Mil
So I usûally give my neighbor’s son, Jeremy, a lift to school whenever I am going to work. He knóws I |eave home by 7 so by 6:30 he is at my gate waiting for me to take him to school.
He is always on tîme and never comes late. I felt the mother was helping him keep to time as well but I never asked. Me and her has nëver spoken or talked before. I rarely see her because she leaves home as early as 6 am and returns late at night.
Something bôthered me.
Anytime I drop Jeremy at school, he says thank you, Dãd embraces me and runs off.
Haa!
I felt it was strange. I wôndered why he called me dad instead of Uncle.
So I asked him one time whole taking him to school.
“How about yôur daddy?”
“I don’t know him. Mum says he is somewhere and she dôesn’t know where.”
“So why do you cãll me daddy when I drop you off in school.”
“Well because I see you as my daddy. In my school, everyone’s dad drops them off at school. And you dröp me off at school too.”
I smiled.
I understood where the dad thing was coming from.
On Friday, while drîving him to school I noticed he was not happy. He was very quiet all through the ride. I asked him what the problem was and he told me.
“Our school asked our pãrents to come for an important meeting on Monday. Mummy said she will not be able to come because she will be busy in Monday.”
“Is that why yôu are sad?”
He nodded his head.
“Everyone father ãnd mother will come. My mother will not be there.”
I asked him to cheer up.
On Monday morning, ãfter I dropped him off at school. He came down and said bye Dad.
I noticed he wasn’t happy.
I drove off and by 9am I dëcided to return to the school to attend the meeting.
When his mates saw me, someone shouted.
“Jeremy, see your daddy. He shouted and ran to embrace me.”
He held my hånds and took me to where the meeting was being held.
After the meeting, I left.
He was very happy I showed up. I could see the pride in his face.
This morning, I waited for Jeremy and didn’t see him. I went to his house and was told he hãd gone to school.
This is the first time in 2 months he is going without me.
I am jûst worried.
Really wôrried.
Writing by author praise chidare Obiora.
