Story of a Survivor - Season 1 - Episode 45

5 years ago

Story of a Survivor - Season 1 - Episode 45

☆☆
ILE IFE
Captain normally takes his annual leave in the
month of December. Because that is also my
peak period at work he deferred his leave to
February; February 2003 came and we travelled together to spend two weeks with his family at Ile-Ife Osun state.

We drove in his Tata Suv. I had never travelled
that far in my entire life, so it was so tiring even though we stopped intermittently at some fast food Outlets to eat and rest.

The road situation was terrible, pot holes and Police check points littered the whole express road. Captain does not queue at police check points, he simple drives to the front of the queue and says the magic word
“Espirite de Corps” on hearing this; the Police remove the barricade and salute us through.

I had my fears; I was travelling to the western
part of the Country with my man to meet his
family for the first time. How would the
reception be? The Mother! I have always heard
terrible stories about Mother In-laws.

What about my rival Dupe? I was entering her territory.

Captain had envisaged my fears. He had told me how to answer likely questions his mother might ask me. Concerning my education, I should tell her I am studying Business administration at U.N.N. I am not to tell her about anything I have gone through in life.

My Parent is dead and I am
managing my Mother’s business.

We came along with ten fabrics; he said I should make some dresses for the parent using his mother’s sewing machine.

His mother has four sewing machines
idling away in the House We drove into the family House as the gateman opened the gate for us at 4: 00PM.

As Captain was parking the Car, about eight people filled out of the duplex and ran towards our Car.

I was scared stiff. Captain grabbed my hand and said: baby you can do this, I trust you! I nodded to affirm his confidence in me. Hey! He said: I have a jack knife in the Glove Compartment, anybody that provokes you, you know what to do, but please spare their yansh o! He brought smile to my face as I opened the door and stepped out.

The reception was warm, family and friends had come around to welcome us and most especially to see the Omo Ibo that their Son is bringing home.

His father took an immediate liking to me,
he hugged me as I knelt down to greet him, he
called me Ada mi (My Ada) he also called me
Aya mi (My wife) he was the first to comment
on my beauty; wao! He had exclaimed, I am glad my Son caught the most beautiful fish in river Niger!

The Mother was withdrawn; she looked at me
from my hair to the toes on my feet.

She looked at me with sarcasm and called me omo ibo (Igbo Child) I was jittery but captain kept assuring me to be calm, he said she is the best mother in-law any lady could wish for. He told me to be blunt with her and ask her why she was staring at me, he said I should ask her questions that would make her uncomfortable for that is the only way I can avert her questions.

We ate and refreshed then returned to the sitting room to share the gifts we came along with.

Visitors kept thronging in and out, probably to
take a look at me for the news of captain’s
arrival with an Igbo Girl had spread throughout the neighborhood, and these people really can stare!