BLIND DESIRE

EPISODE 3

?God please save my mother?dont let
anything bad happen to her please?? i wept
as i prayed ?whatever she?s passing
through, father give her the strength to
overcome it?dont let the plans of then
wicked ones?? the tears prevented me from
continuing.
If anything bad happened to mama, i didnt
know if i would be able to survive it?i really
loved mama?she was the best mother the
world could ever provide.
People say mama and i looked alike and it
was true, i was a replica of mama. Brown
skinned just like her, love-shaped face and
almondshaped light green eyes.
Dada was lightskinned just like papa with
his dreadlocks?his name was Danke but he
was called Dada due to his dreadlocks and
the Da in his name Danke.
I also prayed for Dada too.
I felt nothing but hatred towards papa?
hatred for separating us from our mother for
no just reason?oh how mama must be
feeling?
Mama had always loved her children and
she being separated from us must have hurt
real bad.
A plan crept into my head and i smiled.
***
?Ivyy, take dis money and make sure you are
back from school early alright?? Aunty Chime
said thrusting a hundred naira note into my
palms.
I smiled in gratitude and left the house.
They were both the same?my father and
herself?wicked people..though aunty Chime
had been very nice and caring towards me
dis past few weeks, i couldnt help but feel
nothing but pure undiluted hatred for her.
I hated father and aunt Chime and God was
surely going to punish them for their evil
deeds especially aunt Chime who hated
mama for no just reason.
I clutched my books tightly as i crossed the
major road leading to the market. My heart
suddenly leaped in excitement at the
thought of seeing my mother once again.
We could plan?we could sneak out of the
village and go to Ezei, get Dada and then we
leave to a faraway village to start life afresh
without papa and his brutality.
As i strolled into the line where mama?s
shop was located, i started running.
I sighted mama from afar shading her goods
with a faded green top and a worn out
wrapper with patches below.
I ran to her ?mama!?
Before she could turn to me, i had already
engaged her in a bear hug.
She looked shocked, but then she quickly
wrapped her arms around me briefly, then
pulled back.
She looked around like she was scared, then
looked at me.
?Ivyy?what?what are you doing here?? she
asked looking around like a thief.
I wonder why she did that..was she scared
of papa?
?mama?they?they took me away from you? i
said hugging her tightly.
She held my shoulders and gently pulled me
away from her. I could see the tears stinging
her eyes but she quickly wiped them with
the sleeve of her dress.
Then she reached her waist bag and brought
out a five hundred naira note and t----t it in
my hand, she looked around once more, this
time tears were strolling down her cheeks.
?Ivyy?? her voice was shaky with tears ?you
have to go now?and please?please i beg
you in the name of God, dont come here
again?its for your own good, you have to
leave immediately..i dont want this to get to
your father?s ears?and?and the council?s??
I was momentarily numb as she fell on her
knees clutching her school uniform ?Ivyy, you
have to stay away from me, you really have
to stay away from me if you want a better
life?please protect your future and stay
away from me?i?m nothing but badluck and
i would only spoil your future if you have
anything to do with me..i want us to severe
whatever connection we have btw us
henceforth?? she was really crying and i felt
myself moved with tears as i fell on my
knees too.
?mama??
?please Ivyy, i beg you?? she placed her
palms together, then she sniffed and cleaned
her nostrils with her wrapper ?take care of
Dada for me?you know i love you both, the
two of u are my life and i would sacrifice
anything to ensure the future of both of
you?but for now, just stay away from
me..Ivyy biko, go away?
?mama??
?go away! Ivyy, just go away!?
I was crying ?mama, why are you chasing
me away??
?because i love you? she suddenly got up on
her feet?she dragged me out of the shop
?run?just go, now!?
?but mama??
?go! Just go! Stay away from me!?
I ran away like a scared kid crying like never

before.