They say that I am dead, I hear them speaking in hush tones about how I died and I shake my head in amazement at their words. How can I be dead? No, how? I only just finished preparing the meal N’kem would eat once he returns from work.
Standing in the corridor betwixt the kitchen and living room I can all but taste the food right now. There is something about fresh sea products, Crocker fish, periwinkle, ngolo, snails…hmm I had left nothing to chance with the preparation of the native soup. The rush of wind sucked in deeply, and the fall of her bosoms left a smile on Toritseju’s face.
Teejay her nickname by loved ones, turned in the direction of the living room, let me go and stare down the faces of these crazy ones in my house. Whatever next would they come up with?! Strains of “hush now my baby” floated down from the stairway, oh! My darling cupcake must be up. In a bid to shame my unwanted guests I almost forgot my precious would soon awake for a meal. Glad that N’kem got around to fixing that device 7 months back, saves me the trouble of running up every now and then to check if my princess is up.
We have been married for seven years today, and it was only yesterday we had first met at the goal setting seminar Rockens Foundation organised. You never know where fun lurks, save if you are open to smiling back at strangers, Teejay mused as she took the stairs two at a time with a soft blush on her face. Olanma was a few weeks’ shy of two years. My first fruit who took forever to get here, sighing deeply at my recollection of my waiting period’, as I pushed open the door, revealing a rainbow coloured room with an underlining theme of nature.
I didn’t have much of a resistance from Chukwudi when I had stated firmly no pink room for our princess. ‘No one is going to indoctrinate my child that certain colours are for certain sexes’, shaking my head in recollection of how I had stood with both hands on my hips, hair dishevelled, in a tee shirt and cream shorts and quite ready for a fight as I stared down at Chukwudi in the living room where he sat. He had simply stared back with an entertained look on his face, ‘babes, whatever you want to do with our princess room is fine by me, and where did you pick up the pink theme as being our choice from?’ he queried, as he got up from the sofa to drop his glass. With a bemused look on my face, a slight tint of my head to the right, ‘I thought you said a pink theme while you and Mama discussed just before she left for the village?’ ‘No, she was suggesting a pink theme, I did not acquiesce, and besides we have always agreed that whatever you wanted would be it.’
The purple ruffled rug which lay askew towards the east end of the room, pulled Teejay back in time. Ola with a smile on her face was sitting up, on her soft blue duvet. The toys section on the northern part of the room was a sight, and as always Ola had gotten a number of the toys to create a trail from their section down to the middle of the room., Teejay noted as she took a sweeping glance over the room. Somehow, her pillows ended up on the floor; how she did it was still a mystery to Teejay, as she picked up the yellow, green and brown pillows and piled them at the bed’s end. ‘Mama’ Ola whispered, rubbing vigorously on her eyes. ‘My angel’, Teejay responded lifting her up from the bed and nestling her on her right side with her hips as a support. ‘Hope you slept well? Huh’ I asked as I gently brushed my lips against Ola’s forehead, Mama loves you much’. ‘Love you too Mama, Ola responded giving her a big hug, and leaning her head on Teejay’s shoulder.
Dropping Ola as they got down the stairs, go to the living room, “Teejay said, ‘your aunties and Uncle ‘Seno are there’, Mama would be with you in a bit okay, let me bring your meal. Going right as Ola made for the left door, walking a bit halting as though unsure of her next step. My princess was always a sight to behold the first 30 minutes after she awakens, particularly the way she drugged stepped.
Turning, I walked into the living room, I looked intently at the faces there, Sis Seye ever the mother she was sat on the edge of the blue sofa, with a straight face and refusing to look at Teejay, ‘only Toju would have thought to make a living room look like this, such soft and bright colours, white, blue and green Sis Seye remarked’. The wall is sea green with white flowery patterns running all through from top to bottom. The cotton binds where white with baby blue draping the windows half way once the white binds where pulled backwards; a white centre table with a pale green tray sitting on it, blue sofa with checked green throw pillows. ‘Toju! That girl was something else’. ‘Sis Seye, stop talking like am not here, kai! What is it?’ Sis Seye turned and looked at Teejay, ‘Toju she said, you are simply amazing, stubborn and a spoilt brat, letting out a chuckle and shaking her head. ‘How I spoilt you is beyond me, but no more of that.’ A bright smile lit up my face, ‘I sure am not complaining that I am spoilt!’ playfully, sticking out my tongue at her.
See Olanma o! Ifeyinwa exclaimed, ‘Mummy’s princess when did you wake up and come down? ‘Now aunty Ify, Ola responded going to give her a hug. ‘That’s my baby, do you want to eat? Yes aunty, Mama is bringing my food for me, walking back to the dining table and pulling out her seat. ‘Okay o, Teejay please bring my baby’s food o!
Teejay walked back into the kitchen, this sudden forgetfulness was not good at all, ought to have served Ola’s food. Picking up the plate of indomie noodles with vegetables and boiled egg, Teejay walked back to the living room. ‘Seno was telling a tale of some incident that happened years back to the only person I could not quite place, laughing softly as I recalled, and that is one story that would never go old. I was but 8 years old, ‘Seno was 10 and Sis Seye was 16 years. Momma had sent them on an errand to Mama Bukky’s place to pick up some supplies, while they strolled along the foot path which served as a short cut in the estate, ‘Seno had seen 3 cute puppies and proceeded to prod them by throwing small stones at them. ‘I never recalled where exactly the mother of the puppies appeared from but the race in reaction to her wild response was not today. I did escape with a cut on my leg; my right leg from the hedge as I ran through, more like broke through. Soft giggles swayed Teejay’s petite body in recollection of the incidence. Momma had not found it funny though, endangering her baby she said as she scolded ‘Seye and ‘Seno, as she insisted that they should have known better.
There was the rubbing of tyres on the interlocking drive way, ‘N’kem is back’, Teejay mused quickly rushing back to the kitchen. I had kept his meal in a food warmer. One of the things they had in common was their love for hot food and pepper, aah! food was no food without pepper. Native soup and oatmeal was n’kems’ favourite dish any day, any time.
Chukwudi walked into his living room, all stood as he entered, he looked at the faces of his sister Ifeyinwa; she lived two towns away. The good roads made it seem like she was a street away, ‘k’edu Ify? A’dim dede, she responded barely meeting his eyes. He turned and looked at Toju’s siblings Sis Seye and ‘Seno welcome, hope you have rested and are eaten something? He inquired. I didn’t feel like eating aburo mi, Sis Seye answered, as she wrapped her arms around him in a big bear like hug. She lived two bus stops away on Lakomolo Street with her family. The surprise party for Toju should be just perfect he mused, the notice had been short but he was able to get them to come.
Please sit down, he said, a soft thunder escaped with the slam of ‘Seno and Chukwudi’s palms in a friendly shake, and a hug, bros mi, how na? ‘I dey o, ‘Seno replied. ‘Make yourselves comfortable, let me go and change out of these’ Chukwudi said, turning to go inside. ‘Hi baby, he greeted Toju, why is she so quiet this afternoon?’ he mused. ‘She ought not to be back so soon, he thought, no this was not the plan; phew! There goes the surprise anniversary party, as she has seen her siblings and Ify’. ‘Daddy, Ola called, ‘am eating my noodles, welcome home’ He turned, towards the dinning, ‘hey princess, how are you?’ planting a kiss on her head, ‘how was your day? Did Miss Mary take good care of you today? ‘Yes she did,’ ‘Se you would finish your noodles as daddy’s girl? ‘Yes daddy,’ she stated.
‘Okay, finish your food Ola.’ Now am hearing things, Teejay muttered to herself, who will tell N’kem? The stress with this pregnancy was quite different from Olanma’s own; seems like I get tired so easily. As she carried the tray with Chukwudi’s meal to the dinning, how is eating coming my angel? She said looking at Ola’s plate, almost done, now that is a good girl! Where ever was ‘Rume? Teejay wondered. She usually would have been here, on a day like this. She is family, ‘Rume of life, my friend from way back in secondary school. People had always stated how we looked alike, till date we still don’t see the resemblance but then we’d always answer to ‘beji’ ‘ejima’. Who didn’t like to be a twin?
Platter, platter I heard, I know those footsteps, even in my sleep I’d identify them, muttering and blushing as Chukwudi came down in a sky blue cut jean and a chocolate brown tee shirt. He had bought me a matching one, when he travelled to Ghana three months back. Baby, where are you? He called as he strolled into the living room. Sis Seye sat up straight, ‘aburo mi, wa joke gesturing to Chukwudi with her left-hand beckoning on him and patting the sofa with her right.
Those voices again, would they please stop talking, hian! Sis Seye, ki lo de?’ Teejay queried. So, what is the plan? Sis Seye asked Chukwudi, we would just head out to the restaurant without any formalities seeing Toju is home earlier than usual, plans have to change’. Forget about the anniversary dinner just yet, I mean what is your plan searching Chukwudi’s eyes with hers. Plan? Sis don’t confuse me, what plans again biko nu?
Didn’t Bankole and Obinna discuss with you, Sis Seye asked turning to look at ‘Seno. I had asked them to come speak with you at about 3pm ni’. No, I didn’t speak with them but I recall seeing their missed calls on my two phones. Okay, since I am here, we might as well discuss, what is it about? ‘Ola baby, please go call your mummy for me, remember hold the railings as you go up the stairs.’
Dr Kennedy called me Sis Seye said at about 2:30ish. It is Toju. She fell asleep while driving home from work at about 1pm today. Suddenly he looked at the lady sitting by Ify, Rume!
Today, I realised and so did N’kem that the speakers in hush tones were right and we were wrong. I am indeed dead.
© 17th October 2016
itsewumi 