The ladies left. Coker locked the car and went to the bar.
“I don’t know why
men like pretending,” Coker’s fiancée said as they walked into the market.
“How do you mean?”
Mabel asked her.
“Other days, he
follows me anywhere I go o. All these things I was jokingly asking him to do, he
does them and even more.”
“He is not the type
that shows affection publicly, especially when my sister and I are with you
guys.”
“Very true, but he
should show it na, no matter who is around.”
“Give him time.”
“Well, I love him
anyhow.”
“He is a nice
person. Don’t miss him.”
“Am I high? I can’t
do that.”
They
bought the things they wanted as they went. They did not waste time. In about 40
minutes they were done, and they returned to where Coker parked his car. He was
still in the bar.
“How do we get
Coker?” Coker’s fiancée asked, looking around. “I don’t want to go into any
bar.”
“Call him on phone,”
Mabel suggested.
Coker’s
fiancée dialed his line twice. It rang but he did not pick.
“Why is he not
picking his call na?” she asked, a bit worried.
“Let us go there and
check,” Cynthia said.
They
went to the bar. As they got close to the entrance door, they heard the voice
of men engaged in a heated discussion. They looked around cautiously and went
in. They saw Coker among those seriously engaged in the argument. They beckoned
on him. When he saw them, he left the midst of the men and went to them.
“You be chairman o.” one man said when he
got to them. “Only you carry three
chicks.”
“Guy, chop clean mouth o,” another man
said, laughing.
“All of them na the same o,” another
said. “No mumu yourself.”
“Waka,” Coker said, showing them five fingers.
His
fiancée pulled him by the hand and they left the bar. He was really fuming.
“Bunch of idiots,”
he said and spat.
“Baby what
happened?” his fiancée asked him, holding his elbow and dragging him away from
the bar.
“Let’s get to the
car first,” Mabel suggested.
“Some people are
just daft in thinking,” Coker said when they got to the car.
He
opened the car and they got in.
“Tell me what
happened,” his fiancée asked again.
“We were arguing,”
Coker replied.
“I saw that. What
kind of argument made you want to fight?”
“Most of them said
all women are worthless, that they are gold-diggers, good for ‘hit and run’. I
tried to tell them that not all women were like that. They were insistent and
said all manner of foul things against women. It was highly embarrassing.”
“How did you leave
the football you were watching to talk about women matter?”
“The camera captured
a couple in the stands. That was when the argument started. Like play like
play, it escalated.”
“Thank God we came
on time o,” Mabel said.
“Seriously,” Coker
agreed. “We would have exchanged blows o.”
“Aaww, you wanted to
fight to defend me,” his fiancée said.
“Yes baby. I can’t
stand hearing such things against women.”
His
fiancée used her thumb to clean the sweat from his brow. Then she kissed him.
“Stop that!” Cynthia
said. “Unless you want me to kiss him after you. Don’t whet my appetite o.”
They
laughed.
“Sorry o,” Coker’s
fiancée said and turned to Coker. “Baby hope you are feeling better now?”
“Yes darling. You
are my medicine.”
He stroke
her hair and she gave him a babyish look.
“Kai!” Mabel said,
laughing. “Can you stop that please? Do it in your privacy na. You are
reminding me things I am trying to forget.”
They
laughed.
“Ok o,” Coker said
and turned on the ignition.
“But seriously, you
are calm now abi?” Mabel asked him.
“I am calm. The
argument didn’t take me to my temper point. Thanks to your interruption.”
“You know what you
know and they know what they know,” his fiancée said. “Simple.”
“True. No one can
impose his opinion on others.”
“Exactly.”
Coker
looked at Mabel through the rear view mirror and asked, “To where from here?”
“My mother’s house,”
Mabel replied.
“When do you plan
moving back to your house?”
“Next week.”
“What about what you
promised Mama Risi?” Cynthia whispered to Mabel.
“It is true!” Mabel
exclaimed.
“What is that?”
Coker asked her.
“I need to use an
ATM and then get to my house before going to my mother’s place.”
“That’s a very long
journey o. If I get to your house, going to your mum’s place will be a drag
because of the hold up on that route.”
“You don’t need to
carry me and my sister everywhere. You are not our driver na.”
“I have started it
and wouldn’t mind finishing it.” He turned to his fiancée and asked, “Babes
what time are we meant to go see your uncle?”
She
checked her time piece.
“In about 30 minutes
time,” she said.
“It will not work,”
he said.
“What will not
work?” his fiancée asked, opening her eye wide.
“I mean taking Mabel
everywhere. We need to be in your uncle’s place earlier than the appointed
time.”
“Let’s get going
na,” Cynthia said. “As we stay here talking, time is going.”
“To an ATM first
abi?” Coker asked.
“Yes o. From there
we can find our way.”
Coker
drove off. When they got to a bank, Mabel withdrew the money she had promised
to give Mama Risi and some extra for keeps. Then Coker drove to her house.
“It is almost time
for your appointment,” Mabel said. “We can take it from here.”
“Ok,” Coker said.
“Thanks a lot for
everything.”
“We just made out
today to cheer you up,” Coker’s fiancée said.
“Thanks darling,”
Mabel said and gave her a peck.
“Ohhhm your lipstick is now on my face,” she
said, laughing.
“Clean it na.”
“Do you know how
many layers of makeup she is wearing?” Coker said laughing. “Cleaning it is
like starting afresh.”
“Silly you,” his
fiancée said and pinched him.
Mabel
and Cynthia alighted with their handbags and their market bag.
“Keep me updated if
Segun or Kemi makes any move,” Coker said.
“I will,” Mabel
said.
“Don’t let anything
bother you ok,” his fiancée said.
“I am fine, don’t
worry about me.”
Coker
drove out as they waved. When the car was out of sight, Mabel and Cynthia went
into the compound.
“Coker is a nice
person o,” Cynthia said.
“Very nice person,”
Mabel agreed.
They
climbed the staircase. When they got to Mama Risi’s door, they met her coming
out. They greeted her.
“You are welcome,”
she answered, smiling.
“How are the kids?”
Mabel asked.
“They are fine.”
“Give me the key,
let me go in,” Cynthia said.
Mabel
searched her hand bag and gave her the keys. Cynthia took the market bag from her
and went upstairs.
“Let me give you the
money for Risi’s fees now,” Mabel said to Mama Risi and searched her bag.
“Eiyaa,” Mama Risi
said. “I hope it did not stress you.”
“She has to go back
to school.”
“I will pay back as
soon as I can.”
“It is not necessary
at all.”
Mabel
got the money, counted it and then handed it over to Mama Risi.
“Thank you so much,”
Mama Risi said. “God will reward you bountifully.”
“Amen ma. Let me go
upstairs.”
“Ok my dear. Are you
back fully?”
“No. I will go back
to my mother’s place in few minutes time.”
“When will you come
back fully?”
“By next week.”
“Ok.”
Mabel
went upstairs while Mama Risi went back inside, clutching the money and smiling.
When she got to her apartment, Mabel met
Cynthia struggling to open the door.
(...to be continued)
