THE EXTERNALS

Chapter Twenty-One

"Here we are!", Zach assisted me in getting down from the bus when we reached our destination even though I didn't need his help.

"Thanks", I smiled.

"Zach, please come and help me carry this boy", One of the women in the bus begged him to help carry her sleeping son.

"Alright, ma", He carried out her request even though he seemed more eager to take me inside the house so I could sit down and relax.

When Omma and I later went to the restroom, she told me he would have replied her rudely if I wasn't there. I didn't know if that was supposed to be a good or bad thing.

Mrs. Thompson's family house wasn't a bad site to behold. As most Nigerians do, the parents of the bride contracted a painter before the wedding because the painting of the house looked new. Likewise, some new furniture in the living room smelt of painted wood. Outside the house, an area that seemed like it was once bombarded with weed was smooth. It was the same place they set up tents for the event. There were two tents for the general populace and a special one for the couple. Of course, the couple's tent had a more glamorous decoration.

"I'm so glad you guys made it!" Zach's stepmom look excited to see everyone but she welcomed the women especially.

"Mum favor, your house is very fine oo", Omma found something to endear herself to her.

"Thank you, my dear", She caressed her cheek.

"There are many fine girls here too", ID commented.

"They're all my sisters oo. If you mess with them, I'll show you pepper", She gave him a stern look.

"Yes, ma", He saluted her. I was quite surprised that Omma didn't say anything about him eyeing other women. Rather, she gestured at me to say something nice to Mrs. Thompson the bride's sister.

"Congratulations, ma", I told her.

"Thank you", She said casually and left to get us some chinchin to keep our mouths busy.

Since the party didn't start as soon as we got to the venue, we searched and found a suitable place to take several pictures on Zach's iPhone 9 and watched an interesting movie in a guest room he secured for us by sending out the kids who were there before us. However, the movie didn't crack me up, it was Zach and ID's criticism of the movie that did. Omma wasn't even able to concentrate on it because she was using ID's data to post the number of pictures she wouldn't have posted if it was hers.

Even though the tables arranged for the party weren't that much, we didn't have to fight for any because Mrs. Thompson secured one for us. The party started with every guest rising to honor the members of the groom's family as they arrived. For extra ten minutes, the MC for the event still kept them waiting. She claimed it was their punishment for coming to an in-law's house late but it afforded her more time to get extra money from them.

After they got in, the MC taught them how to greet their inlaws, and they did exactly as she did. Since the wedding was between an Edo girl and a Yoruba guy, she merged both cultures to make it an intercultural event. When it was the groom's turn to greet his inlaws, his friends were there to support him. For more times than I can remember, I kept looking at him because he looked handsome in his agbada attire paired with local beads. No deformity in his body could make the bride's parents deny the fact that he was suitable for their daughter.