MORE THAN A CARVING CHAPTER 8

MORE THAN A CARVING
CHAPTER 8
Iwalade was still knocking but Fullhouse hurriedly called her in. “Iwalade come in, the door is not locked.” He shouted. So she rushed inside and ran to hold Ireoluwa. “The drug she took has started having effect.” Iwalade informed. “So, this is the effect of the drug?” Fullhouse asked. “Yes.” “Aunty Iwalade……..help me…….I can’t bear it any longer.” Ireoluwa groaned in pain. “Haa…….Iwalade, did you hear what she said?” “God will take control, just be praying for her. God will give her the strength to bear the pain.” “Aunty Iwalade………Fullhouse…….I want to die, I want to die.” Ireoluwa screamed with her eyes widely open and Fullhouse started panicking. “Ah…..I’m finished. Iwalade, let’s take her to the hospital. Nothing must happen to my wife o.” “We are not going to the hospital. If we go to the hospital, they can’t do anything to help once they know the drug she took.” “How do you know all these?” Fullhouse asked. “It has happened to a friend of mine before.” She replied. “So, you knew all these will happen?” “Yes, that’s the reason why I followed you home.” “Jesus! So are we just going to sit and watch her in pains?” Fullhouse said shivering in fear. “Yes, she needs us to be strong for her, so pull yourself together and act like a man.” “Act like a man! Ireoluwa is an only child, I hope you still remember.” “Nothing will happen to her in Jesus name.” Iwalade prayed. “Amen……Iwalade…… let’s go to the hospital.” He drawled. “Everything will soon be over, just calm down.” She said, looking at the wall clock. She was still holding Ireoluwa who is wincing in pain. “What can I do now?” Fullhouse asked. “Can we get a small plastic bucket, like a paint bucket?” Iwalade asked. “Yes, I think we have that in the house.” He replied.
“Good, go get it.” She said and he hurried out. Fullhouse returned with a yellow paint bucket. “Ireoluwa, I need you to sit on this plastic bucket. Is that okay?” Iwalade said and Ireoluwa nodded. Iwalade helped her pulled her pants down and removed the sanitary pad which was already soaked. She placed the bucket on the floor beside the bed and made her sit on it. Iwalade sat on the bed behind Ireoluwa just to hold her from behind. The blood kept coming out, the pain increasing, Ireoluwa cried and her helpless husband stoop beside her crying as well. Iwalade eyes were a little bit misty too but she had to hold it together, feeling pity for the couple. “Ah……Something wants to come out of my body.” Ireoluwa said with her eyes widened. “Good, once it comes out you will be fine.” “Really?” Fullhouse said. “Yes, she’ll be fine once it comes out.” Iwalade replied him. Ireoluwa screamed and pushed for the thing to come out. She cried the more. Fullhouse held her hands, both crying while Iwalade who was sitting behind her held her shoulders. “Sorry!!” That was what the two kept on saying to Ireoluwa. At last a lump of tissue was discharged from her private part. “It’s out.” Ireoluwa informed them. “Thank God.” Fullhouse and Iwalade chorused. Fullhouse cleaned her teary face and kissed her forehead. Ireoluwa began to feel relieved. “Let’s get you to the bathroom, so you can shower.” Iwalade said and Fullhouse pulled her up gently. Iwalade carried the bucket. “Where’s the toilet?” She asked and Fullhouse pointed to the door of the toilet. Iwalade entered the toilet and emptied the content inside the water closet and flushed repeatedly till the water in the closet was clean. Then Fullhouse carried his wife into the bathroom and bathed her and brought her back into the room. “I’ll take it from here, get a sanitary pad and pant.” Iwalade said to Fullhouse and he quickly went into the wardrobe to get them. Iwalade dried Ireoluwa’s body with a towel. “Where is the…..” Iwalade was still saying. “Here.” Fullhouse said and handed it to Iwalade. He had already fixed the sanitary pad on the pant. They helped her into it and her husband took her to the bed where she lied down to sleep. “You’ll need a shower too.” Iwalade said to the sweaty Fullhouse. He checked out himself and he realized she was so right. He turned and walked towards the bathroom. “I’ll wait till you are through.” Iwalade said to him, looking at Ireoluwa who was about to sleep.
“Okay.” He replied and entered into the bathroom. He returned and Iwalade stood up to leave. “Thank you so much dear cousin, I wouldn’t have been able to do all these without you.” He said. “All thanks to God. You two should have a good rest.” She said to him. “You too.” “I’ll be in the guest room now.” Iwalade said. “I know right, mission accomplished.” “Yeah, something like that.” She said and left the room. Fullhouse lay beside his wife; he caressed her hair and planted a kiss on her forehead. “I’m sorry you had to go through all that. I’m so sorry.” “I couldn’t have done it without the both of you.” She replied weakly. He kissed her forehead again and they drifted to sleep. Iwalade took a shower as well when she got to the guest room, she didn’t sleep straight away she first had her quiet time even though it was past her quiet time hour. In her prayers, she thanked God for taking control of the situation. She had to round up quickly so she could sleep, she was so tired. ****** The next morning which was Monday, it was Ireoluwa’s sob that woke Fullhouse up. By the time he checked her face, it was wet with tears. “Sweetheart, you don’t need this. We should thank God instead.” He said as he pulled her closer to him. “Fullhouse, I thought I would die.” She said in a teary voice. “I’m sorry you had to go through all that.” Fullhouse said, as the painful ordeal his wife went through flashed through his mind. The episode was indeed frightening; he almost loosed it as well, if not for Iwalade that God used for them. “I should have listened to you.” Ireoluwa stated. “No way, I won’t take that from you. Never you blame yourself for what happened. What will be will be.” “Our baby…..” She said as tears run down from her cheek. “God will give us another. You should be more concern about your health, so please stop crying, it’s breaking my heart.” Fullhouse cuddled her and she nodded. Ireoluwa stood up from the bed. “Where are you going?” Fullhouse asked. “I want to use the rest room.” She replied, Fullhouse got out of bed, she was stillvery weak, so he accompanied her. She changed her sanitary pad and then left the room for the sitting room. “Let me call Iwalade so we can have our morning prayers.” Fullhouse said. He knocked on the guest room door. “Come in.” Iwalade said. The two exchanged greetings and before Iwalade knew it, Fullhouse was lying flat on the tiled floor. “Fullhouse! What’s the meaning of this?” “Iwalade, I don’t just know how best to thank you, I don’t know but I know that I will never forget what you did for me and my wife last night.” “All thanks to God. You know what, God don’t leave His own people. He will always create a way to help. That help can come from anybody but I’m glad that God used me for you guys. So please let us all give thanks to God.” She said. “Thank you.” He said once again and then stood up. “It’s time for morning prayers; please join us in the sitting room.” He informed. “After you.” Iwalade said and followed Fullhouse as he stepped out of the room. Fullhouse was the first to get to the sitting room, he sat beside his wife and Iwalade walked in. Immediately, Ireoluwa saw her she walked towards her, Iwalade opened her arms and embraced her, Ireoluwa burst into tears and went on her knees as weak as she was. “Thank you ma, thank you so much, I won’t forget everything you did for me. Thank…..” “It’s okay…..” Iwalade shushed her and pulled her up. If she didn’t stop Ireoluwa, she was ready to go on and on thanking her. “How are you feeling now?” She asked. “I’m fine but the blood is still coming.” “Don’t worry, it will stop with time.” She said and turned to Fullhouse. “You have the doctor’s number right?” “Yes.” He replied. “Let’s call him later and tell him the situation of things. So he can tell us if there’s anything else to do.” “Alright, I’ll call him later then.” He said and they all settled down for prayers. After the prayer, Fullhouse was disturbed, he felt like staying behind with his wife, she looks pale and very weak and he didn’t want to give excuses for not going to the office. “Fullhouse, are you not going to work, have you forgotten that today is Monday?” Iwalade asked his cousin. “I’m still thinking whether to call my boss to ask for permission, I don’t want to leave Ireoluwa all alone, and I don’t know when you want to take off.” He explained. “Don’t worry your head, go and dress up for work.”“Iwalade, don’t tell me, you want to stay behind.” “I’m staying till she’s up and doing. As you can see, she’s still very weak; she can’t be left all alone.” She said pointing at Ireoluwa who was watching the dialogue between the two cousins. By the time Fullhouse understood the message Iwalade just passed across, he was speechless. “Aww…..thank you ma.” Ireoluwa said with a smile on her face, earlier, she was not happy that morning because she knew Fullhouse will have to go to work and leave her all alone in the house. “You mean you want to stay….” He was saying but she cut in. “All I need is my laptop and I took it along with me, so go to work. I’ll take care of your wife.” “Thank you, you are a life saver.” He said putting his palms together. Fullhouse went back to the room with his wife, he bathed her, helped her into her clothing and then went back to the bathroom to bath, he had to be in the office by 8:00am and he has just few minutes left to achieve that. After dressing up, he kissed his wife who was already lying on the bed, goodbye and rushed out. He ran into Iwalade who was holding a tea cup in her right hand and a lunch bag on her left hand. “Take this.” She said and handed him the cup of tea. “Thanks.” He said and took the tea. “Here is your lunch.” He handed the bag to him. “Food is ready!” “Yes and I’m about to go serve your wife too.” Iwalade replied and Fullhouse paused to take another look at her. “When will this lucky guy show up? He is already missing out on a lot of things.” He said with all concern. Iwalade just smiled. “Have a great day and don’t worry about Ireoluwa.” “I’ll try not to; you two should take care of yourself.” He said and she nodded. Fullhouse left and Iwalade went back into the kitchen to dish Ireoluwa’s food. She also made hot pap for her to take first before taking the main dish. She knocked and entered into the room. She served and she ate the food even though she didn’t finish everything but Iwalade was still satisfied with the portion she ate. Later in the day, Fullhouse called Iwalade to check on them, he didn’t want to call his wife in case she might be sleeping. Iwalade told him Ireoluwa was awake, so he called her too after speaking with Iwalade. He also called the doctor and he had prescribed some drugs which he promised to buy on his way home. Days later, Iwalade got a call from Mrs. Williams who was worried about her, she had checked on her at her house twice but she wasn’t home. Iwalade told her that she’s in Ife at her cousin’s place but promised to be home by weekend. Kayode alsocalled to check on her and she told him the same thing. The couple had already confessed everything that happened to their parents and they all know that Iwalade was with them. They spoke with Ireoluwa who confirmed that she was now feeling okay. The weakness had gone and her skin tone that was pale before was better. On Friday evening, Iwalade announced to the couple that she’ll be leaving the next day which was Saturday. Ireoluwa is now strong enough to stay alone in the house, her recovery was fast and they owe it all to God. Ireoluwa was not happy at the news because she would miss Iwalade. She is now so much attached to her over the week but they just have to let her go, she had done enough for her. The couple thanked her wholeheartedly; Fullhouse went as far as praying for her that God in his infinite mercy will grant her all her heart desires as well. That night before going to bed, Mrs. Williams called to ask if Iwalade is still coming to Lagos on Saturday. “You miss me that much.” Iwalade said jokingly and she laughed. “Hmm….I guess so.” Mrs. Williams said with smile plastered on her face. “Don’t worry, we’ll see tomorrow by God’s grace.” “Imisioluwa is in Ife as we speak, that’s the reason why I called.” “Really! What’s he doing in Ife?” Iwalade asked. “He came to see his Uncle; the man is a professor in OAU. In fact, he has been around since yesterday and he’s leaving Ife tomorrow morning.” “Oh!” Iwalade said, still wondering why Mrs. Williams was giving her details of her son’s movement. “So……” “I’m saying he can bring you back to Lagos nau since you are coming back tomorrow as well.” “Oh, now I get you but that wouldn’t be necessary.” Iwalade objected. “Who is bringing you? You said you didn’t travel in your car.” “Nobody is bringing me; I’ll take a public transport.” “Public transport, you think people don’t know you, right because your face is not on camera.” “People don’t really know me; the only ones who do, are the few people that follow me online.” “You think so, so how did I now recognize you?” “But your son did not.” “That’s because all he does is see American movies.” “That’s what I’m saying it’s because you are a fan of my works that is why youwere able to recognize my face when you saw me.” “I sha recognize you, that’s the fact.” “Okay, I’ve heard you.” Iwalade gave up. “Let a private car take you home, you don’t need a public transport.” Mrs. Williams insisted. “Our timing may not be the same; I may want to help my cousin fix one thing or the other before I leave.” “He’ll wait for you nau….you just call Imisioluwa and tell him when you want to leave.” “Ma, don’t bother. Your son and I are not on a talking level like that, I don’t even have his number.” “What do you mean by you two are not on a talking level. He is your younger brother, just demand anything you want from him and he’ll oblige.” “Your son may be young but I hope you remember he is a big boy.” “Big boy to others not to somebody like you nau….” “Oh….Mummy Williams, you’ve not really get to know me o, if you do, you’ll understand me better.” “Who told you I don’t know you. I know you don’t like to burden people but you are good in carrying other people’s burden on your head.” “God……” Iwalade shook her head. Mrs. Williams was actually correct. “Now you know that I know you well. Anyway, I’ve sent your number to him; he’ll give you a call.” “Okay ma. Thanks for your help.” “Thank you too for obliging. By the way, your gateman is resuming on Monday.” Mrs. Williams announced. “Wow, you are wonderful. Thanks so much ma.” “But he’ll come tomorrow evening so you can check him out, probably interview him.” “Haven’t you done that already?” “Of course I have.” Mrs. Williams replied. “I trust you.” Iwalade smiled. “I told him, he’ll also help you run some side errands as well, like handling the generator and cleaning the compound since he won’t be doing much. He may not even open the gate for days since you don’t go out everyday.” “You are right ma, thank you. You’ve fixed everything.”“Anything for you my dear, see you tomorrow then.” “By God’s grace. Goodnight ma.” She said. Mrs. Williams replied her and ended the call. Iwalade checked the call duration; they talked for twenty eight minutes, twelve seconds. Then she remembered she now has a gateman and smiled. She later slept off.