In the Loving Arms of Servitude

18. Aunty Cynthia

                          
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“Ahh! Aunty Cynthia! Welcome… Ee don tey oo! " Femi echoes, as Cynthia and his wife approach the middle of the living room. Cynthia replies kittenishly, with her arm still over Amara's shoulder, "Uncle Femi!!!... I dey vex for una oo!... You and your wife did not come to my house opening party. It's not fair oo!..."

Then Femi smiles coyly, replying as they both take their seats on the sofa,
"Ahhh… No nau... You know sey we be travel dat period."

"Ehen nau..." she responds jocularly and then adds, "...Una go New York, con forget me for here. God dey oo! "
The three of them burst into prolonged laughter.

Afterwards, Femi continues, "Don't worry… I saved a bottle of Bordeaux for you. I'll go and get it."

"Ooh! That's nice!... I go first shak small for here." Cynthia exclaims gleefully. Again, they all laugh while Femi leaves the living room.

Uju, who has been eavesdropping at the passage door quickly walks into the living room to greet aunty Cynthia, before heading to the kitchen. "Good evening, ma!" she echoes, waving slightly as she walks toward the kitchen door.

"Oh, good evening!" Cynthia echoes in surprise, afterwhich she turns to Amara and whispers, "Who be dat? "
Amara replies subtly, "Na the girl wey dem bring come for me."

"Eh eh ehn?... From where?" she inquires.

"Owerri nau. I be tell you! Na Obiageli bring am nau!..."Amara emphasizes in hushed tones.

Upon hearing this, Cynthia tilts her head in even more shock, saying, "Obiageli???... That ekwensu! You sure sey no be satellite she bring come your house so??? "

"Haba!.. Cynthia, you sef!! " Amara exclaims.

"Na true I dey talk oo!... Hmm! You can never be too careful. You know sey you get pikin oo!... Just make sure you watch her closely… Hm!... You know wetin house girl don take my eye see o. Me, I no dey carry again!" Cynthia avers, while Amara listens to her intently. Thereafter, Amara chuckles slightly, saying, "Ah ah???... You no trust me???... No just worry. I put eye down."

"Hmm... Okay oo. I trust you sha." she responds, shrugging a bit. "...Ehen! Where is T-boy?" she inquires, increasing her voice now.

Amara chuckles in response, saying,
"I'm sure he is still doing his homework..."

"...I'm here!!!" Tobi interrupts her, after running into the living room with shy speed. He stops a few metres away from the both of them and starts smiling and giggling coyly, afterwhich aunty Cynthia asks him kittenishly, "So Tobi, you heard my voice and you did not come out to greet me?"

"No… I had not finished my homework yet. And I went to pee first, so..." he replies, in suppressed laughter.

"Okay, no problem... Come here!!!..." She hugs him tightly and then continues, smiling radiantly, "... I heard you topped your class last term... Which means, I owe you a present!"

Then Tobi giggles again, as she releases him, "Thank you ma!"

"Alright, go finish your homework dear." she replies, ruffling his hair with her palm.