rk. And also, for Olamide and herself. She detested junkfood, and hated how highly he'd speak of McDonald's or burger king when he was back in Texas. Places like that here were shoprite, a

hat seemed to be a woman. "That's the mad man that trails the streets" She said like it was a sight to see. "And there, there's the school you're going" "I'll have you enrolled tomorrow" She diverted both their attentions. He remembered the building, along awori avenue. It was close but it had changed too. The color was duller, in a gloomy dark blue but the fence was highlighted by a brighter grey. It was enormous, stretching through the whole street to the other side but it was private school. He cupped his chin, at the reality of things. And the whole lifestyle change was just kicking in. And it was obvious his mother had noticed the change in his mood. "Ola, are you okay?" She finally asked. "I know it's a lot" She started, after his hesitation to reply. "But you have to get used to it. And i know you can. We've all made mistak-" "Mum, don't" He pushed a lump down his throat, knowing where she headed and she paused. He faced outside of the window, to the messy roads from last night's rain and he paid attention to that. To the smallest detail in the portholes. He loved to, especially when he felt his anxiety rising. He'd love to pay attention to the littlest things to calm him. It didn't matter whether they were artistic or poetic. Or messy, given he loved to draw too. He scribbled, in his mind a drawing of a porthole that had just been slashed by tires. He made a whole comic in his head based off the narrative of one girl that had been a tad bit close to the vehicle, she got her clothes stained. He chuckled, beneath his breath, paying all his attention to that. And his mother stared at her son. She smiled, on seeing him smile. And that was pretty much how the day went by. Aunt Titi was so excited to see them that she'd treated them to more than a few bottles of pepsi and coca-cola. Mary stuck to her malt. Titi was the closest to her, she stayed at Meiran, a ten minute bus away on the free day. And it was pretty much only them agains the world. That when Ola was seven and preparing to travel, she was the one that lent them a few thousands to secure a visa and a passport. And looking at Ola, she had pride in her eyes. Though disappointed that he couldn't finish his last year over there. Evening had fallen, and Ola had eventually eaten the beans with garri and yet another bottle of pepsi. That was when it occurred to Mary to head back to the house, to prepare food for Akin who would be home anytime from an hour. "Where's the rest room?" Ola asked as they both stood up. She chuckled softly. "Where you left it, Ola. Nothing's changed that much" She replied. "His voice is alot deeper now" Hers died in a whisper as Ola clung behind the door. He could still very much hear their whispers. "So what really happened in Texas?" She asked and Ola felt his eyes close, his heart falling by a second. "Alot of things, Titi. Alot of things" Mary left alot of interpretation to her response, and it was obvious she meant it. She didn't want to reveal what had happened, not even to her closest sister. Perhaps she was ashamed. Or just not ready to talk about it. "We just think it would be best if he just completes his secondary school here. And then we'd see how it goes" She continued. "He's going back?" His aunt asked and then came a bit of hesitation. Hesitation that haunted him. And then the words he dreaded. Words that hung so much in certainty rather than its seeming uncertainty. "I don't think so" She replied as a tear slipped down Ola's face. His battery had completely died down for the day and all he wanted was just to retire to his bed. Or maybe just a call to William, his best friend in Tx. But he had to get through this first. He opened the door and stepped out. They halted the conversation, as if not talking about anything. "I didn't hear the toilet f-" He stormed out of the room as they both looked to themselves in utter confusion. "I have to-" "Yes, go" Titi escorted her to the door as they climbed down the stairs at the edge of the building. "Olamide" "Olamide. Come back here" She yelled. "Where do you think you're going?" She asked, her slippers doing the thing with the sounds again. And he halted, turning back to her with tears down his pale cheeks. "What is it, mum?" He yelled back. "What am i doing here?" Mary broke on seeing the tears from her son's eyes that she halted whatever she was about to yell at him for. And the voice fell in a whisper. "Ola" "Is this the rest of my life?" He asked. "In this shitty place? Is this the rest of my life, where i stay where people want to so badly flee?" "What are you saying? Nigeria's better now" Mary lied. And he scoffed, shaking his head. "Oh well" "Ola. Look at me" She inched closer to him. "What did i say about getting used to it?" She asked, referring to the conversation in the bus. "You just have to because it's your father's wishes" She said. "Now you can wallow in self loathe and pity and close your eyes to this new beginning. Close your eyes to a million other possibilities or you can just relax and take it a day at a time" She whispered. She was learned, and her vocabulary spoke well of it. P

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