They Were Silent When My Mother Died

Meanwhile, K had gone to Lanre’s place but did not find her at home. He had to go to the beauty parlour but she was not there either. He asked the workers if they had seen her. None of them admit to having seen her. They told him she had only called to tell them she will not be coming to work that day. So K had to call Lanre’s phone. He blamed himself for not calling her before coming. But still, he knew even if he did called her before coming, she may not have answered.

K left the shop after trying to reach Lanre over the phone only to end up not being able to reach. Her phone seem to have been switched off. So he got into his car and drove away. But not before leaving a message with the workers to let her know he was around and that she should call him.

………………………

“Aunty Lanre, where are we going? You said we were just going out. But this journey is quite long, that is if it is not worst. We have been on the road for over four hours”. Eno said to Lanre who was seated with her eyes focused on the road even though she was not the one driving the car.

“Tega, how long do we have to arrive? Remember we will go to warri from there. I do not intend sleeping in Edo”. Lanre said to Tega who was driving.

“It depends on the road. But it won’t take up to two hours to get to the village”. Tega replied Lanre.

“What village? Aunty Lanre are we going to your village? But I thought you are from Ibadan?” Eno asked. Lanre just nods her head. Eno did not seem to understand what Lanre meant. She decided to keep quiet before she burst out after a few minutes as though something had hit her head.

“Edo, is that not where my mom is from?” Eno said loudly. She asked Lanre what they were going to do there.

“Nothing dear. We are just going to see your mother’s people”. Lanre said to Eno. Eno shook her head.

“Do you even know my mother’s village? I do not know it, but I am not going there. My mother’s people never treated her well. I do not want to go there”. Eno said.

“Eno, in life, there are principles that govern humans. Some can be ignored, but some, we cannot ignore. I have thought about it, and this cannot be ignored. I have to inform your people that their daughter is safe in my hands. They should know that you exist even though they will not contribute to anything. They might not be good people, but they are still important. Sometimes, the most important people are not necessarily good people. They are just important by entitlement”. Lanre said to Eno.

“I’m sure they were silent when my mother died”. Eno said to Lanre. She swiftly wipes the tears off her face. It was hard controlling those tears. They just come out at will.