Against All Odds

Chapter sixty seven: vacation

The trees fell away as the vehicle sped on the tarred road. The roads were so familiar to Obi that she could guess the next landmark to be seen or even houses to be spotted. The boys did not care about the roads as they played games on their mother's phone. Mma had fallen asleep owing to the motion of the vehicle. The old woman claimed she loathed being in moving vehicles and succumbed to sleep minutes after the journey began.

Ifenna and Oluebube stayed behind with heavy instructions from their elder sister. The two were surprised with the impromptu vacation she was taking with her husband. Benjamin had decided to keep the destination secret and decided that after mma was dropped at the village where the nurse was waiting, they'd continue their voyage.

Obi was thrilled that she was going away, she thought it better that the location was a surprise as well. But would it be a vacation since her children also came along?

The whooshing sound of vehicles as they sped across coupled with the strange decorum maintained in their car drove Obi to thinking about the strange dream she had two days earlier. She had been dreaming about the day Obiefune had taken care of her, the day she had cried under the rain.

Everything was almost the same except when she felt drowsy and decided to profess her love for Obiefune. Strangely she had not been her 17year old self but a grown woman just like she was in reality. Obiefune wrapped his hands around her and she felt so secure. Even her subconscious still held on to him, it had become a war just like that of light and darkness. She had promised Benjamin her fidelity and she was willing to uphold her word.

The abrupt surge in the acceleration of the vehicle shook Obi out of her thoughts and she focused on her husband.

He had begun to speed at a rate that was endangering and she hadn't known him to be a reckless driver.
The hawkers at the roadside knew well to steer clear of such speeding vehicles when they approached and Obi was disappointed that she couldn't get the walnuts she usually bought along that route.
Benjamin had a smirk plastered on his face while he drove in a somewhat reckless manner.

"Ben it's just a two hour drive, there's no need to speed like we're in a marathon."

Benjamin nodded and smiled at Obi who was certainly not reassured because he hadn't reduced the rate at which he sped across and overtook cars.

Her sons on the other hand were excited with how fast their maneuvered on the road.

" Benjamin I don't think mma is in any rush to get home"

Benjamin grew suddenly quiet and wore a sad expression. Obi was bewildered with what was going on. She couldn't just sit tight and watch her husband drive like bus drivers who were only after the number of drops they made in a day than the lives of the passengers they conveyed to places.

"Obi would you please let me handle this vehicle the way I want to, today. I don't know the next time I'll get such opportunity"

"But Ben honestly, we don't have two lives. If something happens we won't get the opportunity to do such again! Besides the boys are here, it's better to drive safe" Obi added the last part slowly

"They seem to be enjoying themselves" Benjamin retorted

"Exactly how mice enjoy the bread on a trap before it closes them in.

Benjamin heeded to his wife's request and slowed down the vehicle." Has anyone ever told you you're too scared? ".

Obi nodded" I'd like to think I'm careful"

Benjamin smiled and they continued on their journey
They journeyed to village and Obi bought items for the occupants of the compound. As soon as they got to the village wave of memories hit Obi and she found herself smiling to some that she remembered.

They zoomed past villagers who often stopped to wave at them, Obi recognized a bamboo tree where she used to seek shade with her mother whenever they got tired on their way home from the farm.

Obi remembered how small she was and how she always insisted on going with her mother wherever she went.
Obi recalled her younger self struggling with scant number of firewood which she transported home, safely on top of the folded palm leaves which her mother called "ajụ".

"Nne jisike nnu, we're almost home" Her mother spoke as she slowly walked exhausted from the weight weighing her down.

Her mother formed a habit of telling her stories that threw her mind off things.

Her mother spoke to her an amusing story about the three brothers, isiukwu(Big head),Afoukwu(Big stomach) and ukwunta(tiny legs).
Their mother had instructed the brothers to take care of themselves and not involve themselves in things that would get them killed. Each of the brothers had a disorder and their mother hoped that her stern warning would keep them safe.

The brothers heeded to their mothers instructions till they came across a tall coconut tree. They had a sudden craving for the fruit and isiukwu decided to climb after his two brothers decided their disabilities could not let them climb.

Isiukwu being the eldest had to climb but only on the condition that he wouldn't look down so that his head would not fall off. He didn't trust his two brothers but he climbed anyway and when he started plucking he had a feeling that his brothers were somehow eating without him.

"One should not always mistrust his siblings, without trust there can be no relationship"

Isiukwu worn out from the uncertainty of the safety of his precious coconuts decided to look down and his big head fell off.
Obi could remember how hard she laughed when her mother narrated that part especially because she pictured the whole incident. How could someone's head fall off their shoulder?

"Gịnị emezie! What happened?"

Afoukwu saw the unfortunate event and began to laugh, he laughed so hard that his big stomach bursted open.

"One should never laugh at his brother's misfortune"

Obi realized at that instant that her mother was driving home morals.
The third child out of greed decided to gather all the coconuts and run away but the weight caused his tiny legs to break.

By the time mother had finished they were home."Their mother was away but they let their differences and greed lead the to the destruction she had forewarned them about."

"When I get my own siblings we won't be like those three" Obi happily declared as she dropped her own firewood beside mma's hut.

"Mba nụ! You'll take care of them" Obi's mother spoke patting her head
The honk pulled Obi out of her thoughts and she realized that her husband was waiting patiently for an old woman to cross the road.

"We're almost at your house nne" Benjamin assured Obi with a smile and she turned away drinking in the air which certainly did have an earthy smell compared to where they came from. "Mma had been right after all"
Benjamin parked his vehicle in front of their verandah and helped his wife children out. He unloaded the things he bought for mma, while Obi took the woman to her hut.

Obi met with the nurse who was assigned to mma and spoke to her about mma's affinity for Achara Tea.
Obi walked back to the house and saw that everything had been unloaded and her husband made no attempt of leaving.

"Are we taking a break? Is the place not far from here?"

Benjamin stepped down from the verandah, scooped his wife up and hoisted her over his shoulders while his children laughed behind them as they made their way into the house.
He dropped Obi on the chair where she struggled to recover from being taken by surprise.

"We're here Tata, I can't wait to do those things!"

The road that leads us home