Coming Home

Chapter 1

Nathaniel crouched down to Vanessa's length, his elbows on his laps. The little girl's eyes were tear-filled. He placed his palm on her cheek.

“Daddy, please don't go.”

“Honey,” said Mabel, “Daddy needs to go get some money for the family, and he needs you to be strong for him, he needs your prayers.”

Nathaniel exhaled.

“Nessa, you know Daddy love you, don't you?”

She nodded, slowly.

“Do you love Daddy too?”

Vanessa looked into his eyes then hugged him.

“Yes, Daddy. I love you more.”

A tear slipped off Nathaniel's eyes, down his cheek. He quickly wiped it off with his palm before Vanessa could unlock from the brace.

Despite the pressing urge to stay, Nathaniel knew he just had to go. He had to go to the city. He had made up his mind and he was going to carry it out as the family's head; for family.

Life in the village was not getting any better. Nowadays, people came back from the city as big people, he just couldn't be exempt. The rate of poverty in the village was on its increase. His decision, he thought, was for the better good. He could not bear to wake up every morning to look into the eyes of his family, without having any form of support.

Nathaniel stood up and gazed at Mabel. The dark, crystal-like eyes could not be compared anywhere. He threw his arms around her waist, grasping the smooth form of her physique. Stealing the moment, Nathaniel exchanged some kisses with her before stopping to kiss her protuberant belly.

Mabel smiled as she felt slight kicks from the fœtus in her stomach.

“Your strong man is kicking again,” she said chuckling, glassy-eyed.

Nathaniel flashed a handsome smile and ran his fingers on her stomach.

“Just like his father,” he said, pride in his voice.

Smiling, Nathaniel raised his eyes to the ceiling as he praised God for his encounter with Julius, two weeks ago.

His childhood friend, Julius, had arrived from the city in a big car, probably the latest of its model. Julius had been awed to see Nathaniel in the present state he was. He told Nathaniel to come over to the city where he could get employed with a satisfactory salary under him. Nathaniel had been joyed beyond words. The good deeds of Julius had not ended there, he had even given Nathaniel a bunch of cash, casually calling it “chicken change”.

With the money, Nathaniel had been able to clear all his debts to the extent of even having extra to fill it with some provisions.

Julius had given him the address of his house in Lagos, and the scheduled day had been allocated.

The day was here. Nathaniel had to do what was right. He threw his backpack over his shoulder and gave his family the last kiss. They waved him goodbye. He strode out to the cockcrow of the morning sky, through the neighborhood of his youth. And although he had walked though this ground over a thousand and one times, this time there was a certain unfamiliarity to it; he felt as though it was his first and last time on the soil. He smiled as he looked down at the new mobile phone in his hand. Julius had gotten one for him and for his wife — it was their first.

At the carpark, ten minutes later, Nathaniel boarded a vehicle heading for Lagos, the big city. He gripped the address in his fist, enthusiastically. Slowly, the bus began to move. It was a dream come true for him. He dropped his phone and the address in his hands into his backpack as the bus turned off into the expressway. He did a quick recount of his money, before resting his back.

That day was a day to reckon with, it was a day that marked a turning point in Nathaniel's life. The car drove further and further away from the village. The most significant thing was that he was moving closer and closer to the city. He threw his head back, closed his eyes and listened to the blissful music from his heart.

THE BEAUTIFUL CITY was finally here, before his very eyes. As the bus advanced, Nathaniel read the postal sign: “Welcome to Lagos State”. His attention was caught by the roadside, fruit vendors; markets; artworks; sculptures of prestigious individuals in the middle of roundabouts; bridges and lagoons, etc.

It is said that first impression matters a lot. That saying had lots of truthfulness to Nathaniel, especially now, his first day in the big city. It was just how he'd anticipated it, even more exciting.

In no time, the vehicle arrived its park and the passengers disembarked.

Nathaniel walked down with his backpack slung over his shoulder. He spread out his arms to the empty space, swallowed in some of this foreign, atmosphere, then exhaled deeply.

It was already evening, he noted, so he'd have to get to Julius' home as fast as possible. However, first things first. . .

He unzipped his bag and reached for his mobile phone. His battery was already running.

“Hello, Love!” he said against the device on his ear.

“Nat, how are you? Are you in Lagos?!” Mabel's voice rung in ecstasy.

“You bet I am, this place is so beautiful!”

“Wow! I can tell from your voice, I'm already missing you, babe!” she said, struggling with Vanessa who was stretching to get the phone.

Nathaniel gasped.

“Me too, Love. How's my strong woman doing?” he asked referring to Vanessa.

Mabel chuckled, while Vanessa's eyes lit up.

“She's here. She's been struggling to get the phone.”

Nathaniel laughed.

“Hello Daddy!” Vanessa's sharp voice screamed.

“Oh, my sweetheart. How are you?”

“I'm fine, Daddy. Where are you?”

“Your daddy is in Lagos—”

“How does it look like there? Is it like we see it on T.V? Are there white people there?!”

“It's beautiful,” he said, turning around to observe his environment. “I've not seen any white person yet.”

“Okay, that's enough,” he could hear Mabel say to Vanessa, snatching the phone.

“Bye, Daddy!” Vanessa screamed from the background.

“Bye, sweetheart!”

He and Mabel discussed a little more before hanging up.

After replacing the phone, Nathaniel pulled out the address and walked out to meet one of the bus conductors at the other end of the park for directions.

* * *

Dusk had evolved in. The air was breezy, while the streets were busy. About being busy, this was an absolute contrast to the village. Back there, by this time, families were preparing for bedtime. However, it was as though the day was just commencing here; petty businesses were crowed with customers, people strolled casually in groups, some walked their dogs, leisurely. . .it was just amazing.

In front of House 13, in the private estate called the “Norways” sat two men in a strong conversation. One was a gatekeeper, while the other, a gardener. The gatekeeper wore on a tight-fitted uniform which also includes the cap on his head and the shoes at his feet. The gardener, on the other hand, was wearing an overall and a pair of snickers. At the moment, they appeared to be gossiping about the cook, Ada. They were speaking in Nigerian pidgin English.

“Kai, you no see as the pood sweet?! That girl sabi cook well-well,” said Kabiru the gatekeeper.

“Ehn!” agreed the gardener, Akpan. “Abasi, na the kind girl me I wan' marry be this o!”

On hearing this, Kabiru retorted, “I no hear-am por wetin you talk. Who you talk-am sey you wan' marry? Sometin' dey worry you por head!”

“Hey-hey-hey! Me I ron like that one o! What is strong with you, can't some-bori speak im heart again?!” thundered Akpan.

Kabiru was about saying something more in his defense when a taxi pulled over before them. They got up and screwed their eyes in order to identify the person — whoever it was — that'd alighted from the taxi. They watched as the figure advanced to them with an excited and tired look across his face.

Nathaniel wiped off the perspiration that had formed on his forehead with the back of his sleeve.

“Good evening, Sirs.”

They replied him back.

“Please, is this the house of Julius Obazee?” he asked, looking over their shoulders.

Akpan began, widening his bulgy eyes, “Wetin you dey find my uka for? E no tell us sey—”

He was quickly interrupted by Kabiru, “Hey-hey! Na me be gate man por here, nobody send you make you hep me por my work, busybody!” Then smiling gap-toothed, he turned to Nathaniel, “Walahi, no vex-am por-am; this one no get-am por sense, na mumu.”

While they were yet tongue-lashing one another, all over again, a white Lexus car pulled into the driveway and horned at the duo.

“E-wooo! Uka don come!” Akpan announced.

Realising this, Kabiru ran inside to open the gate, while Akpan ran to the side of the car, saluting soldier-like at his boss. The man wined down his side glass, asking angrily, “What was going on here, you ignoramuses? Have you lost your minds, what did I tell you about making a scene outside?!”

Akpan began apologising quickly, trying to transfer the blame on Kabiru. The man ignored this, diverting his attention to the younger man that was standing by the gate. He beckoned him over with the gesture of an arm.

Nathaniel's eyes widened when he recognised the face of this man.

In a split-second, he exclaimed, “Julius!”

“Oh my God! Nathaniel, I've been trying to reach your line, but it has not been going through.”

“My phone just shut down, about an hour ago,” Nathaniel explained.

“Please, hop into the car,” Julius said.

Nathaniel did just so. He sat excitedly as Julius drove into the large compound.