Jagua Nana
Page 22
She could read the fear in her mother’s eyes, that she would forsake her; that Ogabu was not the place for her.
‘Mama, I don’t know yet. But I wan’ some place – not too far to Ogabu. Dere I kin trade. I kin come here when I like for look you. Ah wan’ try Onitsha whedder I kin become Merchant Princess. I already got experience of de business. I goin’ to beg Brodder Fonso for advise me what I goin’ to do. You see, Mama, now I got some money. Is going to be different. I kin buy me own lorry and me own shop by de river. I goin’ to join de society of de women an’ make frien’ with dem. I sure to succeed.’
As she spoke, she saw the relief mount into her mother’s eyes. ‘Is good,’ she said. ‘I fear before whedder you wantin’ for go back Lagos. Now is good I got me daughter on dis side of de Niger.’
Rosa came in from the forest while they talked. She looked fresh and sweet and completely one with the Ogabu forests. She was carrying a drumful of water which she had fetched. Her smile was bright.
‘What you an’ Mama plannin’, Jagua? You already lookin’ like you fine ol’ self. You never kin grow ol’, my dear!’
‘Is God work, Rosa,’ Jagua smiled. ‘But I don’ wan’ to be me ol’ self who suffer too much.’ She looked from Rosa’s face to her mother’s and the expression of belief and goodwill she saw filled her with new hopes. ‘I jus’ told Mama dat I goin’ to Onitsha. I wan’ to become proper merchant princess. I goin’ to buy me own shop, and lorry, and employ me own driver. I goin’ to face dis business serious. I sure dat God above goin’ to bless me.’
Evening had come once again to Ogabu and with its coming there stirred a gentle breeze that soothed. Jagua sat beside her mother on the log and dreamt. She thought how good it was to be dreaming while Rosa and her mother listened.
THE BEGINNING
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PENGUIN CLASSICS
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First published in 1961
Published in Penguin Classics 2018
Copyright © Cyprian Ekwensi, 1961
Cover illustration © Marcellina Oseghale Akpojotor, Tobi, 2015
Author photograph © Writer Pictures
ISBN: 978-0-241-33501-7