The Irish House

adora

Friday

The second house was built by Samuel and his construction friends, under a year. He argued countless days with Adora to even clear land and build it. He wanted it to be as large as the main house, but Adora didn't think it was necessary. 

Sam saw how big the family was getting, and knew he wanted more room for them to stay in Cork. Joseph had three kids, Star was pregnant, and he was sure Noreen would come home with a partner from Canada. All that mattered to him was that they were together in Cork. And that one day, when Adora and him are no longer here, the house can belong to their family.

The second house is a bungalow, with four rooms, a spacious living room, and a small kitchen. It's more modern than the main house, but quite bare with the lack of furniture.

Samuel and Adora don't have any children of their own, but they always acted like loving parents to everyone they met. Adora was a nurse turned playschool teacher, and Samuel worked in construction. They were also devoted Christians, heavily involved in church, helping whenever they could.

Adora knocks on the red door with heavy force, wearing a fresh set of clothes after tending to the garden.

Chidi opens the door, and allows Adora to storm past him.

"You two, sit." she says.

Adora grabs three glasses from the kitchen and pours water into two, and Malt into the third one.

Chioma and Chidi slowly sit on the peach colored velvet couch, still in their loungewear, eyes stuck on Adora's odd demeanor.

"You know, at this rate, if you two irritate me any longer, I will remove you from this house and you can spend the summer in the city. You haven't talked to your youngest child since when?"

"Biko, not this--"

Adora interrupts Chioma.

"I remember how lost both of you looked when I first saw you in church. You were bouncing Joseph on your leg, and Star was barely...two years old? Your accent gave away that you had just came to Dublin from Nigeria. I laugh because it was my first time ever meeting Nigerians in the area. But, I took you in. I showed you how to take care of the children, Sam helped you find that accounting job while Chidi worked in Naija. I helped you raise these kids, and eventually, you left our place and found your own, but we were there, every second, for you both. Your children became our children. We became a family. So tell me why I shouldn't sound you both for your stupidity?"

Chidi and Chioma sit in stunned silence, not wanting to provoke Adora any further.

"We don't hate Noreen. And we haven't abandoned her, if that is where you are getting at." Chioma says.

"You're just like your sister and brothers. Judgmental, obnoxious, rude, and uptight. The way Uncle Justin just ran his mouth at the dinner, few weeks back, absolutely sick! I hear the way you guys talk about her, vile. I want to be honest, and God forgive me, but I despise them. I don't like their presence on my compound. Their poor children. The way they talk, eh, they need humbling. They also need forgiveness in their heart... because Noreen is a victim."

Chioma sips his water, "We told that girl. We did everything a good parent would do, but she was too stubborn. And you have to understand how much this world has changed, this depression and suicide everybody talks about, that is the devil!"

"It's the reaction some people have to certain situations they have been cornered into. It was Chidi who eavesdropped on our conversation, and I basically had to force Nor girl to be transparent about everything, and help her. She told you how she was treated by the school, and how the disorders and isolation from us caused her to medicate and hurt herself! You saw her arms! Everyone in this house, besides you two and your siblings, have shown great care and understanding to her. Even Joseph, and it took him the longest time to be a real man."

Chidi tries to defend his wife, but Adora is a very wise woman. She has never been wrong. After all, he told everyone in the family why Noreen traveled back. Yet, he can't even remember the last time he showed love to his youngest. He didn't speak a word to her after she accepted the scholarship. Feelings of guilt have been buried deep inside of him, but begin to purge through his throat and eyes.

"Why haven't you both retired from work?"

Adora gulps her Malt.

"It's because of her, eh?" Adora laughs, "Even in your neglect, you still care for her."

Chidi speaks, "Adora, she doesn't have a job, and there was no college fund set up for her--"

Adora's face scrunches in confusion

"Star and Joseph had a fund, you told me there was also one for Nor girl. Years ago. Why did you remove it?"

The couple stays silent. This conversation is causing them to face the situation head on, nothing to hide behind.

"Noreen graduated early, but we already knew she was going to stick with the dancing thing. We were going to give her some of the fund money, but she disobeyed us. So we used the money for Joseph's children's funds."

Adora's hands tighten into a fist, and she stands up.

Chidi tries to calm everything down, "It was for the best."

"Foolish man. You left your wife in a foreign country, with two kids, to work in Abuja. You don't think I was skeptical about you being miles away? I wanted to grab your ashy legs and plant them in the grass so you wouldn't leave. But, guess what? I let you do it, I didn't budge, and I even lent you some money. And if it didn't work out, I would still love you and support you. Do you even know what the best thing is for Noreen? The best thing is if you would have supported her, financially and emotionally. If you understood her pain, and loved her unconditionally. Whether you liked her decisions or not. But you're just classic Nigerian folk. Can't understand the modern times. Always wanting to dictate everything in your children's lives, not letting them live. Don't fool me. You're still working because you think she can't do it. She doesn't have a job like the others, so you plan to give her money, and leave her alone to become something. As long as she is related to you guys, she mustn't bring too much shame to the family name as she 'already has'."

Adora turns her head to see if her hypothesis was correct, and by the looks of their faces, she was correct.

She sits back down on the couch, grabbing their hands.

"I don't know when my expiration date is, but before it comes, I want you to be real parents to that girl. I don't care that she's 21 and grown, she's still your child. And you better show love to Dune as well. This is a home for love, not hate. Noreen owes you nothing. You two must help her recover the light she lost. Because what your doing right now, is cowardly."

Adora puts the glass on the coffee table, and walks out the front door.

Chioma removes her glasses, and slams them on the table. The scowl on her face can't hide the tears in her eyes.