I felt sorry for the Bow-tie man; the puzzled looks on his oval-shaped face confirmed that he still had tons of unsaid words dangling on his lips. Notwithstanding mother’s sudden aloofness, I still noticed the tinge of glimmer in her eyes.
We both walked quietly to board a cab going to Odogbolu. Fortunately for us, the spaces left accommodated just two passengers.
My young mind was restless all through the journey. Firstly, it was my mother’s name that pulled the first teaser. The Bow-tie man called her Ajironke, whereas my mother’s name is Bola. Furthermore, she seemed thrilled initially but suddenly swung to an apathetic mood.
The vehicle made a swift detour, and my eyes flashed at the signpost: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COLLEGE, ODOGBOLU.
The bus alighted at the parking lot and as I attempted to carry my ‘Ghana-must-go’ bag, the zipper tore wide open, thereby spilling some of its contents on the ground.
“Ose Igberagan.!” Two of the girls in the cab jeered and walked away without offering any assistance.
“Those girls are bad-mannered?” my mother’s anger rose.
“They are not madam.” The driver explained matter-of-factly. “Students usually use that slang to describe the period at the beginning of the term when most of them show off their latest provisions.”
“Is your son new here?” the driver continued as he joined us to pick up the fallen items.
“Yes.”
The administrative block stood right in front of the park, and just as we were on the verge of asking questions, we saw some students entering there. I joined a queue which indicated my admission number. I stole a look at my mother, who sat in a corner, and I saw her dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief as if she had ‘Apollo’.
Afterwards, I passed several other queues and registration points before I was finally assigned to Niger House.
It was time to say goodbye. My mother hugged me several times with tears streaming down her face. I blinked back the tears and put up an impromptu confidence before the onlooking students.
“Iya Sukurat was right after all,” I heard my mother mutter. “Now, I am about to face another period of loneliness. First it was the departure of your father and now…”
“But I’m not dead yet.” I interrupted her innocently.
