BOY MANIAC

Chapter 5

Slowly I picked one of the letters out of its enveloped; fixed my eyes on it and read aloud.

“Dear Si...tailisi..”

“I... I mean, Stiles.”

“Ahem"

I cleared my throat and continued reading.

“I... Miss you... Alr.. Alr...”

I said over and over again, not sure of the word so I paused reading for a moment, skipped the word, and continued reading. My reading was not fluent. I miss interpreted and left out a lot of words. I sounded like a baby learning how to read in kindergarten. I sighed anytime I made a mistake and skipped any difficult word. I paused my reading, pursed my lips and peered into AY’s face.

“What!? Come on, go on, keep on reading, you wont leave your letters halfway will you?”

“No"

I replied slowly and shook my head.

“I want you to read em, please read em for me.... I can't read em, I find it difficult to read em, please…”

I added, placing the letters on her lap.

“Styles, you are trying, just go on and keep on reading” 

She replied; dropping them back on my laps.

“I said I can't"

“you can”

“No! I can't”

“of course you can”

“I said I can't bitch!!!”

I suddenly blurted with gritted teeth; breathing heavily; chest heaving profusely. My body suddenly went limp when it dawned on me that I had messed up again. Oh my God! I just called her a bitch. fuck me! Could she be right? Have I really call her a bitch before? Why the fuck does this good for nothing mouth speak before I will it too? Damn! What am I going to tell her now? 

“You see” 

she said and shrugged.

“You’ve called me a bitch again. But I pray you don't forgot this one too”

She added; pursed her lips and shook her head.

“That was a mistake”

I retorted.

“A mistake indeed”

“I-I-I swear. I-I-It was a mistake, I didn't mean t-o ca-ll you that”

I stammered sheepishly.

She stared at me for a while; sighed, before speaking.

“Oh! it was a mistake; yet, you haven't apologise to me”

“I'm so sorry.”

I pleaded with eyes casted on the floor.

“I don't know if I should believe whether it was a mistake or not, but I said earlier I don't bare grudges, so I forgive you.”

AY replied; waggled her brows at me and winked.

“Okay the letters”

She said taking the letters from my lap.

“I’ll read em for you; only because, I don't want you to get hysterical and cuss me again.”

she added and read aloud: “Dear styles, I miss you already bro.....I love you so much, much more than diamonds and gold. I just want you back in my life. I want you much more than millions of naira....you've been gone for only a few months, but it feels like a lifetime to me....”

As AY kept on reading 

“phew"

I gave a sigh of relief and smiled as AY kept on reading the letters for me. 

                       *          *.         *

                           *.     *.     *.

I beamed brightly.

Finally I want to the leave the hospital.

“Today you are going to be discharged”

AY said and winked at me.

“Yeah, I have waited so much for this day. I can’t wait to get out of here, and see how the world looks like; how life feels like outside here.”

I said looking blankly into space.

“Wole and his family arrived yesterday. He is going to visit you as soon as possible.”

“Really!? I would love to see him. I pray he comes before I leave, perhaps see me off.”

“Don’t worry, he’ll show up”

AY said, grinning with her mouth closed.

Just then my mom entered into the room with two new faces, a man and a boy.

“Styles!!”

The boy cried out.

“Is that you bro?”

he added, his brownish lips parting into an O as he stressed the last word “you.....” He ran over to me, wrapped his arms around me, pulled me in nice and tight and wouldn’t let go for a long time. 

“Hey dude! Be careful, he’s not that strong you know”

AY said; tapping him on the shoulder. 

“hehehe, that’s true…..”

The boy said and chewed his lower lip; running his hand through is black afro hair. 

“I’m just so happy to see that my buddy is back again. I missed you so much mate.”

“Who the fuck are you?”

I asked as curiosity crept up my brain.

“it’s me bro; Wole; the one who sent you flowers and letters. I was told you don’t remember much, but it is fine as long as I have you back in my life we will flow again…..”

“good morning Mrs Smith; good morning sir,”

AY greeted my mom and the man standing besides her; I did the same. 

“How are you doing styles?”

Asked the tall and broad-shouldered man. His deep brown eyes; cast on me. His face prominent, with high symmetrical cheekbones and chin. His face split into a grin as he came over and took my hand in his, and squeezed it softly.

“I am fine sir”

I replied.

“do you remember me?”

“Nope”

I replied. his face wasn't a bit familiar.

“I’m your uncle Ray, your father’s Elder brother”

“You are… my father’s brother, then where is my father?”

I said; asking after my father for the first time. 

“don’t worry you’ll see him when you get home”

My mom said convincingly,

“No! Why didn't you tell me anything about my dad all this while....”

“I did”

She replied

“You didn't”

“I did. You asked about him a lot; and I always told you how he was faring and why he couldn't come.”

“liar!!”

I fired. 

“I am not lying.”

“You are! I've never asked about my dad before. You are just lying!”

“You must have forgotten. You did ask about your dad alot.”

“She might be right.”

AY cut in. 

I quickly turned my gaze to AY; listening to her, as she spoke: “You know you forgot that you called me a bitch... and you also forgot that we've ever met. So there is a probability that your mom is speaking the truth. You must have asked about your dad, and she must have told you about him, but you must have forgotten.”

AY added.

I stared into space, my mind deliberating on what AY had said: She might be right. If I could easily forget that I've ever met with her, insulted her, and made her cry then Mom must have also told me about dad, but I might have probably forgotten. Damn! I pondered for a while. After finding my cool, I pleaded sheepishly.

“I am sorry mom”

My mom stared at me for a while with pursed lips and finally uttered.

“It is okay my son, but don't you ever call me a liar again okay?”

she said with furrowed brows; lips pursed and a finger pointing at me

“yes mom”

I replied beaming

“give me a hug; to show you've forgiven me.”

“Is that necessary?”

“Hmm,hmm”

I nodded.

“Okay,”

my mom said pulling me into a tight hug.

“Silly boy”

she added; ruffling my hair.

“All the necessary arrangements and payments have been taken care of; it’s time to leave,”

uncle Ray said; interrupting my mommy's hug.

“Now get your butts up, and lets get out of this place.”

He added.

When we got out of the hospital, Wole, AY and I hopped into the back sit of uncle Ray's black car. While my mom sat besides uncle Ray at the front sit.

“tighten your sit belts”

Said uncle Ray. 

I took one last look at the hospital as uncle Ray ignited the engine, put on the radio and hit the road. Fresh air flowed into the car, as it entered the highway. Through the open window I could see big and tiny vehicles speeding up and down the road. I could see the city spread wide around me. It's scape consisted of jumble of huge and small buildings. The world appeared so wide and free that I wanted to jump down. I grinned from ear to ear, as the wind stretched its hands through the open window and ran it's warm fingers on my hair. Finally I'm out of that cocoon.

After a long ride, Uncle Ray stopped the car in front of a brick house, and turned his head over his shoulder to look at Wole, AY and I.

“Okay, here we are...”

He said and puffed. 

My mom and uncle Ray alighted the car, so did AY and Wole. I swayed like a leaf been tossed by the wind Immediately my feet came in contact with the ground.

“be careful” 

my mom and AY blurted in unison.

“Its okay girls I'm fine, look, see”

I said softly with wide arms.

“Okay, lead the way”

Wole said pointing at the door of the house.

I inhaled and exhaled deeply and rejoined.

“Okay, if you say so”

I ambled towards the house, small steps were all I could manage. I stopped abruptly in front of the door, tilted my head sideways and stared at the potted plants and lavender bushes which surrounded the front porch. I watched as they swayed from side to side, lightly pushed by the warm breeze.

“Come on, what are you waiting for?”

Wole urged me with serious gestures

“go on, we are right behind you”

My mom added with a convincing smile.

I heaved a deep sigh, rubbed my palms together opened the door and strolled in.