Her Father's Wife

Chapter 24

Ona only dressed well when she goes to Ochanja market to buy corn. Other times she doesn't care what she wore. Most times,  she wears her mothers cast off wrappers with faded blouse. At times, shapeless gowns she picked up from okirika at Ochanja market. To her it doesn't really matter what she wears. After all, no man was looking at her. All she needed was money. Money to feed her mother and her siblings. She was also thinking of sending one of her sisters to school. Schooling was becoming popular these days. According to the catechist, though schooling is free now, time shall come when it will be very expensive. ( Ihe ozizi nile gabu ihe oke onu) . One of them had to go and learn the things of the white man. She knows that her father Nwokeforo will have approved. She would have liked to sent Nkechi. Nkechi was smart and she learns things fast but she was already married. Njide will have to go to school. She made a mental note to enquire about it from the catechist when she comes back from Ochanja. Ona took time over her appearance before leaving. She casted off her mother's worn out wrapper and wore one of the gowns Obiageli, Akukalias wife made for her. She put on Tiro and even wore earing. Finally, she brought out the money in a string and tied it round her waist and wore her nicker over it. She left the house around 7am. She will trek to Orlu and join 'Eziafa' a rickety lorry that plies from Orlu to Ochanja. It makes the trip three times in a week. It costs as much as six shillings going and coming. Most traders prefer to join him on the journey back because of their load. While others like Uzoka preferred to save their money and trek to and fro. Onaedo can find her way blind folded around Ochanja by now. She liked going to the market. For one, it was a way of getting out of the prison Ngodo had become. She can also see other people, fashionable people. She can copy styles of reigning blouses for her mother. Secondly, she can get to see Ofiaju. She liked the dialect of Igbo Language spoken around Ochanja market. It is light. Very sweet to the ear. Not like Ngodo dialect that is so heavy and thick. She particularly likes it when Ofiaju talks to her in that dialect. She will admire his chocolate brown complexion. The gap at the centre of his upper teeth when he smiles. She particularly liked the lazy way he talks and gesticulates. The way he dragged his tall frame from up his bags of corn when he sees  her. Ona things Ofiaju likes her too. A woman always knows when a man is interested in her. Call it woman's intuition. She would have loved to encourage him but for the fact that nothing will come out of it. Moreover, Ofiaju had once confided in her that he was an only child. Ofiaju was happy to see Ona. He had been her keen admirer since the first day she followed her uncle, the jewelry seller to come and buy beans from him. She was looking scared even as she tried to maintain a brave front. She was beautiful too. The fading marks of uri on her body gave her an exotic look.  Her mini black gown fitted her like gloves. He was actually admiring her fashion sense when her uncle confided in him that she recently lost her father and was in mourning. At that, his heart went out to her. He asked for her name and she looked down, drawing a pattern with her toe as she answered shyly Onaedo. He liked the name. It fits her. She was indeed a golden ring. He watched her grow. She grew from the timid teenager who could hardly look him on the face to a woman, a friend he can confide on. He introduced her to the lorry driver,  Eziafa when he learnt of the long distance she treks carrying her wares. The lorry made things easier. She can come often and she can buy as much things as she wanted. He found Ona easy to talk to. She was also very industrious and down to earth. He was alarmed when he learnt of the burden she carries as her family's bread winner. He tried to help by making her a gift of corn, beans and mostly rice which he found she valued highly. However, he felt, there is something Ona was not telling him. She seemed to be burdened with something she does not want to share. She knows almost all there is to know about him, but he knows little or nothing about her. He doesn't even know the name of her village. She is one mysterious lady but that was also part of her charm.