"Reverberate" [Writer's contest 3]

....And for some reason I had missed that silence, the one I failed to acknowledge when I had it. We didn't have to talk or say anything to each other. We simply connected in our moments of peace. Grandma had said little during the journey, just hand movements on her face once in a while. Junior's death had taken a toll on her. She barely said anything these days. She wasn't supposed to be driving but I had not learnt much about the automobile system except that I knew where to turn when I wanted it to start and stop it. The regular morning car warming didn't do much justice to me.

Everyone spoke lowly now especially around grandma. I guess that was the best way we could mourn, mourn without breaking her. Junior's dad tried breaking her once over the phone but Aunty collected and smashed it the moment she perceived his intents. We have not picked his calls since then.

It still felt like a mystery somewhat, like something scripted, something only movies would show in cinemas. I still have the vivid image of the empty pill container and shattered glass pieces on the floor. I imagined how he must have taken all hundred one after the other or if he took it in twos or threes. There was no letter, nothing to give clues as to why he killed himself. I remember hearing him cry several times, sniffing in the lowest tones possible while speaking in tongues and questioning Our Maker. He was troubled I could tell but I didn't know why. I would have asked but was scared of his reactions.

Grandma continued condemning Bisi my sister again. She had misbehaved in school and everyone couldn't take it anymore. She was dropping out of school for good. I buried myself into the rush of wind on my face. I could feel a tear or two trickle down as I struggled to breathe. Suddenly I felt Bisi tapping me. I shrugged but she continued, this time with intent of inflicting pain.

I turned to give her a dirty slap when I realized why she was tapping me. Grandma had run many traffic lights and was speeding past the limit. I began to call her softly as the doctor advised against any other means of communication that could jolt her. She turned to face me with her hands still on the steering. I begged her to look at the road while Bisi put on her seat belt and began praying in tongues. I expanded my seat belt and dived for her feet on the accelerator. The accelerator felt like the North Pole from where I was. I expanded more and the seatbelt got stuck.

I unbuckled myself and finally took her feet off the pedal and got control of the brakes. The car was slowly coming to a halt when I raised up my head to see grandma crying. I hugged her tightly and whispered "all will be well" she sniffed and withdrew quickly. I guess she was too embarrassed to be sober in our presence. Now I know where junior got it from. I was just about to buckle my belt when I felt a heavy hit from the side. Slowly everything began to disobey gravity as I felt elevated and dropped simultaneously. My sight became blurry when the car came to halt. First red, then black...

NAME:  Oluwafemi Ogunde