him, but he never knew it was because of some good luck her birth brought to the family.

He ran out of the house to avoid his mother’s blows and slaps that were like two sand bags used to hit his face. He went to stay at an old friends place. When he told the friend what had happened, his friend laughed at him.

“Ola, I been think say person when go school de get sense? You be mumu! (I thought people who went to school are sensible people? You are a fool!). His friend Bayo said to him. He told Olamide if his sister was indeed a witch, then he would have been a dead man because he was always beating her up at every slight opportunity he gained.

“Lanre would have killed you like 10 years ago! If it’s me sef, I for don kill you. You are always beating her”. Bayo said.

“I am frustrated right now! I made my mother cry. And Lanre may never forgive me this one”. Olamide said. His friend told him to take heart but not his.

“Ehyaa! Please take heart o, but not my own!” Bayo said. This irritated Olamide who slaps Bayo’s hand off his shoulder.

“Are you not supposed to tell me what to do?” Olamide asked his friend.

“From the look of things, your sister no wan marry the guy!” Bayo said telling him that from his observation on what Olamide explained to him, Lanre does not want to marry Gozie. So he advised Olamide to support his sister and lose his job willingly. His sister may forgive him and help him if he takes her side. But Olamide thought that was too risky.

“You know when Lanre wants to display wickedness, she makes sure she finish her part. I can’t take that kind of risk, I swear”. Olamide said. His friend gave him a slap on the head.

“But you took the risk of trying to kill her in the presence of your potential in-laws. Even if she marry the guy, they will still make you lose your job. Which man go help person when almost kill him wife?” Bayo asked. His point obviously made sense to Olamide as he decided he will do as he said.