… Someone will always say No. Hey, stand your ground!
The naked dislike on the face of the woman who would be her mother-in-law sent a chill down Efe’s long spine. She did not expect David’s mother to answer the door, but there she stood in the doorway looking down her nose at her. She stared contemptuously at Efe as if she were a dog or something lower, less desirable and filthy.
Efe had come with elation, looking forward to her first meeting with her fiancé’s mother. Now, momentarily confused, she stood wondering if she came to the right address. But, it was David’s mother alright. Efe recognised her from her photographs and TV appearances and her confusion gave way to displeasure. Her excitement and smile evaporated like one who received a slap on the face. David did warn her about his mother. Remembering that, made her stand straighter repeating her name and her mission, but both seemed wasted on the steely cold eyes staring down at her. With the older woman’s eyes running all over her, Efe thought she would stand there until odious eyes strangled her. “Gold-digger!” the eyes spat. Finally, the older woman stepped aside with reluctance as a frozen voice hissed through clenched teeth, “Come in.”
Efe hesitated. Her deflated ego spread through her a sense of shabbiness. Baffled, she followed her host into the big house whose size, grandeur and sheer opulence didn’t help matters either. She hugged her bag to her side, feeling small.
The navy blue and silvery furniture with their matching drapes and lace blinds swallowed up what little confidence she had left. They walked down a wide hallway lined with portraits and paintings, some life sizes; she held her breath curious at how rich people live. David’s mother took her through an area whose walls were lined with photos of famous persons standing with David’s family members; plaques, framed certificates and medals. It seemed she took her half round the grandiose house to show her what she would be missing before she settled for a wide breath-taking sitting area to not only talk to her but to show her lots of hatred.
“Sit down!” frozen words like poisoned darts hit Efe again.
The hatred in David’s mother’s voice told of unresolved feud from ancient times. They both sat down where the ceiling rose and soared above the luxury and beauty of the furnishing – the older woman a little distant from her – more distant than what should be socially appropriate. The room was wide and lavishly furnished in burgundy and gold. A magnificent chandelier hung from the equally magnificent ceiling. Real red roses sat daintily in expensive flower-ghosted smoked vases. Efe imagined a glimpse of heaven.
As minutes ticked by in a rude atmosphere of silences, while odious eyes continued to appraise her, the injustices of it all began to bequeath Efe with anger that sent self-pity packing. ‘What’s my crime?’ her heart cried. ‘Did I do wrong to want to marry your son?’ she asked wordlessly. Well, she had promised David that she would do all within her ability to please his mother and win her love. So, here she was, smiling for all this show of hatred: trying not to be flippant, but feeling instinctively vindictive.
Nothing was offered her except hatred. Efe felt it in torrents pouring powerfully from those steely eyes. Minutes ticked by, the older woman said nothing and did nothing. She continued to stare coldly at Efe from the distant chair she chose to sit. Efe wondered if the older woman understood the import of what she, Efe, represented – her son’s joy. Locked up in her frame was the sheer existence of her son– she had the son’s heart in her hand – David was in love with her!
Efe appealed to the older woman silently – I love your son and your son loves me. Please, don’t hate me! Don’t hurt your son. Your son is safe with me. I have his interest at heart. Please, give us a chance to live. P-l-e-a-s-e!!! The older woman’s cold eyes mirrored her response.
Efe straightened up. She decided that if David’s mother was going to be uncivil, it was okay by her. A strange strength relaxed her nerves. Burrowing her back into the comfortable leather cushion chair to find deeper comfort, she remembered the beautiful ring and magnificent wristwatch David gave her when she said, yes. They were in her handbag. She feared to wear them in the rough neighbourhood she lived in with her parents. Wild, hungry young boys prowled the streets looking for anything that could fetch them money. Wearing shiny expensive-looking jewels would certainly draw their attention.
Efe opened her bag and busied herself prying open the small boxes out of the view of the older woman. One after the other she lifted from one box a well-crafted expensive-looking wristwatch and from the second box an engagement ring. The watch had come as a surprise, but the ring they chose together when they exchanged covenant vows some months ago. He had brought a catalogue of very expensive rings to her and she had made a choice of the glittering ruby ring set in solid platinum. It was huge, expensive and sparkling. The price of it would move her family out of their over-crowded neighbourhood to a less dense area but she and David knew that things come one after the other in order of their importance. Still out of David’s mother’s view, Efe slipped the ring on her engagement finger, and then wriggled her right hand into the heavy gold, silver and blue-lined Rolex wristwatch. The feel of the ring filled her with security. She heard David’s voice again as he slipped it on her finger the first time, ‘Now, it’s time to involve our parents.’
When she brought out her hands, she immediately sensed the older woman’s eyes widen. Well, since she loved staring, Efe thought, she might as well give her something to stare at. The ring was something to behold. It came from an exclusive shop in Paris. The small gasp that came from the older woman’s corner, told Efe that she knew the worth of the displayed items. Efe unwilling to torture the older woman’s curiosity, held her drawn knees with both her hands in plain view.
David’s mother felt betrayed. Efe knew it the way women knew things. She got off the high chair she had chosen and wobbled to a lower closer chair where she could talk to the little ‘gold-digger’. That near, she could now see very clearly how unworthy Efe was to own or wear such expensive items as revealed by the fabric of her dress and the quality of her shoes! Although Efe wore no make-up and no jewels, David’s mother considered her a hypocrite who was putting on an act for her. The girl in her opinion was not beautiful: her eyes were too large, her mouth ugly and her face thin and hungry-looking.
“For the life of me,” David’s mother said, “I do not see what my son saw in you.”
Okay, Efe thought, I already knew you’re hateful. Bring it on! That vindictive feeling welled up on the inside of Efe again and she smiled, showing white teeth set in black gums. David’s mother also hated dark girls.
“I’m not Miss Universe or anything near it, but actually …” Efe paused and twirled the ring round her finger for some cruel joy. David had assured her that nothing would make him not to marry her in this world, not even the family wealth! She felt safe as she added in a girlie voice, “… actually, I’m very kind, patient and tolerant. These are David’s own words, mum.”
Efe saw how someone could have a heart attack. David’s mother’s face darkened and her breathing became laboured and she couldn’t get out words quickly enough.
“What – what do you mean by telling me that?”
That Efe had angered the older woman was to put it mildly, but she made no apology. It was not totally unintentional. It had dawned on Efe that her offence was that she was poor. Could one be so hated only because one was poor? Efe mused. Does she know how hard it is to be poor? The older woman’s eyes were filled with thawed hatred. Something hardened in the younger woman and suddenly, she did not care. She lowered her large eyes and the older woman was irritated to find her guest somehow attractive in that posture.
“Are those supposed to be the right credentials for marrying my son?”
Efe shrugged and went back to her ring. She loved it to distractions. It seemed that that little thing called ego stopped the older woman from screaming and ranting. She didn’t want to be seen as anything other than aristocratic; she was a Benin high chief!
David’s mother felt like snatching the wristwatch and the ring from Efe. Self-control restrained her. Nonetheless, she knew that it was scandalous for a girl like her to wear such expensive things. O, David! Her heart cried, what have I not done for you? She had even arranged for him to meet girls of his class. What did this one do to ensnare him?
“What did you say your name was?”
“Efe, mum; my name is Efe Anenih.”
“Any relation to Chief Anthony Anenih?”
“No ma. My father is Mark.”
“I don’t know your father.”
Her voice was deprecating.
“My father is a barber and my mum is a dressmaker (That’s what poor people do for a living, she added voicelessly). We live at 242 Chief Iyamu Road.”
Efe could see that this further enraged David’s mother. Her face darkened the more and she clenched and unclenched her fists.
“Answer only what I ask you!”
“Yes, mum!”
“And cut out the mum, I’m not your mother!”
“Yes, ma!”
The older woman stood up and began to pace around the stately sitting-room. Mum, my foot! You cannot get me by fawning. The only reason I agreed to see you wretched girl is because I don’t want to lose my son’s friendship. Wise women have to be careful with rebellion-prone children, especially in the issue of marriage. Suddenly, she stopped pacing and stood facing Efe, her look quite condescending.
“You’re a typist!” she spat.
“No, a secretary.”
“They’re the same.”
“I have an OND in Secretarial Administration.”
“Lovely!”
Efe ignored the sarcasm.
“My son read Agronomy and Marketing. He has a doctorate degree. You, you have an ordinary diploma!”
“That’s right, ma!”
“There’s nothing right about it! Don’t you see the great disparity?”
“I see nothing, ma.”
“Then, you’re blind!”
“I’m sorry, ma!”
While the younger woman sounded extra polite though deliberately, the older woman was struggling to control her anger.
“You see nothing?” her voice was sufficiently raised now, sounding incredulous.
Efe shook her head.
“You mean you do not honestly see that this thing you’re planning (only God knows how it came about, she muttered under her breath) cannot work? He made first class honours in Agronomy and after his NYSC, went back for his PhD in Marketing – David is a PhD holder, girl and the CEO of his grandfather’s oil mill! Even if you’re a nitwit, it spells clearly that it cannot work!” Her voice was sufficiently raised.
Efe saw she had worked herself up into a fit. She was literally shaking. Her second chin that rose from her neck area to join her jawline, sagging a little on the way to meet her real chin, quivered in what Efe thought was great displeasure. The younger woman’s eyes were round with feigned innocence.
“O, mum… I mean, ma,” she laughed and made herself more comfortable by stretching out her long legs in front of her, “Davy and I do not think of such things. We’ve been dating for about five years now (she saw the older woman flinch). I knew him before he got his degrees. We get along very well even with all his degrees and none of mine. But then, I have plans to further my…”
“Five years?”
The older woman stood up. She had great difficulty in controlling herself now. Her voice was a sob.
“Five years, ma.”
There was complete silence in the room for the space of some minutes. The older woman looked astonished; her visage mirrored torture. Efe suspected that she was no longer with her in the room; her spirit had gone into a realm exclusive to her only. She looked like one who saw a ghost.
Good gracious! The older woman exclaimed wordlessly. Whatever happened to the boy? Why couldn’t he love Amina? Her father has monopoly of the exportation of the Northern groundnut. Why didn’t he love Sokari, the heiress of the Ijaw fish magnet? Why not Suzanne, the great great granddaughter of King Jaja of Opobo? What of Princess Etinosa, the royal princess of Bini Kingdom herself and her own god daughter? And she loves David… and she herself has promised Etinosa’s mother that David will marry the princess! Where is she going to set her face? O, David! What have you done to me? A knife turned in her heart and she cried out.
Efe saw her agony and cried, “Are you alright, ma? Ma, are you alright?”
David’s mother did not hear.
“Are you alright, ma?” Efe asked a second time, coming to the edge of her seat.
The older woman heard. She came to herself and moved visibly shaken towards her chair; her mind still in turmoil. If David pulled this off, she would not know where to set her face.
“David knows a lot of well-born girls, beautiful educated girls; girls with inheritance. What did you do to him?” Her voice was a sob.
Her bitterness rather than deterred Efe, made her determined. She promised Davy – she would not fail him.
“I love David. I…I…I’m very tolerant and…and loyal. It’s mainly because of those qualities, ma,” she said demurely with the tone of a little dimwit.
“Those things are not important,” the older woman said with a trace of ennui in her voice.
“Davy needs them,” Efe said like a simpleton.
David’s mother stared at her. Efe couldn’t read her thoughts. The older woman could not believe what was happening. Efe, a little afraid for her life now nevertheless, felt protected by the fact that David knew she was coming to his house, her own mother knew, the taxi driver that brought her and the security men who let her into the premises of David’s home all knew she was there. David’s mother’s mind on the other hand, streamed these thoughts: Where did David find this girl? Is she brave or senseless? What a strange conversation we’re having; nonsensical? I wonder if this is ordinary, if David isn’t being induced. Has he eaten a love portion?
“By the way, how old are you?” she suddenly asked the girl.
“Twenty-five come September.”
“Too old to still be with your parents, I should say.”
“Davy thinks so, too.”
For the first time since Efe walked through the door into the magnificent house, the older woman’s eyes lit up with pleasure.
“He does?” she asked with hope.
“Yes, he told me so.”
“Then there are younger girls he could marry.”
“Younger girls are not too old to still live with their parents. Davy thinks I’m too old to live with mine; that’s why he proposed to me.”
Efe saw the older woman’s shoulders drop.
“And you said, yes?”
“That’s why I’m here, ma. I love him.”
“That’s not important!” David’s mother exclaimed with an impatient wave of her well-manicured fingers.
“What is?” Efe asked silently, “Money?”
The older woman shivered like one warding off evil. She snapped her fingers, with the sound, ‘Hey!’
“How many men have you dated?” she asked Efe after a long mournful stare into nothing.
Efe refused to be annoyed. She was even amused and for a moment, she thought of giving this malicious old lady what she deserved. She almost said, ‘I cannot remember how many,’ but she said, “I do not date, ma. I’m a Christian. I dated Davy because he offered marriage.”
“And you have been em…em… sleeping with him?”
Efe’s face darkened swiftly. David’s mother’s eyes mirrored pleasure at what she perceived as the younger woman’s embarrassment. Efe lowered her eyes and was still for a long time.
“Actually, mum, ma…” she began hesitantly in a small voice when she found it for she was shy for a long time and seemed to have lost her voice. “I’ve been wondering about Davy (she let her voice drop to a whisper). I wonder if…if… he’s alright. He is, isn’t he?”
David’s mother came to the edge of her seat, her eyes popping.
“What do you mean?” she asked ominously.
“I mean, whether…I…I… he’s potent, isn’t he?” she stuttered. “He’s never touched me. My friends said it’s weird.” Then she looked straight into the older woman’s eyes. They were troubled and for the first time, they shifted – she averted her eyes!
David’s mother was speechless for a long time. Many thoughts streamed through her mind. David as a young boy had problems with mumps and she couldn’t remember whether they told her that improper treatment causes impotence or sterility. The girl couldn’t have known that, could she? David didn’t even know that it was one of his mother’s worries about him. Finally, she pulled herself together and said in what sounded like a stutter, “D…do you really mean what you said?”
“Ask Davy.”
“No,” she said hastily, “we do not discuss such things. But…” She paused and studied Efe. “You love him, don’t you?”
Efe nodded, “I do.”
David’s mother was embarrassed and distressed at the same time and Efe could see, almost confused. Unknown to Efe, the older woman’s mind had wandered off again but this time to some really disturbing events. Since David turned twenty, she had been trying to match him up with girls to no avail. David seemed to be uninterested in girls. All his younger brothers had had girl troubles but not David. Very early in life, David found religion and declared he was born-again. (Efe saw David’s mother nodding as if she understood something.) So, he had been protecting himself from exposure, from embarrassment, from disgrace hiding under the guise of religion!
O, Lord, I really want David to have a society wedding, she mused. She had dreamt of it… David Idahosa weds Princess Etinosa or Dantata’s daughter or the great great granddaughter of King Jaja of Opobo. What a tragedy! How could life be so treacherous? She felt like weeping. The girl can’t be lying. David has never been a ladies’ man. Despite all my efforts, he has always succeeded in discouraging girls from clinging to him, pretending that he’s some sort of saint. Now the truth is out – David is… she couldn’t even bring herself to think the word. David has hidden under the guise of religion all these years. And it is for the best, she mused. All those worldly girls, they wouldn’t think twice before exposing him, declaring to the world that Dr David Idahosa, the first son of Architect High Chief David and Barrister High Chief (Mrs) Idahosa is…. Why didn’t he open up to me? I would have helped. Or perhaps he has been trying on his own. Oh, why does the cookie crumble so irreparably? I had such high hopes for David.
Efe watched her closely, not pitying her. She knew she had overdone it and she prayed silently that it worked. She and Davy had prayed and fasted for this interview. His mother was the hurdle they must skip and prayerfully, too. She saw the older woman’s agony, she waited patiently.
David’s mother returned to the present and appraised the obviously poor girl with no name. She was decently but poorly clad in flowered chiffon brown blouse and light brown khaki skirt. Her hair was short and styled in waves. She had firm erect bust, probably 36 inches. Her waist could be 22 and her hips not more than 34. She would have been okay if she wasn’t so poor and nameless but what would David’s mother do? The cookie had crumbled irreparably. She also hated the girl’s effrontery. But what could she do under the mournful circumstance? Her adversaries would laugh at her.
Something told Efe that she had won even before David’s mother opened her mouth. Under the present circumstance the older woman mused, an unknown girl would be better to deal with. They would hold her down with money. Perhaps, they would go abroad and buy babies. And she would be easy to handle; keep her mouth shut; be bought with the kind of money all her ancestors put together did not touch.
“Well, I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with David,” the older woman said, her voice soft. “You know I raised my children up so strictly.”
Efe nodded in agreement.
“Marriage is total oneness. It is supreme and sacred. It is something you do not share; you do not talk about. Wise women don’t discuss their home with outsiders.”
Efe pinched herself. She managed to keep a straight face. She ought to be an actress, really. All that the snob needed was a scare; fast, she scuttled down her high horse!
“Without tolerance,” David’s mother continued, “the marriage institution would collapse. You did say that you’re tolerant and all that, that’s what is needed in marriage. When I opened that door, I thought you were just another gold-digger but I was wrong. It’s such a relief to know that David chose a Christian girl, though it’s not surprising. I brought my children up so strictly. They are all good Anglicans – know their catechism so very well, even David who seems a little radical a times; he cannot do without reciting the catechism and the Three Promises on his behalf. My dear child, I thank God for your life. Chastity is one thing you cannot purchase. A virtuous girl is a glory to her family. I’ll see David’s father and David about coming to see your people.”
“Thank you, ma!”
“Please, call me mum, after all I’d soon be your mum.”
“Yes, mum!”
Phew! Efe breathed down. What a woman! Her transition from nasty to nice was unbelievable. How that frosty voice changed to soft and warm was better heard than told. This nice warm voice was her public voice, the one she used when her social club went to donate things at the motherless babies’ home or visited those living with /HIVAIDS.
“Let them get you some refreshments,” she said and reached for the bell.
Efe sat back and smiled.
