4 Dead End

We are finally here' Travis called out to his nephew as he reached for his pocket and pulled out a bunch of keys Ogar wrapped his arms about his chest.

'Ooops! I need to get us something to eat'

'What about the refreshments you had at the party uncle Travis?'

'Well I managed to abandon them as soon as I noticed you had gone missing' Ogar saw his uncle look at him, as he his shoulders dropped in shame.

His uncle cleared his throat. 'This does not imply that you are responsible for that. ' he assured Ogar as he placed his hand on his shoulder for a brief moment then he entered inside.

Ogar followed closely behind, and shut the door behind him.

He followed his uncle to the kitchen where he dropped the bowl he had in his hands.

He departed in the opposite direction, that feat was followed by a knock on the door. Without second guessing, Ogar made for the door. He hoped it was who he thought it was, as he opened up the door.

'You should always check the see-through area before opening up. These are tough times. 'his uncle scolded him as he advanced towards the door.

Sheila's face popped out of the night. The energy bulb hanging on the front porch illuminated her face. Ogar greeted her and turned to go. His heart sank. He had wanted to talk to Minka so badly. Why had she not accompanied her mum?

'I see you left these so I thought I should bring over here, especially as it is late and you might be too tired to cook anything.' Sheila began.

'I thought you might want to come inside. Isn't its cold outside? 'Ogar heard his uncle reply.

Ogar rolled his eyes. 'yuk' He said to himself as he could nearly see his uncle Travis grinning from ear to ear. Can old people still have feelings at all? Ogar wondered as he opened the door to his room. He heard a knock on one of his window panes. He raised his gaze, looking a bit startled. Lo and behold, it was Minka.

'You are here' he observed.

'Yup, I sure am' He strived to hide the joy bubbling up in his insides. He advanced towards the window with an indifferent look on his face.

'Where did you go; we were looking for you'

'We?' he asked. Did she just say we?

'I am sorry. I had no idea that everyone was looking for me. I guess I thought I might not bother anyone if I go. ' he replied secretly praying that she says something.

'Why will you say that?'

'Well, sometimes I like to be alone' he replied hoping deep down in his heart that he had not struck the wrong chord with her. He relished the attention she was giving him. He would not give it up for anything in the world.

'I will be back; I need to ask mum something ' she interrupted. 'Oh no, why will she not stay and ask later, let me see what my uncle is up to'

Ogar walked outside his room under the pretext of being thirsty. He sneaked into the kitchen and opened the fridge then turned to the left, and the right.

He heard distance mumbling and as he approached, he noticed that the duo, suddenly disengaged from some act, Ogar had not clearly witnessed.

Startled by his presence, and of course that of Minka, the adults shrugged and heaved a sigh, gazing downward as though searching for a lost item. Ogar smiled and said nothing. Minka smiled back from her end.

'It is getting late. I do not feel comfortable keeping you here. ' Ogar's uncle began as he looked as Sheila as though he expected her to say something in accordance to what he had said but she stared, like the others.

'We had better get going' she finally added after a long moment of silent.

'Thank you once again, for this. It was really thoughtful of you'

'Oh, it's. it's nothing' laughed Sheila in response to Travis's statement.

'It is only right that I see you off. It's quite late, I want to ensure that you both arrive home safe'

Ogar silently wished he had been on his uncle's shoes as his uncle called out to him that he will be back. He longed to hold hands with Minka and speak to her in hushed tones and they will both laugh.

He stepped into the bathroom where he ran a bath and hopped out. His mind wondered to his dad. Was he still alive? He had a vague memory of him as he had been one of the early victims of the boom disease. His condition was extremely critical, so he was flown out of the country to be resuscitated. He planned to stay away from his family, until he had completely recovered.

Whenever he asked after his dad from his mum, she gave him the impression that he traveled and would be back at any moment.

Nevertheless, Ogar insisted on a proof of his living, and was given by

his mum, who showed him letters and messages. Once, he saw his dad on a video call. Soon the letters and post cards a began coming in trickles till they stopped receiving them.

His mother who also served at various locations in their city in by as a doctor soon contracted the boom virus. There were nights when Ogar will hear his mum weeping calling his name. He now figured out that fear had made her do such. Fear of the unknown.

Tears welled up his eyes as he reminisced on those times and now, she was gone. She said daddy had left then because his, was a chronic case and this meant it was highly contagious and could have been spread to his household and neighbors. This is not what he had bargained for, but what he had to face.

This is his life, does this mean he has to embrace it? He blinked severally as he yawned, concealing most part of his body beneath the blanket.

He consulted his wristwatch for the second time since his arrival. Minka was yet come. She promised she will be here. He adjusted on his chair, and relaxed his back. He raised his head to see her right in front of him.

'You are here' he managed to say before a lump in his throat rendered him voiceless. He savored her with his eyes. Her ago Hari had been carefully decorated with flowers and her lips had a little balm on them. They looked glossy and more appealing, in his eyes.

This time she had an aqua blue V-necked armless dress on. It swayed gracefully as she moved. It clanged to her body but from the waist it became free. She stared hard at him. He smiled. She smiled back and raised her brow.

'Sorry I am late!' she replied persuasively as though giving him a hint. Her hands were behind her.

'Oh' he jumped to his feet as he reached out to pull out the chair for her to sit.

She chuckled.

'I am sorry' he blurted out.

'It's okay' she replied still smiling and looking at him.

He smiled back and got hold of the menu. He cleared his throat hastily as he adjusted on his seat.

'How are you today?' he enquired as he raised the menu as though he wanted to cover his face.

'I am very well and you?'

'I am good...' he replied peering at her from behind the menu.

'What are you having?' he asked

'Well, it depends on what's on the menu' she replied as she parted her lips in a smile. Ogar smiled back.

He returned to studying his menu again before launching a last stare at her. To his utmost surprise she was looking at him. He could see a strand of thread on her hair. It was blue, probably from her dress. 'It wasn't there before, how did it get there?' he wondered.

He reached out to take it off her head and then as he advanced closer

a certain heat remained between them.

She arched forward and Ogar closed his eyes, he was not going to ruin this moment though all he wanted to do was take the thread off her hair. And in a nanosecond, he felt a cold hand nudge at his shoulder.

'Ogar wake up. You will be late for school'

'School?'

'Yes Ogar, school' his uncle, Travis has replied.

Ogar sat up, rubbing his eyes as he yawned and stretched his arms.

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