The Moving Out // Dreem WoTW S3 R5
Photo by Oleksandr P, Edited On Canva
"I am an adult, yet I don't know what life is like being out there all by myself" Tyson reasoned on his ancient iron bed which kept creaking as he rolled from one end to the other.
That has been a culture for him every night before he sleeps. Tyson always wanted to go out there and look for greener pastures because he believed that there was no life for him in his little village.
He only lived in the city for a few years during college after that his mom never let him travel out all by himself again, she believes the world is wicked and Tyson isn't man enough to stand on his own.
You won't blame Mrs Hannah because Parker her beloved husband was taken away from her three years after they got married. She felt cheated when his dead body was brought home by the police that fateful Sunday. Since then, she left the city and returned to their village and promised herself never to go there again.
She did all she could to keep Tyson from interacting with the outside world because of her experience but the young man grew up to love the outside world.
Secretly, he has been job hunting in the city without his mother's knowledge through his childhood friend Micheal.
One morning, his phone rang, and he sluggishly walked to the small table positioned opposite his bed on top which is his sharp television which people fondly call a backward pregnant TV. Because of the way it looks, flat in front but long backward.
Picked up his ancient button phone tight with a rubber band, received the call, and said "hello" followed by a loud yawning.
"Good morning, Tyson don't swallow me please," Micheal teased him on the other end.
"Micheal, if I can swallow you right now, I think I will gladly do it because hunger is not smiling at me anymore. Any good news?" He replied.
Hahaha, Micheal laughed and said, "That wasn't funny, don't tell me hunger has finally made you a zombie? Guess what?"
"Micheal, I am not in for any drama this morning, just spill," Tyson replied.
"Oh! The condition has succeeded in turning my friend into a sadist too, what a life," he made fond of Tyson. On hearing that, Tyson laughed so hard.
"You should consider taking comedy as a side job, it will do you good. Anyways stop keeping me in suspense, what's good?" Tyson asked.
"Congratulations man, you got the job, Your name has been shortlisted, you are now are banker" Micheal replied.
"My God! Tell me you aren't joking?" Tyson demanded. "I am not bro, put your things in order your presence is required at the office next week. I am going to send Tyla, a copy of the list so that you can see for yourself since you don't have a smartphone," Micheal responded.
"Glory To God", Tyson screamed in his room, as he dropped the call. He has been job hunting for about five years ever since he graduated from college.
He knelt down in his room beside his iron bed stand and gave glory to God, it's one of the cultures in their home, All glory should be attributed to God is like a motto in their home.
He was happy and sad at the same time, he knew his mother was not going to buy the idea of him leaving home. But he has to take the risk.
He walked out of his room, on seeing his mom seated backing the door to their local kitchen, while pounding something in their small sized mortar, he tip-toed from the rear and covered her eyes with his palms.
She got scared, at first, because he took her unawares but got relaxed after she perceived the scent on his clothes. "Tyson Parker, maybe you should work more on that skill because you always get yourself busted by that sweet smell on your dress and those soft palms of yours. Come here," the mother replied as she dragged his head towards her neck and kissed him on the cheek.
"Good morning Mom," he greeted, smiling while still lying on her shoulders with his arms wrapped around her.
"Morning my king, I thought you weren't going to come out of your room today, what took you so long?" She inquired.
He stayed quiet and took one of the wooden chairs kept in the compound and sat down close to her. The question changed his mood, his face went dull and tears almost started dripping from his tiny eyes, as his Mother always made fond of it.
When she noticed the change, she asked again, "What's ails you, my boy?"
"Mom, I am not growing any younger, I am 25 but still stuck in this village without work, and each time I tried to go out there to get better opportunities, you don't let me.
Will you always be alive to train me? I need to start up life for myself. I know you are scared of losing me but I am a grown-up man, I can take care of myself and I also need to start taking care of you too.
I have lost so many golden opportunities because of your overprotection. Look at all my peers, all doing well but here am I, ever since I graduated from college, I never left this village again.
Look at how poor we are, are you comfortable with the kind of life we are living? Well, I got a job with Zenith Bank in the Ci.. city, Tyson stuttered, looking at her face."
After he mentioned the city, she stood up "This conversation is over, and you are not going to the city, take that off your mind" she replied with her face tight without a sign of a smile on it.
Tyson didn't say a word but stood up, and walked straight to his room and shut the door feeling bad.
He called Michael and said "Sorry man, she wouldn't still let me go. Am sorry for stressing you."
"What are friends for, I feel bad too but don't give up bro, there is light at the end of the tunnel," Micheal encouraged him after which he dropped the call.
He spent days, without seeing his mother, he is always avoiding her. His friend Tyla has been the one bringing food for him since he discussed his predicament with her. She has been such a darling encouraging him not to give up.
On Sunday morning, he heard a knock at his door, at first he thought it was Tyla but when he checked the time, it was 5 am, he knew she wasn't, that could only be his mother.
He reluctantly opened the door and while he was trying to walk away, she hugged him, and held him tight, "my son, I am sorry, she whispered as she broke into tears."
He couldn't say a word, the tears on her face broke him down, his mistake was looking upon her face. "I am sorry too Mom, please stop crying," he wiped the tears on her face with his palm they felt so warm on his palm, it made him feel so guilty." Please stop crying mom, come on sit down," he pleased.
"I realized that I have been the reason for your setback in life, the fear of the past has held me bound. You are the only thing I have and I fear greatly to lose you that was why I have been keeping you from going out but I realized that sometimes we need to let go of the past and embrace what's ahead. If we stay in fear, we may never grow," the mother replied.
Tyson couldn't believe his ears, "Mom are you the one saying this?" He asked out of curiosity. "Yes my son, I inquired from Tyson and she said you have to report on Monday, else the vacancy will be given to someone else, I have gotten you some foodstuff and some cash, get prepared, you are living right away," She responded.
"Mom, but I have given up, i already told Micheal to get someone else," he replied with a faint voice feeling bad.
"No you don't have to, I have spoken with Micheal and he said the vacancy is still available but you must report by Monday as early as possible. Now get set and I'll see you off," She responded, with tears still dripping from her eyes.
"I love you, mom," he jumped on her, kissed her forehead, and got dressed up without taking his bath. He called Micheal and got the details of where he was going and he set out.
Tyson kept calling his mom from time to time to know how she was faring and sending money for her to take care of herself. Things were difficult for him at first but his resilience made him scaled through.
Tyson became established and eventually became the manager of the bank. He never ceases to visit his mom anytime he finds an opportunity, she never regrets letting him go out.