TWO
‘Ozukwalu, promise it is plenty for you?’ Chinelo said.
‘Mama, yes,’ Amaka said. She leaned frontwards to launder her hands inwards the brownish plastic bowl on the table.
The quondam adult woman came to stand upward beside her son. ‘Nnaa, did yous similar the soup?’
Phillip nodded as he threw or therefore other ball of fufu into his mouth. ‘Can I receive got to a greater extent than soup?’
‘Do yous dare to ask?’ Chinelo carried the soup bowl at once.
With her gone, Amaka bent toward her hubby together with said: ‘Nwokem, I ga eridebekwa ya ebe afu—you receive got eaten enough.’
‘Is it your food?’ Phillip asked her.
‘It is my immature human being woman’s food.’
‘A immature human being adult woman who is my mother.’
‘And then? Did yous non know—’
Chinelo appeared amongst the soup, silencing Amaka. ‘What are yous 2 saying?’ she asked.
‘Nothing, Mama,’ Amaka said. She picked a toothpick from the tiny illustration on the tabular array together with relaxed dorsum into the chair.
Finally, Phillip threw 1 in conclusion lump of fish into his mouth. He hummed as he chewed, winking at his married adult woman from fourth dimension to time.
Amaka hissed together with threw her confront away.
Phillip’s hum became louder, to a greater extent than provoking.
Chinelo laughed. ‘Mangala,’ she said.
‘Mama, mangala nkea bu ya!’ Phillip echoed. ‘This fish is sweet.’
Amaka wanted to behaviour the tray of empty plates away.
‘Leave it,’ Chinelo said. The quondam adult woman carried the tray instead.
Phillip took off his shirt, picked an quondam practice mass from beneath the tabular array together with started fanning himself.
Amaka rubbed his chest. ‘See how big your breast has gotten! Thank God nosotros are at nowadays here—I volition at nowadays know where yous volition reckon gym 1 time to a greater extent than to use.’
‘Ayi!’ Phillip whimpered. ‘Stop twitching my nipple!’
‘Gbafuo! Which nipple produce yous have?’
Phillip pulled a teasing smirk. ‘Do yous desire to suck?’
‘Taa!’ Amaka allow learn of the nipple.
He lowered his vocalism further. ‘Suck it, or give me yours to suck.’
‘Shut up!’ Amaka crossed her arms on her chest. ‘Suck yours land I suck mine.’
‘What sort of scheme is that?’
Amaka turned away, maxim nothing.
‘Because yous know I don’t receive got much, abi?’ Phillip said, staring at his wife.
Amaka started to laugh.
Phillip extended the fan inwards his manus to her. ‘Take this together with fan me.’
Amaka collected the mass from him. But instead of fanning him, she opened the practice mass together with started reading. ‘This is my Chemistry note.’
‘You used forty leaves for a note?’ Phillip said.
‘Bring yours let’s see.’
‘All my notes are lxxx leaves,’ Phillip said. ‘White together with thick back.’
‘Owia! When produce yous receive got fourth dimension to re-create banking firm complaint sef? Is it the same fourth dimension yous jump the window to disappear into the cashew bush land your mates were inwards class?’
Mama Chibuzo entered the room then.
Phillip turned to his mother. ‘Mama, did yous remove heed the nonsense she simply said? Warn her for me.’
Chinelo was smiling. She looked happy. Very happy.
Amaka slapped Phillip’s confront amongst the book. ‘Shut up! Stop making noise.’
Chinelo came to sit down amongst them. She cleared her pharynx together with the playing duet turned serious.
‘You receive got finished eating together with Nnanna has fallen asleep, at nowadays tin I remove heed the long story?’
Phillip leaned out of the chair, but it took moments earlier he said anything.
‘Mama,’ he finally began, ‘I volition tell yous exclusively the truth.’
Chinelo nodded. ‘Dalu nnaa, tell me.’
But Chibuzo was nevertheless wasting time. He joined his hands, fingers wriggling.
Amaka leaned out of the chair together with flung out: ‘Mama, they threw us out!’
‘What?’ Chinelo’s eyes ran to her.
‘Mama, the blood brother to the adult woman returned from overseas together with asked us to leave,’ Phillip added.
‘Oversea?’
‘Yes. Canada.’
‘But didn’t the skillful adult woman learn out yous inwards accuse of everything?’ Chinelo asked.
‘Mama she did—’—Amaka now—‘—she did. But the evil blood brother is greedier than a pig.’
‘What argue did he give?’ Chinelo asked.
‘Reason kwa? What argue does he have? He is simply afterwards the belatedly woman’s money, that’s all.’
‘And what was my skillful woman’s wishing earlier her death? Did she non brand provisions for him?’
‘Mama—’—Chibuzo now—‘—the funny affair is that nosotros never knew almost this Canada blood brother till Aunty Theresa died.’
‘Hmm,’ Chinelo hummed. She took her eyes slightly upward together with and therefore dorsum down. ‘Leave them.’
Amaka’s eyes popped. ‘Mama?’
‘It is exclusively belongings he wants, learn out for him. Allow him to take.’
Amaka appeared clearly unhappy amongst what her mother in law simply said. ‘Mama nosotros took or therefore coin together with documents o,’ she said.
‘Shh,’ Chibuzo hushed her, but it was already late. Chinelo has heard already.
‘Money yous say?’
‘Mama, simply a small-scale amount together with or therefore papers to 2 undeveloped plots,’ Phillip explained.
‘Won’t that drive whatever problem?’
‘Mama, allow it cause,’ Amaka said. ‘We are ready for whatever work it volition cause. We can’t simply allow him receive got everything simply similar that. Aunty Theresa handed everything to us earlier her death. And moreover where was Mr Canada when Aunty was rattling sick together with vomiting all over the place. It was us that took assist of her. If non for James, I would receive got stayed together with fought!’
‘He looks unsafe together with good connected, Mama,’ Chibuzo said, ‘that’s why I suggested nosotros learn out him together with go.’
‘It is skillful that yous came back,’ Chinelo said. ‘You did the correct thing.’
‘Thank you, Mama.’
‘Mama, no!’ Amaka said. ‘We made a error past times running away similar that. Like thieves that nosotros are not.’
‘So?’ Chinelo said. ‘Did yous non remove heed that the human being may live dangerous?’
‘It is a globe total of unsafe people, Mama. We can’t all hold running.’
‘He who runs gets or therefore other chance.’
‘Not inwards this case, Mama. Except that he is related to Aunty, he has no correct over her properties. He won’t fifty-fifty win against us inwards whatever courtroom because everything is inwards our name. I volition piece of work along to tell it, nosotros made a big error past times running.’
Chinelo gave a smile, though non from amusement. ‘What is life, my child, if non a string of mistakes all joined?’
Amaka stared at the quondam woman.
‘Yes,’ Chinelo went on. ‘It is non a novel affair to brand mistakes, my dear. Some yous yell for, or therefore yous express mirth over, land or therefore volition completely alter your life.’
Phillip looked circular the room. ‘We’ve been living without big cars, swimming pools together with fancy clothe before,’ he said. ‘We volition non at nowadays perish without all these things.’
‘Yes, yous won’t, my son,’ Chinelo rapidly agreed.
***
‘We bought these things for you,’ Sammy said, extending the dark together with white striped poly handbag inwards her manus to Uzoma.
Uzoma’s scowling eyes shuttled betwixt the handbag of gifts together with the giver.
Finally she collected the handbag together with checked inside. ‘Thank you,’ she said. Though the appear on her confront failed to gibe the words.
She reached into the handbag together with brought out a box of Cabin biscuits. She extended it dorsum to Sammy. ‘Keep this 1 back. I am non a kid that chew Cabin.’
Sammy was like shooting fish in a barrel to collect the item. She looked at Ejike who exclusively looked on.
Uzoma dropped the box of biscuits on the tabular array inwards her front.
She stood to piece of work into inside.
‘Mama?’ Ejike called.
Uzoma stopped, simply earlier the faded, flower-patterned curtain, together with turned dorsum to them.
‘Papa said yous prepared ede, tin nosotros receive got some?’
Uzoma’s eyes turned hooded. ‘Look at your married adult woman beside you; tell her to create for you.’
‘And yet your ain hubby starved land yous ate?’ Ejike returned.
Uzoma stared at her son. ‘Concentrate on your ain marriage, inu. Leave mine for me.’ She shifted the drapery together with disappeared through the door.
***
Amaka came out into the nighttime to come across her husband. Phillip relaxed on the depression dorsum chair, hands crossed behind his head, eyes fixed on the Moon upward above.
Amaka had stood at his dorsum for quite or therefore fourth dimension earlier she came frontwards together with said to him: ‘Okwa ibidokwa? You receive got started again.’
Phillip, appearing mildly startled, turned to his wife. ‘The Moon is therefore ho-hum tonight,’ he said.
Amaka clucked, the agency women oftentimes did to exhibit disapproval. ‘What is your concern amongst how vivid the Moon is? I bu usu? Are yous a bat? Stand upward from in that location together with let’s learn inside.’
‘Or nosotros tin simply remain hither together with reckon if the Moon volition plow brighter?’
Amaka hissed. ‘Gi na onye? Do I await to yous similar your immature human being witch?’
Phillip took her manus together with drew her to himself. ‘Sit on me,’ he said. He made her sit down on him.
Amaka wanted to ascent but relaxed dorsum when she felt his hardness. Her developing deed of protestation melted into interest.
She reached betwixt his thighs together with touched the solidifying organ.
Phillip started releasing the buttons of her blouse.
Taking 1 circular of her naked lady organs into his mouth, Amaka turned together with gripped him tight.
***
The morn was ho-hum together with dewy.
Ejike pushed the gate slightly together with entered the compound.
Chinelo, sitting on a stool at a corner of the compound, was picking palm nuts.
‘Nne dalukwa,’ Ejike greeted.
Chinelo turned. ‘Oh, Nnaa, ibatalu? Did yous come upward back?’
‘Yes Nne.’
‘Onye live gi kwanu? How is your wife?’
‘She is fine. She came dorsum amongst me.’
‘Oh, together with where is she now? She did non come upward amongst yous to reckon me?’
‘We volition nevertheless come, Mama. I was going to the chief route together with decided to halt by.’
Amaka came out then. ‘Ejike skillful morning,’ she said.
‘Morning.’ Ejike looked slightly surprised to reckon her. ‘You are around?’
‘Yes. We came dorsum yesterday.’
‘Yesterday?’ Ejike said. He looked at the machine parked at a corner. ‘With Chibuzo?’
‘Yes.’
Phillip, peeping from the window inside, frowned at his wife.
‘Where is he?’ Ejike said.
Amaka waved. ‘He is inside.’
Ejike started toward the house.
Phillip opened the door together with came out.
The 2 men shook hands. ‘I didn’t know yous came back,’ Ejike said.
‘We did,’ Phillip replied.
‘How is Lagos?’
‘Fine.’
‘If I had known yous were coming dorsum I would receive got come upward to your identify together with nosotros would receive got all travelled downwards together.’
‘That would receive got been nice,’ Phillip said.
‘How is Sammy?’ Amaka asked.
‘She is at home.’
‘Why did she non follow you?’
‘I meant our draw solid here.’
Amaka’s features dilated inwards surprise. ‘She came amongst you?’
‘Yes, she did.’
Amaka ran off immediately, heading to Onyemaechi’s house.
***
Rita pushed the door together with entered the room.
She glimpsed the slice of newspaper on the TV together with reached for it.
She didn’t read the data on it till the cease earlier she flung away her handbag together with Bible together with ran out again.
She stopped the kickoff mortal she met on the route together with asked him, inwards rattling jittery voice, ‘Please did yous reckon whatever immature adult woman maybe carrying a handbag on this road?’
‘Girl?’ the human being said.
‘Yes. My daughter. She should live almost 20, tall together with dark amongst rattling white eyes.’
‘White eyes?’ Ejike wondered what other colours of eyes in that location were.
‘Yes, yes, delight did you?’
Ejike shook her head. ‘No.’
Rita left him together with ran dorsum off.
***
Sammy stood at a corner of the compound, brushing her teeth.
Behind her, Uzoma dropped a pile of palm frond brooms.
Sammy turned. ‘Oh. Good morning, Mama!’
‘Ezenwanyi morning,’ Uzoma replied. She together with therefore pointed. ‘Pick the broom together with start sweeping.’
Sammy looked downwards at the brooms. She somewhat smiled. ‘I receive got swept my room, Mama.’
Uzoma’s confront twisted inwards a grimace. ‘Which room? Who did yous learn out the chemical compound for?’
Sammy looked round. ‘The chemical compound is nevertheless quite neat, Mama.’
‘You are fool! Which chemical compound is neat? Who has been keeping it neat?’
Sammy struggled to empathize Uzoma’s Igbo-mixed English.
Uzoma pointed again. ‘Pick the broom together with start sweeping.’ She waved inwards demonstration. ‘Start from in that location together with and therefore all the agency to the road. When yous learn to the road, people volition at nowadays reckon what fourth dimension a full-grown adult woman gets upward from sleep.’
‘Road?’
‘Eh, load! Ama-load! That’s how I sweep it every morning.’
Sammy returned her toothbrush dorsum inwards its case. ‘Mama, I know yous tin live a picayune mad but the truth is that yous actually don’t know me that well. I tin as live mad as well.’
Uzoma’s eyes came a picayune wider. She touched her chest. ‘Munwa, me mad?’
‘Of class yous are.’
Uzoma touched her breast again. ‘Me mad? Me Callista Uzoma Nwozo mad?’
Sammy left her together with started toward the house.
Uzoma held her together with drew her back, Sammy’s correct palm coming together Uzoma’s cheek amongst tremendous strength the same instant.
Amaka opened the gate together with entered.
***
Ejike had gotten the generator plug he came out to the major route to purchase together with was heading dorsum abode when he saw Rita again, at nowadays sitting on a log of fallen tree at the border of the road.
The ho-hum morn has evolved into a sun-boiled noontime.
Ejike hesitated, but finally came unopen together with asked her: ‘Did yous detect her?’
Rita shook her head.
‘What happened exactly?’
Again, Rita shook her head—ever therefore absentmindedly.
Ejike felt a foreign surge of compassion for the woman. Like whatever adult woman her historic catamenia living inwards his village, she wore a scarf together with a loose, light-material blouse to a higher identify a brown-patterned wrapper—but in that location was something else almost her that gave her away as someone who shouldn’t live nether a hot sun.
Perhaps a novel instructor of late transferred to the Girl’s College?
Ejike took a deep breath together with joined the middle-aged adult woman on the log.
***
Buy all consummate books past times Daniel Nkado on Okadabooks or Flip! Sumber http://www.dnbstories.com/
‘Ozukwalu, promise it is plenty for you?’ Chinelo said.
‘Mama, yes,’ Amaka said. She leaned frontwards to launder her hands inwards the brownish plastic bowl on the table.
The quondam adult woman came to stand upward beside her son. ‘Nnaa, did yous similar the soup?’
Phillip nodded as he threw or therefore other ball of fufu into his mouth. ‘Can I receive got to a greater extent than soup?’
‘Do yous dare to ask?’ Chinelo carried the soup bowl at once.
With her gone, Amaka bent toward her hubby together with said: ‘Nwokem, I ga eridebekwa ya ebe afu—you receive got eaten enough.’
‘Is it your food?’ Phillip asked her.
‘It is my immature human being woman’s food.’
‘A immature human being adult woman who is my mother.’
‘And then? Did yous non know—’
Chinelo appeared amongst the soup, silencing Amaka. ‘What are yous 2 saying?’ she asked.
‘Nothing, Mama,’ Amaka said. She picked a toothpick from the tiny illustration on the tabular array together with relaxed dorsum into the chair.
Finally, Phillip threw 1 in conclusion lump of fish into his mouth. He hummed as he chewed, winking at his married adult woman from fourth dimension to time.
Amaka hissed together with threw her confront away.
Phillip’s hum became louder, to a greater extent than provoking.
Chinelo laughed. ‘Mangala,’ she said.
‘Mama, mangala nkea bu ya!’ Phillip echoed. ‘This fish is sweet.’
Amaka wanted to behaviour the tray of empty plates away.
‘Leave it,’ Chinelo said. The quondam adult woman carried the tray instead.
Phillip took off his shirt, picked an quondam practice mass from beneath the tabular array together with started fanning himself.
Amaka rubbed his chest. ‘See how big your breast has gotten! Thank God nosotros are at nowadays here—I volition at nowadays know where yous volition reckon gym 1 time to a greater extent than to use.’
‘Ayi!’ Phillip whimpered. ‘Stop twitching my nipple!’
‘Gbafuo! Which nipple produce yous have?’
Phillip pulled a teasing smirk. ‘Do yous desire to suck?’
‘Taa!’ Amaka allow learn of the nipple.
He lowered his vocalism further. ‘Suck it, or give me yours to suck.’
‘Shut up!’ Amaka crossed her arms on her chest. ‘Suck yours land I suck mine.’
‘What sort of scheme is that?’
Amaka turned away, maxim nothing.
‘Because yous know I don’t receive got much, abi?’ Phillip said, staring at his wife.
Amaka started to laugh.
Phillip extended the fan inwards his manus to her. ‘Take this together with fan me.’
Amaka collected the mass from him. But instead of fanning him, she opened the practice mass together with started reading. ‘This is my Chemistry note.’
‘You used forty leaves for a note?’ Phillip said.
‘Bring yours let’s see.’
‘All my notes are lxxx leaves,’ Phillip said. ‘White together with thick back.’
‘Owia! When produce yous receive got fourth dimension to re-create banking firm complaint sef? Is it the same fourth dimension yous jump the window to disappear into the cashew bush land your mates were inwards class?’
Mama Chibuzo entered the room then.
Phillip turned to his mother. ‘Mama, did yous remove heed the nonsense she simply said? Warn her for me.’
Chinelo was smiling. She looked happy. Very happy.
Amaka slapped Phillip’s confront amongst the book. ‘Shut up! Stop making noise.’
Chinelo came to sit down amongst them. She cleared her pharynx together with the playing duet turned serious.
‘You receive got finished eating together with Nnanna has fallen asleep, at nowadays tin I remove heed the long story?’
Phillip leaned out of the chair, but it took moments earlier he said anything.
‘Mama,’ he finally began, ‘I volition tell yous exclusively the truth.’
Chinelo nodded. ‘Dalu nnaa, tell me.’
But Chibuzo was nevertheless wasting time. He joined his hands, fingers wriggling.
Amaka leaned out of the chair together with flung out: ‘Mama, they threw us out!’
‘What?’ Chinelo’s eyes ran to her.
‘Mama, the blood brother to the adult woman returned from overseas together with asked us to leave,’ Phillip added.
‘Oversea?’
‘Yes. Canada.’
‘But didn’t the skillful adult woman learn out yous inwards accuse of everything?’ Chinelo asked.
‘Mama she did—’—Amaka now—‘—she did. But the evil blood brother is greedier than a pig.’
‘What argue did he give?’ Chinelo asked.
‘Reason kwa? What argue does he have? He is simply afterwards the belatedly woman’s money, that’s all.’
‘And what was my skillful woman’s wishing earlier her death? Did she non brand provisions for him?’
‘Mama—’—Chibuzo now—‘—the funny affair is that nosotros never knew almost this Canada blood brother till Aunty Theresa died.’
‘Hmm,’ Chinelo hummed. She took her eyes slightly upward together with and therefore dorsum down. ‘Leave them.’
Amaka’s eyes popped. ‘Mama?’
‘It is exclusively belongings he wants, learn out for him. Allow him to take.’
Amaka appeared clearly unhappy amongst what her mother in law simply said. ‘Mama nosotros took or therefore coin together with documents o,’ she said.
‘Shh,’ Chibuzo hushed her, but it was already late. Chinelo has heard already.
‘Money yous say?’
‘Mama, simply a small-scale amount together with or therefore papers to 2 undeveloped plots,’ Phillip explained.
‘Won’t that drive whatever problem?’
‘Mama, allow it cause,’ Amaka said. ‘We are ready for whatever work it volition cause. We can’t simply allow him receive got everything simply similar that. Aunty Theresa handed everything to us earlier her death. And moreover where was Mr Canada when Aunty was rattling sick together with vomiting all over the place. It was us that took assist of her. If non for James, I would receive got stayed together with fought!’
‘He looks unsafe together with good connected, Mama,’ Chibuzo said, ‘that’s why I suggested nosotros learn out him together with go.’
‘It is skillful that yous came back,’ Chinelo said. ‘You did the correct thing.’
‘Thank you, Mama.’
‘Mama, no!’ Amaka said. ‘We made a error past times running away similar that. Like thieves that nosotros are not.’
‘So?’ Chinelo said. ‘Did yous non remove heed that the human being may live dangerous?’
‘It is a globe total of unsafe people, Mama. We can’t all hold running.’
‘He who runs gets or therefore other chance.’
‘Not inwards this case, Mama. Except that he is related to Aunty, he has no correct over her properties. He won’t fifty-fifty win against us inwards whatever courtroom because everything is inwards our name. I volition piece of work along to tell it, nosotros made a big error past times running.’
Chinelo gave a smile, though non from amusement. ‘What is life, my child, if non a string of mistakes all joined?’
Amaka stared at the quondam woman.
‘Yes,’ Chinelo went on. ‘It is non a novel affair to brand mistakes, my dear. Some yous yell for, or therefore yous express mirth over, land or therefore volition completely alter your life.’
Phillip looked circular the room. ‘We’ve been living without big cars, swimming pools together with fancy clothe before,’ he said. ‘We volition non at nowadays perish without all these things.’
‘Yes, yous won’t, my son,’ Chinelo rapidly agreed.
***
‘We bought these things for you,’ Sammy said, extending the dark together with white striped poly handbag inwards her manus to Uzoma.
Uzoma’s scowling eyes shuttled betwixt the handbag of gifts together with the giver.
Finally she collected the handbag together with checked inside. ‘Thank you,’ she said. Though the appear on her confront failed to gibe the words.
She reached into the handbag together with brought out a box of Cabin biscuits. She extended it dorsum to Sammy. ‘Keep this 1 back. I am non a kid that chew Cabin.’
Sammy was like shooting fish in a barrel to collect the item. She looked at Ejike who exclusively looked on.
Uzoma dropped the box of biscuits on the tabular array inwards her front.
She stood to piece of work into inside.
‘Mama?’ Ejike called.
Uzoma stopped, simply earlier the faded, flower-patterned curtain, together with turned dorsum to them.
‘Papa said yous prepared ede, tin nosotros receive got some?’
Uzoma’s eyes turned hooded. ‘Look at your married adult woman beside you; tell her to create for you.’
‘And yet your ain hubby starved land yous ate?’ Ejike returned.
Uzoma stared at her son. ‘Concentrate on your ain marriage, inu. Leave mine for me.’ She shifted the drapery together with disappeared through the door.
***
Amaka came out into the nighttime to come across her husband. Phillip relaxed on the depression dorsum chair, hands crossed behind his head, eyes fixed on the Moon upward above.
Amaka had stood at his dorsum for quite or therefore fourth dimension earlier she came frontwards together with said to him: ‘Okwa ibidokwa? You receive got started again.’
Phillip, appearing mildly startled, turned to his wife. ‘The Moon is therefore ho-hum tonight,’ he said.
Amaka clucked, the agency women oftentimes did to exhibit disapproval. ‘What is your concern amongst how vivid the Moon is? I bu usu? Are yous a bat? Stand upward from in that location together with let’s learn inside.’
‘Or nosotros tin simply remain hither together with reckon if the Moon volition plow brighter?’
Amaka hissed. ‘Gi na onye? Do I await to yous similar your immature human being witch?’
Phillip took her manus together with drew her to himself. ‘Sit on me,’ he said. He made her sit down on him.
Amaka wanted to ascent but relaxed dorsum when she felt his hardness. Her developing deed of protestation melted into interest.
She reached betwixt his thighs together with touched the solidifying organ.
Phillip started releasing the buttons of her blouse.
Taking 1 circular of her naked lady organs into his mouth, Amaka turned together with gripped him tight.
***
The morn was ho-hum together with dewy.
Ejike pushed the gate slightly together with entered the compound.
Chinelo, sitting on a stool at a corner of the compound, was picking palm nuts.
‘Nne dalukwa,’ Ejike greeted.
Chinelo turned. ‘Oh, Nnaa, ibatalu? Did yous come upward back?’
‘Yes Nne.’
‘Onye live gi kwanu? How is your wife?’
‘She is fine. She came dorsum amongst me.’
‘Oh, together with where is she now? She did non come upward amongst yous to reckon me?’
‘We volition nevertheless come, Mama. I was going to the chief route together with decided to halt by.’
Amaka came out then. ‘Ejike skillful morning,’ she said.
‘Morning.’ Ejike looked slightly surprised to reckon her. ‘You are around?’
‘Yes. We came dorsum yesterday.’
‘Yesterday?’ Ejike said. He looked at the machine parked at a corner. ‘With Chibuzo?’
‘Yes.’
Phillip, peeping from the window inside, frowned at his wife.
‘Where is he?’ Ejike said.
Amaka waved. ‘He is inside.’
Ejike started toward the house.
Phillip opened the door together with came out.
The 2 men shook hands. ‘I didn’t know yous came back,’ Ejike said.
‘We did,’ Phillip replied.
‘How is Lagos?’
‘Fine.’
‘If I had known yous were coming dorsum I would receive got come upward to your identify together with nosotros would receive got all travelled downwards together.’
‘That would receive got been nice,’ Phillip said.
‘How is Sammy?’ Amaka asked.
‘She is at home.’
‘Why did she non follow you?’
‘I meant our draw solid here.’
Amaka’s features dilated inwards surprise. ‘She came amongst you?’
‘Yes, she did.’
Amaka ran off immediately, heading to Onyemaechi’s house.
***
Rita pushed the door together with entered the room.
She glimpsed the slice of newspaper on the TV together with reached for it.
She didn’t read the data on it till the cease earlier she flung away her handbag together with Bible together with ran out again.
She stopped the kickoff mortal she met on the route together with asked him, inwards rattling jittery voice, ‘Please did yous reckon whatever immature adult woman maybe carrying a handbag on this road?’
‘Girl?’ the human being said.
‘Yes. My daughter. She should live almost 20, tall together with dark amongst rattling white eyes.’
‘White eyes?’ Ejike wondered what other colours of eyes in that location were.
‘Yes, yes, delight did you?’
Ejike shook her head. ‘No.’
Rita left him together with ran dorsum off.
***
Sammy stood at a corner of the compound, brushing her teeth.
Behind her, Uzoma dropped a pile of palm frond brooms.
Sammy turned. ‘Oh. Good morning, Mama!’
‘Ezenwanyi morning,’ Uzoma replied. She together with therefore pointed. ‘Pick the broom together with start sweeping.’
Sammy looked downwards at the brooms. She somewhat smiled. ‘I receive got swept my room, Mama.’
Uzoma’s confront twisted inwards a grimace. ‘Which room? Who did yous learn out the chemical compound for?’
Sammy looked round. ‘The chemical compound is nevertheless quite neat, Mama.’
‘You are fool! Which chemical compound is neat? Who has been keeping it neat?’
Sammy struggled to empathize Uzoma’s Igbo-mixed English.
Uzoma pointed again. ‘Pick the broom together with start sweeping.’ She waved inwards demonstration. ‘Start from in that location together with and therefore all the agency to the road. When yous learn to the road, people volition at nowadays reckon what fourth dimension a full-grown adult woman gets upward from sleep.’
‘Road?’
‘Eh, load! Ama-load! That’s how I sweep it every morning.’
Sammy returned her toothbrush dorsum inwards its case. ‘Mama, I know yous tin live a picayune mad but the truth is that yous actually don’t know me that well. I tin as live mad as well.’
Uzoma’s eyes came a picayune wider. She touched her chest. ‘Munwa, me mad?’
‘Of class yous are.’
Uzoma touched her breast again. ‘Me mad? Me Callista Uzoma Nwozo mad?’
Sammy left her together with started toward the house.
Uzoma held her together with drew her back, Sammy’s correct palm coming together Uzoma’s cheek amongst tremendous strength the same instant.
Amaka opened the gate together with entered.
***
Ejike had gotten the generator plug he came out to the major route to purchase together with was heading dorsum abode when he saw Rita again, at nowadays sitting on a log of fallen tree at the border of the road.
The ho-hum morn has evolved into a sun-boiled noontime.
Ejike hesitated, but finally came unopen together with asked her: ‘Did yous detect her?’
Rita shook her head.
‘What happened exactly?’
Again, Rita shook her head—ever therefore absentmindedly.
Ejike felt a foreign surge of compassion for the woman. Like whatever adult woman her historic catamenia living inwards his village, she wore a scarf together with a loose, light-material blouse to a higher identify a brown-patterned wrapper—but in that location was something else almost her that gave her away as someone who shouldn’t live nether a hot sun.
Perhaps a novel instructor of late transferred to the Girl’s College?
Ejike took a deep breath together with joined the middle-aged adult woman on the log.
***
Buy all consummate books past times Daniel Nkado on Okadabooks or Flip! Sumber http://www.dnbstories.com/