CHAPTER SEVEN

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The buses are already at the mess but the drivers aren’t, yet. So, I sit on a bench in front of a closed kiosk waiting for others to arrive.

Bit by bit people start to show up, many are carrying bags much heavier than mine. Some are even carrying boxes “And here I am, thinking I over packed” I laugh out a bit.

“Ah, mama Unwana,” that is what we call every woman with children. We call them mama followed by the name of their first child. The name of my daughter is unwana so, I’m called mama unwana. “You done reach?” Mrs. Okolo (mama Chinelo) asks.

Seeing mama Chinelo approaching me with the large bag on her head, make me burst out laughing. “Yes oo,” I reply “this one wey you carry Ghana-must-go so, nawa oo, na only Chika get am?” I ask amaze at the size of the bag which is bigger than mine. And Chika happens to be her second child after Chinelo.

“My sister, you know how all this our children dey behave, you go buy one thing today, tomorrow, them go thief am finish” She complains.

I get up from my seated position and help her drop the bag from her head “Hmm, tell me about it” I say, remembering my daughter’s own complaint.

“Chika called me oo through his guardian, telling me that everything he has was stolen, from his books to his sandals and now we have to buy everything all over again.”

“But na waoo, no be SSS 1 Chika dey?” I quiz, surprise

“See me oo, yes na, but wattin person go do?” She states, rhetorically.

“It is well” that’s all I can say to it all.

A strident voice announces the names of the people who paid to get inside the bus one after the other. And as soon as I heard my name, I hurry into the bus and find a comfortably seat by the window. When the man was done calling the names, the bus driver starts the engine and takes off

*********

We pull into the school premises at 11:15 AM but the student are not allowed out to the visiting ground until 12:30pm so, we enter the school auditorium where we all had to attend the P.T.A meeting.

Soon after a long discussion, argument and suggestion, the meeting finally comes to a close and all parents troop to the second gate of the school, waiting for the student to match out. If anything, orderliness is a model feature of this school. Inspite of their population, all students are made to line up on a straight file and match through the second gate into the visiting ground. The soldiers mounting at strategic points, strictly supervises the line, making sure that no one breaks the line.

I know Unwana knows where the Navy Town bus usually park but I like standing at the second gate checking for her.

“Unwana!” I yell, thrilled, as I catch sight of her.

My little angle sprints through the crowd and into my arms. “Baby, how are you?” I ask, not releasing her from my tight embrace.

“Mommy, I’m better now seeing you.” She replies, melting my heart. I have so missed my little girl.

“See how sharp you are looking.” I complements, disengaging the hug and having a good look at her. I notice how lean Unwana has become, her beautiful brown eyes has sunk into her eye socket, her chubby cheeks has disappeared and her collar bone are now so visible and her skin looks darker and dry. What have they done to my daughter? I give her a hopeful smile and hug her again.

“I try, mom,” she replies “My school mother also helped me wash and iron my white.”

“That’s reminds me, how is she, senior Idowu?”

“She’s fine mom.”

“Ok, come we have to hurry before your food gets cold.” I hasten her. I can see her literally dancing on hearing food.

“Mommy, is Uncle Chidi here with you? He promised.” She looks around me in search of him.

“Emm,” I hesitate a bit, clearing my throat. I don’t want to tell her that we broke up especially now that she is already growing fund of him. She will know eventually but not now.

“He couldn’t make it.” I continue with my hand runs through her unkempt hair “You need to cut this your hair oo, its bushy” I say diverting the topic, quickly.

She smiles and take my hand in hers. ”I miss you mom.” Hearing those word makes me so happy. Does she know how much I miss her too? She held my hand in hers and we walk towards the bus together.

PIDGIN ENGLISH

Okada!- - - - - - - - - - Bike!

Abeg I dey go… - - - - - - - Please, I’m going to...

Oya na- - - - - - - - - - Ok

No worry, I go hol’am- - - - - - - don’t worry, I will hold it

Watin happen? All the money wey you no make

since the beginning of this week, na for my head you wan make am abi? No be fifty naira una dey collect? - - - (What happen? all the money you could not acquire since the week began, is it from me you want to acquire them? Is it not fifty naira you all charge?)

Something wey no far sef, I no blame you, na mumu una dey like- - - (The place is not far, you all love blind Followers)

no be fight na, oya, enter- - - - - - (we are not fighting, ok, get on)

For Lagos, everybody eye dey shuk oo so, person gaz wiseup - - - - - - (in lagos, one have to be careful)

You done reach?- - - - - - - - you are here already?

Wey- - - - - - - - - - that

nawa oo, na only Chika get am?- - - - - - hmm, is this for Chika alone?

dey behave, you go buy one thing today, tomorrow them go thief am finish- - - - -always behave, you will buy one thing today and tomorrow it will be stolen.

Na wa oo, no be ss1 Chika dey- - - - - - shocking, is he not in SSS 1?

See me oo, yes na, but wattin person go do?- - - - - yes but what can I do?