C3 Chapter 3

I stepped out of the house, wiped off the tears from my left eye and was about dialing my dad's number when Aunty Bridget came out through the front door. "Deja come inside na, we are planning what we will cook this afternoon."

I nodded, expecting her to go inside but she didn't, she was waiting for me. I sighed and I entered inside the house with her behind me. Amaka was busy with her phone while Andrew just starred at me. I sluggishly say down beside my aunt and unconsciously began shaking my left leg– something I did when I was nervous or anxious–, I brought out my phone and opened a puzzle game.

"So Amaka I will cook jellof rice and chicken, let's use it to welcome Deja." Aunt Bridget said with a smile at me which I returned.

"Deja, what kind of name is that?"Andrew asked and Amaka burst out in laughter, "I wonder."

I was about to say there was nothing funny in what he said but I held back.

"Andrew Deja is a Yoruba name, the full name is Adejare." My aunt replied coming to my aid.

" Mummy but why is she bearing a Yoruba name, shebi Uncle is Igbo like us?" He asked again and I smiled. He was always curious which was something I was used to as he was the same age with my younger brothers.

"My mom is from Ondo that's why I have a Yoruba name. My Igbo name is Amarachi." I replied.

"Ohh."

I nodded.

"Back to the topic, Amaka go and buy the things I will use go cook the rice so we will eat early."

"But mummy it's already past four, hope it will still be our afternoon food?" Amaka asked and her mom eyed her.

"Are you stupid? Which foolish afternoon food. Common go and buy the things joh, it's for our night food. Get me a pen and paper let me jot down what you will buy."

"Andrew go and bring pen and paper for mummy."

I watched the mother and daughter as they were discussing price and what to buy and I was dumbfounded. I was surprised her mom insulted her and Amaka said nothing like it was normal and it made me wonder if that was how most mother were quick to insult their children.

Once Aunt Bridget had jotted down everything, she gave Amaka three thousand naira to buy everything. Amaka was at the door when her mom stopped her, "Amaka wait let Deja follow you."

"Oh na mummy why must she follow me?" Amaka grumbled.

"So she will get to know this area small small na."

Amaka hissed and left but I could see her waiting outside for me.

"Deja oya go with her. Don't mind her attitude."

"Okay ma." I said silently as I left to join Amaka outside.

"Don't pass that woman at the gate o, if she doesn't have chicken buy fish!" Aunt Bridget shouted as we left.

As we came out of the compound I got a better view of the neighbourhood. It was nothing like what I was used to but I didn't mind. I felt a rush of excitement as I walked behind Amaka. She tripped over a stone and almost fell but I held her up.

"Thank you." She said nonchalantly.

I nodded. "Is the place still far?"

"Why? You've never trekked this far before princess?"

I sighed,"Very funny."

"Why are you here sef?" She asked as she folded her hands over her chest.

I studied her perfect face. Amaka was a real definition of an Igbo woman. Her skin was so fair and spotless that if she was signed as an ambassador for a skin product it would sell. She was thick and endowed in the right places, she barely look her age which was seventeen. She had full brows and thick lashes too. As if she couldn't look better than she already had, Amaka had thick black hair that was very long, the natural weaves she had on had gotten so rough that I couldn't see the hair parting anymore.

"What are you looking at?"

Her question brought me out of my trance. " What?"

"You are strange."

Finally we got to the store and we both greeted the elderly woman who sat inside. Immediately she saw us she stood up and smiled. "Ammy good evening, how is your mum?"

"She's fine."

"Fine girl how are you?" It took me a moment to realise she was talking to me and then I replied," I'm fine."

Amaka gave her the list and she went about bringing everything out for us. Soon two young guys came to the store and Amaka greeted them. After exchanging pleasantries they turned to me.

"Amaka this your friend fine o, but she no fit greet." One of them said and I frowned. I didn't know them why did I have to greet?

"She no be my friend." Amaka said with a frown.

"Ehen but we see una as una walk together reach here."

"Na my cousin, she come spend holiday with us."

"Oh no wonder she fine like this. Fine girl how you dey?" The other guy turned to me. Accessing me from my head to toe which I found really irritating. "I'm fine." I replied.

"Welcome. So you kan spend holiday with us. Where you dey stay?"

"VGC." I replied.

"Ewoo Ajebo!" One of them half screamed causing everyone else to burst into laughter –except me– and I was confused because I didn't know what that meant.

I said nothing though.

I was a bit pissed but I brushed it off. Maybe they were just joking with me. As the woman gave Amaka the polybag where the things we bought were in, I turned to go. I walked a few stepped before waiting for Amaka who was still saying her goodbyes. Once she caught up with me, I began walking again.

"Can't you collect one nylon from me sef?" Amaka grumbled again and I sighed but collected one.

"Why didn't you greet those guys as we left? They were na thinking you were rude. Not like they are wrong sha."

"I'm not rude." I replied, "I just don't know them."

"See this is not your VGC where everybody use to mind their business o, anybody you see here you greet them."

"Okay." I replied.

"Hmm Ajebo." She whispered but it was loud enough for me to hear.

"What's the meaning?" I asked.

"Of what?"

"What you just called me?"

"It's a slang name we call rich and refined kids."

I frowned, was it bad being from a rich home?

As soon as we got home, Aunt Bridget was shouting. "Amaka what took you so long?"

"We didn't stay long na, mummy your own sef dey your body."

"You dey craze." Her mom said giving her a playful slap on her back.

"Oya oya your day will soon be back let's all work together so the food will be ready as soon as possible." She said and Amaka nodded.

"David!"

"David!"

"Ma?" David finally answered.

"Come here."

He walked sluggishly into the living room, "Wetin happen?"

"I've told you to stop using pidgin to reply me." Aunt Bridget said.

"But you speak pidgin for us every time."

"So?" She turned to Amaka," Go and start blending the pepper. David wash and boil the rice. Per boil the rice o."

"Mummy I'm not a woman na. Every time you'll tell me to cook."

"If you no be woman nko? You don't know I'm training you?"

"I hear. How many cup of rice?"

"Ask your head. Don't you know how many we use to cook?"

"But Deja wasn't here na." He replied.

"David leave me. Just add one more cup."

"Okay o." He left to the kitchen.

"Deja you'll help boil the chicken."

I opened my mouth to talk but Amaka beat me to it, "Can she boil chicken? As if she even cooks at home."

Aunt Bridget eyes her, "Amaka, Amaka, you know I've been warning you o."

"Hmm sorry." She said before leaving the parlor too to join David in the kitchen.

"Deja can't you boil chicken?"

I shook my head, "Mom don't allow me cook at home."

"Ahan why na?"

I remained silent.

"Oya let's go the kitchen, you'll learn it today. I'll teach you how to cook different delicacies so that when you go home you will start cooking."

I smiled and nodded, "I'll like that."

Before nine pm we were done cooking and I could proudly say I knew how to make rice and chicken stew. They didn't have a dinning table so we all carried our plates and placed on the center table and we all sat down on the couch. Before we started eating there was a knock on the door.

Andrew looked out the window," It's daddy!" He opened the door and hugged his daddy. "Daddy welcome sir."

"Welcome sir." Amaka and David said in uniform.

"Welcome honey.", Aunty Bridget greeted as she hugged her husband and gave him a kiss on the lips. I smiled at the display of affection. My mom and dad never showed their feelings in front of my siblings and I.

"Good evening sir." I greeted him as he took his sit on one of the empty space on the chair. "Deja, how are you?"

"I'm fine sir." I replied.

"Welcome." He replied with a smile," Amaka go and bring food for me."

"Okay." She left and returned few minutes later with his plate and we started eating.

Everyone engaged in different conversation and I only talked when questions were directed to me. I couldn't help but smile at how they were all close.

After eating I assisted Amaka to take the plates to the kitchen and we washed them together before retiring back to the living room.

"Andrew stop disturbing your daddy jare, go and sleep." Aunt Bridget warned and Andrew frowned.

"I'm not disturbing him na."

"Leave my son." Uncle replied and everybody laughed.

An hour later, Uncle retired to the bedroom and Aunt Bridget followed him. It was just my cousins and I in the living room.

My phone rang and I saw that it was my dad. I excused myself and went outside to take the call.

We talked for a while, he asked if I was comfortable and I replied yes. I talked briefly to my mom and brothers before ending the call.

As I opened the door to enter, Aunty Bridget called me. "Deja, don't open the door again, mosquito will enter the house."

I nodded and sat down. I was tired. I needed to take my bath and sleep but I didn't know how to tell her so I kept shut. About half an hour later she stood up," Amaka you will let Deja sleep in the room on the small mattress with Andrew then you will sleep on the couch with David."

"Ehn no o, I don't want to sleep on the couch."

"It's fine ma. I can sleep on the couch, I don't mind." I said as I thought of how awkward it will be sleeping sleeping in the same room with Aunt Bridget and her husband.

"Amaka, I don't like your attitude o. Andrew let's go and sleep." She said finally before departing to the room. I followed her to carry my towel, bathroom accessories and nightwear. I also carried my power bank to charge my phone since there was no light.

I returned back to the parlour and it was just David there. There were two three sitter couch so I took one and place my stuff on it.

"Don't you guys have power supply here?"

"We do o. They usually bring the light but our transformer blew like a month ago and they have not repaired it."

"Oh thank God I brought power bank."

Amaka came out of the bathroom and entered the room without saying a word.I browsed through my phone for like an hour before going to the bathroom to take my bath. The shower wasn't running so I used the last bucket of water to bath. After bathing, I wore my night gown and returned back to the parlour.

David was on his back, his chest was bare as he used his shirt to fan himself. There was a pillow and wrapper on the chair. "Thank you." I whispered.

"You're welcome." He replied.

We were silent for a while as I chatted with my best friends on WhatsApp. Simi was complaining about how boring her day was and Nonso was telling me about his journey to Port Harcourt.

"Omo there's heat o." David mummered as he increased the pace at which he was fanning himself and then I remembered I brought a rechargeable fan.

"I forget that I brought rechargeable fan."

David sat up suddenly," Really? Where is it?"

"It's in my duffel bag." I replied and he stood up.

"Let me go get it for us."

He returned with the fan and placed it on the center table which we drew closer and I placed it on rotation.

David sighed, "Better."

"We'll be able to use it this night till morning but after then without light I wouldn't be able to charge it.

"Don't worry, our neighbour at the back always put on his generator every afternoon. We will charge it."

"Oh okay." I replied as my eyes grew heavy.

Soon I was asleep.