Okija...
.
We finally got down and waited for my mom to come down as she went back to carry our things....it was early morning and everywhere was crowded with people I held chidera firmly as mom instructed.
There she was,
"Nne come, bring your brother"
Chidera was a very shy boy but when he saw mommy gesture for us to come he laughed excited, I dragged him there.
"Are you hungry?"
"NBA"(no)
That was me, she eyed me and dragged chidera from me.
"Comon follow me I know you will say no come and eat before I flog you now"
"I will eat small"(I made a gesture with my hand) chidera started laughing and my mom too, chineye was very chubby and quiet she doesn't want anyone to hold her except mummy,
"Necheee necheee"
"Kedu ife oo"(what is it)
Ifunaya was calling me and waving I saw her and didn't want to talk to her for laughing at me...
"You were laughing at me right well my mummy is going to buy us rice and I won't give you nmmeeeh"
"Taaa my mummy bought for us too"
I hissed and swang my waist pass her, she was very skinny and I was chubby, black, short and full hair that my mom never fails to maintain.
We got there and I stood outside with hands on my waist as I gestured the wheel barrow people to drop our bags here, mom starterd laughing again so were people there I became shy and put my hand in my face as I hugged my mom's back.
He phone rang...."hello Daddy, yes we have reach we want to eat now before looking for bus"
That was the only thing I heard mum say my attention was already driven away from her as I saw a big car,,,the chidera that wasn't talking before was now telling me " my car see my car"
"Taaa it's mine I was the first to see it"
"Mummy mummy"
"Leave mummy osiso she is talking to Daddy"
We kept pointing then I saw ifunaya and her big sister carry their bags and head to a bus, she turned and started waving at me
That was the last time I saw ifunaya at that age the last time we were friends.
As a kid I did not give it much of a thought but now I understand.
Mum ended the call and took us inside the restaurant, she bought rice and stew with meat for each of us...she was staring directly at me while eating with the expression that says if you dare....hahahaha I did dare actually I was stubborn you know, I took the meat and left the rice smiling at my mom who was staring back angryly my silly brother started laughing again....chineye was busy devouring her dish she eats what we can't..
"Mummy where are we going"
"My village to see Grandma, Grandpa and your aunties"
"I don't want to go"
Chidera spoke
"Me too I said"
Mum smiled sadly, I saw how sad she was looking and I started crying, my weakness was my mom's tears or sad face.....
"Nne stop crying we will be fine ok, Daddy will come and take us back she said and wiped my face across the table.
We finished eating and headed out we boarded the bus... chidera and nnye fell asleep while mum struggled to breasts feed ifeanyi I was feeling nauseous because I had car sickness....my mom gave me nylon to vomit in which I did and later got better after washing my face with pure water...it was like 4 hours before we go to nkwo okija .
We dropped and called okada mum put us in one bike with bags as she directed the bike man, then she also entered one with chineye and other bags.....we got there and my aunties came out to welcome us, the smallest one nmasi carried the bag and collected ifeanyi from my mum as we went inside to greet Grandpa....there he was in that chair that was like a resting bed, I have never met him or any of them before only nmasi because she was living with us before..
.
.my grandpa hugged me and sat me down in his laps as he prayed and thanked God for bringing us home safely.... everyone liked chineye because she was free with everyone unlike us I was better than my brother as he refused to even come outside
My mom was already with her siblings gisting about things with them while I just sat down close to grandpa giggling at what he did with his tobacco.
I wasn't much of a talker I just answered and kept quiet in whatever they did I only spoke to my mum when we were alone.
My aunty show brought paw paw and cut she gave me one and I ate yes I like fruits and the paw paw was overly ripe, as I ate she brought razor blade and started cutting my nails, she was telling me how grown they look even though they were neat she said I could wound my brother with it,I hated when one touched me except my mom but.....she was my aunt...we were given room to sleep in I was a scardy cat to sleep alone with my brother so I went to stay with Grandma in her room while my mom slept were I was supposed to.
"Ada okoye yyyeeee"
I jumped up shivering immediately my grandma held me down and told me to calm down that it was masquerade calling grandpa it was scary I have never seen one before I quickly put on my slippers and rushed out, yes it was morning already and Grandma just returned from morning mass so yes I woke up by 7 when I heard the sound, everyone was already there watching I saw it....it was magnificent and scary as hell, I shouted excited as it chassed people inside out compound...