Dawsk

by Erhu Kome Yellow

  “This weekend?”

  “Yes, and I know you have no excuse not to come. You have this weekend and next week off.”

  “Have you been spying on me?”

  ‘No," he said plainly, “I just have perfect timing. I need it to get what I want.”

  “And if I say I don’t want to go with you?”

  “Then we’ll try a different approach, maybe blackmail.”

  “Okay,” I conceded. “I’ll go with you.”

  “We’ll have fun. I promise you. Maybe not the type of fun you’re used to, but we’ll have fun.”

  “Simi!”

  I turned to see the source of the voice. It was Femi. He took decisive steps in approaching us. Aiden stood up immediately.

  “Femi this is...”

  “I know who he is. Aiden Essien.”

  I watched the two of them size each other up. It was pathetic to watch.

  “Femi um...I did not catch your last name.”

  “Bamidele”

  “I don’t know any Bamidele.”

  Aiden’s blue eyes became darker, or maybe it was just my imagination.

  “You wouldn’t.”

  I had never felt so much tension in so small a space.

  “Well, it was nice meeting you Femi. Simi, I’ll pick you up Friday by two. Pack light.”

  ‘Sure thing.”

  Femi replaced Aiden on the chair. I could smell, see, taste and feel the disapproval exuding from Femi’s composure.

  “What’s happening on Friday?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Stay away from him Simi.”

  I was taken aback by the way the order came from him.

  “You can’t tell me what and what not to do.”

  His face eased a little from its fierceness.

  “Sorry, just be careful around him.”

  Why he was so cautious of Aiden bothered me. This was beyond ugly jealousy. I could tell.

  “Why are you here, Femi?”

  “I helped a family retrieve their stolen heirloom, and they’ve given me a temporary membership card to the city's country club. I thought we could go down there this weekend and play some tennis, or golf whichever takes your interest.”

  “Uh...” The reply to his offer got stuck in my throat. I cleared it several times before speaking. “Femi I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’ll be able to go with you.”

  “Does it have anything to do with Mr Fancy?”

  “Aiden,” I corrected. “Yes, I already agreed to do something with him.”

  ‘What?” Femi probed, his countenance slowly changing.

  “Something important.”

  He made to leave.

  I quickly added, “But we can go next weekend, can’t we?”

  He pondered on my offer for a while. His answer was short and brusque. “Yes, we can.”

  “Then next weekend it is. Let me walk you downstairs.”

  “Thanks, I can find my way.”

  I could see the disappointment he felt weigh heavy on him, but there was nothing I could do to prevent it.

  ***

  I had no idea where we were headed in Calabar. By noon on Friday, I had on a purple Jalabiya, rope-on sandals and carried a small duffel bag. Aiden came by sporting a yellow blazer on a white shirt and blue jeans. His hair was all jumbled up like he just stepped out of bed. I loved the look.

  “You look like an Arabian princess,” was his only comment.

  “Where are we going, Aiden?” I asked him for the nth time as we boarded the plane.

  “Cross River State.”

  “I know. But where in its capital?”

  “You’ll see.”

  That was the same answer he had given to me the last time I asked. I was in for a surprise, and I could not wait to know. I hated not knowing. It irked me.

  When we got to the airport in Calabar it was a few minutes past four, there was a car waiting to take us to our destination. As we passed the stadium, I recalled the last time I was there for the Christmas carnival. That was five years ago, and the city had been packed full with people and the streets blocked. My phone was stolen that day.

  The car slowed down as it branched off the main road and into a street lined on both sides by flowering trees. The vehicle gradually came to a halt in front of a building whose imposing gate had the inscription ‘St. Thomas Orphanage.’

  I turned to Aiden, who had a sly smile on his beautiful face. No amount of guesses prepared me for an orphanage.

  “We are staying here for the weekend?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are we on one of your philanthropic works?”

  “Sorta.”

  His vague answer left me speechless. The gate opened up, and we drove in. My first take on the place was that it looked really homey and more comfortable than most orphanages I had seen. It was a three storey building painted grey with other smaller buildings behind it. The sound of children on the playground could be heard. One of the boys riding down the path expertly on a bike almost hit the car.

  As we got out, one of the children shouted: “Uncle Aiden is here!”

  Uncle Aiden?

  I threw a questioning look at Aiden. He just shrugged.

  There was an unending supply of hugs for him, and then the chattering started. One by one, they dished out the happenings of the previous year to him. Aiden surveyed the crowd and asked, “Where’s Adam?”

  “He was adopted yesterday,” the tallest boy among them replied.

  “That’s amazing news.”

  “Who’s the lady?” One of the little girls in a wheelchair asked.

  “A friend.”

  The boy with the bike came up to me, his bike thrown haphazardly on the grass. He was no older than nine I predicted, but his dark eyes made him look mature.

  “I’m Chidi. What’s your name?”

  “Simi.” I chuckled at his air of forced confidence. “You look like an Arabian princess.”

  “Thank you.” I gave Aiden a knowing look.

  A girl no more than three with thin braids tugged at my dress and opened up her arms. I lifted her up and asked, “And what’s your name, little princess?”

  She giggled and hid her face on my shoulder.

  “Her name is Rose, like the flower,” Chidi replied. “Do you have any luggage? I can help you take it in.”

  Before I could reply a thin woman with a lengthy mass of grey hair and smoky eyes walked toward us as fast as her age would let her. Beside her were an average-looking man and another woman who looked just like her. The old woman threw her arms around Aiden and spoke rapidly to him. They began speaking a language I understood to be Efik. I heard the name Adam, which meant they were talking about the adopted boy.

  “And who’s this beautiful lady?” she asked in English.

  “My friend.”

  “Yes, his friend,” I repeated, not knowing why. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Aiden did not tell me he was bringing a friend over.”

  “I’m sure he didn’t.”

  “You’re most welcome.”

  Aiden informed me as we settled in that the older woman whose name was Mrs Akpan, the pioneer of the establishment and the other woman, Amaeka was her granddaughter. She was married to the man, Abraham Afiah, and both of them were the central staff in the orphanage. There were two other men and a woman who assisted them on occasion.

  “I didn’t know you could speak Efik.”

  “I had to learn from my father.”

  It was such minor information compared to my knowledge that he could shape-shift into an unknown creature when he was bloodthirsty.

  “Well, now, you do.”

  I was shown my room on the third floor by Amaeka. She took Rose from me who was now sleeping and drooling on my dress. A few minutes ago, when I tried to put her down, she had clawed her way back to my shoulders and hung up there. Chidi found a way to get to my bag and brought it in himself. He placed it on the king sized bed and sa
id as he backed out of the room “If you need anything, just come to me.”

  “I will thank you.”

  I chuckled when he winked.

  The room was pleasant and smelled sweet. The pink walls matched the window blinds, and shelf of old books lined the wall. After my bath, I threw on an off white t-shirt and high waist plaid trousers and took a walk around the house. I passed by the kitchen to find Mrs Akpan and her daughter making a cake.

  “Can I help?” I inquired taking a few steps forward.

  “An extra hand is always welcome.”

  “Who’s the cake for? One of the children?”

  “It’s for Aiden.”

  My unhinged jaw told them everything. Mrs Akpan laughed, her wrinkled forehead creasing terribly.

  “He brings you here without warning, and then forgets to tell you tomorrow is his birthday. That boy is full of surprises, just like his father.” Her statement made me realise that the orphanage was unique.

  “Can you excuse me for just one minute? I’ll be right back.”

  “Take your time, dear.”

  I went in search of Aiden and found him in the spacious sitting room. So many things were out of place, and the children talked incessantly. I was surprised to see him in a grey, and orange sweater with a duck splashed across the chest. His light blue slacks had whale patterns running down the entire length. He was playing a football game with Chidi on the big screen. After seeing the children, twenty in all, the only persons older than Chidi were the twins Taiye and Kehinde, a boy and a girl both twelve years old.

  ‘You’ve reverted to a child,” was the first thing that came out of my mouth.

  The game was paused.

  “Princess,” Chidi said, dropping the gamepad. He took my hand, dragged me to a futon. There was little I could do to resist.

  “So, what do you do Princess?”

  I temporarily forgot I was there for Aiden.

  “I’m a nurse.”

  “Awesome. You take care of sick people, right?”

  “Yes, I do. Among other things.”

  “Maybe I should be a nurse too when I grow up.”

  “It’s not a very easy job. You should get prepared.”

  “But you’re a nurse, are you not?”

  “I am.”

  “Then I can be too.”

  I smiled and rubbed his head.

  “Just keep thinking that way, Chidi, and you will do great things.”

  “Awesome.”

  “Now I have to talk to Uncle Aiden, in private.”

  “Okay, but come back soon, Princess. I want you to see me play.”

  “I promise.”

  Aiden was by my side in a moment. We wandered out into the cold night and sat on the swings in the playground.

  “He has certainly taken a shine to you.”

  “I can’t stop a boy from having a crush on me now can I?”

  “Chidi? No. He’ll do whatever he wants.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me about tomorrow?”

  “I wanted to surprise you.”

  “A job well done. But it poses a problem. I have no gift for you.”

  “Don’t worry, you can get me one and give it to me anytime. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Now that poses another problem. What do I get a billionaire?”

  He laughed. “I’m sure you’ll think of something.”

  His eyes conveyed a feeling I could not comprehend. He moved his hand slowly on the rail and then stared into the night sky. It was cloudy, and the moon’s beam was cut off almost completely.

  “My father was raised here,” he began to say. “He was left here by his father when he was just a baby. Mrs Akpan knew who he was. She knew he was too poor to take care of a baby whose mother had died during childbirth. She had no choice but to accept my father. Back then, this place was not an orphanage.” He paused and then laughed as if someone had just told him a not so funny joke.

  “My father brought me here when I was five, and when I saw the children living here, I knew I had to be grateful for what I had. My father did not have the same things I had growing up or lived in the same kind of buildings I lived in. He knew what it was to be poor and I didn’t and probably never will. And when I met Mrs Akpan, it was like meeting my father’s mother.” His smiled dimmed but did not disappear. “I started coming here every year for my birthday since the time I took over my father’s company.”

  “I can tell everyone loves having you here, especially the children.”

  He was on his feet in one swift motion. Going behind me, he gently pushed the swing, and my legs went off the ground.

  “How old will you be tomorrow?”

  “Older than you.”

  I laughed, and he did too. I wanted to turn around to see his face, but I stopped midway.

  “I’ll be thirty-one.”

  “Not that older. Just three years. That’s barely any time.”

  His hands stopped the swing, and I could hear him take a deep breath behind me. “I was not busy with work by the way. I was trying not to break out of my chains and go on a killing spree."

  My heart skipped a beat. I stood up uneasily while he walked to stand in front of me.

  "You should have called me."

  His eyes softened.

  "I didn't want you to see me that way. So out of control and in so much pain."

  I reached for him and enclosed him in my arms. His hands slowly wrapped around my waist.

  "I'm glad you're okay," I said.

  His warm breath caressed the back of my neck. I held him tight, not ever wanting to let go. He pulled me even close, and my feet nearly went off the ground.

  “Dinner is almost ready!” someone said from the central doorway.

  “I guess we better go in,” he said, still holding me.

  “Yes,” I said and pulled away from him.

  We had pizza for dinner. Apparently, it was a tradition for them to eat junk food whenever Aiden dropped by for his birthday.

  The next day we had cookies, toast and mango juice for breakfast. The situation was incorrigible, but I could do nothing to stop it. Aiden asked the children where they wanted to go. Some said they wanted to see three new animation movies that were premiering and others wanted to go to the Alia water Park. After a bit of arguing and name calling, we decided to go to both places. We’d see only one movie first and then visit the Park later. Amaeka and her husband were to accompany us and keep an eye on the children. Mrs Akpan was too tired to move around with us young folks. Her exact words. It was all decided, and we all trooped into the double-decker bus which Aiden drove. Amaeka and her husband followed us with their Peugeot.

  The movie started by 10 and lasted for two hours and by the time we were done, the children were all psyched to go to the park. As soon as we arrived at the park, the children changed into bathing suits. Rose, who had been with me the entire time let go off me when she saw the wave pool for children her age.

  “Why are you still in that?” he pointed at my jeans.

  Aiden was in bright red and white polka-dot shorts. His well-sculpted abs brought a sigh to my lips.

  “I have nothing to change into.”

  “You never told me." He scoffed. “Let’s right this wrong now, shall we?” he said, taking hold of my hand.

  We found a shop that sold swimwear and Aiden made sure I bought a polka dot bikini set.

  “You look...” His roaming eyes made me self-conscious.

  “Stop. Don’t say anything else.”

  He laughed loudly. It was plain to see that he was enjoying himself.

  “I can’t. You look so damn good. I recommend you wear a bikini all the time. Come on,” he urged. He ran up to a diving board more than six feet and leapt up into the air before diving neatly into the water. He swam around for some time before re-surfacing. I moved closer to talk to him.

  “I don’t think I can do that.”

  “I took lessons with a well-known diver.”
/>   "It shows.”

  "You can try something simpler. A cannonball perhaps. Come on, Simi. You know you want to.” He swept back his wet hair to reveal his eyes. He licked his lower lip and winked. That was my signal to get in the water.

  "A cannonball then," I said to myself.

  “Princess! Catch!”

  I was too slow to react, and the incoming ball hit my face. I stepped on something slippery in the process of finding my bearing and the next moment I found myself on the ground.

  “Simi!” Aiden was out of the water and by my side. “Are you alright?”

  “Yes, yes, I’m fine.”

  I sounded more annoyed than hurt. When I made to stand up, I felt a sharp stinging pain explode from my ankle.

  “I think I sprained my ankle.”

  Aiden examined my right foot.

  “There's a slight swelling," he observed. "You know my blood can..."

  "No." I protested as his eyes tried to find mine. "Don't. I’m not that hurt."

  He found my eyes at last and did not look convinced.

  Chidi’s shaky voice startled me. “Princess, I’m so sorry. It was my fault.”

  “No, it’s not. I’m fine. It’s just a little bruise.”

  ‘‘Are you sure? What can I do?”

  “You can enjoy yourself.”

  Aiden threw on a shirt and put me in another shirt twice my size.

  I winced in pain as he lifted me from the ground.

  “What happened?” Amaeka asked.

  Aiden explained hastily. “I’m taking her to a hospital. Tell the children they can get anything they want from the mall. I’ll see them later.”

  “Alright.”

  “Funny thing about children is when you ask them to pick out anything from a store they end up picking candy,” he said to me after taking the keys to Amaeka’s husband’s car.

  We got to the nearest hospital in five minutes. The Doctor took a good look at the leg before giving his verdict. I would be in a cast for roughly four weeks and should use crutches if I wanted to get around. Aiden and I waited for the nurse to come and apply the cast.

  “Does it hurt badly?”

  “Oh yes it does, but the painkillers will help. Thank you for bringing me here but aren’t you missing out on your birthday fun?”

  “I have to be here with you.”

  “You didn’t have to bring me here. Amaeka or her husband could have easily done that.”