Against All Odds

Chapter Sixty Eight :Bring the good news home

The trees hadn't begun to shed their leaves and the compound was not as messy as it used to be. Obi woke up very early in the morning and decided to sweep their portion of the compound. A strange noise snapped her head in the direction of Dee Ogbo's house and she stopped sweeping. Obi waited patiently straining her eyes to see whatever it was that made such noise.

She saw what looked like a woman's figure exit the house after she packed her items that fell on the floor. Obi was surprised with what she saw, was Dee Ogbo hoarding mistresses in his house? Obi mentally scolded herself for even Puck nosing in someone else's business, whatever Dee Ọgbọ chose to do was his business.

Obi couldn't help but wonder if Dee Ọgbọ had finally decided to give up bacherlorhood at his old age and seek love. Obi found it amusing after she pictured the old women who would be avail themselves to him. Would any sane young girl be interested in a man old enough to be her father?
Obi reached out for her "akpụ kpa ezi" and continued with her sweeping. Benjamin exited the house few minutes later and began to help Obi despite her protests. The pair soon began to converse and soon enough forgot about where they were supposed to stop.

The heap of leaves made close to the coconut tree reminded Obi of how much her sisters used to play around that particular tree.

When Benjamin decided their house was the location for their get away Obi was bemused. She had thought of places with tourist attractions, a place where she could go without remembering most of the things that haunted her in the village.

Obi heard bicycle bells ringing outside the gate and she knew they were from women who were going to the market. Her husband helped her pack away the leaves before telling her of his departure that day.
Obi couldn't quite place her finger on the whole scenario but she knew something was definitely wrong with Benjamin.

"Once I'm done with dialysis, I'll have the driver bring me back"

What was the point in coming to the village if he needed medical attention in the city? . Their village was not too far but Obi couldn't understand his reasons.

Benjamin helped Obi bathe and clothe the twins before Obi prepared breakfast. Benjamin assured Obi that he would be back in the afternoon to show her things.

With much expectancy and a little fear Obi carried on with her daily routine. She checked on mma and visited Daa Nkem with her boys who they practically fell in love with with.
Obi hesitantly walked into Dee Ogbo's house, ever since the death of her mother, she had never totally accepted Dee Ogbo's innocence and partly blamed him for her death.
She stepped into his house with loaves of bread and a drink.

As a child she had always loved how beautiful his house was but time had made the structure ancient when compared with newer architectural work of arts.

Obi saw Dee Ọgbọ seated on his chair with his wrapper secured safely under his protruding belly and the folded heap attached to his side.
Obi watched the old man for a while before she made her presence  known to him. Obi realized with how Dee Ọgbọ spoke that me must have been very lonely.

Obi greeted the man and sluggishly took her seat. The look of surprise was still written all over his face. Obi asked him where she would place the items and he directed her.

They spoke briefly before Obi left his house. She went with her sons to their farm and she saw that it had been farrowed for so many years. She began to think of getting involved in commercial farming, maybe with all the lands they could produce goods for sell.

It was around mid afternoon that Obi came home, after her little tour with her sons. She thought of what to cook and remembered the palm oil rice she used to prepare for her siblings.
She left her sons in the living room and dove into the kitchen she cooked the food and even gave some to mma.
Daa Nkem had told her about their mother's burial and she knew she couldn't attend even upon invitation.
Benjamin came back much later bearing gifts, he bought so many items for the boys and Obi. He instructed the driver to look after the children while he picked up cutlass and took Obi by hand.