Chapter 31: Chapter 31

I killed a rat.

No, I didn't- It was Tunde. I bought rat poison for it the previous week. I put rice on a torn carton, I even put the fish head on top of the food, I sprinkled the poison generously on it then I left the garnished food beside my freezer because I noticed it loved to eat the foil there. Each time I came out in the morning, parts of the foil litters were everywhere.

I went to bed that night in anticipation of a dead rat but I woke up the next morning, and the fish was missing but I could perceive no stench smell.

I began to notice their presence after I returned from the burial but I had never seen the rat until the moment I met it speeding on the hallway and I dodged towards my room door like I was the one trespassing on its land. It was a huge rat.

It sped to the kitchen. I called Tunde immediately. I knew rats did not bite but I always jumped at the sight of it.

He rushed to the house like it was an emergency. I laughed when he asked if the rat did anything to me. He said, I sounded somehow over the phone but I did not even know how I sounded, other than I sounded like someone that was calling a man to kill a rat in my house.

"I am going to be calling you a rat murderer," I said to him after he had killed the rat with a plank he found outside.

"If it would take away the guilt you feel," he said, with his hands under the running tap.

I was part of the killing too but I stood on a stool and shouted like a referee, pointing to each location the rat ran to.

"Are you a rat police? You are so experienced in murdering rats," I continued to joke, leaning on the kitchen door and laughing at my own foolish joke.

"Will you stop, " he said, laughing. "I started killing rats when I was little though. I used to carry them around in a toy truck and I would tell my mom that I have arrested the criminals. In the seminary too , we lived with them. Sometimes we tolerated them, other times, we killed them. "

The only thing that fascinated me was that he used to drive around dead rats. I was smiling as he leaned on the sink looking at me. I don't know how broad my smile was or how stupid I looked but I could not wipe my smile.

"When was the last time you went to church?"  he asked suddenly. I could not reply because the last time I went to church was during the burial.

"Let's go to church tomorrow, " He said.

I nodded quickly without a moment's thought. I could not imagine doing otherwise. I wanted to. I wanted to spend as much time as I could with him.

He did not stay much or even sit. From the kitchen, I walked him to the door. He said he had some things to do.

"Tomorrow is our youth sunday. It's actually my first with them," he said.

"Really? "

"Yes. Look beautiful. "

His hand cupped my cheek briefly. "I would come pick you up. "

I nodded, all smiles and watched him walk to the gate.

He said, 'look beautiful ' that was all I remembered while I searched for what to wear that night and the next morning when I donned a sea green lace gown. It had long sleeves that reached my knuckles, the front rode up to my neck in a high 'u' curve while the back of the gown descended to expose my back sensibly. It was a long gown that swept the ground with its tail and I loved how I looked in front of the mirror with the gown. It was flattering. I put on some make up for the glam. I had to take pictures- It was my first time wearing the gown and I needed to advertise.

I always stayed in my sitting room to make up. For me, it had more brightness. Tunde came while I was still patting my face with a highlighter. He did not sit to feel at ease or remove the navy blue blazer he wore over a white shirt. He just stood at the dining obviously to get me to hurry up.

He stopped at the gate of the church and  collected two ribbons from girls dressed in white shirts and black skirts, before he found a spot to park. The ribbons were supposed to be pinned to our dresses.

"Get the brochures," He said, hurriedly coming down. I looked at the back  and took out the brochures contained the program for the day.

I stood by the door of the car and waited while he wandered off to greet some people. He returned in a short while and pinned my own ribbon to my left breast. I did not have to reciprocate the gesture; he pinned his already.

I was not allowed to enter the church while he went on ahead without noticing that the usher had led me out as politely as she could, saying my dress was indecent.

"To be honest with you, " I argued outside, "I am not even a member of this church and saying my back was exposed, who doesn't have a back so what's indecent? "

She did not respond. I slapped my forehead in frustration. Her constant smile was not even making matters any better. I stopped arguing with her because I was hardly making sense to my ears.

"Please, tell the man I came with  that I'm leaving. "

She responded this time, "He's coming out. "

I walked to Tunde's car and waited patiently or rather impatiently. I felt it was pointless  to be stopped from entering the church but I could do nothing but hope Tunde offered to drop me back home.  He came out and paused at the door while the usher talked to him then he began walking towards me.

"I'm sorry, " he said, standing in front of me.  I nodded, folding my arms beneath my breast.  I was annoyed and I could not hide it.

"Is there time for you to drop me back at home? " I asked.

He pulled his blazer in response and handed it to me. "You can wear this."

"I would bake in this," I protested. I could already imagine his scent hugging my skin during the service and after.

"Please, you can manage," Tunde said.

I wore the blazer over my gown and we went back into the church. I must have looked odd but I did not mind. I was confident in the thought that new fashion ideas were still being birthed.

Tunde was everywhere during the church service. His seat was beside me but he was more at the bandstand  or  with the media upstairs. He was not the only one running about. There were a few others too making sure everything was in place.

From drama, to special songs by individuals and then to Ministration. My anger from earlier had dissolved and was gone.

After the service, we joined others to a hall where food was being served. I tried to reject a foiled plate that was handed to me, Tunde leaned in and whispered,

"There's something different about church rice."

I got up and went to the sharer and collected a plate of food from her then went back to my table.

"I kept my meat for you," Tunde said when I returned.

"I have mine, " I replied.

He rolled his eyes then spooned the meat and brought it close to my mouth. "Open," he said and I did.

While I ate, a few introductions were made. I remember telling them my name but I can't remember any of their names  but I would definitely recognize their faces anywhere.

The usher that stopped me from going into the church, approached our table. I already removed Tunde's jacket  so I just stared at her waiting for her to say something about my dress as she stopped in front of our table.

"Hope you are having a good time? " She asked me.

I nodded then she pulled Tunde's hand and he followed her out. I followed them with my eyes and  they stood at a corner of the hall. Tunde said something and the girl covered her mouth in laughter. I turned away knowing it was how he was - always making everyone laugh.

It was on our way back home that I asked, "Why did you quit seminary? "

He kept his eyes on the road as he replied, "I was doing it for my mother. " He looked at me then back at  the road. "If you ever want to do anything and do it well, I believe you should do it for yourself. "

"Mmm," I said thoughtfully, "Word, word."

"You know you are crazy baa? " He laughed before he continued, "I could be a priest because I love things that have to do with God. I was brought up that way but at the same time,  I would love to love, marry and have kids."

He looked at me briefly before turning back to the road and I shifted uneasily in my seat.

" Watching my mothers all my years, I realized that  I am intrigued by femininity. You know watching a woman do nails, rub lipstick or even shout at me because of monthly mood swings. I really did not want to miss out on all that."

I hummed. "That makes sense."

We were in my street and he propelled the car at a slow steady speed, which gave time for his words to sink in.  Everything he said resounded around me as echoes in my head.

"So you left the seminary so you can marry ?"

A smile was his only response. I could not help  imagining being the woman that he would want to watch exhibit her femininity.