DINING WITH MY ANCESTORS

Episode 4: Encounter

  Days turned into months and months into years. We have stayed with Miss Chioma for three years of no stress, we became very close, we shared a lot of secrets with each other, but there was more about her I was yet to know. Naturally studying people doesn't finish in a day, it takes a long while, even at that humans are difficult to fathom, know them today and they change tomorrow.
For the past years Miss Chioma never told me the nature of her work. She kept on traveling during the weekends and returning after one week, leaving I and Anita at home to eat and watch movies, we never lacked anything because she normally drop huge amount of money with us before traveling.
When Miss Chioma returned from her trip, her informed her of my birthday that was to take place in a month time and she was pleased to celebrate it for me.
A day to my birthday Miss Chioma took I and Anita for shopping, we felt special for the first time in our life we are being taken for shopping in a big shopping mall. Miss Chioma picked a fine gown for me, but when I wore it, it was so tight exposing all my body curvy.
"Sister Chioma this dress is tight on me " I complained
"My dear do you want to wear mother Jesus gown,  or Mary Amaka gown?  You have to wear a dress that is sexy like this one because the people coming that day must see you look so take away especially my business partners " she explained
"Yeah but this particular gown is damn tight and short. I may not be able to bend. Also I shouldn't look indecent before your business partners. This is my first birthday so so I don't want to ruin it " I said still looking at myself in the mirror
"It's your first birthday to be celebrated quite alright, but it is also the first time you ever told me when am around, other times you tell me on phone call when have traveled. So now that I am around it will surely be a success " she said then turned to Anita who has been silent for while
"How does she look? " she asked Anita and Anita gave her a blank look
"All the same if you don't think it's comfortable, You can change it " Miss Chioma said
I removed the gown and picked another one which was well fitted and comfortable
"I will take this one " I said admiring myself in the mirror
We left the boutique afterpurchasing clothes, shoes, hats, sunglasses for ourselves and the things were being paid for by Miss Chioma. By the time we entered the compound different aroma were oozing round. I started salivating. Miss Chioma chuckled because she was observing my actions.
The D-day finally arrived. I was agitated and nervous. The sound of the alarm clock by 5am woke me up. I got up with a sleepy eye and went into the rest room, coming out I heard a knock on my room door.
"Happy birthday big Sis " Anita said immediately I opened the door
"Awwwwwwwn thank you "
"Sister Chioma is waiting for you downstairs. She has been awake since 4am"Anita said
"Really?  Why? "
"I think, because it's your day. There you go " she ushered me
"Is she dressed already? "
"Nawa Sister by this time?  She is still on her pyjamas. Presently she is tidying up the sitting room " Anita said
"OK let's go downstairs together " I said
"Good morning Sister Chioma " I greeted
"Good morning to you darling. Happy birthday. Today is your day. The party starts by 12 noon till 1am midnight. My friends, clients, business partners are coming so be nice to them, they are splendid people "
"OK " I answered
"I guess we should get dressed and set before they arrive " Anita said and we nodded in agreement.
By 12 noon the sitting room was almost filled up with well dressed ladies and gentlemen. While staring at them from the stairs, I felt a hand on my shoulders and I turned round to meet Miss Chioma's smiling face.
"Darling you are 20 now, so buckle up nobody in there will bite or swallow you. Smile " she encouraged and I faked a smile
"You look beautiful and stunning in this gown "she complimented
"Thank you Sister. I really appreciate everything you have done for me "
"You are welcome. Let's go join others, Ani baby is still dressing up, she will soon join us soon. Comport yourself dear "
I nodded. She smiled at me and I did same. We walked down the stairs. Immediately we entered the sitting room, everybody's chorused the 'Happy birthday ' song, I just maintained the smile because I felt like urinating on myself because each faces were intimidating. After singing, they all clapped.
"Thank you very much on her behalf " Miss Chioma appreciated
"Before we start. Our motto : GENDER RIGHT!!!!! " She hailed
"EQUALITY IS OUR GOAL!!!!! " Everybody responded and I felt a bit confused
"Am so excited to see each of you today and thank you for honoring my invitation, you are all welcome once again. Before I step aside, I want to hand over to the celebrant. Comrade Amanda, please come forward " Miss Chioma said moving aside and I was now infront of everybody, immediately I just remembered Miss Chioma's words 'comport yourself dear '. Ok cleared my throat so that I could gather momentum.
"Thank You all for honoring my birthday. I feel so special to be in your midst today, am happy to be in this wonderful family. As earlier said by Miss Chioma, am Amanda by name " I said and gave a bow which looked masculine, then I moved backward and they all gave me a round of applause. Miss Chioma then stepped forward
"Before we start the eating and dancing session, does anyone have a question for the celebrant?" Miss Chioma asked and I saw a hand lifted from the extreme end of the sitting room close to the entrance.
"OK please go ahead with your question " Miss Chioma gave the opportunity
A young guy got up, oh goodness, so handsome, breathtaking, elegant, charming, I felt like melting but I had to hold myself. He winked at me before looking back at Miss Chioma.
"Can I have a dance with the celebrant today?" He asked
Miss Chioma gave me a 'say yes ' look. With the look of things, he seems famous. Before I knew everybody started hailing me
"Amara! Amaa!! Amaaa!!! Ama!!!!  Amaaa!!!! "
I raised up my hands and everywhere went silent
"Su_sur_reeeee" I stuttered and the whole room applauded me.
The DJ started playing a reggae music and everybody started dancing, I was stucked up in the hands of prince charming in a dance which was a bit frustrating.
"You are beautiful " He whispered
"Thank you and you are equally handsome " I said blushing
"Yeah I know " he said and I smiled
"Am Gabriel. Let's talk outside since here is noisy " he said and we we left the sitting room while everybody were lost in the dance.
"Comrade Chioma has a wonderful place like this where such a beautiful Angel like you is hiding " he teased and I giggled
"Angels do fly and not visible so I am visible therefore am not an Angel " I said joke fully and he laughed
"Yeah I know but you are my own Angel deep down in my heart " he said touching his chest
"Which of the Angel am I? " I asked
"You are Angel Gabriella" he said and we both laughed out loud
"You are funny Mr...  Sorry Comrade Gabriel. Thank you for making my day " I said
"You are welcome. I want us to be going out together most often so that we get to know ourselves better " he said
"That's a good idea " I accepted because I was already interested in him
"Though my schedule is tight, but I will make out time just for you my Angel " he said and I was about saying something when Miss Chioma walked towards us.
"Have been looking for you both in the sitting room " she said
"We came out to receive fresh air " Gabriel answered
"Comrade Gabriel bring her in so that she can join in the eating of the special delicacy " Miss Chioma said with a smile on her face.
"But I haven't cut the cake yet " I said
"Then let's go in and do that before we eat the food prepared for us " Miss Chioma said
"Angel I will be with you all through today "
"Sure " I agreed
After my name was spelt, I cut the cake and it was shared  for the whole participants. The food was now served and we ate, we also drank alcoholic drinks. I drank the alcohol to stupor and before I knew I was in the guest room with Gabriel and we undressed before each other and what followed next was a story.
Later that night I woke up with severe headache and I was feeling nauseous. I got up from the bed and I discovered I was naked, Gabriel was still sleeping and snoring into his destiny. I couldn't hold it again, I ran into the convenience and emptied my stomach into the water cistern. I picked up a big towel and wrapped round my body, I tiptoed to leave the room, but Gabriel caught me.
"Where are you going to? " he asked with a sleepy voice
"Am going back to my room "
"Why?  Just stay here with me "
" No " I said
"Why? "
"Nothing. I don't feel comfortable here"
"Atleast you would have informed me that you were leaving instead of tip toeing "
"Sorry I didn't want to disturb your sleep "
"Anyways you were so good on bed. Can we go for another round? " he asked and I felt like strangling him.
I sighed and left the room. I entered my room in a hurry and shut the door with much enraged, I locked it immediately to avoid anybody from entering. I leaned on the door and I started crying, I felt like killing myself. I walked down to my bed and it was looking different as if Gabriel was lying on it. I snapped out of the imaginations and I laid down on the bed. I continued crying till I slept off.