My mother?
"Chidalu, please here her out," Momsi pleaded.
I stared at the woman who was supposed to be my mother. I stared at her so hard that she was forced to stare away from guilt.
Tears watered in my eyes. So she had been alive all this time? She had been alive as I suffered?
What does she even want?
"What do you want?" I asked her.
"Dalu, please, sit down," Daddy begged.
"I don't want to sit," I replied, keeping my hard stare on the strange woman.
The woman cleared her throat.
"Chidalu, I–"
She tried to look at me in the eyes but blinked multiple times.
"I'm here to take you home. I'm your mother."
She said.
"Take who home?" I snapped. "You're whose mother?" I asked.
"Dalu, please…" Daddy pleaded.
"No, I'm just trying to understand. She's whose mother?" I asked.
"Nne, Mrs Ireti is your mother," Momsi said.
"No, Momsi you're my mother," I told Momsi as I stared at her.
"Dalu, you are my daughter. But this is the woman that birthed you," Momsi said.
I stared at Mrs Ireti, my supposed biological daughter.
"Why did you abandon your five year old child in a low budget orphanage and disapper?" I asked her.
She looked down at her fingers, and I used this opportunity to really look at her.
She looked well, healthy. She looked rich and the scent of her perfume danced in our living room, she had gold jewelries on and it was real gold.
I knew because my friend, IK always obsessed over gold, and so from his influence I knew which was real– to an extent.
This woman had a long bone straight wig on her head; Her nails were done, and her make up looked neat.
She probably owned the car infront of our house too.
My point is this woman is rich, so what exactly does she want from me?
"It's not easy to explain, Dalu." Mrs Ireti said to me.
"Oh," I said, then cackled a sarcastic laugh.
"Oh wow," I said again.
"So why are you here? What do you want?" I asked.
"I'm in a better place, so I came to take you home." Mrs Ireti replied.
I snorted.
"A better place? Because having a child is about the good days only?" I asked.
"Dalu, that's unfair," Mrs Ireti said in response.
"Unfair?" I asked. "That's unfair?" I asked again.
"So it wasn't unfair that your child had to go hungry for days in an orphanage where you dumped her? You did not even have the conscience to drop me with a relative, you left me and fled! You did not care! So you have no right, none at all to tell me what's unfair or not!"
I yelled in anger.
"Nne…" Momsi called out weakly. "Do you want to go with her?"
I ignored Momsi.
"If you think you can come here and buy me with your money, you're completely wrong! Look around, I grew up here, and this is my home. Please go home to your husband and children,"
I said as I turned to leave.
She stood up swiftly too.
"Dalu, please, I am sorry."
"Sorry for yourself,"
I stormed into the room I shared with Oluchi.
"Sister," Oluchi called out as soon as she saw me.
"Are you going with that woman?"
She asked me as she stared at me with wide eyes. Her hands held my elbow but I could feel her fingers trembling.
"No, Oluchi. I am not going anywhere,"
•~•
I was washing our dinner plates when mumsi called me into their room. I knew she was going to call me; it was just a matter of time. I noticed how she and dad stared at me as I chewed my porridge yam in silence.
I sat on her bed, and put my chin in my palm.
"You called me mumsi?"
"I know you don't like that woman–" I almost rolled my eyes. "And neither do I!" Mumsi continued.
"Mumsi, you don't like alot of people," I pointed out.
"Well, alot of people have problems!" She responded and sighed. "I want you to visit her house, at least once."
"No."
"Chidalu," Mumsi called in a pleading tone.
"She can't buy me with her money," I said whilst folding my arms. "Money doesn't move me,"
"Nobody said you have to live with her, you can just visit at least, to ease her guilt." Mumsi insisted.
I kept mute. Mumsi sighed.
"I won't forgive myself if you loose a chance at a better life," She said sadly.
"I love my life here, mumsi. Some stranger cannot change my view overnight. I already have plans to take you out of this place," I told her.
Mumsi put her hand on my shoulder.
"Your mother has a good life which will benefit me without any struggle, Nne."
I looked her in the eye. "Are you asking me to go with her? That heartless woman that abandoned me?"
"Mba, Chidalu! I trained you better than to insult elders!" She scolded me and my head bowed in shame.
"Sorry mama," I muttered.
"I'm pleading with you to give her a chance to explain." She told me.
I say nothing, because I have no interest in the woman's explaination. Life is about choice and intentionality. She made her choice, so i should be free to make mine.
"Goodnight Mumsi," I say instead as I stand up.
Mumsi sighs, very well aware that I'm stubborn child.
"Goodnight Nnem. Ensure the doors are locked."
She said to me.
"Okay ma."
I walk out of her room, and stop in the passage.
My hands are shaking and I want to catch my breath a bit. I don't want to explode in anger.
So I stand there and count one to ten in my mind, to keep me still.
I ensure the doors are locked and the kitchen is neat. Oluchi helps me to finish the dishes and I give a thankful sigh. I checked up on my other siblings, Dozie and Dera, and find them sleeping soundly on their bed, before I retire to I and Oluchi's room.
What a day.
•~•
"But if you go with her, she will cover daddy's bills," Tay said as she stared at me with suggesting eyes.
"I don't want her money, Tay." I said in annoyance. The upside of being poor!
"You don't want her money, but daddy needs it."
IK stated too.
"Nothing will happen to him," I said.
"We're not arguing that one at all," Tay said again. "But your dad deserves to walk on his two legs, and he can't do it without surgery."
I folded my arms and refused to speak.
"Do you guys want to get rid of me or something?" I asked after a brief silence.
Tay and IK exchange looks.
"We're lost, explain what you mean." IK told me.
"Well, everyone has been eager to tell me to go and it hurts. It's like you're all tired of me."
I say.
Tay gasps and in an instant, gives me a side hug.
"We can never get rid of you, we're just seeing it as an opportunity this is." She said with a smile.
"A golden opportunity! The best revenge should be making the woman elevate your family after leaving for no reason." IK said bluntly.
Tay gasped. "Filter your tongue before I slap you!"
Ik rolled his eyes, causing me to laugh.
"IK has a point," I said as I nudged Tay.
"GBAM!" Ik replied in triumph, causing me to laugh.
"You both have run mad, walahi," Tay said and we giggled.
We sat in silence and stared as the sky was turning dark. The day was coming to an end and I couldn't help but wonder if they were right.
Maybe I should go with the woman, for daddy's sake.
Soon enough, IK and Tay started bickering back and forth. I didn't want to leave them behind or start a life afresh in SS3. I didn't want any of that.
"Guys…" I called and they turned their attention to me. "I don't want to live you guys behind."
"Don't be silly," Tay said with a smile. "You can always come here any time you feel like. And you can call IK since my phone is bad."
I sighed and stared into the setting sun.
"Come on now, don't be like that," IK said and squeezed my shoulders. I slapt his hand away, and side eyed him. He chuckled and looked away.
"You're not doing it because you like her, your doing it for daddy's health," Tay insisted.
"While your there, make sure she sponsors your university education," IK demanded.
"Ah, Ikenna! You're such a gold digger!" Tay said and I started to laugh.
"Of course, if I don't dig gold what will I dig though? Sand?" IK responded, throwing me into another fit of laughter.
We sat in silence infront of Tay's mother's shop as we had been doing since we were 10. Tay pulled me into a warm embrace and I placed my head on her shoulder.
"You're going to be just fine," Tay muttered and I nodded.
"Dig that gold babes," IK joked and Tay groaned.
"Ikenna!" She exclaimed.