Chapter 3 Somehow you know

The only child of the Craig's, William could not steady his scurrying feet in search of his father, they were raw and urgent like bleeding flesh. Some part of him knew and doubted his father would be of any assistance, not that he had ever been, but he was troubled and needed to talk and be talked to.

His father was very different from his mum, in ways of thinking and child upbringing. His father was the typical Nigerian father-the type of men filled with African mentality who do things without reasoning and believe being a good father is ruling the house with a firm hand. William often believes the difference between Africans and Europeans was that the latter reason in white and the former reasons in black. There was a certain 'manly pride' won around their neck and raised shoulder high, and even the color of their pride was black.

His mother on the other hand was a great mum, and the adage "too much salt spoils the food" best describes her. William at first enjoyed the attention and pampering, and then at some point began to detest it-many beginning to refer to him as overgrown baby, but then again, he's often reminded that she does what she do unconsciously. Ten years of bareness was more than enough to make any woman over pamper her child, especially with the knowledge that child bearing would be nearly if not impossible in the near future. It's no wonder he was her life and made no effort in hiding it. It must have gotten-he dares to think-her husband jealous at some point.

Being the only child didn't mean for William he was treated, by his father, differently. Though pampered, his father didn't afford him such luxury. He remembered feeling like he wasn't the true son of the Craig's, and at one time wanted to run away and never come back. All that soon changed as maturity set in.

The events of his nightmare flashed before his eyes and he was glad it was only a bad dream. He was particular in wanting to talk to his father because for some reason he feels his father knew what was happening and expected it, his mother too. But what he couldn't understand is why Claire. In as much as he tries to downplay it all, the saying "Nightmares aren't born but made" keeps playing in his head. Something was wrong and his parent would do well to tell him why he's had same reoccurring nightmare.

William peeped into his dad room but saw nothing. No one was in the room, his bed neatly laid like he hadn't slept there the previous night. He tread past the hall way in hastiness, his worries were growing like vegetable leaves and giant stock bean when wet, but the standing air conditioner blew away and reduced his worries growing by the second.

If gauged on a Ritter scale, his worries, fears, curiosity and frustration would scale 8.5. He remembered when his nightmares had begun, precisely after his 25th birthday, two years ago.

William halted for a minute with a frustrating expression, raked his fingers into his bushy untidy hair. Where next he pondered? Then the answer hit him. He walked on.

***

William peeped into the parlor and let out a loud sigh of relieve.

'Good morning dad.'

Mr. Joseph didn't answer. He was engrossed in watching his basketball game.

'I've been looking for you, dad.'

'You need to watch this game,' Joseph swiveled back to steal a quick glance at him then back to the game. 'It's the best I've watched in a very long while.'

William wanted to be offended but this was no such time, he swallowed his disgust and sat beside his father like a helpless new born and said:

'I had a nightmare."

Mr. Joseph grinned and stole a quick look at his son, 'it's just a night...' the look on William's face was beyond a nightmare. he lowered the TV and sat back to listen.

'Tell it to me.'

William paused to figure the right word to use, too many words scrolling through his head. He sat back and let his thought sink in.

'In this nightmare, you and mum, and even Claire, I mean Claire,' he reiterated emphatically. 'All three of you disappeared into a thick darkness.

'Darkness!?'

'It seemed like it wanted to rain, but astonishingly it didn't. There was a great roar of thunder and lightning, accompanied with raging wind. When I looked up, I saw three women laughing me to scorn. They were witches dad. They were witches,' William's voice trailed off. 'Or they laughed like one,' he added doubtfully.

'That's quite a lot for a nightmare in one night,' Joseph said with humor in his voice but William's gaze ended it. He winced romancing his beard. 'Witches you say. I thought you didn't believe in them?'

'I don't. But I could swear this was real, I've never felt anything so real in my life.'

Joseph was lost for words and his thoughts disjointed. He occasionally stole glances at his son and for the first time in a long time, there was fear in his son's eye, and he was supposed to bring calm to that eye.

'Son,' he called in an assuring fatherly tone. 'Nightmares are scary but seldom are real.'

'It probably was as a result of yesterday's stress,' his mother announced from behind. She had stood by the door of the kitchen, listening. Perfect timing, Joseph thought.

William turned to his mother. Her words were comforting, but there was something wrong, he could tell from the pain in her face she tries to hide.

'Somehow I don't believe you.'

'God!' he exclaimed in low drone. Coming to his parent was of no help, instead, has planted a thought inside of him that they were hiding something. Two years ago his parents had been bothering him about using protective charms against evil, they had wanted to know if he was having bad dreams, and it came to a time they suggested they relocate abroad, ignoring the cost. Something was going was wrong, and all he has to do is put two and two together only it wasn't giving him four.

'Talk to your son dear, he listens to you more.' Joseph said to his wife rather mockingly.

He returned to watching his basketball game that was already at its final minutes. 'I love this game,' he whispered pounding his fisted hand on his bare chest.

The door creaked open and they all eyes turned towards the opening door to see who it was.

'Good morning,' Claire greeted in her usual politeness. Fair and beautiful, she stood by the door wondering what she had interrupted for all eyes and attention were on her. To Mr. and Mrs. Craig, her timing was perfect.

Claire looked dashy and beautiful in the black skimpy skirt tightly glued to her hips and transparent cotton like top with frills lined vertically, as she cat walk suavely to the waiting arm of her disturbed boyfriend. Joseph took one swift look at his supposedly future daughter in-law and with a brief grin replied her greeting then back to watching his basketball game, and back to wondering how his son was lucky enough to attract such a beautiful and voluptuous lady.

'Welcome my daughter.'

***

'What's is wrong?'

Claire asked as she took off her bangles and necklaces. William stared her gracefully, and saw the bangles were the ones he had bought her. They struck his memory as one clanged against the other off her hand.

'Nothing always means something.'

William knew the look on her face as he watched her lay poise on the bed.

'I'm listening,' she confidently informed. William knew he had to do it again, buy out his way with the one skill that could break any woman if properly used.

'That can wait, for now I've missed you and can't wait to have all of you,' he spoke with a sedative tone.

'You are not going to use that trick on me this time,' Claire protested blushing, but it was the same thing she said every time.

William began crawling his way to her, his eyes eager and hunger to devour all of her.

'Why do you always make me miss you?'

'You can't blame me for that, blame you.'

They both chuckled and they began to kiss. Claire pulled away slowly, unwillingly.

'First you'll tell me what's going on?'

'After we have all of each other,' Claire stared at him with distrust and he lifted his hands into the air. 'I promi...'

She swallowed his words. William was winning; he would steal away her worry. He pulled away slowly, teased her with his lips from her belle to her thighs and to her belle again. She bit her lips, inhaling and exhaling slowly, and it gave William more energy to keep on.

***

Claire opened her eyes and William was laid on his side, staring her with a wide smile. His was a love unspoken.

Claire's voice was tender and sleepy.

'I love the way you stare at me.'

'I love that you make me want to stare at you.'

There was a knock on the door. William kissed her on the cheek and stood to go open it.

'Mum! Dad! What's going on?'

'You won't even let us into your room?' his mother asked.

William stepped aside for them to enter, there was still surprise in his eyes.

'What is wrong?' he asked again. 'You both never come into my room the same time.'

'There's always a first time for everything,' his father replied rather calmly. This was bad, he could sense it.

'We are taking on a two weeks trip to south Africa.'

William was stunned, Claire sat up. Mrs. Bolu kept a persuasive smile on her face. William turned to see if Claire was as surprised as he was, she seemed same, only that she was still bemused in their surly romance.