The Reckoning - Part one. - by Apple And Pen 🖋️

“We have to send him away. The way he's behaving, it's not normal.”By the way he sounded, I knew my father was not trying to be subtle. He never really was known for his subtlety or tact. My younger brother, Tayo, looked at me, his eyes darkening in realization. They were talking about me, apparently, not caring if I was listening or not. “Papa Tayo, why would you say something like that? What sort of place would he be sent to? What parent sent their own child away because he's a little different?” My mother's tired voice responded. Even without seeing her, I could tell she was rubbing her forehead with her hand. An action I'd caught her doing one too many times. “Your son is not a little different! He is very unusual!” My father's voice blared even louder, then it lowered to continue. I pressed my ear against the door, straining to hear his next words. “What 14 year old boy buys lipglosses and paints his nails with markers?? Infact, I blame you. You influenced him and -” The door opened and I stumbled into the living room, my eye meeting the beady red shot eyes that belonged to my father. He stood up, looked between me and my mother, while wagging his index finger at the both of us. The ceiling fan completed its cycle slowly, making those creaking sounds like it was trying to diffuse the tension in the living room. I stood up quickly, my heart skipping 3 beats, ramming against my chest, threatening to break out of the cages of my ribs. “Sorry da-” I started,“Will you keep quiet now! Ọmọ-kọmọ! You are now spying on your father, eh? Soon you'll be stealing on the streets! That fate may even be better than the one that plagues you now.” His hands were flying every which way. I stood there, not sure what to do. “Kunle, apologize to your father. Tell him you're sorry.” My mother said, still sitting. I pursed my lips, not sure what I was apologizing for. “I'm sorry.” I murmured, biting the inside of my cheeks. A sudden wave of hunger filled me, my stomach grumbled and I gripped it unconsciously, before I caught myself. Then trying to hide it, I placed my hands on my waist, gently pressing my stomach hard, trying to contain the pain. “You see? Shey you're seeing your son? See how he's doing his lips and you say he's normal? He behaves too much like a girl! It's a sickness! It's too abnormal!!” My father walked up to me, grabbed my shoulders and shook me till I saw stars. “Stand well, stand well now now! You're a man! Start acting like one!” He shook me, again and again. “Papa Tayo, you're hurting him, please let him be.” My mother is up now. I could see the thin worry lines on her forehead and cheeks. “It's final,” my dad shoved me away, his full lips curling in disgust, “I have already spoken to Rev. Àbáyọ̀mí. Kunle is leaving to school today.” School?School was out of session. It was long vacation. My heart started it's drums of terror again. I rubbed my eyes, as if to warn my eyes to stay dry. A lump formed in my throat and I looked at my mother. She looked as appalled as I felt. “Elijah, what are you talking about? Spoken to Rev. Àbáyọ̀mí about what?” Her voice broke mid sentence. Seeing my mother shake slightly with fear amplified the terror in me. I didn't bother to hide it anymore. When the first tear dropped, I let it. It was soon followed by another, then another. “Look at this weakling,” my father sneered at me and shook his head. The heavy stench of disappointment hung in the small living room. “All the useless feminine behavior must end. Go inside and pack your things. Oya, don't waste time! You are leaving today.” My mother wiped my eyes, and pressed me to her thin frame.“Where are you taking him to, Elijah?” “St. Bartholomew boarding school in Akure. His uselessness ends today.” I remembered watching a law movie. I remembered how the judges finalized their decision by banging a gavel on their table.I heard it now loud and clear. This decision is final.

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