Alacrimia

07:02 am, August 29Osun State, Nigeria. Eniiyi woke up to something tickling her nose and she sneezed, opening her eyes. Her mom, Eartha, was sitting at the edge of her bed with one hand poised in the air. Eartha made a guilty smile, as though she hadn't expected to get caught.She glanced at the alarm clock then propped up a pillow behind her and sat up, eyebrows raised. What was the occasion? 'Mommy, good morning,' she said, still confused. 'Am I missing something?''Good morning, Adekunbi. If you were to be missing anything, it'd be your smile.' She tweaked her nose.Eniiyi smiled. Mommy was being Mommy today. She was extremely funny most times. She watched as she bent over her, her thick mass of onyx-black hair falling forward to cover her face.'If you keep smiling at me like that, I think I'd have to pay a visit to the salon.'Eniiyi smiled again and threw over the covers, swinging h

08:30 amKogi State. As Eniiyi slammed the door closed she looked around her in disgust. Okay, it wasn't anything she had expected. The street directly in front of where the car was parked stretched untarred into the distance. The surrounding houses were of different state and quality, ranging from old, mud, small to new, plastered, big. Some were painted in colours which looked horrible to her. She wondered if she'd have to face this eyesore everyday for one month.The closing of a door made her turn around. An ample woman who looked to be in her sixties came down the porch steps, a look of surprise on her face. Her short hair braided in shuku had streaks of gray here and there.Daddy was the first to go forward to meet her. He went down prostrate on the floor in front of her, his palms and the tips of his shoes touching the ground, and Eniiyi pitied his light-blue T-shirt.'Ẹ káàárọ̀ m&agr

           I've got oil and beans.           I've got oil and beans.           I am not scared, no, not at all           I'm not scared of having twins           I've got oil and beans.   Eniiyi scowled at the women's loud singing. She looked around for the mother of the twins, all she could see was the women and children. Some sat around the lounge room, singing. She could hear the noise some were making from the kitchen and from the aroma, they were cooking. She could see her grandmother among the women seated and just when she was going to look away, the woman caught her gaze. 'Eniiyi, wáńbí,' she called over. Eniiyi

'Why did you arrive so late? Where's your car? Did you know I was here before? What of Aunt Ekwy? And your children?' she bombarded him with questions. Uncle Felix took his time munching on a maize and swallowing. Then he said, 'I arrived late because I left Lagos a little late, my car is at home, I was bringing it but then Lagos traffic saw to it that I didn't, so I returned it back home and made for the park and the bus I was in broke down on the way here, which contributed to my leaving Lagos late. Yes I knew you were here, my brother informed me last week Sunday when they arrived at Japan. My wife and children are fine and they send their regards.' Eniiyi smiled, not sure what else to say. 'Are you sure you don't want to take me back with you, Uncle? I'll be good, I promise. Mommy said your house is full but you can always find space to accommodate me, right? And about food, I don't eat much.' Femi laughed at the gir

01:32 pm, September 7 Kogi State, Nigeria.   Eniiyi's shoulders slumped in dejection as she looked away from the computer screen she'd been staring at for fifty seconds. It wasn't as if they didn't deserve her anger towards them, she just couldn't help wishing it hadn't ended like that. She'd have loved to hear reassuring words from them after she was done venting. She sighed. Now she'd never get to see them again till October. What with Uncle Felix leaving in two days. Ths made her miss her poor tablet more. 'It's alright, don't cry now.' Her uncle pat her back. She turned to glare fiercely at him. 'What makes you think I'd cry?' She stood up, slightly cheesed up. 'I'm going out.' 'Suit yourself, niece.' Uncle Felix was blasé about it but he looked amused. The sun had managed to get hott