FED UP!

(…continued…)

At the base of the staircase, Mabel felt another wave of dizziness and fell into Coker’s waiting arms.

  “Mabel are you okay?” Coker asked her.

                Her eyes flickered as she tried to remain conscious. Coker blew into her face, trying to stop her from fainting. She held his arm and stood up.

  “I don’t understand this kind of dizziness,” she said.

  “You are very stressed. Are you sure you don’t need a doctor?”

  “No. I will be fine. When I get to my mother’s place, I will rest. That’s just what I need now.”

  “What about your phone?”

  “Let me get it.”

                Mabel made to climb the stairs but Coker stopped her.

  “Do you want to faint? Give me your keys let me get the phone for you.”

  “Ok.”

                Mabel gave him her keys and told him how to open the door.

  “Where exactly should I look for the phone?”

  “I don’t know exactly where. Maybe I will just manage and go with you.”

  “No. I don’t want to take that risk.”

  “Ok. Just search everywhere. My room and kitchen precisely.”

                Coker went up and Mabel sat on a stair. While he was fiddling with her lock, Risi met Mabel sitting at the foot of the stair. She had a small nylon in her hand as though she was coming back from buying something.

  “Aunty are you ok?” she asked, holding Mabel’s shoulder.

  “I am ok my dear.”

  “But you are looking sick. What are you even doing here?”

  “I just feel a bit dizzy, that’s all.”

  “Like someone that wants to faint?”

  “No,” Mabel said, forcing a smile. “Like someone who is tired.”

  “Let me tell my mummy.”

  “Don’t bother her. I will be fine.”

                Risi left her and went upstairs to their flat. In no time, her mother ran down carrying a bowl of water. The sound of her running feet made Mabel turn back immediately.

  “Mabel are you ok?” Mama Risi said as she got close, ready to pour the water.

  “I am ok,” Mabel replied, looking surprised.

  “Risi said you fainted.”

  “When? How? As you can see, I am talking to you.”

  “Ah ah.”

  “So what is the water for?”

  “I wanted to pour it on you.”

  “I am ok ma.”

                Mama Risi turned to Risi who was standing behind her.

  “Why did you make me run like this?” she asked her daughter. “I will just pour you this water.”

  “Don’t pour her please,” Mabel intervened. Risi went backward out of harm’s way and spoke her mind.

  “Mummy, aunty Mabel is not feeling well but she doesn’t want to tell you. If she did not faint, why is she sitting on the step?”

  “It is true,” Mama Risi said and turned to Mabel. “What are you doing here? I though you said you forgot something? Where is that young man you were with?”

  “Which one should I answer first?” Mabel said smiling.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I just feel dizzy. That’s all.”

  “You should have told me since, so we can know what to do about it.”

  “I don’t want to bother you. When I get to my mum’s place, I will take care of myself.”

  “Is there any particular problem? I noticed that you have not been yourself since weekend and you have not been going to work.”

  “I think I stressed myself too much. I just took some days leave.”

  “You need to take things easy,” Mama Risi said though she was not convinced.

  “I am trying.”

  “You need to take a lot of water, fruits and rest.”

                Just then, Coker came downstairs with her phone.

  “What happened?” he asked, looking from Mabel to Mama Risi who was still carrying the bowl of water.

  “My daughter told me that Mabel fainted.”

  “Is that true? Did that happen after I left?”

  “Not at all,” Mabel replied.

  “OK. We need to go before it gets late.”

                He helped Mabel get to her feet.

  “By the way, you have several missed calls from your sister and your mother,” he told Mabel as they walked to the car.

  “When we get to the car, I will return the calls.”

                Mama Risi walked behind them, still carrying her bowl of water. When they got to the car, Coker opened the back seat door and Mabel sat in. His brother came to Mabel and asked if she was ok.

  “I am fine thank you,” she replied.

  “Drive,” Coker told his brother.

  “I want to sit behind with her and make sure she is fine.”

  “I said I am fine o,” Mabel said again, smiling.

  “Ok if you say so.”

  “Why don’t you want to drive?” Mabel asked Coker. “Are you ok?”

  “I am also feeling dizzy.”

                They all burst into laughter. That helped ease the tension.

  “Mama Risi you can go back now,” Mabel told Mama Risi. “I will call you when I get to my mum’s place.”

  “Ok my dear,” Mama Risi said. “Please take care of yourself.”

  “I will.”

                Risi waved at Mabel as she went back in with her mother who was still clutching her bowl of water. Mabel waved back. Coker sat in, put on his seat belt and his brother drove off. Mabel sunk into her seat and exhaled through her mouth.

(…to be continued…)

-Chinedu Isaac