The early morning sun stood right above SureHealth hospital, gracefully spreading it’s warmth in benevolent rays and one could easily watch the sunrise on Emeka’s face. Radiant all over, the triumphant Chukwuemeka had arranged his luggage in readiness for Chief and Mrs. Fred-Donalds to conclude discharge modalities with the hospital staff. Agbomma was unavoidably absent. Academic necessities forced her back to campus three months ago. Her return to school, through absolute help of Providence, brought into Emeka’s life, another reason to be grateful.
A survivor of two major attacks, one at school and the second in church, little Cajethan swore never to step close to neither school nor church for any reason whatsoever. The only thing that appealed to him was staying close to Chukwuemeka whom he had met some days to his discharge from SureHealth sometime last year. Since then, little Cajethan became a regular visitor to Emeka in SureHealth. Upon learning Mma was to return to school, he insisted to take over from where Mma stopped and his kind gestures have left pleasant impression in the minds of the Fred-Donalds.
Having cleared all hospital bills, set to go home was a group of five- Chief and Mrs. Fred-Donalds, Peter the driver, Little Caje and the triumphant Chukwuemeka. All doors closed, the Ford Explorer zoomed off and Emeka was heading home for the first time in three years and two months.
The journey back home was a smooth one though with unusual silence, unbecoming of a family deemed jubilant for the home-coming of a son pulled from the jaws of death. Two hours and fifteen minutes after takeoff from SureHealth, the car pulled to a stop in Chief Fred-Donalds’ compound. Everyone alighted. To Chukwuemeka, reason for diverting him to the house of Fred-Donalds instead of his mother’s house was still unfathomable.
Chief Fred-Donalds and wife had made adequate preparation for a brief party before taking off to SureHealth to bring Emeka home. To receive Emeka back home were some friends, family and well-wishers of the Fred-Donalds who had gathered, jubilant with thanksgiving to God for the life of Chukwuemeka.
True to Dr. Ken’s promise a year ago, Emeka stands firm on his two feet and was moving freely “without the help of clutches or humans”, and from the depths of his mind, Emeka remained grateful to God and the Fred-Donalds. Then, something continues to pierce his mind. His eyes dart from one corner of the compound to the other; one other prominent personality was visibly absent- his mother.
In the midst of eating, drinking and presentation of gifts by the visitors, the disturbance in Emeka’s heart was becoming evident on his face. Chief Fred-Donalds noticed and in a few moments, he emerged from the room to address Emeka. The visitors gave him rapt attention. In his hands were a car key and an envelope. His welcome-home speech to Emeka and gratitude to God was straight-to-the-point. In the end, a car key was handed to Emeka and documents for his University admission to study in one of the prestigious Universities in Europe. Emeka was immensely thankful but was unshaken in his demands that the favours can only be accepted if and only if he is told the whereabouts of his mother.
Efforts to divert his attention failed. Left without option in the presence of puzzled friends and family, Chief Fred-Donalds beckoned to his family to hop in to the car with Emeka. In a convoy of family and friends, the journey to Emeka’s mother’s house commenced.
©Ray Eke
…..to be continued….
