OPERATION 419

Story by O'nezer

"Mom, I don't know why God is this unfair to us, I don't know..." I started lamenting that afternoon but mom didn't even let me finish my ranting before she cut in 

"My dear, don't ever talk like that again, not again should I hear you blame God for anything we are going through".

I felt bad and I could understand that mom has been staying strong for me all along. 

About 11 years ago, dad died after a brief ailment. There was no where he wasn't taken to. From one specialist to another, a lot of money has been spent and all hope was lost.

"You are sure this sickness is natural like this? Shey you won't take it through traditional ibile way" sister Ronke, one of my mom's friend advised out of how stressed they all have been since the sickness started. 

Oh, dad has been sick for almost 5 years and after several test, they still couldn't find what exactly was wrong with dad. Some people call it names that my brain couldn't process. 

"It has pleased the Lord to call him home, I heard God speaking to me one night that he has healed my husband but he will take him out of this world of woe to rest in his bossom" my mother was saying amidst tears during the wake-keeping and Thanksgiving service that evening. 

What amazed me most was the fact that people rallied round us and it wasn't just people close by, but people traveled from far and near to honor my father even at death. 

"Look up to me as your daddy henceforth, I will take care of you and your mother" Uncle Tope has said after the burial. 

Uncle Tope is my dad's best friend. He is married with 4 kids and he was always coming around to keep my dad company every evening while I help mom out in the kitchen as we all stayed in the same street then. 

He was of great help after dad's burial but not long after, uncle Tope relocated with his family abroad.

Some of my dad's siblings also promised heaven and earth but the emotions was the one talking and not the real them.

I continued my lamentation to my mother that afternoon by reminding her that the last garri at home was what we took in the morning and I'm so hungry. 

I saw the pain in my mother's eyes. I'm supposed to be understanding too but hunger isn't understanding me as well. I know I couldn't have gone to the neighbour's house to beg for bread.

"Life is a mystery and it comes with different drama, I remember how your dad's siblings said they will be here and there but after the burial we haven't seen any of them coming around" mum said as she raised her face up to the sky.

Our house isn't that completed but the strong will of my father was why we moved to that house like that all because he determined that we are done paying for house rent. 

I left the sitting room angry not just because I was hungry but because everything is already freaking me out. Humans failed and I dont think God will want to fail us at all. I felt sad and more angry. I went straight to my room and laid on my bed.

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"Dear, this your food is so sweet oh, it's like Angel's from heaven came down and added more spice to the food while you were cooking it" Mr Kadri has said as he was having lunch with his wife.

Mr Kadri is a man in his late 30's and got married not too long. They are yet to have a kid of their own but he has enough money that can make anyone respect him in the society as well as the church.

"You have come again oh, that's how you will be whining somebody up and down" the wife cut in as he watched the husband teasing her. 

"Bimpe... Bimpe where is this girl" Mrs Kadri had called out the house maid that was eating her own food inside the kitchen.  

As Bimpe approached the dinning room, Mr Kadri left with the toothpick in his mouth to the sitting room to catch up with sport on his TV.

"How about where I sent you to? Did you meet her at home and her husband as well?"

"Yes ma, I've delivered the package but the husband, I am not too sure he was at home, even the house was looking so rough but I sha gave it to the woman like that..." 

"Wait, where did I send you to? Mrs Kadri interrupted her.

"No 33 Kolajo street, down the 3rd junction from here" Bimpe explained with all confidence.

"Dear, this girl is as useless as P in Psychology, help me ask her where I sent her and where did she go" Mrs Kadri said as she walked into the living room to interrupt the sport her husband was watching.

"Ngbo, where did you go" Mr Kadri asked.

"Kolajo street sir, number 33" she explained with fear

"But she has answered you dear, what's now the problem" confused Mr Kadri trying to figure things out.

"In your left brain, you have nothing right and in your right brain, you have nothing left" Mrs Kadri cuts in angrily 

"Dear calm down, let her explain, how did it happen? " Mr Kadri asked

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"Father Lord, please don't let me be put to shame" my mother was praying  immediately I left her at the sitting room till a knock from the door interrupted her prayer. 

"In Jesus name I pray" she stood to go and check the door. 

"Who is there ooh, tanu?" Mom had said out of curiosity.

My mom opened the door but before she could even say a word to ask her who the person is looking for or what she wanted, the lady handed two different bags to my mother 

"Yes ma, my boss said I should give you this food, the one in this bag is the cooked food and the other here is raw food, she said she will call you on phone" she didn't even let my mother say anything. 

"Young lady, wait... wait" my mom tried to stop her but she said she's in a hurry that her boss mustn't know she waited longer than expected.

"Bisi... Bisi... come here oo" my mother shouted my name from the dinning as she opened the bag one after the other to check what's there.

"He has done for me, he has done for me, what my father cannot do, he has done for me" my mother started singing and dancing as I approached her. 

"Mom, where did you get this from?" I asked.

My mom narrated how she was praying and the lady came around to drop the food.

"Leave long talk mom, let me go bring plate and spoon" I rushed to the kitchen and back under few seconds. 

The aroma from that jollof rice and chicken alone is enough to settle the hunger fight in my tommy. 

We started eating after mom had blessed the food. I can't remember when last I took anything good like that.

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"So that's what happened ma, it was the woman that I saw in the house that I gave the package" Bimpe rounded up her talk.

Mrs Kadri's phone started ringing and she checked to confirm. It was Mrs Amaka, the one the package was meant for.

"Hello ma, I'm sorry jere. It's this mumu girl that I sent an errand that went to deliver it else where. This time around, I'd be the one to bring it myself" she said as she ended the call. 

Bimpe was still there waiting for her judgement. 

"How can I have this full grown at home and she won't be able to deliver well. Get out of my sight before I change my mind" Mrs Kadri had said angrily. 

"Dear, calm down, at least you have apologised to her. Its okay" Mr Kadri tried to calm the wife down as Bimpe also apologized and walked back to finish her food in the kitchen. 

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After the meal that afternoon, I was so filled to the brim and I went straight to my room to sleep.

My mother picked up her bible and read, I could hear her voice faintly as I was sleeping.

"God, I thank you, it can only be you and I believe that you hear and answer prayers" she sighed as she read the passage out from Philippians 4:19 " BUT MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS.

OPERATION 419.

Story By O'nezer 

Osunniran Ebenezer