Song of the chapter: I Know This Story

“So, Niyi, who is she?”

“Dad?!”

Niyi barely noticed his friend seated quiet and worried. He did not notice the goal scored by the winning football team on Tv. He only saw his father who had kicked him out three years ago. His father hardly changed. Slender, tall and handsome was Mr Adekanye. His beard was neatly trimmed as always, shirt and suit pressed and clean, his deep voice still echoed the room.

“What? I can't come check up on my own son again?”

“I didn't think you would ever want to see my face again.”

“Well, your mother wouldn't stop begging me to ask of your well-being before I left Nigeria. I see you're alive and healthy and working,” his father commented with a smile. “So who is this woman you kept yelling about?”

“No one,” Elijah and Niyi said at the same time.

Mr Adekanye looked to the two, eyes narrowed with suspicion. He raised the glass of water to his lips and drank its content. “Boys, who is she?” He asked again, this time with a threat in his tone.

“She is Elijah's girlfriend,” Niyi said just as Elijah said, “Just a friend.”

“I heard you say she didn't want you to go to prison so you could pay her her money,” The older man said, with a fixed glare at Niyi. He fixed his attention on Elijah and ordered, “Spill!”

Elijah shrunk in his seat, darting his eyes to Niyi and back to Niyi's father. Niyi slowly shook his head and mouthed, “No.”

“If you won't talk, just think about your family in my care, Elijah. Niyi, your punishment would be way worse than I intend to give,” Niyi's father said.

“Sir, wait!” Elijah pleaded and sank to his knees.

“Dad, wait. It's all my fault. I'll talk,” Niyi said, “I stole from people. I mean, I joined a gang when I came to Nigeria and we stole from people. We shared whatever we stole amongst ourselves. I promise I am not stealing again. It's just that this girl was the last person I stole from. I didn't know she is the girl Elijah liked and I ruined his chances with her. Today, she saved me which bruised my ego but still-”

“What's her name?”

“Sewa,” the boys answered meekly.

“Hm,” Niyi's father rubbed his bearded chin and said, “I am disappointed in you. You will give her back her money. I'm not giving you any money. Your salary must be used to pay her back-”

“I know-” Niyi muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

“-and I would like to meet her.”

“Ehn?!” The two boys exclaimed.

“What I said.”

“Dad, she is crazy!” Niyi exclaimed.

“Sir, I don't think that's necessary,” Elijah said.

“I said, bring her to me and that is final.” Mr Adekanye rose to his feet and straightened his suit jacket. He patted Elijah's shoulder and shook his head at his son muttering something Niyi couldn't hear. The man left the room and his final exit could be heard when his car drove off outside the apartment gate.

“Why didn't you tell me my dad was here?” Niyi yelled.

“I did. I sent you three text messages!” Elijah shouted back.

Niyi pulled out his phone and saw the messages. “Oh, my phone is on silent.” He raised his head to see his friend's scowl. “What do we do now?”

“You heard your father. We have to bring Sewa to him.”

“I don't like this.”

“How do you think Sewa would feel when we tell her?”

“No,” and that was final. There was no way in the whole world she was going to meet his father. That is even if he does have one. Or does he want to kidnap her and kill her so he wouldn't have to pay her her money? Over her dead body! He should go and jump bridge. Father ko, son ni.

She slammed the door shut in his face. How did he even get her address? This guy is creepier than she thought.

“Please,” She heard him beg, “If you don't come with me, my father will kill me.” He banged the door and continued to plead.

Minutes passed, Sewa was eating Golden Morn cereal in a bowl while Niyi was still begging. His pleads were obviously drawing the attention of neighbors which irritated her immensely. What part of no does he not understand?

“Who are you?!” She heard her mother's feathery voice bark across the compound. She quickly dropped her bowl on the table and ran for the door.

“What are you doing in front of my house?” Was the question Sewa heard as she pulled the door open.

“Mommy, welcome ma,” Sewa greeted, sinking to her knees. She got up quickly and collected her mother's bag.

“Sewa, who is this boy?” Her mother asked.

“It's that man that stole my money o. He said his father wants to meet me,” Sewa explained. She itched the bridge of her nose and sniffled.

“Ehn?” Startled, Sewa flinched at the loud mocking sounds her mother made. She watched as her mother removed her beaded slippers and raised it over her head. Niyi was wise enough to get up and run for his life which made Sewa laugh. What made the scene more hilarious was her mother pursuing Niyi, slippers poised to beat the everlasting out of him. Her mother's scarf fell off and her knee length dress blew with the wind.

Sewa picked up her mother's scarf and sat in front of the door, waiting and watching as people passed by. Some minutes passed and her mother arrived yelling curses.

“It's not my daughter you will kill. Bastard, fool, useless human being,” and many other creative insults fell from her small pouty lips.

“My child, come inside. If they born him well, let him step his foot inside this compound again.”

“Iya Sewa, what is going on? Are you chasing Sewa's future husband away?” Their nosy neighbour who lived upstairs asked looking down with a smirk. Her hair was half plaited and half loosed, her light brown wrapper hung loosely around her naked chest. Her breast threatened to slip out of the cloth as she rested on the balcony railing.

“Mind your business, gossip!” Her mother snarkily replied while Sewa moved her hand over her head and flicked her finger.

“Madam, no curse me o. That one can not be my husband,” Sewa said.

“Okay o. We have hear. That's what you ladies always say,” the neighbor replied.

With a loud hiss, her mother jerked Sewa in their home. “It's type of people whose parents should have used condom. They gave birth to her and see what she turned out to be,” Her mother commented.

With a shake of her head, Sewa laughed.