FED UP

(…continued…)

  “That is one of the major issues. I have been able to raise half of it after getting the insult of my life from the person who gave it to me. I am meant to pay back before the end of the month. Where will I see money to complete the fees, or even pay back the one I borrowed? And they are writing test this coming week.”

  “Won’t they accept half?”

  “No. Her school has really tried for me. Other terms, they even allow her write exams and I pay later. But because of the way things are in the country, they have tightened up their policies. Money is not in circulation, civil servants are being owed, so they need their pupils to pay up in order for the school to run.”

                Mabel thought for a while and said, “Ok. I will give you the remaining half.”

                Tears rolled down Mama Risi’s cheek.

  “Thank you so much,” she said as she hugged Mabel.

  “Risi has to go back to school.”

                Cynthia just sat quiet and watched with tears in her eyes.

  “When will you want it back?” Mama Risi asked Mabel.

  “Want what back?” Mabel asked.

  “The money.”

  “It is not a loan.”

  “May God bless you richly.”

  “You need to find something doing as soon as possible. There are other terms ahead.”

  “What do I find na? My parents couldn’t afford to send me to school. I stopped in class 6. That is why I vowed to do whatever I can to make sure my children get the best education. Last term, I had to sell some of my wrappers.”

  “Eiyaa. Realy?”

  “Yes.”

  “It must not be a job. You can start a small business and be making money then you will save.”

  “It needs money to start too.”

  “I will talk to my office people and see if they can grant you a loan.”

  “Oh thank you so much.”

  “You need to find out what line of business you can do, especially one that does not need exorbitant capital but will sell.”

  “I have some in mind but I will do the ground survey well and know which one is best.”

  “That is settled,” Cynthia said. “Now please cheer up.”

                Mama Risi smiled and said, “Why will I not cheer up. You people are just Angels sent to me from heaven.”

                Mabel checked her time piece.

  “Please before you go, what do I offer you?” Mama Risi asked, trying to stand up.

  “Do you have pounded yam and vegetable soup?” Cynthia asked her.

                They laughed.

  “I don’t but it can be arranged,” Mama Risi said.

  “Ehe, before you arrange, tell me what has been happening since Wednesday.”

                Mama Risi told them everything she could remember.

  “So apart from those strange faces, nothing else happened?”

  “None that I witnessed.”

  “Did anybody come looking for me at any time?”

  “No.”

  “Ok. Let me go up.”

  “Ok. I will see if I can arrange the pounded yam and vegetable soup. It should be ready by next week.”

                They laughed.

                Mabel and Cynthia got up to leave. Mama Risi saw them off to the door and hugged them before they left.

  “Greet Risi and her brother for me when they come back,” Mabel said as she climbed the stairs.

  “I will,” Mama Risi replied.

                Mabel and Cynthia went up to her house. Mama Stood for a while looking at them as they climbed up. When they were out of sight, she went in and closed the door.

                When Mabel got to her door, she looked around for any note or something that was not supposed to be there.

  “What are you looking for?” Cynthia asked her.

  “I am just doing security check.”

  “Security check indeed.”

                She did not see anything, so she opened the door and they went in. Inside, she checked everything in the house. They were as she had left them the last time she came.

  “You are still doing security check?”

  “Just to make sure nothing is missing.”

  “Ok oo.”

                Cynthia dropped her bag

  “This place doesn’t need any clean up o,” she said, lying on the bed. “Before you go and bring broom and mop now.”

  “I know,” Mabel said, laughing. “Some places need to be cleaned though.”

  “I am not seeing anyone. If you see any place, you will do it alone o.”

  “Lazy you.”

  “Let it be.”

  “Don’t worry, you will soon get your own place, and you will have to clean it yourself.”

  “Till then. For now, I will just watch movie.”

                She went through the movie rack and selected one. She put it and lay on the bed watching. Mabel changed into a short nika and cleaned some of the places she noticed dust. When she was done, she washed her hand and lay with Cynthia and watched the movie.

  “I am hungry,” Mabel said after a while.

  “Do you have anything to cook?” Cynthia asked her.

  “Something like?”

  “Maybe noodles and egg. Do you have them?”

  “I think so. Let me check.”

                She went to the kitchen and checked the cupboard. She came out to the room and told Cynthia that she had them.

  “Let me cook it na,” Cynthia said. “So you can rest.”

  “Ok.”

                They heard a tap on the door.

  “Who is tapping like that?” Mabel asked rhetorically.

                She opened the door and saw Risi standing outside with tears in her eyes.

(…to be continued…)

-©2015.Chinedu Isaac