My Father's Best Friend - Part 1
Dear Friends,
Today’s newsletter is a story I wrote about two years ago. I hope you enjoy it and you share so that others can join the family. The support I get and the feedbacks propels me to write more. It would also propel me to finish the third part to this story which I am sure you would be excited to read.
A Great Man
My father died when I was 12. It was a day before my birthday. It was during Christmas period. I was born on boxing day, and we lost daddy on 25th December. On the day Christ was born.
My father always came home on the 22nd from his travels, and mom was always happy to see him. She would make different kinds of meals, especially his favorite Ofe Oha. After that, they would go into the room and play the adults play. The one we kids were not meant to play. They were always so happy after that. They adored each other.
Dad usually called on his way back, but this time we got no calls. My mom fretted, but my twin brother told her everything was alright. My mom always fretted over everything.
The News
Then the calls came. The police wanted to speak to Lolo Okoro. They wanted to inform her that her husband had been involved in a tragic accident.
I still recall like it was yesterday how mother screamed. She booked the next flight for us all to Lagos. That was where papa had been hit.
Then came the news. My father was a prominent man, so every major media house covered his accident. But that was not all, the police told us that dad had been shot before he got into the crash, but they were not letting that part of the news out. It seemed someone had been sent after him and the crash happened because he had been shot first. No one except us his family and the police knew this detail, and we were told to keep it that way.
The wait was the worst part about my father’s accident. For 48 hours plus, we waited for him to get better. He did not. The day he died, it was gloomy, and it felt like the universe was sending a message. My mom was next to him when she suddenly realized he had stopped breathing. She called for the doctor, who confirmed his death.
Ah, the way my mother cried. She threw herself on the floor begging Chief Okoro not to leave her. She cried for the love of her life to come back. She offered to take his place. She kissed him repeatedly on his lips, telling him that his “adaugo” was next to him, but papa was gone.
The media carried the news again, and one headline said “the untimely demise of philanthropist Chief Okoro.” Another said “A charity mogul is gone.” While a third said “The death of a helper.”
The headlines were all correct, as father had a foundation, a charity organization and was training a dozen kids from our village. He had sent two to Spain, and another was in line to go to Germany. Papa was a giver, and he was wealthy enough to do so.
Another round of calls came in, as people offered their condolences. There was one however that stood out. It was from Chief Otammiri, my father’s best friend. He was also Papa’s competitor, as they had similar businesses.
Mother was too distraught to pick the call, so I and my twin brother answered. Chief wanted to know if we were all doing okay, and to tell mom that he would be in Lagos soon. Then Chief asked a shocking question. “Has the shooter been found?”
“What shooter?” Harry asked Chief. Harry was my twin brother. Chief quickly told him not to worry, but to greet mama and tell her to take care, and that he would be in Lagos soon.
The Funeral
Father was buried on new year’s eve. About a week after his death. Mom did not want his corpse to “enter the new year.” She wanted a fresh start to the year.
A lot of prominent men came to his funeral and the governor gave a speech on his burial. Few commissioners came, and a senator and two members of the house of reps were there. During Papa’s funeral, mama dressed in all white. She looked very beautiful, and not look like one who was mourning. Her eyes however gave her away, as they were red and puffy… To Be Continued
Dear friend, I honestly hope you enjoyed this story and I am looking forward to sending the part 2 to you. The number of shares I get would determine how fast the part 2 is sent. Thank you for reading, and please consider sharing this story so that others can subscribe and join the family!
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