₦airaland Forum

THE PLEASURE AND THE PAIN
By Ezinne C. Onyeagba.

CHAPTER ONE
On a cold September morning, the telephone rang. There is a lady on the line, Lucy announced. Lucy was the chief maid-servant. Twelve years of active and loyal service in the house made her very experienced nd outstanding. She was busy cleaning the center-table in the sitting room when the call came in. She passed on the telephone-receiver to Stanley who was sitting on the sofa, browsing through the pages of a magazine.
"Hello, who's on the line?" Stanley asked with a deep voice.
"Stan?" The voice inquired.
"Yes, who's speaking?" Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okoro".
"Who?" He asked again.
At that point she said loudly and coarsely in perfect English: "I'm your mother, you silly boy".
Stanley had to laugh. It was absurd and he liked the fact that she was plain about it, not trying to make it an emotional event.
She told him her phone number and address and asked if he would like to meet her.
At that point, Stanley hung up and stood there, soaked in confusion.
His father, Senator Okoro didn't laugh atall when Stanley told him that evening.
"Go and see her, if you must. Do what you like, as long as you keep me out of it".
Then he said suddenly "Are you curious?"
Ofcourse Stanley was curious, having not known or seen his mother for the first time in his life. He could not wait to see and talk with his mother who deserted his father immediately after his birth.

To be continued...