Sisterhood episode 5
TITLE: SISTERHOOD
WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI
PART 5
After church service on Sunday, Funke’s mum informed her she would be having a visitor. “Ebuka met me at the supermarket. He is back. He asked after you and I let him know you are around.”
“Why? Why does he want to see me?” Funke asked.
“I don’t know, when he comes you can find out and tell me.”
“Mum, Ebuka and I don’t like each other like that. Tell auntie Virginia I love her but I cannot marry her son.”
“Why don’t you meet him and discuss this issue with him?”
“There is nothing to discuss. I don’t like him and he doesn’t like me either. It has been five years since I saw him, why would I want to see him now except you have connived with his mother to matchmake us again.”
“Funke, he asked to see you. We didn’t connive, he saw me and asked after you. Why would I tell him not to see you? He is coming over. Lighten up, your nose is always in your books, and you are not getting any younger. You have to get married and have a family of your own and not struggle with me for my husband’s affection. Please look nice when he comes. You have grown since he last saw you, I was also impressed when I saw him, I didn’t recognize him.” She walked away as she concluded.
Esther laughed. She had watched the banter between mother and daughter. Esther had only her father in her life. Her mother had abandoned her when she was only two years old and left with another man. Her father was forced to raise her and her two other siblings alone for five years before he remarried. Her stepmother was very nice to her until she had challenges having children. She accused Esther of being a witch causing her not to get pregnant. She maltreated her. When it was evening and close to the time her father would return, her stepmother will be nice to her.
One day, she told her father to stop work and stay with them, she hated his wife. He was shocked it came from his little daughter. He decided to take a day off, pretend to go to work and hide to watch what would happen. He couldn’t believe how badly his wife treated his children, especially Esther. She starved her and beat her when she complained. The others couldn’t save her as she beat them too. She locked Esther up in the store alone, Esther was so scared of the dark, insects and rodents but she locked her there when her noise was too much. She said to the child, “I will stop punishing you when you release my womb.”
He came back home at the normal time. He refused to eat the food she prepared. The next day he told her they were travelling and asked his cousin to take care of the children. He took her to her family and returned her. He told them what she did and all he witnessed with his two eyes. She begged. Her family begged. Pastors begged. After almost two years of appeal, he took her back. She had a child, a boy. That was the only child she had for Esther’s father and his only son. Now they had a good relationship. Esther loved her younger brother. They loved each other in the family.
Esther knew how jealous her stepmother becomes when they are all at home with their father. Her stepmother complained about the lack of attention she gets as the males get all the attention. They had a good relationship now and she had atoned for all her sins towards them.
“Funke dear, I think you should dress nicely to see this guy. Were you this hot when he saw you?” Esther asked.
“Please, it is not a joke. We hated each other. He used to make fun of me. He called my legs skinny. He mocked my low cut and said I looked like a fine man. What does that even mean? He would pick on me.”
“And you didn’t call him names too? That’s not the Funke I know,” Zainab asked.
“I did. We exchanged words. He was chubby so I called him fat and consumer. He didn’t like it. He is also light-skinned so I made fun of his complexion and said he looked like an Igbo girl, no offence Nkem.”
“None taken. Did it ever occur to you he was picking on you because he liked you and that was his only way of showing it?” Nkem asked.
“Liked me? I couldn’t be in a relationship with any other guy because he made me dislike myself. I felt I was ugly and unappealing. That’s why I avoid guys, I feel they want to make a mockery of me. I tried to build my self-esteem.”
“But you made fun of him too. See how beautiful you turned out. See him, you might just like him.” Zainab replied.
“He is chubby, I don’t like chubby guys, I like fit guys.”
“Good. Meet him and tell him he doesn’t meet your specification and you can just be friends.”
They sat talking and jesting for a while. There was a knock on the door and Funke’s uncle came in. “Hello ladies,” he said. Funke jumped up excitedly when she saw him and hugged him tightly.
The other ladies wondered if the man who just walked in was Ebuka, but he looked much older. There was no way he was the one, Funke had said he was two or three years older than her.
“Uncle Tobi, what are you doing here? I didn’t know you were in town.”
“I just came in, your mum told me you were here with your friends. Now let me guess who is who. This must be Zainab, her looks and hijab gave her away. This must be Esther, you were right, chubby and cute. And this must be Nkem. Am I right?”
The girls were impressed. So Funke talked about them to her uncle, Nkem wondered if he was the same uncle who helped her mother. He looked young. He couldn’t be more than five years older than them. He looked distinguished. He was well dressed, he had on a pair of black trousers with a black shirt and a white and black check jacket. He had a pair of glasses on. He was about Funke’s height or slightly taller.
He sat down with them and they talked. He was very friendly. He asked questions about their departments and specific lecturers. He spoke to Zainab mostly. He was a lawyer and knew Zainab wanted to be one. He encouraged her to consider going back to study Law after a while.
“I studied Mechanical Engineering. Immediately after I graduated, I went back to study Law before I went to serve. I have two degrees and two MSc,” uncle Tobi told them.
“How were you able to do that?” Zainab asked.
“He is a wizkid. He finished secondary school at fourteen. He juggles both professions. I don’t want to be him, I want to be an accountant and run my father’s accounting firm.” Funke answered.
All the girls were impressed with Uncle Tobi. Uncle Tobi asked each of them about their future plans and talked to them about what they could do. It was an interesting conversation.
Nkem asked Funke if Uncle Tobi was the one who gave her mother the money. She confirmed he was. She wanted to thank him. Funke reminded her the others were unaware. She said she would create an avenue for Nkem to do so.
There was another knock on the door. Funke had a visitor. They all chorused Ebuka and laughed. Nkem went into the room with Funke to dress up. She selected what Funke would wear to see the guy. She insisted she applied powder and lipgloss. She helped her pack her braids and brush the front of her hair. Nkem didn’t have much but she liked to look good.
“You are not talking at all? Why? Uncle Tobi is in Abuja and can help you with powerful connections. He likes the course you are studying but you are not selling yourself.”
“Funke, I can’t talk in front of him. Do you hear the way he speaks? How can I talk to him with my accent?”
“Zainab has an accent and so does Esther, they are not ashamed of it. You are doing well in your academics, do the lecturers rate you based on your accent? Madam, you are bold and confident when you are with us but now you are shy or is there something you are not telling me?” Funke asked teasing her.
“I don’t know what you are talking about. I want to thank him for my mum. Then, I will talk to him without embarrassing myself.”
“Whatever.”
As Funke stepped out, Uncle Tobi was also ready to leave the ladies. He gave each of them money and they thanked him excitedly. He went out of the lodge with Funke and Nkem who Funke asked to see her off.
“Uncle Tobi this is Nkem, the girl you helped her mother with capital for her business. She wanted to thank you specially for what you did for her.”
“Hello Nkem, you don’t need to thank me. I wanted to be anonymous, why Funke told you, I don’t know. How is your mother doing? How is the business?”
Funke cut in, “Before she answers, let me go inside the house so I don’t appear rude. It is wrong to keep a guest waiting.” And she excused herself.
Uncle Tobi said to Nkem, “Let’s take a walk.” They walked together for a few minutes when he repeated his earlier question.
“She is fine. She is doing very well. My brother is writing WAEC. She paid for his examination. She wants him to write Jamb next year; she doesn’t feel he is ready now. The one after him is writing WAEC next year. He had a double promotion. My baby sister is writing Junior WAEC. She is paying for everything. All thanks to you. I am very grateful.”
“That’s a load she is carrying. I am aware she is a widow, why wouldn’t your uncles help train the boys at least?”
“We don’t need their help. The expenses this year were much so my mother could not save to build her mill. She is determined to do it. I am also saving so she can build it. At least she is a living example a widow can survive and train her children without …” she stopped in her tracks.
“Prostituting? I like your mum. She did a good job raising you. Can I have her number? I would like to appreciate her.”
“Ok sir,” Nkem gave him the phone number.
Uncle Tobi called immediately. He introduced himself and they exchanged pleasantries. He promised to call her back when he returns to Abuja. Then he dipped his hand into his pocket and gave Nkem a wad of money. “This is to support your mini- mart. Don’t you plan to expand the business?”
“I can’t take this. This money is much.”
“Take it. I want to support you. Funke talks very highly of you. Look at expansion plans for your min- mart. It was nice meeting you. I have to go now.” And he walked away.
Nkem was transfixed at a spot. Why did she feel unease around this man? Why did he give her money? She couldn’t understand his affection towards her. If it was based on pity, she didn’t want it. She didn’t want Uncle Tobi pitying her.
###
Funke walked majestically into the house and the sitting room. There didn’t seem to be anyone there until she looked towards the room divider and she saw him. He had his back towards her.
Ebuka looked different from behind. He had stretched, he was taller than her now. He had a lean build. He turned to see her and her heart almost stopped. He looked different. He had changed so much in five years. What? She couldn’t believe her eyes. He was trim and rimmed. How did that happen? He was so cute. She never noticed he had a one-sided dimple.
“Hi,” he said to her. He was smiling. It seemed he liked what he saw.
“Hello,” Funke replied thanking her stars for making her listen to Nkem. She was glad she dressed well.
“This is feisty Funke in the flesh, I can’t believe it. I ran into your mum at the supermarket and I asked after you. She said you were around and I decided to come and see you. It’s been ages, you are all grown up now.”
“And you too. Good to see you.”
“Same here. Are we going to stand here and talk? We could sit or maybe take a drive. Whichever you want.”
“Let me inform my folks I am going out. I also have guests so I have to be back in good time.”
“No problem.”
She was back in a few minutes. She stepped outside the gate with him where he parked his car. He came in a Toyota Corolla. She got into the car and they left for a drive.
Ebuka started the conversation. “You’ve changed. My mum said I would be shocked when I see you and she was right.”
“Really? Did she put you up to this?”
“She didn’t. I told her I saw your mum and asked to see you. She told me I will be shocked. I was speechless.”
“You didn’t look shocked.”
“Why would I give away everything. You look good. You are beautiful.”
Funke was quiet. What was going on here? Why was he complimenting her? She was confused.
“I knew you will be good looking but men, you are beautiful.” He repeated.
“Thank you for flattering me.”
“I am not, I am stating an obvious fact. So, how is school?”
“School is good.”
“Still want to be an Accountant?”
“A Chartered Accountant.”
“Beautiful. I studied Business Administration. After my service year, I want to attend a Business School and then build my business.”
“Won’t you have work experience?”
“What do you think?”
“Write your idea and keep it. Work for someone so you can learn the ropes of the business.”
“You know I am the first child, like you, my father wants me to take over his company. It is doing very well but it is not what I want to do but then I can manage it.”
“Work for someone for two years so you can study their mistakes and use them in your business. I am big in experience gathering.”
“You sound like your father.”
“He is raising me.”
“He is doing a good job. I will consider what you have said. If I need advice, where do I meet you for it?”
“Are you indirectly asking me for my phone number?”
“Well, not just that. I want your hostel information, I don’t want to come looking for you in your department.”
“I will give you.”
“Thanks.”
They talked about other things. Their friends they hadn’t seen in a long while. They were two years apart in age. He studied in the United States and finished his degree in three years. He stopped at an ice cream place to get the ice cream and shawarma. They sat down to eat and talk.
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Ebuka made her laugh a lot. She also observed how people stared at them. Ebuka was still fair but he looked very good. He was handsome. His smile got to her all the time. She observed him, he was different. Was this what maturing meant? He was also very courteous. She liked what she saw. But did he like her?
They left for her home as it was beginning to get dark. When they got to the front of the house, he stopped the car for them to have a serious conversation.
“This might sound cheeky to you but Funke but I have always liked you. I loved teasing you. I was doing it to discourage other guys from falling for you. Now we are older and more mature, I have to do it the right way. I want to take you out on a date.”
“I don’t understand”
“I want a relationship with you. You are my childhood crush and I am glad I will be able to be with you. You mustn’t give me an answer right away but I want you to know that no isn’t an option.” He laughed at his joke.
“Give me some time to think about it.”
“When do I see you again?”
“Whenever you want to.”
“Tomorrow? I can take you out tomorrow. There is a joint I discovered where they make Igbo delicacies. The food is delicious. We can go there tomorrow.”
“Isn’t it too soon?”
“I don’t even want you to go in right now. I had a good time with you.”
Funke blushed on her dark skin. She smiled, she had a good time too but she wasn’t ready to tell him.
“Let me see you to your door so your folks will see I have returned you whole, safe and sound. Let’s go in.”
They walked to the door together. When they got there, Ebuka pecked her on the cheek and said good night. He left.
Funke was speechless for some minutes while she watched him walk out. He had a slight bow leg. She liked him. She enjoyed herself. Was this how it felt? She went inside to let her mother know she had come back and then went back to the lodge.
###
Nkem dragged Funke into the room and showed her the wad of money Uncle Tobi gave her.
“What did he give you this for?” Funke asked.
“Did you tell him about my mini-mart business?”
“I believe I must have.”
“He said it was for the business.”
“Why is he helping you? I hope he doesn’t have ulterior motives. Don’t listen to him. He is married with two children. I don’t know what he is up to. Did he ask for your number?”
“No. He asked for my mother’s number. He called her and he promised to call her again.”
“Strange. Maybe he admires your mum and wants to help her further. Whatever it may be, if he calls for you to see him anywhere, refuse. He is married. His wife is a terrible human being, the family dislikes her. But, she is his choice, what can we do? She will fight you shamelessly if she feels you are linked to her husband.”
“Does he cheat on her?”
“Does he have the time? He is always busy. She trapped him with pregnancy. My mother said it is his kind nature that will destroy him if he is not careful. She is a street girl.”
“I didn’t see him in that light.”
“He might just want to help. Keep it that way.”
Tbc