Must Read: Rain (A Story By Gracile) - Season 1 - Episode 5

6 years ago

Must Read: Rain (A Story By Gracile) - Season 1 - Episode 5

Rain woke up at about 5:00am, quite earlier than her waking time. She was rather too excited for someone who barely slept through the night.

Her travelling bags and luggage had already been packed the week before. She hurriedly brushed her teeth and took her bath, whistling and humming all the while, before realising too late that her noise would wake grandma up.

'Ah! Nana, sorry to wake you up. Good morning ma'. She sputtered. She had almost bumped into grandma who standing in the dimly lit passage.

'Did someone win a lottery today or something? Grandma inquired.

'Uhm not exactly, but someone will be going to Lagos for the first time today! She squealed in excitement then shut her mouth with her hands immediately before mumbling a sorry.

'I'll just go prepare you breakfast while you keep at whatever you were doing'. Grandma finally said

'Not hungry'. Rain snorted. On getting no response, she decided to add 'Okay, I'll just eat on the way'. She knew firsthand that nothing she says would stop Nana from cooking her breakfast.

She went into her room and stood before the mirror to take a good look at herself. She was putting on a green cotton shirt that fitted snugly, her petite figure, together with a black pleated, midi skirt. Her long and dark, wavy hair was packed into a messy bun, letting a few tendrils escape and fall freely on her small oval face. It was her hair that often gave her hybrid origin away. She had large and deep black eyes such that when directed at you, could send shivers down your spine. Her friends would often tease her saying, her eyes were what made the boys flounder when approaching her for they would feel she was searching their souls and reading their minds. She smiled in nostalgia revealing the prettiest pair of dimples and dentition perfectly arranged in her tiny but luscious lips.

She stepped aside and took a frame of her late mother's photo hanging on the wall. She stared at the image before her and smiled at the striking semblance. If her mom were not darker, they would have passed for twins, for every single feature on her face is a replica of her moms. Except her narrow nose, which grandma said were from her dads. It was a mystery they were no photos of him.

She wiped a small tear from her cheek and ran her hands over the frame.

'I miss you mom, I really do. Why did you have to go and leave me behind? Why didn't you stay or take me along with you?'.

As if on cue, she felt the tip of something crispy from one corner of the frame and curiously shook the frame harder. Immediately, a crumpled piece of paper dropped from behind the picture. She assumed it had been hidden in between the picture picture and the wood for a long time.

Quickly, she picked it up and began to unfold it.

'Your food is ready'. Grandma called, startling her.

'I am coming' she answered and tucked the paper into the pocket of her traveling bag.

'What did you Cook'. She continued, walking towards the kitchen.

'Fried yam, eggs and pap'. Grandma called back.

'Hmm.. Sounds tempting, but I'm late already, any delay now and I might not catch the first bus'. She was now in the kitchen with grandma.

'Alright then, I'll just put it in this flask for you to take along with you'.

Rain was exhausted and her shoulders drooped from the heavy luggage she carried. Grandma had packed a bagful of rice, yams,onions among others and insisted she carried them all.

'This woman will not kill me today'. She cursed under her breath.

She was now in the park where shell board a bus to Lagos. She went to obtain her ticket, came back and secured a comfortable seat for herself before slumping into it.

She thought she'll drift off to sleep immediately but found herself smiling as she reminisced on the advice grandma sang to her.

"Don't let anyone look down on you. And the boys,they'll come because flowers attract bees, but don't listen to them. They're all deceivers. Focus on your assignment there and never forget who you are".

She suddenly broke into a sob as it dawned on her they won't be seeing each other for a Long, long time.

The bus was full now and some people turned to look at her. So, she quickly wiped her eyes and turned to look outside the window, averting their gaze.

Grandma was all she had and now she'll be going into a new environment, where she knew no one. She forced back the tears that threatened to fall drop again. In a bid to take her mind off grandma, she remember the paper she found earlier and searched her handbag for it, she immediately regretted as she recalled the place she had his it.

The bus started moving and she quickly mouthed a prayer, committing the journey into God's hands. Then she took out her flask and began to eat her breakfast quietly.