Source: Gemini AI
All that is beautiful will drift away like water. My mum advised Folake, “Get re-married; you are still in your thirties.” Folake said no.
It happened that Folake’s husband’s death left a scar in her heart.
“Mama, I can’t get rid of him. It’s the same water that killed him, Mama,” she replied to her mother with grief.
Mama continued, “I understand, but think of your two kids. They deserve a man as a father. That’s why I am speaking. I hope you understand my perspective.”
“I do, Mama. Yes, I do. Just give me some space.”
Mama immediately talked to her two legs and drifted away from her daughter’s presence.
A few years ago, a bevy of birds could be seen on the balcony as Mr. and Mrs. Adesuwa fed one another and shared beautiful moments together.
Folake, Mr. Adesuwa’s wife, asked him about his adventures on the sea. She said she would like to go with him on one of the trips, which he affirmed.
All of a sudden, their two kids dropped off the school bus and ran toward them. They were surprised to see their mum and dad.
The maid took them in so as not to ruin the moment. “Mum! I love you,” her daughter, Desire, said. She responded as a mum does, “I love you too.”
Folake’s husband came home once in a blue moon, so Folake knew how important such moments were.
On that faithful day, she talked about the issues she was having with the MD of her school. She said the MD did not know how to keep secrets. She explained that she told the MD to get the files of a class teacher because of a report from one of the parents. She did that but returned a bit late.
All of a sudden, the physics teacher, Mrs. Adekoya, stormed into the office.
Then she gave a long pause, as if trying to carry her husband along.
Her husband, sincerely listening, said, “And then what?”
She was pleading—not just pleading. Mrs. Adekoya was also on her knees, saying that I should not sack her.
“As in….”
I tried to calculate and permutate.
Then I replied, “Who is sacking you, or do you have a cockroach in your cupboard? In fact, who told you that I am sacking you?” I said.
Shortly after handling the incident diplomatically, I told her to leave.
I sent for the MD and told her that the physics teacher came to my office. “Honey, can you imagine?” she said.
“What was her response?” Mr Adesuwa said.
She immediately spilled the bucket, saying that she did not inform the physics teacher of any sack letter.
Mr. Adekoya burst out in laughter.
He said to her, “This reminds me of a Yoruba proverb.”
A brief moment of silence erupted as he continued his speech with lifted seriousness, as if making a point.
“Ẹlẹ́fọ́ o, oni o. Ó lè fọ́ oùn kì í ṣe ẹ̀fọ́ àtàn. Ta ni kò mọ̀ pé ará lọ́n fùú?”
This means: it is a story of guilt.
They laughed as he interpreted the meaning of the proverb.
Soon, he went on a ship for the pilot of a new mission. Sadly, they lost communication till this day. Rumours had it that their ship was hijacked, while others feared that he was dead.
However, Folake believed—
believed that her husband was alive somwhere,
believed that her husband was alive despite the fact that police contrary reports.
She was always glued to the news. One day, she saw a report about the release of a terrorist-hijacked ship by the U.S. government after a recovery mission.
Her heart melted. She went to the police and the Nigerian Customs. There was no sign of her husband.
A week later, she heard a knock on the door. She didn’t take it seriously.
“Who is there?” Titi (the maid) called. “Please open the door for whoever is there.”
Titi proceeded to the door. When she opened it, her jaw dropped. She tried to process what she was seeing.
She jumped and hugged him, not caring that she was a maid. She screamed, “Mr. Adepoju!” She called out, “Madam! Come!”
Immediately, Folake ran out.
She began to cry—not just tears; she also leapt on him. She hit him really hard on the chest. “Where have you been for two good years?”...
Of course, family and friends came to visit as soon as they heard of his arrival.
That night, in her room, she told the story of his absence—how she suffered and how her family pressured her to remarry.
She said that the maid stood by her and always encouraged her to wait.
He then responded, “The waves came, but I thank God that our faith in Jesus indeed calmed the waters.”
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