WAZOBIA: A Tale of Two worlds

Twelve

Morning of the morrow came and I decided it was visiting day. I had been away too long and it was definitely time to meet loved ones around. Today seemed convenient.

"Nne"  My mom turned to look at me from where she was sitting on the couch, "You're awake"

"Yes mummy, I want to go out today, you know, visit people."

"Okay, good. Umm... Ada,"  My mom called me Ada, even though I was clearly not the first daughter, as the name implied, but I guess to her I was. Figuratively.

I looked up at my mom. "Hmm?"

"Your brother, and I are going to visit.... Your dad at the village hospital".  " Will you come?"

I took a menacing breath, so full of hatred, and my nostrils widened.

"No"

I got up and started toward the backyard

"Mami, I want to boil water for a bath"

My mom got up next.

"Honey, nnem" She held my shoulder.

I weakened and turned to face her, looking down into her eyes as time and age made it that I was taller than her.

She placed her hands on the back of my head, pushing away some of the obstructing braids and then rested my head on her shoulder.

I wanted to cry. No, I did cry.

I sobbed and sniffles on my mother's shoulder. I couldn't believe her
After everything he had done to her, to her family, to us; she still cared enough to.visit him in the hospital.

I just couldn't understand it.

"Darling its okay"

I continued to sob onto her shoulder, now wrapping my arms around her.

"He's still your father"

I jerked away.

"No, mummy. No!  That man, that....beast! is not my father"

I took the time to take a deep breath.

"I'm fatherless. You're the only one I've got. You and Kachi and that's all; not even Chi Chi, not Nonso, not John, not anyone. And soon it well be that way ..... Permanently."

I stared into my moms horrified eyes for a second and headed back toward the kitchen, not realizing how sinister and blood curdlingly true my words were. And I meant them.

*      *         *

"Faustina!" I shouted to the housekeeper from where I was in the room.

I lay sprawled across my bed, dressed and ready to go out; in a red tee shirt, khaki shorts and white sneakers which was probablt unwise since I would trod a red dirt road.

I sat up. Faustina was approaching, or so said the sound of slippers slapping the staircase.

"Aunty" she landed in my room with a skid and a skid and a jump.

I chuckled.

Faustina was the liveliest person I had ever met; though what was I really supposed to expect from a fourteen year old in high school?

"Hey Faustina, em, when are mummy and brother Nonso going?"
"Oh," she looked behind her into the stairway, "Miami si na puta kita kita"

I got up, "Now?"

" Yes"

"Then I too should be going now" I picked up my knapsack and did a little jiggle, then pulled my braids back.

"Aunty, are you going with them?" Faustina asked innocent mtly.

"Um, no"

Faustina stood aside the doorway and I left the room with my head down, not wntinh to meet her gaze.

"Miami I'm going now o" I told my mom and headed toward the door.

"Ada m"

I stopped, fingers on the door knob.

"Are you sure you don't want to see your father?":

I opened the door irritably and took a step outside.

" No."