Chapter 18: Chapter 18

The day had finally come and the atmosphere was unusually bright, birds whistled, trees danced, while the wind whizzed by gently caressing their skin. If it had been any other day, Uyai would have smiled widely, with great anticipation for the journey she had numerous times dreamed of. But this was not the case, instead she or they were filled with dread at what awaited them.

Each had on a mournful look, Affiong and Mother's more pronounced than others. They sat huddled together blindly staring at the luggage that sat in front of them.

Grandmother puffed out a breath, mother released hers slowly and timidly. Affiong was expressionless having donned on a blank mask. Uyai bit her inner cheek as she turned and gave the door a long hard look willing father to appear.

It didn't work. Father was a stubborn soul, he was never one to hide his disappointment and though he had seemed unaffected, he wasn't. He had refused food that mother was even unwilling to prepare but had no choice but to fulfill her marital duty. Father had buried himself in the farm work, Uyai couldn't possibly count the number of yams and cucumbers he had planted. He had become that diligent.

"So this is it." Grand mother sighed deeply.

"Apparently so." mother sniffed.

She turned to her elder daughter, Affiong, her long black hair was tightly concealed by a hair tie, she wore a gray colored gown that fell loosely to her slippered clad feet. Ekaete observed her most beloved daughter who looked unseeing into the distance, her hands folded neatly between her knees. She looked so pitiful, it broke her heart. Still she was disappointed, she'd never in a million years thought that her daughter would succumb to the wiles of lust and get pregnant in the absence of marriage. She'd thought she had groomed her well, making sure she had everything she'd desired; she was her perfect daughter, beautiful and worthy of any man. But now the fact was so glaring. She had failed as a mother, and terribly so.

"Uyai I hope you've packed the necessary?" grand mother queried.

"Yes grandma." Uyai replied, glancing briefly at the sack of garri grandmother had fried and the polythene bag that held fried groundnut which sat beside the bag of palm oil; all huddled together on the floor.

"Mama are you sure about this?" Ekaete turned to her mother in-law with a look of uncertainty. The idea of her daughters being so far away from home was unsettling. She feared most for her pregnant daughter; how she was going to cope in the city as a single mother, especially in a place she was unfamiliar with. As a mother, she was greatly disturbed.

"You should direct that question to your daughter." grandmother grimaced. "I've made the necessary arrangement I could with the little connections I had. So it's up to your daughter to follow through. It’s still not late to change her mind." grandmother shrugged.

All turned to Affiong with an expectant look. She still appeared in a trance like state. Uyai heaved out a breath.

"Affiong?" mother called.

Affiong's gaze still remained unwavering, her expression was stoic.

"Affiong!" she called again, loudly.

Affiong jerked startled. Uyai watched as she gulped loudly before turning her eyes to mother.

"Did you hear what your grandmother had said?" mother quirked an eyebrow, her face serious all of a sudden.

"No." Affiong replied, her voice cracked with emotion. Uyai bowed her head in pity. She looked so fragile sitting there. Her eyes had lost the usual smug expression.

"Well," mother sighed. "Do you still want to go to the city or go to the father of your child home?" mother asked, she spat out the latter.

I doubt that's possible anymore. Uyai thought.

Even if she wanted to, her supposed lover had abandoned her without even so much as a backward glance.

"No am not willing to." Affiong mumbled out a reply.

Ekaete heaved out the breath she'd been holding whether out of sheer relief or... She didn't have the time to judge her thoughts right now. She just wanted the best for her daughter.

"Then, that settles it." Grandmother finalized. Standing up to dust her black skirt that was windblown, and had a few particles of dust that clung to the material.

"Mama, I am not so sure about this." mother's voice rang with uncertainty.

"Well, do you have a choice, or perhaps another alternative?" grandmother frowned with one perfectly raised eyebrow.

Mother shook her head sullenly.

"Thought as much. Uyai remember the number I gave to you. Call as soon as you arrive the city." she drew her ear in warning.

Right now, Uyai felt like the older sister. It wasn't a surprising feeling per say, she had felt that way all her life, as she had been the responsible one. But presently, she felt she'd been officially handed a mantle, a fixed job, to take the role of the responsible sister. Uyai felt a load of uneasiness.

They were going to an unknown territory and she didn't know how capable she'll be to take such responsibility.

"Yes grandma."

The roar of a motor engine drew their attention. Three motorcycles with their drivers skittled to a halt. One she recognized as the one who had been their regular driver to school. Like the others, he wore a worn out cap and a familiar shirt that had seen many days. He waved with a grin, and Uyai could see his decaying teeth.

"Aziz." mother called his name in surprise, standing up from the bench they sat. Uyai and Affiong stood up too, Affiong though reluctantly, leaving the bench vacant.

"Mumsi, më kôm oo. (mother I greet oo)" he greeted.

"Mumsi." the other ones she didn't know greeted by raising their caps.

Mother acknowledge them with a nod.

"Mama. Idem mfó? (how are you?)" he turned to grandmother.

"Idiokò eyen mé. (I am well my child)."

"What brings you here?" mother asked glancing between the three.

"You sent for us. Isn't that right? You've even paid in advance." Aziz turned to his fellows, and they shared a look of confusion.

"We did?" mother frowned. "Mama did you call them?" she turned to grandmother.

"Not that I know of." grandmother shook her head, confusion etched on her face.

"Then who did?" mother asked thoughtfully.

It was as if realization hit them at once. Their eyes widened. They couldn't think of no one else but him. Father.

Mother smiled wryly.

Grandmother snorted. "And to say he was indifferent. That man."

They all felt the same. Father was still concerned. Why wouldn't he? His two daughters were leaving.

"Let's start moving. Help them with the bags." grandmother ordered softly.

Uyai picked up a brown bag and walked towards Aziz. "Uncle good day." she greeted.

"Ah Uyai." he grinned widely. "You’ve grown taller, now you're competing height with me ehn?" he looked her over playfully.

Uyai giggled, and proceeded to climb the bike, placing one foot on the ground, she heaved herself up while raising her skirt, so she can comfortably cross the other over the saddle until she nestled comfortably with the bag between her.

"So you ladies are traveling?" Aziz asked.

"Eh. Just me and Affiong."

"To the city?"

"Yes." she mumbled behind him.

"Hmmm, why do I feel that this is not a happy journey?" he asked carefully.

Uyai forced a laugh, startled at his accurate assumption. "It is. I am going to the city, so why would I be unhappy?" she shrugged casually behind him, gripping the bag a little tighter.

"OK oo If you say so, but what's with your sister?"

Affiong stilled. "Nothing." she replied quickly. "Why do you ask?"

"forget it." he shrugged just as grandmother place the bag of garri and palm oil in front of him, making it nestle between the handle of the bike and Aziz. Uyai watched as mother do the same for Uyai, only it held the groundnut and her bag of clothes.

The other bags, grandmother were placed on the saddle of the other bike. Grandmother walked to mother. "Stay," she placed her hand on mother's shoulder. "I'll go with them. Go make food for your husband."

Mother nodded reluctantly and redrew, watching as grandmother climb the other bike. "Take care." mother said to her daughters, sniffing slightly as her eyes shone with tears.

Engines revved in unison and the three bikes were put into motion. Uyai, Affiong and grandmother waved to mother, each wearing a saddened expression.

***

They had arrived at the Roudy Park, where other buses awaited passengers. Gas fumes filled the air, and the aroma of food from mama put filtered through the air and crept into their nostrils. Names of destinations rang out as drivers and conductors yell for passengers.

Many buses with cross lines branding them, some rickety old and some fairly decent.

Uyai heard screams and yells, she turned to observe the scene of able men fighting over car space as they exchanged blows upon blows even as other men tried to separate.

"Calabar! Calabar!" a bell rang as a man's voice shouted past the noise.

Uyai turned at the name. She pulled grandmother by the hand to alert her of a possible vehicle to their destination.

"Uyai." she heard. She turned abruptly at the familiar voice only to see Effiong walking towards them in long strides.

She stiffened in surprise, as he neared them.

"Mama good day." he greeted with a slight bow.

"Eh, my son." grandmother answered distractingly. Her eyes roving over the park.

"Affiong." he greeted with a slight nod, and watched as she visibly stiffened, looking at him briefly before averting her eyes shyly to her feet in embarrassment. She had no choice but to mumble a reply he didn't hear.

"Uyai?" he folded his arms, raising one eyebrow while fixed her a pointed and annoyed look. "You didn't notify me, why?"

"Sorry I forgot." Uyai shrugged casually. Well, she had not forgotten. She had wanted to avoid this moment especially considering Affiong's feeling, but he just had to ruin that with his appearance.

"You did." he says knowing that she lied.

Uyai nodded.

"Well, it's okay, it's a good thing I came. With my truck." He added, and watched as her eyes widened in dread.

"Really?" she laughed nervously.

"Yes." he replied smugly.

"Mama." he turned to grandmother, waiting till her attention fixed on him.

"Eh?"

"Uyai just told me they're going to Calabar, and fortunately that's where am heading to." he smiled.

"Really, OK." she replied confused, by the young man who thought it necessary to give her that information."

"Mama, what I meant to say is, I have a truck, I could take your daughters there free of charge." he amended.

"Ehn? Who are you young man, and how are you familiar with my daughters?" Grandmother raised one scary eyebrow.

Effiong laughs nervously, turning to Uyai for help.

"Grandma he's Chief Ifiok's son, the village firewood supplier, you should know him mama." Uyai said and Effiong sighed relieved.

"Ah! Of course I do. Young man you have grown so much. How's your mother and father?" Mama smiled, looking at him like he was her long lost grandson.

"They're fine mama."

"It's good to see you my dear, so you were saying?" she looked at him expectantly.

And that was how their conversation started and Uyai and Affiong found themselves nestled in the truck with bunch of yams as their companions while Effiong drove them out of the village to the beautiful city of Calabar.

Of course it was not a merry ride, telling from the bumps and pot holes they had to overcome and being stopped numerous times by law enforcers only to give them support in form cash. She couldn't count the number of times she heard "bros support your person with small something."

That small something was a thousand naira and nothing less.

Finally they had arrived, and the sign that greeted them was a large round boulder with the carvings WELCOME TO CALABAR.