continued...
Cynthia
felt her knees shaking. She freed herself from the hug.
“I really have to go
now,” she said and turned to leave.
“My regards to Mabel
and your mum,” Chuka said as he watched her recede into the darkness, then he
took the food flask and went into his house.
Cynthia
got to the door of her house and stood for a while, calming herself down. When
she was sure she was calm enough, she opened the door and went in. Mabel, who
just had a bath, came out to the sitting room. Her mother was sitting on the couch
listening to a radio program.
“You stayed too long,”
her mother said to her.
“We were talking,”
Cynthia said.
“I know you were
talking because I was hearing your voices from here. But your talk took too
long.”
“You know he is
traveling tomorrow.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“I hope you did not
give him any parting gift?” Mabel teased her.
“For what na?”
Cynthia said laughing. “Am I high?”
“As a reward for all
his labours.”
“You are not
serious.”
“Is he traveling
finally?” her mother asked.
“No,” Cynthia
replied. “He will come back with his brother.”
“His parents in the
village may decide that he should stay with them for a while or ask him to go
stay with his elder sister,” Mabel said.
“But he will still
come here to take his things before going.”
“Even if…”
“Why are we even
talking about this sef? He can go
wherever he wants na.”
“You are forming
iron lady now abi. Continue.”
They
laughed. Their mother tuned to another radio station.
“Every time, you and
radio,” Cynthia said, checking the notifications on her phone.
“What else should I
do?” her mother asked, laughing. “I don’t have your type of phones to keep me
busy.”
“What will you do
with it if you get it?”
“I will find out
what it is you people do that makes you always press phone.”
“We will have to put
on the generator tomorrow if this power outage continues,” Mabel said. “At
least we can be watching TV.”
“Yes we will. It is
very important.”
“As long as I am not
drawing the generator,” Cynthia said.
“And your helper
would have traveled by then.”
Cynthia
giggled.
“I am still feeling
hungry,” their mother said.
“Should I put
another plate of food for you?” Mabel asked her.
“No. The one in the
pot is for tomorrow.”
Mabel
told her mother all the things Ejike got for her and asked her whether she
wanted any one. Her mother asked for the bread and Mabel told Cynthia to get it
for her. Cynthia got it and also came out with her medicine and balm. She gave
her mother the bread.
“Who will massage
me?” she asked, holding up the balm.
“You know I need
rest,” Mabel said. “This dizziness…”
“You know I just
finished cooking,” her mother said. “This my waist…”
“Ok o,” Cynthia
said, laughing. “You are now giving excuses abi.”
“Is the back paining
you badly?” her mother asked.
“Not really. I just
need the massage so I will feel better.”
“Can you take your
pain reliever and manage till tomorrow?” Mabel asked her. “I will massage you
myself.”
“Ok.”
Cynthia
took her tablets. Their mother took the number of slices of bread she wanted
and gave the remaining loaf to Cynthia to keep. Cynthia did and came back to
the parlour. She surfed the internet with her phone. Mabel did the same while
their mother just listened to radio. They talked about whatever topic any of
them brought up. When there was nothing else for them to do or talk about, they
said their prayers and went to bed.
The
following morning, they were woken up by a knock on the door. Their mother
answered the door. It was Chuka, holding the food flask.
“Good morning ma,”
he greeted.
“Morning,” she
replied. “How are you?”
“I am fine ma.”
He
handed over the food flask to her.
“I came to return the food flask,” he said.
“Thank you so much for taking care of me yesterday.”
“You are welcome.
You are like a son to me.”
“Son-in-law. I claim
it.”
“I did not say that
o. It is not in my power at all.”
Chuka
laughed.
“I am going to the
village now ma,” he said.
“Is it not too early
to leave?”
“No ma. My village
is a bit far, and there are some people my brother wants me to meet before they
leave the village.”
“Ok.”
“Is Cynthia awake?”
“Not yet.”
“OK. When she wakes,
tell her I checked on her.”
“Ok. I will.”
“I will call her on
phone when I get to the village.”
“Are you not coming
back here again?”
“I should but it
depends on what my parents decide. I really need something doing.”
“You have people who
can help you; I wonder why they are not.”
“It’s well ma. Let
me be going.”
“Ok my dear. Take
good care of yourself ok.”
“I will.”
“Don’t fight o.”
“I will not,” Chuka
said, laughing.
He turned
and left with his mini travelling bag. Cynthia’s mother stood and watched him
go. When he got to the gate, she turned and went back inside. She met Cynthia
peeping from the window, with sadness written on her face.
...to be continued
Nedu Isaac
If you want to start from the beginning, click here
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