Episode 2

Jimi’s POV

It's a Saturday and the boredom level was just high. Picking up my iPhone I unlocked the screen and went straight to my Facebook page. I looked at some photos; some I liked, some I laughed out loud like those animated photos of bro and other African memes. I rolled my eyes at the haunting pictures of Caro both on her posts and advertisements. She was a full time model and modeled almost everything. I smiled staring at a photo of her from I think a makeup commercial or was it a wig commercial I don't know but I saw her tying a scarf around her neck ... maybe it's a scarf commercial. Well I don't know but she looks very pretty; seems so surreal that we once dated. I was usually called Caro's Jimi and I always got mad; how time flies. We are just really good friends now. She’d call or drop by once in a while, nothing really much. We’d laugh about our days back at Forcados and make jokes. She had changed a great deal now and was more empathic.

I switched to my Facebook messenger and looked for some interesting friends to chat with. I couldn't find anyone good enough to cheer me up so I decided to just log out. As my finger hovered over the exit button I noticed a strange friend online on my messenger. I realized that I have never actually sent this Cynthia Ross a message before nor had she. "I should really to stop being a snob." I thought to myself. I clicked on the strangers profile and it was blank; I was the only friend she had which was very weird. I sent the stranger a message but she didn't reply even though the stranger knew I saw that it was read. I frowned and muttered a curse about the stranger’s father’s ass before logging off, picking my car keys and heading to the club.

I drove on the high way humming to Chris Brown and Lil Wayne’s loyal. There’s something about the song that makes me feel justified and relaxed. It was always the first song I played whether in my car or on my headphones. I drove passed a billboard with something about stopping child molestation. The first person that I thought of was Efua and how she lived for this kind of stuff. It was one of the reasons I was drawn to her; her passion for things, even though one of those things at the time was hating me. The sound of a loud bang brought me out of my thoughts. I had been so lost in my world of thoughts that I didn’t notice the traffic line forming before the junction causing me to crash into the car right in front of me. A stout but mildly built man rushed out of the car and inspected the back of his car. The sharp daggers he instantly threw at me said everything. My heart skipped a bit but I played it cool. The man furiously began to say something and I quickly came out.

“Kai wawa ne?!” the man pointed furiously glaring at me. I reached both of my hands out in apology.

“I’m sorry.”

“Allah sai ka biya. You must pay!” he yelled. There was already a small crowd forming and I knew it was a matter of time before things escalated and these area boys would get involved. Luckily there was no officer of the law around so I just needed to hit the nail on the head, quick.

“How much would you need?”

“Look at this bastard he thinks he can just pay me and go like that!” the man said fiercely in a strong Hausa accent.

“So you don’t want money?” I inquired a little confused.

“Did you know how much I bought this car?”

I couldn’t take it anymore I took out my wallet removed everything in it and began counting. The man went silent as I counted. I counted about vaguely twenty five to twenty eight thousand and handed the whole thing to him. He snatched it from my hand and retreated backwards to his car still glaring at me. I groaned before looking back at my car to see the huge dent on the bonnet causing me to sigh. I entered my car and began my new journey to the mechanic dreading how the rest of my day just got ruined.

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"Welcome back to Nigeria Ms. Coker," James the family driver said smiling widely as I stepped out of the airport.

"O.M.G James I've missed you so much how have you been?" I said widening my eyes at the sight of him. I couldn't believe he was still here; I thought that sloppy mother of mine would have fired him. He was like an uncle to me who got along with me pretty well back in the day. He looked even older now with the wrinkles gradually creeping on his dark face.

"How is mummy David?" I said dropping my large suitcase and hugging him perceiving that familiar cent of cheap cigarettes.

"She is fine and well my dear!" he said releasing from the hug and picking up my suitcases to the jeep.

We exchanged a lot of pleasantries and he updated me on the things I had missed. Apparently he has a ten year old girl named Esther and David just finished high school .He also told me that Mum and that shameless stepdad of mine are planning on renewing their wedding vows-can you imagine? I wonder what she saw in him. Till date she still doesn’t believe that he used to sexually assault me under her nose. She thinks I'm an evil child that is hell bent on destroying her marriage which I myself knew was a lie because my mother's love for mundane things surpasses man's dependence on oxygen. Well that ship with the old Efua who was helpless and hurt has sailed. If that man thinks he's going to try something funny with me then he doesn't know what's coming.

I nodded to a very catchy song that played in the car.

"James, who sang this song?" I asked shyly.

"You don't know this song?" he asked looking surprised.

"Oh yeah you been dey yanki ...but even for yanki dem no de play small naija music for dia?" he said slamming me some Pidgin English.

I shook my head wincing a little bit.

"They do you're just your antisocial self ...its Olamide- Oya Dab." He said crossing both arms over his face towards me and looking the other way.

I laughed hysterically at that.

"Hmm...don't try me o ...I still have my skills,"

"Abeg we de road oo... focus!" I warned adding a little British flavor to my pidgin and he laughed hard.

"You try sha," He said raising his eyebrows and flexing his lower lip.

I rolled my eyes as he said that. I've missed really James so much. He was the only one that cheered me up when there was mayhem at home. He practically trained me since mum didn't pay much attention to me. He always cracked me funny jokes on our way to elementary school.

My eyes widened and my mouth fell Agape as I sighted the huge poster on the billboards along the road. Isn’t that Caro? I thought to myself. She was in a Detol commercial with nothing but a white towel. How time flies. I actually never knew what that girl wanted to study. She was just a bitchy puppet who bossed people around and gossiped a lot. At least she's not selling bean cakes on the road. I brushed her issue off as I breathed the wonderful Nigerian fresh air and scanned the familiar roads.

We soon arrived at the house and the gate was opened by a stout dark man in shorts and a slacked inner vest. He ran over to us after closing the gate and greeted us warmly in a strange accent that I recognized from one of the Nigerian tribes. I couldn't place my fingers on it yet.

"This is Akpan our Calabar boy!" James said chuckling.

"Akpan... how are you darling?" I said beaming.

"Very fine Ma!" he replied blushing lightly and scratching the back of his head.

I smiled back and headed straight inside as James unloaded the jeep. As I entered the house I was greeted by the scent of dried fish pepper soup. At least that's something the woman can do. So, putting on my best fake smile, I ran to the kitchen and found the round lady in a beautifully styled Ankara gown and squealed.

"Mum!!"

"Oh my baby my baby!!" she said opening her arms wide enough for me to run into them with a knife in her right hand.

I ran into her embrace and rested my head on her shoulder. She released me and twirled me around commenting and complementing on how much I had grown and how beautiful I've become. I rolled my eyes at how cheesy she was being while collecting the knife and starting to chop the onion on the chopping board.

"Don't worry dear I'm treating you special today...just go freshen up and come down dinner will be ready soon."

"Alright." I said sighing because I was pretty tired and a cold bath sounded great.

I smiled and headed for the stairs.

"Umm ... what about ...step...your husband?" I said pausing.

"Efua... He is your Father now," She said sighing.

"No he is not. He is a sick pedophilic bastard," I snapped back immediately.

"Don't talk to me like that and stop saying such about him... you will give him the respect he deserves," She said skeptically.

I just rolled my eyes and hissed stomping upstairs.

"Ehh? What are children of nowadays turning into?" I could faintly hear her say as I went in.

I'm back and ready for this woman. God knows I've had it.

I soon got to my room and sighed a little bit. It brought back memories; both good and scaring ones. It still looked the same just smaller now. I reminisced a little bit and began unpacking my things. After making sure that everything was set and crystal, I took ab bath and decided to go for a swim. Slipping into my orange bikini and tying a scarf over the bottom I took my shades, a magazine and headed for the pool.

The sun was scorching and After a long dip in the pool I got out and rested on the resting chair by the pool feeling subtle cool breeze dry up my skin and the sun hitting my face. I plugged in my headphones and blasted Sia's unstoppable while reading my magazine. I isolated myself from the world in my own little head.

I was jolted back to reality when a strong hand tapped me from behind. I quickly dropped the magazine, took off my headphones and spun to see the idiot that had decided to pull me back to earth.

"Hey sis!" The person said excitedly.

"Wow …Alade it's been ages how are you?" I said wide eyed.

"Good, it’s good to see you! ...how have you been?" he said with a little British accent coating his speech extending his hand for a handshake which I took immediately.

I almost forgot that Alade existed. He was the son of that so called stepdad of mine. He bullied me a lot when we were kids but later travelled out of the country. I hope he has changed now.

"Well same old me but I've been fine."

The handshake was taking long and I wondered why. Wait is he checking me out? I thought as his eyes drifted round my body.

I withdrew my hand and smiled at him.

"Wow I mean you look great...even better than before." He said scratching the back of his head blushing lightly.

"Oh stop your making me blush." I said feigning shyness.

"You are the one who looks good." I said protesting.

Actually I wasn't kidding he looks really good with his light skin, pink lips and well-toned structure. He also kept a neat punk whose colour could put a raven’s feather to shame. We ended up chatting a little bit before finally going in for dinner. As I helped Mum set the table, I heard a car drive into the house. The front door opened revealing my worst nightmare. The devil himself on earth,

'My stepfather.'

For a man in his early sixties he looked as if he worked out. He was tall, dark and well built. Unfortunately his protruding belly contradicted this features. He wore a white kaftan and black smart shoes.

"Welcome dear!" Mum said in a sing song voice.

"Oh thanks darling... and who do we have here?" he said casting his eyes on me.

I continued arranging the china on the table pretending as if he wasn't there.

"Efua my daughter is this really you he said," looking surprised.

I shot him daggers at the sound of that and walked into the kitchen.

"Efua?... He was talking to you," Mom said skeptically.

"I know ," I said scowling.

"Its OK dear you know all these American values ...they've forgotten who their elders are," He said with a mocking expression.

I rolled my eyes and smirked while setting down the salad bowls on the table letting only the sound of plates click as we were plunged into silence.

"Well honey why not go up and freshen up and then get down for dinner," Mum said while pecking him on the cheek and he just nodded and went upstairs. Not before glaring at me though. I just smiled and went into the kitchen.

"Efua I know you've had past misunderstandings with him but he --"

"Oh mother please I'm the evil child that is hell bent on destroying your beautiful marriage and that's it, " I said cutting her off and quoting one of her popular insults she had tagged me with before.

She looked at me with a hurt expression grasping her chest with one of her hands before dropping it to her waist and hardening her face.

"That didn't give you the audacity to accuse him of sexually abusing you and attacking him with a knife almost--"

"Do you know what I'm very hungry mum so if you could just live me alone, go call your husband and his son to come down so I can stuff myself with food and go to bed I will much appreciate it,” I said exhaustingly plopping into my seat. She just shook her head and went into the kitchen.

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"Guess who?" A feminine voice said blindfolding me as I sat under the little straw thatched shed reading and sipping some ice tea.

"Umm... I'm not so good at guessing so spill it or I'll shove you off!" I said seriously.

"Kai babe you sef you sabi spoil show." The stranger said huffing.

"SUPRISSSE!" the voice yelled releasing me.

I spun and my eyes widened in surprise as a pair of brown eyes stared back at me.

"AMAKA!...is this you?" I said in shock.

"No it's psquare." She said giving me one of those sarcastic comments of hers and I laughed standing to embrace her.

Amaka was one of my best friends at St Catherine who always did some charity stuff together with me. She is also that so called step dad of mines' niece. I felt little sorry for her but oh well that's what it was.

"Oh Amaka darling I’ve missed you so much ...so what have you been up to for the past few years." I said resting my chin in my palms.

"You are looking at one of the best attorneys in town baby." She said flipping her hair stylishly.

"No way!" I said excitedly.

"Believe it or not baby girl,"

Amaka and I had pledged helping people with our professions. While I was at the health sector, she was defending and protecting their rights at the constitutional level.

"PACKAGED FOR THE PEOPLE!!" We both yelled at the same time giving each other hi 5's. That was our little slogan back in the day. So stupid.

"So, I heard uncle and your mom are renewing their wedding vows this Sunday,"

"Yeah...you’re coming right because I was planning on going out and stuff later that day" I said sounding uninterested.

"Yeah I am. I’m the one doing your Mums make up. That’s my side business; you know depending on one job now in this Nigeria is not smart,”

“Honey it’s the same everywhere. After work I’ve picked up wardrobe organizing as a side job,”

“Is that a thing?” she scowled in shock.

“Apparently it is in yanki. You can be anything oh, from sex therapist to Dog walker or even food tester,” We laughed hysterically.

“Biko biko that aside I hope you’ve stopped all this your antisocial behavior. Be prepared to stay and hang around you know meet cute guys and…“she winked.

"Ugh," I said rolling my eyes.

"I'm sure you’re not even dating right now,"

I blinked at her and scowled.

"And how are you so sure,"

"Do you really want me to go there Efua Coker?" She said squinting her eyes.

I rolled my eyes and just sighed.

"Honestly Amaka I think I'll just remain celibate forever,"

She snorted and just shook her head.

"Don't worry honey you'll find your Mr. Right soon enough... And speaking of Mr. Right have you seen my baby boo!!!!" She said clapping both hands together laughing.

"Wow really spill his deets,"

"Oh no I'm not telling ....wait and see baby doll,"

"Alright I will...I bet he'll be one hell of a guy; you always knew how to select them,”

A/N:What an unexpected turn of events right? How do you think Efua would react?

Wawa- relating to a fool

Allah sai ka biya- hausa for, ‘to God you must pay.’

Yanki- slang for overseas

Naija- slang for Nigeria

You sabi- pidgin for you can do /you know something.

Biko- Igbo for ‘please’

Deets- slang for details

Ankara- an African native material with beautiful patterns