CAMARADERIE TROUBLES

Tomorrow, IK returns to the hospital! The children had no idea. Since the previous day, with Selena's cooking, they played so much, even Selena seemed to loosen up a bit. It was just like old times in a way, but then, it wasn't. IK's strength was very low, he couldn't keep up with his siblings, and no matter how much he tried to hide his weaknesses from his parents and siblings, pain always finds a way of making itself known. Ik had no idea what was wrong with him, Florence doubted he would even know the extent of his illness if she told him he had cancer. Despite his high maturity, he was still a little boy. And every strained smile, every playful chatter with her children, awoke in Florence a pain too deep to quench. It was hard, keeping her emotions locked inside when all she wanted to do was scream her frustration to be heard above high mountains. It was hard crying only within the four walls of their small bathroom, allowing the water to disguise her tears as they beaded down her cheeks. It shouldn't be her son, it shouldn't be IK; it wasn't fair that one so young and innocent had to go through so much pain. But life isn't fair and they were made to learn to find the beauty in life's darkness... Florence almost never caught a whim of sleep. She was constantly by IK's side, making his pain hers and giving the succor only a mother can give her child. bimbo couldn't give the moral support he usually gave Florence; heck, he was badly in need of support himself. He was stretched taut in his quest to be a better husband; a better father... They were in dire need of money, now more than ever and it was a constant source of frustration to know that he couldn't meet up with his responsibilities as the provider of the home.

Florence walked into IK's room and saw that he had fallen asleep. She pulled a wrapper over his small form, staring at him for a prolonged moment. Taking a deep breath, she walked out of the room, making sure she left the door open in case he woke up and needed anything.

"Selena" Florence called aloud as she got to the sitting room. Selena charged in from outside, her head popping through the door. "Call your siblings, I want to see you all"

Selena nodded and seconds later, the three children came trooping through the door, chatting happily. It was a relief to see, although, Florence knew without being told that their excitement would die down in a few minutes. The children looked at her awkward smile and instantly knew something was wrong. Solomon was too young to understand much, but Amanda and Selena were fast becoming accustomed to thei mother's mood swings.

"Sit down, children, I want to tell you something"

They all sat, looking anxiously at her face. Selena had a small frown on her face. "What is it, mummy?" she asked as they waited for Florence to say something.

Florence smiled. "Children, you all know that your big brother hasn't been feeling too fine lately, right?" they nodded stiffly. "Well, Mummy and daddy would have to stay in the hospital with IK for a few days, until he gets better"

Amanda frowned. "IK would be sleeping in the hospital?" she seemed confused.

"Yes baby, IK would have to stay over at the hospital, so they can treat him very well and he won't fall sick again" she explained as simply as possible.

Selena stared at her mother. "But you took him to the hospital yesterday and said he's getting better, why is he going to stay in the hospital again?" she accused.

Florence blinked and swallowed hard. If only they knew that IK's illness couldn't be treated in a day... She should have waited for bimbo to get back, this was becoming harder for her. "Yes, I know Lovey, but Ik still needs to be treated in the hospital so he'll be completely fine. You understand that, right?"

Selena's face was hooded once more, looking blank. Florence wondered what she might be thinking or feeling. It had been so long since she heard Selena sing. It was what Selena was known for. She sang through anything, even composed new songs while doing house chores without premeditating it. Everyone felt she would turn out to be a very famous singer, one to be reckoned with... "Where would we stay? Selena suddenly asked.

"Let us stay with Aunty Naomi" Amanda added with a glow in her eyes.

"Yes, Aunty Naomi" Solomon seconded, his childlike voice ringing with excitement.

Selena glanced at her siblings wondering how they could be excited over something that was so sad.

"No, you won't stay with Aunty Naomi, you'll be staying with Pastor Peter" She had discussed this with bimbo. Naomi's husband was already back from his trip, keeping the kids with them might be a disturbance, especially since they didn't have their own children. It was much better to keep the children with a pastor friend, at least, the children would be closer to their school. Florence watched as the faces of her children fell. This surely wasn't going well at all. "You know, pastor Peter has two dogs, you like dogs, right?" The children stared at her with a sober look. Florence swallowed. "We'll be back in no time, I promise"

*****

bimbo walked around his office, waiting for his cousin. He wasn't himself. All his sermons on faith were back to haunt him. Fear had evaded the cranies of his mind, pushing his faith out of the way. His eyes were heavy from lack of sleep. Where on earth was he supposed to get money for IK's treatment. For the first time ever, bimbo felt like less of a man. He was the head of the family; why couldn't he fend for his family? His family was practically falling apart before his very eyes. Because of IK's treatment, he and Florence had agreed to take the kids to a pastor friend's place, to stay until IK was okay. Florence would have to stay perpetually with IK in the hospital while he scouts around for money. What if he fails and cannot provide the money for IK's treatments when needed? What if IK pays the grand price, all because o his financial inadequacy? He didn't think he would be able to live with that.

bimbo swallowed, pulled back his old wooden chair and sat on it. He was into Estate management and letting; as a pastor, he did not find it easy. People saw 'agents' as fraudsters and liars but bimbo had gone into it when money wasn't forthcoming. His integrity had paid off, people trusted him and sought his services above all else.

bimbo raised his head as someone loomed over him. He smiled at the landlord of the building and stood up.

"Good evening sir" he greeted.

Mr Ogundipe frowned at him. "Pastor, you look sick. Are you okay?" bimbo swallowed, looking at the elderly man. "What's going on?"

bimbo took a deep breath and explained the situation on ground. Mr Ogundipe turned pale, staring at bimbo with compassion. "Ah... You would have to pray very well o, Pastor. The same thing happened to my brother's daughter two years ago, she did not survive it"

bimbo's eyes snapped up. Perfect! Just what he needed. bimbo stood up, unable to keep still.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, I had to say it as it is. But I'm sure your son would be fine, you've prayed for people with worse situations and they were healed" he smiled. "God listens to you"

bimbo nodded wordlessly. The last thing he needed was to know that someone with IK's ailment was already dead. "Thank you sir" he murmured.

Footsteps approached and Jamal walked in. bimbo sighed in relief. He had to get this over with and go home. He suddenly felt the urge to check up on IK. This was surely fear at work.

"Jamal" Jamal was a distant cousin from his mother's side. bimbo was several years older than Jamal though. "I'm glad you are here"

Jamal greeted bimbo and the landlord, frowning slightly. "Is everything okay, brother?"

"No Jamal. I need you to help me manage this place for a while. I wouldn't be available for a while and I don't want this place to be under lock and key. I'll direct all my clients to you, so you can attend to them in my absence"

"Yes, of course brother, but where are you going? What's the problem?"

"It's IK"

Jamal frowned deeply. "What's wrong with IK?"

bimbo swallowed and explained IK's health condition to Jamal. Jamal sobered up. "Oh my God" he muttered. "You have nothing to worry about bro, you can count on me"

"I promise, any commission you make, we'll split it equally"

"Of course not, brother, we are family. You need the money now, more than ever. You have nothing to worry about"

bimbo smiled. "Thank you, Jamal"

*****

"C'mon, give mummy a smile" Florence muttered with a weak smile on her face. We'll be back very soon, I promise" Florence murmured as she crouched before her kids. Pastor Peter and his wife stood behind the children. Their small travelling bags and school bags had been carried inside but still, the children were not smiling. Solomon looked on the verge of tears. Barely two years old, Solomon was too small to be left alone. Amanda stared mutely at the ground, while Selena had a deceptive calm look on her face. Her pride wouldn't allow her show just how much this was affecting her; somegow, that was more heartbreaking than even Solomon's tears.

bimbo tapped Florence gently and moved her out of the way. He crouched before the children with a convincing smile on his face. "Don't be sad now children, see, i promise, to bring you something when we're coming back." he stared into their eyes. "what do you want me to get you?"

"Cheese balls" Solomon mouthed almost instantly.

bimbo grinned. "And you?" he asked Amanda and she nodded. Selena didn't make a sound. "Okay, I promise to bring you pleeenty cheese balls. Do you want that?"

Amanda and Solomon bobbed their heads as their eyes flashed with mild delight. "You be good children, okay? And do whatever big mummy and daddy tell you, okay?" They nodded and bimbo hugged them all briefly. IK stood with Florence, he had a pained look on his face. Selena's eyes lingered on him for several seconds. They stood just a few steps from each other, but it felt like a great wall had been erected, pushing them apart and severing the great bond that they shared. Throughout the short walk to Pastor Peter's place, Selena barely said a word to IK. He was closer to her than even her parents, Selena didn't know how she would stay for days without talking to IK.

bimbo hugged Pastor Peter, thanking him profusely for his help. He turned to IK and smiled gently. "Say goodbye to your siblings, IK"

IK blinked and walked forward. Despite his weakness, he mustered a bright smile for his younger ones. "Bye Ik Ik, bye Tess" he murmured. "I'll miss you a lot. When I get back, I'll tell you all that happened there, okay?" Amanda and Solomon nodded.

IK turned to look at Selena. She stared back at him, her mouth set in the stubborn manner he knew so well. Her eyes revealed nothing; he was surely going to miss her. "I'll miss you, love"

"You'll be fine when I see you, right?" she asked anxiously.

IK smiled. "Yes"

"Promise?"

IK swallowed and nodded. His eyes watered and he blinked severally. Big boys don't cry. "You'll make me another rice and beans when I get back, right?"

For the first time all evening, Selena smiled. "The beans would be soft this time"

IK smiled. "Bye Love"

"Bye IK" Selena did not like the sound of goodbye. But she knew IK had to go, he had to get better so they could go back to the way they used to be.

Florence wiped the tears that streaked down her cheeks. She hugged her children tightly, capturing their scent so it could wash away her fears and give her more strength. She kissed their heads and stood up. Pastor Peter and his wife pulled the children back as they waved at bimbo, Florence and IK. Solomon and Amanda soon started crying as the other half of their family retreated slowly. Selena bit hard on her lip and blinked several times. She hadn't cried since this started, she wasn't about to start now. Her brother would be back. IK would be back!☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐