On the 31st day of October, 1945, a great man was
born and a selfless, hardworking, ambitious and a very intelligent and
resourceful individual he was because he no longer lives with us, death had to
take him away from us on the 21st day of May, 1995 when I was just a
young lad trying to know the amazing man that brought me to life. I remember
vividly well that very day in my dormitory when I got a call from my house
captain informing me that I had a visitor waiting for me outside and with so
much joy filled up in my heart, I raced out in anxiety wondering who it was and
the second I approached the gate, I saw my dad’s car and immediately the distance
from the gate where I was and where they were parked seemed too far and wished
I had wings and could fly.
But then of course, I couldn’t and was only able to make it
there with my foot as fast as I could and got my first surprise when I
eventually did and realized my dad wasn’t there and it was my brother and the
driver who had darkened my door step. However, I wasn’t totally disappointed as
I was told they had come to take me home because my dad was launching his new
house and a newly acquired automobile which of course wasn’t so much of a
surprise to me because at the time I left home to school, he was actually preparing
for his 50th birthday and had series of plans in motion so I thought, what a
great way it was to surprise me but little did I know I was headed for a
shocker.
By this time I was still ignorant of what’s really happening
and hurriedly ran back into my hostel to pick up a couple things I would need,
as I was going away for the weekend and dashed right back, waving my friends
goodbye as we drove off. And getting home, I saw a white paper pasted on my
gate with my dad’s picture smiling back at me and I wondered why anyone would
decide to make such am awful looking poster of him, with crosses sticking all
around and announcing the date of his birth to the entire world. You know, at
the time, I didn’t really understand what obituary meant, I thought it was just
my dad as usual in a hot romance with one of his big vocabulary. I mean, my dad
could speak well and words literally took turns at his feet.
Well, let me get back to my story before I get distracted
because over and over I had wished he willed them over to me with a couple
textbooks to brush myself up with and by now I’ll probably have been a
professor of English language and those same words taking turns at my feet,
only that this time, I would have them rocking Adidas because I love to buy myself some
great shoes. Anyway, I stepped out of the car and walked right in and saw my
mum rocking some black attire and was amazed at when she became a model because
my mum hasn’t really been a fan of the color black but when I looked at her
closely, I realized she had been crying, as she had a swollen face and so I
thought I concluded too soon and on the contrary, she had become an actor and had
met them shooting a movie scene but looked around and there were no cameras
beeping and for the first time I pondered for a bit, puzzling what was really
happening and it was then I was told my dad was gone and to be seen no more.
You know, it’s been 22 years but still fresh in my memory is
the sound of my mother’s voice as she broke the unpleasant news to me. I cried
my heart out and for days I couldn’t come in terms with the fact that my hero
was gone and I was never going to see him again and that left a permanent hole
in my heart and even till this day, I still feel a void in me and only hope that
the ink pouring out from my pen as I write this piece fills it out and these
tears wetting my pages comforts me. Joshua Akintunde Falaiye, you were a great
man alive and yet a great man in death. It’s true what they say that the dead
still lives because I carry you along with me everywhere I go. You were the
father of five amazing children who you loved so much and never hesitated to
trash their asses whenever the boundary was crossed. And because I was the
naughty type, your cane could make its way to my room even in the dark.
Daddy you know, for years I lived with hatred and anger
because it’s been pretty tough since you left. Your family practically
abandoned us because mum refused to marry your brother and at some point in my
life, I decided to denounce that name but then I thought about it again because
going ahead to do that will be me denouncing you and denying myself of my
blessings and everything you lived for. Besides, it’s possible to disown the
name but I can’t disown the blood flowing in me, so I decided to keep it anyway
and hope they live to regret every tear I cried growing up in this lonely and
wicked world. I miss you so much and I know you’re in heaven smiling down at
the man your little boy is becoming and be sure you didn’t die for nothing
because through me your legacy lives on.
And no doubt daddy, your son has been a very naughty child,
I smoked, drank, womanized and reaped your wife off her hard earned money to
hit the clubs and pop some champagne but today I know better and thankful to
our creator for calling me back to order and helping me to retrace back my
steps before I ruined myself. Today I’m living right but still waiting for that
big break and although I might still be single but be rest assured that someday
I would find that special woman to spend the rest of my life with and together
we would have a son that would be named after you.
Apparently, God has been very faithful, your other sons are
married and doing well and so are your daughters and beautiful wife. She didn’t
remarry by the way but stayed married to making sure that we are all succeed
and may the good Lord keep her alive to be able to enjoy the fruit of her labor
because she’s been great and remains the best mum in the world and wouldn’t
trade her for anything in the world. Thank you for all the times I was stranded
and you came to my rescue even though at the time I didn’t know it was you but
you never really left, did you. Like so many
people, I didn’t use to believe in life after death but now I know for a
fact that the spirit of the dead are here with us and their memory lives on.
(In Loving Memory Of Joshua Akintunde Falaiye)
Kay Magnate
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