David reviled his neighbour’s early morning devotion songs and always wished for mid-December to arrive when they would yell instructions and mild threats till they entered their father’s blue old Sienna and travelled to the village till the second week in the new year. Their songs started with a vigorous jingle of the bell at 5 a.m alongside the call for prayer by the Muslims- it was always timely, even on special days. After the bell, a grumpy call of ‘baba, baba, baba’ would follow from the eldest daughter’s sonorous voice. Then, the other members of the family would join her. Ten minutes later, they would burst into joyous celebrations and sing for joy, with no care in the world.
Oddly enough, when their songs get to the peak, David’s sleep had its way of clouding his eyelids, and he wouldn’t hear them again when he woke later in the day to go to his shop.
That day, he could easily guess that they were travelling because, on such days, their rickety generators would run through the night, spurting dark fumes vigorously till they left home. And they wouldn't stop talking till around 3 a.m or thereabout. Then, the generator would take a vow of silence till their return into the city.
However, David’s attention was pricked at 5 a.m, the next day, when the generator convulsed into a coma, but their father didn’t rush out, and his bell never rang. Their grumbles never followed. Surprised, he remained awake, soaked in the sweat of the heat in his locked room. Their generator’s noise wouldn’t make him open his window whenever their generator was running.
‘Sure’, he said to himself as he rose in wonder if they were still at home. After waiting for a while, he decided to risk it. Getting to their door was easier than breathing despite the dark passage.
His first knock was hesitant, with a muffled desire for him to run back. When no one replied for the fifth time, he was sure something was wrong.
‘Broda David, wetin dey sup?!’ Clem asked as he poked his head.
‘No morning devotion!’ David said the first thing that came to his mind.
Clem was the comedian of the house and the only one that related with everyone, including David, who kept to himself constantly.
‘Ah! No Morning devotion!’ Clem used a torchlight. ‘Abi dem don travel’.
David shook his head. ‘Tomorrow or Sunday!’
‘Ah! Yes! Your head dey there!’
Again, he knocked and had to stop when he heard a faint sound. He put his ear against their door.
‘You hear anything!’ Clem asked.
David listened with rapt attention like one searching for a pin in a haystack. ‘Yes. Cough. Small cough. Someone’s coughing!’
Clem never gave him another chance as he repeatedly knocked with more vigour than David could have seen him. Concerned neighbours poked their heads out. The door from upstairs creaked and broke through the passage, reducing any chance of hearing anything within the house.
‘I go kick am!’ Clem announced.
David’s didn’t hesitate before he moved back just in time for Clem to kick the door. The slight rattle on the hinge gave David the motivation he needed. Together, their legs banged the door, muffling the questions someone was asking.
Then, the door opened.
And there, on the floor, the eldest daughter was, panting faintly, hands outstretched, trying desperately to reach the door. The reason: the room was filled with fumes, choking him, causing his eyes to water.
In no time, voices were screaming instructions on how to help the family. They tried saving everyone, but the lastborn wasn’t responsive to first aid. After two days at the hospital, he woke and probably forgot what happened because he was soon seen dashing around the house, dusty, naked, laughing heartily, holding a stick sweet topped with sand, with no care in the world.
At the end of the day, if the family’s noise once disturbed David, they were now intensified, vigorous, and heartfelt. David, on the other hand, didn’t care. He was just glad that they were alive.

if only you know how most of us look forward to seeing this small small but great short stories from you

germaphobe:
if only you know how most of us look forward to seeing this small small but great short stories from you

This made my day. Thanks a lot..