WEIGHTED 34

TYRONE ROBERT

‘Good job, ton - ton, I didn’t think you had it in you.’ Elize said on the phone while picking my clothes for the day. It’s been three months since we got the news of her pregnancy, and her so called ‘ton - ton’ calls her everyday to tell her the progress of whatever they’re doing.

She never told me who this ton - ton is, the only thing I know about him is that he is a crucial key to her plan. I’m starting to get really angry at this situation. This whole revenge thing is starting to get on my nerves, it’s really taking its toll on her both physically and mentally which is not good neither for the baby’s health nor hers.

I don’t care how selfish I may sound, nothing is more important than my family for me. She already fainted thrice in those three past months, and the doctors advised her against stress or she could risk losing our baby.

I walked her way, hugged her from behind, and took her phone from her, cutting the call off in the process. She sighed, ‘Tyrone, that was an important call.’ She said with a hint of fatigue in her voice.

‘Not as important as your health.’ I retorted before turning her in my arms and hugging her to my chest. ‘Honey, you need to take it easy for our child’s sake, for your sake.’ I said as calm as I could manage.

‘I wish I could, but not now. I’m so close to ending this whole ordeal once and for all.’

She assured, touching my right cheek gently. ‘Then, I’ll get all the rest in the world.’ She added.

‘What if it’s too late then?’ She looked up frowning. ‘Baby, I’m not telling you to abandon everything you are doing, I’m trying to be as understanding as I could that’s why I’ve been tolerating this Shi…thing for awhile now.’ I corrected myself when I saw that her frown deepened. ‘But I’m not going to sit still watching you harming yourself and our unborn child in your search for redemption.’ I said sternly, I won’t risk my family’s lives no matter how heavy or pricy the price I have to pay to achieve that goal.

‘I know I’m being unreasonable and unfair to you for always wandering in the past, but if I don’t finish this I won’t have the peace of mind that was snatched from me almost a decade ago. Those nightmares will be permanent residents of my dreams.’ She clarified. ‘Jason was my brother, my father, my mother, my friend, my everything at that time. He was my protector, my confidante, and everything I really ever needed or wanted.’ I felt a pang of pain mixed with jealousy when those words left her mouth.

‘I’m not saying this because I still have any kind of unwanted feelings towards him neither am I saying it to hurt you. I’m just saying that I owe him this, this is the least I could do to the person who spent his whole life doing nothing but protecting me. Until his last breath was taken.’ She was in tears by now.

No matter how I hated the way she talked about him, I couldn’t help but feel both sad and grateful. Sad because my wife lost the only person that cared for her in this godforsaken world and stood by her side in her most vulnerable moments, but grateful for how he treated her. That he made sure she was safe and protected even if it costs him his own life, which did eventually.

I wish I could meet him to beat him and hug him at the same time. Beat him to a pulp for making sure to stay imprinted in my wife’s mind even in death, and hug him for everything he did for her.

I hugged her tight when her memories started flowing in her mind like a heart - wrenching symphony that refused to end.

‘He died saving me, why couldn’t he just leave me and save himself. Then, I wouldn’t be feeling this numbing pain every time he crosses my mind.’

‘It’s my fault! It’s all my fault!’ She kept on repeating like some kind of a prayer, she was desperate to be heard.

‘Shhh, Baby, don’t say that. It’s not your fault. None of this is!’ I cooed, gently caressing her back and hair with each of my hands.

‘Momma, why cry?’

I turned around to find our children standing there, Elton and Arcadia seemed to be on the verge of crying, Ethan had a frown on his face as if trying to decipher what was happening, while our little princess Acacia who was in Ethan’s arms busy giggling and playing with her brother’s golf T- shirt’s collar.

Elize broke our hug and went to the bed to sit, she ushered for them to come to her. ‘Nothing is wrong, baby. Momma was just happy that your brothers birthdays are coming up soon.’ She said referring to Ethan, Eden and Jacob’s birthdays. Perfectly dodging the real thing.

‘Happy crying, momma?’ He scrunched his cute little nose in confusion while looking at his mother expectantly.

Elize chuckled and nodded slightly, her mood instantly brightening. ‘Yes, my cutie pie. Happy crying!’ She kissed his nose and started tickling him and Arcadia making them fall into fits of laughter. After sometime they dragged me out to show me something, leaving Ethan, Acacia and Elize in the room.

‘You go ahead I’ll grab something from the room, and I’ll be right back.’ I said putting them down, after realising I forgot my phone on the nightstand. The kids nodded, and went to the living room.

‘Mom, are you sure you’re okay?’ I heard Ethan asking his mother when I was about to enter the room.

Elize extended her hand to our giggling princess, urging Ethan to hand her to her before answering. ‘Yes, son, I’m sure. I told you I was just happy.’ She confirmed.

‘Mom, I’m not Elton. I’m old enough to know when you’re hiding something. I’m not asking what it is that made you cry because I know you would tell me if you could. I just want to make sure you’re really alright?’ I was dumbfounded at how mature he sounded. Never in a million years would I have thought that my son is this matured. However I was proud of him nonetheless.

Elize smiled up at him, clearly proud as well. ‘I’m really alright, you don’t need to worry.’

‘You know that I’ll always be here for you, whenever you need me, right?’

‘Of course, honey and I’m proud I have a son who’s caring and smart like you.’ She declared, making him smile slowly.

‘Just trying to give back some of the things you gave me.’ He mumbled causing Elize’s head to shoot up in surprise.

‘What is that supposed to mean, Ethan Tyrone Robert?’ She said sternly, looking at him in that motherly look that indicated he was in trouble.

His eyes widened like she wasn’t supposed to hear that. ‘NNnothing, nothing, MOM’

‘How many times do I have to tell you that you’re my son, not some stranger who has to thank me every other day like I did him a great favour!’ She scolded. ‘You weren’t like that before that who - woman came to you, just what exactly did she say that made you so conscious with me, treating me like a stranger rather than your own mother?’ Her tone demanded answers, but at the same time was rebuking.

‘I - I am sssorry, mom. I just can’t help but feeling like I’m a burden like she said.’ My poor son was stuttering seeing his mother’s expression. I don’t blame him though, even I would find trouble forming a correct sentence when I’m faced with that expression.

‘A burden? Really? Is that what she said you were to me?’ She asked incredulous.

He nodded slowly while looking down in both shame and embarrassment.

‘How creative of her!’ She rolled her eyes in sarcasm. ‘Do you really think that I think of you like that? That I love Elton and Arcadia more than you and Acacia?’ She asked after crouching over him.

‘No, I know you love us all the same, I just can’t help but think of it.’ He admitted, still looking down.

‘I’m so going to enjoy torturing that bitch some more.’ Ethan looked at her confused, I’m sure she isn’t aware that she said that out loud.

‘Honey you are my son, my eldest and most beloved. You’ll always have your own special place in my heart like each one of your siblings, you don’t need to listen to anyone else but me and your father. No one can ever change that you are my son, my very Beloved, cute, smart, caring and loving son who is about to be grounded for believing someone else’s words over his parents.’ She was ruffling his hair and pinching his cheeks making him laugh, until she reached the last part and took him by the ear playfully making him gasp at the sudden decision.

‘But, mom!’ He whined.

‘You are, and will be as long as you are unable to see the real image here and quit apologising and thanking me. Because if you don’t, I’ll be very upset.’ She said pouting slightly.

‘Okay, okay, as you wish, mom.’ He shook his head giggling, though he could see through her antics, he still agreed to whatever she wanted. That’s how much my son loved his mother.

‘Are we over this subject, once and for all?’ She asked after awhile.

‘Once and for all.’ He nodded, agreeing.

‘I’m sorry for upsetting you, Mama!’ He called her the nickname he used when he was a younger. He used it only when he really wants her to believe him or to apologise.

‘That’s my filial son.’ She said hugging him to her, after putting Acacia in her crib that was in our bedroom, next to our bed.

I smiled at the picture in front of me.

‘I mean what is said, mom, I will always be there for you if you ever needed me.’ He repeated his earlier statement.

‘I know.’ She said smiling and kissed him on the forehead. ‘I love you.’

‘I love you too, mom.’ He confessed.

FUNNY FACTS - 'TON - TON' MEANS 'UNCLE' OR 'SNITCH OR INFORMER'

WE ALL KNOW THAT SAYING 'SNITCHES GETS STITCHES'