A Mother’s Worry

The building was an apartment as it contained close to forty families and the rooms weren't the best, so passing through the tight passage he got to the door to his room as he pushed it opened:

"Who is that" a weak voice asked that put a smile on his face. This was the only voice he had wanted to hear all day, the only voice he would never want to let go, the only voice he would go to the ends of the earth and back for without a complaint, this was the voice he just heard as a broad smile appeared on his face:

"I am back mum" he said as he walked to her bed side just as she sat up to look at him,

COUGH COUGH

She coughed a bit as she hugged him tight "where were you all through yesterday, I was scared"

"Mum I am fine I just ran into some difficulties trying to reach you" he said as he hugged her back,

"I see, but that doesn't explain why you are half naked, you know that the lord won't be pleased if he comes at this moment…" she was still talking when he cut her off;

"And I might miss rapture, right? You say this all the time mom, besides if it's that way then we truly don't have a hope of making it to heaven" he said as he pouted

"Hush son, don't speak that way, the Lord loves those that are his and would always take care of them, so you don't have to worry about that" his mum said in a stern voice making him roll his eyes as he stood up "where are you going to young man, I am not done talking" she said as he stood up and pick up a shirt from the improvised wardrobe made out of rope as he began to carry the gas cooker out of the room "Mom relax I am not going anywhere yet, you haven't eaten have you?" he asked to which she just shook her head "don't worry when I am done you can continue to edify my spirit" he said with a smile as he walked out of the room to the kitchen, "Richard, please hurry up, remember there is bible study today by 5pm" his mother shouted as he replied "Yeah, I am aware".

---

"I wonder what she would think if she ever finds out that I can bring out fire from my body occasionally, she would probably think that her only child is possessed…" he was thinking out aloud as he sliced some onions as he prepared a meal of Jollof rice for her when suddenly a voice jumped out of nowhere startling him:

"HAH"

"Arrrggghhh" he screamed in a high pitch voice as a set of fingers touched his waist as well making him jump in shock as he had flown to the nearest table as he climbed on top of.

"Pfffttt, Hahahaha" Shola the culprit couldn't hold her laughter as she fell on the floor laughing really hard,

"Hahaha, real funny" Richard mimicked her laughter showing clear signs of irritation as he came down,

"I'm sorry, I sorry, Hahahahaha" even after apologizing, shola couldn't just hold herself any longer as he threw in another round of hysterical laughter "what do you want Shola?" he asked as he got back to the table he stood at before where he continued to cut the onions.

"You know it never gets old right" she said as she finally calmed down and sat on the available stool "just the way you shout is enough to but other girls to shame, but you do it so effortlessly"

"Are you going to help or not" he asked as he was pissed by it, "Oh come on I am here to help, what do you think" she said as she pat his back slightly twice before going to fetch some water from the bucket to wash her hands. He was clearly pissed but for some reason when she touched him, he calmed down slowly as he turned his head to face her.

"So, what's all the talk about you catching on fire and, you being possessed, don't tell me is one of those times, your mom goes all fanatical about religion and stuff most times its annoying" she said as she began to wash the rice.

"I know right and it is pretty annoying but what can I do about it, she is the only one I have" he said as he began to tear up,

"Aww he loves his mother so much the he is crying at the thought of her" Shola teased as she laughed

"Oh, shut up, you very well know that it is these damn onions that is making me tear up"

"Yeah right" she rolled her eyes "But on a serious note, you didn't sound okay, what is all these talk about you getting on fire" she asked in a serious tone.

Growing up together, Richard knew that Shola can be playful most of the times but once she is serious, she gets what she wants, so hearing the question been asked this way made him start to sweat anxiously as he began to scratch his right elbow " Uhm, you know that we had a match somedays ago right" he asked as he avoid her eyes "well I was so good that day people began to say that I was on fire, so you understand where I am coming from, right?" there was no response, "Right?" repeating the question as he turned to look at her to ensure that he was heard when she rolled her eyes and began doing other things silently. 'Wait, she didn't say anything, does that mean she took the lie, whew, I was beginning to think that I had been caught. But why has she been quiet. Maybe she feels sorry for me, but I kind of like the peace and quiet'

---

Far off in space, in a different galaxy, light years away from the milky way, on a planet that looked like mars but had a darker shade of red as the whole planet seem from above like a big red rock. The atmosphere at one glance one could easily decipher that it was inhabitable, to humans at least, as it reeked heavily of Sulphur and other dangerous compounds that would fry the lungs with one breath, but despite this, there was still life booming in this harsh environment, as the plants that grew from here where twisted long vines with various thorns, as with one glance you could tell that it was a tough plant that can't easily be destroyed, that was until a carriage like vehicle rolled over it trampling it with ease. The carriage carried a lone resident of the planet that rode the beasts that looked nothing like the ones on earth as he beat them faster, making them move faster than cars. The lone person rode the carriage through the plain as he got to the residential area were a lot of residents could be seen and off to the distance one could see a grand castle sitting in the middle of the settlement,

"Arg ugh malakur" the lone rider said in a deep masculine voice as he spoke in the local language which could be translated as "Finally, the capital". Saying this he beat the beast once again as it rode towards the castle.