UJU
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Episode 2
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Mama lash out at me, she beat me with everything she can lay her hands on after finding out that the soup wasn’t made, I ran outside, I was there until papa came back from the farm,
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After two days mama received a parcel, it was wrapped in a black nylon bag, when she opened it it was a wrapper, she didn’t tell me who sent it but i know will still find out, either by insult or she’s talking with Papa or one of her friends,
And it wasn’t too long i found out.
She went out that day and came back after an hour and started calling me in her usual way, I answered her quickly, I don’t want her trouble and came out from the kitchen,
she handed me something with a smile at one corner of her mouth, I gently collected and opened it, there was a fine bead leather sandals in it,
mama was still standing looking at me with the same confusing smile tug at one corner of her mouth, I wasn’t understanding the whole thing, why is mama smiling that way, she hardly smile at me and now that she was doing it she’s looking like she’s up to something and the fine leather sandals was still in my hand,
I gently asked her who the sandals was for she laughed out loud, right then i knew she was up-to something, mama can not just laugh for nothing since we are living like cat and rat,
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“Obianaujunwa eeh!, if i call you, you will answer me immediately,
“Obianaujunwa eeh”
“hmmmm, yes mama’
What’s that “hmm” for? If not that I’m in a happy mood because you will soon be out of my sight, I would have asked you to explain what you mean by “hmmmmm’ repeat that thing again and see what i will do to you
“Obianajunwa”
“mama” why are you still shouting my name when I’m standing in front of you”?
“you are very stupid, answer me now before i slap the living day light out of you…Obianajunwa…
“yes mama”
“good, you saw the wrapper I received as parcel from the parcel courier and now you have a sandals, they are all from Adaeze, Akunna my friend’s daughter, that your childhood friend, the one you went to secondary school with, and was also in the same class with you, after which she traveled and we haven’t heard from her, she even sleeps in our house sometimes then, she’s back, she has returned from eko, the happening city and if you see how big she has become, if you see the things she bought for Akunna eeh, hmm,
she’s a lucky woman,
She said i should give you that sandals, she bought a lot of wrapper, shoes and handbag for Akunna, the mother, it was out of the wrappers she sent me one,
I told Adaeze about you and she said you should come and see her later, I begged her to take you along with her when she’s going back and luckily for you she agreed, even her mother said i shouldn’t worry that you will go with her to Eko, later you go and see her and thank her for the sandals and also ask her when you will be leaving with her, because i can’t wait for you to be gone, so i will stop having headache because of you, she’s your mate o… But if you see her now it will look like she’s your aunty, all the food you have being eating comes to your waist and eyes, I don’t know who you are gathering all that waist for… And do you see how big your eyes is, just tired of seeing you look at me with them, I will tell your father about your soon to be journey ones he comes back. Just get your self ready,
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See Adaeze is bringing things for the mother Your Own is to be eating my food and getting bigger eyes and waist, just being useless to me, do and leave this house so that i will see road…
“mama no problem, I will go and see Adaeze”
I later saw Adaeze that evening and she was happy to See Me, she filled me in with Lagos life, and said i will enjoy every bit of it, she told me she’s a model which i didn’t really care all that matters to me was I’m leaving and going far away where i won’t fight with mama again, the next time she will See Me, I will be a total different person, a daughter she will be finally proud of,
i started counting days to the main day that me and Adaeze will be going,
I hard papa shouting at mama that night, asking her if she knows the kind of work Adaeze does, mama was challenging him and Papa couldn’t hold it he came to wake me that was pretending to be asleep up, he gently asked me if i really want to go with Adaeze or is mama that was driving me away, I assured him is my decision and not mama.
I know i will miss papa but it won’t be much because my mind will be focused on making it big, I was so happy that Ada as she’s fondly called came to take me out of this village where i will no longer hear mama call me “Obianaujunwa” I will probably change my name to something sweet to hear, I will think of a name later.
The joy in my stomach didn’t allow me eat much for two days, even the main day i was leaving I didn’t eat, I was so happy as i hard mama say “Obianajunwa journey mercy and don’t come back to this house empty handed o!
I knew that will be the last time in two or three years or even more i will hear her call me that name.
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To be continued
