Clara laid on her back helpless on the sandy beach, crying and craving dearly for her parents to lift her up and be in their arms. The whining and croaking which alerted the rescue workers were the saving grace of her life.
The rescue workers from Owena village took her to the nearby police post as they did other survivors for protection and care. From there, a friend and a close neighbour of William Clifford took her home. Mr Peters , as he was called, was a fireman in the Nigeria Railway Corporation, going on a short visit to his hometown. Akure. He took clara to her relation, one Mr. David who he knew to be very close to the young, rich and popular couple in their estate at Agege-Lagos. He was in the same bus as the couple but was just lucky to be picked up by the rescue workers. Willam and Amelia were his close neighbours and he had agreed to take them to Ikogosi warm spring hotel.
Clara grew up to know Mr. Henry Clifford and Mrs Ava clifford as her biological father and mother respectively and Chris and Julie, their children as her brother and sister. She was two months older than Chris and three years than Julie. Mr. David had brought her down to her foster parents at an age when she was just peeping into the dawn of reality of life at three years.
Mrs Clifford couldn't outlive a certain hatred she had nursed against her late sister Amelia and neither would she hide it from her daughter-clara. It therefore became the lot of clara to be the victim of a transferred hatred.
Willam clifford lived in faraway Lagos from his youth and there he had schooled and worked. As a private man, he was a successful property manager. For relaxation, willam was a regular patronage at both the Saturday and Sunday resort of the Lagos Diamond Jubilee beach, which offered great opportunity for meeting people of all ages and clime particularly from the world of business.
One day, he spotted a lady revelling with a bevy of others, the so-called socialite stuff It was evening and the sun had mellowed with a balancing breeze. With no more scorching, the golden sunset phenomenon threw a conducive atmosphere The lady thus looked a paragon of beauty in the enhancing bright creamy weather. He fell in love at sight and he was determined to toast her. The chance came much sooner.
They were inside the main bowl of the federal palace hotel one evening and Willam's eyes trailed Amelia as she walked delectably across the corridor. A woman of an average height, a moderate spread of the bum, chocolate colour and round face, bouncing perfectly on straight rotund legs. I'll not miss this one, Sam swore to himself again.
It'll remain to be told and even so, nobody'll ever say it that the pearl of beauty, willam had beheld and fancied greatly was herself perching for a favour, a notice by the charming young man. She wanted the tap and an "excuse me lady, coming from a man's initiative. The man she was spying under her black lashes was worth an attention. The thought was raving in her mind and raising her heart to a great expectation. Yet nothing happened that day and several days after. The next meeting was a chance and willam had become bold enough. Amealia confidently warming up for a chance, an invitation. She glimpsed occasionally with a frenetic look at the next table where willam was presiding like a moderator and was among others, the proud of displayed authority. At last, both eyes met. Coincidence or is it premeditated gesture, a signal or what? Willam tried guesses. He had a hunch and he stood up gloomily, took strident steps to the next table. "It's great to have you here this evening," he said, smiling.
Ameliaresponded with pretence. "I've always been here, thank you!"
"Right then, can I crave for ar indulgence to have a word with you.... If you like, a question, spoke with more authority than she had noticed and she was overwhelmed.
"What do you want!" she said with an air of pretended stiff indifference.
Willam took her to a lonely table, the smallest with just two chairs. "It's a rare opportunity to have you here. I've long craved for it."
She tried a little smile. Well, what can I say, I wouldn't know, but I've long known you and seeing you in the crowd of picnickers.... What's different today?"
"Lady, we have to be friends... be in love, he fired directly without mincing words.
"What's the reason behind this craving gentleman? You've even neglected the courtesy of self introduction." She slammed at him.
"Sorry!" he quickly apologized, "I'm willam clifford, an estate valuer and manager."
"Hum! Yes!" She paused and then frowned a little. "I am Mrs. Amelia Johnson.
Willam looked up at her face, "anything to do with Professor Johnson?" the first in the generation of physicists in the country.
"Of course I'm his wife!"
There was a lull but willam took the time to fill her glass, a mix of coke and dubonet wine. Then he lifted his own becks beer cup and drank nervously. She'd have nothing to do with me, a common estate agent; he reasoned and decided to end it there. Yet he had to keep the discussion going rather than back-out on the reason of inferiority complex. He recovered from his stupour and asked would the fact of your marriage be an impediment? A negative answer! Wriggle him out and just confirm his suspicion and he'd simply wriggle out.
"Have you anything to do with Professor Johnson...relations or what?" she asked.
"He's a client... that was a long time now, no more!"
She laughed the first in which she showed her carefully chiseled white teeth. What kind of humour? Willam feared, probably a polite dismissal or cautious rejection.
"What a world! What a lifel" She wondered, laughing unabatedly Then it turned a wary laugh. "Would you say in the real sense that you don't know me?"
Willam looked at her more closely and intently. "You don't even look a far distant acquaintance until at this beach some three months ago" he felt riffed by an up-coming blunder if she knew him in a more connected way.
What a world! She said again, a former junior in college toasting a former college senior," she laughed louder posing an air of amusement.
"Is it!" William exclaimed and looked at her face again and turned his hindsight back at his college days. Sincerely I can't fix my mind on you while in college, but I accept. Would anything be wrong with that?" he tried to regain some balance.
"If I'm two years your senior, then I'm older than you ... you know, age counts so much in admission to our college St. Benedicts?"
"No doubt about that, age's important, are you then saying it has something to do with a person you like and may fall in love with?"
"Looking back on those days, I've always admired you, that helps me to remember the past...and of course, your personality fixed in mind a long time ago."
"You've a superb memory!"
"I won't quickly dispose off your suggestion," she retracted back to his first question, or if I may call it the desire of your heart. Give me time to meditate over it if I may give a trial. Sam, let me tell you something, you are still a man like any other man no matter the gap in age, she smiled, not for pleasure but for reality of life.
It was more than a fortnight before Amelia turned up again at the palace hotel beach reset. It was a decided action no doubt
In her strategy, time as an important decider, would enable her think and see right. I want to know the depth of his intension and how serious. Would he be bold to come up again with his proposal? She asked herself.
She was on her family's large bed tossing from one edge to the other without a man to cushion her body. During the few days after willam had made a proposal, she had considered many sides of it, age and seniority in college. I bossed him in college, he would boss me at home. What's his aim, mistress or wife? I need to settle that first. I also need to agree with the fact of age gap ... I mean the proprietary of submitting to a former junior. Better that I think right, she warned herself. What decides an affair, age or love? If willam decides to marry me, the circumstance of age doesn't really come in. I'm prepared for that, she decide..... but.... Never a mistress!"
In her seven years of marriage to ProfessorJohnson, she had suffered all the way. It was a union bereft of love and children. Professor Johnson had been her benefactor, who financed her education from the college through the university. It was a deal between her mother, Alice Edward and Professor Johnson. The finance was therefore not a mere help but a deal for love and marriage later. The pledge was made by Alice on her behalf, but the fact was truly explained to her later in life when she was about to enter the university.
It was on the day Professor Johnson had just brought her needs of money and materials in the week of her resumption in the university. Alice had taken the two of them together in a room and said, Wumi, Professor Johnson is doing all these for you not for free, it's no free gift, he's your fiancé, but now he has become your betrothed. "Prof." She said, turning to him. 'I'm the witness, put a label on her. She urged.
Professor Johnson then slit open a small gilded box and brought out a diamond ring. He showed it and Amelia admired it so much. "You'll always wear this as a symbol of our betrothal, everyone understands it." Then he slipped the ring into the middle finger of her left hand and Alice prayed for both of them.
"Amelia will you keep to that promise?" she asked before dawn the following day for assurance
my mother just what you want me to dol
"I trust you my daughter, that's why I made a pledge on your behalf. I know you'll not renege. If you had refused that'd have been the end to your university aspiration. Look Ava your sister stopped school the day your father died but Professor Johnson came into yours and had remained steadfast. buying all your requirements like a father would do."
On that day Amelia's joy was a mixed stuff, but she indeed wanted a university education like her peers. If she had consented to marry ProfessorJohnson, a seed of dislike was also sown that day on account of age. He's about my father's age; she grumbled silently to herself but kept a sealed lip on it.
Truly within one year of graduation from the university, Professor Johnson took her to wife at a marriage registry at Yaba, Lagos but without funfair and celebration as Amelia had also wished Would I take a sixty-two year old as a husband and at the same time be proud of it? She told herself. Most people looked upon her therefore as cousin to ProfessorJohnson for quite a long time
Suspicion started in the first year of marriage. ProfessorJohnson was taking excuses for academic conferences abroad. Official engagements also filled in the time at home. Always over spent before coming home, excuses in various shapes came in galore for failure of conjugal duties and evasion of matrimonial responsibilities. These continued for couples of years in which she suffered in silence and childlessness. The need for her to reappraise her life gradually arose.
Whatever the vow, she had signed she began to re-think the philosophy of, "my life and what makes for happiness. She at last elevated the question to a paramount level and she resolved to start being outgoing. Each time she had to leave home, she'd look at both the diamond and the gold ring on her middle left finger and hissed loudly in utter disgust "pieces of block on my way!" And she'd then remove them from her finger. The marriage rings thus became reserved for use within only the precincts of ProfessorJohnson's quarters on the campus. Out of the house, she
sought the liberty of some of the social circles for refuge and the hatching ground for her motives to ease off her pains. I want to love and be loved! I want care! I want children! She solemnly demanded from herself. They are natural rights of any person, she argued and no vow of chastity can deny them. The rule and the law of the society should stick to the goal of order, not to contradict and deny natural rights of individuals to live a true life of happiness.
Many of her friends agreed with her thesis but some still cautioned, insisting on the rule of chastity in marriage. "God proclaimed it," they cited the bible. She recalled instantly and she opened her eyes in the dim light of a twenty-five watts blue bulb glowing timidly over the large bed she laid. Oh yes, Linda, my friend has proffered an answer, "God cannot proclaim chastity in marriage as a contradiction to the law of natural rights and freewill," she recalled. That laid her fears of chastity in marriage to rest.
Willam was not in the least eager any more to meet Wumi and repeat his proposal again but on an evening at the diamond jubilee resort, she walked gingerly into his midst taking him unawares.
"Amelia, and you vamoosed for all these days, and then resurface from the blues or just by providence?" he attacked as a self defence.
"Sorry willam! I've also been looking for a warm and pleasant evening like today ....all the days have been very sleazy you know."
Promptly, willam took her hand and led her to the privacy of a far removed place under an almond tree. It was indeed a place that enhanced the serenity they needed most. What was more, the breeze was quite friendly too, being tolerably cold. Soon, a waitress came to take orders.
"Amelia, dubonet wine and coak as for the other day?" Willam asked.
"No willam, I rather go soft, I don't want heat up drink, I want to keep my sanguinity." William frowned, "alright a small stout beer and maltina to mix," she re-ordered and fixed a look on him for a reaction
"Better! Quite better!" William approved, "a drink without a tinge of stimulant'll make a dull evening For me," he said looking up at the waitress, gin and lime and two plates of suya for two
Constrained by the fact of marriage and seniority, willam had earlier dismissed the idea of friendship beyond renewing acquaintancy, calling it an aberration for him to go into a more serious relationship. To his surprise, Wumi was calling the shots, steering discussions to his earlier proposal. He was therefore facing a different lady, bright, intelligent and articulate
She had emptied the second glass and william was refilling the third. Thank you willam, but I owe you a reply to the question of that day, may be you're waiting for it. I'm I right?"
"I notice you don't want to rush your decision, and I won't rush you."
"William it's worth thinking about, the odd is enormous. There's the question of age and seniority and on top of it all, marriage obligations. I've thought over all these, but they create a credibility gaps."
"It all depends Amelia... depends on how important the gaps are to you. Of course I should ask you, can anyone hold age and seniority sacrosanct... even marriage?" he smiled evasively, when it's a matter dwelling on love?"
"That's exactly the crux of the matter! It's the very dilemma I've been battling with since that day. Would I be able to cope... not being an exactly equal person in a relationship? It's a switch of position since I've been your senior in college and age. You now calling the shots.... and again, extra marital activity can only be viewed as an absurdity. She debated. Called a sin? Let's debate that willam".
Willam looked at her, dumb while she sought his eyes' focus and asked," what d' you say willam?"
I've been in a dilemma too wooing my senior in college and age. I never give a damn to the question of marriage. If we agree and we have love enough, I'll get away with you." He laughed louder, a gymic to tease her on the issue of marriage.
"I don't want to be a mistress in the real sense of it. Just tell me that you love me and I'll throw those circumstances into this roaring Atlantic once and for all."
"That I love you is given.... But why would you take an extra mile to marry me? I only bother on the attitude of modern day Christians to the issue of chastity in marriage."
"William! Let's reserve that. This evening must stop at breaking the ice!"
Smiling and watching willam's countenance, the gate way to his mood, she repositioned herself on the chair, her face was flushed already and it was clear a rejection by willam would be devastating. She took over refilling walliam's glass. There was no more stout and she shared from his gin and lime affair. William was finding what to say. The roadblock was for both of them to reject the impediments, but how?
"I'll not deny you a hubby's authority," she said to clear the cloudy area of age and seniority.
At last willam returned with a flourished smile.
"What about your marriage?"
"Let's give that to time.... We have it aplenty yet."
They stood up to hug and peck each other's cheeks. The rest of the evening served the prelude to the beginning of a relationship that picked up on a hot note, entered a fast lane and flew to a battle front. Then they confronted the circumstance they agreed to seep under the carpet. It remained ever so daunting to their life and career.
"Linda, I wish to introduce you to my friend.. and fiancé this evening at the diamond jubilee beach. Would you come up with
me?"
Mrs Linda didn't jump at the idea. She was Amelia's friend from the university and was married about the same time She had married from her own age group but divorced after two children. Her former husband Daniel was an insurance executive but he was by no means a family man. A very minor disagreement often ended up in serious scuffles and battery Sometimes it could mean home desertion by him for weeks and months after which he would reappear from the blues through the rear door. He hated criticism in the extreme... always right.
"I'll better reserve my comment until then, but I'll go with you. Jane should come along too," she advised.
It was a successful outing for Amelia who received sympathetic supports rather than outright approval from her friends.
"I like him," Emily had said. They had stopped in her house for an assessment. "Willam's young, sociable and quite admirable ... but I'm afraid of another kind of irresponsibility in men. She remarked. "I hope he'd live up to expectation." She added.
He would! Amelia chipped in quickly to check further expression of doubts, which could be hurting seriously.
"Is he a man to be married?" Linda asked.
"If course... that's what he is, I can't be a mistress and a misses at the same time," Amelia snapped.
"I'm afraid you're on the path to a scandal... it'll be a very traumatic experience for you to abandon a professor for a common estate manager which in the image of our people is more or less a lay-about cheat, business." Emily warned.
"I'm not worried Emily but already edged by the remark "I'm to decide my life, nobody else'll do it for me. If the scandal waxes too strong, then we relocate," she quickly thought of a softer ground, "another West African country could be a place of refuge," She shrugged both shoulders.
Amelie, I'll never imagine that marriage with willam should be anxiously pursued, although it could be the ultimate." Linda reasoned.
"If it comes up that way, I'll grab the opportunity."
"That'll be a move to divorce ProfessorJohnson." Emily speculated.
"If he continues to take me for his cook and nurse," Amelia nodded for certainty.
"Hm...all women are cook... you're his legal wife and the one to take care of the home. Why'd you see yourself as his cook? You have to think twice. I thing you're sharing life, not tasks," Linda warned.
"There should be a second thought after seven years of marriage with no love, no child, but only the kitchen as responsibility," Amelia countered.
Not too long, a contentious issue arose between willam and Amelia. It was really a protest. "I never really like beach resort life; we need to stay more at home than in the resort places." Amelia voiced out a resentment, she had tried to suppress it all along." I'm just coasting along with the idea."
"That'll make a dramatic change in my life Amelia. What'll fill the gap? There are friends to lose and contacts shortened?" He visualized.
"I'm the one to fill the gap!" She snapped.
"Well, I've often heard it said that a woman comes and moderates a man's life or change it. You might be right, but give me time to readjust things," he yielded.
"I offer all my self and time... I m a beach resort for you enough willam!" she assured.
"What about ProfessorJohnson, no longer in reckoning? Remember, you're still in his house."
"There'll be no difference even if he's around, I'll still keep the kitchen going, minding his food."
"My fear's that ProfessorJohnson might get a leak, raise a hue and cry and then blow up things"
"Of course that'd happen sometimes, but leave that to me to handle," she said with a confident facial expression.
"You want to sue for a divorce, is that it?"
"I can't easily get a divorce , but I want to build up a strong alibi,for the court, the legal authority on marriage."
Willam was shocked. I won't advise that... I mean seek a divorce with ProfessorJohnson. Also know that the church has to give consent on divorce cases in mariage it administered.
With all I've told you ... and which you've seen and can testify to, would you still advise me to stick on with the marriage? Be frank with me Amelia asked
Willam looked up straight into her eyes. "Amelia!" He sounded nervous, do you really need to create a scandal... remember, those press boy's will rock the nation with exaggerated stories running from their pens about an old University professor and a common estate manager, a beach resort crawler over a lady in her thirties?
"William! You call yourself a man! This is a battle front affair and you're afraid to fight. What kind of a man are you? Victory's never achieved on a platter of gold."
The blow was deadly from a woman. Willam felt crushed by its weight but he quickly recovered. "yes I'm a man, and I'll always be. I can't run away! I care no hoot, but I mind you and your well-being."
It's a defining war I must fight otherwise I'll forever remain captive in ProfessorJohnson kitchen and parlour."
For a year, running the illicit love continued in the estimation of Amelia it was a courtship which she had missed in her youth, a man always on tap, sending cards, telling sweet stories and kissing and pecking. It was a rapidly blossoming love. On his part. Willam had had some failed courtships in his life, but Amelia made a lot of difference indeed, with the blessing of maturity and determination
After dinner one evening, Amelia belched twice and covered her mouth as she dashed into the toilet for throw off. She returned looking flushed. Willam too looked anxious. You're often doing this, not after eating only just at any time too. What's wrong with you? What could be so irritating in a hot meal?"
She timidly point at her navel, "I fear, I'm pregnant!" How would he react, she feared watching for his mood first.
"Pregnant! That's a breaking news.... for joy and for trouble, twin brothers I suppose!" A mixed mood was easily observable but apprehension was uppermost.
"Trouble! Take that out of it, it can only be one thing, joy and happiness, two of a kind... no other to mix."
"You've not even sued for a divorce!"
"Yes, this'll hasten legal process," she touched her belly, this shows him the next business. I won't initiate a divorce, if ProfessorJohnson is hurt enough, he would go to court. This pregnancy or a baby when born is a great alibi for a divorce in favour of Sanmonri."
"That'll be the last resort!" Prof. Johnson may however embark instead on worrisome little troubles... that'll really ache your heart terribly. Actions based on moral judgement can be worse than a court action."
"By providence, there's a baby for you here," she said gleefully taking her hand round her not yet bulging belly Nothing'll shake it, you just remain steadfast, and she smiled gleefully again, overcome by joy.
Pinched by her aver confidence, what can I say again, you're not prepared to listen to a second opinion, except yours? To fail to from ProfessorJohnson once he gets a wind of your pregnancy?"
"William," she shrank into cushioned chair, that's a damning remark. but I always respect your opinion. The crux of the matter is, I've lived eight harrowing years with Johnson on the saddle but without an issue, now there's a bright lining for me in the horizon and you want me to buckle because of a possible moral scandal. For now, nothing's mare important to me than this pregnancy. I'm prepared to absorb the most absurd of moral judgements from anywhere. Willam, my skin has grown thick like the elephant's, it can't be easily tain
"Amelia, I've a little choice in what comes after this," he said pointing at her belly, face carved in elegant pretence. Better that you initiate a divorce suit promptly, I've a lawyer who can handle it." trying to browbeat nonetheless.
"Mel Never! I won't try it. A lazy man's known by the boarder of his farm, Johnson has the sense and capacity to decide on that. Action by him'll speed it up because I won't contest an inch of the way."
ProfessorJohnson arrived lately from a conference in Stockholm into an unusual form of atmosphere in his home. Amelia showed only a casual relationship. He was confused but waited for no time to bring a change, initiating conciliatory moves. He got in return a cold indifference which stunned him greatly. The stay away from me attitude, moved from the bedroom to the kitchen, and he had to rely on Ife, her younger sister in law for his meals. Amelia went out at will and returned similarly. Soon, the situation turned into a cat and mouse affair, as Amelia began to hide appearance
One evening. Professor Johnson accosted her at the balcony and grabbed her hand as he asked "when'll this cat and mouse game end?" He had deliberately returned early enough that evening not really for any other reason than a dialogue, as he believed, could bridge the gap.
"What game?" She snapped
This cold indifference... cat and mouse sort of... and separate bedroom affair?"
"Prof. I'm playing no game.... but rather, living up to a reality as time suggests. It's sensible to expect something like this to happen one day. I expect you to be least worried."
"It's a mince of words to describe the relationship in this house as cold indifference, I think really it's mute indifference since it's a break down in communication for no reason at all or is there any?"
"For no reason at all! That's incredible Prof. It's proven that action and reaction work in reverse order. No smoke without fire! They say. I've suffered loneliness and boycott because I married an old brute who has no need for a woman."
"Me a brute? That's incredible... from you Wumi, a woman I've staked my life on," he remarked sharply in utter surprise.
"I'm sorry referring to you like that. It's about the attitude of keeping a woman for your kitchen and the parlour, all that you want until your time's up on this planet. You've had your own children, mustn't I have my own? It's It's a natural right, cannot be denied, or be a price to be paid for a help no matter how substantial and valuable."
Again ProfessorJohnson was stunned, but into silence now. Then he recovered. I now know the pain and hurt. I won't be too bothered by your accusation, it's however wicked to rank me so low. Nonetheless, I'll change things round from today. I'm sorry! It's not attitudinal, a wrong supposition entirely."
A loud jeering laughter erupted from Amelia. "Can the leopard change its skin? Can a river also flow back its valley? An old tree'll not grow young! What has been cannot be changed! I've made up my mind and I've taken a decision. Prof, no more business with you."
"Ha Amelia! What are you implying by all that?"
"You're a professor... a philosopher in your own right. You have enough capacity to grab the full meaning of what I've said. I'm on the verge of losing everything, but I'll not wait until then."
I know about the agony of childlessness, but it remains to be proved if a man can be the impediment. Boycotting the conjugal bed and duty is foolish enough. Better that we seek medical advice now," he appealed.
"Oh that, future events'll reveal just that. Medical advice, yes, only if a new gyneacologist with a magic wand comes
To you nothing can be too late again. For me, I'm on the verge of losing everything. Any further delay's dangerous...stupid for me to ever allow it."
She pushed the front door open and ProfessorJohnson followed, despondent. What can I say again.... yet the impasse must be resolved, he was thinking. "Amelia, you have to give room for further dialogue," he said in a raised voice. She turned back as if acceding to his suggestion which issued like a command, but the sudden surge of pregnancy nausea compelled it. She went past and dashed swiftly into the bathroom area and began throw off which she did quickly to cover up her ailment but ProfessorJohnson had walked behind to witness it. Only saliva rather than solid food constituted throw off and were easily flushed off. From thence on dialogue was rare and mundane... sometimes irritable, setting up moments of row.
What's happening to Amelia? ProfessorJohnson asked himself as he reviewed both words and deeds of his wife's rush to the toilet to throw off, an irritation? His mind rewound back to the days of his late wife in the early months of pregnancy. Could it be that Amelia is pregnant? He stood still and held up a slice of beef he had on the fork and looked around in the dinning room for explanations Intuitively he called in Amelia's cousin who had become his only veritable companion in the house. Ife had quickly stepped up to his midst and stood for instruction. His sister had warned her to be at his beck and call anytime.
"Where's Amelia?"
"She's out in the porch!"
"I need to see her, can you trace her out?"
"I've to quickly drive the chicks to their roost, the night's falling fast. I'll then look for her in the next quarter. She might be with Miss Mary . Just then Wumi came up and walked straight into her room. Ife had come behind quietly and said "Prof. wants to see you."
"You're in the habit of throw off these days, what makes you sick?"
"I started to throw off the very day you returned from Stockholm. I've wanted to ask you what you've done or brought to this house that makes me sick? Suffering from a nausea of such magnitude's causing me concern. In reality, your appearance makes me sick and badly irritates my gut, malaria, it spins sometimes violently and then throw off."
"Ha!" ProfessorJohnson screamed, shocked. As if to prove the point, Wumi rushed to the lavatory again to throw off. All the time ProfessorJohnson could not find a stable mind to know how to react. His mouth stood and his eyes glared at Ife, he remembered to say "go away for now."
"What could I have done... or bring into my house to make you sick, Amelia? He wondered on her return.
"That's a wicked excuse. How can you attribute my appearance to that ailment? I guess it's the sense and perception of me in different light. It's an image of hate!"
"May be!" she sighed.
"Ha! Amelia, that's a creative nonsense. Your invention is nonetheless food for thought I can see a movement into a dark alley. Enough for now! Why on earth would I want to make you sick like this!" he was sad but grilled as Amelia stalked away into her room. "Your invention shocks me Amelia!" he shouted. She looked back in disgust. It smacks of naitivity to say that, you can be sure Prof. it's the truth!"
I'll need a physician to examine your state of health. It can't be the truth!
That can't be a job for the physician but a seer who is a mystic. "
It's spiritual, if you don't know
The evening, which quickly ran into the night was the worst ever for ProfessorJohnson. It was a total raw deal from a woman he had financed from the early teens to the university. Not even the night of Anna his first wife's death, soon after delivery, was as cruel and shattering A whole week followed, but Wumi kept herself inaccessible to anyone boycotting work and any social contact willam saw little of her and became worried
One evening, she decided to go out for willam. It was a period of solstice and the night had come up quickly than expected but she wouldn't be discouraged making trip. She stepped into the porch, what a dark night!" She complained in a raised voice. Nonetheless she moved into the dark road, missing ProfessorJohnson by just an air's breadth, which came in into the quarters a moment after. She walked straight to the nearby telephone booth with Ife in tow. The darkness was dint indeed.
"We can see better now, it's because we come into darkness from a bright light," Ife remarked.
"You're right Ife! She replied as she entered the booth and into another dark place. She switched on the small dim light and began to roll the numbers. She dialed twice before it was through. No doubt an expectant voice responded as she heard "Amelia" rather than hello! Willam was eager, it pleased her greatly "My voice's rough and you pick it so easily!"
"I'm hardly wrong when it's your voice. Happy that I can have you on the line before I go to bed tonight. It's harrowing missing you all these days".
Wumi had a little screech and she looked back briefly but found Ife laying her ears to the conversation. "What are you doing there? Stand away!" she commanded. Ife liked to eavesdrop who knows, she might be working for ProfessorJohnson... she cant hold her lips together." I'm sorry willam, Ife stands too close to me. I'm trying to get her off. I've not allow her into our relationship, the girl has no qualm at all, and obtuse when it comes to discretion."
"What's the position now, your voice sounds so hushed and clogged?"
"William, it's fine so far. I've laid the ground for an action some few days ago.
"Have you told ProfessorJohnson about your pregnancy?"
"No! Never! He's still reeling under the accusation, I levied against him. He might have suspected my pregnancy but he hadn't come up with a confrontation"
"Fine Amelia Keep it that way. When do I expect to see you next?"
"Tomorrow willam. I feel fit like a fiddle now your baby in the making's really kicking... vigorous at times. I'll get to you after school tomorrow afternoon."
"Make it lunch time so that we eat out at the Kingsway restaurant."
About lunch time, the Kingsway super stores' restaurant was often a beehive. It wasn't different that afternoon. The weather was surprising cool and comfortable on a mid June day, a moth of sultry sleazy weather. They met in front of the stores, willam faster, had been there a quarter hour earlier.
They occupied a table for just two eaters in a far corner of the hall. It was self service and they picked their choices along with manila ice cream and coke for a drink. "Professor Johnson still in shock by your ingenious accusation....an invented piece. Amelia said with delight, "If not that, he should have noticed the obvious change in your appearance."
"I never gave him the chance." The clothes I wear do the trick for me. He won't know until the day I deliver my baby."
"Sure Amelia!" He smiled, but I'm not too certain. Your stomach's really growing
"Quite sure willam... I'll not give the chance. Many of my friends don't know too except Emily and Jane , you know how close they are They have the opinion that my belly'll be so moderate as to be undetectable"
"What's the atmosphere in the quarters now? amiable, dull or just plain?"
'Stiffly cold separate rooms avoiding direct meeting etc. ife is the middle person who ensures some communication.
"For how long'll you be able to keep and manage that state of affairs?"
"As long as this pregnancy lasts. However willam, I've a hunch, I think we should take a pre-emptive step, the proper thing must be done first."
"What's the proper thing? What action's pre-emptive?"
"You know willam, that is our culture, marriage is between two families... we have to go home, I mean to meet our both parents ....we have to take them along. They only can give the much desired harbour... and succour in times of need."
"That's incongruous Amelia you, a married woman, bring a new fiancé without a divorce which parent'll accept a thing like that?"
"My travail so far in marriage must earn sympathy... I strongly believe that... even from non parents."
"You the woman has the problem really! Nobody'll ever be too surprised if at all, in the event of a man bringing home a second woman. In our culture, it's permissible, but not in this time of so called one-man-one-wife. One should expect a redress down for the woman. No one'll accept your reasoning...most currous for a belief.
At the end of six months of pregnancy, Amelia resigned from her job as a college teacher and set up a supermarket in a high brow Surulere district of Lagos metropolis. She got the idea from the fascination of the Kingsway super stores. I should be an entrepreneur like this she had always reminded herself. Later, she suggested the idea to willam and it it caught up brilliantly with him. Find Finding a good location was no problem at all.
It was close to sunset before Amelia could return home to her university quarters. It was as cold as ever as drizzles had started pouring down and the urge was to go to bed fanged out by long walk around the business districts and the Marina. Willam on his part had a running battle with the tension over Wumi as a wife. She might be overbearing for him. Do I really want to marry Amelia? Pregnancy has come in and a baby's fast on the way. Now, she's asking for marriage. She talked of a build up to a divorce, but it is also a build up to marriage. He was confused. I've to exercise a man's authority, he urged himself. Three days later, Amealia around and he started a conversation on the crucial issue of marriage. "You mentioned marriage the other time, that's a new agenda! Is pregnancy an excuse for marriage?"
"Love's the most crucial element, we have that already. Then there's also pregnancy. Soon a baby'll come for us. What else? Remember the saying, a woman who has begotten a child for a man can no longer be regarded a mistress... or if you want it strongly a concubine"
He was stunned, it was a most logical argument, but devastating He was caught hands down. Nobody can dispute that in our culture, he began to review. Yet I don't expect it'd be done with impunity to ProfessorJohnson. "You always base your argument on logicality, I know you're the wife of a professor, also an ethics scholar."
"In this relationship and the position we now find ourselves, you have to take leadership and be the senior partner," William urged. The crucial decisions should come from you. The question is, can you now take a reverse, when you've already plunged in?"
"Not in the absolute in this case. You've always been taking the decisions and I gave way!"
"Oh willam, then you've got it all wrong. I've greater stakes and I don't want to drag you too much into it. I believe I should sort myself out with your least involvement. In the thinking faculty of a woman, a man in her love life is a potential husband. We've gone to that extent now, there's a baby here kicking for you," she said touching her belly, six months now. Feel it! Fell it willam, "She moved closer with a bright smile You're the captain of a new boat now.
"Kicking really!" William touched and the foetus rumbled in her belly, he felt a great delight.
"Yes, you really love me willam. Put no impediment on the way. let's make progress. Be the captain and the boat'll sail even through a rough sea
"I love you Amelia, except the tendency to want to brow-beat your way."
I love her indeed his lips drummed but, he continued "something gives me fears Amelia, you're beautiful and caring... but this issue of marriage.... really in the ultimate, Professor Johnson must be out of the way first."
"Professor Johnson cannot be a bug in your heart, that's my stand," Amelia insisted.
"William," she continued you're too much concerned with proprietary, all is fair in war. ProfessorJohnson, no more in my life. Better not to place much significance on law and morality in this case, it belongs to me and I'm ready to face it" she declared.