THE NIGHT WIFE CHAPTERS 21-30
CHAPTER 23
BY SOLOMON ADINYA
“No… hear me… hear me Agada let me go and see Simon and know what’s happening to him. Why would he lock up his son, it has not gotten to the point where you’ll call the police.”
Pa Onoja an septuagenarian, one of the surviving sons of brothers of Ogwuche’s grandfather said. Ene had run to Simon’s uncle, on the instruction of Agada to report his erratic behavior.
“Who is Simon to decide which Ogwuche will marry, if he likes to marry a goat or a cow let him marry. He has married his own , let him allow him marry his own.” The old man said over the phone to Agada. He got up from his wooden chair, and grabbed his walking stick.
Ene walked ahead off him, as they twisted through the compounds of their relatives , he had to support his waist with him arm placed on his hips. He would from time to time stop to greet relatives.
They arrived in the compound, just when Ogar dressed in his Christmas clothes ready to move out. Ogbole had washed his car. It was white as new. “Ogar where are you going? We have to sit down and talk.” the old man said, he plopped down on a bench Ene provided. “Sit down Simon sit.” He ordered.
THE NIGHT WIFE CHAPTERS 21-30
Ogar had a grimace over his face, he had an appointment to meet, he wanted to calm his head. He had respect for his uncle so he sat down. “Uncle I’ve somewhere to go. I don’t know what we must talk now.” He grumbled.
“Ogar where is the key to the room? ” He asked. “Do you know Ogwuche is not just your son? he’s the son of Agada your brother, and the whole family. You have no right to treat him like an animal.”
“Uncle which key” Ogar feigned ignorance. “I don’t know what you’re talking about sir.” He said.
“Don’t play with me Ogar I am not a child. I am more close to the ground, to come and be playing children games with you. Where is the key to the room you locked Ogwuche? ” He growled. Ogar produced the key from his pocket. “Give it to your wife.” He reluctantly passed the key to Ene.
Ene collected the key and went to open the door for Ogwuche. “Call Ogwuche for me Ene.” The old man said.
“Grandpa Onoja is calling you. Please get up from the bed and go outside.” Ene said flashing the torchlight of her small phone on him. Ugwuche had not a strong meal.
THE NIGHT WIFE CHAPTERS 21-30
For two days he had taken only,sent a bottle of Viju milk and cookies. “Get home Ogwuche.” Said pulling him up from the bed. The room was so dark, that he couldn’t find his way out of the house, Ene led her son out of the room to meet the elder and her husband.
“My son my son, you came back and you didn’t even think to come and visit me? ” The old man said to Ogwuche, he maintained a straight glassy face.
“Am sorry papa, it was meant to be a very short journey because I had to return back to work yesterday.”Ogwuche said.
“No problem my child. I heard you’re now a doctor? ” the old man asked his chin resting on the walking stick.
“Yes papa. ” Ogwuche said.
“I was told by your father in Gboko that your you and your father has misunderstanding. ” He said. “You know it’s not wise for father and son to be fighting? ” He said.Ene had gone into the kitchen to serve dinner.
“Ogbene be fast bring the food table. ” She said as they she brought a tray pan containing plates of Ogbonor soup and pounded yam. Ogbene brought the plate of soup, she slightly bent her knees to greet her father and the old man.
THE NIGHT WIFE CHAPTERS 21-30
“Ogbene see how grown you are! ” the old man said laughing. “You’re now a full grown woman, you’ll soon bring us a man who would give us palm wine to drink.” The old man teased her, Ogbene smiled and went away.
The soup was filled with smoked bush meat , Ogwuche struggled to swallow the food, because his throat was filled with sores . Due to not eating for two days.
He felt like strangling his dad, as they sat around the hurricane lamp which was burning bright yellow. Ogwuche was touching the food, the soup was sweet,his soul was weary, he had no appetite. His dad and grand uncle eat quietly,reducing the mountain of white fufu. When they had finished their dinner the old man coughed.
“Ogar tell me what the problem is , why did you treat your son like an animal ? ” He asked.
“Papa no problem oh. I just want my son to marry from our tribe, a girl we know her family. A girl who knows the culture, I want the best for my son. I don’t know why everyone thinks I hate him? ” Ogar said raising his hands in the air in confusion.
THE NIGHT WIFE CHAPTERS 21-30
“Ogwuche can I hear your story from your mouth? ” The old man asked.
“Papa I left Ohimini over seventeen years ago. Yes I do come back home once in awhile. I schooled in Calabar, I stayed in Abuja I served in Kano. Papa how would my father think I don’t know how to select my own wife myself. when I lived almost all my life without him.” Ogwuche said.
“Papa it’s me Ogwuche is calling him? papa can you see what Agada has done to my son? turned him against me. ” Ogar fumed. The electricity company restored the light, they had not brought for two days.
“Up Nepa! ” the children yelled, the light from the yellow bulb lighted up the compound.
“Ogwuche appeal to your father. We are culture less you have to apologize to him. You cannot call your father him.” Papa Onoja said.
“Am sorry Papa.” Ogwuche said superficially, his father knew he didn’t mean it.
“Simon your son has said sorry now forgive him. I want to tell you not to repeat the nonsense I heard you did. You cannot treat your son like a baby he’s now a man. Allow him to marry who he please. ” The old man said and Ogar agreed. The light was taken suddenly and the compound thrown into darkness .
THE NIGHT WIFE CHAPTERS 21-30
“Ohh stupid Nepa! ” A child yield.
“Ene on the lamp and bring it here oh! ” Ogar said, he produced a nylon from his chest pocket , it fell off his hands and landed on the ground under the table, he began to search for the nylon from the ground with his hand.
His hand touched the old man’s leg he retracted his legs, Simon picked up the nylon and emptied everything into Ogwuche’s cup, picked the cup and gave it a hard shake, then it replaced it front of Ogwuche before Ene brought the lamp.
“Papa I want the best for my son, but if he doesn’t want it, fine I leave him. I have to go out papa it’s getting late. ” He said .
“Wait Ogar what we’re you doing? ” The old man asked Ogar he feigned ignorance.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about papa. ” Ogwuche lifted the cup of palm wine and drank every last single drop. He felt had a strange sensational moving around his body. The light was restored again.
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