The Runs Girl

Episode 19

I got home around 3pm in the afternoon.
My dad was lying on the couch when I entered. My mum sat beside him discussing in low tone.

“Daddy goodafternoon, mummy goodafternoon,” I greeted on entering.
“Good afternoon dear,” my dad replied.
“Linda is this you?” My mum asked standing from her seat and looking me all over.
It had been long I last went home so I wasn’t surprised of my mum’s observations. I added weight and looked fairer in complexion. A friend of mine had recommended one cream and my fair skin had become the end result. My hair-do looked expensive and my mum took note of it.
“You look different,” my mum observed. “Hope you haven’t started following men around?”
“Ah mummy No…,” I replied. “My roommate’s parents are rich so she’s taking good care of me.”

“Ok o,” my mum chorused. “Thank God you came early, your dad and I will be leaving for the hospital soon and you have to go with us.”
“Ok ma,” I replied.
“Please come closer,” my dad motioned to me when my mum had gone to prepare. “Have you had any encounter with any spiritualist or herbalist?”
The question struck me like thunder.
“Encounter with spiritualist?” I echoed under my breath.
“Yes, have you had any encounter with any spiritualist or herbalist?” My dad repeated.
“No sir, not at all.”
“Please tell me the truth,” my dad pressed on. “I had one terrible dream last night where I was being pursued by one spiritualist who asked me to tell my daughter to come and settle him. So tell me the truth, have you had anything to do with any spiritualist or herbalist?”
“I’ve never had anything to do with any spiritualist or herbalist,” I replied feeling uncomfortable.

My mum soon joined us in the sitting room and we left for the hospital.
My younger siblings remained at home.
We got to the hospital and my dad was first put under I.V infusion for about one hour before he was wheeled into the theatre.
“They said his prostate had gone bad,” my mum revealed as we sat outside the theatre waiting for the surgery to commence. “We were in the hospital two weeks ago; that was when the doctor booked him for the operation.”
“He will pull through,” I said sounding optimistic.
I felt scared inside but masked my feelings superbly.
I didn’t know whether the babalawo’s threat had anything to do with my dad’s ailment.
“Hope everything is fine?” My mum asked when she noticed the drop in my countenance.

“Yes, everything is fine,” I replied nodding my head.
The operation lasted for more than 5hours at which point my mum was already fidgeting on her seat.
“This operation has lasted long,” my mum said looking apprehensive. “I’m no longer comfortable.”
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“Mummy don’t worry, daddy will pull through,” I replied to calm her down.
The operation ended 3hours later and the doctor came out with a long face. My dad didn’t make it…