Pelumi's Memoirs - 34

The week passed by in a blur. When Tare woke up on that bright Saturday morning, she decided that she needed to speak with her mother.

Ineye had suggested that she let her family know about the rape incident from years ago. She mulled over it for days, before finally deciding that she would start by telling her mum. Their daddy had gone through tough times with his health lately and she didn't know how he would process the information.

Still, in her silk pyjamas, she wore her flip flops and headed over to her parents' room.

While their mum had her own bedroom, she used it basically as a closet. She kept the bulk of her clothes, shoes and everything else one could think of there. She, however, spent the majority of the day in her husband's room and always slept in her husband's bed at night.

She knocked gently on the door and hoped and prayed that her mother would be awake.

"Come in." She heard her mother's voice say.

"Good morning, Mum."

"Good Morning, Tare. Did you sleep well?

To what do we owe this early morning check-in?"

Her dad was snoring softly.

"I was about heading downstairs to make my cup of coffee," Nengi explained.

"The usual morning fix eh?" Tare said, strumming her fingers on the dressing table.

Nengi grabbed a robe and slipped it over her nightwear. Tare smiled slightly. Her mother was such a lady. From time immemorial, she couldn't remember a day when her mum didn't wear sexy nightwear to sleep.

Nengi Akenzua, never let herself go. She had a personal trainer who came to the house 4 times a week. She ate healthily and drank lots of water. Little wonder her skin didn't lose the healthy glow.

Her mother was her role model and Tare prayed for grace to follow in her mum's footsteps.

"Shall we?" Nengi announced in a voice many people said sounded very much like the Nigerian actress, Joke Silva.

A pot of freshly brewed coffee sat on the dining table in the kitchen. Nengi placed two teacups sitting on saucers on the table.

Tare opened one of the kitchen cupboards and took out the Coffee-Mate which replaced milk in her coffee or tea. Her mum drank her coffee black. No milk or cream, no sugar! Nah, she would forever pass on that. She liked her coffee with lots of cream and sugar.

When Nengi saw her daughter looking pensive, she knew something was on Tare's mind.

"Okay, child of mine. Spill it already!"

Tare placed her cup of coffee on the saucer, moved it towards the center of the table, wondering where to begin her story.

"Mummy, remember when I was 16 and my friend Pamela threw a party that involved me sleeping over at her house?"

Nengi squinted. "Yes, I remember. That was the only time I let you go for a sleepover party."

"Hmm. Mummy... That night...."

And Tare told her story.

Nengi stared at her daughter as though she had suddenly developed two horns. No, this cannot be true. Tare had to be making stuff up. When one loud wail followed another, she realized the voice that was wailing was actually hers.

"I have failed you as a mother. Oh Tare, I have failed you." Nengi kept repeating over and over again.

Tare heaved. "You didn't."

"Yes, I have. I should have protected you better. I should have known better. I was abused growing up too. I was ten and there was this older boy who was eighteen. My mum used to tell him to watch over me when she left her shop and went to buy things at the market to stock up. Unlike your father, I wasn't born into wealth."

Tare covered her face with her palms.

"His assault of my body went on for two years before his family moved to somewhere else. He always told me he would slash my neck with a knife and kill me if I ever told my mother or anybody else."

Tare sighed again. Why did these things happen? These incidents where men preyed on vulnerable women! Yet, she knew that there were good men out there. Men like her father and brothers. Men like her Ineye, a man of honor.

Liyel brushed his teeth with his electric toothbrush and changed into his work out gear.

He walked over to Ivan's room and knocked on the door slightly before opening it. He and Ivan never locked their doors.

Ivan stirred.

"Hey, Liyel. What time is it?"

"8 am, bro!"

"Really? I'm so tired."

"I'm going for a run. I'll head over to the parents after that." Liyel stated.

Ivan groaned before throwing off his covers. He stood, stretching in the process.

"I'll come with you. I haven't worked out in a bit."

"Okay, I'll wait downstairs."

"Sure, thanks, Liyel."

Breakfast at their parents on Saturday mornings was a big deal and there was no better place to eat a full course breakfast.

Ivan went to the bathroom and did a quick cleaning up.

He changed into a sleeveless, wine-colored tank top and black pants. Slipping his feet into the dark-colored Puma Sneakers he bought on his last trip to Spain, he slipped on his Apple Smart Watch. Jogging down the stairs, he saw Liyel doing stretches in the sitting room.

"Guy, give me one minute. Let me fill up my water bottle."

"Okay," Liyel replied.

Ivan could feel his stomach churning so he grabbed his Protein Shake instead and made some smoothie.

Liyel heard his phone vibrating on the table. He picked it up and looked at the caller ID before picking up the call.

"Kene, Wasup?"

"Hey, my man! How you dey?"

"I'm good," Liyel answered.

"Liyel, there's been a slight hitch."

Ivan got out of the kitchen then.

"Hold on Kene."

"Give me a few minutes." He said to Ivan.

"The organizers of the 'Year of the Comeback' are rescheduling the event until further notice. Some political power play is going on."

"Say what?" Liyel sounded mortified! "I was looking forward to the trip. Thank God we hadn't booked the ticket and all."

"I know right. I was disappointed too." Kene chimed.

"No sweat! I guess I'll just go for my Canada trip instead."

"Sorry man..." Kene sounded apologetic.

“No sweat! Really, it's fine."

"Okay, Liyel. I'll give you a call later."

"What's up?" Ivan asked his brother after he had gotten off the call.

"My African tour trip is off."

"Dang! What happened?" Ivan asked, raising a brow.

"Let's head out. I'll tell you."

****

When Liyel and Ivan got to their parents after their morning jog, hunger pangs were doing a number on them.

They both headed towards the kitchen.

They found their mother, Tare and Nkoyo seated around the dining table in the kitchen looking forlorn.

"Where's dad?" They both chorused. "Did something happen to him? Why are you all looking like someone just died?"

"Good Morning to you too." Nengi raised her head and said to her sons.

"Good Morning, Mom." Ivan greeted.

"Good Morning, Mother,"  Liyel said, looking from his mum to his sisters. "Where's dad?"

"Upstairs, sleeping." Nkoyo chimed.

"Is... is he okay?" Ivan asked.

"Yes, he is." Tare answered.

Ivan heaved a sigh of relief.

"Then why do you guys look so sad?"

Liyel pulled a chair and sat beside Tare.

He looked into her eyes and saw that they were tear stricken.

"Can someone tell me what's going on?"

Nkoyo stood. "I'm going to take a shower."

Liyel grunted. "Yeah, right! Miss escapee!"

When Tare opened her mouth to say what the issue was, Liyel's mouth opened agape.

"Oh my God! And you kept this to yourself?

How? Oh my God!"

Ivan muttered something that sounded like a stifled expletive.

Liyel stood up and paced the kitchen floor.

"We are not going to let this go. The man has to face the consequences of his actions!"

"After so many years? Where's the proof? Where's the evidence?"

Nkoyo said loudly where she had been standing by the entrance to the kitchen.

Ivan turned his head to look at her. "I thought you were going to take a shower?"

Nkoyo shrugged. For the first time, Ivan saw a serious expression on her face. Nkoyo was happy-go-lucky pretty much the whole time.

Tare laughed. "Do I even know if the man is still alive? I haven't spoken to Pamela in years. We fell out after that incident. I stayed away from her even though she never knew why."

"How could you have kept this to yourself all this time, Tare?  We love you. Don't you know this? I would have torn the man apart had I known this when it happened."

Liyel clenched his fist and hit the table.

Ivan stood and went over to Tare. He hugged her, planting a kiss on her forehead. Liyel reached over and covered the two in his embrace.

Nkoyo entwined her hands in their mother's.

Nengi looked into Nkoyo's eyes and smiled a little. 

"Don't be hard on yourself mummy. You can't be everywhere with us. You are just one of you. You aren't omnipresent."

"Yes. Please. Tell mummy that what happened to me is not her fault." Tare added.

"You and daddy have been fantastic parents. It's a pity that there are evil people in this world."

Nengi sighed. Maybe if she had drawn closer to God then, He would have protected her daughter from evil? She squinted and kneaded her temple, confused.

Maybe she shouldn't have allowed Tare to do a sleepover that night? A thousand maybes flashed across her mind. It was going to take her a while to get over this. But first, she needed to be there for Tare and her children. She was a strong woman. She never really showed weakness in the presence of her children.

"Can we pray?" Nkoyo announced as though she had just had a moment of epiphany. "I can't remember the last time we prayed as a family."

Tare smiled slightly. Nkoyo was right. There was no better time to pray than now.

"Ivan, would you like to pray for us?" Nkoyo asked.

"Errm. No." Ivan replied.

"Liyel?" Nkoyo urged.

Liyel cleared his throat. "Nah, I'll pass."

"I'll pray." Tare stated and everyone looked at her.  "Let's bow our heads and hold each other's hands......."

****

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day

When it's cold outside I've got the month of May

Well I guess you'd say

What can make me feel this way?

My girl (my girl, my girl)

Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)

Bode swirled and danced, tapping his fingers as he moved to the rhythm of the song.

"Boda mi!"  His sister yelled. 

"Can you turn down the volume of those speakers? They want to kee me!"

"Enitan! Why you gotta be a killjoy?"

"Me? Killjoy?" Enitan yelled and clapped her hand, laughing hysterically. 

"Enitan! You have drama sha!" Bode said, taking a peek at his sister from where he stood on the upper level. 

"Your drama pass Ini Edo's own!" Bode said as he climbed down the stairs.

Enitan hissed and placed the vacuum cleaner in its usual spot.

"So, Boda mi, tell me. Why are you so excited this morning?"

"Is it because of that lady I saw you with the other day? That tall and well-shaped lady with long hair like a half-caste?"

"Boda mi, tell the truth o.  She's the reason you are this happy and singing all morning abi?"

Bode pulled his sister by the nose. "Enitan! Too much nosiness is not good o!"

"Leave my nose o! But seriously, tell me. Oya tell me..."

She winked at him.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Bode put on a serious expression.

"Hmmm. Okay. Don't tell me. Keep it to yourself. The thing that they don't want the old man to hear, it is the old man that will settle it all in the end."

"Yinmu!" Bode wrinkled his nose at his sister. " So, since when did you turn into an old wise man? My dear, face your front jare!"

"Okay o. But Boda mi, I hope you haven't forgotten my school fees money for next semester."

"Isn't that next month?"

"Yes, roughly a month," Enitan answered.

"I haven't forgotten." Bode reassured her.

He was going to climb the stairs when he suddenly turned back.

"By the way, Enitan. Have you thought of what gig you want to lay your hands on one of these days? Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying I'm not paying your school fees and all that cool stuff. I am very much capable. But I'd like you to try your hands on entrepreneurial stuff. You know how much all these small girls make from being makeup artists, hairstylists, bakers and the likes?"

Enitan nodded her head. "I've actually thought about it. I want to go into baking. But I'll need a small capital to start."

"That's not a problem." He said, smiling at his sister.

"Yaay! Thanks, bro! I knew I could count on you."

"When you become big, I'll collect my money." Bode stated, winking.

"Now, it's my turn to yinmu." Enitan stated as a matter of fact and Bode burst into laughter. "I see I have taught you well."

As Bode climbed the stairs and headed for his study, he thought about his life while growing up.  He and Enitan were nine years apart. Enitan was birthed after so many years of his mother trying to give birth. Miscarriage after miscarriage and uncountable hospital visits sucked out the joy in his parents' marriage. Their father died of a heart attack on his way home one day. His mother was five months pregnant at the time.

When Enitan was born, his paternal grandmother decided that the baby was to be called Enitan. Enitan meant a person with a story behind their name.

His mother obliged since their father had been their grandmother's only child. She felt that the baby would give her some succor. Enitan had been a bundle of joy till the present day.

He thought about Celeste and how her presence in his life had brought him joy. She was fun to talk with, cool-headed and focused. He really liked her. He had a sense that she liked him too. One part of him wanted to make a move and ask her out. The other part told him that friendships got ruined when one of the parties brought the talk of a romantic relationship up.

He heaved and decided that he would just continue to enjoy her friendship. No strings attached and no hopes for something beyond genuine friendship.

That's what his head told him but his heart was saying something else. Why did things have to be so damn complicated?