By Omoseye Bolaji
I entered the house through the new passage way on the left.
Yes it had
been quite a while since I was last here! Some four years ago. Life
moves on
Yet it was a family I had a lot of respect
for; comprising three matriarchs in their late 60s, and their offspring including
the nieces - like Didi; who I now noticed was sitting down at a sort of
dining table, a disconcerting, jarring expression on her face while the
matriarchs beamed at me.
I
moved closer to Didi, a bit bewildered at her haunted, languid face, and
the way her right hand seemed lifeless.
"Seems Didi does not know me
again," I tried to joke. Unsuccessfully. Now I noticed she was using crutches. What was this?
"Oh" I said. "I'm sorry.
Seems you have been in an accident," It was patent to me now that
her right hand was largely useless.
Didi at last spoke now, and I soon realised that mentally at least she was as sharp as ever. "Not an accident, Bolaji," she said slowly and strangely. "I have had a stroke,
paralysing some of my body parts".
I
winced. I was so shocked that I found myself bursting out rather crazily:
"How the hell can you have a stroke at 40 when your mother, your
aunts (the three matriarchs referred to earlier) are as strong and active as oxes
-".
"You know our Didi stresses too
much" two of the matriarchs said now. "It is very sad
indeed,".
"I want to talk to Bolaji
alone; explain things to him," Didi said, in effect dismissing the
matriarchs.
Alone, she now told me why and how she had become so stressed,
worried about a particular debt she had, and how the creditor
had hounded her till the stroke was precipitated. I was horrified to
learn that the money she owed was not even up to a thousand rand! And
she had suffered a stroke! Amother of two kids!
My mind went back to many years ago when I
had been new in this area in South Africa; Didi personally organising, giving me things like curtains and some kitchenware for the first place where I had stayed…
But now she was saying; "If you can
help me beg the Creditor...I will give you his contact details. Beg him for me,
tell him I have been very sick, I lost my job...I can t pay him
now...pls beg him for me..."
My voice hardened. "I am certainly NOT
going to do that," I said; she looked disappointed, hurt.
Then I said: "You see we must
remove the root of your stress, the debt. So the only help I can give
you is give you the money to pay that accursed creditor. So I am gonna
give you the money, or most of it in cash,"
She
stared at me, incredulous. "No, but - I know you are not rich
-"
"Don't worry about that. The
important thing is for you to pay the guy, start getting better fast for the sake of your kids...and that's an order. I am giving you the money in return
for you to recover quickly!!".
I
gave her in cash most of the money she owed the "creditor". As tears
came to her eyes, I looked away, feeling bad at the cruel vicissitudes
of life...
Moving and disturbing. A magnanimous gesture on the part of the columnist; in our world now people largely care only about themselves, exaggerating their problems even when they are okay. This example shows a real problem - which mother would want to be paralysed and hapless with stroke; while we the 'abled' continue with our selfish ways wanting more and more and not caring about those who are really afflicted?
ReplyDeleteBolaji seems to be incapable of writing a boring narrative, even when it is quite serious like this. It is a pity that more and more young blacks are dying daily prematurely mainly because of so many unnecessary stresses,and truth to tell, greed. I once had a friend who had 2 houses, cars, and yet drove himself to an early grave by wanting even more; very foolish indeed
ReplyDeleteIt is strange that people who are not rich are often the ones who are always ready to help others and do good things: I know as a fact that over the years Bolaji has helped me a lot with many problem, including money....but not as much as this! This is a special case of course
ReplyDelete