He wondered if she was trying to punish him, because on a normal day, she’d have cleaned him up and served him his food..
He pressed the beeper five more times but she didn’t come.
He decided to help himself into the wheel-chair standing by his bed side. He pushed himself towards the bed’s edge, he took hold of the wheel chair and attempted to hop in. He lost his balance and almost toppled over…
“Hey! What are doing?”
It was Lara, he didn’t look back, he wasn’t sure if the scowl he saw yesterday was still there.
“Errrm…” he tried to speak as she balanced him on the wheel.
“Morning to you Tony…” she wheeeled him towards the Loo.
“I was answering a call when I heard the beeper…”
“Here…steady…sorry…easy…” were her words a she helped him into the the bath tub.
“I’l be back in a jiffy” Lara said looking away, she could bear to see him unclad.
Tony smiled, she’s too shy he thought.
“I want you to stay…” he smiled revealing his teeth.
“No thank you.” lara left the bathroom.
Ehen! Deji what’s there in life that you should forget me na!” Lara queried.
“Nooo, bestie, its not like that na!” Deji laughed as she sipped her glass of juice.
“Eh is like what? Tell me! Deji toh bad!” Lara laughed again flopping beside her friend.
“Girlie, yan me, I heard Tony is sick?” Deji began to say in a mocking tone.
“yes, he’s been ill.” Lara said carefully.
“I heard the only snake in his forest is dead?”
Deji asked again.
“Now Deji, don’t start! That’s so cruel…”
“So cruel?” Deji mimicked her.
“You don’t know how happy I was when I heard the news! I danced ehn!” she looked excited.
“Deji!” Lara gave her a reprimanding look.
“What? Isn’t it worth celebration?” Deji laughed
“This isn’t fuuny” Lara frowned.
“You’re happy at the misfortune that has befallen my marriage?”
“Which misfortune? When that man was fraternizing with all the women in town, isn’t that a misfortune!” Deji made a face.
“Deji please!” Lara looked offended.
Just then the beeper made a shrill sound.
“Excuse me bestie, Tony needs me now!” she got to her feet in a hurry.
“come o!” Deji held her dress.
“so you don turn dog wey na beeper dem dey use call you shey?”
the shrill sound came again, louder this time.
Lara pushed her friend’s hands away, rushing towards Tony’s room.
Deji watched go, she clapped her hands in gossip fashion. She quickly tip-toed after her friend.
“I’m just tired of being in here, can you take me outside please?” Tony pleaded peering at Lara.
Lara wished she wouldn’t take him outside, she feared Deji’s razor tongue.
“Lara? Anything wrong?” Tony patted her arm.
“Errrm, yea…no ” Lara helped him into the wheel chair.
“okay…” Tony smiled as she wheeled him out of the room.
They were at the hall way when they met Deji’s mocking gaze.
“Good afternoon o, Mr Tony!” Deji made sure her voice was loud and clear.
“Af’noon Deji, its been a long time.” Tony smiled.
“Yes o! I heard about your illness…errm…I mean the paralysis of your legs and ….and…..your…”
Deji replied a mischievously smile playing on her lips.
Tony didn’t miss the message she was trying to
pass across to him.
“lets go!” Lara whispered as she wheeled him out through the back door.
“I’m sorry about Deji’s attitude…” she apologized as she balanced him on the grass in the mini-garden.
He simply nodded.
“You need a snack or something?”
“No, I’m okay.” he was reading some invisible things on his palm.
“you don’t need anythin, anything atall?” Lara searched his eyes.
“Yes, you can go now, your friend is waiting.” he waved her off.
“Okay!” She sighed walking on the balls of her feet out of the garden.
“welcome back! Iya Tony!” Deji quipped as her friend walked in..
“Seriously what you did Deji was really bad! Do you have to remind him of his problems?” Lara feigned anger.
“Atleast he got the message!” Deji bit into her meatpie.
“Deji…do you know you are too bad?” Lara squeezed beside her.
“Oh yea! You need not remind me! Anyways, we’ve gotta enjoy our lives o.” she quipped and they laughed in unison.
To Be Continued…. . . .
