CAMARADERIE TROUBLES novel Chapter 25

What?!” bimbo roared.

“You can’t be serious” Florence’s face was as pale as sheet.

Nurse Chinwe blew out her bubble gum, making a pop sounds as she scribbled something on a large hospital book, looking totally unconcerned. “Well, I am very serious, madam” she said nonchalantly.

“Well, it can’t be. Doctor Johnson can’t be on a trip; the doctor himself told us to come today” bimbo barked as his eyes flashed in rage. He fisted his palms by his side, hoping he wouldn’t fly into pieces from excessive anger.

Nurse Chinwe raised her eyes slowly from the journal in front of her, looking up bimbo with an irritated look on her face. “See mr man, come and be going. Ahan, what is it? I told you the doctor has travelled, what do you want me to do?” She hissed.

Florence’s eyes watered as she hopped nervously. She glanced back at IK who was seated on one of the hospital benches, then looked back at the nurse with a pleading look. “But… but my son is very ill… he grows weaker every minute. He needs to be treated, nurse, please”

Nurse Chinwe glared at bimbo for a prolonged moment, then glanced at Florence before resuming chewing her bubble gum. “We have some student doctors in the hospital”

“What? I am not putting my son’s life in the hands of some quack untrained doctors who don’t even know the definition of malaria” bimbo raved, his voice rang out, attracting stares from some people in the hospital.

“bimbo…”

“Bia take yourself and your son’s life out of here, before I throw you out; ogini?” Nurse Chinwe flared up.

“Oh no, please…” Florence pulled a raving bimbo aside, casting a worried glance at the nurse and another glance at IK. He was now lying on the bench, not looking good at all.

bimbo was beside himself with rage. “How can people be so heartless?” he stared at Florence, not really seeing her. “that doctor told us to come today knowing fully well that he would be travelling… So callous”

Florence pulled closer to bimbo, lowering her voice as she spoke. “You have to calm down bimbo, you can’t consistently lose your temper like this, IK’s best interest is at stake here”

bimbo shifted uncomfortably. “What do we do, then? You don’t expect me to leave IK here, in the hands of God knows who, do you? And just look at that nurse. She’s the same as the other heartless nurses in this hospital”

“But what other choice do we have? We have to. And no, we are not leaving him in their hands, we are leaving him in God’s hands. It is not up to them to heal IK, it is up to God.” Florence placed her palm gently on his chest. “Please bimbo, we can’t afford to be destabilized now. We have to remain calm for IK’s sake. He is feeling really bad that he is putting us through so much struggles, we need to hide our anxiety from him, bimbo.”

bimbo swallowed and nodded.

Florence smiled faintly. “Everything would be fine, bimbo, we just have to keep our faith strong.”

Florence was right, of course. He was allowing the tension to get to him, especially considering the fact that he had just put his three children in the care of his pastor friend. He knew Pastor Peter well enough, but then, one could never really know someone, right? Frustration ate away at bimbo’s insides. He hated being unable to do anything about this terribly unpleasant situation. If only he had money enough to take IK to a standard private hospital… But no, this was all he could afford, or try to afford. Even the expenses in this government hospital seemed like an uphill task for him. But he would make things work; he had to make things work for IK, for his family, for everyone.

bimbo turned towards the nurse busy chewing gum at the reception desk and felt extreme anger at his own helplessness. ‘Give me the strength, oh God’

*****

Selena’s eyes slowly pushed open. It was just the crack of dawn. Why was her bed so hard and unfamiliar against her skin? She wondered. Her head pounded slightly as her eyes roamed the room in the shifting darkness. Amanda and Solomon lay asleep on a mat on the floor. Selena didn’t remember ever seeing a mat in their house. The room was very unfamiliar; and why? why didn’t her mum wake her up for school?

Selena frowned, several questions ran through her mind within splits of seconds, then the reality of the past day dawned on her. Selena blinked, remembering all that happened the previous day. They were not in their house anymore. Her parents were gone; she wouldn’t be seeing IK anytime soon… She sighed and lay back on the bed. She felt sick. Selena ate next to nothing the previous day, Amanda and Solomon were not any better. Since Mr Simon’ two children were off to boarding school, Selena and her siblings were the only children in the house. Selena couldn’t help but think they would have been better with Aunty Naomi. She was like a second mother to them and surely, Amanda and Solomon would have been much livelier with her than they were here. The previous night, they had been as quiet as a mule. Selena didn’t know till now just how much she depended on their playful chatter; it went a long way in diffusing the tension. But then, Selena wasn’t sure anything could diffuse the tension she was feeling.

Steps drew closer to the door. Selena raised her eyes to the door as it creaked open.

Mrs Simon entered and frowned at the sleeping children till her eyes landed on Selena. “Selena dear” she called.

Selena stood from the bed and knelt. “Good morning ma” she greeted.

“Why are you still in bed?” Despite her soft tone, her face looked displeased. “Don’t you do morning chores in your house?”

Selena blinked. At home, IK mostly did all that needed to be done while they prepared for school; she couldn’t say that now, could she? “Yes ma” she answered shortly.

“Good. Now, go and wash the dishes in the kitchen, and be fast so you can prepare for school”. She turned to leave, then glanced at Amanda and Solomon who were still fast asleep. “Amanda is not too small to sweep, is she?”

Selena frowned. “Dust affects her”

Mrs Simon was about to say something then decided against it. She opened the door and walked out. Selena released a relieved breath and sat at the edge of the bed for a few seconds. So much had changed within so short a time and she was having trouble wrapping her young mind around the spinning ball of change.

With sheer will and determination, she stood up and pushed her small feet into her rubber slippers. It wouldn’t do to have Mrs Simon come back to meet her on bed now, would it? A small lamp lit the sitting room, driving away the darkness. She lifted it, taking it with her to the kitchen.

Plates from last night sat in the sink, together with three pots. Selena scanned round until her eyes landed on the stool. She dragged it to the sink and climbed to give her height advantage over the sink. She smiled when she thought of what IK would say if he saw her now. He always teased her whenever she climbed a stool to do the dishes at home. Her smile wiped off. IK wasn’t there and he wouldn’t be there for several days, she would have to get used to it.

Selena always sang happily while doing the dishes, but not now. For the first time, Selena stacked the plates in complete silence.