Chapter 3: Gwarimpa Dinner and Family Pressure

Weekend, I follow Ayo go him parents’ house.

We drive go Gwarimpa, big house, compound full with palm tree. Na the kind place wey children dey run for compound, mama dey shout, 'Come chop!' I wear iro and buba, tie gele, make I look wife wey get home training.

For dinner, him mama hold my hand dey smile.

She rub my knuckles with her soft hand, dey look my face, eye full of hope. Scent of egusi soup full the air, table full—fried plantain, jollof, everything correct. Ice water dey sweat for plastic cup, fan dey blow pepper soup aroma round table.

"Morayo, una don marry five years. No be time to born pikin?"

She talk am with smile, but I fit see small worry for her eye. For Naija, if you never born after five years, elders go begin count calendar for your head. My chest dey tight.

I look down, no know how to talk.

I dey use my spoon dey chase fish for soup. My mind blank—how I wan explain say e no be like that? I dey dodge her eye, dey pray make ground swallow me.

Na the first time dem dey talk this kind thing with me.

Before, na only eyes dem dey use look me. Now, dem don put mouth. I dey feel pressure, but I no wan show am.

The elders don dey old, to want grandchild no too much.

I understand am. For our side, pikin na blessing. Once dem reach certain age, all dem wan be say dem go carry grandbaby for back.

I dey find words, na Ayo talk first.

He save me—his voice gentle, but sure. He dey try act like good son.

"Mama, I don plan am. No worry."

He squeeze my hand under table. I look am, nod, try smile small.

I look am, he nod me.

His smile dey encourage me. I squeeze him hand back, eye dey shine small. We dey try form happy couple for our parents.

I no wan spoil their mood.

I force laugh, say, "Mama, e go happen soon. Make una dey pray for us."

So I just answer anyhow.

I throw soft smile, continue to dey chop small. My mind still dey heavy, but I dey try make the table no dull.

Halfway, Ayo phone dey ring.

His ringtone na Davido song. He look phone, smile, try cover am but e no fit. Me I dey watch am with corner eye.

He dey reply message, mouth dey curve small.

As he dey type, he dey bite lip. E clear say no be work call. The smile dey his face make sense die.

He just dey behave like new lover.

If you see am, you go know say love dey scatter im brain. The way his shoulder dey relax, he no even notice wetin dey happen around.

Him mama notice, clear throat, complain, "You no dey come often, now you dey press phone. You no fit stay with us small?"

She drop spoon, fold hand for chest. Her voice get small vex, but she try hide am. Family matter dey always sweet for table.

Ayo no even hear, finger dey move, mind no dey here.

He dey lost inside phone. I shake head, dey pity am. Papa don dey look am with that eye wey dey say 'no let me talk.'

Table just quiet anyhow.

Nobody talk, only spoon dey hit plate. I dey sweat under my gele, dey pray make wahala no start.

I smile, use rib put for mama bowl.

I pick soft rib from goat meat, drop for mama bowl with style. I dey try lighten mood. Na so we dey do for Naija—food dey heal small wahala.

"Na so he be, once work enter, e no dey hear anybody. I don get used to am. Mama, no vex. Company get plenty wahala now."

I talk am like say na true wahala, but na cover up. Mama smile, touch my hand. I dey grateful say she no press further.

Him mama smile, pat my hand.

Her hand soft, she squeeze me, say, "No wahala, my pikin. E go better." I smile, act grateful. For family, you gats play your part.

I think say the thing go end, but Ayo just stand up.

He rise fast, almost knock chair. His face show say he dey in a hurry. Everybody pause, dey watch am.

He look me, eye sorry.

He raise eyebrow, mouth curve down. Na apology, but na me understand am pass.

"Morayo, work wahala dey. I need go. You stay with Mama and Papa."

He talk am fast, no wait for reply. I just dey look am—so na so you wan run?

Before I talk, he don carry coat go.

He waka fast, no look back. Mama mouth open, papa dey boil. I just hold my peace.

Him papa face change, knock spoon for table.

His voice loud, echo for dining room. "This boy!" Even me shock small.

"Which kind urgent thing? You no fit stay 30 minutes?"

Papa dey para, his voice strong. Mama dey try calm am, but no use. For Naija, papa word na final.

Ayo stop, frown.

He pause for corridor, face stubborn. Na this kind thing dey cause family fight.

"Papa, I go come another day. Plus, Morayo dey here. I really gats go."

His voice low, but he no back down. He just dey run.

He waka go.

Door close, silence full room. I dey try arrange my mind.

Him papa hand dey shake for anger.

He tap table, mumble. I dey fear make he no burst vex for me now. Mama dey eye me like say make I talk something.

Him mama dey check my face.

She dey search for pain or tears, but I hold strong. I just smile, chop meat.

I force smile: "Papa, Mama, no vex. Today food na my best. I go chop well before I go house."

I dey try lighten mood, but my heart dey heavy. I dey force laugh join, just dey play my role as good wife.