TWO MOTHERS CHAPTER FIVE

*Theme songs: 

Jasmine Thompson: I Try

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THE LETTER

“The police?!” Adam frowned as he swerved his vehicle into the major roads. “So, if I get you correctly, you are looking for a girl called Halimah, because she didn’t show up in school today?” he scoffed. “Why didn’t you just report that to the teachers, and they would go about it the right way.”
“Well, because Halimah might be somewhere dilly-dallying, and might get into trouble because of that…” Mohammad turned to look at me, “…and someone is desperately trying to cover up for her.”
“You know that’s not the situation.” I defended.
“You don’t even know the situation.” He rolled his eyes.
“Oh please!” I was offended. “I wasn’t the one who almost got us killed by the police.”
“We wouldn’t have gotten into any situation with the police if YOU…” he emphasized, “Didn’t start this James Bond episode. You know what, I can’t wait for this to end so I can look into your face and say I freaking told you so.”
“Okay, you guys slow down. Don’t need to fight.”
But in my mind, I had declared a serious war with Mohammad, or was it with myself? “Stop the car.” I said through clenched teeth.
“What?” Adam Benjamin swerved his head to look at me a little.
“Focus on the road!” Mohammad yelled back at him.
“No, stop this car right now!”
“No, keep driving.”
“I said stop the car!”
“Shut up both of you!” Adam stopped abruptly in the middle of the road, throwing both of us out of our seats so we could actually stop arguing. “Put on your seatbelts and let’s go find Halimah, shall we?”
Silence fell on us like the loving breath of God, and I looked outside the window to distract myself from the supposed truth Mohammad had spoken. I hated him for being so blunt, but a part of me couldn’t hate him at all. He was always a calm and reserved person, so why was he intentionally getting on my nerves?

Soon, we arrived at Halimah’s house. Our presence was easily recognized. Nobody in their right minds would drive their expensive car down into the Shallows of Kanawar, not to talk of three teenagers. Two in uniforms, and one in an expensive leather jacket. Adam and Mohammad seemed to be unfazed by the happenings around them. They ignored the gawking eyes, the murmurs, and told me to point them in the right direction. I limped all the way to Halimah’s mother liquor store. Four men were busy drowning themselves in sorrow, and instead of Halimah’s mother, there was a sales girl serving them. Asides filling their barrel bellies with wine, they were working their hands over her thigh, and one man was making advances towards her breasts. Subconsciously, Mohammad pulled me back from the entrance and held me firmly as he walked inside. He went straight to the woman at the counter and asked for Halimah’s mother.
“Mama boys…” which they referred to Hamilah’s mother as, “…no dey shop o. Check her for house.” She spoke in broken English.
        “And Halimah?” I inquired. “Have you seen her today?”
         The woman chuckled. “You never hear? She rolled her eyes “You never hear say Halimah don lost?” My heart pounded heavily against my chest so boldly that I heard myself gasp for air. Lost? Halimah was lost? I knew something was going on.            “Lost? How… when?” I pressed further.
The woman leaned forward with a frown in her eyes suggesting she wanted to whisper something to us.
         “I no fit shout o. But na one Alhaji Cocoa carry am go.”
         “Alhaji Cocoa?” Mohammad frowned in puzzlement.
         “Yes o. Halimah lucky. If na me, I for don go since.”
           I shook with fever. “That is not possible! You are lying.”
           The woman frowned deeply and sat back in her seat. “Me Falilah! I dey do many things, but I no dey lie!” she snapped at us.
           “You are lying! Halimah will never…”
           “See this brat o!”  Still having a firm grasp of my hand, Mohammad led me out of the store straight to the open so I could calm my mind. I was obviously riled, and I wouldn’t be calm until I learnt the truth.
            I yanked my arm from his grip and marched straight to Halimah’s house. I was welcomed by her sobbing mother who was in the company of two other women. As soon as she saw me, she recognized me, stood to hug me as well. It was then I knew something was wrong. Halimah was like her mother; beautiful, and she had a brave heart not to cry in front of so many people. Her mother sobbed in my shoulder, stroked my hair like her own child and kissed me on the cheek. She knew Halimah and I were inseparable friends, and it would break me like it did to her.
              “What happened to Halimah?’ I asked her mother. “Why didn’t she come to school today?”
               “My baby.” Her mother cried. “My baby…” she handed me the letter Halimah left behind. I unfolded it quickly, my hands vibrating out of anxiety.

Dear Mother,

I am leaving. That is all I can say. I and Alhaji Tambowa Cocoa has decided to live our lives happily away from the insanity you created for me. Don’t call the police because I left willingly, and don’t worry about my school because he promised to take me to a better private school.

I’d contact Zainab if I ever need to talk to you.

I smell like liquor, I smell like poverty and I am tired.

I will make you proud one day, and you’d see this decision I made is for the best interest of everyone.

Don’t think he coerced me into writing this letter to you. I wrote it myself. 

Bye 

-Leemah

     I looked at Mohammad and shook my head. “Halimah didn’t write this letter. I know her.”
Her mother took it from me and responded with an affirmative, “Oh, yes she did.”


What Next? find out in the next chapter of Two Mothers by Okunola O. Zain

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