THE CROWN - EPISODE 2

The weather felt warm and I wasn’t hearing crowing of the early cocks meaning it was late hours of the early morning.

I scratched my index finger on my eye and stood up from my bed.

It is the market day and surely mother must be out to the market and Baami probably to the farm.

Blessed I would conclude to have such parents who bother not their child against will.

I’ve grown to do things right even without being asked or forced because of the love I’ve grown in.

I bent myself out of the small exit of the hut, sometimes I wonder why they’ve made it a tradition to build huts with such unbefitting passage.

I walked to the sideyard and one of the two brooms we have and started sweeping the compound.

Even after sweeping before going to bed one would always wake up to dry leaves caused by the night’s breeze.

Baami always tell me to omit sweeping the compound before bedtime since it was no use at day time but I’m still Keen on it.

I stopped sweeping and dropped the broom when I mother walked in.

“E kaabo”

I welcomed her helping her with the basket on her head.

She nodded and went ahead to sit down.

“Kedu ka ị mere”

She asked how I’m doing.

Imagine the troubles of giving pleasantries in one dialect and receiving in another.

“adị m mma”

I replied before continuing my thoughts.

While growing up,

my friends will worry about me on how I was going to struggle learning my local dialect considering my parents difference in culture and origin.

I never thought it will be

an issue cause they both did well in offering me both untill they insisted that I started to communicate with them as they did to me.

It still isn’t much of a big deal and I’m grateful that I get to speak two out of the three major ethnic groups,

” Your Father isn’t back?” She asked while taking the cup of water from me.

” How was it at the market today?”

“It was okay, I saw nne Mmesoma..”

She stopped to drink water

“She was her usual self”

She chuckled.

I smiled and carried the basket to the kitchen.

Mmesoma’s mother is a head full,

can be trouble when she wants to but she’s also nice when she wants to.

Mmesoma believes herself and her brother inherited more of their father’s traits.

Speaking of Mmesoma,

she will be waiting for me on the road to the stream by now.

Oh! I slept in too late.

I should hurry up with…

“Good morning Mama”

She’s here, she must’ve waited so long and so decided to come here.

Her and mother exchanged pleasantries before she asked of my whereabouts

” I’m here” I walked out

“Your highness” she bowed sarcastically.

I laughed

“Come on, don’t be dramatic.. I’m going to get my fetching pots so be patient”

I said before leaving.

I overheard her gisting with mother.

I nodded my head,

Mmesoma and gist.

I grabbed my pot from the day before yesterday when I met that young man whose name I forgot to ask.

” Don’t bother my mother about news of some Prince returning to his land, it’s no deal”

I walked in Mmesoma telling mother about the so called
Rumour.

“I can’t believe you still think it’s rumour”
She stood up

“If it isn’t then the town crier would’ve stormed the village with the king’s announcement… My dear focus on what’s important, mother we’ll leave now”

I completed and dragged Mmesoma with me.

She still kept blabbing on the rumour and I ignored her, she turned to take another route

“No Mmesoma, let’s go to the main stream” I insisted

“Why? It is far from here, this stream is closer”

“Come on, it’s not like you’re in haste to get back home” I said

“We both know you do almost all your chores before going to bed but I on the other hand have a lot to do at home” she rolled her eyes. I kept wait staring at her

“Okay fine, let’s go to the main stream”

She gave in

I smiled,

crossed my hand on her shoulder as we walked.

There was nothing special about the main stream,

we only went there to avoid going back home early at bad situations sometimes maybe after receiving a scolding or similar but this time I wanted to go there in hopes of seeing that young man again.

Nothing attached,

I just want to know the name of the man that saved my life.

“Yesterday at mild day, my father saw Emeka with a maiden under the tree close to the square…”

Mmesoma kept talking about her brother as we fetched water while I was busy roaming my eyes in search for the young man.

“Nike…”
She called and I turned

“Yes?”

“Are you looking for something or should I say… someone”

“Someone? Why would I be looking for someone?”

I turned to my fetching pot. Mmesoma tapped me on my back twice and I looked at her.. she gestured

It was the young man, he stood s bit from the stream and smiled at me

“Who is that? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him around”

Mmesoma whispered softly.

I carried my pot out and dropped it by a corner

“Wait here.. ”

I told her before going to meet him

“Beautiful one”

he smiled

“Hi young man”

I waved and he chuckled staring deep at me.. too bold I must say.

“It’s a miracle to see you here today, I couldn’t get your name the last time”

he smiled still.

His both hands were at his back, his clothing beautiful and so was how he talked. He’s attractive but I’m not attracted.

“Adenike”

I said boldly,

I’ve always loved my name, the meaning is beautiful.

He looked speechless at first and couldn’t find his words

“You’re from the West?” He said with a scoff

“Is that a bad omen?”

I took offence to his reaction and was ready to defend if he said more.

“No no.. I didn’t mean it that way.. it’s just that you look too beautiful and endowed to be a…”

“Westerner” I took the word right out of his mouth..

I folded my arms and held the Hem of my wrapper so I could control myself from hitting my feet

“No my dear, don’t get be wrong… The East has a reputation and I’m just keeping up”

His hands were still behind and his broad chest upright.

I snubbed off the idea of starting a meaningless argument over such mere words that was probably taken wrongly.

Even if it wasn’t taken wrongly, Neither his words or argument will change who I’m proud to be. I smiled and unfolded my arms.

He smiled and moved his gaze to Mmesoma who walked closer to us.

“This is my friend, Mmesoma” I said

“Mmesoma, this is….”

I stopped to look at him, he chuckled at my lack of knowledge I suppose

“Emenike.. nice meeting you Mmesoma”

He smiled

“You too” she replied

“By the way, you look beautiful. They say it’s rare to see to very beautiful friends, I’m honoured”

He brought his right hand to his chest and bowed his head slightly.

We smiled.