My brother, Buka. Dont leave home, I begged him on my knees, ... I had a terrible dream last night. It seemed real, so real that my ghost cried till it entered back into my body. In the dream, you died, thats all I can remember about it, I coughed and continued, ... I was stupid, I couldnt pray but cry and missed you already. You are all I have Buka. Remember that Papa never joked with my dreams, he... Enough! Ama... he interrupted me. You had the dream and you couldnt pray. Although I believe I wasnt the person in your dream even though you saw my face. Pray! Pray! Ama, I will not die! His voice was wore a coat of fear. I saw a tear stroll down his cheek even though he tried to fight it back but couldnt. It was stronger than he was. Will manners fall from heaven for you if I dont go into the streets to hustle? You know you are all I have Ama, I dont ever want you to feel bad, beg or starve, I promised Mother I would alwas be there for you even in her absence. Now, he stooped close to me as those words fought their ways out of his mouth, the tear now became tears and streamed from both eyes down to his cheeks, lips and then to the ground, he held my hands, squeezed my fingers as though he was trying to make blood drip from them to the ground. It was the second time I ws seeing Buka cry. The first, at the foot of mamas grave in the evening of the day the ground swallowed her body. We were not blessed with many choices of having more siblings and good relatives. The friends we had, we seemed to be better than they were. I was intelligent even though I dropped out of school secondary school after papa died. Ebuka couldnt further his education in the University after mamas death as he helped pay my fees with the little money him and paid made from the menial jobs they did, and six months later, papa fell into a sleep no one was able to wake; he went to visit mama but never returned. I dropped out of school, we needed to eat, dress and live well. Buka made sure I was never hungry, he made sure I had all I wanted and had nothing to do with the children, especially my agemates in the street, He was keeping a promise he always told me. Ama... he called me and thwarted the swift journey the tears down my cheeks were having, with his right thumb, I will not die, you will not lose me... Please Buka... I interrupted him, ... dont go out today. I will not die... he continued, ignoring my plea, ... I will go and I will come back like I have always done. He left! With the tears on his face, he left the room even without turning back. I fell to the ground and writhed my body in pains. I cried until my eyes began to hurt, swell and soon, I slept off. . . 9:45pm I woke up. I have been sleeping I murmured in anger. Buka should be back by now but, why didnt he wake me up? Maybe, he knew I needed to rest and let me have it, I thought. I rose and walked to the rooms corridor to welcome him but he was not there. I yawned all the way to the toilet, the bathroom and the backyard but didnt find him. I grabbed my mobile phone, ...his number was switched off. Hello, Ama, how are you doing? came a voice that belonged to my brothers friend; Dave. Is my brother in your place please? I asked, ignoring his question. I just asked how you are doing, Ama, Dave, have you seen my brother? I asked again. It seemed the words he said never entered my ear. Am coming over. His deep voice spoke and the phone beeped. I felt my heart sink into my belly. The dream! my heart screamed. My hair strands stood and I began to freeze in fear. A knock came on the door and it flipped opened. In, walked Dave. He was huge and had broad shoulders. He was dark and handsome. He had a beautiful smile that could send sorrows away into the desert and I wondered why life chosed to be unfair, maybe to some people. Dave was the most intelligent amongst all our friends, he could speak, he could read and he could write well. He graduated from the University four years ago; some months after his parents demise in a ghastly motor accident. He was the only child. People said he was a spoit child and wasnt wise enough for his parents were wealthy and he let his uncles take over all his father laboured for. He was just 25, a year older than Buka was, having no other option, he let them have their ways, he wasnt strong enough and he left them all in the hands of GOD. Dave wasnt smiling this evening. He wore a strange look on his face. His eyes looked red and tired from crying and he stood, looking at me like he had something to tell me but words failed him. The clock ticked 10:20pm. Buka was not back yet and Dave had remained silent ever since he stepped into our room. Did you see Buka? I broke the silence amidst tears as I fought with the thoughts in my mind telling me he had brought a bad news. Ama, he called me. It seemed my voice gave his a raise. Buka isnt coming back, there seemed to be so much weight in his voice like the words never wanted to come out but were forced to. Today? I asked. I sniffed. No! Ama, he... he... I... I... am sorry, but... he stuttered as I stood, focused my gaze on his lips like I was reading his words from them. I couldnt say a word but nodded my head as a signal for him to continue but he couldnt. He started weeping like I had seen Buka do in the morning and then I sensed something must have gone wrong but failed to admit it. I tried to wave off the thoughts of death but couldnt. Dave where is my brother? I screamed as I rushed him, grabbed his shirt and started beating him. Where is Buka? I cried. The news hadnt been broken but my mind already seemed to know what it was all about. I wasnt sure but, the tears in his eyes? The stuttering? I cried until the tears in wherever they were stored in my body dried up. My brother is gone. Buka is gone! I cried. He has gone to meet mother and father. He couldnt even tell me the truth without leaving. Was armed robbery the menial jobs he did all day? He robbed the robbers and gave to the less priileged; I and our friends, but he never told me. Dave knew, he was my closest friend, but he never told me. The saying Everyday is for the thief but one day is for the owner worked. I just believed it does. The dream last night! Papa never joked with my dreams. Mama and Buka always thought I had a fever whenever I told them. Now, I wish I had a fever. Oh! My brother, my lover, my father, my mother, my sister, my friend, my best friend, my life, my all, my everything. He was all I had. Now, I am lifeless! Hopeless! Helpless! I dont want to be left in this world tonight, alone, am alone. Is anybody out there? I screamed. No one has ever been but for Buka. Life would be meaningless without him. Buka... I called his name like he was there to answer, ... Father waited for six months. Am coming right away. Poo! *************** The end********************** * Criticisms are much preferred and compliments are also welcomed
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 19:04:49 +0000
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