Chapter 3 : Memories.

Still at the hospital. Around 12am on Wednesday the following day. Everyone that was waiting for Joshua to wake up including Mrs. Adegbite, Chioma and Sunday with the parent of the little girl were already at home.

 In Joshua ward Doctor Sarutobi and some other nurses were with Joshua who hasn't woke up yet. "Have you given him another drip." Sarutobi asked. 

"Yes ma. His condition is getting better." One of the nurses replied her. 

"That's great to hear." Doctor Sarutobi happily said.

 As everyone was about to leave the ward except Sophia who waited behind staring at the pendant on Joshua neck. She wanted to touch it. Meanwhile Joshua was having a nightmare about the accident he had earlier, Suddenly Joshua rose his upper body up held his necklace and looked at Sophia, profusely sweating. Doctor Sarutobi and the nurses were surprised. After a few seconds the male nurses went to him to hold him from running away or do anything, but he resisted them. Saying "No leave me, am not out of my mind. Am fine, sorry for the confusion." He put his pendant beneath his cloth. Doctor Sarutobi was still looking surprised, she ordered the male nurses to stand back as Sophia quickly moved outside. After they did. Doctor Sarutobi moved a little closer to him. With a smile. 

“Good morning, Mister Joshua how are you feeling." Joshua looking around the ward, he looked at Doctor Sarutobi with her nurses and then he looked at his chest downward, he saw that it was all bandaged. "So am still alive." He said.

 "Pretty much. Mister Joshua." Sarutobi replied. Joshua checked his right hand which was where the drip is been passed into his body.

 "So how many da....?" Sarutobi interrupted him. "Please Mister Joshua you need to lay down." She quickly supported Joshua to laid down on the bed. The moment she held Joshua on his shoulder, he felt a sensation he have never felt before. So both Joshua and Sarutobi thought the same words and almost the same time. 

"What manner of woman is this.” 

“What manner of man is this."

 "You still need to rest mister Joshua because of your condition, don't worry I will tell you everything later." Joshua still looking at her surprised.

 "Okay. Okay. I will rest thank your miss.....?"

 "Doctor Sarutobi but you can call me Sarutobi." She said with a smile. "Ok bye for now." As they left the ward. Joshua stared at them going. He said. "Bye." Then, he balanced more on his bed and closed his eyes.

At Sunday's house. Chioma and Sunday were on the bed sleeping. He was snoring away the night and Chioma was with him on the bed, then she opened her eyes, she couldn't sleep, not because of Sunday snoring but it was because of all what happened yesterday, so she rose up from her bed and went to the kitchen, as she entered the kitchen she yawned going straight to the refrigerator to take a bottle of milk with a cup to drink, she poured the milk inside the cup and was about drinking it. Diamond walked into the kitchen. Scratching her eyes.

 "Mummy I can't sleep." She said with a tiny tone. Chioma immediately dropped the cup and went to her. "Oh sorry my princess. Any reason darling?" Chioma said as she carried diamond on her arms.  

"Mummy I didn't see Uncle Joshua in school yesterday and he didn't call. Mummy hope Uncle Joshua is alright." She said hugging her mum. 

" Yes he is fine. My dear." Chioma looking at diamond eyes.

 "You know uncle Joshua. Life makes us a little bit busy but don't be angry, he will soon be back home, you hear my diamond." Diamond looked at the pictures glued on the refrigerator. The pictures shows when they are all having fun in Plymouth Rock both Joshua and her grandma were there also. She remembered those beautiful times. She smiled.

"Yes mummy." 

 "Now let go to bed." So she carried diamond to her room. She laid diamond on her bed, kissed her forehead.

 "Rest my dear, the sun rise will soon rise." As Chioma went to the door to switched off the light in diamond room, diamond turn to the left side of her body facing her mother. "Mummy." she said with a tiny tone. Chioma looked back. 

“What my Diamond.”

 "I love you." Diamond said with her eye half closed. 

 Chioma smile. "I love you too dear." She said as she switched off the light. Then she went to Chidi room. Chidi was snoring with his bed sheet all over his body to the floor so Chioma arranged it and placed Chidi well on his bed, she tucked the covers about him carefully.

"Hmmmm....still sleeping? just like your father." She giggled. After, She went back to her room to lay down. When she was about feeling sleepy. "Where did you go to." Sunday asked with a sleepy voice. She turned around to face her husband. "I went to the kitchen to have some milk then I saw diamond, she couldn't sleep so we talked then I took her back to her room, I also checked on Chidi who was still sound asleep just like you a moment ago." Sunday placed his hand on Chioma's waist, he gently drag her to himself. "Don't worry. We are going to be okay." Chioma smirked at him and said. "I know. My love." With Sunday eyes still closed he said with a smile. "Remember I love you first." 

"Waky waky!  Mister Joshua is time to eat and to take your medicines." Nurse Sophia said as she placed his food on the table near him. She went to the window, put back the drapes and then opened the window wide, allowing the rays from the sun to shine through the window to Joshua face.

"Ugh! Close the window or is this how you treat your patient?" He joked. Sophia went to him and said. "No sir, but you need to eat something to take your medicines. You know you haven't eaten since yesterday." Nurse Sophia took a pillow from his bed.

"Please can you sit and rest your back on the pillow."

 "Okay no prob." As he gently sit, "ugh!" Joshua said in pain touching is abdomen. Nurse Sophia tried to support him, but Joshua waved is hand and shakes his head meaning he can sit by himself. After he sat well on the bed he asked. "Please lady nurse what is the time?" Sophia checked her wrist watch "it's nine am." She looked at Joshua who took his food from the table to eat. Sophia then said putting her left arms on her waist.

 "And again. Am not a lady am a woman." Before Joshua put the food into his mouth, he froze and looked at her. 

"So you are a woman." Joshua said. Sophia folded her hands.

 "Yes am a woman even though am not yet married, am still a woman." she replied

 Joshua still looking at her while eating.  "Okay....Chum....Chum Mister ....Chum...Chum woman." He said.

Nurse Sophia laughed. "Haaaaa. Very funny." She went to door smiling, immediately she turned back to Joshua. 

"Oh! Before I forget sir....Mrs. Chioma came yesterday and also this early morning to check on you but right now, an old woman is in the waiting room to see you, I think her name is Mrs. Adegbite."

  " Yes yes.... They are my friends. Can I see her." Joshua continued. "But Mister lady, will I leave this hospital before Saturday?"

 "I don't know, but it's depend on your healing." Nurse Sophia checked the waiting room then she turned to Joshua. "And No not now we need to change your bandages before seeing anyone." Joshua looked at the bandages on his body. "Hmmmmm... okay please can you tell her she should come back later."

"That's what I told her but she said she would wait." Sophia replied him.

Joshua looked up. "Thank you Lord....am still Alive." He thought. 

 "The old woman as been praying for you." Nurse Sophia said she left the ward. Joshua smile then he continued his food.

Some hours later at IDAN International school. The teachers gathered together to have their break in the Teachers cafeteria. Mrs. Chioma after serving herself, walked towards a table, she was about to sit. "Mrs. Chioma! Over here come sit with us." One of the teacher shouted on the other side where most of the teachers sat down. She smiled. "Okay am coming." She went to their table and sat down immediately a female teacher moved very close to her.

 "So Mrs. Chioma how is Mister Joshua?" 

 "How is he feeling?" "Have he woken up?" 

"When are we going to see him?"

 "Are you still going today?" 

"When is he coming back?" Immediately a male teacher went to her, closing her mouth unknowingly and interrupted her.

 "Ahhh! Miss Lola!. How many questions?" He removed his hand and continued. 

"Can't you ask one by one." 

 "Why can't I ask questions? Is it your questioning? Ehen! Mister Usman?" Miss Lola eyed him and said. During all those argument Mrs. Chioma and some teachers were looking at both of them, some where smiling and some where eating not minding both of them. Then, Mrs. Chioma was about stop them. "Will you guys keep quiet! Other staffs are here also. Why all this?" Mr. James shouted.

 "We are sorry Sir." They both said as they sat down. Then Mr. James went to Mrs. Chioma. 

" How is he?" He asked.

 "He is getting better Sir but he won't be discharged today." Said Chioma as he looked at all the teachers in the table including Mr. James. 

"Ok that sounds great." Mr. James said. “So please go back to your food, everyone." As he looked at the teachers. 

At the hospital. Around four in the afternoon. Sofia, Mariam with Sarutobi entered Joshua ward. 

"Sir it's time to change your bandages." Said Mariam. Joshua looked at them while watching the television then switched the television off. Facing them,

"So what should I do?" He asked.

 "You need to stand up. Can you?" Sofia asked. 

Joshua smirked. "Sure!" As he rose up gently, he was much more taller than everyone in the room. The ladies looked at him up in such a way that immediately  blushed. "Whoa!" came out of their mouth unknowingly. Sarutobi clear her throat, set her glasses on her eyes well.

 "Please, sit down. It will be easier for us to......." she said.

"OH! That's true. I understand." Joshua said and immediately sat down.

After they changed the bandages from Joshua body. 

"Can you please call Mrs. Adegbite, here?" Sarutobi asked looking at Mariam. 

" Yes ma." As Mariam went out. Sarutobi looked at Joshua. 

"You know, she still want to see you." She said. Joshua settled well on the bed. 

"Yes I know, she is a good friend of my. Thanks." Mrs. Adegbite entered the room immediately she saw Joshua she went closer to him. "Oh my son, you are alright. We thank God." Joshua trying to move his body to show her that he is getting better. "Yes ma'am, as you can see am ready to go home." Sarutobi replied him with a smile. "No sir not yet but I will let you know when ever you are completely healed." Mrs. Adegbite looked at Sarutobi with an exciting look. 

"Also, thank you Doctor, for your help." Sarutobi looking a bit shy.

 "No ma! We are just doing our job, even Mister Joshua is also helping us out with the treatment." They all looked at Joshua. Then they burst into laugh. That same moment Mrs. Chioma, Mr. Sunday and their two kids. Chidi and Diamond came inside. Chidi and Diamond both ran to Joshua the moment they saw the bandages on him, they both stop. 

"Uncle what happened to you?" Chidi asked. Diamond looked at her brother and then she looked at Joshua with a sad eyes. 

"Is it still paining you?" She said also with a sad tone. Joshua looked at them then smiled.

 "kids, kids." He moved closer, then put both his hands on their shoulder affectionately. his right hand on Diamond while the other on Chidi. "By God grace, all is well." He said with a smile on his face. Others in the room where smiling but Nurse Sophia was trying hard not to cry by putting her  fingers closer to her eye.

After, Another set of people came in. The Little girl and her parent, Mr. James and most of the teachers with balloons on their hands and A cake written on it. 

"GET WELL SOON." Joshua looked surprised he shouted. "Wow!"

 "Good morning everyone." They all greeted

 Mr. James came to Joshua, "Hope you are feeling better Mister Joshua." he said with an exciting tone.

 "Yes sir definitely!" Joshua replied him.

 "Am not surprised I know you will!" They all laughed. 

"Please everyone wait." A male teacher shouted. They all stop and looked at him. 

"What is the matter Mister Aliu?" Mr. James asked confused. He pointed and looked straight at Doctor Sarutobi. 

"Didn't you guys notice that we have a Pinyin doctor in this hospital." Sarutobi wanted to say something but Joshua quickly replied him. "She's Nihon Mr. Aliu. Not from Pinyin." Mr. Aliu calmed himself.  "Okay ooo, but why are you here ma?" He asked. "But sir, can't you see? She is our doctor." Mariam replied him.  Sarutobi smiled. Joshua cut in, facing Mr. James.

 "Mr. James how is the pupils?" Before, Mr. James was looking at both Aliu and Mariam trying to say something to them but immediately he heard Joshua he quickly looked at Joshua and replied. "They are all fine, even the pupils asked of you most especially Ronke and her parent." He continued. "We told the pupils that you will not be around for sometime." Joshua bent his head. 

"Okay but Sir, you haven't told them yet." He said with a low tone.

"Yes but we will try our best to tell them in a way it won't cause panic in the school." Mr. James answered.

Joshua looked at the little girl he saved, smiled.

"Sorry girl don't mind me, I haven't asked you your name yet." 

"No sir, it was our fault." Her parents replied.

 Her mother looked at her and said. "Oya, tell Uncle Joshua your name." She moved closer to Joshua. "My name is Grace. Sir." She said

"Nice to meet you Grace." 

Then Mr. James looking at his wrist watch said to Joshua.

 "We will be on our way. Take good care of yourself." 

" Yes sir." Joshua replied. He was trying to get up from the bed. Sophia stopped him. 

"No not now. Sir you still need to rest."  Then Joshua sat back. 

"Okay." Feeling sad that he can't move yet. Mr. James smile to him. "Don't worry." Then the other teachers greeted him Good bye also to all the people that were remaining in the room as they went out of the room. 

After, Chioma smirked at her kids and looked at Joshua. 

"Now Chidi and Diamond as seen you." She held her husband hand. "Get well soon. Joshua." Sunday said. 

"So let go home guys you know we still have a lot of things to do at home." They all nodded, 

 "Okay good bye for now. Bye Chidi. Bye Diamond. Bye Chioma. Bye Mr. Sunday." Joshua said.

They all waved at him as they went out of the room but both Chidi and Diamond were reluctant to go home with a sad smile they waved again to Joshua. He waved back to them.  After they've left the room. Mrs. Adegbite and Sarutobi moved closer to Joshua.

 "Okay. See you later and make sure you get enough sleep." Sarutobi said. 

"I also will be going to a program in my church this evening." Mrs. Adegbite said after. As they both turned back. Sarutobi looked at the nurses. "So ladies let get back to work." 

Before they move out of the room, Joshua called out Doctor Sarutobi name. She looked back. Joshua said "Thanks. You also Mrs. Adegbite am grateful." They both smiled and left with the nurses.