Once Upon A Prostitute

CHAPTER 26 - SLIM HOPE

Luke

"So, I have a question''

"Ask away" she replies in a sleepy voice as she lays on the bed. I sit at the reading table by the window trying to finish up an assignment.

''Are you royalty?"

She turns to look at me crazy. "Whaaat?"

"Are you descendent from king Jaja?'

She looks pleasantly surprised. ''how do you know about him?''

I smile smugly, enjoying the look of curiosity on her face. "I love to read." I wouldn't say I am a fan of African literature, but I once stumbled upon the story of young boy who rose from slavery and became one of the most respected kings in the southern Nigeria region. Any tale that has to do with power and conquering usually grabs my attention.

"What exactly did you read?' she asked on as she rolls unto her side to face me, seeming a little more alert now.

"A slave boy rose to become a great and influential merchant, and then founded the Opobo kingdom even though he was not a native of the land.''

She smiles. "Tetura never let me forget that last part. It was so annoying to hear her claim her tribe paved the way for mine.'' she chuckles.

'Who is Tetura?' I ask

"She was...she is my friend" she said softly. She clears her throat a little, then sits upright with a swing of her legs and continues. "So Tetura is Igbo and I'm Ijaw. History records that King Jaja is of Igbo origin but was enculturated into the Ijaw tradition during the slave trade era. Tetura argued that if Jaja never established opobo and made it popular, we wouldn't even be known. But it's not true. We existed and were doing just fine even before Jaja came along.''

"Still, he must have made great impact if history is making reference to him." I point out.

"Us too. The fact that we weren't making a buzz didn't mean we were not making impact. We were just a quiet tribe minding our business'' she defends.

"Hmm''

''what? Don't tell me you agree with Tetura'' she says giving me a side eye.

"I don't even know Tetura. But I think king Jaja deserves his flowers. He rose to become a strong leader, and even gained the respect even of the British''

She shrugs. 'Maybe.''

I frown in confusion. ''You don't seem very pleased with your ancestor, and to think you have his name."

Her smile widens a little. "I have nothing against him. I just wanted to win Tetura in an argument.''

"Wow, I must really look like Tetura'' I joke.

"Shut up" she whines, and I laugh at her childishness.

"So, are you?'

"Am I what?' she says with a yawn, settling into the bed again.

"A royal"

She burst into laughter. "I wish. Oh no, Luke, I'm not. I think my ancestors were more of fishermen than nobles."

"So, you can you fish?'

"A little. It's more of a man's profession in Opobo. But my grandfather always tried to teach me the basics, just for the sake of knowing, in case I ever have to" She has a faraway look on her face before she adds with an eye roll. "I still think it's boring and tiring though"

I nod and go back to typing my thesis. I imagine sitting in a boat, waiting for a fish to bite. Definitely boring.

''Do you miss your home?'' I ask her after a getting a few lines in. She is quiet for so long I think she has slept off, until I look at her.