12|ℐᏉᎯℕ

   STUPID THURSDAY. First it was Tosin, then Mother and now, my stupid mouth and my stupid thoughts. If I go home, Mother's tantrums will be inevitable. 

   The closest recreational spot according to Google Maps is the Port-Harcourt Pleasure Park. I take the next roundabout and head up the fly-over as instructed. 

   "Sir, is there somewhere else you need to visit?" Mike asks over the speaker. 

   "The Pleasure Park," I say and the Hilux appears behind me immediately.

   It's my first time visiting the park and I don't know if it's going to help me feel better, but I'm sure it's not a gigantic house with gigantic furnishings and people calling me sir.

   I pay for my parking ticket and drive in. There are a lot of happy people; a lot of kids too, I'm not sure I want to be here. I park the car and step out with my iPad. Mike and Deji follow closely behind me.

   "Hello, sir, you'll have to pay for your ticket there," a girl says.

   "This way, sir." Deji clears the way. 

   The girl looks at me like she's wondering where I came from. I smile like I'm telling her she has nothing to worry about. We move to the place she directed me and the line-up makes me think again. 

   "I'll handle this, sir," Mike says and steps in front of the line.

   I hand him my debit card, "eleven eleven. Current. " 

   He makes the payment while Deji stays with me. Ike always stays with the cars.

   I see some girls laughing and taking selfies. They're pouting and bending their legs in funny ways, one of them smiles at me. I don't smile back at her. 

   "This way, sir." Mike directs me into the park. 

   The girls stop giggling and start whispering when I walk pass. I know they're watching me. They probably think I'm the handsome boy who's going to ask one of them out. They have no idea.

   The park is beautiful. I have never seen so much green and happiness in one place in Port Harcourt. The deers running around in the garden area add such an aesthetic touch and I know I'll leave here with a sketch or two. 

   Beside a small brown baby deer, in the corner next to a fountain, there is a sitting area. It helps that nobody picked seats there. I take a seat. It's close to a small stream where people take rides on small yellow canoes or rafts. I can't tell if they're inflatables or plastic, but the people on it all look really happy. 

   I unlock my iPad. I'm going to sketch what I see. I'll call it 'Happiness through the eyes of an unhappy man'. I imagine Boma reminding me that I'm only seventeen. I know I'll object and say I'm eighteen because it's just two months left, September 24, 2002, my birthdate. November 11, 2002, her birthdate. I smile. Even her memories make me happy. I'm never unhappy around her. 

   I remember the look on her face after I said it. I never want to see that look again.

   After only drawing a few lines, I spot a little boy. He's standing close to the ledge of the stream. He looks about four years old. I look around to see if anyone is watching him. There's no guide in sight, it worries me, and I know it's not my business, but I get up and walk towards him. 

   "Sir!" Mike calls, I don't take my eyes off the boy. He's about to get naughty. 

   "KOSI!" someone yells from behind me. The boy turns so fast. 

   "JESUS!!" the girl shouts. 

   He falls over, but I grab him in time before he hits the water. 

   My heart races as he giggles in my grasp, unaware of the danger he launched himself into and most likely playing with this person who doesn't look like she's his mother, maybe a maid. The boy reminds me of all the times Tosin and I were Loki to Sua. It was a long time ago. I grew up, Tosin didn't.

   "MY GOD!" a woman I guess is the mother comes running behind the maid who hasn't moved an inch. Not even her hands have moved from her head. The boy continues to giggle in my grasp and I haven't let him go. 

   "SO, YOU LEFT HIM!" the woman grabs the girl by the ears. 

   I wonder where she was when he was standing at the ledge all alone. What had she been doing? Because it took long enough time, long enough to be seen by me. My answer? Somewhere having what she thinks is her time off. Reminds me of Mother.

   "If he fell into that water, God knows I would have drowned you too! Goat! Foolish human being!" she rants.

   I hold on to the boy longer than necessary, and when I eventually let go, it's already weird but the mother says thank you. She looks at me like she's wondering what's going on with me. I don't know why I smile at her. They leave, and I go back to my seat. I'm distracted and a bit frustrated quite frankly. 

   "Do you need anything, sir?" Mike asks 

   "Water please." I say. He salutes.

   I continue sketching. It's 5:45pm. Mother still hasn't called. I'm not surprised 

   "Here, sir," Mike hands me a chilled bottle of water.

   "Thanks," I take the first gulp. Sighing deeply as the chill spreads through my body. 

   I don't feel like sketching anymore. I should apologise to Boma. Even if she ends our friendship here because I stupidly said she was dying, at least she should know how sorry I am. 

   Just overhead the small stream, the sun is setting gloriously. I take pictures and send the best one to her with an apology. 

   She can't resist sunsets. I hope she doesn't resist me.