06/09/2026
BAAMI: THE UNTOLD STORY OF FATHERHOOD
SERIES 3-NOBODY KNOWS DADDY'S PAIN
Daddy TJ had become very good at hiding his problems.
Whenever the family needed something, he somehow found a way to provide it. If there wasn't enough money, he borrowed. If borrowing wasn't possible, he sacrificed something of his own. And whenever anyone asked how he was managing, he smiled and said, "We're fine."
But they were not fine.
One afternoon, Daddy TJ received a phone call from his friend, Mr. Ade.
"TJ, you still haven't paid back the money you borrowed last month."
Daddy TJ lowered his voice.
"I know, Ade. Please give me a little more time."
"A little more time? You said that two weeks ago."
"I'll pay you. I promise."
"You'd better. I need the money too."
The call ended.
Daddy TJ sat quietly for a moment before another call came in. This time, it was from Femi.
"Dad, I need some money for my registration."
Daddy TJ looked at his wallet.
There was almost nothing left.
"How much do you need?"
Femi told him.
Daddy TJ swallowed hard.
"Okay. I'll send it tonight."
"Dad, are you sure?"
"Of course."
After the call, Daddy TJ stared at his phone.
He had no idea where the money would come from.
Later that evening, he went to another friend to borrow money. The man looked at him with concern.
"TJ, you're borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. How long do you want to continue like this?"
Daddy TJ forced a smile.
"Until things get better."
"And when will things get better?"
Daddy TJ didn't answer.
He said, "Please help me this time."
The man eventually gave him the money.
Daddy TJ thanked him and left.
That night, Femi received the money.
"Dad, thank you."
"You're welcome."
"You're the best."
Daddy TJ smiled.
"Just make sure you finish what you started."
Femi laughed.
"I will."
What Femi didn't know was that his father had borrowed the money to help him.
And that wasn't the only sacrifice Daddy TJ had made.
The following week, he stopped buying lunch at work.
When his colleagues asked why, he would laugh.
"I'm trying to lose weight."
They laughed with him.
Nobody knew that he was saving every little amount he could.
At home, he continued pretending everything was normal.
Mummy TJ, meanwhile, was preparing for another social event.
"TJ, I need money for tomorrow."
Daddy TJ looked up from the newspaper.
"How much?"
She told him.
He was silent.
"TJ?"
"I'll get it."
Mummy TJ smiled.
"That's why I always say you're dependable."
She walked away.
Daddy TJ looked down at the newspaper again.
His hands trembled slightly.
He had just borrowed money that morning.
He didn't tell her.
He never told anyone.
A few days later, Tolu noticed that her father had started wearing the same two shirts repeatedly.
"Dad, what happened to all your clothes?"
He laughed.
"They're still there."
"But you always used to dress differently."
"I'm becoming simple."
Tolu smiled.
"You?"
Daddy TJ laughed.
"People change."
She walked away, still unconvinced.
That evening, she saw him sitting alone outside. His head was bowed.
She approached him.
"Dad?"
He looked up quickly.
"Yes?"
"Are you okay?"
"Of course."
"You've been saying 'of course' a lot lately."
Daddy TJ laughed.
"Maybe because you're asking too many questions."
Tolu sat beside him.
"Dad, you know you can talk to me."
He looked at his daughter.
For a moment, it seemed as though he might finally tell her everything.
Instead, he smiled.
"I know."
Then he looked toward the house.
"As long as you people are okay, I'm okay."
Tolu shook her head.
"But who makes sure you're okay?"
Daddy TJ smiled faintly.
"God."
Tolu became quiet.
She didn't know what to say.
That night, after everyone had gone to bed, Daddy TJ opened his wallet, empty.
He opened his phone and checked his bank balance; almost nothing.
He opened his contacts.
There were several names of people he had already borrowed money from.
He stared at the list.
Then he locked the phone.
A tear rolled down his cheek.
He quickly wiped it away.
"No," he whispered to himself.
"Not in this house."
He stood up, walked to the bathroom, washed his face, and looked at himself in the mirror.
Then he smiled.
He practiced the smile again.
And again.
Until his face looked normal.
The next morning, he walked into the living room smiling as usual.
"Good morning, everybody!"
Everyone answered cheerfully.
Nobody knew that Daddy TJ had spent half the night wondering who he could borrow from next.
And nobody knew that the man everyone depended on had reached the point where he was running out of people to depend on.
To be continued.
