(…continued…)
He
waved at her, turned and left. Cynthia’s mother stood and watched him go. When
he got to the gate, she turned and went back inside. She met Cynthia peeping
from the window.
Cynthia
greeted her.
“Do you want to
see him to say goodbye?” she asked Cynthia.
“No, He has gone
far,” Cynthia said with a lump in her throat as she sat down.
“You can still
call him back and tell him goodbye if you want.”
“When he comes
back, we will see. It is not as if he is traveling not to come back again. He
may even come back today sef.”
“Anyway, he said
he will call you when he repairs his phone.”
“Was it not the
same phone his brother called him with yesterday? I think he meant to say, he
will chat me up when he repairs his android phone.”
“I don’t know
what you are saying but that is what he said.”
“I heard him say
it.”
“You mean you
have been peeping?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you
come out since?”
“After what
happened last night…”
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Something must
have happened.”
Mabel
came out to the sitting room.
“What happened?”
she asked after greeting her mother.
“Chuka has
traveled,” her mother said
“I know. Cynthia
said something happened last night.”
They
looked at Cynthia, waiting for an explanation.
“We got a bit
emotional last night,” Cynthia said looking at her fingers.
“Oh my gosh,”
Mabel said sitting close to Cynthia. “Did anything happen?”
“No. I ran back
home before anything could start happening.”
“Good for you,”
her mother said.
“He would have
collected free o,” Mabel said, laughing.
“Am telling you,”
Cynthia said, joining in the laughter. “All these sympathy situations sef.”
“Anyway, enough
of Chuka,” their mother cut in. “We have clean up to do.”
“Now?” they
asked her.
“After our morning
devotion.”
They
did their morning devotion. Then they swept, cleaned and washed. When they were
through with inside, they went to the part of the compound that surrounded
them. When they were done, they bathed and had breakfast.
“When are you
going to your place?” Cynthia asked Mabel when they were eating breakfast.
“In an hour’s
time,” Mabel replied.
“Why so early?”
“I might need to
do clean up there also.
“We will go
together.”
“Ok.”
“Are you
sleeping over there?” their mother asked.
“No. I will move
back by next week.”
“I don’t know
what you saw in that house that you prefer it to here.”
“It is cozy and
private.”
“And there is
always light,” Cynthia added.
“I like it when
we are together here.”
“You have to get
used to staying alone o. What about when we get married?”
“I am getting
used to it but it is not easy.”
“I
always sleep here na,” Cynthia said. “Unless something happened and I had to
sleep over in school or in Mabel’s place. Just like when she wanted to…”
“I will
just throw this spoon on you now,” Mabel said, smiling.
“Finish your food
first so you don’t choke,” their mother said and went into the kitchen to drop
her plate.
They
finished their food and took their drugs. Cynthia brought her balm and Mabel
massaged her.
“Your hand is
not strong today,” Cynthia said as Mabel massaged her.
“Go and call
Chuka na,” Mabel replied.
When
they were done, they got ready to leave. Mabel went into her mother’s room.
“We will soon be
leaving,” she told her mother who was sewing one of her cloths.
“Ok. I just got a
text message about an emergency women’s meeting in church. So I will be leaving
also.”
“Ok. Is it about
the national women’s conference?”
“I doubt. I am
not in the planning committee for that one. I think it has to do with the women
in church.”
“Ok.”
“From there I
will go to market.”
“I and Cynthia
will do that in the afternoon. Don’t bother yourself.”
“I just need
something to keep me busy will evening when you will come back.”
“Your radio is
still working abi?”
“Radio is radio.
Human beings are human beings.”
Cynthia
came in and told Mabel that she was set to go.
“Take care of
yourselves,” their mother said to them.
“We will,” they
replied and went back to their room.
They
took their handbags and left the house. Their mother locked the door behind
them and went back to get ready for the women meeting.
“Did you call
Mama Risi?” Cynthia asked as they walked towards the gate.
“No,” Mabel
replied. “Is it necessary?”
“It is o. So you
will know the situation of things.”
“There is
nothing to be afraid of.”
“Just call her and
confirm.”
At
the gate, Mabel brought out her phone and dialed Mama Risi. Mama Risi picked
and told her that there was no problem.
“Any strange
movements?” Mabel asked.
Mama
Risi told her that she did not notice any. Mabel hung up. They flagged down a keke and left for Mabel’s place.
(…to be continued…)
-©2015.Chinedu Isaac
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