CHAPTER THREE

Twenty five years ago in the Bolaji family

"Oh God! I am really tired of what is happening to me. I need support, help, and comfort; there are so many chores and boys to take care of," Funke said.

Funke is a wonderful mother of three boys, a dedicated and hardworking woman. Her husband, Mr. Toju Bolaji, was the best gift she ever had; he loved her so well, all she asked was more. A beautiful woman, she was full of energy, tall, slender, with a small waist and defined hips.

Knock! Knock! A sound that changed the moment.

"Who is that?" she said.

"Your sons are back, mummy," voices heard behind the door.

She moved from the local chair to the door. Her sons rushed into the sitting room, all looking dirty and sweaty, her nightmares most times.

"My squad, you all are back," she said.

"Yes!" they echoed. "But we are very hungry and tired," one of them said.

She moved to the kitchen and prepared garri with hot water she had already set on the firewood stand. The food was sectioned into portions on the plates bought for them in the previous market. She solved a big problem between her boys: the scrambling style, which always caused fights and drama.

"Kola, please you will do the washing of your siblings' clothing today," Funke told her first son.

The look on his face said everything; he wondered why he would wash his sibling's school uniform. He hadn't done that before and wondered why now.

"Kola," she called again. "Why that look? I know you haven't done washing before, but I will assist you," she added.

"Mummy, please let me make it clear: I cannot wash any clothing and not now," he said rudely.

Funke was always reminded of the cry she always had when birthing her children. She wanted female children to be part of the formula.

In a low tone, she said to Kola, "Why are you always reminding me that I do not have a female child, why?"

She always has a way of putting her sons in order; she didn't fail this time. She did. Kola moved, dragging his feet on the cemented floor, packed all his siblings' uniforms and heaped it outside.

"Mummy, I'm ready to wash," he said.

Still trying to fight back emotions, she pushed him out the door and assembled empty paint buckets for her washing.

Kola is smart, hardworking and energetic. He is firm and works more with his father; he was trained not to do household chores, which his mum tried to oppose later on.

"Mummy, my heart, the queen of men," Kola teased his mother.

With a scary gaze, she flashed him while still washing their clothes.

A bucket of water was poured on his body; he did not get wet, but he felt wet. The shame was on another level. To lighten the atmosphere, he thought of a joke that would make sense and change the mood.

"I had a dream last week; I was scared to tell you, mummy. The truth is, whenever I have the courage to do so, I always forget," he said.

One thing Funke hates is her children hiding things from her. She always has a way of finding out; she wants to be in their life and give them the best advice ever.

In a rush, she said, "Kola, what is it? Tell me now."

She dropped the clothes into the bucket filled with foam while Kola was busy pretending to be actively rinsing the clothes in clean water.

"Kola, did you not hear me?" she said again, this time aggressively. She cleaned her hand on her wrapper tied around her waist.

"Mummy, calm down please; don't be offended," he said.

"I am already offended, Kola, Kola. What is left now is my action to follow cause I am very angry."

Kola thought, why could his mother be so serious about a dream, something that did not happen, but she believed so much in dreams, especially those from children who dream. It was a joke, and nothing like a dream, Kola continued to say to himself.

"I can hear you; talk now or..." his mother interrupted his thoughts.

"Okay, mummy!" he said. Imagining how he was going to say it so it would sound real. He closed his eyes in a dramatic illustration, as done by poets.

He said, "I saw you and Daddy so close to each other that there was no space to separate you both. I stared at you being one as the darkness came forming a statue in front of me."

All of a sudden, he shouted so loudly that his mother jerked, but his eyes were closed, and he didn't mind.

"I saw a baby at the other end; it came as a flash, but this time in brightness. The child was carried by you; the child had piercings in both eyes but beautiful dark, full hair. At that point, I disconnected," he said, landing the final word with his hands in the air.

His mother was already teary; he opened his eyes to see the shock of his life. His mum was so serious in the business that it got her clothes soaked with tears and her eyes red.

She said, "Kola, hug me."

Kola was very surprised; his plan had worked. He had escaped the beating he would have gotten from his father if his mother told him he made her sad. He noticed she was not feeling too well, too; he was smart.

He stretched his body and arms to hug her, and she said, "I know this is drama, but I believe it has become a reality cause it came from your mouth today. Promise me you will always assist your baby sister with house chores so she will not be left alone to do all of it."

At this point, his eyebrow was raised; he felt he was coming out of one problem but into another.

As he thought further, he felt the heavy weight of his mum on his arms.

What is going on? he wondered in his mind.