The Dreams Of My Mother – Episode 23

Episode 23

Dayo wanted to go to Oshogbo to meet Madam Lagos, as he saw that as the only way to escape whoever wanted to hurt him. But the problem was, he didn’t know how to get there. A voice told him to go back to the hospital, but Dayo was adamant, it was better to get lost than to get killed. He walked a long distance and even when his legs hurt, he kept going, fear was a great propeller. People kept giving him stares because of the hospital garb he still had on. When he got to Obalende, under the bridge where petty traders displayed their wares, Dayo walked up to a woman who sold biscuits, cigarettes and other petty things.

Dayo: “Good day ma’am, please how do I get to Oshogbo from here?” he asked in his usual Queen’s English. The Yoruba woman looked at him quizzically, because she did not understand what he had said. But she had heard ‘Oshogbo’ and rightly assumed that he was asking for how to get to Oshogbo.

Market woman: “Omo mi, go enter that moto for that signpost wey dey there” she replied, pointing the way.

Dayo went to where he was directed and when he got there, he could hear the driver shouting the name of his destination, on the top of his voice. He also realized that the bus was almost filled up. Then, he was faced with the predicament of paying his way. The passengers in the bus were already giving him weird looks, so he moved away from the bus, and a little feet away, he stood and bit his fingers, thinking of how to come up with one thousand, five hundred naira, which was the cost of the fare.

Back home, everyone was in a state of confusion. Gberan had already called his mother and intimated her with the latest development. The mother got on the next available flight out of Oshogbo, to Lagos.

Ken: “Mother, when we were coming into the hospital, I saw Dayo” he said as his mother walked through the lobby.

Bella: “Shut up your mouth, you didn’t see Dayo, he is dead” she replied, but was put aright when she met her husband. Her husband told her that Dayo had been in a coma, and waking up would have been a miracle according to the doctor’s prognosis, but Dayo had woken up and fled the hospital. Bella listened with thoughtfulness. What would have made Dayo run away, except he was scared of someone. Gberan was still talking when Bella spied Tania, she rushed towards her and pulled her into a deserted corridor.

Bella: “What really happened?” she asked, looking at Tania accusingly.

Tania: “What do you mean by that question, did no one tell you what happened?” she fired back defensively.

Bella: “I mean, how does someone ram their car into a bridge in broad daylight, it wasn’t dark and you weren’t even drunk!” she argued.

Tania: “I was emotionally unstable, I really don’t know what you are trying to imply but I would never hurt Dayo, he was like the son I never had”

Bella: “Drop that bullshit already, he was not like a son to you, he was your husband’s son. I cannot wrap my head around you conveniently ramming your car on the side that Dayo was seated. The truth will prevail, the doctor said he was scared, I think the boy knew that someone was after him” she retorted. The colour drained out of Tania’s face, she started to speak but clammed her mouth shut. Then she composed her face, and moved into Bella’s face.

Tania: “I still don’t know why you told me about my husband’s child, but…” she was cut off by an outburst. They turned and saw Gberan.

Gberan: “Your husband’s child?” he exclaimed in surprise.