5 And so it goes

Ogar wore a long face all morning. He said he woke up with a sharp pain in his neck when uncle Travis asked why. If only he knew that Ogar's long face is a result of a dream he felt was real.

He brushed his hair in a haste and reached out for his school. Setting out early will mean being able to walk to school with Minka and Nkom. Even if it didn't mean the dream would come true at least it would be a step in the right direction.

He skidded out through the door when uncle Travis called out to him to get his umbrella because the afternoon sun had a scorching effect, on the recent times.

He groaned as hurried back into his bedroom to get it. He looked at his wristwatch on his way out. Nothing grinded his gears like being late! This time it was all uncle Travis's fault.

If he had woken him up on time maybe he would have been able to meet up, but uncle Travis is of the opinion that he is a teenager and it would be great if he woke up early enough all by himself.

He could already feel sweat popping out through the pores of his forehead.

He pulled out his handkerchief to wipe it off, then placed it back. The path to school seemed quiet. Only the grasses that sparingly lined the roadside were seen, waving on the morning light. His heart raced. He longed to see her but instead, he sighted the Peter twins.

He knew they were somewhere around when he inhaled the lavender fragrance in the air. His heart sank. Why them? Why did they set out at this time? He wondered.

'Ha ha ha, see who we have got here'

Pascal began with a grin. His white dentition dazzled as usual like that of his twin brother, Paul who stood with arms at akimbo laughing.

Ogar said nothing but continued moving on his path to school but at a slower pace so that he would not send the wrong message to them, that he is probably afraid of them.

'So what have you been up to?' Pascal inquired.

Ogar said nothing. All he wanted and needed at the moment was to focus on the dream he had that morning. He kept walking as though no one was in sight and even when the twins stood by to pick up flowers, he kept moving. He needed to be in school before the school assembly commenced.

'He looks like he did not have his favorite food for breakfast’ Pascal scorned.

Paul laughed out loud. Ogar said nothing. He kept moving.

Pascal kept quiet for a while.

'Maybe he was not spoon-fed by his mother' Pascal attempted once again to push Ogar to the wall bit failed. Ogar could hear uncle Travis's voice in his head as he warned him sternly 'As long Ashe does not call your name or tap you, go your way' to his he said while he was giving Ogar some drilling in taekwondo.

Uncle Travis had learnt while training to be a soldier.

Each time Ogar asked him why he left the army, he said it was a story for another day. Ogar wondered when that day will come. Now he could envisage uncle Travis at the store, the largest grocery store in the neighborhood, supervising the employees. That store belonged to them.

Ogar lifted his gaze to see the school gate when felt a poke his back.

'You Ogar, where the hell is to mama, oh, I know in the grave, running away from you because you are poisonous!' Ogar fumes with rage as he folded his fist, attempting to control himself. He will not fight. He promised uncle Travis bit he did not know how much longer he could take it. Paul bursts into feats of laughter which made Ogar to be more furious nevertheless, he walked on till he heard Pascal say ' Oleander boy, you don't know your dad. The dude is probably dead by now because of you. and how I pity your uncle Travis...'

Like a hungry lion, who had been on search of prey, Ogar pounced on Pascal, screaming' nothing will happen to uncle Travis, nothing will happen to uncle Travis!' Pascal attempted to stand to his feet but Ogar pinned him to the ground with his elbow and kept striking him.

Paul tried to pull Ogar up but each time he ventured towards the scene, Ogar hit him hard with his elbow.

The principal who had been watching from a distance called Ogar to his office and the two boys. The trio were suspended from school but Ogar had a less punishment because he was bullied into fighting.

Ogar welt on his way to his class.

'What would uncle Travis think of him?'. He wondered. All he had ever wanted to do was the right thing but these boys had a way of behaving that turned him off. Moments flew by and he looked at his wristwatch. It was 2:30 pm. Time to go home. He saw Pascal and his brother take the other path home. At least he has put them in their place.

He heaved heavily as he walked.

'Ogar wait for me!' Minka called out to him. She ran after him. Her sister Nkom followed closely behind.

'Are you okay?' Nkom asked.

Ogar nodded.

The girls exchanged glances like they knew he wanted to be left alone.

'Sorry about earlier' Minka said as she nudged his arm.

'There they are' a familiar voice called out.

Ogar raised his gaze to see Sheila.

'Good afternoon mum' the girls greeted in unison.

She embraced them as she heaved heavily.

Ogar knew he was about to get a pep talk so he was all ears. She certainly was displeased when she heard he fought today.

She said:' Ogar, uncle Travis is indisposed right now, but he will be fine. He is indisposed temporarily. In the meantime, you will be staying with us' Ogar stood glued to the floor. Words had dried from his mouth.While he had always desired a n opportunity to spend time with Minka, he didn't see it happening this way. What surprised him was the fact that Pascal had said something will happen to his uncle earlier and now,like a dream it is coming to reality. No. This was a nightmare! Will be wake up from it?It felt so really yet he didn't want to accept. His only surviving kinsman was ill. What would become of him, should uncle Travis pass away.

"God forbid it" he shrugged his shoulders in resistance. He followed aunt Sheila and his daughters as they walked home in silence.

Already it began to feel as though something worse than sickness had happened to his uncle. Was aunt Sheila telling h the whole truth? Was she lying? She doesn't lie, not the aunty Sheila he knew. This case was different anyway

It had to do with alot. Deep down he wondered 'what if his father was still alive? What if he ran into one of his father's living relatives?

Thank you for taking out time to read this piece. I hope you enjoyed it? I will love to know your thoughts.