12 Oleander Boy

*trigger warning* (disturbing)

"Check who is at the door" uncle Travis says to Ogar who was already peeping through the peephole. He had an indifferent look on his face.

"Who is it?' uncle Travis asked.

"Aunt Sheila" he replied.

Aunt Sheila smiled. She could hear them from the other side.

Aunty Sheila's point of view...

As soon as I saw that the door had been opened. It was Ogar who stood by the door. Surprisingly for the first time, Ogar didn't greet me or welcome me. He shut the door and walked away.

I gazed at Ogar as he walked away, and I frowned in confusion.

I shrugged my shoulders indifderently. H was just a lad who didn't understand what it felt like to be in her shoes.

"Good morning Travis" she called out. Her two hands were placed on her bag.

"Good morning" he grunted a reply back.

It has been ages since I came here. Oh wow, Travis rearranged his sitting room again

Maybe it was just a means to keep his mind fewer from bitter thoughts? Her hear sank. The stench. Ooooo! Liquor. Not just any liquor, spirit! Travis... He knows how much I detest that thing he drinks! It's like he is on a mission to take his own life. How much easier can I make this? He would have got to know somehow in the near future if not now. Would it have been better? Hmmn... I wonder. This is not my fault but how will anyone believe that till they discover the truth. I will stand here while and watch. So he will not offer me a seat at least? I thought my son was here. If he is not then I don't see the need of spending an extra second here. I really need to show him round. This is hard for me but Ekparabong is his heritage and some of his people are here. He needs to get conversant with them. Be speaks the language a bit. He is a fast learner so he will pick up quickly.Bekwarra people are also here. She witll like him to meet folks from Bekwarra. It will strengthen the bond between him and girlfriend. That is what every mother prays for.

She heard the sound of the door. It was the kitchen door, she could tell. She watched Ogar again in disbelief as he shut the door and walked towards the parlor. He observed her briefly as though she was a stranger and walked away. She could not believe it. She struggled to contain the emotions that she was feeling within. She hushed the voice that was complaining about Ogar being ungrateful. After all her teenage daughter,Minka occasionally did the same. Teenagers and their mood swings. She had to begin to see him as her son because his uncle is her fiance. Wait! What if Travis calls off the wedding?

Uncle Travis's point of view...

Goodness she is here...

What is she doing here anyway? I hope she doesn't want to talk? Right now I am in no mood for that. Oh , she would know. The bottle in my hand is enough to make her see that.

I wonder when this happened. I thought I was her first love. What happened to me? Was I being deceived? How come I didn't see the signs?

Just when I thought I had found bliss. When I thought that my life is a bout to experience a positive turn I get this?

Maybe this is fate's reason for always keeping is apart. Maybe God knew she might break my heart.

Maybe I should keep my distance for a while but what happens if she keeps coming here? I believe I can get all the pieces to this puzzle.

I wish I could know when this happened. The answers can come from her son. When was he born?

I need to know. I need answers and I need them fast. Oh she is still on her feet. Oops.

"Sheila, " uncle Travis cleared his throat"Take a seat".

Ogar's point of view...

Ogar heaved a sigh of relief as he stretched out to open up the door. He was yet to so another drama unfold or so he thought. There was no way he could escape this. He had to be there to serve aunt Sheila. Maybe after that, he would excuse himself under the pretext that he had an assignment to do. Probably a literature text that he had to critique.

Aunt Sheila's presence in the apartment had made Ogar to begin to feel the tension in the atmosphere. His mind flashed back to the big cardboard that had her name in bold letters on the bed and the twine on the floor.

He just stood there looking at her, not knowing what to say. He tried to hide his tears. Then the fear of what might happen to uncle Travis can only be hidden if he doesn't say a word to her.

now.

The earlier the better. How was he going to begin? Something needs to occur. He placed a pack of juice and a bottle of water on the stool for her. There was a tumbler by to he pack of juice. Ogar turned away before she could utter a "thank you"

He disappeared into his room. He shut the door and turned the door knob.

He began to weep. Was Pascal right after all? Did he mean he,Ogar was the Oleander boy, the poison that infected all his loved ones and made them disappear? Does he mean he had bad luck or as said in pidgin "bad head"? First his mother died alongside her friend who happened to be his godmother then his father went to get treatment and is reportedly dead now. Then his uncle is contemplating...

Tears stung his eyelids as they dropped down to his cheeks. Was this his life? Is this how he would continually loose his loved ones? Sometimes he wondered why he was even born but he was hesitant to ask. The Sunday school teacher said it was wrong to question God.

He could hear footsteps approaching. The person walked swiftly. Then he heard a knock on the door.

"Ogar it's me. I don't mean to bother you but I just wanted you to know that I will be on my way" he heard Ramses say. He rushed to his laundry basket where he reached out to a few clothes and wiped his face.

"Thank you so much for your hospitality" he could hear him say."Truly you and your uncle are crossriverians indeed" Ramses chuckled as his phone made a clicking sound.

Ogar opened up the door to see Ramses standing before him and smiling.

"What happened buddy? "Ramses asked frowning. "Where you crying?"

"Who is crying?" Uncle Travis asked. He had been in the kitchen. He sauntered towards towards the two of them. Ramses pointed in Ogar's direction. Uncle Travis studied his nephew's face for a bit.

" Why, what happened?" First of all there was silence then Ogar said.

"I saw the twine in your room abd a cardboard with aunt Sheila's name on it,are you really going to leave?"