The triumph of the water lily
Download 1.22 Mb.
|
| Norman Takes Me Home
It was the weekend after Laide's wedding that Nkem paid me a surprise visit. I had heard a car pull up downstairs in the driveway, but I didn't look out of my window because I wasn't expecting anyone. I had planned to have a very quiet weekend, just resting and completely indulging myself, by reading and watching television in my bedroom. Wanita, who was doing some ironing downstairs, let whoever it was in. For a moment I thought I had heard Nkem's voice and then decided I had imagined doing so. However, Wanita soon came upstairs and confirmed that Nkem was actually downstairs. I quickly wrapped a cloth around my flimsy nightgown and went down to meet her. "Well, well, well! Isn't this a surprise." I said softly, as I hugged her close. She appeared to have been preoccupied with her thoughts, as she sat waiting for me and was slightly startled, as I came up behind her talking. "Yes Effua, I know this is a surprise, but I really had to see you," she said, with a quiet smile. Wanita came into the room at that moment to continue with her ironing and I quickly introduced the two to each other. I then took Nkem up to my bedroom and as we went upstairs, she inquired after Laide and Yele. I explained that Laide's wedding had taken place only the weekend before and that Yele was spending the weekend with her parents. "I'm travelling to Britain tonight with Odili, Nkem announced unceremoniously, as she took a seat by the dressing table. "What is happening?" I asked rather taken aback. "Comfort miscarried and is blaming Odili for it. She has accused him
"Never mind Nkem, you'll weather this storm too. Everything will be fine in the end," I gently consoled. She simply shook her head then shrugged. "I guess we never choose the kind of cross we bear in this life, at least not consciously. I am also certain that God must be confident that we can bear whatever shape or form our cross takes, otherwise he wouldn't allow us to be burdened by it." I just sat there listening in sympathetic silence, as Nkem's face clouded over for a fleeting moment and she desperately fought for control. It was obvious she was keeping a tight grip on her emotions. She just couldn't afford the luxury of breaking clown - as she had to be strong for both herself and Odili. I was confident that she was as usual, taking the best step possible to remedy the situation and would characteristically pull through. She rested in the circle of my arms for a few moments and seemed to have derived some comfort from talking to me. She sat up straight, as her wrist-watch made a buzzing sound to indicate a new hour. "I'll write you a letter as soon as we're settled in London," she promised, as she got to her feet. "You just take good care of yourself," I answered, softly. "I do hope nobody else knows you are travelling out tonight?" I
"No, we kept it as quiet as we possibly could. The only person who knows about it apart from yourself is Odili's business partner, who lives just a few streets away from you. Did you know that?" she asked with interest, as we stood beside her car outside (it was actually Odili's Mercedes Benz car and looked just as impressive as it had when he had first bought it, just about two years before). It was a lovely deep olive- green colour and Odili's regular chauffeur (Sultan, as he was fondly called by everyone, both in Nkem and Odili's households), bowed as he greeted me, with a cheery good morning and held the door open for Nkem. She got in and we continued chatting for a few more minutes. 136 "What is the name of this Odili's associate by the way?" I asked with interest. "I just might know him if he lives that close." "I very much doubt it," she answered with a smile. 'He is a Greek-Cypriot you see, and the name is lvan-Dimitrious," she explained. "Wait a minute! I do believe I have seen a signpost bearing that name
"He's been with Odili for several years now and his wife is such a delightful and motherly person. Look Effua, we really ought to start returning to Lagos. I told Odili to expect me back by noon," she explained softly. I leaned over and kissed her on both cheeks. "Do take care of yourself," I said, smiling as she increased the pressure of her hold on my hand for a moment. "I'll write you as soon as I can," she again assured me and then indicated to the driver to drive on. Sultan revved up the engine of the car. I stood there waving at her, as the vehicle gathered speed and then disappeared into the distance. Two weeks after Nkem's visit, Norman and I paid the much promised visit to his father in Port-Harcourt. We went in the company of both Lady Delilah and a much excited Nneka. Nneka had only just received her 'A' level results and was much thrilled to learn that she had performed so very well. As if that wasn't enough cause for celebration, she had received a written confirmation of a place at the University of Lagos College of Medicine. The letter stated that she had been given a place at the School of Dentistry for a five-year degree programme in dentistry. Some of Nneka's friends hadn't been this lucky and Norman was understandably relieved and extremely proud of his niece. As for Nneka herself she was over the moon and had almost knocked me over, as she threw herself into my arms and broke the news to me. I was truly delighted. Nneka had really worked hard and had richly deserved to pass. Lady Delilah's presence in the Range Rover just a few paces behind me did not bother me at all. I had come to like the dog and served her a portion of my snack, which Nneka had so generously packed for the 137 journey. The delightful sausage rolls, queen-cakes and cold lemon drink only served to make the journey that much nicer. Norman's powerful vehicle travelled with ease and well before dusk, we had arrived at the outskirts of Port-Harcourt. A further forty-five minutes drive brought us to a small estate, which was marked as the private property of Norman's father. It was a pristine and beautiful estate with plenty of land around it. I was slightly awed by it. Neither Norman nor Nneka had told me anything about an estate. I pulled myself together though as we approached the high gates leading up to the main residence itself. We had driven along an excellent concrete route, which ran through the estate and which was exotically lined by dwarf palms on either side of it. The gate man, who was obviously well known to both Nneka and Norman, gave a mock salute, as he let us through. He also gave a cheery response to Lady Delilah's friendly barks. The house soon came into sight; it was a sprawling white house, sitting right in the middle of a lovely profusion of Bougainvillea plants. The architecture was both North African and Mediterranean in style. It was truly alluring. It was the kind of house in which both animal and human beings felt welcome and happy and, as if to prove me right, two thoroughbred Labradors came bounding up to us from the side of the house, to give us a cheery welcome. I was slightly overawed by the presence of so many canine friends all at the same time! Norman, guessing how I felt, put an arm around me reassuringly. After much of the excitement had died down, he introduced me to the two remarkably good-looking dogs and finally to the matronly female housekeeper, who had rushed out of the house after the dogs in great excitement to welcome us. She and Nneka had warmly embraced each other and although she showed some restraint when she greeted Norman, her welcome to him was just as warm and hearty. Her youngest son, a gangly male youth of about sixteen, came up behind her and helped us with the luggage. Norman still had his arm reassuringly around me, as he led me into the house, closely followed by the three dogs and the excitedly chattering, Mama Ebiye (as the woman was called) and Nneka. Ebiye himself brought up the rear and the three went upstairs with the luggage, whilst Norman led me through to a resplendent looking room, where his father sat talking on the phone. Norman's father was obviously a tall, imposing man, even from his sitting position. He had gone grey at the temples and was endowed with the same male attractiveness his son had. Age had 138 also given him a quiet dignity and genial disposition which immediately put me at ease. He was just finishing on the phone when we came in and rose to his full height as we approached him. Nneka also rejoined us at that moment and gave a whoop! of delight, as she was swept into her grandfather's strong arms. I stood by, watching with amusement, as Nneka happily revelled in the excitement of seeing her much beloved grandfather again. "I am brimming full of rapture Grandpa," the young girl replied, in response to her grand fathers enquiry about her well being. "And I've got great news for you," she added, with breathless excitement. "Have you?" he answered, with a quizzical smile and the same inflection of the tone, which Norman would have used. Watching Nneka and her grandfather, it was easy to see where Norman had got his grace and charm from. The elderly man listened with interest to Nneka's rapid chatter and smiled, as he walked over to where I was standing and put his other arm around me. "And who is this lovely person?" he asked, turning his full gaze and benign attention on me. "She is a gem, which we've just found Grandpa and we've brought her home to give her a good time and to show her off to you and Mama Ebiye," Nneka volunteered happily. "Dad, her name is Effua," Norman introduced quietly, with a smile, as he handed out drinks to myself, Nneka and then his father. "Good-evening sir," I greeted with a smile. He however ignored the hand I had awkwardly proffered in handshake
"Everyone gets a hug from me the first time they arrive," he said. "How come you haven't brought her here all this time, Norman?"
"Partly because she is a rather busy person and partly because she needed to be persuaded," Norman explained, with a quiet smile, as he brought up the rear. Norman's father chuckled at that, as he took his seat at the head of the table. "I know Norman could be a bully at times my dear child, I do hope he didn't pester or browbeat you into coming. I wouldn't put it past him to 139 hold a stick over you, as he coerced you into the car!" We all laughed at the idea of Norman chasing me around his vehicle with a stick. "No he didn't have to do that Grandpa," Nneka volunteered. "All we did was to promise her plenty of sunshine and the best barbecued meal in Port Harcourt." "Then we must ensure that we keep that promise," he remarked kindly, as he filled my glass with some table wine. The meal was a warm and lovely one and had been laid out with a precise anticipation of when we would arrive. The dining area was just as warmly resplendent as the rest of the room; it was on a slightly elevated and terraced portion of the room. A lovely orange lamp shade hung down low from the ceiling and emitted a golden hue around the table and its diners. This golden glow created a rather romantic silhouette around the rest of the dining place. The news of Nneka's excellent 'A' Level results, only added more cheer to an already warm and relaxed supper. Her grand-father was obviously elated by the news. After supper Nneka and I went over to Mama Ebiye's apartment in the 'foreman's quarters' (as the place was called), to say hello to the woman and her family. I understood Mama Ebiye's husband was actually the foreman in charge of the small farm holding, which Norman's father ran there in Port-Harcourt. The farm was in fact situated on the estate and you could see it from the steps of the kitchen (green rows of growing corn, fruits and vegetables adorned the even expanse of land in the distance). A row of wooden structures (which Nneka described as the chicken and turkey coops), lent a picturesque atmosphere to the green fields in that tropical evening twilight. Mama Ebiye and her husband were a warm, elderly couple and I gathered from Nneka that they had been in her grandfather's employ for well over twenty years. Ebiye was their youngest child and had been born on the estate; his elder sisters had all married and left home. The couple were watching television when we arrived. I was introduced to Ebiye's father by Nneka and then took a seat. I sat admiring the couple's neat apartment, as Nneka chatted with them. Our hostess soon offered me some refreshment. I declined the slices of cake and fried fish she offered me, but agreed to share a bottle of Coca Cola with Nneka. 140 Nneka enquired after Ebiye and his mother explained that he had only just left to pay his grandmother a visit. It was obvious that the couple and Nneka had a mutual affection for each other and when she told them about her success in her 'A' level exam, Mama Ebiye had her on her knees within an instant! The delight and goodwill of the couple (who had themselves been blessed with a crop of successful and well educated children) was obvious. I made polite conversation with Ebiye's father about our journey and my first impressions about Port-Harcourt. I had explained to him that this was my first real visit to the city since I was a child. I told him that my memories of the city before the war were pleasant ones albeit faint and outdated. I explained I was eager to recapture those memories and probably update them . Meanwhile, Nneka engaged in animated conversation with our hostess: she caught up with farm news, local news and domestic news. She also filled the elderly woman in on all that she had been doing whilst she had been away from home. We left the couple just as the national network news was about to begin on television. Norman and his father had remained at the dining table discussing the farm and the way it was running when we left. They had retired to the sitting room to watch the news broadcast. I joined them there, whilst Nneka, who very much appeared to be mistress of the place, served us some hot beverages: cocoa for Norman and I and a mug of Horlicks for her grandfather. The young lady knew exactly how her 'Grandpa' wanted his drink and where everything was around the house. She left us to take a bath upstairs after serving the beverage. Norman, surprised me by coming to sit close beside me on the sofa when the news was over. I was positively embarrassed when he hugged me close there in his father's presence. "So this is the treasure I've been talking to you about Dad," he announced to his father, with a smug smile. I silently promised myself that I would make Norman pay for the embarrassing scene he was putting me through and gritted my teeth, as I put on a docile smile. His father smiled knowingly, as he answered: "She is lovely son." "But I presume she is tired and needs some rest," he added, after a slight pause and noticing that I was rather discomfited by Norman's gesture. I certainly wasn't familiar with the open show of affection, 141 which seemed to characterise Norman's household. "Okay then, to bed she shall go!" he exclaimed, as he gently took the mug out of my hand and pulled me up to my feet. "Goodnight Sir," I turned to say to Norman's father, as I left the room. "Goodnight child and do rest well," he responded simply. Norman accompanied me out of the room, as I made my way upstairs
"How dare you embarrass me like you did in front of your father!" "I wanted to show off a little" he answered, chuckling in a naughty
"And besides I wanted to see how you would react," he added. "Next time you can save your showing off for when I'm not around."
"You could at least have waited until I'd left the room, before making any remark about me," I continued to complain and aimed another punch at him. 'I'll scream for my father if you hit me again," Norman said, grinning broadly and caught my arm in mid-air, as I still tried to land the punch. He gently drew me to himself and held me in the circle of his arms. The room we had entered was clean and airy, like every other part of the house. It was a beige and orange bedroom and a lovely spider plant in a brass plant holder, sat on the window sill. A gentle cool night air rustled the white lace curtains, which hung from the open windows. Beyond the curtains, I could see a starlit tropical sky. Time seemed to stand still as I stood within the circle of Norman's embrace and enjoyed the beauty and quiet serenity of his home. "I hope you won't get lost in the bed," Norman asked gently, with a soft smile, as he made reference to the wide bed, which seemed to take up most of the room. "I hope so too," I answered, with a small smile. "I wish we were spending the night together," he said, with a studied
"No, Norman," I answered simply and smiled, as I broke away from his embrace. I began to unpack my suitcase and he went into the adjoining bathroom to run me a bath. He came back to look around the room and to make sure that everything was right and that I had all that I needed to make me comfortable. 142 "I'm so glad you're here," Norman said, with some feeling, as he hugged me from behind. "I'm glad I came too," I answered and continued to hang up a dress in the closet. "Where is your room by the way?" I asked with curious interest. "Down the corridor; next to my father's, would you like to see it?" he
"No, some other time," I answered and stifled a yawn, as I sat on the edge of the bed. "You've got an impressive home here, Norman," I remarked candidly, as I leant my tired back against the soft pillows. "I'm glad you like it!" he responded, with genuine pleasure and sat watching me for a while, as I massaged my temples with a gentle motion and tried to unwind. I yawned tiredly for a second time and at that point, Norman reached over to kiss me gently on the lips before getting up to leave. "I think I'll leave you to have your bath and get that beauty sleep of yours. Sleep tight!" he greeted softly, as he moved towards the door. "You do the same," I answered in a tired but relaxed manner. I had my bath soon after Norman left and felt the better for it. There
As I turned over in bed the next morning, I felt a piece of paper rustle against my cheek; for a moment, I wondered what I was doing in such a vast bed and in such unfamiliar surroundings. It clicked after a moment and I relaxed as I reached over to read the note. Sunlight was streaming in through the window and it was well past 10.00am by the bed side clock in the room! I hadn't intended to sleep that late. The note was from Norman and it went: "You look sensual even in your sleep Effua. I wanted to tell you I would be leaving for the farm early this morning with Dad, but you looked so ethereal in your sleep that I didn't have the heart to wake you. 143 There is something urgent we have to go over with the foreman. I trust you 7/ be okay with Nneka until I'm back. I love you - Norman. I stretched luxuriously, as I finished reading the note and turned as I heard a muffled clatter of footsteps and then a small knock on the bedroom door. Nneka gingerly popped her head in through the doorway and greeted, "Good-morning!" cheerfully, when she saw that I was awake. She was wearing a rather becoming navy blue kaftan and a pair of leather slippers. She looked as willowy as ever, but in that attire, you could see the beautiful woman budding beneath it. "I hope you slept well?" she asked, with wholesome interest, as she came to sit on the edge of the bed, close to me. "I was worried the birds might wake you up too early. They were making such a racket in the tree beneath my window this morning." "No, they didn't disturb me," I answered, with a smile, as I sat up in bed. "I slept like I always do after a journey, soundly and very deeply too." "Is that to say you find travelling very tiring then?" she asked. "Yes, I think I do, but that is not to say that I do not enjoy it." "I see," she replied, and then continued: "Dad and Uncle have left for the farm, did they mention to you that
"Yes, your uncle left me a note sometime this morning," I said and gestured towards the sheet of paper. "They've already had breakfast and I wondered if I could have mine up here with you?" "Why not," I answered, with a smile. "In that case, I'll nip down stairs for the tray," she said and whistled
The meal tasted just as pleasant as it looked. "Where did you get these from," I asked, as I helped myself to some
"From the orchard on the farm," Nneka explained. 144 "I must take you on a tour of the farm," she promised, as she made herself more comfortable on the bed. "Tell me, how did your grandfather come to acquire so much land in a place like Port Harcourt," I asked and looked directly at her with interest, as I leant back against the pillows. "He inherited it from his mother," she answered simply. "She was a Kalahari woman," she further explained. "I see," I answered, slightly surprised. 'Didn't Uncle mention anything about that to you?" she asked softly. "No, I never discussed it with him." Mama Ebiye is actually a distant relative from my grandmother's side
"I see," I repeated again with interest. "My father too was from Kalahari," she said, after a slight pause and
"Really?" I asked, very much taken aback. I had assumed that both her parents had been indigenes of the same Ibo ethnic group. "That is to say you're a bicultural person like myself, partly Kalahari and partly Ibo?" I asked. "That's right," she answered. "I understand my father's relatives made a lot of fuss about wanting to
"I guess it doesn't really matter too much now, because everything's turned out alright in spite of Grandma's death, so soon after my parents' own. Besides, Grandpa has managed to maintain cordial relations with my father's people and has painstakingly ensured that I do not forget that aspect of my origin." "You really are fond of your grandfather," I remarked with a gentle smile. "Oh yes, I am!" It's always been Grandpa and Uncle Norman for me- all my life," she said softly. 145 "I do recall what my grandmother looked like. Every now and again the feel of her body, and the wonderful memory of the fragrance of her clean clothing keep coming back to me poignantly. Wait a minute!" she exclaimed and sat up straight. "I do have a photograph of her somewhere," she said and ran off in the direction of one of the rooms along the corridor. She was back soon with a large framed photograph. "Here," she said, enthusiastically and got into bed, next to me, with
The cloth was wrapped around her bosom and reached down to her ankles. She had her hair plaited and packed in a most elegant coiffure. Several coral and ivory beads adorned her neck, her wrist and hair. I had never seen a woman carry herself with so much regal grace in an African attire before. The woman's imposing figure was belied by a delicately beautiful face and neck column. Her vivid eyes actually served as a window into what must have been a benign and genteel soul. The serene and confident demeanour she portrayed, spoke of a woman, who had enjoyed being female because she had been truly loved. "She was beautiful," I said softly and gently handed the framed photograph back to Nneka. "And very kind too," the girl responded. "I understand she died whilst attempting to rescue some babies from
"Tell me, do you love my uncle as much as he loves you?" Nneka enquired unexpectedly, with the disconcerting candour and simplicity, which was so germane to her. I was both startled and taken aback by her question. "Why do you ask?" I questioned her in return. "Because I know he loves you in a way he's never loved any woman before and he's had several of them too". "Do you know your uncle that well?" I asked. 146 "Yes, I do; much more than he realises. He assumes I'm childlike," she said, with a small smile. "I don't resent that," she hastily added. "But I do know much more than he imagines." "I see," I responded quietly and nodded. "You still have not answered my question," she reminded me with a
"Let's just say I have very strong feelings for your uncle, Nneka, but whether or not those feelings would result in a permanent relationship such as marriage, we would have to wait and see." I ended with a smile. "I do like you a lot Effua," she again remarked, with refreshing candour. "And in time I know I'll come to love you like the sister or mother I've always wanted, but never had. Please try not to say no to my uncle when he asks you to marry him," she said, with a soft and shy smile and again gazed into the distance. I laughed, partly in an attempt to inject a light note into a conversation, which had turned both serious and most unusual. "Nneka, you really are a funny one," I said and hugged her close for a brief moment. "I like you a lot too, but I don't think I could promise you such a thing. Your uncle and I still have a lot to learn about each other and our feelings for one another could very well change in the future," I gently pointed out. "No," she answered with a definite shake of the head. "Uncle Norman has had many women in his life before; some he
"Like what?" I asked, raising a quizzical eyebrow. "For one thing, the respect he has for you is profound, and that is so
"You certainly know an awful lot for a girl, your age," I remarked, as I lifted the breakfast tray off my lap. My goodness! It's past twelve noon!" The girl exclaimed, as she caught sight of the time on the bedside clock. 147 "Uncle and Grandpa will soon be back and they'll find us still in our dressing gowns," she remarked, as she jumped off the bed and dramatically reverted to being the youthful and light-hearted Nneka, which most people saw at first sight. I wondered how many people knew the shrewd and razor-sharp minded personality that laid beneath that frivolous exterior. I pondered over this, as I straightened the bed covers and then took a shower. I had been in the shower only a few minutes, when I heard movements in the bedroom and Norman's voice call out: "Effua we're back! Are you in the shower?" I turned off the shower, before responding: "Hello Norman, yes I'm having a shower, I've only just started, as a matter of fact." "Hope you slept well?" "I certainly did," I answered, with a smile and continued to soap my
"Have you had breakfast yet?" "Yes, I have," I called out. "Would you be dressed in the next fifteen minutes? Dad and I plan to take you two ladies on a tour of the farm with us." "I would love that very much and I can be ready in fifteen minutes," I called out and turned the shower back on. "We'll see you downstairs then," I heard his receding voice call out. "Fine," I responded and finished with my bathing. I selected a soft
It was a warm day, and so I found the attire most convenient and appropriate to wear. I had bought the attire whilst on a holiday to Greece, a few summers before. The attire wasn't particularly new, but I doted on it, because it fitted me so perfectly and I felt very comfortable in it. I was ready in good time and went down immediately to join the others. Norman and his father rode in front, whilst I climbed into the back seat of the Land Rover with Nneka and the picnic hamper she had packed. We had to drive out of the estate and approach the farm from another gate. The ten-minute drive soon brought us into a high-walled enclosure, with rows of corn, lettuce and a wide variety of tomatoes and lush green vegetable plants. The green rows soon ended by a wooden fence, which had a small gate leading into the chicken enclosure. The cemented enclosure was partitioned into three compartments and was equipped with simple, but modern and effective poultry equipment. 148 The place had an air of relaxed, but ordered efficiency. Norman's father, who obviously took pride in Ruining this estate-farm of his, explained to me that this particular farm was one of the smallest he owned, in the group of farms he owned in different parts of the country. He understandably doted on his 'Port-Harcourt-Farm' (as he referred to it), because he had set it up at a time when he had been under no pressure to make profit. According to him he had actually retired to Port-Harcourt for a well-earned rest and so running this particular farm was something of a pleasurable pastime for him. Norman and Nneka, who were more anxious to get the barbecue going, had disappeared in another direction altogether. Norman's father led me into the orchard with its wide variety of tended fruit trees. A clearing appeared directly in front of the neat rows of orchard fruit trees. Three office blocks, a store and a warehouse stood in the grass clearing. A little way off was a lovely stone cottage standing on its own with a profusion of marigold flowers, canna-lily, and red hibiscus flowers all around it.. A garden bench only made the place look that much more enchanting as we continued on our tour. Somewhere from within the house, I could hear the gay laughter of Nneka and her uncle. They were obviously cooking or roasting some meat in the tiny kitchen, which the cottage was equipped with. "This is a delightful place," I remarked and meant it. "What's that noise I'm hearing in the distance?" I asked, not certain
"Come, I'll show you," he said; taking my hand. "It's the machine, which pumps out water from the borehole. I've
149 which served the domestic need of the main house. The wooden shacks, which housed the chicken and turkey birds, used for cooking in the house, looked strangely familiar. I gave a cry of surprised delight, when I realised that it was those same shacks and fields that I had gazed at with rapture and appreciation, from the back stairs of the kitchen, only the evening before and sure enough, up in the distance, was the house looking as serene and elegant, as it had appeared to me the first time I had seen it. Norman's father smiled softly at my childlike delight on spotting the house. He still held on to my hand, as we chatted amicably and returned to join Norman and Nneka at the cottage. I was grateful for the easy and relaxed feeling, which I felt towards him. I however, felt slightly embarrassed, when he said to me: "Effua, I want you to know that you're very welcome to our home. I knew your father for several years and he was one man I had tremendous respect for. Norman has spoken to me at length about you, but now that I've met you, I recognise that you possess certain qualities that are even worthier than what Norman was able to articulate. After so many years of being a parent, I know a good offspring when I see one. Norman has been a source of pride to me. He's been everything I've ever wanted in a son and I'm confident you'll make each other happy," he ended, as we came within sight of the cottage. "Thank you, Sir," I responded simply (in a quiet voice) and for want of something better to say. Norman and Nneka appeared from within the cottage at that moment (as if on cue) and were bearing plates of barbecued chicken and beef. The meat had been marinated in a rich herbal spice, some groundnut paste, salt and pepper. It tasted marvellous, just as my host had promised it would. I had some sweet, fleshy mangoes, freshly plucked from the orchard. There was also some fresh coconut milk, drunk straight from the pods; since I wasn't adept at doing this, some of the milk trickled down my throat and onto my blouse, much to the amusement of the others. They showed me how to drink properly from the pod and after several attempts, I became adept at it. I really did enjoy myself immensely that afternoon, what with Norman's father recounting details of some of the mischief and pranks Norman and his sister (Nneka's mother) used to get up to when they were children. Norman and his sister must have had a rich and fulfilling childhood, judging by the incidents his father talked about. The entire 150 household I also gathered, revolved around Norman's mother, whom I gathered wielded a lot of kind and gentle influence on the lives of both her husband and children. According to Norman's father, she scarcely ever raised her voice in anger, and the children always desired to please her. However, there had been a particular day on which Norman had incurred his mother's displeasure by being rude to one of the housemaids. His mother had been extremely cross with him and had ordered him to apologise to the girl immediately for his obscene language. Norman had done so, albeit reluctantly. She had ordered him to retire to his room until it was time for the family's evening meal. Norman later joined his family at table sobbing hard and saying to them: "Please ask my mummy to say sorry to me!" Nneka and I dissolved into happy laughter on hearing that last bit. Norman smiling sardonically remarked: "I simply cannot remember any of it." "I didn't think you would," his father answered, with cheerful humour. Back in the house, we agreed (by a general consensus) to have the evening meal Mama Ebiye had laid out for us in the dining room, out on the lawn, in the fading twilight. We had only just settled down to eat the meal when two pellets of rain announced a tropical thunder storm. We all made a scramble for the shelter of the house and finished what was left of our supper in front of the huge television set in the living room. We watched several hilarious comedy series and by midnight, I decided I had had enough food and drink to last me a long time. On that last night of my visit, Norman's father asked that we say a short prayer together, before retiring to our beds. He explained that it was in deference to Norman's mother's memory. She used to insist that the family said their prayers together at least at the end of the day. Her contention was that family prayers, gave a household a distinctly happy flavour. The prayer we said that night was a simple one - Norman's father thanked God for our presence and the wonderful memory of his wife. Nneka prayed that this visit should be the start of many others. Norman thanked the Lord for the joy we found in each other's company and asked that it be preserved. Finally, I in my turn, thanked God for a pleasant weekend. I asked him to bless my hosts and reward them for their kind hospitality. 151 I was surprised to discover that I harboured a slight feeling of nostalgia, as I climbed into Norman's Range Rover the following morning. Norman himself was busy putting away my luggage in the back seat whilst his father, Nneka and Mama Ebiye, all stood by and urged me to come back some other time. Their open warmth made me feel ten feet tall. I promised them that I would come again. We eventually left, amidst cheery waves from my hosts and friendly barks from the dogs. As Norman's powerful vehicle gathered speed in the direction of lbadan, I felt that familiar warm glow that comes from making new friends and earning the respect and admiration of decent people. 152 TEN Directory: standing standing -> Region III standing regional response team (rrt) meeting williamsburg, Virginia Thursday, January 12, 2012 standing -> Information and Communication Technology (ict) Products and Services available to Victorian schools on a Department preferred supplier basis standing -> Desktop computers standing -> Mobile United Committee Highlights 2014 standing -> The catholic university of america standing -> Episcopal Diocese of Rochester Standing Committee Minutes Download 1.22 Mb. Share with your friends:
|