I’M SMILING EVEN IF I CAN’T REMEMBER – Part 3

After I had arrived, I stepped into my room. It looked just the way I had left it. Even if I can’t remember some things. There was a reading table just at the foot of my big-sized bed is filled with all sorts of books, ranging from spiritual to motivational to educational. A huge standing fan in the corner, calendars and four big windows. I opened the wardrobe and put in the clothes that I had packed from Abuja before crashing into the big bed and sleeping off.

I woke up just in time for supper; my mom had made fried rice and fried fish for dinner. In my mind, I knew all of this special treatment couldn’t exceed this night. I smiled to myself as I continued to eat. As soon as I had finished eating, I did the dishes and joined the elders of my clan to watch the news on national TV. I watched my senior colleagues in my field do their thing. After a lot of arguments and talks on the nation’s politics, we prayed and we all dispersed to our various sleeping nests. I knew tomorrow had a lot in store for me.

As early as five-thirty a.m., we had finished our morning devotion. My dad then started the long talk I knew was coming my way.

“Sewa”, he began.

“Yes, Sir”

“As you can see”, he continued, “you are the only ones left with me and your mother in this house.” He stopped as though he was sorting out his thoughts from an archive. “All your elder ones are married, and you are the only one left. I won’t say much because I have lived my own life already, and I have children who have children. If you like, don’t get married to flesh and blood; be pursuing a career up and down, and what’s that other thing she says?” he asked.

“Feminism”, my mother chipped in.

“Yes, a man is the crown of a woman, e ni a wi fun Oba je’o gbo, mi o le ku tori omo kan” Then he left.

“You have heard all your father said; it is left to you.” “I didn’t kill my parents, so you can’t kill me,” my mom said as she was leaving.

I just sank into the chair, head drooped, mouth closed. What can a young woman do to please anybody in this house? I thought to myself.

The Christmas and New Year events came and went without a hitch. Lots of festivities from the church to the house with visiting family members, children all playing around, joy, fun and laughter. But there was just one thing.

NO HUSBAND!

Sewa failed again this year to bring a man home.

NEXT POST: I’M SMILING EVEN IF I CAN’T REMEMBER – Part 4

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