MIGHT AS WELL FACE IT..

  

  Obiageli had been in a very foul mood since the beginning of the week, she was no joy to be around and highly irritable. She didn’t want to admit that suddenly she doesn’t want Zona to make the trip, what kind of mother would she be if she did that? She started the whole Nigeria business after all so why back out now? Maybe it was because her heart was on the verge of breaking, she didn’t know this emotion she was feeling or how best to handle it.  Zona, just like her mother was highly introverted. She never traveled, never went to summer camps or anywhere Ashley had tried to drag her to in the past. Frankly she hadn’t stepped a foot out of Eastwood. Obiageli tried to warn her about the dangers of staying in Eastwood all year round, but was admittedly grateful she had her daughter around especially on days she would reminisce and become a bit depressed. Now she would have to say goodbye to her, Thank God Albert was in her life now. She won’t be lonely anymore; not in the least, but she will definitely miss Zona and constantly worry about her.

“Mom, I can travel by myself, I don’t think it is necessary to make me travel with Aunt Gertrude, you know how she can get” Zona wasn’t a fan of her mom’s eldest cousin aunt Gertrude and absolutely abhorred the idea of being ‘chaperoned’ by her all the way to Nigeria. Aunt Gertrude was quite set in her ways; she traveled biannually to Nigeria to stock up on native food items. She wouldn’t let anyone send her any; she feared she may be ‘bewitched’ by evil relatives, if ever she received a package, she forwarded it to Obiageli and Zona. Apparently they are immune to ‘witchcraft’.

 Albert was to drive Zona and pick Aunt Gertrude from not so far town of little hills and drive them to Rosa Parks international Airport come Sunday evening. She would have to be on her best behavior if she was to travel with and live in 'prim and proper' 'condescending' Aunt Gertrude’s family house. Thankfully her headsets and iPod were coming with her. “I know sweetheart, believe me” Obiageli said, “but it is important that you go with her, we should be grateful she is here to take you because you know I can’t dear.” “fine mom!” Zona sighed and accepted her lot.

“Honey just try and hold it together so you don’t spook her” Albert said to Obiageli as he put down the last of Zona’s luggage in the trunk of his Army green Sedan. He too was distraught with emotion but he wasn’t going to breakdown the way Obiageli was on the verge of doing, one of them had to be level headed and from the look of things he was that ‘one’. He slammed the trunk shut shaking off the emotion building up inside him “Zona! We are gonna be late” Albert yelled towards the front porch where Joshua and Ashley were saying their goodbyes to an overwhelmed Zona amidst sobs and muffled cries. In about a minute, the three were finally able to drag themselves from the front porch to Albert’s waiting car. Zona got into the back seat and Albert closed the door, he went around the car in quick long strides, got in, started the engine and started to pull out of the driveway. Joshua and Ashley stood affixed and waved vigorously at the now dim sedan that quickly blended into the evening save for the rear lights that shone through the fog.

They arrived at the airport with barely 25minutes to spare and Aunt Gertrude was literally visibly upset, she went briskly ahead of the trio who were saying their last minutes goodbyes. “Please call me as soon as you land okay?” “remember everything we talked about, stay close to Aunt Gertrude at all times until you get to her house, don’t go anywhere without informing her of your whereabouts…” Obiageli was about to give Zona a rundown of the instructions they had earlier discussed but for the timely and very necessary intervention of Albert reminding them that the last call for Zona’s flight had just been made.

Obiageli couldn’t find the strength to walk back to the car or to her life with Zona on her way to far away ‘Africa’. She tried very hard not to break down as they said their goodbyes but had lost it as soon as Zona had boarded. 

...same time and place darlings...

Footnote: sorry again guys I have been quite  busy hence the reason I didn't post on the weekend. maybe once a week will do? not sure or should I just go with the flow and make nothing definite? well hope you all had a wonderful weekend and enjoying your weeks already! Thanks again darlings, don't forget to share and drop comments. Have a great week ahead! Enjoy! ...Ogadimma.

Shuttertock, many thanks for the pictures!❤💋

QUARTER TO NIGERIA.

 Obiageli looked a vision in her Grecian styled form fitting dress. Ashley had made her fro into a fine up do that offset her oval face perfectly and had adorned it with beautiful silver rosettes to appear like a crown around her head; leaving a few gossamer strands to fall on the nape of her head that softened the lines at the crease of her eyes. Zona had chosen flat knee high silver gladiator sandals that were revealed by the generous slit in front of the dress. She had achieved the ‘Grecian goddess’ themed bride she set out to create and Obiageli couldn’t hold back her surprise when she stared at her image in the dressing mirror. Admittedly, she didn’t quite understand Zona’s idea at first and wasn’t sure how it would turn out, but now she was certain she wouldn’t have had it any other way. She was mostly grateful for the comforts the flat sandals provided.

She was a bride to be; Albert Carter’s bride to be, handsome wonderful loving Albert. It was unreal.

The wedding ceremony was just splendid from the church service to the mini reception. Everything had gone on as planned and the music played on into the evening. Albert was every bit the dapper groom, his double breasted navy blue suit complemented Obiageli’s caramel skin color perfectly. It was a match made in Eastwood heaven. Obiageli has never looked forward to the future as expectantly as she did now.  Everything was going to be different from here on out she thought. Good different. She could hardly wait for their lives together to start, but for now she has to turn her attention towards Zona’s trip to Nigeria.  

 The paper works required for Zona’s trip now concluded, had taken a back seat when the wedding preparations started and resumed as soon as Albert had moved in. He tried to put in as much effort and time as the church schedule allowed into helping Zona prepare for her travel. He drove her places she needed to go if he was available, advised her on ways to handle herself in certain situations and stressed the importance of having a pepper spray handy. He went on to teach her a bit of karate to defend herself incase hoodlums flew from the sky in Nigeria, one would think the Rev. had just returned from a rather ill fated trip to Nigeria; he had his fears alright but like Obiageli, he too believed Zona would survive.

 It always started out as a make-shift karate session in ‘a’ rearranged living room and ended as a bonding session between the new father and daughter; some days Zona was either too tired to lift a leg or just altogether unwilling, Some other days she was game. Other days the reverend ran out of karate styles, his knowledge, no thanks to bootleg karate DVDs he watched as a young boy, was indeed limited on the subject even though he refuses to admit it. In fact, most things he demonstrated were very far from an actual Karate. But in his mind, it counted if it could protect Zona God forbid a situation presents itself. 

“I still cannot believe she will be leaving for Nigeria this weekend” Obiageli said to Albert as they drove home from church , “I mean I knew that at some point we would get here but now that we are here it is really difficult to accept” she continued. “I know” Albert said “it is unreal, I only hope that we have done enough to prepare her mentally and otherwise” Even though Albert hadn’t known Zona for the most part of her life, he had come to love the girl as the child he never had from his first marriage and hence became quite protective of her. Just like her mother she really was easy to love and now she was going to a place far from ‘home’. Was there make shift karate-bonding session enough to endear him to her he wondered; he nursed the fear that she may reconnect with her father, maybe rediscover their bond and he will have to be second place in her heart. 

 ...till the weekend loves...

Footnote: Hi guys, am sorry there was no post yesterday as promised, had quite the busy day and couldn't squeeze out time not for lack of trying though. hope you guys had a wonderful weekend and are having a great week. 

    Thank you for visiting, feel free to leave a comment, share on your Facebook walls, Twitter feeds et al. Enjoy!

ALMOST HAPPILY EVER AFTER

 As a young girl, Obiageli wasn’t afforded the frivolities of what one could call ‘true love’, whatever she had with Azuka Godson had been premature and inherently ill fated. When they met for the first time at the Gilgamesh college library, she had believed it was love at first sight and Azuka presented her with everything she thought she wanted; or maybe just the fact he that too was Nigerian sealed the deal for her. Despite the tell tale signs that he was an aloof spirit with no sense of commitment, Obiageli had held on to the relationship and hoped for the best. She had found out she was pregnant with Zona on one of the many nights Azuka went out and returned inebriated, not knowing whether she should feel happy or sad as regarding the child growing inside her. She had seen - accepted the relationship for what it was very late unfortunately, and she was sure it was only a matter of time till Azuka walked out on them. When he finally decided to get help and try sobriety for the sake of the child on the way, Obiageli couldn’t quite shake the feeling of ‘when will the other shoe drop’, she prayed for the best for the sake of her child and nursed her animosity in silence. 

The reverend winced as he got back up with a smug grin of a school boy who had just received an extra piece cake for besting the entire class in arithmetic. “Of course I will marry you, this is where I am at my happiest, why would I give it up?” she said trying hard not to sound like an 18 year old, she threw herself into the reverend’s arm and embraced him tightly; he looked down at her and kissed her lavender shampooed hair. It smelled wonderful to his senses; he imagined it was what the rest of their lives together would smell like.

They had forgotten the cheering audience at the door, Zona, who was nothing but genuinely happy for her mother dearest; she deserved it all. Life for her will definitely begin at 41, with Albert.

“Am not letting you walk down the aisle with just lip gloss if that is what you are getting at, it is after all your special day and you should be able to feel special” Zona continued, prepared for the impending battle of words her mom was ready to unleash; not that she would win anyway. She had set out to give Obiageli a full face makeover and that is what she hoped to achieve. For a teenager that worked after school hours in a hardware store Zona knew quite a considerable amount when it came to makeup and fashion, well thanks to Ashley who was only too willing to lend Zona her extensive makeup collection. “Am not exactly a spring chicken, am 41” Obiageli retorted. “I think this whole fan fare would have been nice maybe 10 years ago, I just want to make it to my wedding on time and marry the love of my life today Zona” she continued with a hint of resignation;, if she knows her daughter but at all, she should know it was a lost battle and should just surrender her face to the self declared stylist.

 From the day Obiageli accepted Albert’s ring, Zona had thrown herself into planning her mom’s wedding together with her ‘bff’ Ashley. In barely two weeks, they had been able to put the whole thing together. Obiageli had been specific about the things she wanted and the way she wanted them; she was able to get away with few, with the others, Zona wouldn’t budge. Those included the entire outlook from hair to nail polish and everything in between. At the end, Obiageli only had her way with the menu of the dishes to be served to the few guest they had invited which consisted mostly of her relatives and that of Albert’s. And of course most importantly her choice of groom, There was absolutely no debating that part.

...see you Monday...

Foot note: Happy weekend to you my darling idoodlers, hope you had a fabulous week. Thanks again for taking a chance on ijustdoodle. I dont think I will ever get tired of expressing my gratitude to you all for viewing, sharing and commenting.
I may have been able to work out a post schedule, I decided Mondays and Saturdays will work best but anyone who feels otherwise is free to say so via mail so that we can jointedly work out what works best.
Have a fabulous weekend loves.