DREAM WAKE

Y

ide, but I will eventuall

up in the driveway. Dark clouds hung heavy in th

ow on the otherwise dark driveway. I couldn't wait to get out o

riefcase and jacket from the back seat of my car. It ha

oise as it came in contact with the gravel beneath it. I had alw

it into the key hole, but the d

e must have gotten

ndelier -- the only expensive thing there -- was still in place in i

zed in through a window that had been left open. Although nothing seemed out of place

itchen; the smell of richly-cooked soup. Osagiede must have be

, the open window and n

was defi

rom work, always complaining about how overworked she was. All that

as you had to earn that by p

ed around the house causing echoe

it. Once I lifted the lid, the smell hit my nostrils. Lush green periwinkles cushioned in creamy yellow

, scooped a generous a

ummy goodness fil

ut of my work clothes so

g as light spilled into the corridor from the guest room --- a room that had ne

t mean

couldn

at if

were actua

olten silver, I walked towards the light, passing our bedroom in the pr

mind and a missi

n was a few

and gazed, open mouthed

s, the walls had been repainted a pale pink

tiful sofa to the right, a cream coloured rug

--- a blue wooden crib fit for a king's child. I guessed from the colour, she m

--- she still didn't know yet,

find it's way to the pit of my stomach. There it

hing, but I also

dreamed about. To find out y

p to the middle of the crib. Every time a wisp of wind caught it, it tinkled into soothing melodious tun

it's size as an overwhel

rise for me and I in turn would

nhaled several deep breaths, my warm breath

at the door, as balls of unspent energy surged through me.

myself, I schooled my features into some s

join her, I snagged the buttons on my shirt

ile slipped onto my face and I fou

d, almost tripping over my feet in a bid to join her, but stopped when

e in there

m door as my heart did a tango

ly her voice. It seemed she was talking on the phone, so I

ear as a bell being ru

even gave me your card and . . . oh, you remember now. I eventually settled for an IUD. Yep that was me. I'm so sorry I'm calling at such a lat

finished speaking, but just as I put my hand on

lable lunch time so I can come in to remove the c

ash was she

lothing on me. A chill passed throug

she actually visit a do

ing pregnant in the two years of our mar

it was not until recently, in the last month or two that she came

o put them in perspective, but seeing as I was getting

filtered back int

a strong virile man. He's very up to the task of getting

er, and I wondered, not for the first

et's nest . . . an unwanted territory

going to run

confro

ng thought, I pushed open the do

Darling," she faltered. "I didn't hea

sky. She took one look at it and her mou

merised, as a jaded

k of shock, of helplessness, of a deer that had been ca

me I wa

me, I h

he ball was cle

t wives supposed to get pregnant for their h

ded look as they became

fear came over me. Just then, the words cam

rds I saw writt

, strengthening my res

have children with me, tell me?" By this time, I was beyond livid. Rushing to her, I grip

unded, that I thought they w

, I releas

d on the tiles, which were cracked around the edges. I kept telling myself I needed

a disaster

ted shut and her breathing

aid her on the bed, but as I made to pull the cover over her n

a puppy dog expression on her face. My expression softe

I know you'd get like this. I've been so stressed ever since I started this jo

a rush and I unwitting

ouldn't beat you over the head a

any woman cry, let alone my wife. She was obviously un

he covers up to her chin. I laid down beside her and h

naked, I got up to take a shower, washing all the dirt

all to the doctor. I understood why she got the c

condoning her actions but I understood her reasons. Life was hard enough a

was still sleeping peacefully so I put on some sho

g from where I had put

, wonderf

answer it, so I sl

stirred beside me. I made to put

as m

this down if I di

walking to the sitting

It's late, can't what you have to tell me wait till the mor

oned to the village in two week's time. It's quite urgent. Remember you're supposed to ascend the

attend to issues of the people. For one, I'm a Christian and I can't dabble in diabolical tradition. Secondly, I can't

continued itemising it. "It's not a village, it's a town and it's even more developed now. You'll make a home here with your wife and children and you will be the most powerful man in the town. It's growing and nee

urged on. "My cousin can ascend the throne for all I care, he's also of royal blood too. Please, ma, I don't want to discuss this anymore. I'm tired and I need to

eep tonight. I was already feeling th

ep. I even counted sheep, then I tried praying, but tha

k about was how to make Osagiede love me and how we could real

my head already in

is. A change of scenery to be left alone t

holiday, an