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!❤💋
No comments:
Post a Comment