AKWAUGO
PART 12 -15
Two weeks after that visit, in the dead of the night, Chiamaka went into labour. They couldn’t reach the taxi driver that usually takes them into town so mother rushed out that night to call a midwife who lived a little distance from our house. She went herself so she could get the woman to come with her immediately. Father, Obinna and Ikenna stayed with Chiamaka praying as they waited for mother. Chiamaka managed her pain to an extent as she didn’t scream while the contraction came but the men could see her countenance changed when it came.
Chiamaka shared the details of that night with me. It was a night she would never forget. The midwife arrived with her nurse bag to the house with mother. She asked mother to use a new pot or a clean kettle to boil water for the delivery. Mother brou-ght out a new blanket and several towels. She was prepared for this eventuality. A birthing station was prepared on the floor of my room. The contractions were getting closer. The midwife refused to check her in order not to introduce any infection. She went to take her bath while mother stayed with Chiamaka. She came in and changed into new cloth. She checked Chiamaka when she noticed the contractions were very close together and she was now unable to bear the pain in silence anymore. She was ready. Chiamaka was delivered of a bouncing baby boy at 3:35am.
Auntie Nneoma knocked on my door and announced to me that Chiamaka had given birth. I was up and ready to leave for the village by 5am the next morning. I was ready to skip school for the week to see her and her baby. I spoke with her on the phone and she sounded very tired. She was in labour for five hours. Mother said it was short labour for a first-timer.
Before 8:00am, we were in the village. I rushed into the room and there they were, Chiamaka and her son. The room had been turned to a nursery. The baby cot was set up by Obinna and Ikenna. The baby cu-pboard and bath were also in the room. Auntie Nneoma insisted on taking her to the hospital in Abakiliki for a check-up. She went with Chiamaka and mother while I waited at home to watch the pepper soup that was on fire. They came back in less than three hours and they were certified in good health. Chiamaka took some pepper soup with a little pounded yam and slept. Mother advised the baby should be bottled fed more often if we wanted Chiamaka to go to school. Auntie Nneoma agreed.
All this while we had not really looked at the baby. Auntie Nneoma seemed to dread looking at him but we knew we had no choice; soon we will look at the baby. I had to keep my things in the guest room with auntie Nneoma although I slept with Chiamaka. For that day, only mother was allowed to touch the baby. Chiamaka nee-ded her rest.
Father called auntie Nneoma into his room and they had a long hearty discussion. When auntie Nneoma came out, her eyes were very red. I tried to find out what the problem was but I couldn’t ask father or mother. I just observed. Chiamaka’s mother promised to come over her that weekend.
By the third day, Chiamaka was stronger. She could eat well and also express milk. The baby was bottle-fed with her br£-$t milk as one of the things auntie Nneoma graciously bought was a br£-$t pump which worked effectively. Chiamaka was glad mother was caring for the child. She ha-rdly held her baby or cared. There was something wrong. Mother didn’t allow us to carry the baby. She insisted the baby nee-ded to be a week old before we could.
When Chiamaka’s mother visited, I un-derstood why Chiamaka was acting the way she was. Her mother insisted on carrying the baby. When she did, I had the opportunity of seeing the baby. He gave a smile and then I knew what we had always suspected happened; he had dimples. Amanze could not deny being the father of this child.
I looked at Chiamaka and said, “he has dimples just like his father”
“I wish he didn’t” Chiamaka replied.
“He is the father; he can’t deny it”
“What does it change for me? At seventeen I have a child out of wedlock. What does that say of me?”
We didn’t know auntie Nneoma was at the door until she spoke saying, “You chose to take responsibilities for your action and not hide your sin by ab-orting the pregnancy. Chiamaka, I respect and admire you. I have wronged you and I seek your forgiveness. Like my brother said, I wouldn’t want you to marry Amanze, not because you are not good enough but because he is irresponsible and will only ruin your life. Please Chiamaka, don’t look down on yourself and your very handsome son. I am here to support you; we all are here to support you. The only thing you will promise me is that you won’t make this same mistake again”
Chiamaka burst into tears as auntie Nneoma gathered her in her arms. It was a touching moment; a moment of reconciliation. Chiamaka had made peace with her son’s grandmother. We were all happy.
Chiamaka chose to stay with my family in the village for ‘omugwo’. Mother took very good care of her and the midwife came to check on them regularly. Mummy made sure Chiamaka did not add weight while caring for her baby. We visited often and we were all happy. Chiamaka named her son Kosisochi meaning as it pleased God. Everyone loved the name. Father gave him a Christian name, he called him Paul.
Chiamaka gained admission into the university. She left her son with mother and visited every month to check on him. She was a responsible mother to the amazement of everyone. Auntie Nneoma was also a regular visitor. Kosi was growing fast and was loved by all around him.
Amanze was informed about Chiamaka’s delivery. He didn’t come home; he didn’t call or show any interest. During the strike, he didn’t come back home but went to be with his brother in Kaduna until the strike was over. He thought it was business as usual.
When he didn’t get his monthly allowance and he couldn’t reach his parents on their lines. He was worried. With no other option, he came back home.
“Is it hunger that brou-ght you back?” auntie Nneoma asked him when he came in.
“What’s going on mum? Why have you forsaken me?”
“Were you informed that you have a son?”
“That child isn’t mine. I didn’t have unprotected s-× with her”
“Are you sure?”
Amanze was confused. What had happened to his mother that she was so cold. “I am sure mum”
“Ok. Are you hungry? Wait for me in the parlour”
As he entered the sitting room, he was shocked. His baby picture and the picture of a new baby were placed side by side. The two pictures looked like the same person. He was confused. He came back to his mother in the kitchen. Before he could ask, she asked him,
“Are you sure you didn’t have unprotected s-× with her?”
“How is it possible?” he asked confused.
“There is no nee-d for DNA; he is your son. He is your carbon copy. Are you still denying? Are you ready to tell me the truth? If you still insist you didn’t have unprotected s-× then if we do a DNA and you are the father, we will remove the cost of the DNA test from your school fees”
Amanze was sober. I was eavesdropping on this conversation; there was no way I would miss this. Auntie Nneoma was being a real mother for the first time. She didn’t smile; she had on a straight face. It was interesting to watch.
“The condom may have broken”
“May have? And you continued? Why didn’t you stop and change it?”
“I was carried away; I didn’t believe she would get pregnant”
“Was that what happened with others? I know you gave one pill to ab-ort, was it the same story?”
Amanze didn’t expect this line of interrogation when he came home. He felt uncomfortable discussing such with his mother. She was indifferent. It was time to set things straight with her son.
“You are a father now and you will behave like a responsible father. We will be going to see your baby tomorrow. Your allowance will be divided into two, half will go to providing for your baby. Unfortunately, you cannot travel for your Masters’, who will take care of your responsibility if you leave? When your father comes back, we are going to apologise to Chiamaka’s family”
‘What are you talking about mum? What’s all this? Because a girl had a baby for me, I have to forfeit so much?”
“It is an honour, a thing of pride for you to put a girl in the family way. Why did you deny her if you were proud of what you did? Look, if you decide not to follow my instructions, I don’t have a problem with that, I will just disown you and use your son as replacement. You are not ashamed. You impregnated three girls. I taught you to use a condom so you do not get anyone pregnant or catch a deadly disease but flesh to flesh was hungrying you. The six weeks you stayed here you wreaked havoc. I will not argue with you. If I am ready to leave for Umuoji by 7:00am tomorrow morning and you are not by the car, count yourself out of my family. Any of your brothers that decide to help you will follow suit. I have no time for nonsense”
Amanze looked completely defeated. He stood there looking at his mother. He must have thought her behaviour very strange. She completely ignored him and continued cooking. He left for his room. When food was ready, auntie Nneoma called uncle Chike to take the food to Amanze. “Tell him this is all I owe him for the meantime”
The next morning, we got ready to travel. Auntie Nneoma was out to leave at 7:00 am. She didn’t send anyone to call Amanze. As she was about to climb into the car, Amanze came out. He had on a pair of navy blue jeans which laid below his wai-st in a sagging manner, a white designer crested singlet and a shirt. He looked very cool and smelt nice. Even with all the issues on the ground, Amanze was still dressing to impress. Who was he going to impress in the village? Was it father or mother or the baby?
There was no conversation in the car on the way to the village. Amaze concentrated on his phone while I read my books. Auntie Nneoma prayed her rosary.
We got to the village in record time. We were welcomed. Amanze entered the house still feeling very cool with himself. Auntie Nneoma went inside. She was there for a while. I was in the kitchen with mother, I had to give her the latest gist. Next thing I heard was,
“Hey hold him. I can’t hold him. Why are you giving him to me?”
“Because you are his father. It is time to meet your son and be responsible for him”
“What are you talking about? I don’t know how to care for a baby”
“The same with Chiamaka but she had to learn. She didn’t know how to have a baby, she had to have the baby. She didn’t know how to care for a baby, she has learnt. You will learn too. We are going back with the baby. You will stay back for a month and care for your child. You will wake up, feed him, change his diapers, bath him and generally take care of him”
“Please mum hold him, I am wearing a white designer inner, I can’t afford to get it stained by the baby”
“By the baby? Did you just say by the baby? Whose baby is he? I asked you a question, whose baby is he?”
“He is mine. He is my child. I get it. I’ve learnt my lesson. Can we end this now?”
Father responded, “It never ends son. You have to step up and be a father. You can’t even deny the child. So, who do you want to hand over the responsibility of your actions? Did you have s-× with the mother? Did you have unprotected s-× with her? When you were informed she was pregnant how did you handle it? Did you deny being responsible? Now you have found out you are the father, what have you done? You came here to see your child dressed to kill. You wore boots to visit your son. My dear boy, you have acted irresponsibly. Now hold your son and get to know him. You are in your third year while his mother is about to start her first year. Both of you are in school. So, for this holiday, the baby will be with you. You will tend to him. the long holiday, it will be shared between both of you. You are a man now. Having a son is supposed to make you a man”
Amanze sat down holding his son in his hands. His son was almost three months when he saw him. When baby Kosi cried out, Amanze was given a bib and bottle to feed his son. He went throu-ghtraining that day. He had planned to stroll throu-ghthe village as he was around but he was told he had to stroll with his baby. Anywhere he went he was to go with his baby. It was tiring and annoying.
When the baby pooed, he wanted to give the baby back to his mother but she refused and directed him into the room to change him. That was where he saw Chiamaka. She was crying. Amanze appealed to her to help him. She changed the diaper and he stayed back for them to talk. Amanze for the first time without prompting apologized to Chiamaka. They had a long discussion which I wasn’t privy to. We allowed them to be. They were in the room together for almost three hours. They ate there too.
Auntie Nneoma was worried they could be inti-mate again being left alone but father said to her, “Not the Chiamaka inside there. She will never allow”.
It was true. Chiamaka was a whole new person. She looked better than when she got pregnant because she was eating quality food rich in essential vitamins and minerals. She ate mostly fruits and vegetables. Mother tied her tummy the old fashioned way and in less than two months, you wouldn’t believe she just had a baby. She was attrac-tive again and I un-derstood auntie Nneoma’s fear but Chiamaka could see a future for herself and her child. Why would she jeopardise it by having s-× again with the guy who got her pregnant and denied it? It would be stupid of her and such stupidity couldn’t be found in my home.
When it was time to leave, Amanze promised Chiamaka he would be back during the holiday to stay while she sorts out her registration. We were all astonished at his decision. He was beginning to take responsibility. This made auntie Nneoma very happy. I was too but I knew that bad habits die ha-rd.
There was a blowout in the house when Amanze wanted to return to school. He was given half of his allowance and asked to come back every weekend. He wasn’t having that. His father put his feet down. He didn’t believe all that ‘he had changed’ tale.
“Is it the first time? How many cases have we dealt with? Your son has a disease and it nee-ds to be cured. He nee-ds help. He has a son now so he nee-ds to live up to his responsibilities towards the child”
“I am not supporting him; don’t think I am. But just try him this time. He is in his final year, if he messes up, don’t give him a dime in for his second semester. Not even a kobo. I will support you then”
“I will give him the money but he must come back every weekend and tend to his son”
Amanze agreed to it. He was given his full allowance. He went back to school. We never heard from him until the break for the first semester. He came back home, packed his things and went to the village to stay there for the three weeks. Uncle Emma was upset with him but when he went by himself to Umuoji, he calmed down.
At Umuoji, mother told me he got along with everyone. He put his son in a stroller and went for walks with him. he seemed a proud father. I was not deceived. I worried Chiamaka would fall for his charm. Mother said Chiamaka will not; she has had a heart to heart conversation with her and made her realise that she is an easy target for Amanze right now. She should show her superiority by maintaining a healthy distance and discourage any form of inti-mate relationship he might recommend. She went the extra mile by teaching Chiamaka about Billings’ method which Catholics recommend for birth control.
Chiamaka didn’t nee-d much talking to as she found out what Amanze was up to. He went out with his son and he was able to hook up with some of the girls. They would come throu-ghthe back gate to his window. He would then meet them outside. Chiamaka saw him with a girl one night that was when she wrote him off. He had tried to get them to be close again since they had a child together but she told him s-× was off the table; she wasn’t ready to risk having another child. He promised to use protection which she told him failed them the last time. She wasn’t interested but didn’t want to tell him off.
He was with another girl un-der the tree where we sit one night at about 8pm. Mother went out to do something and saw them. She went there, dragged the girl all the way to her house creating a scene as the went along. It was the most embarras-sing scene the village had experienced. Mother was naturally a quiet person but when crossed she can be aggressive. She dragged her to her compound and called out her mother
“Your daughter came into my compound and was frolic-king with my husband’s nephew un-der the tree. Please, hold your daughter. If she gets pregnant, he will not marry her as he has already put someone else in the family way. He hasn’t married her and has no plans of doing so. I don’t know why our girls are not sharp. You see a boy with a baby and you don’t ask questions. He has a son and if he wishes to marry a girl right now, it will be her because she is in his clas-s”
“Agnes it is ok. I know we are poor and do not have clas-s so he will not marry her. It is not your fault she is the one I blame. She shouldn’t have come to your house”
“You cannot blame me. Teach your daughter to keep her body for her husband. If what she is doing is good why is she hiding in the dark to do it? She was un-der the tree with a boy that has a reputation at this time of the night. She did not knock on my door to greet but went to hide in darkness for a boy to play with her body. Tufiakwa! I don’t want to see your daughter near my house again or I will treat her like a thief”
“The boy in question has a case to answer. He is wayward and disrespectful but you are hiding that fact”
“Hiding? I am saving your daughter; he has nothing to lose. I am happy you mentioned the boy, not my sons. Have you seen my sons in a dark corner with any girl in this village? If you see them, they will be in my compound during the day not hiding from anyone. For now, it is only Chika that comes to see Obinna and I have met her mother and promised her my son will not disrespect her daughter. That is how it is done. Not a girl throwing herself at a boy. Let me tell you, if your daughter gets pregnant you will go to Enugu to sort the issue out. I have warned both of you”
Mother left them and came back home to face Amanze. He didn’t expect her reaction. She landed him a resounding slap while he was sitting with father in the sitting room. Amanze was too shocked to say a word.
“In your life don’t ever desecrate my compound. You have not come out of one mess you want to create another. You cannot stay at my house; your coming here was a cover so you can freely commit your atrocities. You can never change. I don’t want to ever see you in my house again; stay clear”
Father was unaware of what happened. He was shocked at his wife’s reaction. He called out to her, “Agnes, Agnes. Calm down. I have never seen you this angry before. What happened?”
“Your nephew was un-der the tree with Loveth’s daughter. Can you imagine? I saw them clearly. He was fondling her. How she entered the compound, I don’t know. But she came in and they met un-der the tree. We have not finished with one he is looking for how to create another. I don’t want him here again”
Her loud voice attra-cted Chiamaka’s attention. She heard everything. She thanked God she refused to agree to his advances. He must have planned to come here and have free access to s-× with her but her refusal made him go outside. Was he a pervert or what?
“Agnes, it is ok. Go inside. Everyone go to bed. I will sort everything out”
Amanze was still holding his cheek where mother slapped him. He was in shock at her reaction. He believed she would have ended everything with dragging the girl but coming for him was a first. His mother always puts the blame on the girls not him so he believed he was immune. Now his gentle auntie landed a heavy slap on his face which showed she wouldn’t tolerate his misbehaviour. He was surprised.
They all left the sitting room and went to bed. Father never told us what was discussed that night. He didn’t tell mother either. The next morning, Amanze laid on the floor to apologise to mother after prayers. He went to auntie Loveth’s house to apologise to her for disrespecting her daughter. Finally, he apologized to Chiamaka again for his actions. He stayed with them for two more weeks and he behaved himself. Mother and Chiamaka told me about the incident when I went to visit.
I un-derstood the change he had when he came back to Enugu. I couldn’t believe how he begged his parents for forgiveness. His mother cried when he prostrated to ask for forgiveness. Uncle Emma asked him what he planned to do about Chiamaka and his son.
“I don’t want to for-ce her into anything for now. Allow me to graduate and let her experience university. I will wait for her to get married first before I do. I will not be in the picture until she finishes university”
“That will be five years from now. What of your son?”
“I will be in his life. Once he is a year old, her mother would take him with her to Abuja. When he is three, then I will take him but his mother would have access to him. If you permit me to travel for my Master’s degree, then he stays with you until I come back”
“Have you discussed with her?”
“No, I discussed with her mother. We both agreed. she can’t make a decision on her own now”
“Why are you considering Chiamaka? What changed?” auntie Nneoma asked. She hadn’t said a word since he talked about Chiamaka.
“She is a different person. She is very responsible and takes very good care of her son. Uncle Michael asked me to observe her closely and I did. She has changed. She is focused and knows what she wants to achieve. She has her life mapped out mum; she knows where she will be in the next five years. She knows what she wants to graduate with. She sounds so much like Akwaugo. And most of all, she has owned her mistake and moved on. She sees her son as one sent to prepare the path to her greatness and I feel so too. I have been a terrible son to you but gradually, I will turn a new leaf. It won’t happen overnight but I will make a conscious effort to change”
“Well said,” I thought to myself but I believed it wouldn’t last. Amanze couldn’t stay without a woman. He was carried away by what father said to him at that time but I believed once he got back to school, he would go back. He proved me wrong.
Chiamaka called me. She asked if anything happened because Amanze was in Umuoji to visit from school. She also comes back from school at the end of every month to visit Kosi who was now six months old. They met there and he bonded with his son very well. She observed he spent time with father and as-sisted mother as much as he could.
“I hope you are not falling for him again?” I asked.
“No o! I am just telling you your cousin seems to have transformed”
“Don’t be deceived. Let us see how long it will last”
It lasted though. He spoke to me differently and never made those sleazy comments around me.
Christmas holiday Uncle Emma came to visit us in the village in the company of his wife and Amanze. He hadn’t seen the baby since he was born and there was a reason for that. As a titled man, his grandson should be brou-ght to him. But, he made an exception. He could see the positive changes in Amanze and he nee-ded to thank father himself.
Uncle Emma was a welcome in-law. Father’s cousins came to greet him. He was well respected by many. He ha-rdly came around and therefore was revered. Father told us, if you make yourself scarce, you will be better appreciated than when you are everywhere. This was uncle Emma.
Chiamaka presented Kosi to his grandfather. Tears dropped from uncle Emma eyes when he saw him; he was Amanze’s copy. He ki-ssed him and blessed him.
They wined and dined with us that day. It was a joyous occasion. Amanze confessed it was the slap from mother that reset his br@in. My mother is fond of Amanze because he charms her so for her to slap him like that, he knew he had crossed the line. We all laughed about it.
On Christmas day, Chiamaka was also visited by her mother and two brothers. She was so happy to see them. Mother made sure they were well entertained. Chiamaka’s mother couldn’t thank my parents enough for all they do for her daughter. She confessed she couldn’t even do half. She brou-ght the usual foodstuff and she bought diapers and milk for the baby with other essentials. Chiamaka cried when they were leaving but she was happy.
Later that evening, she brou-ght an envelope to father. she knelt down before him and said, “Father, my birth mother gave me this envelope to give to you. I have deprived mother of doing her business for so long that I feel so guilty. She takes care of Kosi as though she is his birth mother. You have shown me fatherly love that can’t be compared to another. Akwaugo, Obinna and Ikenna are like my siblings. They have never treated me with scorn or disdain. I wish you were my birth parents but unfortunately, we cannot choose where we are to be born. You have rejected all the as-sistance my mother has tried to render and it shows you are an honourable man but father, take this one. She is giving you from the bott-om of her heart. She is paying for the omugwo she couldn’t do for me and you did wholeheartedly. She wants to appreciate you for helping me discover myself. For helping Amanze become responsible. Both of you are good people. Please accept this as a little token of our overwhelming appreciation”
We were all quietly waiting for what father would say. He was also quiet but when I looked up, I saw tears in his eyes. I saw the same in my mother’s eyes. Being good came naturally to them so they couldn’t un-derstand all the gratitude being shown to them for doing the right thing. It took a while for them to speak.
“Chiamaka, we should be thanking you”
“Yes, you are right” mother chipped in.
“You listened to all we said and decided to imbibe them. Many girls do not listen and continue their lives. Then, they make the same mistake or commit a more grievous offence of murder. You have learnt from your mistake my child and no one can shame you. Tell your mother we do not nee-d financial gratification rather we would prefer you turn out right in the future and also show love to another who nee-ds it. Amanze’s father, my brother-in-law, has provided adequately for us. We are simple people and don’t nee-d much so we have a surplus which if we do not work for one year we can still survive. Why would I collect as-sistance from two places like a hungry person? If even no one had given me anything to take care of you, I would have. We would have managed with what we have. Give the money back to your mother; we are fine”
“Father, mother was paid some sum of money. She wants to give everything to you not because you lack but because she appreciates. I am in school. I sleep peacefully at night because I know my son is safe. When he goes to Abuja, I will have to call often because I know my mother would have to leave him with a nanny, but I agree; she has to play her part. I am not returning this money to her because I know you deserve it. Inside here is N1,000,000.00. Father, you and mother have N600,000. Obinna and Ikenna have N100,000 each. Ikenna, the money is to build the birdcage you talked about. I believe Obinna can help you with it. Obinna, that course you talked about in Port Harcourt, you have money to do it now. Akwaugo does not nee-d any money; we will just shop for her. The remaining N150,000 will be kept for emergencies. Father, we nee-d the money”
“What of you?” mother asked her.
“Your benefactor is my benefactor. I don’t nee-d anything. I am laying low in school. I flaunt the fact I have a child and I am not easy prey. So far so good”
“Give the boys their share and keep the rest”
“No father, give us our own and keep the rest”
Father collected the envelope. Gave Obinna and Ikenna theirs. Gave mother N50,000 for me and then kept the rest aside. He turned to Chiamaka, “I am proud of you my child. I will speak with your mother this night to appreciate her. We really don’t nee-d this money. I will buy a plot of land from it for Kosi so he would have roots here”.
Chiamaka became emotional. Father never stopped giving. He wanted Kosi never to forget where it all started. I was very happy at father’s decision and proud too.
New Year’s eve, there was a goat tied to our frontage with other items. We didn’t know who our benefactor was but we were very grateful and prayed for the person. We attended midnight mas-s. I had bought packs of banger from Enugu and shared to friends. After mas-s, mother carried Kosi home with her and left us to have fun. We threw banger and everyone dispersed. It turned to competition with the next village. It was fun. Chika was with us as we played, so were some of my friends.
As we walked home after the entire experience, a car stopped beside us. My brothers were far behind us so couldn’t see what was happening. Two guys came down from the car. One of them called out “Excuse me”
We continued walking because we don’t talk to strangers especially not at that time of the night. They walked up to us. We were in a small group so we weren’t scared but we didn’t see why we should talk to them. They persisted until we answered. One of them pointed to me and said
“Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Me?” I asked quite shocked. Guys don’t normally talk to me.
“Yes, please. Just spare me a minute of your time”
Chiamaka nudged me to go ahead. I moved to the side but closer to the group in case they were kidnappers or he tried anything funny.
“Don’t be scared; I don’t bite. I am also not dangerous. My name is Emeka and I am from Umuejika. I saw you during the mas-s and you caught my attention. What’s your name?’
“Akwaugo” I replied.
“I like you Akwaugo and I will like to get to know you better. My cousin is from your village. Can you describe your place so I can visit?”
“I don’t think it is a good idea. I don’t know what your intentions are but if they were good, you wouldn’t stop me on the road, in the middle of the night and talk to me in the presence of others. It doesn’t speak well of me and my upbringing. The right thing to do is to find out who I am and then come and see my family; that is if your intention is good”
“You are a smart girl! I love you already. Fine, we will do it the way you like. Can I drop you off at home?”
“Well, there are nine of us here, my brothers and his group are coming too and I think they are about thirteen. Can we fit into your car?”
“I get the message loud and clear. I will see you soon. Paulo lets go”
As they drove past us, Emeka slowed down, smiled at me and drove off. After they had left, all hell was let loose.
“Akwaugo, why did you answer him like that? Don’t you know him?”
“I don’t but even if I did how was I to answer him?” I asked.
“He wanted to talk to you, you should have agreed on a date”
“Why? He will take me out without my parents’ consent? Why would I want to do that?”
“But Chiamaka will know and cover for you”
Chiamaka immediately replied, “Don’t drag me into this. If you go out to meet a man without father and mother’s consent, you might end up like me. There will be two Kosis in the house. I liked your response. If I had said same to Amanze, would I have a son now? But, then I won’t have such a lovely family too. I count my blessings and move on. Follow your heart”
Others wondered why it was only I the man saw to talk to. Many girls from the city came back to show off. Mother loved me dressing nicely but she refused me wearing anything too revealing. That night, I had on a blue knee-length wrap dress with white birds on it. It had three-quarter sleeves. I wore a pair of maroon Greek sandals and I carried a maroon bag with contained my banger, missal, offering and other feminine things I might nee-d. I was covered although the dress was lovely. I had my hair br@ided pick and drop with a special attachment at Auntie Nneoma’s salon. I don’t wear makeup. So, what could have attra-cted him?
I became conscious of myself after the encounter. I took my bath and looked at myself in the mirror. I was tall; Obinna and I were competing with our heights. I wasn’t 6 feet but I was tall. I had long slim legs and small hips. The only thing on my body which grew within the last year was my br£-$ts. I changed my br@ every three months. It wasn’t extra large but it was large for my small frame. I looked like my father save for the nose. Luckily, I dodged their wide nose and had my mother’s almost pointed one. I wasn’t fair and I wasn’t dark, I was in-between. I didn’t think I was beautiful. My family never discussed physical beauty because it was vain. We talked more of character, positive interaction and being Christlike.
Chiamaka observed me looking at myself in the mirror. She smiled at me from behind and said, “Hello that guy said to you has turned your head. See how you are looking at yourself in the mirror”
“I was wondering why he spoke to me when you were there. Look at you, you are very beautiful with a lovely shape even after one but he talked to me; why?”
“Because girl you emit more than beauty. You are smart and bold. You walk confidently and always have a ready answer which will make people think. You do not look corrupt; you look innocent. It’s not just beauty sister; you have far more than that”
“I thought guys were only interested in beautiful and clas-sy girls. That’s what I see in Enugu. I don’t allow anyone to approach me though but this calibre has never tried to approach me before”
“I know. Enugu spoilt boys go for girls they can display for their friends who will hail them. I was once that stupid. Don’t mind those ones. Go to university, you might meet someone who will love and appreciate you while there and you will grow together”
“That won’t be bad. Is that what you intend to do?”
“No, I want much more”
We didn’t go further that night as we prepared for bed. I didn’t know why I kept thinking of Emeka. Although I didn’t like his manner of approach he was also polite and didn’t try to embarras-s me by insisting. I let it go. It was a new year.
We woke up to the aroma of delicious soup mother had cooked all by herself. We knew we had some work to do ourselves that day as we couldn’t leave mother to do everything. We took our bath and dressed up for our house chores. I wore jeans shorts and a tank top and tied a scarf stylishly on my head. Chiamaka wore her exercise ti-ght and T-shirt with a hairnet on her head as she fixed weave on her hair. Ikenna killed the two chickens he gave us from his poultry so we de-feathered it, and made stew with them in case visitors came. We boiled rice and kept in a cooler.
As we were rounding up in the kitchen, father called me. I came out to answer him. I stopped in my tracks when I saw the people with him in the sitting room. Father beckoned to me to come forward and I did.
“Is this my daughter you were talking about?” father asked them.
“Yes, sir. Akwaugo”
“Good afternoon” I greeted. I never expected them to come. And I was in such a mess. Why did father call me out when I looked unkempt?
“Akwaugo, you can go back. I just wanted to be sure he was talking about you, not Chiamaka. Tell your mother we have guests; that aroma is tantalizing us” they all laughed as I went back into the kitchen. I pulled Chiamaka aside and told her the guests we had in the sitting room.
“The guy means business. He is genuinely interested in you. And you went out like this. Let’s help mother serve food and then we will shower and get properly dressed. We can even go out and he will find us”
We did as Chiamaka said. We served the food, took our bath and took Kosi for a walk. I wore a pair of jeans trousers and a spaghetti flowery top. The weather was hot in the afternoon. Chiamaka wore a short cotton dress. We enjoyed our stroll to visit our cousins and friends close by. When we got tired, we came back home, he was still there. Obinna and Ikenna joined father in the sitting room and they were discussing. Why were they so comfortable with this guy?
“You are back? Emeka said he would like to have a word with you. He asked my permission respectfully and I don’t have a choice but to agree. You can go un-der the tree outside; it is comfortable and you would have your privacy” I couldn’t believe I heard that from father. He agreed I talk to a guy privately. Emeka had charmed him surely.
I went with Emeka. The first thing he said was, “You smell nice. What’s the name of your perfume?”
“Intuition”
“I came back with some designer perfumes. I could bring one for you”
I didn’t respond. What exactly did he want? He hadn’t said anything.
“I told you my name yesterday. Emeka is my name. I don’t live in Nigeria, I live in Spain. I work with an oil company there. I come home at least twice a year to visit my family. Like I said yesterday, I saw you and was smitten. I knew I had to talk to you. Tell me about yourself”
I was quiet for a while trying to un-derstand what he was actually saying before I replied. “You know my name. I am the last child and only daughter of parents. I have elder brothers; you’ve met them. I am in a secondary school in Enugu. I live with my aunt and her family there. I only come back home during the long holidays and the Christmas holiday”
“I knew you were not a village girl. The way you walked and talked set you apart. The lady with a child, is she your sister?”
“She’s my adopted sister”
“That is nice. What clas-s are you in?”
“I am in SS 3”
“What do you intend to study?”
“Medicine”
“Wow, that’s interesting. If you can study Medicine here and pas-s the certification exams in Europe, you will be very well paid”
“I’m aware”
“You are rounding up this year?”
“Yes. Hope to enter the university next year”
“How old are you?” I was reluctant to answer. “Don’t be shy. I will be twenty-eight this year. It’s that simple. So, tell me your age”
“I will be eighteen”
“You are young, bright and beautiful. I am interested in having a R0m-ntic relationship with you which hopefully will lead to marriage. I will be travelling back in the third week of January. I will love to take you out while I am still here. Would you give me the honour?”
“I think you should be asking my father that”
“So, you only do what parents approve of”
“Yes”
“I will ask your father. You can come with a chaperone. I won’t do what you don’t want me to do” he replied with a sneaky smile on his face.
I looked at Emeka. He was dashing. He was what the R0m-ntic novels called TDH which stand for tall, dark and handsome. He was built but not too wide. He had swag. His clothes were on point. He looked clean; his hair was skin, no jewellery or accessories, smelt nice; very nice, wore clothes that looked expensive. He had a square chin, tiny well-carved moustache and sideburns.
He looked at me smiling even more. His smile seemed so genuine and it was disarming. I was falling for him. I didn’t know why he struck a chord in me but he did.
He came into the house and made the proposal to father about taking me out with chaperone. Father asked me if it was ok. I wondered why he asked me but I replied, “Whatever you say, father”.
“You can take her out but I don’t want you loitering around the village and don’t bring her back late. I know your father; I know your family. This is why I gave you audience. Your father is a good man; a godly man. I expect his son to follow in his footsteps. I will call him and let him know you visited. He will be offended if he hears it from another”
Emeka was surprised but I wasn’t. He received the audience he did because of his father not because he was comfortable or handsome or because of his intentions. Far from it.