Chapter Two.. Very bad daddy
1302 Words
Ken came out of the bathroom with water, trailing after him.
"Where is my phone? I heard it ring. Where is it? Stupid woman....Hope you are not hiding my phone? Where is it? Answer me?".....he demanded from his wife
Oge took the phone and handed it over to him without saying a word.
He took the phone to check his call log just as the phone rang again..
Ken: hello.....yes......no ooo.... really....she can't do that......are you sure.......okay, give me one hour......sure......me too......bye
Oge: Mine, who was that?
Ken: How does that concern you? That reminds me, when my phone rang the other time, did you pick it?
Oge: Yes, I did. I thought it was your mechanic so I can tell him where you left the car yesterday.
Ken: What nonsense! Who sent you? When did you start picking my calls? You are just too nosey... what's your.....
Oge: (cuts in) hey mister man. Stop shouting at me. I'm sorry for taking your call, okay? Hurry up, so you won't be late.
Ken: late for what? Oh, you spoke to her... that's good. She is a very good friend of mine. She makes me feel alive. Being with her makes me happy. Her name is Abilam. She......
Oge: It's okay. If she is a friend, invite her home instead of you going to her house always. Your friend is my friend too
Ken: can you take it? Okay, you asked for it. But then, I'm not ready to share her with you. So, let her be. Let me be on my way, don't want to be late
Oge: Won't you eat? ....oh, sorry, you have been told not to eat my food. Okay, regards to her.
And Ken left for Abilam's place. Oge sat on the bed and started crying again
Oge: God, what type of life is this? Where have I gone wrong? Please forgive me if it's my sin that's causing all these.
Give Ken the heart to forgive me too. He should just tell me what I have done so I can apologise. I'm tired and getting fed up. I need your help Lord.
Kelly: ( She walked in again) mamaaa, why are you crying again? Should I bring vitamin C? You know your magician is still with you.... or is it because of dada? Dada is bad, he shouts everytime. I won't play.....
Oge: Stop, K-girl. Don't say that about dada. He is a good man. He loves you so much. He doesn't shout, that's how his voice is. Dada is not bad, he is better than a good man. He is the best dad in the world. And I was not crying.... something flew in to my eyes....
Kelly: Let me blow it again....( she blew air into her mom's eyes)...see, that's better..But I know dada makes you cry all the time
Oge: no dear, he doesn't make me cry. I am careless about handling pepper, so it gets into my eyes..
Kelly: all the time?
Oge: yes, all the time. Now go get your book and let's do crossword puzzle..
Kelly: yippieeee.
And the little girl went out. Oge went to the rest room to wash her face and tidy up before joining her daughter on the reading table.
There was a knock on the door and the mechanic came in.
Mechanic: madam, good morning
Oge: good morning Dad Abigail. How's your family?
Mec: They are fine and at home, madam, eating my money (smile)
Oge: ( laughs) haba, how can they eat your money? Besides, if they don't eat your money, whose money do you expect them to eat? God will continue to provide for you jare
Mec: amen oo, madam. Thank you. Mr Ken said I should come and take car keys.
Oge: keys? He didn't tell me where he.......okay, let me look at possible places
She searched for the keys but couldn't find them.
Oge: Dad Abigail, I can't find it. Let me call him to ask where he kept it.
Calling Ken ....grrrr....grrrr
Oge: hello dear
( Silence)....then the line went dead.
She tried the number again
Hello Ken
Lady's voice: hello, who are you?
Oge: hello, sorry, I dialed a wrong number.
She checked the number she dialed and said," it's his number naa," . She dialed his number again.
Grrrrrr.....grrrrrr
Lady's voice: (grumpily) hello
Oge: hello good morning. Please I will like to speak with Ken, the owner of this line
Lady's voice: who are you?
Oge: I'm his wife, please give him the phone. It's important. Who are you by the way?
Abilam: I am Abilam. He must have told you about me. Anyway, he is busy at the moment and asked me to pick his calls as he doesn't want any disturbance.
Oge: please, get him on the phone. I just want to ask him something. Please...
Abilam: you are really stupid, which part of he is busy you didn't hear? Please, get off the phone....
And the line went off. Oge was perplexed. She knew her husband never liked anyone touching his phone talkless of picking his calls.
Then, her thought went to the issue at hand, the car keys.
Oge: Dad Abigail, what can we do now? I couldn't get in touch with my husband and I can't find the car keys, yet he has an important meeting early tomorrow morning. He will need this car......( Clearly worried)
Mechanic: Madam, don't worry yourself. He was the one who called me to come and collect the keys from you and since you couldn't get him on phone nor know where the keys are, what can we do? Let him call me when he gets back if it's not too late by then.
Oge: Maybe you too can try him now. Please, I don't want him to be late for the meeting he had tomorrow morning
Mechanic: Okay oooo... You're the one worrying, my boss isn't worried at all.
Baba Abigail tried to call Ken's number but it was switched off.
Mechanic: Madam, see... Mr Ken's number is switched off oooo and as today is Sunday, I want to go home to my family. I just came as fast as I could when he called. But as things are now, let me go back home.
Oge: Dad Abigail, please I will call you or ask him to call you when he comes back. This is just 2' o clock. He should be back soon.
Mechanic: madam, don't bother to call me if it's 6 in the evening.. .. I have a community meeting to attend and won't be able to come do the job then.
Oge: He would be back before then, I'm sure. Thank you so much. Regards to your family.
The mechanic went back to his house........
Oge continued to call Ken's number but still didn't get through. She took Ken's shirts she has washed and ironed them with her daughter's uniforms. Then she cooked dinner while still calling her husband's number. Around 5:30pm, the number went through and he answered the call
Ken: Hello.... What's your problem? Won't I come home?
Oge: Mine, it's about.....
Ken: (cut in) About what, that cannot wait till I get home. I'm on my way.
And he ended the call.
Oge called him again but he refused to pick her call. She called the mechanic and asked him to call him but he refused, saying his meeting is about to start and she should go and rest.
So, she went about her duties in the house and it was around 7pm when she eventually sat to snack in front of the television. She placed her legs on the table when she noticed they are swollen and Kelly massaged them for her. They were laughing and singing when Ken entered.
- Writer
