PRICELESS EXCHANGE

THE REMEMBRANCE

Tonia, I called as I knocked on the door

go away Sophie.. she cried from the room

please open up.. I pleaded

I said go away! she cried angrily.

I stopped knocking and stood on the door confused. I shouldn't have let her sang, I thought. Just then, Andrew walked in. He stopped when he saw me and I noticed the sadness on his face too.

what's going on? I asked

she's crying? he asked back and I nodded.

Is music prohibited too? I asked and he nodded slowly.

why?!! I asked angrily. Everything is beginning to piss me off and I became angry.

take a walk with me, he said and I acquiesced.

We both walked to the balcony upstairs and we stood with our hands on the rails of the balcony.

Mom died while singing.. he said sadly

what!! I exclaimed with shock

she was singing and driving at the same time. Music was her obsession and she can't do without it. On this very day, she was taking me to visit grandmother when she began to sing for me while she drove down the hills. She didn't realize when a truck appeared in front of her and swept the car down the hill. I was lucky to have survived the incident but mom couldn't make it.. he said with a tear escaping his eyes.

Oh no.. I'm so sorry, I cried as I placed my palm on his. He sniffed as he tried to hold back the tears from falling.

And from that day, dad prohibited us from singing and he doesn't like it when we talk about her too, he loves her so much and he still hadn't gotten over the feeling. Andrew related

same reason why you don't sing? I asked and he nodded.

we're doing her remembrance tomorrow, he said

oh..I said in surprise

sorry we didn't let you know on time, he added and I nodded slowly.

I'm sorry for everything, I said and leaned on his shoulders.

Sophie.. Tonia called behind me. We both turned and saw her sniffing. Her eyes were swollen and red with her hair scattered on her face.

Tonia.. I cried and rushed to hug her

I'm sorry for yelling at you.. she said softly.

hey.. I'm the one to be blamed ok? I shouldn't have let you sing, I said wiping her tears.

I want to sing, I don't care if it reminds me of mom, I just want to sing, singing completes me.. she expressed and my eyes welled up with tears. Andrew walked towards her and pulled her in a warm embrace while I joined them too.

**

The moon shone across the surface of the earth bringing a light in the dark. I walked out of the house down to the garden to clear my head that night when I noticed someone sitting on a wooden chair in the garden. A few lights shone in the garden making me have a clearer view of his face.

Mr Smith, I called as I walked into the garden. He was sipping a glass of red wine when I walked in.

hey Sophie.. he muttered as he caught sight of me

may I? I asked pointing to the arm chair beside him

of course, he replied and I sat down at once.

I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier.. he said as he sipped his wine

oh.. it's fine and I get it, I said trying to smile.

where's Tonia? he asked

in her room, she's sleeping already, I replied

and you? what are you still doing up? he asked

well, in mariossa I don't get to sleep early because I practice mus...

I paused and looked at his face, oh no I might have made him angry again, I thought.

practice music? he asked with a chuckle and I nodded.

You sure do like music a lot, just like Tonia, he said

yes sir, Tonia and I practice...

I paused again and looked at his face. His countenance changed and I knew I had crossed the line this time around.

Tonia practices music in school? he asked in a rather high tone

um.. not really.. she..um..she.. I stammered and scratched my head.

He kept silent and stared into air. I hope he doesn't get angry again.. I said to myself.

She's just as stubborn as her mother.. he muttered

loving music doesn't mean you're stubborn.. I protested

what do you know Sophie? tell me? he asked with his voice depicting anger

I don't know much but I know that Tonia loves music as much as her moth..er..

no!! he cried and I got up immediately.

are you ok? I asked approaching him. He placed his forehead on his palm and sobbed silently.

I know you love her so much, but you can't bring her back no matter what you do, and the memories are always going to be there no matter how hard you try to make them go away, I said to him softly

you don't understand! she reminds me so much of Tara, anytime she sings.. Tara comes into my head!! he screamed.

who's Tara? I asked myself. Oh.. could be his late wife, I thought.

you mean Tonia reminds you of Her whenever she sings? I asked thoughtfully

yes!! She has Tara's voice, she sings so much like her mother.. he cried

If there is no memory then there wasn't a love at first. you're having these memories because you loved her so much. These memories won't go away no matter how hard you try. They're always going to be there unless you honour them, I said to him

He raised his face to look at me. Honour them? how? he asked

you've got to honour these memories by not trying to make them go away. Rather you have to let them stay.. I said with tears welling up in my eyes.

He kept Silent and looked at me again. He stood up slowly and held my palms.

I've.. got to honour these memories.. he muttered to himself. I've got to let them stay instead of trying to fight them away.. he muttered again and I nodded with tears flowing down my cheek.

I don't know how it feels like to lost someone, but the pain I saw in his eyes made me realize how painful it is to lose someone you love. I just wish someday I would have someone love me this way, even when I'm gone, I thought.

**

The next morning, a knock on the door woke Tonia and I from sleep

who's there? I gruntled

Dad and I are visiting the flower shop, are you guys coming or not? Andrew asked

I'm not, Tonia muttered as she spread the sheets over herself again

I'm coming! I said excitedly

what? you ain't going nowhere! she protested

why? hey.. Andrew wait for me.. I cried and rushed out of the bed.

Mr smith was waiting for us at the car when we walked out. His face was bright that morning and I was happy to see him this way.

Hi dad, I greeted and he laughed. We all entered the car and was about to move when Tonia ran out still on her nighties

wait for me!! she cried

what? thought you ain't coming, Andrew said

she can't do without me, I said and they all laughed

you can't go this way.. her dad said

oh.. you guys are gonna leave if I go back to change, she cried

awwn.. ok step in, I said and she rushed Into the car.

We went to the flower shop and bought a lot of flowers to be used at late Mrs Tara's remembrance tonight.

I saw a red rose flower exhibited at the stand outside the shop. Wow, I love that rose.. I said to Tonia and Andrew who were beside me.

You've got someone you love already? cause only your lover can give you that or you can give it to someone you love, Tonia said

how about you give it to Tony, I joked

hey.. don't even go there. she yelled. How about you give it to Jeff? she smirked

that would be nice, I said laughing. I turned to Andrew who was silent.

Wait.. you don't even have a lover, I said and Tonia laughed.

who told you he doesn't have a lover? she asked

really? wow! And I never knew. I said feigning anger

hey enough of you guys.. I'm off.. he said walking inside and we both laughed.

That night, we arranged the house with flowers and Mrs Tara's pictures on the walls. She was really beautiful no doubt, I thought as I stared at her picture. We all wore black outfits and we went to welcome a few guest who were coming for the remembrance.

Come here Sophie.. meet my grandma, Tonia motioned to me. I turned to see an aged woman standing beside Tonia. She was dressed in a black suit and black pair of shoes. Her hair was grey and her face corrugated already.

Hi granny, I greeted the old lady

hi, how are you dearie? she asked with a warm smile

I'm fine ma'am I responded with a smile too

who's she Ton? Andrew's girlfriend? the old lady asked

what!! Tonia and I exclaimed. She's just a friend, Tonia said and I forced a smile on my lips.

that woman is a savage, I said as we walked away from her

what?!! that's my dad's mom you're talking about, Tonia said

I'm sorry but she was.. oh.. forget it, I said

and you liked it when she said it uh? Tonia asked laughing

Tonia!! I exclaimed.

Everyone settled in the living room while Mr smith gave a short speech about his wife and the years they spent together. I couldn't help but cry when he sang a song they used to sing together. Tonia joined him in the song and everyone began to sob silently. I turned to Andrew and I saw the pain in his eyes shielded by the glasses he wore. I placed my palm on his and he turned to look at me. I gave him a reassuring smile before turning away.

That was a great song Tonia, I said as they finished singing

dad haven't sang for like ages now, I was surprised he agreed to sing today, she said

oh really? I asked feigning surprises

yeah.. she said.

I saw Andrew walked past us to meet the grandma who was behind us with two aged women.

Andrew is that your girlfriend over there? I heard the grandma asked

no.. granny she's a friend.. Andrew whispered

but she looks so beautiful and she suits you too, the other woman said

aunt.. she's just a friend.. Andrew explained

oh.. I know how scared you are when it comes to ladies, maybe I can talk her over to you, the granny said again and the other women laughed.

I turned to look at Andrew and I saw him walking out angrily. I turned to look at Tonia who was busy laughing with some of her uncles and I ran out without her notice.

Andrew!! I called as I walked into the yard in search of him. I couldn't find him as the whole place was dark with only a few lights shinning on the field. I saw him sitting on the field and I went to meet him

Andrew.. I called slowly as I walked towards him

Sophie.. he called as he adjusted his glasses.

What are you doing outside? I asked as I sat beside him

Nothing, just taking a few moments to myself, he replied

hmm.. a few moments from your granny and your aunt? I asked

what? you.. you... he stammered

I heard them too, I said laughing

hey you were eavesdropping.. he accused

oh no, I said laughing.

they have a big mouth.. he said smiling

but what they said is it really true? that you're scared of approaching ladies? I asked

no.. um.. no.. he said again

then why don't you have a girlfriend? I asked

cause I don't want one, he replied

hmm.. sure? I asked

yeah.. and why don't you have a boyfriend? he asked and I laughed.

just waiting for the right guy who would love me just like your dad loved your mom.. I said and he smiled.

They really do love each other, he said and I nodded.

what about Jeff? he asked

oh.. um.. I like Jeff, but he doesn't like me too and I guess I don't like him anymore, i said

He kept silent and looked into my eyes.

Sophie.. um.. I would love to..

what? I asked in anticipation

show you... something.. he said

what? I asked again curiously. Just then, my phone rang. it was my mother calling

just a minute, I said as I picked the call. hi mom, I greeted

hi Sophie, how are you? she asked

I'm fine, and you? I asked

I'm not fine dearie, grandma is terribly sick.. I need you to be home as soon as possible, mom said with urgency

grandma!! I exclaimed. Ok mom, please look after my granny for me, I'll be in mariossa as soon as I can OK? I said anxiously

ok dear, you take care, she said and hung up

what is it? Andrew asked curiously.

my grandma is sick, and I need to go to mariossa, I replied.