PLIGHTS OF A POOR CHEF

A DESCRY OF HOPE

   With a pinch of excitement ringing in his voice he picked up his phone and dialled Johnson's number he then placed the phone by his ear.

“Man, what's up?” Mark asked as soon as Johson picked up the phone.

“I'm good. And you?”

“Guess what?” Mark said as he walked out of the restaurant with an envelope in his left hand.

“I was about to call you about your mum’s surgery. It was successful and she is now better right? Because you sound happy”

“No not my  mum. But yeah, the surgery was successful however she still can not speak for now. The doctor said her recovery from the fall would be progressive. So there would be other subsequent treatments and payments.” Mark responded in a meager tone. The issue of his mums condition which Johnson had just brought up had drain down the little cheerfulness he had gotten after he passed the interview at the restaurant. 

“So there are other subsequent payments?”

“Yeah, but thats not why I called. I went for an interview at the vacancy I told you about at the restaurant yesterday. I am just returning from there.”

“Oh. That's really good I didn't know you would go there so soon. How was it?”

“Yeah I passed the interview. I was just given some popular dish to prepare which after the boss tasted it, he offered me the job.”

“Wow. That's a good start. Even when you told me it's a chef job I knew if you went for the interview you would scale over it effortlessly. You are one of the best Male cook in the school hostel I know.” Johnson said and smiled on the phone.

“Yeah. Since it's just close to the hospital for now, I think it's just the best I can get around here.” Mark responded and returned a faint smile.

“At least you can start getting paid to do what you love. How much is the payment by the way?”

“It's eight dollars per hour. I thought they would do better than that. It's just peanuts but I have no choice. You know this is my first time working under someone.” 

Yeah the payment is really unreasonable, but  it's a good start you know. And it's closer to the hospital. You should continue with it for now till a better opportunity breeds up it's head.” Johnson said.

“Yeah, exactly what I will do.”

“How about the apartment you wanted to rent with part of the money you sold the house for?” Johnson asked.

“Yeah, after I am done getting my mum something to eat would go look for a vacant apartment where I can get where we could manage for a while. It's just so sad that everything around us is just nose diving so fast.” Mark

Said and shook his head as he got close to the hospital facility.

“I understand man, I believe just as stones would always obey the laws of gravity when thrown up, things would change for the better very soon.” Johnson soothed him. 

“Yeah, it's very hard to believe so but I have to. let me leave you now, we would talk later.” Mark said as he opened the entrance door of the hospital.

Mark ended the call after entering the hospital. He headed straight to the stairways that led to the ward where his mum was. He had been staying  there at the hospital for the past three days and had spent two nights at the guest room.

They previous day after he went to see his mum after the surgery and she couldn't talk, he had gone to See the doctor confuse and seeking answers as to why she was saying anything but just looking at him. The doctor confirmed that although the surgery was successful that she would not be able to talk or walk for a while by as she responded to subsequent treatments she would improve.

Mark got to the door of her ward and opened it gently, he wasn't sure she was awake, before he left that morning to go for the interview, he had left her still sleeping. Th previous night after he returned to her room from the doctors office, he had spoken hundreds of words to her which she just gazed at him like a robot. She didn't speak or shook her head to indicate she was listening. But he knew she was. 

He opened the door and went in. Her eyes was closed and she was still laying in the same position she was for the past three days. As soon as he came in, she opened her eyes. 

To Mark, this meant that she could still hear what was transpiring around her. He went close to her bed side. He had conveyed the chair from the right side of the bed to the left side and so he sat down by her left-hand said and took her hand. He knew she needed to eat something as she had neither eaten or drank water since she came out of her unconscious state. He had asked the doctor if he should get her something but he said he should hold on till the next day.

As he took her left hand in his. With severity in his voice he asked.

“Mum, you must be very hungry yeah? He asked pitifully but knew she would not respond nor nod in affrimarion. Grace, his mum just stared painfully at him. To mark it was as though since she could not speak, she used her teary-eye to communicate all the agonies and miseries she was going through.

“Am sorry mum,I was not there when all this happened.” He said and squeezed her hand softly. I can't stand seeing you in this condition. I would do anything I can to ensure you are alright mum.” Mark said In a tearful tone. 

He looked at her frustratingly, she was not even saying anything. She just gazed at him, the right part of her lips was quivering as though she wanted to speak. Despaired by this mark placed his right elbow on the edge of the bed and held his head with his palm. He hated seeing her in this condition and wished with his very life that he could just take her position on the sick bed while she took his.

Two minutes later, he tapped her gently by the shoulder and said.

“I will be back mum, let me see the doctor.” He opened the door and walked out