Living In The Ghetto - Episode 28

 

Chimaobim alighted from the tricycle at the bustop which was a stone throw to the heart of the ghetto. The tap water was located opposite it and people fetched water from there. Some of the adults had their gaze fixed at him and he brushed it off, pulling away his face. He had paid the tricycle man and was trying to adjust the change the man gave him into his little wallet. After smoothly placing it there, he looked up and flashed a smile at a woman that had been staring at him while her head rotated to and fro . He walked away, into the heart of the ghetto. Everywhere was boisterous. It was afternoon and the sun shone brightly while some kids played with their shadows on the floor.

A kid that had only a colour-disfigured pant on, cackled as he pointed at his little image on the floor. He ran and the image followed him along. Falling on the floor, he laughed slowly. Chimaobim bent down a bit and carried him up.

"Clean up yourself," Chimaobim said.

The boy cleaned himself and Chimaobim looked around the ghetto and noticed some women were staring at him in an uncanny way. They gossiped and pointed at him. Maybe they are talking about my academic exploits, he thought in his mind and continued walking home.

Getting to the main ghetto where their house was located, the entrance looked scanty. He saw an owl trying to perch on a tree

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. Smiling and staring at the owl, it perched immediately and fixed its eyes at Chimaobim. He stopped and stretched his hand towards the owl and it flapped its wings and quickly flew away. He smiled and started moving. Looking forward, he saw two women stood at the entrance of the house. One had her hand on her head, while the other rested her back on the door and stretched her leg forward. They weren't looking outside but rather inside talking to someone.

He got closer and greeted them, then walked in. Some women were seated on a long wooden chair while their face looked sober. He greeted them and they looked at him with a not-so-bright face as they responded. 

Trying to stiffen his nervousness, he walked into their room. Adanne sat on the floor holding Mama's leg tightly. She noticed someone walked in and turned slowly. It was Chimaobim. She wanted to speak but her voice had depreciated. Her eyes was red and swollen. Two other women flanked mama. One was Papa's only brother's wife and the other was Mama's friend.

Chimaobim flunked the file he had on his hand to the floor scattering it everywhere. "What happened? Is my world gone?"

Her mother's friend stood up immediately and held Chimaobim tightly. "Please don't cry. You are a man. The women are already crying. You need to console them. It's okay." 

Chimaobim tried hard not to cry but tears still poured down slowly. He used his hand to cover his mouth. As much as he tried not to cry out, his heart bled sorrowfully. Staring at Mama, made them cried more.

Read " The Odds Are Against Me " by the same author ( Obinna Tony )

. Her hair looked unkempt. She couldn't cry again but stare at everybody with her dimmed eyes.

Papa's brother took Papa dead body to the mortuary and they planned for his burial. When the burial arrived, they travelled to their hometown for all the funeral arrangements.

Mama and her children were berated on why they never visited home all these while. The last time they visited, Chimaobim was only ten. 

Chimaobim stood for her mother in most scenerios. "I am sorry, Nne'm," she greeted the mothers. "Since things became bad for us, traveling back to the village had been tasking, that's why," she said in igbo.

Adanne was wowed by how Mama spoke Igbo. She hasn't heard her speak Igbo before except Papa who spoke Igbo to them.

After funeral rites was completed, they have to return back to Lagos to continue life. Everybody objected to it insisting she needs to raise the kids in the village where there is food. After many arguments, she won over them with Chimaobim's admission.

"Who will be responsible for all the expenses?" one of the woman asked.

"I will. It's a federal university. And I can afford it." Mama replied.

They all nodded and promised to support her.