Chapter Twenty Two:The Fifth And The Last Child
August 17, 2018
After
church, Zinny went to the kitchen to prepare food, every Sunday they make sure
they eat rice and stew with fish. Nina beeped Tonia’s line and in a minute
Tonia called back…
church, Zinny went to the kitchen to prepare food, every Sunday they make sure
they eat rice and stew with fish. Nina beeped Tonia’s line and in a minute
Tonia called back…
Tonia:(on the phone with
Nina) baby girl, how are you?
Nina) baby girl, how are you?
Nina: I’m good, you?
Tonia: thank God.
Nina: did you hear about
Sarah?
Sarah?
Tonia: what about her?
Nina: she says she’s now a born again.
Tonia: very funny, since
when?
when?
Nina: since this year, that
she doesn’t wear trouser anymore and jewelry.
she doesn’t wear trouser anymore and jewelry.
Tonia: does uncle’s wife have anything to do
with?
with?
Nina: maybe. Daddy wasn’t in support of it.
Tonia: why would he be?
Sarah is just a case, so all this while she has been wearing trouser does it
mean she’s not a child of God.
Sarah is just a case, so all this while she has been wearing trouser does it
mean she’s not a child of God.
Nina: don’t mind her, she’ll get tired. I’m sure she just trying to
please uncle’s wife, as of me I don’t have that time to pretend.
please uncle’s wife, as of me I don’t have that time to pretend.
Tonia: but what if she’s in for real?
Nina: I won’t count on that.
Tonia: anyways, why didn’t you come back home?
Nina: the break is really
short and you know I just got a space in the hostel and didn’t even have time to settle
then started exam. So immediately the break is over, I’ll go back at least to tidy
the place and feel settled for the semester.
short and you know I just got a space in the hostel and didn’t even have time to settle
then started exam. So immediately the break is over, I’ll go back at least to tidy
the place and feel settled for the semester.
Tonia: you want to be the
first person to be there.
first person to be there.
Nina: of course not,
besides Richard is there. Had it been I started off campus I would stay in
school but I don’t know if people are going to be in the hostel so I had to come here.
besides Richard is there. Had it been I started off campus I would stay in
school but I don’t know if people are going to be in the hostel so I had to come here.
Tonia: how are they?
Nina: they are good, Uncle
jack is even here.
jack is even here.
Tonia: greet him for me. I’ve got to go, take care of
yourself and next time make sure you come straight home even if it’s just for a week.
yourself and next time make sure you come straight home even if it’s just for a week.
Nina: Indeed, because you
are not the one on the road.
are not the one on the road.
Tonia: whatever! I’ll send you some money before
you resume school.
you resume school.
Nina: oh, thank you.
Tonia: yeah, bye!
Nina: take care, bye!
Uncle jack: how is Tonia?
Nina: she’s fine, she sent her
regards.
regards.
Uncle Jack: she’s really doing well for
herself, I’m happy for her.
herself, I’m happy for her.
Nina: we all are.
Nina
joined Zinny in the kitchen even when she doesn’t like assistance since she’s quite fast, after three
hours the food was ready. The kind of stove they use, doesn’t use gas but kerosene that’s why it is that slow…
joined Zinny in the kitchen even when she doesn’t like assistance since she’s quite fast, after three
hours the food was ready. The kind of stove they use, doesn’t use gas but kerosene that’s why it is that slow…
They all
had breakfast at twelve noon, most of the time they sleep after meal or watch
movie but Nina could’t sleep because she didn’t want Uncle Jack to
disturb her. So she went to the living room to watch TV after some time the
power ceased; over here power holding company cease the light at all times,
sometimes they don’t have light for three
days, sometimes a week and Uncle Jack on the other hand hardly sleeps. He’s always awake even at
night that sometimes Nina wonders if he ever sleeps …
had breakfast at twelve noon, most of the time they sleep after meal or watch
movie but Nina could’t sleep because she didn’t want Uncle Jack to
disturb her. So she went to the living room to watch TV after some time the
power ceased; over here power holding company cease the light at all times,
sometimes they don’t have light for three
days, sometimes a week and Uncle Jack on the other hand hardly sleeps. He’s always awake even at
night that sometimes Nina wonders if he ever sleeps …
Uncle Jack: look at how
everyone is sleeping.
everyone is sleeping.
Nina: it’s good.
Uncle Jack: I’m surprised you are not
sleeping.
sleeping.
Nina: I don’t feel like sleeping.
Uncle Jack: that’s a first! You and your
siblings that love to sleep a lot, I guess you got it from your dad because he
sleeps a lot.
siblings that love to sleep a lot, I guess you got it from your dad because he
sleeps a lot.
Nina: yeah I guess so
besides this people work all week especially Zinny. So she needs it.
besides this people work all week especially Zinny. So she needs it.
Uncle Jack: if I sleep the
way you guys sleep, I’ll be very fresh.
way you guys sleep, I’ll be very fresh.
Nina: who is stopping you?
Uncle Jack: I’m just not use to it.
Nina: whose fault is that?
Uncle Jack: its stress that
makes me look the way I look sometimes. I’m this hot talk more of when I start getting some sleep like you.
makes me look the way I look sometimes. I’m this hot talk more of when I start getting some sleep like you.
Nina: whatever!
Nina was
wishing they all wake up or at least Zinny because she was really tired of been
around uncle Jack and he won’t let her listen to music
or read a book because of his nasty talk and she doesn’t want to seem rude when
someone is talking to her.
wishing they all wake up or at least Zinny because she was really tired of been
around uncle Jack and he won’t let her listen to music
or read a book because of his nasty talk and she doesn’t want to seem rude when
someone is talking to her.
Finally Zinny
and her male cousins woke up in the evening and their mum got back from church.
She wanted to cook soup so she called Nina to help her with the vegetable and
pepper, after some hours the food was ready and they all ate. By 10pm, they
gathered for prayers, after their prayers they went straight bed because Zinny
had to work the next day, the boys’ school, their mum and dad work as well.
and her male cousins woke up in the evening and their mum got back from church.
She wanted to cook soup so she called Nina to help her with the vegetable and
pepper, after some hours the food was ready and they all ate. By 10pm, they
gathered for prayers, after their prayers they went straight bed because Zinny
had to work the next day, the boys’ school, their mum and dad work as well.
The next
day Nina went to pee in the toilet and discovered it was about time for morning
prayers but she still went back to bed after peeing, after some minutes her
aunt called from outside their room for prayers and she got up.
day Nina went to pee in the toilet and discovered it was about time for morning
prayers but she still went back to bed after peeing, after some minutes her
aunt called from outside their room for prayers and she got up.
When
Uncle Jack notices how alert Nina was and didn’t just give him any chance, he decided to leave …
Uncle Jack notices how alert Nina was and didn’t just give him any chance, he decided to leave …
Uncle Jack: Nina let’s go see my friend.
Nina: where?
Uncle jack: around my
school.
school.
Nina: I don’t feel like going out.
Uncle Jack; why? I’ll buy you something from
there.
there.
Nina: I don’t want to go out.
Uncle Jack: why not?
Nina: I just said I don’t feel like.
Uncle Jack: what are you
even doing in here?
even doing in here?
Nina: I like it here.
Uncle Jack: I want to
introduce you to people.
introduce you to people.
Nina: who? Your friends?
Uncle jack: yeah.
Nina: I don’t feel like meeting your friends.
Uncle Jack: okay, well I’m leaving today.
Nina:(pretending to act
concern) why?
concern) why?
Uncle Jack 🙁 hisses) I don’t feel welcomed.
Nina: how do you mean?
Uncle jack: it looks like
you don’t want me around.
you don’t want me around.
Nina: me? This isn’t my house, besides you
didn’t come to see me.
didn’t come to see me.
Uncle Jack: it was because
of you I came.
of you I came.
Nina: haven’t I been here?
Uncle Jack: you know what I
mean, you don’t want to co-operate with me.
mean, you don’t want to co-operate with me.
Nina: no, I don’t and won’t.
Uncle Jack: if you just let
me, you’ll enjoy me. I’ll give you anything you want.
me, you’ll enjoy me. I’ll give you anything you want.
Nina 🙁 looking at him
disgustingly) so I have to sleep with you before you act like an elderly cousin
to me?
disgustingly) so I have to sleep with you before you act like an elderly cousin
to me?
Uncle jack: there’s nothing there, you are
just taking it personal.
just taking it personal.
Nina: I’m taking it personal? If
you want to go you can go.
you want to go you can go.
Uncle Jack: are you missing
me already? I know you’ll miss me, you are just forming.
me already? I know you’ll miss me, you are just forming.
Nina: (sarcastically
saying) okay!
saying) okay!
Uncle Jack: I’ll give you money to buy
your toiletries and stuff.
your toiletries and stuff.
Nina: if I let you. Not
happening!
happening!
Uncle jack: (dressing up) I
don’t even know who you think
you are, are you better than the people that did it?
don’t even know who you think
you are, are you better than the people that did it?
Nina: I’m not them.
Finally
he leaves, Nina was so happy he has gone although she won’t have anybody to talk to
during the week; it was still better than having someone molest you. Since it
wasn’t long before school
resumes, she can cope. The house was becoming really boring so she decided to
go check if her friend Mike was around. Mike is the younger brother to Nathan
and Sarah’s friend from school; he
also went for Nina’s matriculation. Since the
house is close to her uncle’s house, she walked…
he leaves, Nina was so happy he has gone although she won’t have anybody to talk to
during the week; it was still better than having someone molest you. Since it
wasn’t long before school
resumes, she can cope. The house was becoming really boring so she decided to
go check if her friend Mike was around. Mike is the younger brother to Nathan
and Sarah’s friend from school; he
also went for Nina’s matriculation. Since the
house is close to her uncle’s house, she walked…
Nina:(knocking)
Mike: hey, look at his
girl. When did you get back?
girl. When did you get back?
Nina: some days ago.
Mike:(hugs her)and you didn’t care to say hi, come in.
Nina: thanks, I didn’t know you’d be around.
Mike: you should have
checked.
checked.
Nina: yeah, I know. How are
you doing?
you doing?
Mike: I’m okay oh! You look good though.
Nina: thanks, you too.
Mike: so, where are the
university pictures, university babe?!
university pictures, university babe?!
Nina: which one is
university babe now?
university babe now?
Mike: aren’t you in the university?
Nina: so?
Mike: therefore you are a
university babe.
university babe.
Nina: stop calling me that.
Mike 🙁 smiling) university
babe!
babe!
Nina: I’m serious.
Mike: relax; can’t I joke with you anymore?
So what of the picture we snapped at your matriculation?
So what of the picture we snapped at your matriculation?
Nina: I’ll get it when I come
again.
again.
Mike: will you come
tomorrow?
tomorrow?
Nina: I don’t know maybe.
Mike: what do you mean you
don’t know? You are coming
tomorrow.
don’t know? You are coming
tomorrow.
Nina: an order or a
request.
request.
Mike 🙁 smiling) order!
Nina: (sarcastically) I’ll come tomorrow, don’t worry.
Mike: that’s my girl.
Nina: you are not serious.
Mike: sorry, sorry, it’s a request. Please come
tomorrow?!
tomorrow?!
Nina: okay, I’ll come (phone rings).
Mike: oh you have a phone
now, give me your number.
now, give me your number.
Nina 🙁 Dennis was on the
line) shh…Hello!
line) shh…Hello!
Dennis (on the phone) hi,
how are you doing?
how are you doing?
Nina: I’m good, you?
Dennis: I’m okay.
Nina: when are you going to
school?
school?
Dennis: I don’t really know, you know how
my house is.
my house is.
Nina: so are you saying
that when I get to school, I won’t see you?
that when I get to school, I won’t see you?
Dennis: I really don’t know. You will but not
immediately school resumes.
immediately school resumes.
Nina: start telling your
brother before the time.
brother before the time.
Dennis: okay, I’ll try.
Where are you?
Where are you?
Nina: I went to see a
friend.
friend.
Dennis: okay, miss you.
Take care, bye!
Take care, bye!
Nina: me too, bye.
Mike: I’m guessing that’s the boyfriend.
Nina: yeah.
Mike: oh, I see. So what
makes you think he’s not dating someone in Port Harcourt.
makes you think he’s not dating someone in Port Harcourt.
Nina: he’s not.
Mike: Nina, you can’t tell.
Nina: I can.
Mike: I’m just saying distance
relationship is not the best. You might be faithful to him but he might not.
relationship is not the best. You might be faithful to him but he might not.
Nina: I don’t want to talk about it.
Mike: okay.
Nina: I’ve got to go now.
Mike: are you angry.
Nina: yes, why will you be
telling me such a thing?
telling me such a thing?
Mike: I’m sorry I pissed you off, I
just want you to be careful.
just want you to be careful.
Nina: does this have
anything to do with me not wanting to go out with you?
anything to do with me not wanting to go out with you?
Mike: of course not, I care
about you.
about you.
Nina: I hope so. Okay, I’ll see you.
Mike: let me walk you.
Nina: (walking along) yeah,
but just at the express, my uncle could be outside.
but just at the express, my uncle could be outside.
Mike: so?
Nina: it’s trouble. I don’t need anyone reporting me
to my dad.
to my dad.
Mike: okay, bye!
Check Here for Chapter Twenty One {cont’d}
Share this:
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)