Shola’s philosophy

- the fun loving, but hardworking single parent

By Treena Kwenta
Hi readers! On the way to Tayo’s guest house, I was suddenly filled with remorse, concerning Shola’s plight.

Tayo may be his employer, but I brought him to her and the gals, and he’s been a solid friend to me over the years.   “Poor Shola!” I sighed aloud.

“Yes, poor man,” said Becky. “You know, I was deeply affected by his bloodied face. Maybe it happened so that I’ll have the opportunity to evangelize and preach the Bible to those his children, and get them become ‘born again’. You’d be surprised at the various ways God can choose to get people saved. How can one reach them? Does anyone know?”

“I agree that children who beat up their parent for whatever reason, need deliverance of some sorts, Becky dear,” said Tayo, “but I think the person who needs the greatest and most urgent deliverance is Shola himself.  His broken heart made him embark on reckless love life, but for him to be living such a life for so long is very sad.”

“It’s unhealthy,” observed Liz, the psychologist. “I think he’s leading such a promiscuous life deliberately; probably, he has a target of the number of women he’ll bed, and the number of ‘outside’ kids he’ll have  before he would feel cured of his heartache.”

“Well-analyzed, Liz dear,” I told her, “but how can we help him?”

“He needs to become ‘born again’,” said Becky. “It’s the only way he can be saved from this his destructive love life.”

“It’s the children being raised by their mothers only  that I’m sorry for,” said Boma.  “He provides for their needs, yes, but can any of them ever love him? It’s impossible. They don’t even know him well. He’s just a distance father who sends money down for their maintenance.”

The rest of us chewed on Boma’s words a bit and agreed that they were wise and appropriate.

“True,” said Becky. “What sort of future awaits them?  None has ever lived with him, and we don’t know if any of them found home with a loving step-father like Riskat’s son for him did.”

“I wonder how he relates to his grandchildren from these ‘outside’ children,” I mused. “Do they see him as a grandfather and relate to him as such?”

“Does Shola strike you as someone who’d be  delighted to play ‘grandfather’?” asked Tayo. “Not all men, or even women, are cut out for that.”

“My dears,” said Liz, as we were about to get down from the vehicle, “I advise we keep words of sympathy to ourselves, unless we sense that Shola needs them. Let him just feel our presence around. For starters, let’s not disturb him tonight. His girlfriend is with him, so, he’s alright. We don’t need to twist the knife in the wound by going to ask him how it all happened. We just leave him alone.  That would help restore his dignity and the hurt would heal fast.”

“Righto!” the rest of us chorused.

When we got to the guest house, we were told that Shola and his girlfriend had left for his house on the other side of town.

“Oh, his paid accommodation here is ended?” asked Tayo.

“Yes ma, but we would have extended it if he had asked. He looked badly wounded when he came, so, our nurse attended to him; dressing up his wounds. It was like he was attacked by hoodlums. We asked if we should ring and ask the doctor to come attend to him, but he declined. It was while resting at the bar that a group of people came looking for him.  He left them here, called for his driver and told him to take him home.”

“His wife went with him?”

“His wife? Yes ma. They left together.  Maybe he would have stayed the night with us, but for those ten men and women who came  begging him to forgive them for something.  Two elderly men and one elderly woman were amongst them.”

“I see. Well, we’ll see him in the morning,” Tayo said.

As we were mounting the staircase leading to our rooms, the receptionist hurried to tell Tayo that Shola was back. For a minute we wondered what to do; go to our rooms or see the man.

“Best to get this over,” said Tayo. “Look, please bring him up to my room. Give him back his favourite room if he asks for it.”

“Someone else was checked into it as soon as he left, ma.”

“Ho! That means business is good tonight,” observed Boma.

“Yes ma. Some of the guests at the wedding are staying the night here, ma. Just one night.”

“It’s something.  You go bring the gentleman.  Give us about ten minutes to change our outfits.”

“Yes, ma.”

Shola was ushered into Tayo’s suite 30 minutes later. He didn’t look forlorn or unhappy; just sober and pensive.

“My dear ladies, let me start by expressing my gratitude for your great support today, and also for  coming to my assistance earlier this evening,” he began. “I never thought that my own children would ever lift up their hands against me.”

“Don’t distress yourselves, Shola dear,” said Becky, “this generation is something else.  Nothing is taboo for them. We shall pray that they will repent of this terrible deed, and you will find it in your heart to forgive them.”

“There’s nothing to forgive them. I’ve disowned them. They should go look for their fathers.”

“Oh!” we all said, shocked. “You shouldn’t say that, you know.”

“Oh yes! I told them that as they attacked me. They said I didn’t give them as lavish a wedding as that of my first son. I was outraged. For each of those rascals, I paid through the nose for their weddings, because their mothers and they themselves claimed they hadn’t a kobo. Now, why should someone without a kobo, especially the men, want to get married? Shouldn’t they wait until they’re in a position to foot most of the bills?  Even when their babies arrived, they would ring to ask for money to settle the medical bills, etc.

I would send whatever I could afford.  Riskat and the husband spent a lot at this wedding, and so did Tayo who kindly gave me quite a sizeable sum of money.  But for her, I wouldn’t have been able to do much. I earn well, but I spend most of my money on these  married children and their families. I pay fees for my other kids who are still studying. I even have a toddler in Lagos. I did my best for those hoodlums from start to finish, even though I wasn’t convinced that they were actually my children.

My parents, bless their kind souls, told me never to reject any pregnancy from a girlfriend because we never know which children God wants us to raise for Him. That has ruled my love life all these years. Also, I believe that birth control and abortion are sins, in that you’re hindering God’s work of procreation.  It isn’t every love-making that results in pregnancy, so, when God allows it to happen, there’s a reason for it. You must not destroy it, and the man must accept it.”

“That’s a bizarre philosophy, Shola,” I told him. I got glares from the gals for this, so, I stopped there. He took my comment well.

“I know. I thought so myself at first, but later, it made sense. There’s a guy in the Old Testament who was rejected by his father’s people because his mother was a concubine, but when the Israelites were attacked, they couldn’t find a capable fighter to lead them to the battle, so, they had to send for him. You don’t know which child will care for you or bring you honour, so, I accept all these kids. I know that those that are not really mine will get exposed; like the hoodlums were today.   They came here later with some elders, but I didn’t answer them. I retreated to my house and they followed me there, so, Risi and I had to come back here. “

“Who’s Risi?”  I asked.

“My current girlfriend. She was so supportive today. Did you see how she kept close to me all through? She wanted to take on one of those hoodlums, but I told her to keep calm. She’s quite a firebrand. I may marry her.”

“That would be a great idea, Shola dear,” said Becky. “Meanwhile, don’t allow her to get pregnant since she’s still in the university.  Wait and marry her first. I have some excellent tracts on pre-marital sex. I shall send some to you when we return to Lagos, or, better still invite you to our house fellowship; or even better still, get my husband to come talk to you.”

“Oh, thanks, Becky dear, but am I not too old for counselling of that sort?”

“You mean you’re too far steeped in the lust of the flesh to be redeemed,” I chided him.

“Er, well, I won’t say so, but …”

“Hope the pains have subsided, Shola,” said Tayo, changing the subject.

“Yes, thank you. The nurse attended to me well, although Risi objected to my being given an injection on my bare bottom. She complained later that the nurse had been giving me seductive glances the previous day at Reception. I hadn’t noticed that. Say, she’s quite shapely, isn’t it?”

“You mean your Risi?” asked Liz.

“Er well, Risi is okay.  I was referring to the nurse. Is she married, do you know?”

I leapt to my feet, grabbed the Lothario and with Liz’s help, pushed him out of the room; shutting the door firmly on him.

We heard him laughing as he went down the staircase. The guy should be expelled from Planet Earth.
Tara.