Uncle Olayinka: The Man Who Made Us Laugh and Left Us in Tears

"My name is Uncle Olayinka, your daddy's brother." I was just 14 years old when I met my uncle, a vibrant young man. He was tall and chubby; any time he gave a wide smile, you would see his gaping teeth and his mustache spread across his face, which made me so handsome. He was the life of the party, as everyone wanted to talk to him or be around him because he would make them laugh. I could see him moving a crate of beer each time he finished one, and he had so much energy and life in him, and he was my favorite uncle.

Seven years had passed since that party, and I was at his house, looking at him lying on the three-seater chair on the porch. He looked so skinny that I could see his collarbone protruding from the side of his neck. I stood there for several minutes, watching him. I had just arrived in Ilorin City from Lagos, where I would be studying public administration at a prestigious polytechnic. Since his home was very close to my school, my dad suggested that I stay with him to become more acquainted with my cousins.

"Daddy, Tioluwa is here. He has arrived," Anuty Nife, my cousin, said as she tried to wake her dad, who had not noticed my presence. He struggled to open his eyes, but eventually he was fully awake.

"Tioluwa, how are you? It's been a while since I saw you," he said as he tried to sit up. "Jor gbemi soke. Please help me get up," he told Nife, who was still standing close to him. She helped him up and then excused us so we could have a private conversation.

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I watched as my uncle appeared so small in his clothes, which once fit him tightly. After losing his wife, who was pregnant with their third child, he began to lose himself and started drinking heavily. This led to diabetes, which is evident in his current state.

"Good afternoon, Uncle. I hope you’ve been well," I said to him. He smirked and replied, "I haven’t been well, but even if they throw me into a well, I’ll still be fine." I chuckled, relieved that his sense of humor was still intact.

"Your dad told me about your coming; you’ve grown into a big boy. Look at that beard! I’m sure the ladies will be lining up for you," he said, prompting a loud laugh from me. "This is the uncle I know," I replied, still laughing. We continued to chat and ended up having a very long conversation.

I started attending classes and spending more time with my cousins, and we grew closer. Although my uncle had just two children, it often felt like there were more than four of us at home. As days turned into weeks and weeks into months, more cousins came to stay with us, including my younger sister, which made our home even more fun. While we were all happy living under the same roof as my uncle, his health continued to deteriorate.

Most of the time, he was at the hospital, and we would all pay him visits. The once-happy home was gradually becoming sadder, and we all prayed for his speedy recovery.

One Saturday morning, we were all sitting in different parts of the house, waiting for Anuty Nife to return from the hospital so we could eat. She was the eldest daughter and the oldest at home, and we all looked up to her like a big sister. "I am so hungry; can't we cook something ourselves?" Emma, one of my cousins, said in frustration. It was already 2 PM, and we hadn’t eaten anything yet.

“She will be back soon, I’m sure,” I said, trying to reassure them. At the sound of the gate unlocking, we all jumped up because that could only mean one thing: “She’s back!” Ife exclaimed as she rushed to open the door, but the expression on Anuty Nife's face when she walked in extinguished all our excitement.

Aunty Nife entered the house with tears in her eyes; she had been crying all the way home. I wondered what could be wrong, but before I could ask, she walked straight to her room and shut the door.

We all waited for her, and in less than a minute, she returned to the living room where we were gathered. She stood still for a moment, then fell to her knees, hitting her chest as she cried out, "My dad is dead."

We were all in shock. Ife rushed to hug her, and I didn't realize when tears started streaming down my face. We all began to cry, unable to console one another because, in our hearts, it felt like a torrential downpour of grief. "God, come on. It never rains, but it pours. You could have given us some time." I continue to lament as I put all the blame on him

We started calling our parents, crying as we spoke. I could hardly feel my face, knowing that the father figure I had in this city was gone without a chance to say goodbye.

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Our parents began to arrive the following day, marking one of the saddest days of my life.

The End.