I LOVE MY FAMILY CHAPTER ONE The afternoon was hot. Really hot.

Not one smile could be found on the faces walking the pavement. It was very hot for Chiaka Obed and her friend Adata Tonye, but, it wasnt just the heat that was oppressing the atmosphere between the two friends. Something else was there. Very heavy and intrusive and undefinable. It had been there a lot, dogging and defining their friendship in recent times. Chiaka didnt know what it was but she knew it was there. She also knew that she did not enjoy it. She, more and more, felt like yielding to her mothers voice that Adata was not a good friend. But to do that would mean admitting that Mum was right and that she was right about other issues too. And when you are thirteen going on fourteen, that was just something that one didnt do. She glanced at her friend again. The full face wore its constant smugness. Chiaka wondered for the umpteenth time why her friend was so proud. Indeed, why the Tonye family as a whole was so proud? For it was common knowledge the proud Tonye family. They were not perceived as proud, they were called proud because of their constant boastings. I, I am so So so. I, I do like that, that, that ... that There are no other families like mine They were also called Pharisees. They were full of their right standing with God. Chiaka never ceased to be amazed by this familys claims since she knew them rather well. Both fathers were lecturers in the university and both families lived on the university campus.
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Furthermore, the two families worshipped at the same church with both sets of parent holding various positions in the church. And, Chiaka and Adata had been friends for almost three years. Infact, theyd been friends since they found themselves sitting side by side in the same class in the universitys secondary school. By Chiakas deductions, the Tonye family had nothing to be proud of. One, they were not rich (though not poor either). There were families that had much more than they did but made no noise about it. Two, they were not particularly good looking. Just middling. Three, they were not known for their brains. Four, they were not known for outstanding kindness to others. They were only known for bragging about themselves, and running others down. Chiakas deductions always led her to a concluding fact: she did not like Adata Tonye. She just kept company with her because .. well, because. They were getting close to Adatas turning when she spoke. Are you coming to the basketball court this evening? I dont know if my mum will let me, Chiaka replied. Adata made a sound within her throat that mocked. Well, tell her all the girls from church will be there. After all, its Friday. Chiaka shrugged. For some reason that sound from Adatas throat had offended her. She guessed she could not stand for any one to disrespect her mother even though she herself did not see eye to eye on most issues with her mum. It certainly wasnt for someone with a bleached up sow for a mother to snort at her mother whom everyone called cool. Adata picked up the unspoken vibes from her friend and made the turning into her lane without a word. Chiaka continued on her way
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and wondered why she bothered with someone who waddled like a duck even though she was tall and slim. Chiaka herself was tall and slim but she walked tall and straight. CHAPTER TWO Asu Tonye was having a lot of problems paying attention to the teacher. He kept squirming in his seat and feeling hot all over. Even his breathing was erratic. The reason for this major disturbance was the material his friend Micheal had shown him before they had to rush for assembly or be suspended. It was the most exciting thing he had ever seen in his life and had produced the most fantastic feelings that hed ever known in his fifteen plus years. Hed always been attracted to pornographic materials but so far his exposure had been limited only to pictures of naked girls. Hed wanted time and time again to use the internet as many others were using, but, fear of being caught had held him back. For some reason people get caught at it a lot and the shame would be crippling for not only him, but his family too, especially at church. Now, this day, his longed for dream had come to pass. Micheal had downloaded onto his fancy phone, the most exciting motion picture. The real thing. No holds bar. Though hed had only two minutes of it before assembly, hed seen enough to turn him upside down, inside out and he could not wait for recess to return to it. A gust of cool wind jerked Asu out of his erotic reverie. He looked out of the window. It was grayish outside. The sun had hidden itself and it looked like it was going to come down with rain any moment. Asu stared at the trees as though hypnotized. The branches dipped ever so gracefully with each shove and brush of the wind. Unbidden, a poem from primary school wandered into his mind. Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I
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But when the trees bow down their heads The wind is passing by or passing through He could not remember exactly. But he was totally captivated by the dance of the wind and the branches. It made him think of running his hands up and down Sheryl, his girlfriend. dang! dang! dang! the bell bought Asu back to the present. Thank God! He sighed, short break. Time for serious business. Asu dumped his books into his desk and hurried out to Micheals class. He found Micheal in the corridor and together, they walked out. Come on man. Where is it? asked Asu. What? What are you talking about feigned Micheal? Whats the matter with you? Why are you behaving like this? Asu was truly hurt by his friends treatment of the momenteous occasion. He hissed in frustration and anger and started to walk away. Micheal went after him. Hey, cant you take a little joke? Asu was too upset to talk. Look, its here Micheal brought his phone out of his pocket. But, he continued, Im hungry. Buy me a sandwich and you can have the phone till long recess. Asu stopped walking and looked at his friend for a moment. Then, with a shrug, he agreed. Okay. But you give me the phone as Im handing over the sandwich, otherwise, I spill all to Mr Standfast. Micheal knew that if the principal was shown the stuff in his phone, he would surely be expelled from the school. The thought conjured up too many unpleasant pictures. Okay, he agreed. The two friends walked together to the canteen.Micheal, tall and slim and Asu, short and podgy. A veritable Laurel and Hardy. There, they waited their turn on the queue. At last, the sandwich loaded with beef, was bought. The two boys moved away from the hungry crowd of young people and, very formally made the exchange. Phone for sandwich, sandwich for phone. Simultaneously each went at his reward. And
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almost immediately, the bell went. The fifteen minutes short break was over. Micheal and Asu sauntered companionably, even as others hurried, toward their respective classes. Somewhere enroute their respective classes, close enough to their classroom block but still in the open, they stopped. Micheal wolfed down his mega sandwich while Asu was totally engrossed in the pornographic movie. He did not hear Micheals catch you later nor noticed the fact that he was the only student out there. His heart was pounding and though he didnt check, he was aware of a very uncomfortable sensation in his groin. He was not a stranger to it and he usually dealt with it in the privacy of the bathroom at home. He wasnt paying any mind to it now because he was carried away by what he was seeing. A young, male teacher came out of the staff room and flung the remains of a drink onto the dusty ground. He paused with his empty cup to contemplate the student who should know better than to be outside while classes were going on. Hey! The student didnt budge. You there. No reaction still. The teacher started to walk across the compound to the student. He expected, with every step that he took, that the boy would suddenly turn around, offer some lame excuses, and scurry off to his classroom. But none of that happened. He became more and more baffled as he walked right up to the boy. Even then the boy didnt acknowledge his presence. He stood right at Asus back, and became one with him for a moment in their captivation by the dirty movie before he recollected himself and reached out and took the phone from Asu. With his other hand, he held Asus arm and started the walk back to the teachers room. Asu was too stunned to utter a sound. As if to compliment the moment, the grey sky opened and rain came down in earnest.

CHAPTER THREE It was the usual school morning pandemonium at the Obed breakfast table. The table was littered with breakfast things: bread, cornflakes, milk, sugar, butter, jam and an assortment of eating utensils and, the spillage of milk, cornflakes and bread crumbs. The four Obed children were seated around the modest table and all four were actively involved in insult - trading. By the kitchen counter was Nome Obed, their Mother, fixing herself a cup of coffee and trying to ignore her offsprings bonding. It was too tiring to contemplate on a few hours sleep, a dull ache inside her head somewhere, and watery eyes. But the solitude she craved was not to be. The Mummy, Mummy chant had begun. And she could never ignore it. It pulled at the very essence of her existence on earth. She couldnt help it, and, constantly excused herself that it might be something important. Just listen. And, shed been justified many times, too. For by it, shed got to know the minds (at least, some part) of each of her children. This, went a long way to being mother to each child. Mummy, Mummy, are you listening to me, Mummy? went nineyear-old Chioma who lived up to her position as the baby of the family. Without lifting her head from the study of her coffee, Nome spoke in a quiet, tired voice. Speak, Chioma. Mummy hears you. For some reason, Chiomas siblings found this hilarious. They hooted with laughter . at poor Chioma. Such a big baby ..Mummy, Mummy, when I grow up, Im going to be a artist, mimicked eleven year old Chinyere. A artist. An artist, ppleaeese! superior Chiaka added.
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Chioma was close to tears by now. It was time for mummy to intervene. Stop that now!, she spoke sharply to Chiaka and Chinyere. You spoke just the same way and were just as babyish when you were Chiomas age. She walked over to Chioma, turned the hurt face to look at her, and asked, why do you want to be an artist, darling? After a slight delay Chioma answered, Because my teacher says that I can be a good artist because I draw very well. Mum smiled and kissed Chioma on the forehead. I believe it, too. But you are good at other things too. So, when you are a bit older, you can decide what you are going to be. Older, like Uzo? asked Chioma. Yes, like Uzo. Mum replied. Uzo was the Obeds sixteen year old, in his first year in the university. He went from the house because the hostels were full. Footsteps could be heard coming in the direction of the kitchen cum dining. Uzo dragged back his chair in that noisy way that got on mums nerves. Chiaka began to hastily swallow her cocoa. Chinyere spoke. Daddy, Im almost through although her cereal bowl was more than half full. From Chioma, Mummy was talking to me. Francis Obed brought his imposing form into the kitchen. He was a bit over six feet, not fat, not slim. Good looking and a very loving father. Francis Obed looked at his watch. We leave in two minutes. The children scrambled in different directions leaving only their parents in the kitchen. Mr Obed put an arm around his wife, Feeling better?
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She nodded. He walked to the bunches of bananas on the counter and quickly ate two. Bananas were in season and the two banana plants in their backyard had yielded well. There was an abundance of bananas and now, his cantankerous children had gone off bananas. His arm would be twisted all though the banana season for apples which were imported and therefore, expensive, .. and he would give in because Nome had put her foot down that it was bananas or no fruits. He glanced at his watch again and yelled Time up. Im leaving. He walked to the car with his wife. Dont forget their lunch money, Nome reminded her Husband. Francis got into the car and started it. The children ran from different parts of the three bedroom bungalow toward the car. Front seat, yelled Chioma. I said it first, Chinyere yelled back. By now, the two were tugging at the door handle of the front seat. Stop! said their father in a loud voice. They stopped immediately. Uzo is going with us this morning and as he is first born, he sits in the front. That settled it. Everyone got in. Every one, that is except Chiaka. Chiaka! Nome called. Come out this instant or you walk to school. Chiaka emerged and smiled at her exasperated mother, gave her a loose hug, skipped to the car calling over her shoulder Bye, Mummy dearest. Miss me. Nome smiled. What kept you? dad asked.
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She was putting on lip gloss, Chinyere spoke quickly eyeing her big sisters shiny lips. Snitch, said Chiaka with all the contempt of a thirteen going on fourteen year old. Meow, Meow, went Uzo from the front seat. Bye, my dear, said Francis to his wife. Bye Mum, Bye Mum, the children yelled as the car pulled out of the short driveway. Hmmph, Nome let out a sigh of relief, thank you, Jesus for respite until the 2.00 p.m when they started to trickle in from their different schools. Nome walked in and surveyed her messy kitchen and remembered the zillion little things she had to do that day. As tension began to spread on her upper back, she heard her husbands voice in her mind. Pace out yourself. Dont try to do too much on one day. Theres always another day. Thanking God, she sat down at the messy breakfast table and deliberately began to sort her day, taking out some things like cutting the new batch of lingeries. That could be done in two days since shed not yet been paid for the two previous batches shed supplied. Nome Obed, though a university graduate of theatre arts, had undergone a sewing session after she got married. She and her husband had talked extensively about how they were going to raise their family. Theyd both agreed that for the children to turn out the way they wanted, Nome would have to be a stay at home mum. Shed taken the course in sewing to enable her to make things that she loved by herself. Then, she wanted beautiful, soft lingeries and found that she couldnt buy them because they were very expensive being imported. But she couldnt abort the desire
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for those soft, beautiful under things. Then Eureka! She thought why cant I make them for me? Surely, the ones in the shop were made by people like me. So she went to work finding the right materials and bought a sewing machine. Her first production was a wonder to her and her husband. It looked just perfect on her. In the middle of admiring herself, she thought .. just as good as the store bought and much cheaper why, I could make this for other women like me who cannot afford the imported ones. Her enthusiasm infected her husband and so, she made six different lingeries ranging from size small to extra, extra large. Very shyly, shed approached one of the fashionable shops in town. To her greatest shock, all six were bought from her and the money given to her on the spot. Shed asked for a double of what shed spent including the amount she estimated would be the value of labour. She was even prepared to come down a bit in price in the traditional African way of transacting business. But none of that happened. Of course, shed taken pains with the work. All the same, that little success was shocking and she literally ran home to pinch herself. That was the beginning of a business that very quickly expanded in volume of sales but remained small enough to handled from her garage. She spent two days all by herself cutting beautiful fabrics up into different patterns and shapes. Then she brought in three part- time workers to sew up the pieces and she personally inspected the finishing on each piece. By Friday afternoon the lingeries would be in the shops and the garage locked up for the weekend. The weekends were devoted entirely to household matters such as cooking enough on Saturday to freeze for the week so meal preparation during the week was no chore and could be done by any member of the household, by simply popping a food pack into the microwave.
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The money from the lingerie went a long way toward family comfort while her husbands earnings saw to school fees and family savings. Chiaka, for instance, was turning fourteen in seven months and had been promised a flip phone (with OUT a camera and camcorder! That would come later, life was about negotiations). Chioma was turning ten the month after Chiakas birthday. Shed been promised a little party. Nome sat at her dining table and decided how she would spend the day. First, she would eat breakfast. Two, she would quickly clean her kitchen/dining, the living room, and her bedroom. The children did their rooms and bathroom themselves after school. Three, she would leave out a food pack for defrosting. Four, she would go to the two shops owing her and she wont leave them without some of her money. Five, she would buy Chiakas phone and hide it away till her birthday. That would free her finances for Chiomas party. With her day sorted out, Nome got up and began to clear a place on the dining table for her breakfast.

CHAPTER FOUR It was about four in the afternoon. The sun was going down but the sky was still blue with pretty little clouds sailing lazily about. The Tonye household was silent as usual for only two of its inhabitants were in Asu Tonye and his sister, Adata. Their parents habitually returned late. Their father was most probably at one meeting or the other (he loved the prestigious feelings from the titles he held: pastor, elder, head of), their mother must be

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rounding up the afternoon class she took after school to earn more money. She taught science at a secondary school in town. Their parents absences did not bother the Tonye children. They could not remember a time that was different from the present. And if they ever longed for something different, it was quickly drowned in their superiority to others. Their parents treated them like adults. In fact, they boasted about their childrens maturity. Adata and Asu were indeed comfortable with their parents insularity. No one looked into their school work all through the term. Their parents didnt attend PTA meetings and open house, they stopped observing a while ago. They went where they liked, only making sure they got in before their father. If their dad took a fancy to their whereabouts, their mum would cover up for them. In fact, she saw to it that they got no punishment for whatever wrong they committed. Adata was now engaged in her homework. The Tonye children were not very bright, probably because they got no push from their parents. Their father periodically talked about his superior brain and wondered that his children didnt take after him. This was a source of bitter wranglings with his wife, so he tried to steer clear of it. Adata knew she could never come tops in the class as Chiaka did. She wondered what her father would do if he knew that the Obed girl (as he called Chiaka) was consistently at the top of the grade ten class while she, Richard Tonyes daughter, just as consistently, stayed at the bottom. She suspected that her father must think that she was beating Chiaka in the class. Just as well as that mum covered up so well for them. There was a bitter time of it for them when Uzo Obed, a few months younger than Asu, got into the university. Richard Tonye had railed at his wife and children for weeks. The reason why Uzo was two steps ahead of Asu on the
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academic ladder was because Asu had had to repeat grades four and eight. He was doing the eleventh grade now instead of being in the university with Uzo. Anyway, Adata hadnt repeated a grade yet and she wasnt going to if she could help it. That was why she was doing her homework while Asu was sleeping. She could hear no noise from his room. Adata could not be blamed for thinking that her brother was sleeping. He was lying quite still on his bed. His eyes were shut but he was far from sleep. He was very much awake. His mind was busy at many things at the same time as minds are wont. He thought about the moments, absolutely surreal, before Mr John, the P.E teacher seized him and Micheals phone. He remember his tears (very real, too) as he pleaded in the middle of the dusty schoolyard with Mr John. He thought of Micheals anger (which was beginning to thaw) when Mr John went with him to drag Michel out of his class. But Mr. John was cool. He had let them off without reporting them to the dreaded Mr Standfast, the principal. But, Mr John had given them a stern lecture and then deleted the movie, warning them that if there was a next time, he would most assuredly take the matter to the principal. Now, Asu was letting his mind float with possibilities. Which girl to choose or really, which girl would be willing to go all the way. He was in a big hurry to try out the moves hed seen in that movie. Pity it was lost now but he had it locked away within him. No sweat. He thought about Sheryl, his girl friend at church. They both sang in the choir and they indulged in quite a bit of necking at the back of the church where junk was thrown. But, they had not tried to go beyond that. He wondered if she would say no. His self esteem had taken a bit of a battering recently when hed tried to chat up that bitchy Eno. Eno was in his class and hed heard that she went
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all the way because she was seeing an older guy who gave her money and other things. But the bitch had eyed the whole length of him, up and down, down and up. Then, shed hissed, and rolling her eyes and wagging both her head and right forefinger at the same time, shed told him that She, Eno, did not go out with boys who were shorter than her, and whose fat buttocks juggled and jiggled when they walked. He felt so many things at the humiliation. Hed wanted to hurt her face so bad. Hed wanted to run, to cry even. But hed put on a brave face and shouted to Enos receding back, whore!. The joke about his backside was still going round and he still kicked himself forever approaching the bitch, and, not picking a place where none would have overheard nor witnessed his shame. It wasnt his fault that he took after his mum in his height and in the well-rounded buttocks. He wondered again why he didnt take after his father. His dad was tall and spare and fate had to go and give that physique to his sister. Well, life goes on! His desire for the real thing outweighed every other thing. His mind went back to Sheryl. But not for long. A terrible racket had started from the wire fence separating his house from the house at the back. The noise rose in great crescendos. Asus musings could not continue. The dog in the back house was barking its guts out. When Asu looked out of his window, he was amazed and, not a little amused. A cat was perched on top of the wire fence and his neighbours dog was barking like the house was on fire because of the cat, and what was the cat doing? He or she? Must be a she. She was acting totally, really TOTALLY unaware of the dog and the awful noise he (must be a he) was making. The cat wore a look of utter contentment on its face. It looked like it was cushioned by some nice something and lived in a world all its own. The whole thing

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amazed Asu. Werent dogs supposed to be smart? The dog was making an absolute fool of itself. He smiled as a new thought formed within him. That cat reminded him of a person, ..two persons actually. Mrs Obed and her daughter Chiaka. They acted like they were something different ....like royalty. Boys treated Chiaka like she was from another planet. They liked doing things for her and no one talked about wanting to do anything that boys want with her even though she was so very pretty. Not even Asu was immuned. He knew that the girl had that same quality as her mum had which incensed his mother and sister. His family didnt like her family but he found himself treating her in the same courteous way because all the boys knew she wasnt that kind of girl. Yes, he decided within him. It would have to be Sheryl. The day was Tuesday. He was seeing Sheryl on Thursday at church. He would make his intentions known and bring her to his house on Friday. Although work, as well as schools closed early on Fridays his parents come home late. His mother was the womens leader at church and would be holding the womens meeting while his father would be somewhere giving advice. Adata, he was going to black mail. Word from the boys grapevine had it that she was going all the way with Chuks, a boy in Micheals class. Chuks, with a host of others, mooned over Chiaka, but that was as far as it went as Adata knew well. But it did not stop her from really disliking her friend, Chiaka. With the future so settled, Asu sauntered out to the living room and plopping himself on the sofa, he used the remote control unit to flick the T.V on. Life was definitely cool.

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CHAPTER FIVE Saturday was a noisy time in the Obed family. Mrs Obed worked by routine she couldnt cope otherwise. On Fridays, the children were allowed to stay up as late as their bodies allowed to watch television though everyone seemed to understand that twelve midnight was the limit. But they were not allowed to visit certain channels. They slept in on Saturday mornings waking when they liked and, for Chiaka, that could mean anything from nine to eleven. When they got up, each person had their quiet time of prayer and Bible reading before going to the kitchen to eat whatever they felt like eating. After eating everyone knew they should go to their homework but they frequently waited for their mum to yell, maybe four times, before they saw to it. But, Mrs Obed was not above some avariciousness. She resorted to blackmail when cajoling failed. (after blackmail, came hard discipline). It was no homework, no television. It worked like magic. Of course, Uzo was exempted because he was in the university and if the hostels werent full, hed not be at home. He was left very much to his devices except on certain issues such as keeping to his curfew of 11:00 p.m and picking up after himself. After homework, the television came on and, in Uzos room, the infernal music that marked Uzos presence in the house, went up a few decibels. And, the friends poured in. They were mainly Uzos and Chiakas friends. Chinyeres and Chiomas friends came by arrangement between the mothers. Mr Obed normally disappeared on some personal pursuits while Mrs Obed stayed in the kitchen cooking dish after dish to be frozen away for the coming week. She tried to do bulk shopping at the beginning of each month for meat and dry goods like rice, beans, beverages, but her vegetables and fruits were bought every Friday in the evening.
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Because of the strict regime of the household during the week, Mrs Obed allowed her house to be run over by young people at the weekend. She did not enjoy some of their boisterousness but she put up with it. Indeed, she created room for it. Mondays through Thursdays, the Obed children could only watch news while school was in session. They watched television from Friday afternoons to Sunday afternoon and their mother was never too far away, so, they knew that they had to watch what they were viewing. And, Chioma (and sometimes, Chinyere) could always be counted on to tell, consciously and unconsciously. Every friend knew and had to abide by the household rules. They also knew they were very welcome in the Obeds house. The Obeds wanted young people to know that they had a place to go to rather than hang by corners indulging in funny businesses. They were fed any time they visited the Obeds. They were allowed to rap and dance. They were not allowed to take things out of the house without asking. If you did that up to three times, Mrs Obed would tell you not to come back. The big no-go area was Chiaka. Boys that hung about the Obed home knew that they were to be friends and brothers to Chiaka. Anything amorous was heavily frowned on by the Obed parents, and, if a boy persisted, he was shown the door. Chiaka herself had to learn some etiquette around these boys. Her mum had called her to order when she wore a skimpy skirt and crossed her legs exposing herself indecently. When the boys came calling, she had to be properly clad. Mum had explained the consequences of seeking attention from boys when one was not ready to bear the repercussions. Shed spoken to her frankly from her life, sharing her deepest regrets as well as her hopes for her children. This had made a lasting impression on Chiaka. Mrs Obeds Saturday exertions were interrupted by a caller. It was Mrs Tonye. Chiaka took her through the living room to the
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kitchen. A thought fleetingly arrested her : her mum would not like this. But there was nothing she could do about it there was no place for Mrs Tonye to sit in the living room and besides, the woman had asked her to take her to her mum. Mum, Chiaka spoke at the entrance into the kitchen. Mum, Adatas mum is here. Then, she immediately retreated to the friendliness of the sitting room. Mrs Obed lifted her face in annoyance and had to quickly stifle the unflattering retort she was about to make when she realised that the object of her irritation was standing smack in front of her. Although she resented the intrusion both in her chores and kitchen, she greeted Mrs Tonye politely. So, what brings you?, Mrs Obed asked. Well, I thought Id let you know that the turkey wings have arrived. Okay. How much are you selling the ten kilogram carton? Same price? Yes. Same price. Okay. Ill stop by later to pick up one. Thank you. See you later, then. Yes. Mrs Obed turned back immediately to the drain board to continue her preoccupation with her vegetables. She was surprised when she heard Mrs Tonyes voice again. Mrs Tonye had turned back and walked close to Mrs Obed to say conspiratorially, Please, take care of your home. You know, many of them (she pointed with her chin in the direction of the sitting room) are not to be trusted.
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Mrs Obed smiled. Its okay. Thanks for the advice, though. Mrs Tonye stood undecided for a moment. Then, she shrugged and walked out. Mrs Obed released a sigh and wondered at the hypocrisy of the woman. Many of the young people in the university community were much better behaved than the Tonye children. Two: for as long as Mrs Obed had run her home poultry business (sales of imported chicken and turkey parts), shed patronised her. Yet, it had never occurred to Mrs Tonye to buy lingerie from her. Shed been even heard to say that she didnt spend her money on such frivolities, though, that didnt stop her from asking Mrs Obed for one to try out first. Of course, Nome had refused. Mrs Obed knew that in the course of the coming week, she would hear about the state of her kitchen and the different dishes her family ate that week, all of it simply deduced from the ingredients that Mrs Tonye saw on the drain board. And Chiaka, Mrs Obed didnt know what could have possessed her to bring Mrs Vile Tonye to her kitchen. She was old enough to know better. Well, she would sort it out with Chiaka when her friends were gone and she would keep keeping her head high no matter what gossips found to talk about.

CHAPTER SIX No! No! It isnt like that at all! Nome Obed was furious. It was the worst kind of fury for she could not give vent to it. Nome could be really bad with her tongue when she was angry and at the moment, it was imperative that she kept her cool.

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Who told you that God was angry with you for taking care of your children? Well, .. you know .. they said I was putting my family before God when I told them that I didnt have any one to leave the children with. Listen to me, Mary. Your first duty as a human being is to know and love God. The second is to face the roles God has given you at this moment as a wife and a mother. Concentrate on these while reaching out to people around as much as you can. Thats what God expects of you right now. Maybe later youd have more time to play on active role in the womens group. Until then, you must focus on your home to raise responsible God-fearing members of the society. Okay? Mary nodded. She really admired Mrs Obed and wished she could be like her. You are so strong. I wish I had your strength. Nome smiled. If the younger woman only knew the road shed travelled. As a matter of fact, the reason why she was so worked up over the misery Mrs Tonye and her cohorts had put Mary through was that she, Nome, used to be just as eager to please people. Many painful encounters had broken and reshaped her backbone. The strength comes from the conviction of what God wants from you. But, dont worry. You are already on your way to being a strong woman. Just read the Bible and follow what it. Nome got up to leave, shed been visiting with Mary once a week since shed introduced Jesus to her following a meeting at someones wedding anniversary. Mary had two very active little boys, ages two and four. She had no home help and could only go out on her own after making a number of arrangements.

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Nome had invited to her church. Now, Mrs Tonye and her big women were tormenting the poor girl with their sanctimoniousness. Never mind that none of them turned up for duties in church when it was inconvenient for them! Nome wondered if she shouldnt advise Mary to go to another church. She discarded the thought because she knew there was no perfect place, every place has its good and its ugly. Well, one thing was certain: if Mary stayed and followed her advice this experience would have helped to build in her a backbone of steel. Nome fervently hoped so.

CHAPTER SEVEN Mr Obed and Mr Tonye came face to face in the corridor of the faculty of humanities late one afternoon. My friend, exclaimed Mr Tonye Quite an age. Weve not been seeing you at the midweek meetings. Whats going on? Mr Obed looked at Mr Tonye and thought quite an age, indeed. It was only five days. But he replied affably enough. Nothing, my wife was away in the village. A quick look at her parents. So Ive been mother and father. But that doesnt mean you must stop serving God. Mr Obed was annoyed. Which part of serving God would that be? The yak yak yak about self abilities and importance? Mr Obed gave a little laugh to take the sting out of what he had said and continued. No, I believe Id rather serve God by taking care of the children He sent to me.

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But the children are big. They can take care of themselves, Mr Tonye replied. Ah, yes. Quite mature, Mr Obed said sarcastically. I mean its not as if they are in diapers Oh, so, thats the only time they need you? Mr Obed paused for a moment and then, thoughtfully, said, My friend youd better have a rethink before its too late. Whats there to rethink? I thank God that my children are mature. In fact, they have always been more mature than other children because of the upbringing weve given them. Right. Ill be seeing you then, Mr Obed walked off quickly. What a pompous fool! A Pharisee! He wanted nothing to do with such people. They say he who knows not that he knows not is dangerous, (very dangerous, he might add) run away from him.

CHAPTER EIGHT Nome was in her bedroom, stretched out on the bed with a book when someone knocked at the door. The time must have been somewhere between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm the childrens play time. Come in, Nome called. Chiaka walked in and flopped her slim long form on the bed beside her mother. At almost fourteen, she was 5.8 inches, as tall as her mum, slim and quite pretty. Mother, Chiaka started. Nomes eyebrows went up. So, its Mother today. Chiaka called her mum anything from mummy to mum to mother dearest and ma and today mother. Poor teenage

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soul, Nome thought. She wondered which way the hormones were driving today. Shed find out in a moment. Im a big girl now and should have a room of my own. It is so-oo not nice when my friends come and Chinyere and Chioma are there. Chiaka continued. Darling, you can ask them to excuse you when your friends are there, mum said. As if they would mind me. Infact its when they see my friends that they rush to room and stay glued to the room till my friends leave. Nome laughed. She could well see the picture. Younger siblings could be a real pain. I dont know why youre laughing. This thing is ruining my life. I wish I were an only boy like Uzo, then, I would get my own space! Chaika was close to crying. Nome quickly reached out and hugged her daughter. In a soothing voice she talked to her. I honestly know who you are feeling. I would feel the same way. But, this house has only three bedrooms and I dont know how else to juggle sleeping arrangements. Nome had pushed each girls narrow bed by a wall in the room so that each could have her own corner. Apparently, it wasnt working. May be Chiaka was just too old for that sort of a thing. God, please help, she mentally prayed. We could move to a bigger house in town, Chiaka suggested.

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Yes. But the university wont pay for a bigger house. Not all of it. Wed have to make up the difference and we just cant afford that right now. Maybe if you went out to work? Maybe. But we love you children too much to leave you to make out on your own. Think of it. I wont be able to attend any of your programmes at school, you wont have me here to talk to like this, you would have to be mummy to Chinyere and Chioma and see to their homework and everything else. Also, the lingeries business will fold up. Would you prefer things that way? No, Chiaka said slowly. The picture of running after Chinyere and Chioma and not having mum around when she needed her was kind of daunting. But, we have a plan, Nome continued. Chiaka pulled away from her mothers arms and looked expectantly at her. We have plans to build our own house. It shall have six bedrooms. One for each of you children, one for daddy and me, and one for any guest we might have. Chiaka swallowed her disappointment and tried to be interested. But houses take forever to build, she pointed out to her mum. Not, if you have the money. And we dont have. We dont have for renting a big house in town. But, we have been saving toward building our own and, by Gods grace it will happen sooner than you think.

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Chiaka stared at her mother. She wanted desperately to believe her. I promise. Would I lie to you? Nome asked. That decided Chiaka. Chiaka believed that her parents didnt lie because they were very open in their relationship with her and her siblings. Hadnt they even told them the mistakes theyd made as young people? And they were embarrassing mistakes, too. Yes, would accept her word and look to the not too far future to be rid of her roommates Chinyere and Chioma. CHAPTER NINE Man, feel the beat, Micheal said to Asu. The two boys were watching MTV. Micheal thankfully, didnt live on campus and he had the house to himself every week afternoon and some evenings, too. His father ran a dry cleaning shop and was there from 9: 00 in the morning till six in the evening. On Saturdays, his father forced Micheal to mind the shop. Micheal bitterly resented it because it was so not cool. But it was either that or no monthly allowance. He got money gifts from his mother, but these were not regular. So, he had to toe the line his father had drawn. Apart from that, his dad asked very little of him. Micheal hadnt seen his mum for almost two years. There had been a lot of quarrelling between his parents for some time. Then, the fights ceased and his parents became chillingly polite to each other. His mum would cook and he and she would eat together while his dad served himself and ate alone on a tray in front of the evening news. Micheal did not know what the fights had been about. Hed heard since then that it had to do with his fathers love of women. Anyway, one week, his mum had been particularly
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busy and then, shed told him that shed got a visa to the United Kingdom and he was to be a good boy and do well at school and she would send for him as soon as she was settled. Michel missed his mum but not a lot. He thought he would be seeing her in no time at all and the thought of going away to England thrilled him no end. But that was almost two years ago. In the meantime, it had been just him and his dad. His big half-sister from his fathers first marriage came for short visits and then, there were the maids. They came from wherever they lived to clean and cook for Micheal and his dad and stayed until something drove them away. Micheal knew for a fact that his father slept with some of them as the one whod initiated him into the world of sex had told him. He minded, at first, when he would wake some mornings to see some woman who had obviously slept in his fathers room and, was making no attempts at hiding it, and, neither would his dad. Hed stopped minding when he himself had got on that same road. His mother periodically sent him fancy things: clothes, phones, money, but the travelling was nowhere in sight. She said shed not been able to regularise her papers. Not once, to Micheals Knowledge, had she sent a thing to her husband. Although his father told him to mind his business whenever he asked, Micheal really believed that his parents marriage was no more and he wondered from time to time if hell ever see his mother again. As for school, he got tired of trying. What was the point? It had been almost two years. As his father told him often, hed better forget his mums promise. He had taken on the vices: illicit sex, alcohol, smoking, (even of marijuana as he and Asu were presenting doing) with no one even mildly interested. This gave Micheal a strange pain he did not understand. All his friends envied him his freedom and he went along with them: that his was the coolest life. His friends would be shocked at the huge bag of
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misery within him that threatened every so often to swallow him, until he sought relief from something, driving deeper the vices in an attempt to escape, and that, in turn, flogged him mercilessly. He longed for a proper home, a home like the Obeds. He thought that was why he treated Chiaka with respect. He would love for someone to care enough to say No. You are not to do this to yourself. Sometimes, he even wondered if his mum was doing what his dad (and he) was doing. He found the thought so repelling that he would quickly shove it down and look for something to make him feel good and forget everything. So, you are still doing it with Sheryl, Micheal spoke as MTVs stars continued their writhings. Yeah man. But I need change. Man cannot survive on a diet of only beans. The two laughed uproariously and thereafter engaged in plans to diversify Asus sexual diet.

CHAPTER TEN The supermarket on the university campus was filled with shoppers this Friday evening. It was the end of another month and most people had just received their wages and were replenishing provisions for their homes. The Obeds were no exception, nor were the Tonyes. Both couples met in the dairy aisle. Each of the Obeds pushed a trolley that was already brimfull and, by the looks of it, still shopping, while the Tonyes shopping was contained in one hand-held basket.

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Good evening, Nome greeted. My God. Are you opening a provision shop of your own? Mrs Tonye asked by way of greeting. We have four children and I like to do my months shopping at a go, Nome replied in a voice that was tinged with coldness. But, all these? Mrs Tonye persisted. Francis Obed knew his wife feelings concerning such inquisitiveness from people and knew she was about to put Mrs Tonye in her place. So, he quickly said, We like our children to eat well. Hem m m we havent quite finished . See you. And with that, the Obeds pushed their trolleys off to another aisle. Nome was fuming. The cheek of the woman! Why did she pry so? Mrs Tonye was fuming, too. Look at those silly people! Why must they always show off? Why must they always behave as if they were better then every one else? These thoughts whirled about in her, twisting and knifing her innards. But, all she showed of the battling within her was the strange silence broken intermittently by long, drawn out hisses. Mr Tonye said not a word. But, he was gathering his defences within him, too. For, he knew his wife. She seemed to think that the only way to be like Nome Obed or even beat her at those fine airs, was for him to give her more money. He combated this by running the Obeds and their ways down. That calmed his wife down quite a bit. He knew he was in for it now and he would resort to his usual weapon but, God! How he hated those Obeds. Mrs Tonyes short, bulky self was bristling and she launched her attack as soon as they got into the car to go home. One hefty sigh was followed by a long hiss.
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This my life, Im just tired of it. Mr Tonye concentrated on carefully backing out of his parking space and out of the parking lot without brushing other cars for parking was rather tricky at the supermarket. Look at that woman, what has she got as a woman that I havent got? I dont know the special thing that people see in her that makes them think shes different. A short silence, then, another hiss. What am I talking that I dont know what she got that I havent? Of course she got a supportive husband. Her husband makes her look good. Now this was a direct hit and, Mr Tonye could not keep pretending that she was not talking to him. In what way does her husband make her look good and yours doesnt? Belligerently now, Mrs Tonye turned on to her husband. Did I address you? But since your conscience is troubling you, let me help you. Does that woman look like shes restricted on the amount she can spend? Without waiting for a reply, she continued. Well, answer me. Does she? Does she? The problem with you is that you are never satisfied. I will not steal for you, Mr Tonye replied, now worked up himself. I will not steal for you, Mrs Tonye mimicked her husband. Is Francis Obed stealing for wife? He may well be Mr Tonye said quickly seeing the chance to deliver the palliative that worked with his wife. How do you know hes not? Where are they getting all that extra to shop like
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that? The problem with you is that you dont stop to look critically at a thing before talking. Im telling you those people are heading for a serious downfall. Its only a matter of time. Youll see. Mrs Tonye became quiet but only externally. Inside her, her thoughts continued to churn: True, Nome had that lingerie thing which she, Mrs Tonye, considered a waste of time. I mean how much could she possibly make when she was sewing from her garage and not every day at that. She couldnt even make as much as she was making as full-time teacher, after school teacher, and chicken parts seller. Or was the lingerie bigger than she thought? She sighed. The problem with that proud Nome was that no one knew her business. She couldnt tell how much lingerie business Nome was doing because shed never been allowed in the garage. Was Francis Obed doing anything on the side (legally or illegally) to bring in more money? How shed love to know! In all her mad musings, Mrs Tonye did not remember that Mrs Obed had said that that was her months provisions. If the full trolleys were broken down to every few days shopping, she would have seen that it was nothing out of the ordinary. But, she was so upset that even after theyd got home (in silence), and the evening affairs were over, and everyone in bed, she could not sleep. She could not stop thinking of the Obed family. She heard in her mind Nome Obeds common excuse for not attending the womens meetings. Oh, I was busy loving my family as God expects me to. The thought incensed her afresh and her mind poured venom all over Nome. If thoughts could kill By morning, she was a near wreck. But one thing, shed resolved: she must look for another avenue to make more money. Fast.

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CHAPTER ELEVEN Poor Daddy nothing, my diet was healthier than what you people have today. But Daddy, to not have tasted pizza! Its so sad, Chinyere said from the bottom of her heart. Francis Obed exchanged a look with his wife and, simultaneously they burst into laughter. So Daddy, insisted Chiaka, if you had no pizza no chips, no crisps, no We had yam chips which you love, and dodo, another favourite of yours and cocoyam chips which you also love. See? You love many things from my sad childhood, Daddy said. Humn .. okay . But what did you eat for breakfast? asked chiaka. Oh, different things. Different things, Daddy answered thoughtfully. Sometimes, we eat akara and ogi. Sometimes, beans pottage and bread, and other times akpu. They howled at the last inclusion. Gross! said Uzo Eeeuw! Chiaka said with a dramatic shudder. No! shouted Chinyere. Agrhh Chioma pretended to vomit.. Their parents laughed and laughed. Akpu was fermented cassava made into meal. When it was cooked, its rotten smell quickly ascended and suffused the environment and then hung over it like an unseen blanket for hours. The children hated it. Nome, herself did not like it because it took a combination of sweet smelling soap
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plus her precious 5th Avenue to rub off the its remembrance from her hands. But, Mr Obed loved his akpu with a stew of green vegetables. The Obed family were returning from Chiakas birthday outing. Chiaka had turned fourteen. Shed got the mobile phone (without a camera and camcorder) from mum and dad, Uzo had given her a bottle of toilet water called Sweet Girl which he said had nothing to do with Chiaka, to which Chiaka had promptly rolled her big eyes and hissed, you kid. Chinyere and Chioma (with mums help) had pooled their resources together and bought her a nice T Shirt. There was no birthday cake but her parents had taken the family to a pizza place in town. The children were happy. They all loved pizza (with pepperoni). On Uzos sixteenth birthday, theyd gone to a Chinese restaurant and had had everything from sharks-fins soup to the fortune cookies. It was wonderful and expensive. Mr and Mrs Obed had explained to the children that they couldnt afford that for Chiakas birthday especially since they were planning a party for Chioma who would be ten in a month. The Obeds didnt believe in hiding their financial situation from their brood. They told them what they could afford, what they could not, and what they could afford but would not go for and the reasons behind their decisions. It worked well for them. Of course, their childrens disappointment sometimes caused them pain. But that was life, wasnt it? You won some, you lost some and you kept going. It seemed to Nome that God must have planned it so. For, people who seemed to have whatever they wanted also possessed an amazing ability for destroying themselves and the people around them.

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The Obeds were on their way back to campus but Dad was taking a different route. Daddy, why did you take this way? Chioma asked. Youll see in a minute, Daddy answered. In about five minutes, Mr Obed turned off the main road into a side road and drove on slowly. The place looked dark though they could see spots of lighting scattered about. Many of the buildings were uncompleted and others wore a brand new look. In between some of the buildings were vacant lots. Mr Obed came to a stop in front of one of the vacant lots. He got down. Come on. I want to show something to you. The children walked with their parents into the vacant lot. Dont go any further. You might step on something, Mr Obed warned. This is our land. By Gods grace, our home will be standing here in one year at the most, eight months if, everything goes according to plans. The children were quiet. Then Chiaka hugged her dad Oh, Daddy, you are the best, Im going to get my room at last. Daddy, what about me? Im tried of sharing too. I deserve my own room, cried Chinyere. Me too, I want my own room, too, Chioma joined in. Okay. Okay, Mum said, raising both palms up. This house is going to have six rooms. One for each of you, one for Mum and Dad, and one for any guests we might have. Is it going to be a storey building? asked Chioma.

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No, that, would cost much more to build, explained Nome. Weve never lived in a storey building, complained Chinyere. Yes, I know. But theres nothing we can do about that right now. Maybe sometime in the future or you might build one for yourself when you are big and successful, mum said. So, said Mr Obed, addressing Uzo who had been quiet. What do you think? Cool, Uzo replied, a very nice surprise. And, all on my birthday, said Chiaka with emphasis on my. Oh, shut up. You think you are so special? Chinyere snapped, irked that this had happened on Chiakas birthday and not on hers. Chioma began to see the unfairness, too. Mummy and Daddy, why did you buy our land on Chiakas birthday? We did not buy it on Chiakas birthday. We concluded everything a few days ago and thought it would be a nice surprise for all of you on Chiakas birthday. So ignore Chiaka. Shes just trying to make you jealous. This is a special day for all of us. Now, join hands. Lets thank God for this provision and for the provision of family. Nomes heart was really full of thanks. Life could seem like nothing but struggle. So, she was very grateful for every break, big and small, of the material kind, of the emotional, and all other kinds. They kept her going.

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CHAPTER TWELVE Mrs Tonye was at an internet caf in town. She could have used the one on campus, but she wanted absolute privacy. You could never tell who might be peeping over ones shoulder, she reasoned. She was in one of the booths the farthest one, right at the end of the room with only one neighbour (the one on her right) to contend with. She was surfing the net for jobs abroad. Sally Tonye had not known a moments peace for the past two months. Following the encounter at the supermarket with the Obeds, shed cast her mind and energy here and there in search of avenues to real money as she termed it. She looked away from the illegal ones such as drugs and prostitution she couldnt sink that low. There must be something waiting just for her, and, she would not give up until she found it. She was six weeks into the search when Mena, a fellow teacher at her school resigned. Shed got a visa for America after fasting for three days. Mena had only just got married, but she was leaving her husband and would pave the way for him to join her, or, work and save and come back in two years. Was she going to teach in America? her colleagues asked her since what they were all used to was the British system. Mena had answered no. What work was she going to do then? Mena had told her friends that shed do anything as long as she was making dollars. One woman had given her dark warnings about leaving her husband alone, and, going alone to live in America. Mena had dismissed it with convincing disdain and, the rest didnt even try to hide their envy. And Sally Tonye had had another sleepless night. Two days after Menas news, Mrs Tonye went on a seven day fast. When it ended, she began to explore the internet. Shed not
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hit jackpot but her mood had lightened considerably. She was sure that she was on the right track. Any day now. Any minute. Oh, that would show all her enemies especially that Nome Obed.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN Asu was going back home from school. There was a jaunt in his steps. He steps seemed to bounce off the pavement as though in tune with some hip hop sound. Indeed, his heart was racing and, there was a kind of disjointed music moving in and out of his head in accordance with his thoughts. He was in a big hurry to get home, to the privacy of his room and the reason for all the excitement was burning in his school bag a new pornographic magazine hed just taken off Micheal. All he wanted in the world at the moment was just to make himself comfortable in bed with his magazine. Thank God that he had no disturbance to fear for his parents wont be there. They were never there at this time. The only person at home would be Adata and she didnt count as disturbance for even if she saw the magazine, she was not likely to tell, not unless she was willing for him to tell on her, too. So Asu marched on home, a conquering warrior, with absolutely no fears about his vice. He only wished, that he had direct contact with Micheals contacts. But, Micheal had resolutely refused. So he had to keep buying stuff from him. As Asu had known, so it was. The house was empty except for Adata who was eating something in the kitchen. He could not be bothered about food at such a time though he was nearly always hungry. He said not a word to Adata and she spared him only a small glance and continued eating.

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The Tonyes dwelling was exactly like the Obeds a three bedroom bungalow with a one car garage. The Tonye had just two children, Asu and Adata. So, the parents shared one room and, each child had a room. This, of course, was something that the Tonye children did not allow their peers who didnt enjoy similar arrangements to forget. Asu took every bit of his school uniform off. He took off the boxers too. He wanted to be free, and even boxers got in the way when he started to leaf through those magazines. The only item of clothing he left on were his socks. He didnt know why but his socks gave him a cosy feel. Then, he unzipped his school bag and brought his latest acquisition, a dirty magazine, and, although the afternoon was warm, he pulled up the covelet. His erotic odyssey had begun. In no time at all, Asus present environments were left behind. He was totally wrapped in sexual passion. In this world came Adata, without knocking (a practice shared by Asu inspite of occasional protest from each party). She walked in and sat on the bed before Asu jerked his head sharply to the side to acknowledge her presence. All the fear mingled with anger that rose up at the intrusion slid back down in the pit of his stomach as he saw the gleam, which had entered Adatas eyes even as she leaned toward his pillow to get a better look. Brother and sister looked on silently, slow page after slow page. Sometime in the perusal, acting under an overpowering unseen force, Adata had got under the sheet. She was not alarmed by what she made contact with nor was she disturbed when her brother started to touch her. Neither cared when the magazine slid to the floor. They were fully engaged in having sex. Going all the way. No bars to hold them back. Even though they were brother and sister.

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CHAPTER FOURTEEN Micheals fortune took a turn for the worse. His little trade in pornographic materials finally landed in trouble he could not beg out of. One of the boys hed sold a porn movie to had been careless. Thinking his family fast asleep, the boy had started to watch his movie around 1:00 am. Hed cut out the sounds completely and the living room was completely in the dark. What he did not know was that the flickering light of the television screen had kept his father awake after hed woken up to use the ensuite bathroom. He was having a wonderful time of it when the door to his parents bedroom opened and out came his dad. As the bedrooms in this house opened directly on to the living room, the boy had not the chance of switching the thing off before his dad pounced on him. He was thrashed to an inch of his life and he really believed his dad would have killed or seriously injured him if his mum had not intervened by placing herself between the maniacal man and the boy. It didnt take a second asking for him to reveal the source of the porn movie. So, after the disgust directed at him from members of his family, hed had to face the disappointment written all over Mr Standfasts face as his father took the matter to the school. He was a good boy. At least, hed been until he decided to do what other boys were doing. Micheal had been called into Mr Standfasts office. When he saw the boy, he knew the game was up. He thought it hopeless to begin to deny because he knew the boy would bring in other witnesses. Hed owned up and said sorry. Mr Standfast had then telephoned his father whod refused to come, telling Mr Standfast to do whatever seemed best to him. And Mr Standfast had seen best to remove Micheals corrupting influence from the school. And, Micheal had become a true drop-out. His days were spent more and more outside his home. He rarely made it home to sleep. He hung about with older boys versed

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deeply in activities ranging from drugs to random sex (with both sexes), to stealing. His father said hed washed his hands off him. Asu, true to his hypocritical upbringing, kept in touch with him only on the sly. He did not want anyone linking him even remotely to Micheal. But, he still went to him for favours, searching in the known unsavoury places until he found him. As his sexual horizon expanded, hed leaned quite a bit on Micheal. At first, it was for condoms. Then, hed got bored and reckless discarding the use of condoms except when the girl refused to do it without condoms. And that had led to the knowledge of some pills, which brought on the menstrual period, and, when those failed, there was the guy who did the abortions. Asu had been forced to use his services twice .. for two different girls. He was not too expensive and, allowed a man some credit. Micheal had been the guy with the knowledge all through. Asu did not know what he would have done without Micheals guidance. And now, he was on another quest for Micheal. He was heading for an uncompleted building on the outskirts of town. The tip hed had said Micheal and his gang were holing up there. He had to find Micheal for he was in agony. Hed been for sometime now and the pain was getting really bad. For the past two weeks, Asu had been experiencing pain while urinating. Hed thought nothing of it at first thinking that itd pass in a few days. But, instead of the pain going away, it had intensified, and then, hed noticed with horror some whitish substance coming out of him after hed peed. He couldnt tell anyone but Micheal, and Micheal, he could not find. Asu had come to his destination. He paid the taxi and walked into the turning that should take him to Micheals hideout. He was not afraid of Micheals company. After all, he did the same things that they did. Only he was careful not to be caught.
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He finally came upon the uncompleted building and before he stepped through the gate, he knew hed come to the right place for marijuana could be smelt from the street in front of the house. The gate wasnt locked, just closed. A little shove pushed it wide open. The whole place was littered with everything from soda cans to oily bits of paper that must have held puff puff or akara. It was a very seedy place. Asu stepped into the building and wondered fleetingly what they used for toilet. Then, just as he opened his mouth to yell a greeting, Micheal came out of one of the rooms bare chested with one arm around a girl in very dirty jeans. They greeted with their fists placed one on top of the other and sat down on the bare, dirty floor. Asu brought his offering of marijuana out of his bag. Two more inmates of the house joined them as they began to roll the joints. They would enjoy a smoke first. Then Asu would take Micheal aside to tell him his problem.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN Mid-week service was over but the church hall was buzzing with cries of delightment that rang false as people trooped up to the Tonye family to express their happiness for them. Nome Obed started to walk out of the hall herding her three younger offspring in front of her. Her husband laid a retraining hand on her arm. Weve got to wish them well, if not, it will be construed as envy. Nome shrugged. Who cares? But she knew her husband was right. So, she told her children to wait, then, she walked with her husband to the group surrounding the Tonyes. With a few
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excuse-mes they went through and stood in front of Mr and Mrs Tonye. Congratulations, Madam, said Mr Obed. Were happy for you. Oh, thank you. The Lord is good, Mrs Tonye replied smiling triumphantly at Nome Obed. So, when are you leaving? asked Nome smiling back. I dont know yet but she knew. God forbid that she should tell her enemy her itinerary. No one must put sand in the food God had given her. Well, well probably see you before you leave, said Francis Obed. He shook hands with Richard Tonye. Then, he and his wife bade the gloating Tonyes goodnight and walked back to their family. Sally Tonye watched them go and revelled in the moment. How shed desired and waited for this day! It had finally come the day that shed risen above Nome Obed. Shed got something, at last, to top her high and mighty ways. Her sycophants shared looks loaded with sly meanings with her as the Obeds walked off. One nudged her in the ribs with her arm. She nodded. Yes, they agreed silently, God had heard their prayers and brought down that proud woman. The sycophants were at their phoney best. They must be so that Mrs Tonyes new largesse would not become forgetful. Mrs Tonye had hit jackpot. Shed got a job in Saudi Arabia. A teaching job. She was going to earn more than double of what her husbands university job paid. The visa and every other thing were in order. She was leaving in four days. That was why she could afford to give the testimony in church today. One had to be careful of the evil eye. As it was, none could spoil things for her for every detail was in place, and, not even her cronies knew when she was
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flying out. Only her family knew and they knew how to cover their tracks. Mrs Tonye was happy, truly happy for the first time since the conquest of Mr Tonye in marriage. She had no worries now. She felt no compunction at leaving her children for as long as it takes. Shed sworn to herself that shed work so hard that theyll have no alternative than to renew her two year contract. She would not come back until theyd built themselves a mansion and started a substantial business or two. Oh, she was looking forward to life. And Mrs Tonye slept.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN Adata Tonye walked slowly into the classroom and stopped behind the girl that stood in the narrow aisle that led to her seat. She hissed. Will you please remove yourself and let me pass? She demanded nastily. The girl quietly moved aside and watched, bemused, as Adata waddled majestically to her seat. On the other side of the class, Chiaka watched also and thanked God that they were not friends anymore. The friendship had gone on half-heartedly until one afternoon after school. Shed stood waiting at the school gate for Adata. While students poured out. Chuks had broken away from the stream of students as soon as hed seen her. Hed come over with a big smile to chat with her. Shed felt Adatas animosity before she looked up into eyes that leapt with hatred at her. Chiaka had recoiled with shock and stopped talking abruptly. Chuks noticing the change had looked from one face to the other, and, smiled goodbye at chiaka and gone off. Adata had glared at chiaka
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and then walked past her without a word. Chiaka, then, had turned and started to follow her slowly wondering still at her friends reaction. She had no wish of being close to Adata but that way was her way home, too. So she thought this has been the worm eating away at their friendship. She was badly shaken. Suddenly Adata had whirled about and yelled, You think youre so hot? You and that your mother. Well, nobody likes you. Dont think Chuks likes you. He doesnt. Its me he likes! Then, shed walked very fast, almost running, to her home. Chiaka had continued the journey home in a very hurt and pensive mood. As soon as shed got in, her mother known that all was not well. Shed held her while she sobbed the whole incident out. Nome had comforted her daughter and encouraged her to be happy with her other friends. But, in her heart, she sang a song of the thanks to God. She was relieved that that friendship had come to an end, for shed heard the stories about the Tonye Children. Everyone had except the ostrichy parents. Nome sometimes saw the boy, Asu in unlikely places when she drove in to town and marvelled. The fall out, for her, was answer to her prayers concerning her daughter. Now, as Chiaka watched her erstwhile friend from across the class, she wondered how she would have coped with this Adata. Since the upliftment to the status of one with a parent abroad, Adata had become insufferable. So were the father and brother. They flaunted their new wealth in shockingly immodest ways. Although only Mr Tonye could drive in their family, hed bought two cars. So, he had three cars to himself. His awareness of himself these days was such that he wouldnt let anyone have one say in the meetings he attended. There were complaints all over the place about him. Adata and her brother had new things to show off every month: new phones, new clothes, loads of pocket
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money. Adata was rumoured to take dates (who now lined up) to motels. She thought herself higher than other girls and told them so even though it was common knowledge that boys (her dates) referred to her as the dog on account of her willingness to oblige the boys sexually.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN It was that time of day when dogs slept and not good for walking unless one had to. The campus was still for children were away at school and the adults were occupied. Trees stood like statues and birds kept out of sight and out of hearing. And the sun shone in all her strength. Nome was out on one of her thrice-weekly walk. Each walk took fifteen minutes to the universitys gates and fifteen minutes back to her house, totalling thirty minutes brisk walking time. Nome took the thirty minutes exercise, three time a week, not because she was fat and in need of weight loss. She was a beautifully proportioned woman whose tummy was still flat even after four children. You couldnt call her big and you couldnt call her slim either. She was called without hesitation, beautiful and her enemies could not say otherwise. Although Nome did not care much for beauty as defined by others (be pencil thin and wear clothes unsuitable for your body shape) she kept to her exercise routine faithfully because it made her feel good and also gave her the chance to hear her thoughts. But she usually did her exercise in the evening, between eight and nine, when supper and related chores were done.

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But today, when she should have been gainfully occupied in her garage workshop, she was out walking in the strong sun, not enjoying it but enjoying it. The punishment matched her mood. Nome could be moody but she didnt allow herself to sink into the black moods. Usually once the cause of the mood had been isolated, the blackness would lift. And, she had done the same thing this morning but shed remained restive. Hence, the self infliction of a furious walk in the oppressive sun. The night before Francis had mentioned something to do with the universitys politics. On enquiring further, Francis had clammed up telling her that she would not understand. About twenty minutes afterward, Fatmata, a stay at home mum with no home business, had stopped by to pick up a lingerie for a friends birthday. Shed casually mentioned the happenings in the university and, Francis had delayed the woman while he gave her a fully blown accounts of things. Nome was deeply hurt and very, very angry. Of course, shed had it out with him as soon as the woman left. He didnt seem to understand how his action had made her feel less than fatmata. Hed apologised all the same but Nome had retained some cold anger through her sleep till the morning. It had cast its spell on the normal sweet rowdiness of the school morning. Shed not been able to deal with it effectively. Pounding the pavement now, she knew it was because this particular offense had a way of repeating itself. She wondered if it was something in her that was the cause. Was she giving too much or too little? She knew she was giving her best as wife and mother. Her life was already quite full with family. So, it must be that shed given so much that respect for her person and her efforts had got lost somewhere in there.

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But what was she to do? Start holding back? Make Francis appear less than other men? (It wasnt difficult at all, God knows!) Nome remembered the early, rough years of her marriage. Shed threatened divorce with every fifth sentence. She smiled a little recollecting how foolish shed been. Divorce was not even an option now because she knew that there were no perfect human beings. Therefore, it followed that there could be no perfect relationships. Nome wondered, not for the first time, if staying at home had not contributed to her being taken for granted. True, she was working very hard at taking care of her family, but, she seemed to be the only Obed who knew that. She didnt think her family realised the role she was playing in their lives. And, it hurt. Especially at moments like this. Would they or really, would Francis have valued her more if shed gone out to work? Shed asked him a few times and hed always strongly affirmed that he had the kind of home hed always wanted and that he didnt want it any other way. She believed him sometimes. She couldnt help wondering though. After all, it seemed to be almost compulsory that a wife and mother should hold down a job (or two). Without fail, the first thing after hello is What do you do for a living? It had disturbed and shamed Nome in the days before the lingerie business. After that started, she had eagerly too eagerly, offered that up every time she was asked the question until she became sick with herself and asked herself Why? The answer was that she wanted to belong. There was safety from ridicule if you belonged. Thereafter, shed made up her mind to be herself though none liked her for it.

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Her answer since then had been I love my family for a living. For those who insist, she would ask Is there something wrong with that as a career? Then, she would either smile politely and move away or stay and expatiate depending on the listeners state of enlightenment. Her stance had led many women to confide their heart desires in her. Many long to stay with their children but cant because their financial contribution is needed if they are to live like Joneses. These ones find it difficult to forgive themselves for the things that go wrong in their childrens lives. For others, their earning power was a prerequisite to their men marrying them and none were blushing! And then, there are those whose husbands want them home yet, are not willing to take care of them financially. The remembrance of this made Nome hissed. Marys husband was in that group. He would have his children raised by their mum but he wasnt quite forth coming with the money. Mary had to ask, ever so nicely, at least three times before she got anything whether it be for housekeeping or fees for the nursery school that their first born went to. Sometimes, the man would just bring the groceries home himself, just so that Mary didnt get to handle the money. Five years of this was tearing Mary apart. Her dimunitive self had become even more diminished. She was becoming desperate of something all her own. Nome hissed again. Why didnt men understand? Marys husband wanted the care of the mother for their children. He did not want her to abandon them to nannies or day carers. Yet, he was reducing her in self-worth by his devise of providing for the family. What was she to do? What did he expect her to do? How does one advise a women in Marys shoes? Nome had held hands with her and together, they had prayed for the wisdom and understanding for a little home business. They didnt know if the

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man would give the money to start it. They would cross that bridge in time. First, Mary must decide what would work for her. Theyd take it from there. Sufficient into the day is the evil thereof. Nomes attention was taken momentarily by a passing car. It was a flashy white jeep and in it were a man and a woman. Nome lips took on an ugly twist. She believed instantly that were man and wife. How? Because of the set, complacent appearance of their faces. Those who were courting wore animated faces. They didnt take each other for granted. Marriage. So tough. A refiners fire, bringing the best out of a character and also the ugly, hidden parts. But, its said, you cant throw away the baby with the bath water: when you love a person, you love the good and the bad since both parts form the whole of any person. Sobering. So, for her husband, Nome decided she would forgive him indeed again. May be this fault of his was really , well, just a fault. She would remember his good points and keep forgiving. God, please help. She didnt know how to be any thing but a nurturer to her family and truly, she found the dividends quite interesting and satisfying as the childrens characters and the character of he marriage unfurled each day. Something much stronger than her but residing deep within her, keeps pushing her to give of herself. May be that really is love. She wondered if its love that makes her willing to give or is it her willingness to give that has led to the love she has for her family? She didnt know. But she knew that the two (love and willingness to give) went hand in hand and, one could not exist without the other.

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Peep! Peep! Peep! Phioup! Pheem! The cacophony of sounds startled Nome into the awareness of her whereabouts. She had reached the universitys gates. On a sudden impulse to cheer herself up, she stepped out of the gates and took a taxi to their building site. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

A lovely surprise awaited Nome at the building site: the roof was up and the building was now a house. Nome was so elated by the sight that all the bad mood disappeared. They had opted for a simple bungalow built in the shape of the letter U with one end of the U extending further than the other. The plan of the house had the living room with a wide patio at the centre. A formal dining room was attached to the back of the living room and a door led from the dining room to a huge kitchen. The kitchen had a small dining place attached to it. On either side of the living room/dining room/kitchen were the bedrooms, two on one side (one for Uzo and the other, a guest room) and four on the other side for the parents and each of the girls. Each bedroom had its own bathroom with showers only for the childrens and, bathtub and shower for the parents. A little warehouse like structure was going up at the back of the house for the lingeries factory. Nome was overjoyed. At the rate the work was going, the house should be ready for them to move into in the next two months. And then, it would be time to consider their next project, which was to take their brood abroad (most likely London) for two weeks. The childrens clamour for travel abroad had reached its highest ever crescendo with the going away of Mrs Tonye and the subsequent goodies that the Tonye family displayed.

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The Obeds had talked extensively about it and had decided that after the house, that would be the next thing theyd take on. A two week holiday somewhere in Europe should take the edge off their hunger for overseas travel. Wanting to see the world was a legitimate desire but the Obeds didnt want their children thinking that it was the only way forward in life. They had had the priviledge of seeing a few places abroad themselves and knew that not all that glittered was gold. They also knew it was easier to believe if you have first hand knowledge of a thing. So, they would forgo a new car in favour of the trip. Nomes cousins eighteen-year-old had sold the fathers car on the sly and disappeared. Four months afterward hed written from Holland to say how sorry he was. The incident kept popping up in Nomes mind especially since Uzo got in the university and started exhibiting signs of the prevailing drives in young people. She didnt wand her son driven to desperate measures. Nome sighed. It was May. With Chiomas tenth birthday party behind them, they should be able to manage the trip at Christmas time. Theyd chosen that with the hope that itd snow. That would be wonderful for the children. Also, Francis had found out that travel agencies offered cheaper tickets at that time because that was their low season. She prayed that the visas would come through. Family life was a constant juggle. Life as a whole kept her on her toes. But, Nome often wondered what and how life would be like without the daily challenges and their subsequent rewards. And each time it seamed to her that it would be very flat. Rather like coca cola without the fizz, she imagined. And, coca cola without the fizz, no one wanted to drink.

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So today, she would be joyful. For their very own house was becoming a reality and that was a serious milestone in life. She rummaged in her jeans pocket to see if she had enough money to buy a crate of coca cola for the labourers and pay her fare back to the campus. Although shed said thank you several times already, and, they were being paid for the work, she liked to do this sometimes. It made the workers happy and the work went faster and better. She found enough for the drinks but, not for her fare. Shed have to call Francis to pick her up. Thank God for mobile phones! It was also a nice time to show Francis that all was well between them. CHAPTER NINETEEN Asu was increasingly reckless in his sexual forays. He slept with as many girls as were willing including his sister. Micheal had introduced him to the antibiotic for gonorrhoea and it had worked. The burning pain had ceased and so had the discharge. For a while he had stuck to condoms since he could not bring himself to warn the girls he had had intercourse with of the gonorrhoea, and, stay away from them: they were willing and available. Then he slipped once and rushed out afterward to buy the antibiotic. Being able to buy any drug over the counter was a big help. He thanked the government for that lack of restrictions. Thereafter, that had quickly become the pattern. Sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhoea didnt faze him and AIDS was still just a tale. As for Adata, the stories about her were no longer told in whispers. The boys she granted favours went about vehemently denying any friendship with her and, decent girls avoided her, their disdain of her blatant and her reaction to them just as blatantly disdainful. The Tonye family had not backed down in any way. If anything,

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their prideful cup was overflowing and woe it was to any one that got in contact with it. Now Adata was in her bed. She was not in a good mood. She wasnt feeling so good and she didnt know why. It couldnt have been anything that shed eaten for the feeling of ill health had persisted far too long, yet, she did not have a fever. What could she say to the doctor? That she was always tired? Another thing, shed been discharging that stinky thing from her vagina. But she had no one to confide in. Her friends were just girls like her, all they had in common were their nefarious activities, there was no true friendship between them. Her mothers friends had not stopped by in recent times even to say hello and worse, some were also saying bad things about the Tonye family and joyfully predicting doom for the proud lot. She just didnt know what to do. Shed have to tell her dad if things did not improve soon.

CHAPTER TWENTY Nome was happy. They were in their own house although there were still a myriad of small things to do toward finishing the house. These, they reckoned could be tackled at their leisure. The children were happily settled in the new environment. Nome had worried about how they would adapt to quasi-isolation considering that theyd lived so long with neighbours all around them on the university campus. But they said it was cool. Nome guessed that it must be kind of boring doing nearly all the activities of living in one enclosed space, but, she also knew that when the novelty wore off, theyd start complaining about being cut off from campus life, and that, she was certain would only be for a while since they were all still going to their respective schools on the campus.

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Chioma was still trying to get used to her room. Shed kept her parents awake for the first two nights in the new house. As soon as Nome said good night and snapped the light off, the visions began: there was a lizard on the curtain, a snake on the wall, someone hiding by the closet. After two exasperating nights of running back and forth in response to Chiomas Mummy! Mummy! Nome had asked Chinyere who also couldnt sleep because of mosquitoes even though the house had been sprayed over with insecticide and the beds draped with mosquito netting, if she would like to take care of Chioma and Chinyere had readily accepted. So each child kept her room, but, at night Chioma went to sleep in Chinyeres bed. The visions and mosquitoes both disappeared immediately. And, everyone slept. But sometime in the night, their dad would transfer Chioma, fast asleep, to her bed where she slept till morning. They were confident that both she and Chinyere will soon forget their fears and hop into their respective beds without a thought. Nome was watering the plants her husband, the familys gardener, had planted all around the house. As she did this, she wondered what would happen to the plants while they were gone for the visas had come through and they were all set for their English Christmas. With the move to the house, Francis had been able to take his housing in cash which had gone to the holiday. So, the holiday wont hurt family life. The children were estastic, the parents happy and deeply grateful to God. The lingerie factory would be shut for the duration of the holiday. Nome was pushing herself and her part time workers to finish the Christmas orders three days before their departure. Shed be gone for a month (second week in December to second week in January).The children would resume school a week late. Their schools had been informed. As Francis said, it was too much

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money for just two weeks. For Nome January was normally slow, so she was looking forward to resuming work in February. Yes, she decided, she would drop the gate key with Mary. Nome was sure that she would not mind coming in a few mornings a week to water her plant. Marys husband had come through with some money with which Mary had used to start a home pastry business. She was beginning to be well known in her neighbourhood. Consequently, her marriage had improved. The thought of Mary put brought a nice smile on Nomes face. Truly, it was a thankful time. Bang! Bang! Nome looked up from the plants to the gate. She didnt receive many visitors since she was way off campus and she was glad about it. As she said to Francis, anyone who took the trouble to come out to see her must really want to see her. So, wondering who it could possibly be, she walked toward the gate. Who is it? Nome called at the gate. Life was such that you had to be sure who your caller was before opening the gate otherwise you could be opening your gates to your own hurt. Its me. Mama Seun. Nome was dismayed. Mama Seun was one of Mrs Tonyes friends, one of the people she went out of her way to avoid. What could she be looking for? Even as she wondered about her callers mission, she remembered Chiaka telling her that there was a rumour at school that Adata was pregnant and that, shed not been coming to school. Nome had dismissed it because she could not imagine Adata Tonye getting caught in pregnancy. Adata was an old, old fifteen year old. All the same, Nome had noticed that all the Tonyes were absent in church the last Sunday. It wasnt that shed gone looking for them.
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They were so high profile in church that she could not notice that not one of the three was present. Now, this gossip mongering woman was at her house. Nome silently asked Gods help with the annoyance she was already feeling. She opened one side of the gates and placed a tiny smile on her lips. Good morning. This is a surprise. Yes. I know someone in the next street, I was on my way there when I remembered that you people were here now. I heard in church. I hope you dont mind? Nome came to herself and realised that she was holding on to the opened gate and barring the way in to the compound. Course not. Come in. Mama Seun walked in and Nome shot the bolt back in place. She led the woman into the living room. Mama Seun took a seat and sat down without an invitation to do so. She cast her eyes this way and that way. Nome watched, annoyed and amused. She knew Mama Seun was sizing things and committing them to memory to relay, along with embellishments, to any who would want to listen. Would you like something to drink? Nome asked. No, no. Do not bother. Im not staying long. As I told you, Im going to see someone. I just thought since I was so close to your house that I should stop and say hello. Thank you.

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Ah, my sister God has really buttered your bread. To have a house like this that is all yours! Im happy for you. God has put your enemies to shame. Nome was tempted to ask who her enemies were but she knew that would open all sorts of things that shed had been careful to avoid, and, she also did not want to prolong the visit. I say, have you heard the latest? Mama Seun asked leaning forward with a gleam in her eyes. The latest what? About that proud lot, the Tonyes. Without waiting for a reply, she continued. Heh! They say the man took the girl to the clinic because she was not feeling fine and the doctor found out that she was four and half months pregnant! she looked at Nome expectantly, waiting and looking to get her reaction to such earth-shattering news. But Nome only said Really? Yes. Really. And you know when the doctor told the father, the stupid man started to shout at the doctor, calling him names and threatening to sue him for trying to blacken his daughters name. And the harlot herself too was abusing the doctor saying that she could prove that the doctor was lying. So they asked her to do so and she took the attending nurse to the toilet to show her that she was mensurating. The nurse said the flow was too light and only pinkish in colour explaining that some women have a light flow even while they are pregnant. But the explanation did no good. Mr Tonye insisted on seeing the most senior doctor. That one took them to the scanning room, and, there it was. A four and half month old pregnancy. As they say pictures no dey lie.

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Oh dear, Nome was truly dismayed. So shes going to have a baby in five months. Oh, dear! Mama Seun snorted. As if that was the only problem! I have not finished. Theres more? Nomes tone mocked but Mama Seun took no notice. The father, there and then, set about beating her. He punched her and he kicked her. Mama Seun was now standing and demonstrating. Me, I believe he was trying to get rid of the pregnancy. The doctors had to physically restrain him and threaten to call the police. That stopped him. He drove away from the clinic telling the girl that she would die if he set his eyes on her. Can you imagine that? The big righteous man. So the nurses took Adata to a room to talk to her. She told them everything. I mean, everything. All her symptoms and all the boys. And guess what? She stopped and looked very serious and a bit sinister Guess what? For want of something to say, Nome said what? Now Mama Seun moved and sat very close to Nome lowering her voice to a wicked whisper although she knew it was just her and Nome in the house. She has gonorrhoea and abomination of abominations! One of the people was sleeping with, in fact, the chief, was none other than her brother! In spite of herself, Nome reeled and spat No! Then, she got up and ran to the visitors toilet retching repeatedly but bringing nothing up. Mama Seun followed her standing by the toilets door and making consoling sounds in her throat. She was
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vastly satisfied by her mornings work. Nome rinsed out her mouth, washed her face and walked back to the sitting room with Mama Seun. So, where is Adata now? With our pastor. The matron took her herself and Adata told the pastor everything. He was horrified. Poor man. But her took both Asu and Adata to stay with his family for, fear of their father murdering them. He knows? I mean their father, about the gonorrhoea and Asu as possibly the babys father? Yes, Mama Seun answered surprised. The pastor had to tell him. Thats why the children have been staying with the pastor. Their mother should be coming in if not tonight, tomorrow night. Serves her right, I say. Please, Nome said in a voice that brooked no nonsense. Then she got up. Thanks for stopping by. Mama Seun was forced to get up. The visit had come to an end. And for Nome, the wonderful feeling of well- being of the morning was completely shattered. She knew she should not be, but, she was greatly disturbed by what shed heard. If all the stories were true, what was that family going to do? Where do they begin to fix such a mess? How terrible those things had come to such a horrendous pass for the Tonyes! A lot, indeed, had happened to the Tonyes. Mrs Tonye had come back to her husbands fury. He absolutely forbade the return of the children to their house. It took the intervention of the pastor and elders of the church to calm him down. A sad, remorseful pair were Asu and Adata. They remained estranged from their home
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even with the return of their mum for nine more days. They lost all the appetite for their different lusts. They had no appetite for food even. The barely concealed disgust from people caused them to wither both outwardly and inwardly. They kept strictly to their allocated places of rest, Adata in the same room as the pastors daughter and niece, and Asu in one of the rooms in the boys quarter. The boys quarter was reserved for servants mainly but came into use for the odd guest also. Mr. Tonye had raved and ranted to the point of wanting the wife, whom everyone had warned him against marrying, gone from the house also. He blamed her for the calamity that had befallen them citing the many instances in which she had blocked him from carrying out disciplinary actions against the children. His memory failed totally in recalling his own blindness to his childrens faults, a blindness brought on by inordinate pride. By and by the counsel of the elders had prevailed and some truce had been reached. The children were allowed home as long as they kept totally out of their fathers right. Mr Tonye, Mrs Tonye also, had wanted Adata to go home to their village to Mrs Tonyes mother until after the birth. But the elders were adamant that they should face up to their responsibility especially as they themselves were elders in the church. They made them see that taking that way of escape would do worse for their reputation than what had happened and besides people already knew of the shameful matter, sending Adata to the village would not make it disappear. It was decided that Adatas baby would be given up for adoption as soon as it was born. Thereafter, Shed go back to school. Treatment for Adatas gonorrhoea had already started. When Asu was bought in for the same treatment, he insisted, albeit shamefacedly that he did not have the disease. The doctor explained to him that there was no way that he could not have the disease if he was sleeping with his sister who evidently had the
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disease. He then told the doctor that he repeatedly treated himself. He even told the doctor the name of the antibiotic hed been using. When the doctor asked him why Adata still had the disease, he told her that he could not bring himself to tell her. The doctor also asked him if there were others he had infected. A thoroughly beaten Asu, beaten solely by enormity of the result of what was supposed to be the best fun in the world, admitted to knowingly infecting other girls as well as his sister. The doctor struggled to hide his anger as he explained to him the boomerang effects of his action. The girls who were infected would in turn infect others who in turn the side effects of gonorrhoea including infertility, and, a baby being born blind because of the gonorrhoea in the mum. The doctor insisted on getting names and addresses of the girls Asu had slept with. All cockiness had fled Asu. He supplied the names and then, to his horror, the doctor said he must go with him to personally tell these girls or he would report the matter to the police. Asu broke down and wept very bitter tears. The doctor remained unmoved. Finally, Asu stopped and went out to wait in the waiting room for the doctor to finish seeing the other patients. Then they went together to begin the ugly rounds of confession. Mrs Tonye had not been able to summon the courage to go to church. She knew she couldnt hide forever but there just wasnt enough strength in her to face people. Things had gone horribly wrong, so far from the way shed planned it. She should have had a triumphant entry into the country with her family and friends waiting for her at the airport. She should have walked into church victoriously with people gazing at her in envy. Instead, shed been yanked into a nightmare and it was impossible to wake from it. She thought frequently to the call from her husband announcing the unbelievable events to her in cold, hateful tones. Several times after the call, shed wondered if she shouldnt kill herself than face the shame. It would have been bad enough that Adata was pregnant but incest, how does one live down incest when the world
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knows about it? Sexual promiscuity, incest, gonorrhoea! Things like these happened to others, not to the Tonyes. But, they had happened to them and she was totally bewildered. She did not know how things could ever be right again. At first, shed blamed her husband. After all, he had charge of the children. Then, shed blamed the kids. For the first time in her life as a mother, she felt, indeed she longed, to pound her children. How could they have disgraced her so? But Francis Obed, who was in the council of elders, had told them that the fault was more theirs than the childrens. They had abandoned their children, not only physically but mentally and spiritually. They had pushed the children into adult moulds when while they were still in need of parental supervision. The Tonyes, for the time since their calamity, had joined forces in their angry protestation against Elder Obed. But, the pastor sided with Obed and all the other elders had followed suit. So, the Tonyes had quietened down. And, bit by bit, in her lonesome distress (for all her friends had abandoned her), Mrs Tonye had come to see that truly they, especially she, were the cause of the tragedy that had come to them. If only shed put her priorities right. If only she could turn back the clock. If only if only That, was how she spent her days. Regret after regret. The house was cold in every sense of the word. Each of them kept out of the others ways. She and her husband barely spoke to each other. And, to the children, all she could say to them was to call them out of their respective rooms to eat. She knew shed failed them as a mother but there was nothing she could do to put it right. Too late, she wailed silently, too late. For all their lifetimes, none of the Tonyes would forget this Christmas season. In the Obed household, it was nice and joyful. They were leaving the following night for their holiday. But, Nome could not put Mrs Tonye out of her mind for long. She supposed she was reaping what shed sown but all the same, Nome felt very sorry for her. Shed wondered many times what she could possibly do to wish
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Mrs Tonye well but couldnt come up with anything. She did not go to see Mrs Tonye to avoid Mrs Tonye thinking shed come to gloat. But she was feeling more and more that a phone call might be okay. Finally, she plucked up the phone and called the Tonyes residence. Mrs Tonye herself answered. He voice was guarded and low. Its me, Nome. Ive been wanting to call but I didnt know if youd mind. I dont, Mrs Tonye replied and she found even as she said it that she did not. In fact, she was rather glad about the call because with Nome one knew where one was. How are you? Okay Im so sorry about what you are going through. Thank you. Then for some reason she heard herself opening up to Nome who hitherto shed considered enemy. I just dont know what to do. Ive made terrible mistakes. Now, look at my poor children. But it will blow over. For now just love them. Spend time with them. Do things with them. You know, put them before your wishes. But that wont turn back the clock. No, but theres always a second chance. Always. Just dont give up.
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Thank you. You know, I really appreciate your call. We have become very undesirable elements Nome was stunned. How hath the mighty fallen! Was this the proud Mrs Tonye? It will blow over. Concentrate on beginning again with your family. Its never too late. Youve learnt your lesson. One day youll smile again. Thank you. Thank you very much. There was a catch in her voice and Nome knew she was crying. Listen. Were going away tomorrow evening for Christmas. Ill come and see you when we return. But remember, that Im praying for you and your family. Oh, God bless you. Mrs Tonye was openly crying now Dont cry. Its a new beginning. Just love them. Yes. Yes. I will try. Thank you so much. When Mrs Tonye got off the phone, she felt differently. Maybe it was having the conviction that there was one person who was not laughing. She knew she was not feeling as lethargic as she had been before the call from Nome. Yes, she could believe finally that shed been forgiven her neglect of her family, given a second chance. Just love them, she repeated like a mantra. Just love them. Asu, Adata, come out. Lets get ready for Christmas.

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