I Will Wait – Episode 4

_04_

One of the things I never really understood about people is how much they can be easily taken with a few words, here is someone who applauds her step mother without mentioning anything about the woman who mothered her and they are busy praising her. Well don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against step mothers but I think we should call a spade a spade. You can’t just talk about one woman and not mention the other without raising suspicions.

‘Mister Chairperson.’ I called out

I noticed the frown on mum’s face, she knew that I wasn’t going to make this easy for the lady.

‘Yes Sir.’ He responded

Everyone’s attention was now drawn to me, the nerd was standing still as if cold water had been poured on her.

‘Are questions allowed?’ I asked fixing my gaze at him

‘Yes they are, please state your name and country you are representing.’ He said ‘Everyone take your seat and Ms Chabala you can take the platform.’ He said looking at the minion looking lady

‘My names are Cornelius and I am not representing any Country.’ I said I could hear the laughter from the ladies.

‘Ms Chabala, you have praised your step mother so much. I must say that is a good thing.’ I began

‘Second mother.’ She corrected

‘It is still the same thing.’ I said noticing how nervous she was ‘Tell me something, where is your biological mother?’ I asked

I noticed how everyone’s eyes shifted from me to where the minion was standing, everyone must have been caught off guard with the question because she too looked stunned.

‘I am sorry?’ she asked almost whispering ‘Where is your biological mother?’ I asked again

She turned to look at the Chairperson, her eyes begging for mercy.

‘Well I don’t know about her whereabouts and I don’t see how that is connected to my story.’ She responded not sure of her words

‘I think it has everything to do with your story, imagine if she ran into it and not once have you mentioned her.’ I shot at her

‘I did not mention anything about my mother because there is nothing to talk about.’ She said looking straight in my direction ‘Not even that she gave birth to you?’ I asked

‘She gave birth to me but another woman played a greater role as my mother.’ She said almost screaming now

‘That doesn’t give you the right to completely erase her from your life.’ I answered ‘What makes you think that I have erased her from my life?’ she asked tears threatening to fall

‘For starters because she is not mentioned in your story, not even once have you acknowledged her existence!’

‘Sir you have no right whatsoever to judge me or my actions. You don’t know anything about my background and I would suggest you don’t try to dig deeper than you can dive.’ She said now with blazing eyes

I couldn’t help but laugh, you don’t put one part of your life in public and not expect to raise questions.

‘Ms I think you are selfish for not talking about your biological mother.’ I said with a stern voice

‘My mother,’ she paused allowing the tears to fall off.

‘My mother left me as a baby, never seen her face. Never heard her laugh. Most times I prayed to fate, no I talked to fate. That it should allow me to trade places with her because I saw how much her absence affected my dad. Many times I prayed to love, I cursed love because while love gave me to my father it took her away from him. But I guess these are two things that we never totally have control over. When time and love was right, it gave me a second mother and it gave another shot at my father. So to answer your question and those of the people in here, I never talked about my biological mother because there is nothing to talk about. She doesn’t exist.’

With that said she left the stage and walked out of the room.

**

I was disturbed with a loud knock on the door, what was with this hotel and people banging on doors.

‘Dearest mother.’ I said faking a smile when I opened the door ‘I never raised you like that.’ She said walking past me ‘Please come in.’ I said sarcastically as I closed the door ‘What was that about?’ she asked fuming

‘I don’t get you.’ I responded as I poured her a cup of coffee

‘Cornelius Kazadi this is not the man I raised, I raised you right. Not to treat people the way you did today!’ she yelled refusing the coffee

‘But mum I was just asking her a question, are you telling me you were all going to let it pass. I know you saw the flaws in her story, it is half baked.’ I said

‘What do you know about writing? When did you become interested in reading?’ she asked still yelling

‘I thought that is why you brought me here.’ I responded

‘I brought you here so that you can have some air and not treat that girl the way you did.’ She said

‘You are speaking like I know her.’ I responded scratching my head ‘You will go to her and apologize.’ She told me ‘No, what?’ I said letting out a little laugh

‘I have never in my life read something so genuine, the emotion behind that story is just too intense. I can’t even begin to imagine what you have done to that poor girl. You will go to her and apologize, that is final!’ she said and left

**

I sat on the bed replaying what had just happened, the tears kept flowing. I was taken back to years ago when I would hear dad crying every night, he continued to say the same thing.

‘Quonnie how will I raise this child?’

Then one night I heard him laugh, more of a relief and he said.

‘Quonnie I won’t have to do it alone anymore.’ That is the day he married my second mother

I was disturbed from my thoughts with a knock at the door, I quickly wiped the tears and went to open it.

‘What do you want?’ I asked the figure that was standing before me ‘I came to apologize.’ He said more like he was being forced ‘For?’ I asked expressionless

‘Actually I came to tell you that I still think you are selfish for not writing about your mother.’

I must have lost my mind because the next thing I remember was my hand landing hard on his cheek before slamming the door in his face.

..

Tbc

I WILL WAIT