That woman crying over there is my wife. I call her Mena. Not just because that's her name, but because she was the most extraordinary thing that ever happened to me when I was alive. "Mena, stop crying." Oluchi, her friend tried comforting her. "Jude did not tell me he would leave me this way" She replied amist heavy tears that flowed down her cheek in large quantities. I met Mena during our university days, back at Delta State University. I was the class coordinator, and Mena with about 5 of her other coursemates were to take an elective course in my department. "I learnt you are the class coordinator." She said with all boldness as she walked up to me after one of our classes. Her angelic appearance was so stunning that it made me forget the fact that she didn't greet before questioning me. After I answered in the affirmative, she explained her ordeal to me. "Our course adviser made this course a compulsory elective for us." She hissed after saying that. I understood her ordeal immediately. Transformational Grammar was a course every English student feared so much, and if they have the opportunity to avoid the course, they will do without delay, and for a student from another department to take it as elective, that would be suicidal. My heart was hurt to see Mena cry. It was part of my promises to her never to make her cry, but now, death has handicapped me from keeping my promise. As streams of tears found their way down Mena's cheek, my 4 years old daughter could not help but cry too. Tade, our last born, quietly sat on my little sister's laps. She is not a quiet boy, and I can still remember how lively and troublesome he used to be. But the whole sad mood in the house has made him scared and still. Before leaving home that morning, I remember asking Pricillia, my daughter, what she would want me to buy for her. "Daddy, buy chocolate and candy for me." She said with her small child-like voice. I also carried Tade in my hands just before leaving home. "Da-da-da... " He said, pouring enough spit on my face. Mena also came around for her own share of my kiss, and I did well to give her more than she wanted. "What would you like to have for dinner?" She asked as she helped me adjust my tie. "Anything would do." I replied as I cemented her cheek with yet another kiss.
The dinning table still housed what was supposed to be my dinner, and from the sliced bread beside the plate, I knew Mena's intention was to serve bread and beans for dinner. My mother was sitting opposite Mena, and from the colour of her eyes, one would know she had cried her eyes out. She was no longer crying, but sobbed occasionally. I could imagine what would be going on in her mind at the moment. My father died two years ago, and just when she was getting over the pain and agony of her husband, I, her first son followed the footsteps of my father. In the middle of it all, Mena excused herself to go to the toilet. As she got up, Oluchi stood up and gave her a questioning look. "I just want to go to the toilet" Mena said as she wiped her face. I could not withstand her tears. As she moved to the toilet, I felt like putting my hands around her to comfort her, but that was not possible. As Mena got to the toilet, she looked the door behind her, but I went in with her. I was suprised when she brought out her phone. "Hello! Mr. James." She said after the call was picked. "But, why would she call Mr. James" I asked myself. Mr. James was my insurance manager. I had an insurance policy with them which was a Life Insurance. "Could it be that.... " I questioned myself. "I'm sure you've heard of my husband's death." Mena said. She waited for a while before she said, "I'll come to your office next week to claim my husband's entitlement". I was not sure about what I heard. It's just few hours after my death, and Mena was already calling my Insurance Manager to collect my entitlement. After the call, Mena left the toilet, as she started crying again.
© 2015. Austus Ofmat Nwanne
Are you following me? You better do. Just few hours after the Jude's death, Mena was already trying to claim her entitlement with the insurance company. No doubt, things happen. Why would Mena go for money few hours after her husband's death? Join me again tomorrow as we continue A DEAD MAN'S WISH.
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AUSTUS OFMAT NWANNE (Mr. Tackle)
Inspirational Speaker and Business Consultant,
TYO Konsult Services.
+2348072970850
tackleyourobstacle@gmail.com
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