Tunde’ Parents
They were furious beyond words but they were united in one message;
“Leave our son don’t taunt him again we will not allow you your spell has already been broken go to your husband as a good wife and make him happy and prosperous.”
Efy
She rolled on the floor and held Mama Ebi’ knees;
“It was my mom who put me into this betrayal it was never my idea forgive me Ma and Pa I have seen the light.”
Mama Ebi
“She is your mother go and sort yourself out without my son he can never come back to you, you are now a past tense. Get up and go back to your husband.”
Efy
“Everywhere is block there is no chance for me.” Then she went back to Ted.
“I am back please give me another chance everybody has rejected me I love you and I’ll now tolerate all your excesses.”
Ted
“Wait for me I am coming to open door for you.” He went into his room and what did he bring out;
Pomp! Pomp! Pomp!
Efy was catapult out with her heels as her adrenaline overflows and she kept running until she met a taxi paid town trip and it took her home; she kept panting until Papa came out to rescue her daughter;
Ted
“You should have waited for me I’ll get the hell out of you pauper! You are past tense I don’t need you anymore.”
Papa Eku
“What is pursuing you my daughter? What a fright?” He gave her water and encourage her to narrate her experience.
Efy
“I went to Ted and he chased me away with a gun I’ll never go there again.” She sobbed bitterly.
Papa Eku
“Why did you go there do you want him to kill you? If he does he’ll be charged murder and sentenced life and you’ll not come back to us. What you showed was desperation but never do it again learn from the experience and move on it was your mom who made you astray but had you listen to me this would not have happen to you all the same life has to move on remember you are a graduate for God’ sake make use of your brain found work and live your life to the best of your ability.”
Efy
She cooked Papa’ favourite dish and served him Mama Aiye cooked her own food and while eating threw innuendoes to chide father and daughter who ignored her.
Mama Aiye
The family isolated her as well as the villagers she kept to herself and stop going to village compin so as not to meet Mama Ebi who is also a ‘panka’ (trouble shooter) also she was having lots of issues with some village women whom she used to bluff, taunt, insult and fight. Many people rejoice at her misfortune because of her arrogant attitude.
Efy
She also took Papa’ advice and went to the city to find employment she went to stay with her first cousin on her mother’ side. Efua is not on speaking terms with Mama Aiye who look down on her younger sister Yadicone’ family but now Efua is gainfully employed also a graduate who has lifted her mother from the doldrums of poverty and want. Yadicone’ daughter sponsored her to do food business in the city.
At the Village
Tunde’ Parents’
They wanted to find a wife for him but he rejected and asked them to wait for a while and give him time to find his own wife.
The New Girl
Absatou
She came to pay Tunde a visit and the parents raised their eyebrows when they learn that she is from different faith even without knowing her they objected but Tunde ignored them also she is a graduate from a rich family they became very suspicious.
Tunde’ parents
“Have you come to curse us as our people would say from frying pan to the fire? This girl is from city from a rich family how can she cope with us village folks and from lower class background?”
Tunde
“Dear Papa and Mama our people would say the taste of the pudding is in the eating; here is Absatou give her chance to prove herself.”
Absatou
She is down to earth girl even though from a rich family she loves to cook and surprised Mama Ebi when she took the hoe and went to the farm with her she worked very hard they harvested some crops and she came back with her and went straight to the kitchen;
“Mama E! What do you want me to cook?”
Mama Ebi
“Cook whatever my daughter and we will appreciate it.”
Absatou
“How much pepper should I put in?”
Mama Ebi
“Medium is okay for us and Tunde.”
Tunde
“She knows my taste she has cooked for me and she is a very good cook.”
Mama E coyly eyed her son and laughed.
Absatou
“Okay Mama just go and rest I’ll be ready in a jiffy.” She cooked a nice meat ‘durang’ and served with ‘findi’ and boiled verges.
“Papa, Mama food is ready and being served.”
At the Dining
The food was well cooked and delicious Papa and Mama were so impressed that they have to openly praised Absatou;
Mama Ebi
“Absatou! Are you the one who cooked this delicious ‘durang’ (domoda)?” She nodded her head and laughed deliriously.
Absatou
“Mama thank you, do you like my cooking?”
Tunde’ Parents
“We do Tunde is lucky to have another good cook like her mom.” Both Papa and Mama concurred as Tunde smiled with amusement.
The parents phoned aunty Barky to come and witness the amusement.
Absatou
She took out the family laundry and was washing when Aunty Barky came from the city in her car she went to the backyard and found Absatou washing as soon as she saw her she went and greeted her.
Aunty Barky
She knows her family her mother patronizes her merchandise she greeted her nicely and Aunty Barky asked after her mother;
Absatou
“She travelled to the U.S to nanny my elder sister’ baby her namesake.”
Mama Aiye
“Do you know her?”
Aunty Barky
“It is a small world Juka her mom is my good friend she is from a good family.”
Mama Aiye
“She is also a very good cook it is very impressive a city rich girl?”
To be Cont.
