Vagrants

Chapter 27

It was weekend. Mother, Uncle Jide and Aunty Kemi were out working. There was an holiday so Abisola and Bayo stayed home with me and the new tenants.

The woman seemed keen on talking to me and I tried my best to avoid her.

"Se mo se e ni?" Did I offend you? She asked.

"No." I forced a smile. It's not her, I actually don't want to talk to anybody. I've not felt like myself since I returned. Maybe I've actually changed after I allowed a beast to come between my legs. Yes, he's a beast! And I'm very angry thinking about him and how easy he had it. I got good stuffs from him too but I've not opened them since I got back. I locked up both bags in my wardrobe.

"So what's your name? Abisola or..." The woman asked.

"Adeola." I tried very hard not to sound rude.

"I am Mrs. Bakare but you're free to call me Adetutu."

"Okay ma."

"Do you know my husband and I are rich people?" She asked.

"Yes! That's why you're busy renting out a room instead of..."

She laughed. "You don't know the story!"

"I'm sorry ma."

"No! Ko n se ejo e." It's not your fault. She sighed. "Our house caught fire you see..."

"Ahh! I'm sorry to hear that."

"Thank you." She smiled. "We just chose to stay here because we don't want to go to an hotel."

"Oh, I see." I asked a question that I wish I never did. "Hope no one got hurt?"

I was just trying to be caring until I saw her burst into laughter before she broke down to tears.

"I lost my 7 years old son."

"I'm sorry to hear this." I looked away. "He was your only..."

"Bimbo."

"Ma?"

"I have a daughter but she doesn't want to talk to us. She's isolated herself since the incident."

"Sorry ma."

"Bimbo used to..."

"That's her name?"

"Yes." She sniffed.

"Maybe you should just give her- Wait, what's your surname again ma?"

"Bakare."

"What?! You're Bimbo Bakare's mother?"

"Yes." She wiped her face and straightened up. "I'm sure you've observed me looking at you with some kind of familiarity."

"Yes ma." I grinned. "Bimbo must have told you about me."

"Yes, a little." She smiled. "She posted pictures of you both during your NYSC program."

"Oh, I see." I looked down at my fingers.

"What's with the face? You didn't know?"

"Ma, both of us are not really close and I'm not following her on Instagram."

"It doesn't matter. My daughter likes you a lot!" She grinned.

"Thank you ma!"

She handed me a card. "You can call me whenever you want help. But not too soon, we are still trying to get things back into shape."

I looked at the card. "I...I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything." She smiled. "You're like my Bimbo. So quiet and she said you're a good Christian."

I nodded. I regret doing that because I've lost the right to call myself a good Christian after all I've done. I hope this woman doesn't find out. She'd be gone after a week and hopefully, I won't need her help and won't have to see her again.

*

The house was full in the evening. Myself and Abisola prepared dinner while Bayo set the table. Mother, Uncle Jide and Aunty Kemi looked very exhausted from the day's work so we served them extra food.

They were nice enough to allow our tenants eat with us on the table.

"Hope they didn't disturb you today?" Aunty Kemi asked.

"No. We even enjoyed their company especially Adeola." Mrs. Bakare said.

"Adeola? This one? Eleyi to o ki n soro." This one that doesn't talk. Mother scoffed.

"Ah-Ahn Mummy!" I laughed. How dare I laugh? I don't have the right to even sit at the table with them. Damba somehow finds a way to keep haunting me.

"I actually like your daughter." Mrs. Bakare smiled. "She camped with my daughter."

"Is that so?" Mother asked.

I nodded.

"You didn't tell me." Mr. Bakare gave his wife a look.

"Mabinu." Don't be annoyed. She smiled at him.

"So how is business Uncle Jide?" I asked.

"We are still pulling things together jare." Uncle Jide hissed. "I don't want to talk about it please."

"Okay. God help you."

"Amen!"

We finished eating and everybody dispersed.

"Bayo, where are you going? Who will clear the table and wash the plates?" I asked.

"But I set the table and I washed the last time."

"Who will now wash the plates?"

"It is either you or Aunty Bisola." He stared at Bisola.

"I washed before you now. It's not me." Abisola hissed.

"So it's me bayii." I sighed. "Okay. Help me get the plates to the kitchen."