ECHOES - Part 4

The deadlock in the evening’s conversation made the night one of the longest in living memory for both Emeka and Agbomma. Depressed beyond words in his hospital bed, an army of resentment, suppression and grief  sent sleep on exile and flooded Emeka with a stream of thoughts all night.
Most incomprehensible to him was the ominous, palpable silence the world has kept to his harmless request about his Mom’s whereabouts at the darkest moment of his life.

At the other end of the room, Emeka’s persistent sniffing left Agbomma, a head buried in soiled pillows and a  heart thoroughly distressed. Plagued by the thought of a possible repeat of the distressing events of the night in the future , Mma resolved it was unavoidably, time to stem the tide once and for all.

As soon as dawn announced its arrival, she dashed out of the room and in a matter of minutes, her message was relayed to her mother. She was quite optimistic that noon will never beat her Mum in punctuality to SureHealth.

The distress message of a strong-willed daughter caught Mrs. Fred-Donalds off-guard.  Bereft of new tricks to punctuate Emeka’s raging but genuine inquisitions, she came up with a plan to blend ferocity with bloated claims in a letter and parcel it down to SureHealth Hospital.

Agbomma’s optimism had an hour setback. At exactly 1:00 pm, a black Range Rover SUV pulled in the premises of SureHealth. Mrs. Fred-Donalds' driver came all alone and to Agbomma that could translate to botched effort, considering the issue at stake.

A bag load of items was handed to Mma and a brown envelop to Emeka who had refused to take neither food nor medication all day. Filled with anxiety, he ripped the envelope open and the letter read:

Chukwuemeka,

               Our attention has been drawn to your sudden change of attitude towards your medication, wellbeing and everyone around you.
It has also got to our notice, your sudden conversion of your stay in SureHealth to a disturbing question and answer series.

               My husband--your Daddy-- and I deliberated on this sudden change and I must sincerely tell you it did not go down well with us. We would like to believe  you need no reminder about the dare implications of this line you are towing at this age and time.  This message was intended to be delivered to you directly in person if not for some unavoidable family engagements and it is strongly recommend you take the content very seriously, in your interest.

               Our primary concern is, and has always been to ensure your speedy recovery and we expect you to follow suit.

               By this letter, you have been fully and finally reminded to desist from all forms of behavior capable of derailing your steadily improving health. Save your questions for the day you will be discharged from the hospital.

               Feel free to let us know if you have any material or medical needs.

Wishing you speedy recovery,  Chukwuemeka.

Yours,

Chief Mrs. Ojiugo Fred-Donalds. 

The tone of the letter spread a renewed cloud of confusion around Emeka. Staring at void with gaping mouth, his mind continued playing back a couple of issues that have got him stuck in shock---the hostile tone of the letter, his mother’s last speech to him when she dropped him off  to church that fateful Sunday, Mma’s escalation of a little misunderstanding between them and the use of “your Daddy” in the letter in reference to Chief Fred-Donalds.

Slowly the letter slipped off his hands and Mma grabbed it immediately.
Though disturbed by the tone of the letter, Mma was a bit relieved that the burden of finding tactical maneuvers to some of  Emeka’s spontaneous questions has been taken off her.

Next in her agenda was to tow the very depressed Emeka out of his present mood and in a matter of hours, their cordiality took a full swing once more.

Emeka had vowed in his mind never to allow a repeat of last night's incident, no matter how hopeless.

…to be continued…..

 

©Ray Eke