“Why would they need a mouse when we have rats around, which are quick to be seen, or other animals?” Bayo sat quietly with his friends while saying those words to them.
“We just need to try our best to find the mouse no matter what. This will make us come out in flying colors after a successful operation,” Dasola replied as they all sat thinking of a way out.
Meanwhile, Bayo’s mom is a mysterious woman. She can do the undo and can make things happen where there is no solution. People kept thinking she was a witch.
Bayo came home reluctant and restless. She kept picking up his books and at the same time dropping them one by one. Her mom observed and asked, “my son, what's the matter with you?”
Bayo was not ready to speak up to his mom. He wanted to dance things in his way, but to his surprise, his mom said, “It's what they ask you guys to get for your final practical, right?” Bayo opened his mouth widely and widened his eyes, trying to look drawn in surprise. Although he knew his mom before now, this one was a considerable surprise.
“How did you know, mum?” Bayo asked, surprisingly.
“You know your mom and what she's capable of doing,” her mom replied as she bent one side of her cheek, forming a smile.
“Yes, but not to this extent,” Bayo replied.
“Don't worry, you will come out of it. I will get you the mouse when it's time for the practical, and I promise, you will be the best pick and choice after the final practical. “, Her mom gazed at him as she walked to her room with some words of incantation.
Bayo sat in surprise, regurgitating what had happened between himself and her mom. “How come she knew the exact animal we are to use in the practical?” His face was lit up in surprise.
He was always going to school from home, as his house was just a stone's throw from the school. As he got to the school, his friends called him again, and they began to discuss the way out as usual.
“You know the time for our final practical is drawing closer. So, how and where should we find the mouse too?” Dasola asked.
“We can only get mouse in the bush,” one of them replied, as Bayo refused to contribute. He has nothing to fear, as he has been promised by his mom. Although, he was also thinking of not relying on his mom.
“What if she did not find the mouse?” He asked himself.
The next day, the four of them headed to the bush hunting for mice. Dasola managed to capture one. The other three caught theirs, while Bayo could not get his. He had tried, but was unable to take one home. It was just as if they had captured the last mouse in that bush, leaving Bayo with nothing left. Bayo got frustrated and tired of hunting. They came back to the school.
The practical was in two days' time, and Bayo, who believed he had failed for not getting the mouse, got sick.
“Mum, I don't think I would be able to go to the school today”, it was unlike Bayo. He had never, not once, missed his school.
“You must go to the school, no matter the condition,” his mom replied.
“Mum, you know I'm unable to get the mouse, and even if I do, I do not know if it will survive during the process of operation,” Bayo changed the atmosphere to that of fear instead of focusing more on how to get the mouse for the practical.
“You of all people should know me by now. You should know the reason people always see me as a witch, whereas I just have the gift passed to me by my late mum,” Bayo's mum was so confident.
“But mum, I believe I will fail,” Bayo replied as he was not getting what his mum was pointing at. He was still lost in the dark.
“Just go to the school and get prepared for the practical,” his mom said as she relaxed her head on the bench she was sitting on.
The practical day arrived while Bayo started his practical with a mouse one of his friends gave to him. He started the operation, but along the line, the mouse gave up. No one saw that, and he kept quiet while others focused on their practical. He got confused.
“But my mum said I should not worry; now I'm doomed,” as he turned his face, wanting to call the lab attendant, the dead mouse rose. He was surprised to see the dead mouse rose. He immediately remembered his mum's words that “just go for the practical; you will make it through.”
His operation on the mouse was the only successful one among others. He was so excited and surprised at the same time.
“Mum, thank you,” Bayo said.
“I thought you would not observe what I had done for you,” Bayo's mom replied while smiling.
"I can't forget the name people always tagged you with, even though you are gifted. I think people need to see you as the best and know that what you are doing is from your grandmother and your mom." Bayo was so happy.
