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Cont,



With the first rays of sun. I opened my eyes, to find myself in a very big room, furnished with fine embroidered furniture and light filtered in by three big windows. Ten years or more ago, so I thought, it must have been a very nice room to lie down or awake in, as one would wish, but damp dirt, disuse and the rats and spiders had done their worst since then. Many of the window panes were broken and indeed this was such a common feature in the house, that I believe my uncle must have sometime, withstood some war from his neighbours, with Ada Odimegwu as the general.


Meanwhile the sun was shining outside, and being very cold in that miserable room, I knocked and shouted till my jailer came and let me out. He took me to the back of the house, where a well was, im sure though id never seen it before, he told me to draw water and wash my face there, if I wanted and still in shock I made do. I found my way back to the kitchen where he had lit the stove and was making “pap” the table had two bowls on it, with spoons and gin. When we were done eating, at this point I could eat a horse, I just had to take what I got. He started his usually meandering with his eyes, From time to time they fell on me, one of such moments he shot out one of his questions, Once it was

“and your mother?”
And when I told him she was dead too, “aah, fine woman” he said then after another long pause he asked,

where are these you friends sef?”
I told him about Mr Eddy, I spoke about my family friends in Lagos, The Okes.

He looked at me again, then he shook his head, Family is always better, my man, im going to do the best for you, where do you young boys go nowadays. I realy didnt want to appear helpless, but I told him I would be grateful for his help. Now I felt like I had the upperhand in this conversation and I started to speak about my room, Sir, I need to air the bed, bedclothes….

Is this my house or yours? he asked in his grating voice, while my mouth hung open ,
he suddenly broke off, No no, I didn’t mean that, Whats mine is yours, Chima my man. Blood is thicker than water and theres nobody but you and me, then he rambled on about the Chukwudi family greatness and all. At this time I remembered the woman/witch Ada and I told him what she said,

Chineke! He cried, I will have her roasted on coal before im done with her, A witch—a proclaimed witch!

He then stood up and left the kitchen. I put my head in my hands, What sort of thing is this, im almost going bananas here, I have to go out, I thought somewhere, anywhere. Just then I heard a tapping on wood. I turned around to see him dressed up , in his cap, a white long shirt and a cloth about his lower half

Im going out,he said I cannot leave you in the house all by yourself, I will have to lock you out
My anger escalated, If you lock me out I said, it will be the last friendly face you see.

He turned pale, almost white for he was light in complexion, This is not the way, he said shaking his head, this is not the way to win my favor , Chima.

Sir, I began, I have respect for your age and the fact that we are related, but I do not value your favour, even at a Naira’s worth.
I was brought up to have a good esteem of myself and if you were all the uncle and all the family I had in the world, I wouldn’t buy your Liking at such prices.

He walked away from me towards one window and turned
Well, I will not go then

Uncle Sam, I can make nothing out of this ,I said you act like im a thief, you hate to have me in this house, you let me see it, every word, and every minute, its not possible that you can like me, and as for me ive spoken to u like no one else, why do you want to help me, let me go back to lagos or even back to the states, let me go back to the friends I know, people that actually like me!!!

No, he said earnestly, Blood is thicker than water , I like you well enough Chima, for the honor of this house , I wouldn’t let you go. Stay here for a while.

I thought about the whole thing, I felt I was strong enough to brave anything, my parents had brought me up as a child who lacked nothing yet unspoilt.
Well sir, I will stay for a bit, its better my own blood would help than strangers, and if we don’t agree I will do my best, and it wont be my fault.


End of Chap 2

awww


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