INA-AYOMI

CHAPTER ONE

Life wasn't this sad, there used to be that happy little girl. But whatever life throws at us, we make out of it what we can.

I was lost in thought not even sure what I was thinking about, it was all cobwebs, my best friend tells me I take things too seriously but honestly, who wouldn't not like everything goes our way. The lady frying akara beside the road reminded me of happy times.

Every Friday, father and I in his car would always drive here just to buy akara from her. Father says its our "little secret", I'm sure he just didn't want me to tell mother and I always got a bribe for the little trip every time we went there.

"Ina-ayo!" that would be my best friend Gbenga since our childhood and yes! he scared the crap out of me.

"Gbenga what is wrong with you, I've told you times without number to stop calling me like that". He takes a seat beside me.

"What are you doing here?" I gave him my deaf ears "your mother is worried sick looking for you and you are sitting here like a homeless child how did you even get here"

"I followed uncle Ayo and I can easily take a bike back home"

Gbenga didn't look happy, lately he's been angry at me for even the slightest things".

"I just missed this place that's all' he was quiet for a while "I remember when we made him buy us chocolates even though we were not allowed to have some?". I nodded and we laughed. We both knew who we were talking about.

"Ina-ayo he will be back it's just been a few years" I smiled

"I know, I just miss him that's all".

"I'm sure you do, but don't give that poor woman a heart attack you are all she has right now" that's Gbenga always being reasonable.

We stood up trying to get bike when we saw uncle Ayo's car pull up in front of us, he looked at us shaking his head "get in".

We didn't even argue and none of us made a sound as you could hear a pin drop as we headed home. Uncle Ayo dropped me at my house before taking Gbenga to his.

"Young lady, where have you been?!!!!!"

We all know that rule in a Yoruba house that says you can't talk while an elder is talking to you, don't look into an elder's eyes, right now I was in that position.

"I asked you a question Ina-ayo, where have you been?"

"I went out with uncle Ayo"

"How many times have I told you I don't want to see you with Ayo?" she was beginning to raise her voice and I hated it when she did that.

"he's my uncle, why can't I?"

"Because I said so!"

"Just because you said so doesn't make it right, you had no issues with it when father was around"

"Well, your father isn't here is he? I am and I say you can't be alone with Ayo"

"I really miss father" I saw her face change like she was about to cry, I hated it when I made her sad but lately, we've been having arguments a lot.

"Well, your father is not coming back" I'm sure she didn't mean that.

"You don't mean that he will, I'm sure he will" that moment I saw tears drop from her eyes I realized he wasn't really coming back.

I never really understood mother and father's relationship but I knew she loved me dearly and right now I was hurting her more than ever even though I knew deep down how bad I wanted to cry.

Just then someone knocked the door.

"Come in" mother wiped her tears quicky and rearranged herself. Gbenga's mother walked in and I excused them after greeting her.

Few years ago

Father always gave me his earphones whenever he and mother were to have "their talk". He said I shouldn't be listening to elders talk, I didn't mind as long as I could watch my favorite show on his little tablet even though the earphones didn't block all the noise out but at l got a distraction.

That morning I didn't get an earphone, maybe father forget or they thought I was asleep. It was my birthday and I was turning 10, mother said it was the big ten and I would pick my present. I was so happy I didn't sleep a wink.

Running into the living room, I heard a bang of the door and mother was seated in tears holding a piece of paper.

"Mother where is father?" I saw the look in her eyes it was sad but she smiled at me and said "father went on a business trip and he will be back".

"But mother my present"

I got a bigger party that year to forget but I never did because each year 6years later I was still waiting and so was mother.