Haunting Shadows

The scream from Mama's room woke us up. All three of us. Tears streamed down her eyes as Papa landed the koboko on her skin. Pai! Pai! The sound tore my heart. Mama laid there, helplessly, only screaming her voice out.
Brother mi, the only male. Rushed  and stayed between them. Pai! The koboko landed on his face. He made no sound, Papa didn't even notice because he made no sound. Mama was already blinded by her own tears and I couldn't find my voice too. Esu visited us that day and didn't come alone.
'Blood! blood!' Sister mi shouted.
Papa stopped his hand and saw his own son, his Olu, with face filled with blood.
Tears streaming his face too, he gave Mama one last pointed look and carried his son. His footsteps making loud bangs on our wooden floor.
Mama's wail began to reduced to small sobs, she was tired. Her smooth firm body was now covered with bruises of beatings from Papa.
'But Mama, what did you do?' I asked amidst tears. Even though I know Mama was never violent, I believe she must have provoked Papa. Papa is not a mad man, who will beat his wife without a reason. Mama must have done something.
'Keep quiet! You idiot. You have eyes and you've refused to see, you act like a blind man using black glasses. Oponu oshi (stupid fellow)' Sister mi replied angrily.
Mama drew me close instead, she placed me on her lap, hugged me tight and wept bitterly on my head. She smelled of Alubosa (onions) and Iru (locust beans). It was as a result of the efo riro she prepared that night.
We laid there together. Sobbing quietly, finding solace in our silence while waiting for Papa to bring Olumide back.
Hours flew by, Papa was no where to be found. Mama was already pacing inside, her Ileke Idi (Waist bead) shook to the rhythms of her hips as it swayed left and right. She muttered some prayers, asking God to bring Papa and her son back home safely.
Papa came back. He came back, but not with Olu. Olu had died. He told Papa he hated him, jerked his hand from his grip and ran across the road. There, he met his death. He was ran over by a car.
His unspoken words and his eyes gave it away. Mama screamed more this time as ran towards Papa and locked his shirt. She started jerking him back and forth, until Papa gave her a slap and pushed her away.
She wept bitterly, as Sister mi kept consoling her and reassured her things will be fine.
I stood around a corner too dumbfounded to say anything than to wallow in my own tears and sadness.
................................
Months flew by and the grief was still as heavy as Erin (Elephant). Papa blamed Mama for the death of his Olu. If she had not provoked him, nothing would have happened. He wouldn't have beaten her and his son wouldn't have been involved.
Papa's agile body began to become frail. His whole body wrinkled like layers of cloth folded in one piece. The furrow on his forehead made him looked like he was always frowning. He now spoke softer, walks slowly with more caution. Papa stopped going to farm. He was sick.
Mama will hide herself in the toilet to sob quietly. I've found her there once before. She prepared the best of meal for us this period. She cooked the meat soft and very tender and will always give Papa the largest share.
Sometimes in the evening Papa's friends will come with raw food and Emu (Palm wine) and drink themselves to stupor.
Papa talked to us often now. It was weird but I was happy. He spent more time with Sister mi and I. Sister mi doesn't like spending time with him, she said his stories were boring and doesn't appeal to her. Papa's face was always filled with regret.
That afternoon, Mama was not home. Sister mi and I were playing outside when Papa called us. Sister mi’s forehead creased in a frown but she followed me. This was the first time I saw Papa cried. He cried so profusely we hardly heard what he was saying. Soon Sister mi and I started crying too. Papa kept saying saying sorry, he pleaded for our forgiveness. Sister and I couldn't talk, we just sat beside him and wept. He said he was sorry for beating Mama, for killing our Olu and for making us suffer too.
Then sister mi asked the question I have always feared to ask.
'Papa, what is wrong with you?' She asked calmly.
Papa told us he had been sick and it won't take long before he joined his own ancestors. And Olu, the shadows that haunted him and revenged.
Mama stood at the doorway with tears streaming down her eyes too. She later moved closer and hugged us tight.
We were not fine but the hug gave us hope. Our hearts connected, spoke all our unspoken words.

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