Journey of Discovery

The more I thought about the implication of not being the son of the man I called "Father", the more sleep eluded me. I had a rough night. I shut myself in my room and ignored the pleas of Ebere to eat and to speak with her. It was like a revelation had just taken place.

The next morning, I had made my decision. Yes my eyes had eyebags and I was physically tired. But I had a strong determination to start my journey of discovery.

"Where are you going to?" Ebere asked when she saw me descending the stairs with my packed knapsack. She was carrying Father's early morning tea to his bedroom.
"To find my father!"
"Chimaobi," she started with that voice like mother's that always made me not do what I wanted to do.
"Ebere, this is more than you think!"
"What will Daddy say if he finds out you are not in the house?"
"Tell him I have gone to find my father!"
"This is all too sudden, my only brother. Why don't we sit down together and plan this trip?"
"I'll be fine. I have this one figured out. If I don't come back, I am better off dead than living with a man like this!"
I think the mention of death shook her. She looked frightened.
"Can I come with you?"

Spoken like a true woman, I thought. I had watched enough movies where once a woman got involved, things started to spoil.

I had started shaking my head when Father walked out of his room. I wondered if he had fully recovered from being drunk, a daily routine.

"Son, where are you going to?" There was no concern in his voice. It was as though he wanted to start a fight.
"To visit my maternal grand parents," I replied curtly. I don't know if I was irritated by his sight or the fact that he called me "Son!"
"Did you discuss it with me?"
"No..."

He was about to raise his hands to slap me when Ebere dropped the tea tray to stop him. That caused a distraction. His eyes were red with fury and his nostrils were flaring. It was then I was convinced that I was not his child. I starred at him for a long time. I did not have his physical characteristics and yet, I did not have his character.

"Daddy, let him go," Ebere pleaded. "If the both of you stay together for long, you will end up fighting."
He starred at me hard for one last time then stormed into his room.
"I have to go now," I said to Ebere.
She nodded. She walked towards me and gave me a long, loving embrace.
"Take care and come back with the truth," she whispered in my ears.
I nodded. I extricated from her embrace. I walked away. I did not look back. Maybe if I did she would have seen my fear, my worry and the moistness of my eyes.

"Mother, I know you wrote those poems for me. I am going to get to the root of everything...."
And then a smile came upon my face from inside out.

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To everyone, Ugochi's son was a premature baby. He came earlier than expected. She was the only one that knew the truth. He was a full term baby. His name was Chimaobi, just like his father's.