Øgbanjé. Semi final.
“Sister o, I don’t know how you will take what I have to say o but I think something isn’t right with Chibuike”. My sister dropped the bombshell that almost led me into a cardiac arrest.
For a moment I couldn’t breathe. I placed my hands on chest as though it would help me breath wey.
“What did you just say?”
“Sister calm down. You don’t have to handle this thing with your emotions. Chibuike is not a regular child. How come he’s light skinned whereas you and uncle (my husband) are both black?”. She asked.
“Stop it already! What are you inferring exactly?”. I asked angrily.
“I’m sorry sister. I was just trying to say my mind”.
“This is why you haven’t gotten married. You don’t have sense”. I blurted angrily.
Immediately, I realized I had messed up.
My sister stood up angrily with her eyes already red and moist.
I clung unto her like a little child whose mom is angry. “I swear, that didn’t come out well. Please I didn’t mean to insult you”. I pleaded.
“I will be going back to my house tomorrow. Thank you for reminding God about my situation”. She dabbed her eyes and left the house.
“Gosh!!!!!!”. I shouted.
Chibuike walked in with a girl. They were grinning from cheeks to cheeks.
“Meet my momma, Cynthia”. Chibuike said to the slender looking girl in front of me.
I scanned the girl from head to toe. She looks older than Chibuike. She should be in her early 20s. She doesn’t even look like she has been in the village for long.
“Good day ma”. She greeted.
With my gaze on Chibuike, I asked; “And who is she?”.
“She’s my new friend. I like her a lot”. Chibuike said.
“Where did you meet her?”. I questioned.
“At the stream. She’s a very good swimmer”. Chibuike said with so much excitement. He seemed thrilled by her. “I love pretty swimmers”.
Cynthia was blushing really hard. She used her legs to make some invisible drawings on the floor with her hands firmly placed on her bag.
“Are you from this village?”. I asked sternly.
“Something like that”. She said politely.
“What do you mean?”. I gave her a dèath stare.
“Just kidding ma. My parents are from here. We base in Lagos. We are in the village to see my grandma”. She said.
“Let me show you around”. Chibuike offered excitedly. He dragged Cynthia with him and they both went upstairs.
They both toured the whole house laughing and shouting.
I went out to look for my sister and to properly apologize for my hurtful utterance.
I met her weeping profusely. We wept together. She ended up consoling me. I apologized sincerely and we made up.
Chibuike and Cynthia met very often till Cynthia and her parents travelled back to Lagos. I was so happy. I didn’t like their friendship.
Chibuike blatantly told me he doesn’t want to travel back to Canada.
“I love it here. Everything is so natural and Serene. There’s no such thing as racism in Nigeria. I don’t want to go back to Canada”.
I tried dissuading him from his illusion but he was already lost in it.
My husband suggested we relocate to Lagos since there are better opportunities there.
It was a painful situation but I had no choice than to succumb to Chibuike’s wish. We relocated to banana island in Lagos State.
Chibuike enrolled for Waec and jamb and cleared everything in one sitting. He got admission to study Marine Engineering in Unilag. He was just 16yrs old when he left for school.
10YEARS LATER
My husband got retired and he joined us in Nigeria. We have everything we’ve ever wanted in life, wealth, peace and good health.
We were in the sitting room one evening waiting for our son. He told us he’s bringing his fiancee home.
“We are going to be grandparents soon”. I said excitedly to my husband.
“Grandma”. My husband teased.
We both started laughing.
Shortly, Chibuike walked in with his fiancee.
At first I didn’t recognize her face but after an intense look, I recalled who she was.
“Cynthia?”. I asked in disbelief.
“Yes ma”. She said smiling.
Obviously, my husband wasn’t also pleased with Chibuike’s choice of bride.
Cynthia is far older than Chibuike. Although she still looks so beautiful and elegant.
We had no choice but to welcome her because she was our son’s choice. Chibuike is known to be very obstinate and intransigent.
It was all laughter and fun till I asked what her native name was.
“My name is Obiageli”. She responded smiling.
My husband almost choked on his drink.
My heart skipped. Heat spread all over my body.
“Were… you.. adopted?”. My husband stammered.
To be continued
Written by Judith Onyoyibo
