WAZOBIA: A Tale of Two worlds

Twenty six

"Simbi,"

I didn't even have the patience to ignore anymore.

"What is it?"

He sucked in air through his nose and clenched his fist a little so that the light bounced off his traditional kingship ring. It made me wonder again how it ever even happened.

"You didn't show up."

"I told you I wouldn't"

"How dare you-"

"Because my legs go where I want them, not where you want them."

"You disobeyed the elders,"

"Tradition doesn't rule me, Nonso. It may the rest of you but not me."

"You've lost all your respect in America, haven't you?"

"I don't care about America. I didn't go because I didn't want to go, and I didn't want to go because all of you are the same; chauvinist old abusers blinded by tradition"

He stepped up to me.

"Don't come too close. The time hasn't come for me to start injuring people,"

He laughed with intoxicating mockery, "You think you can injure me? Simbi, in case you haven't noticed, I am the king of this village, inugo? Ọ bụ mụ nwe ike n'ile n'eba"

I looked at him for a minute and walked past, he wanted to grab my arm when Kachi came abruptly into the living room. Nonso's hands dropped.

"W...what is wrong with both of you?" Kachi whispered, obviously annoyed and pained.

"What exact is wrong with you?" He was still whispering.

He turned to face me,
"Simbi, please, what part of your sanity and calmness did you leave back in the States? You've gone mad. You're suddenly ready to maim anyone!" He gasped.

Nonso still stood.

"What in the hell is going on in this house?"

I was already in the kitchen, turning on the stove under a kettle filled with water.

"And you," he faced my elder brother.

"I am none of your business, Kachukwu"

"Yes you are. I don't care if you dislike me but you are my brother, okwa ị ma? I bụ nwanne m nwoke m, and you need to stop this nonsense"

Nonso got angry and began to walk with rapid footsteps up the stairs, then stopped and said:
"Daddy is coming back from the hospital today"

I and Kachi's eyes widened.

"I can't live under the same roof with that man" I said.

"Your business," Nonso disappeared up the stairs.

I scattered my hair in a fit of rage, then started pacing. Kachi sat on the head of the couch, thoughtful.

I suddenly slapped my hands on my thighs and came to a halt.

"I'm going. I'm leaving"

"You can't be serious"

"I'll go and stay with Aunty Buzo,"

"Are you out of your mind?"

"Kachi, ask me this one more time and I'll do what I never did to you when we were kids."