25/02/2024
I love good stories, this is one of them. Grateful to the author for such a deep living testimony of human nature and love. Have a wonderful read, you won't be sorry…,
The problem started when Kehinde came back from his trip to Switzerland.
Allow me to tell you what happened before he returned.
Kehinde was the model child, handsome, brains, cool, calm, and calculative. At 22, he was the most outstanding student with a double honors in English Education and a Master's degree in foundational English Language. His scholarship arrived before his convocation ceremony and he was already out of the country.
His parents Mr. And Mrs. Ogbonna received the certificate, plaques, a large picture frame and a 2 million naira top graduate fund on his behalf. They were the proudest parents at the ceremony and they told everybody who cared to spare them a minute that their son, Kehinde - they mentioned the name with so much pride - was the best-graduating student in his department, his faculty, and the entire school.
Their social media pages, statuses, and groups were literally on fire.
But where was Taiwo?
Don't worry, he wasn't de@d or anything like that. He was just there, the disgrace of the family.
Taiwo was known as the repeater, he repeated classes so much that he got admitted into the university only after his parents decided to enroll him in a private university that didn't require jamb since he had failed jamb four times in a row. They hoped he would pass the jamb exam before he graduated, that is if he got to graduate.
As expected, he dropped out of the university in his second year when he failed all his courses. He was the only headache the Ogbonnas had. Everywhere else, they had a track record of success and great achievement.
He didn't return home until he heard his brother would be home. Exactly one month before the return of Kehinde, Mr. And Mrs. Ogbonna sat him down and asked him to tell them exactly what was the problem.
"I mean, how can two people that came out of my womb within seconds be so different? Eh! Chineke. Daddy twins, you are keeping quiet, talk nau. You are looking at me and this boy is turning into something else. Hey God...., This boy will not give me high BP, I am finished." Mrs. Ogbonna lamented bitterly. She turned to look at her husband, his face was in a smile.
"Why are you smiling, oh, oh, you are the one encouraging him abi? His brother is doing fine, his younger sisters are in their final year. But just look at him ehn, no certificate, no accolades, nothing. Oluwa mi o, where did I get it wrong ehn? You people should tell me biko. Taiwo, my husband, did I ever offend you when you were young and you decided to punish me?" She asked as she stood up from her side of the room and sat close to him patting his shoulder.
"No mummy, never," Taiwo said calmly.
"Or is it your father? Jor, forgive us nau ehn, I am on my knee..." She started saying as she gestured to kneel.
"Ah, no nau, don't kneel for me, please. Mummy, I said you didn't do anything."
"Kemi, your son said there is no problem, it means there is no problem. Why are you so worried? Abi should we now be begging him? He is a man now, he will figure it out one day. Leave him alone." Chukwuebuka said to his wife, he waved his hand like someone tired.
"Besides, I have other children, his brother is coming back home by month end, and look at my beautiful daughters there. I can't worry myself over one prodigal son. Is he the only one? What else are we supposed to do again ehn? Biko, leave him alone. Let him be useless."
"Ah. Daddy, what are you saying like this? Instead of you encouraging him. It is not fair. You people always talk down on brother, Brother, don't mind them, Me and Chisom don't think this way o. We didn't join them." Princess Ngozi, the last-born child said, she stood up and went to where Taiwo was seated. His face had become hard like stone.
Taiwo stood up to leave but Princess Ngozi held his hand and said, " Brother, don't go nau. Sorry, don't mind them. Please don't go. You promised I would follow you to church next week."
Not to cause a scene. Taiwo turned to her and kissed her forehead and said, "A promise is a promise, I will not fail ehn, I will come to pick you up on Sunday. But I have to go now." He stepped out of the house and continued walking, Princess Ngozi started sobbing.
"Princess Ngozi, Let him go, we are going to church on Sunday, don't worry about him, he will disappoint you oh. Biko wipe your tears my daughter," Chukwuebuka said.
Mrs. Ogbonna went to where her husband was and with tears in her eyes asked why he allowed their firstborn to just leave like that. He didn't respond.
***
The next weekend, they were surprised to see Taiwo on their doorstep very early, he was dressed up for church.
They barely went to church themselves, maybe once in six months. However, they decided to resume attending since Kehinde was coming back the last Saturday of the month and they would like to do a big welcome-back reception, testimony, and also offer thanksgiving in church.
Taiwo was serving as the protocol director. They didn't even know when he started that. After the service, he introduced them to the new pastor and the pastor was just heaping praises on Taiwo's head. He was the youngest Deacon at 32, head of the protocol unit and he recently graduated from the technical college with distinction. He made all the beautiful wooden chairs in the church, decorated the ceiling, and was currently making classroom chairs for the new church secondary school.
"I am happy to meet the parents of this wonderful man. You people should always give thanks on his behalf. Take care now. See you next Sunday." the pastor said and left.
Mr. And Mrs. Ogbonna couldn't close their mouth for a very long time.
******
The D-day arrived, on Saturday morning, the entire family went to the airport but Taiwo didn't go to welcome Kehinde - the bright star of the family.
On the phone, Kehinde sounded funny, they felt it was his new accent.
They waited at the arrival lounge and when it was time, they went to stand with their placard. Chisom and Princess Ngozi were excited to see her brother again after a few years.
After waiting a few minutes, they saw a woman and a man walking towards them, as they got closer, they realized the woman had beards and muscles.
Wait, this was Kehinde.
"Kehinde, what are you wearing?" Mrs. Ogbonna asked with eyes wide open and nose flaring. She looked at him in his crazy jeans, heels, and handbag.
"Mom, I no longer go by that name. I am Suzie." Kehinde said.
"You are what!? Mrs. Ogbonna said and collapsed like a bag of potatoes.
Mr. Ogbonna quickly rushed her to one of the lounge chairs and tried to steady her, they poured some water and washed her face and she was revived.
"I had a bad dream where Kehinde was telling me he is now Suzie." She exclaimed, then she turned around and to her surprise, it wasn't a dream.
"They said their name is Suzie, they no longer answer Kehinde." The man beside Kehinde said.
"And who are you?" Mrs. Ogbonna asked him.
"I am their boyfriend, my name is Christopher. A pleasure to meet the mother of my gurl." He said, smiled, and stretched his hand.
"You are his, her, their what!?" She screamed and collapsed again. She had to be rushed to the airport medical center.
She was still in shock when she woke up a few hours later and remained in shock as they drove home with her son Suzie and his boyfriend Chris. The shock heightened when Suzie announced that she and Christopher would be getting married at the end of the year.
It took the grace of God for her not to faint the third time.
She told her husband the reception was canceled, the Thanksgiving was cancelled, and what eyes would people use to look at her?
Taiwo came in the evening and didn't even act strange, he was all nice to Kehinde and his boyfriend Chris. He invited them to church. All through the night, Mr. And Mrs. Ogbonna could not sleep, they tossed and turned on their bed.
****
Sunday morning came quickly, and the family reluctantly left home, especially because Kehinde aka Suzie was wearing a beautiful blue gown, gold heels, and gold earrings.
They arrived late to church.
Mr. And Mrs. Ogbonna distanced themselves from Suzie. They were grateful her boyfriend didn't come to church. The pastor welcomed them and made them feel at home even though many people in the church were staring and shocked.
Kehinde aka Suzie saw Taiwo working diligently, coordinating people and he was so passionate about it. Soon church was over and the reception at home started.
No one came to the reception except for Taiwo, his girlfriend Bidemi and some of their childhood friends. They ate rice and chicken, and after a while, they feasted on pounded yam and goat meat peppersoup, mostly they talked about the good old days and how they cannot recognize Kehinde with his makeup on.
Soon, everyone turned into their room for the night.
Taiwo sat in the sitting room watching TV and Kehinde came to join him when he couldn't sleep, he was putting on a beautiful white nightgown.
Mrs. Ogbonna stood up from her bed when she couldn't sleep aswell and told her husband, they needed to talk to their son Kehinde, or was it their daughter, Suzie?
They started climbing down the stairs when they heard Taiwo and Kehinde talking and stopped to listen.
"Omo, boboyi, kilon shele nau? Wetin you bring for us sef? Abi na bra and pant you carry come?" That was Taiwo's voice.
"Nah, some of my luggage will arrive tomorrow, I got tons of gifts for everyone, including you. And, it's not underwear. By the way, you seem cool with my new identity." Kehinde Suzie commented.
"Oh! come on, kino big deal? I am cool. But truth be told, you are still the Kenny I know and love, you are the Kenny we all look up to and admire. The handsome man with brains and star child of the Ogbonna family. I am proud of you and I always pray for you, to become an inspiration like you." Taiwo said and patted his shoulder.
"WOW, thank you Taiwo, that was nice to hear. But why is everyone running away from me?" Kehinde asked.
"Come on, no matter what you bear or what you wear, you will always be Kenny to me. I just think you need time to figure out if this is what you really want. I mean, you were my role model. Look at Chisom and Princess, can they still look up to you?" Taiwo said.
"Hmmmmm, I think I need to go to bed now. Goodnight." Kehinde said and started to climb the stairs before Mr. and Mrs. Ogbonna ran back to their room.
Kehinde didn't sleep all through the night. When it was daybreak, he started sobbing uncontrollably. He had lost his way but Taiwo had struck a cord.
During morning devotion, they were surprised to see him with no makeup, his wig was gone, his earrings gone, and he was putting on proper Jean shorts and a polo with no bra underneath. After the devotion, Kehinde said he had something he wanted to say.
"I called the hotel and told Chris it was over. I am no longer Suzie. I am Kehinde Ogbonna. I am a man" Before he could finish saying the words, Mrs. Ogbonna ran and threw herself on him. Everyone else joined in the group hug.
"Taiwo, thank you!" Kehinde whispered to his loving brother.
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The Agape Kingdom welcomes everyone with open arms and there is nobody in this kingdom that is perfect. Not the king, not the royalties, not the committee or board of directors, deacons, leaders, - nobody is perfect.
Everyone is a work in progress.
They are not perfect, neither are you. You don't need to judge or condemn, rather correct with love, convert with kindness. Let your words and actions win them over not your criticism.
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It's better to share than copy this story without giving credit.
© Edaton's deep discussion.
Ayodele Edaton Emmanuel