“My father called me” Khadijat blurted out as I picked her call
“Which father? I was confused
“Alhaji”
“Wow!” I returned “How did it go?”
“I did not pick” She said resignedly
“What do you mean you did not pick?”
“He is calling me because his beloved daughter is now a divorcee. And his golden son called his bluff and moved out”
“How do you know that is why he called though?”
“They told me before he did. I knew when he requested for my number from my mom. He goes about showing off with me. I hear everyone calls him Baba Star. Seems the fact that I am an Influencer has erased the other fact of being an unmarried mother”
“But babe, why did you not pick his call?” I bit my tongue from further remonstrating
“Why would I? After Nine years? What if I had died when he threw me out? Have you forgotten what I went through? Sadeeq almost died or have you forgotten that night when you drove like a maniac to the hospital? You were driving, praying and telling me to stop crying. Do you know why I was even weeping that night?
“Tell me”
“You made me cry”
“Moi?”
“You came back from work on the Island. Tired and in bed before my scream roused you. Yet you threw your own son in the car and we set off that night. In the same city where I had a family. I kept looking at this stranger who had taken me into her house. A tired single mother who should be sleeping. I cannot forgive him”
“Khadijat, are we still on this forgiveness matter? If you can forgive the man who abandoned you with a child why not your own father? I have never understood her logic
“Jide is not my father. He is just a man. Has my sister’s husband not left? A man who courted her for six years and they were married for twelve years with four children? Men are men”
“So why not toss your father into the mix? forgive him, he is a man” I entreated
In the ensuing silence, my mind drifted to the biblical father of the Prodigals. A man who shamed society by breaking all conventions.
Imagine this scenario: your younger son comes to demand why you have refused to die? His goal is to tour the world and have fun on your account. A goal you keep thwarting by remaining alive. He cannot inherit until you pass away and since he wants to enjoy his life right now, can you please allot to him his share of your inheritance?
You do so.
He squanders it and dares to return. You run out to welcome him! A wealthy man that you are!
Everyone would understand if you instruct your servants to deny him entrance. Nobody would blame you if you refuse to see him for weeks on end. Or maybe banish him to the Servants Quarters
Instead you threw a lavish party and invited your neighbours and associates!
Ego. Honour. Anger. Shame. Position. Status. All forgotten.
That father is the colour of love to every child. Which leaves me wondering; those fathers who throw their daughters out for getting pregnant, is her error as grievous as that of the prodigal son?
