Mabel’s heart skipped a beat.
“Are you
serious?” Mabel asked.
“No o,” Mama
Risi said, laughing. “I was just pulling your legs. They don’t say anything
about you except the one you already know.”
“That I
don’t have time for anybody?”
“Yes.”
“Ok oo. I
like my life like that.”
In few minutes, Mabel was done.
Mama Risi thanked them and took her leave. Mabel closed the door behind her and
came back to the bed.
“Let’s
continue with the devotion,” Cynthia said and started a song.
They did not spend much time in
their devotion. Their mother had so drilled it into them that they always did
it, no matter how brief. From an early age, they were taught that ‘a family
that prays together stays together’. When they were done, Mabel went into the
bathroom to brush and clean up.
“Will you
still follow me?” She asked Cynthia, laughing.
“Go joor,”
Cynthia said, laughing too.
Mabel went in but did not lock the
door behind her. “What is the time now?”
“Five
minutes past 7,” Cynthia answered.
“What time
are you going to church?”
“Whenever I
finish bathing and eating.”
“Ok. Do you
have what to wear to church?”
“No o. I
will wear one of your own.”
“Most of my
clothes are dirty o. But check sha.”
“Ok.”
Cynthia checked her wardrobe. They
were almost the same size so Mabel’s cloths fit her well.
“I did not
see any clean church cloth o,” Cynthia told Mabel after looking through the wardrobe.
“What about
the blue trouser suit?”
“I don’t
have what to wear it with.”
“I do. Just
check for the shoe and bag.”
“I don’t
think I have strength for trouser suit. I will just go home and wear my own
cloth.”
“Ok.”
Mabel’s phone started blinking.
“Mabel,
your phone,” Cynthia said.
“A call?”
“Yes.”
“Check who
is calling.”
She checked and told Mabel, “It is
Glory.”
“Glory this
early morning?” Mabel said. “Is she planning to come here this early?”
“Speak with
her first.”
The
phone rang and cut.
“If she
calls again,” Mabel said. “Answer and know why she is calling. I can’t come out
from the bathroom now.”
“Ok. Should
I remove your phone from ‘silent mode’?”
“No o.
Leave it.”
Glory
called again and Cynthia answered the call. She spoke briefly and hung up.
“What did
she say?” Mabel asked Cynthia, coming out of the bathroom.
“She said
she will come and see you on her way to church this morning.”
“Ok.”
“You are
still not in the mood to see your friends, right” Cynthia said.
“No I am
not. I am trying to forget what happened. I don’t want constant reminders.”
“But you know
you can’t avoid them.”
“I know.”
Cynthia
went into the bathroom.
“Did you
come with your toothbrush?” Mabel asked her.
“No.”
“Go and buy
one then.”
“Don’t
worry. I will just rinse my mouth with salt and water. I will brush when I get
to the house.”
“Ok.”
Cynthia
took her bath with Mabel’s stuff. When she was done, she went into the kitchen
to make breakfast.
“What will
you like to eat?” she asked Mabel.
“Akara and pap.”
“Do I look
like someone that fries akara?”
Cynthia asked, laughing. “Tell me you don’t want to eat anything this morning.”
“That’s the
only thing I feel like taking now,” Mabel said laughing also.
“So where
do I buy it?”
“Do you
know Emily that her mother sells fries?”
“At the
junction?”
“Yes. You
can buy from her.”
“So you
want me to leave you alone here?”
Mabel
burst into laughter.
“You still
think I will kill myself?” she said. “Go and buy the akara and akamu joor.”
Mabel
gave her some money and she left. Mabel lay back on the bed and surfed the
internet. Few minutes later, Cynthia was back.
“So soon?”
Mabel asked her, looking surprised. “Did you run?”
“No oo.”
“Then why
are you sweating and panting?”
“I am not.”
“At least
you walked fast.”
Cynthia
smiled.
“You will
bath again,” Mabel said.
“When I get
to the house, I will.”
Cynthia
fixed breakfast for both of them.
“Have you
made up your mind to come to church?” Cynthia asked when they were done.
“No. I am
not in the mood for that.”
“But church
is where you need to be now.”
“I know. But
I will prefer to stay indoors today. I don’t want to see any man that will
remind me of Segun.”
“Okay if
you say so. Mummy will wonder why you did not come sha.”
“Tell her I
am busy.”
“That’s not
good enough.”
“Okay, tell
her that the cough is still disturbing me.”
“That’s
better.”
“When I see
her in the evening, I will explain everything to her.”
“Ok.”
There was a knock on the door.
“That
should be Glory,” Mabel said. “Help me check.”
Cynthia
opened the door and saw Glory standing with two other ladies; Miriam and Oge,
all friends of Mabel. She welcomed them, and stepped aside to let them in.
“Oh Mabel
love,” Glory said and hugged Mabel.
The
others did the same.
“How are
you?” they asked her.
“I am fine,”
Mabel replied, stretching the bed sheet for them to sit on the bed. They sat.
“I can see
that Cynthia has been taking care of you.”
“Yes o. What
would I have done without her?”
Miriam
wanted to start talking about the incident but Glory hushed her.
“Don’t you
see that she is still hurting?”
“Oh,
sorry,” Miriam said.
“No, it’s
okay,” Mabel said. “The earlier I deal with it and let the pain out, the better
for me. I can’t keep dodging it.”
“Yes,” Oge
said. “but you must not talk about it now. The wound is still fresh.”
Mabel’s
countenance changed. Tears rolled down her cheek.
“You see
what I was trying to avoid,” Glory said and eyed Miriam.
“My bad,”
Miriam said and pat Mabel’s back.
“It’s
okay,” Mabel said.
Cynthia
just stood, leaning on the wall. She was pinging and observing what was going
on. They were silent for a while. It was Mabel who broke the silence.
(...to be continued...)
Nedu Isaac
For the continuation, click here
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