FRAIL

The recent clamoring was becoming something of a norm and the unrest it caused had gotten to most of the residents, clouds of black smoke hung over the roof of houses, the black soot trailed the skyline his white polo had darkened around the armpit and collar line, the neighborhood only stood to complain, but nobody had the gut to do any thing about it. just like most locals justified it 'na the hustle be that' everyone suffered the consequences, both the people collecting and those observing. The locals around considered the illegal bunkering as their right, they shouldn't be called thieves for taking what belonged to their grandfather's ancestors and also to their generations yet to be born, but then if they must be called out, then they should be referred to as the good thieves because they were doing nothing compared to big boys. Chidi Dominic couldn't blame anyone for the way things were turning out, the fight for survival was pushing people to do the unimaginable. He wouldn't count himself completely innocent, a while back had sold a few barrels to meet ends, the economy was going down the drain and the change was to choking. Everyone blamed it on the politicians, Although his father in-law thought it to be a lazy mans justification for poverty, he wouldn't blame the man, he was one of the big politicians and he had small boys running his errands. He couldn't wait to get out of the neighborhood, just a few more days and they'd be done packing.
It was almost 3am and he still wasn't able to shut his eyes, the rattling on the ceiling was unending, the noise was maddening not to add the constant scampering and scratching sound in the walls. the little claws ran across the room. He'd be lying to himself if he believed these were the reasons for his agitation, the lies he'd told himself to keep his mind from overthinking. He looked at Amara as she slept having the sense of peace and completeness , his fingers ran across her blades her bare back stood inviting... "not now" he wouldn't let his negative thoughts get the best of him, she couldn't possibly be true, he'd known her longer that three years, she was for him, her smile seemed unwithering , she was gentle, polite when she felt it necessary and compliant. He'd seen her throw tantrums over silly matters too but nothing she does was past him, he was convinced he loved her or so it seemed.
He unrest started on the evening of their wedding day, he had shoved the thought, but as days passed it lingered. It was his idea that they wed while still in their old house and also unpack all gifts to avoid taking along bedeviled gifts and leaving behind planted any juju planted in their house by vicious family members. she had laughed when he said her family was at the business of scattering her marriage, she said his paranoia was entertaining, he'd smiled down at her, he didn't want to take any offence. she had the proud trait of her father, she would always remind him when he complains 'I am my fathers daughter what do you expect'

he paced while slugging from a bottle of gin, his father in-laws words etched deep into his mind,
"don't worry, you know what I have told you about men, if he doesn't make you happy or he cheats, you can always come back home. if you ever need money come to me, I'm your first option and it'll do you good to remember that your marriage starts in three years, that's when men show their true colours"
he got irritated by the thoughts, he made it back to the bed side, he glanced at her, slowing losing it.

He picked his cell to phone two of his friends he needed to confide in his close mates, hoping they wouldn't assist in stirring up his nerves. Ladi was well-bred and living a principled lifestyle, everyone thought him to be more of a realist than a pessimist, Darrius on the other hand was a little bit unruly but he had the looks.

Ladi made snorting sounds at his end, he was still half asleep while Darrius had just gotten into his house from his biddens.
"do you think she's doing her father?"
" You talk a lot of rubbish, this is a serious matter, I don't have time for your jokes"
"that's my honest opinion, I mean, it was the first thing that came into mind, don't tell me it didn't cross you mind too, at least it would be what every reasonable person would think"
"You think" Dominic echoed rhetorically
"careful of what you say you don't want to put wrong ideas into his head and please speak for yourself, I don't anything is going on. Dominic I think you should have a conversation with your wife, hear her thoughts on the matter"
"he is her father, what do you think, she obviously would take his advice"
"Did she tell you so?"
"No"
"Then don't make assumptions for her"
"You both should take my words, her father is doing her that's why he sounds so entitled. He is the first in line while you come second"
"You are crossing the line, I asked for ao simple opinion not an insult to my wife. This conversation is not going anywhere, we'd continue tomorrow

He laid back beside her hoping for the for the first glimmer of light to illuminate the sheets, but it seemed it take forever to come, he tapped on his screen and it said the time was two minutes past 4:am. In as much as he hoped not to disturb her, he needed to get it off his chest, he rolled of the blanket and tapped lightly on her bum.

"Babe wake up, I have something to tell you"
"Not now, I'm sleeping" her cracked voice whispered between sleep
"I want to talk to you"
she grudgingly murmured 'in the morning we'd talk about the whole world right now I want to sleep' her voice almost sounding like a plea
"I can't wait, I want to talk now"
she lazily opened her eyes, extended her neck, she took a peek at the window
"but its still dark out side, the tank drivers are still loading oil so it means it's not yet 6:am, I don't want to hear anything I'm going back to sleep"
"So unless it's 6:am I can't talk to you"
"You can talk to me anytime but I'm really tired and you know how much I love my night rest___ okay, you can talk to me while my eyes are closed, I'll be listening"
"what do you mean by that?"

She could feel the tone of his voice hardening, she widened her eyes watching his every expression.
"what is going on?" she asked with so much concern"

"what would you do if I did something that made you unhappy?"
''what have you done?" Looking at him in her perplexion, she rolled her eyes.
"That's not we are talking about, I've done nothing, I just want to know how you'd react if something goes wrong between us"
"Are you planning on making things things go wrong"
"No I'm not, please give answers, I'm just trying to confirm something"
"What exactly is going on with? You are being weird, well my reaction would depend on the gravity of the offence, I'll act accordingly___ I guess"
"stop trying to sound civil, I want you to spell out what you would do when i can no longer make you happy"
"why won't you make me happy?, you don't even have an option___ what is prompting this question"
"You and your father, I mean the words he said to you on our wedding day, I can't seem to understand why he'd put those ideas into your head"
"That shouldn't be something you should be worried about, he is just being my dad, every father should be protective of their daughter and mine is just doing that, he wants me to know I've got him too..."
"No you don't have him, you have me and me alone, he can't get involved in our lives and we can't let anyone start whispering words into our ears because they are family, he is your father no doubt but he is making you take this marriage so lightly. You should take it seriously, it is your life and with every little problem, you can't run home. I'm not expecting the worse but it's possible to happen"
"You are both right, I see your point, I also understand his perspective. But we can't hide from my family"
"We can but you won't, your father has got you wrapped in his control"
"Please don't say that about my father, I understand his words bruised your ego but you can't take it out on me or him___ I'm going back to bed, this conversation is draining, I don't have the strength"
"Now I'm trying to speak up you are shoving the talk"
"But what do you want me to say, I just confirmed that you are right in everything you said"
"You said your father was right"
"Yeah that too____ I've got to sleep I have a long day tomorrow, my father wants us to come over for the weekend"
"We are not going"
"I am". The rest of the words he muttered were vague, but she was certain she heard him cuss but she was far gone to get on with him, tomorrow she'd go home.