Vagrants

Chapter 26

Ding Dong!

I regret ringing the doorbell at that time because it was my mother who opened up. I saw how her eyes lit up when she saw me. She really missed me.

"Adeola! Adeola mi!" My Adeola. Mother cried.

"Maami." Mother. I hugged her.

Uncle Jide, Aunty Kemi, Abisola and Bayo rushed to me. They all missed me.

Abisola and Bayo carried both bags to my room. Mother sat me down and offered me a glass of water.

"Peele. Kilode ti o so fun mi pe o ti n bo?" Sorry. Why didn't you tell me you were coming? Mother asked.

"I didn't want to disturb you ma."

"Nonsense! Wa de ti pe Jide ko wa gbe e ni airport." You should have called Jide to pick you up at the airport. Mother sighed.

"It is fine ma. E se ma." Thank you ma.

"How did you like your honeymoon?" Aunty Kemi asked. I tried very hard not to cry in front of them and really wished there would be no more teasing about Damba.

"Honeymoon?" I forced a laugh. "It's just a get-to-know-eachother holiday."

"Okay, how was it?"

"Fine ma."

"And his family?"

I swallowed hard. "They're fine too ma. They asked to greet everybody."

Abisola rushed out of the room. "Did you arrange the wedding date?"

I ignored her.

"Answer her." Uncle Jide said.

"No."

"Why?"

I got up angrily. Their questions were too much and were driving me crazy. "I'm tired. Later."

I left for my room and Abisola followed me.

"Where is Damba?" Her question made me want to vomit.

"Hmm?"

"I said where is Damba? Why didn't he come with you?"

"He..."

"You know I didn't want to ask you downstairs because I felt something is not right and I didn't want to put you in a tight spot."

"Thank you."

"So tell me where Damba is."

"I...I don't know." I sighed.

"Are you serious?" She looked around to make sure no one was near us and locked the door.

"Yes." I slumped on the bed. "He's been missing for days."

"And you came home without attempting to look for him?"

"I tried and waited but he actually abandoned me."

"How do you know that?"

"I had a dream."

"Iru ala radarada wo ni yen?" What kind of nonsense dream is that? She hissed.

"I'm serious. So ti gbagbe pe mo ma n ni iwoye?" Have you forgotten that I do have visions?

"This one was in your sleep. It can't be visions. Were you even praying before you sleep?"

I shook my head.

"Did you even pray at all since you got there?"

I shook my head and she was surprised by that but ignored it.

"So how can you have visions?"

"I don't know. I..."

"My dear. Go and sleep. When you wake up, we can talk."

"Abi..."

"I'm serious. Lo sun." Go and sleep.

*

I woke up later to hear unfamiliar voices in the house. I was tired and my body was weak. I didn't know why. I rinsed my face and went downstairs to greet the visitors.

"This is my daughter-Adeola." Mother introduced me to them.

"Eku irole ma. Eku irole sir." Good evening ma. Good evening sir. I genuflected half way.

"How are you?" The man asked while the woman stared as though I was too good to be true.

"These are our new tenants." Uncle Jide said.

I bowed my head slightly.

"They would be staying in the guest room. Abisola help with their bags." Aunty Kemi said.

"Yes ma."

After Abisola left with the couple, I asked. "Why do we need tenants?"

"You see, we need money. Your uncle's clothing business isn't making profit." Mother explained.

"I see. What happened to your food business ma?" I asked. Mother was working as a part time nurse and started a business after we moved into Uncle Jide's home because she wanted to earn more than she was already earning and wouldn't be too dependent on her younger brother.

"I'm not really earning much from it and the little I've earned as a nurse has been used to support Jide." Mother sighed.

Mother was a wholesale trader and I knew she would earn quite some money. Uncle Jide used to earn well until now. He had a very big shop and sold clothes even to wealthy people. Aunty Kemi was a receptionist in a small company which started a year ago and before that, she used to sew clothes and make beads which she sold to people.

"And Aunty Kemi?"

"You know the circumstances now. We are trying our best." She sighed. "I was the one that even suggested that we rent out that room."

"Okay." I sighed. I wanted to give them the 70,000 naira I got from Damba but I had second thoughts. What if they found out that I fornicated with Damba? If they decide to throw me out of the house, what would I do?

I had to keep it calm for a while and see how things go. If they find out and still let me stay, I'd surrender the money. If not, I'll use it to grow the make-up and gele (head-gear) business I started when I was in school.