7.5

BEFORE THE RESUMPTION DAY OF WEDNESDAY AT THE SAMUEL'S HOUSEHOLD

Mrs. Samuel had already had her bath and changed clothes, by that time Simeon had already woken up but he had not yet come out of his room. She knew because she didn't see him in his room but she heard water coming from the bathroom.

She went again to check up on him, and to her expectation he had worn jeans and a maroon vest, but he was looking around the room in a confused manner, she didn't want to believe it, this hadn't happened in a long time but she had to confirm her suspicions.

"Shimmy, are you hungry?" she asked.

"Mummy? Where am I?” he asked confused. She wanted to cry in frustration because he only called her Mummy when his little case of partial amnesia surfaced.

"Why are you crying Mummy, did he do anything to you?" He asked getting angry and almost on the verge of tears.

"No Shimmy he's dead. He is dead" she reaffirmed him about his father’s death as she rushed to his side and hugged him tightly, while he kept on chanting, he's dead, he's dead to reassure himself.

After he had calmed down, she brought food to his room, because she knew that if he saw Doctor Dele in the parlour, he may become hysterical again. She left him to eat before she went back to discuss with the doctor.

"How is he?" the doctor asked.

How was he? It was a simple question wasn't it; yet, how could she explain how he was. It seemed like she didn't need to talk because her silence in itself was an answer. Dr Dele wanted to reassure her that she needn’t say more, however, as he was about to talk, she beat him to it. "He called me Mummy" she said softly like she couldn’t believe it.

That sentence alone gave him an incline on what next, he needed to do.

"Okay, I do understand, though I would like you to observe him today and tomorrow and get back to me. If he tends to remember later, let me know, if he doesn’t, still let me know, I have other appointments for now but don’t forget to reach out. Have a nice day.”

"Thank you, Doctor," she replied and he smiled at her in response.

"He's a strong young man, and you have to be each other's pillar, you are a spiritual person, so don't forget to add prayers in the mix".

Don’t forget to add prayers in the mix; the words echoed in her heart over and over. But then, anytime she opened her mouth to pray, the words couldn’t form. It was like her throat had a hand around it stopping her and she felt mute but the tears that poured out, at least they counted as prayers too, right? Did she have any right to say she was her son’s pillar, when he had been her pillar all his childhood and teenage years? She didn’t allow herself to cry out loud because it may trigger something else; so, she bit the inside of her cheek until she could no longer feel the tears again.

OTHER

There was a man, I think he's coming for deception but I don't want to believe that in any form. So, you've started going to school, is it? But when though? Oh well it's all good. What house is this? Wait why do you need a doctor; they don't believe you are sick do they? You are not sick I have told you. Would I fade? Am I to leave you?

Saturday morning by 6:00 am, Doctor Dele came wearing a pair of black joggers with a green vest and a black converse. He was greeted by Mrs. Samuel at the door, she was wearing a cream short silk nightwear. It skipped her mind to wear something appropriate because who would knock at her door at this time and on a Saturday, she also didn't expect it will be her son's therapist that suddenly became handsome to her. That was by the way, her sleep filled mind cleared up and she tried to become alert.

After they realized, they were looking at each other for quite some time, the doctor suddenly cleared his throat; "Good morning, Mrs. Samuel"

"Good morning, Doctor, why so early, is it part of the session?" She was still awkwardly standing by the entrance door frame as she realized and swiftly moved aside as she gestured for him to enter.

"I just want him and I to go for an early morning jogging, it can help clear his mind a bit and maybe see if he can recall some things" his therapist answered.

She nodded in response, as she excused herself to call Simeon.

Doctor Dele could hear shouts from both parties probably an argument because he could make out words like ‘I’m not sick’, ‘does it matter if I don’t want to remember’, ‘you’re still my son and I love you’ coming out at intervals. Finally, one of the doors opened with a bang and Simeon came out although with a frown; he was wearing sweatpants with a vest too and his mother came out accompanying him.

SIMEON

"Mummy said you are my doctor" he said confused as he looked at the strange man sitting down in their parlour looking too comfortable for his liking. Dr Dele could read the thoughts displayed on the boy’s face but he didn’t want to get caught smiling so he coughed and covered it up with a; "Yes, good morning, Simeon, I am your doctor and today you and I are going jogging if you don’t mind" he had already stood up and gestured for them to go.

"Let me put on my shoes and then we can go".

It was when they stepped outside that Mrs. Samuel noticed that the Doctor came with his car and parked it next to hers.

Simeon and Doctor Dele started by walking for about five minutes, before they jogged. The both of them were quiet and just breathing the cool morning unpolluted air around. They stopped after a while, seating down on one of the park benches.

Doctor Dele offered him a bottle of water which Simeon hadn't notice where the doctor removed it from, he thanked him and drank more than half of it.

The doctor smiled and asked "what have you been thinking about lately Simeon?"

He had been thinking about so many things he wanted to say, but instead he said "I'm not allowed to tell you". The doctor already prepared himself that he would either get a positive and negative response or no response at all. That was one of the jobs of a psychiatrist and therapist not so.

"So why are you not allowed to tell me?" he asked

"I don't know" Simeon replied looking away.

"Well, I've been thinking about how my life would have been if I wasn't a doctor, a psychiatric doctor you know. What if I had read pharmacy or engineering, how would it have turned out? Would I have had the opportunity to meet the people I had met? Would I had ever in a million years come to Kaduna?” The doctor decided to speak instead.

"I don't think you should study engineering; it won't suit you" he heard the boy say. “Oh really, why do you say so?”

“Before I answer, what area of engineering are we talking about?”

“Well either electrical or civil” he replied.

“No, I think your area is to help people so maybe the pharmacy would suit you more.” Simeon said with conviction.

“Really?”, "Yes, really" Simeon answered in strong affirmation as he continued; "I think it’s amazing that you at least know the career choice and course you want for yourself. You even earmarked three. The only thing I know is that I never wanted to go into science class. First of all, to spite my dad even though he’s dead you know. Secondly I don’t want to do anything connected to him."

“So, are you allowed to talk about this?” the doctor asked turning his full interest to him. He didn’t have his notebook with him, but he was prepared for times like this; because one of the things they were taught is that, a session can happen anywhere, it doesn’t have to be in the confines of the office. He could also pick the important details, when he gets back, he could pen them down.

“Yes, any slander against my father I think is allowed” he heard him reply to his earlier question. He nodded for him to go on. "I have been thinking about how my mum has been or how would she be when I die. I've also been thinking why my memory seems to be fluctuating you know, like a bulb". Doctor Dele had mixed emotions in regards to Simeon’s statement about death. It was heartbreaking for any child whether they were his or not to speak about dying and worse dying before the parent. No parent wished to see, hear or experience such.

He tried to keep his emotions in check and with the best neutral tone he could muster, he asked; "What do you think would be your mum’s reaction to your death?”

“I think that, you know that” Simeon had the answer at the back of his heart but in this moment, he was having a difficult time getting the words out of his mouth. He decided to pause his talking and count to five in his head before he continued. “Honestly, I think she would be happy. Because she would be free from the second burden she has in her life. I know I’m not like my mates in my peer group; she thinks I don’t know how she sometimes uses excuses to dissuade me from going with her either for local errands or when she goes for events. She needs to shine without having to fear that there’s a skeleton which is me in her closet. We have changed everything concerning us, from our names, our tribes to everything we can think of. I’m not even normal. It was so strange you know when you realize that it’s more than your subconscious talking, you know that it’s not really you. She calls him her other son; I call him other. Do you know how many deliverances houses I have been taken to? I mean you must have read my files so you know, I was in and out of school. So yes, I think she would be happy if I die” his voice broke but the tears couldn’t come out.

"Simeon did she ever tell you all these things?” Dr Dele asked and Simeon responded with; “does she need to? Actions speak louder than words doc”.

They were quiet for a while until the doctor patted his arm for them to walk back to the house.

Mrs. Samuel had already made brunch since it was past twelve. She made spaghetti with stew and fish to accompany it with an orange juice. Simeon went to bath while his mother served the doctor.

Doctor Dele narrated a bit of the conversation to his mother, leaving out the death conversation. He told the mother to keep on treating him as normal as possible. She assured him that she would do anything for her son because she didn’t have anyone left. The doctor explained that his own wasn't complete amnesia that was why he was able to remember some other things because his brain and heart had already stored it that she is important to Simeon as a whole and his main anchor.

They talked for some time and he also told her he would come by Monday and Tuesday, after that he left.

On Tuesday, Doctor Dele decided to have his session in Simeon's house after having it at his office the previous day.

"What's your favourite colour?" The Doctor asked as they both sat down on the lush silver and purple carpet in the parlour, they had moved the centre table to the side while they sat down playing scrabble.

"Maroon, why do you ask, aren’t things like this in my file?"

"Just curious Simeon, and yes I’ve seen it in your file, but I saw another colour which you didn’t call. Is that your mum’s colour?"

"No, it’s my friend's colour"

"Okay, is that the colour of the person that calls you, her bestie?" he asked scribbling down.

"No, it’s a he and he was and is still my first friend but he's not here. I haven't seen him for a while. So, adding his colour to mine is my way of remembering him, so that I don’t forget you know" his voice going nostalgic.

"Everyone has a way of coping with things, be it hunger, anger, happiness, joy, even their friendship and besides if that’s what makes you feel connected and close to him, then why not. What of the lemon green reading table and adjoining chair, is that another significant person in your life or?" Simeon didn’t verbally answer, instead he lowered his head and arranged the letters FEELINGS on the scrabble board. The doctor saw it but and also searched for letters to spell on the board. He arranged the word INTERESTING on the board, Simeon finally answered. "The lemon green is because I remember that someone makes me happy".

The Doctor didn't ask more questions, because he noticed Simeon now had his concentration on the word game instead. At least he happily talked about a person although the doctor had an idea who the person was, he didn't comment and it was good to note that today’s session didn’t consist of Simeon voicing any negative thoughts or reflection.

They played until they were hungry and nobody won. His mother was happy with the report she got that he seemed to be in a happy place, after Mrs. Samuel thanked and escorted the Doctor out, she smiled feeling at peace.

She went on to make phone calls and check how the event she was planning was turning with her subordinates. She put all her focus on her work, being happy with the progress in her son's life and her work. She found herself softly humming the song she had composed years ago.

Fierce as a lion

Wise and gentle like the dove

Your flower is unharmed,

Your precious stone still shines,

For the lion has kept it safe.

She didn't know her son had fallen asleep across her in his room as she hummed the song.