Beyond Forcados High

CHAPTER 3:HOME

“Welcome back to Nigeria, Ms. Coker.”

James, the family driver, said it with a wide smile as Efua stepped out of the airport.

“Oh my God, James! I’ve missed you so much. How have you been?” Efua said, eyes widening at the sight of him.

She could not believe he was still here. She had thought her mother would have fired him years ago. James was like an uncle to her, and they had gotten along well back in the day. He looked older now. Wrinkles were slowly creeping across his dark face.

“How is Mummy, David?” she asked, dropping her large suitcase and pulling him into a hug.

“She is fine and well, my dear!” he said, releasing her and loading her suitcases into the jeep.

They exchanged pleasantries all the way to the car. James updated her on everything she had missed. Apparently, he now had a two-year-old daughter. He also told her that Mum and that shameless stepfather of hers were planning to renew their wedding vows. Efua wondered what her mother had ever seen in him. To this day, her mother still refuses to believe that he had sexually assaulted Efua under her nose. She thought Efua was an evil child who was hell-bent on destroying her marriage. Efua knew it was a lie. Her mother’s love for mundane things surpassed a man’s dependence on oxygen. Well, the old Efua, who was helpless and hurt, was gone. If that man thought he was going to try anything funny with her again, he did not know what was coming. Efua nodded along to a catchy song playing in the car.

“James, who sang this song?” she asked shyly.

“You don’t know this song?” he asked, looking surprised.

“Oh yeah, you dey yanki... but even for yanki, dem no dey play small Naija music for there?” he said, hitting her with Pidgin. She shook her head and winced a little.

“They do,” she said.

“You’re just antisocial. It’s Olamide — Oya Dab.”

He crossed both arms over his face and turned away from her, mimicking the dance. Efua burst out laughing.

“Hmm... don’t try me, oh. I still have my skills.”

“Abeg, we dey road, oh. Focus!” she said, adding a little British flavor to her Pidgin, and he laughed hard.

“You try, sha,” he said, raising his eyebrows and pushing out his lower lip.

Efua rolled her eyes. She had missed James so much. He was the only one who cheered her up when there was mayhem at home. He had practically helped raise her when her Mum paid her no attention. He used to crack jokes for her on the way to elementary school. Her eyes widened, and her mouth fell open when she saw the huge billboard along the road. Was that Caro?

Caro was in a Dettol commercial wearing nothing but a white towel. Wow. How time flies. Efua had never known what that girl wanted to study. Caro had just been a shallow girl who bossed people around and gossiped a lot. At least she was not selling akara on the road. Efua brushed the thought away and breathed in the familiar Nigerian air, scanning the roads she once knew by heart. They soon arrived at the house. The gate was opened by a stout, dark man in shorts and a sleeveless vest. He jogged over after closing the gate and greeted them warmly in an accent Efua recognized from one of the Nigerian tribes. She could not place it yet.

“This is Akpan, our Calabar boy!” James said, chuckling.

“Akpan... how are you, darling?” Efua said, beaming.

“Very fine, Ma!” he replied, blushing lightly and scratching the back of his head. Efua smiled and headed inside while James unloaded the jeep. As she entered the house, she was greeted by the scent of dried fish pepper soup. At least her mother could do that well. Putting on her best fake smile, Efua ran to the kitchen and found the round woman in a beautifully styled Ankara gown.

“Mum!!”“Oh, my baby, my baby!!” her mother said, opening her arms wide, a knife still in her right hand. Efua ran into her embrace and rested her head on her shoulder. Her mother released her and twirled her around, commenting on how much she had grown and how beautiful she had become. Efua rolled her eyes at how cheesy it was, then took the knife and started chopping onions on the board.

“Don’t worry, dear. I’m treating you special today,” her mother said.

“Just go freshen up and come down. Dinner will be ready soon.”

“Alright,” Efua said, sighing. She was tired, and a cold bath sounded perfect. She smiled and headed for the stairs.

“Umm... what about... step... your husband?” She paused.

“Efua... He is your stepfather,” her mother said with a sigh.

“No, he is not. He is a sick, pedophilic bastard,” Efua snapped back immediately.“Don’t talk to me like that, and stop saying such things about him. You will give him the respect he deserves,” her mother said skeptically.

Efua just rolled her eyes dramatically and hissed, stomping upstairs.

“Eh? What are children of nowadays turning into?” she faintly heard her mother say. Efua was back, and she was ready for this woman. God knew she had enough. Her room was exactly the same, just smaller. It brought back memories — both good and bad, scary ones. She reminisced for a bit, then began unpacking until everything was set and neat. After that, she decided to go for a swim. She slipped into an orange bikini, tied a scarf over the bottom, grabbed her shades and a magazine, and headed for the pool. After a long dip, she got out and lay on a pool chair, letting the cool breeze dry her skin while the sun hit her face. She plugged in her headphones and blasted Sia’s Unstoppable while reading. She tuned the world out. She was jolted back when a strong hand tapped her from behind. She yanked off her headphones and spun around.

“Hey, sis!” the person said excitedly.

“Wow, Alade? It’s been ages. How are you?” Efua said, eyes wide.

“Good, good. And you?” he replied in a slight British accent, extending his hand.

She shook it immediately.

Wow, she had forgotten Alade existed. He was her stepfather’s son. He had bullied her a lot as a kid before traveling abroad. She hoped he had changed.

“Well, same old me. But I’ve been fine,” she said. The handshake lasted too long. Was he checking her out? His eyes drifted over her body.

She withdrew her hand and smiled.

“Wow, I mean, you look great. Even better than before,” he said, scratching the back of his head and blushing.

“Oh, stop. You’re making me blush,” she said, feigning shyness.

“You’re the one who looks good.”

And she wasn’t lying. He looked really good. Muscular, fair, pink lips, and a neat afro.

They chatted a bit, then went in for dinner. As Efua helped Mum set the table, the low hum of an engine rolled through the quiet compound. The sound grew closer, tires crunching on gravel, until it stopped right at the front.

A pause. Then the heavy front door creaked open.

Cold air seemed to follow it inside.

Her worst nightmare had walked in. Her stepfather.

For a man in his early sixties, he looked like he worked out. Tall, dark, and well-built, though a slight pot belly strained against his white native. He wore black shoes.

“Welcome, dear!” Mum sang.“Thanks, darling… and who do we have here?” he said, eyes landing on Efua.

Efua kept arranging the china, pretending he was not there.

“Efua? My daughter? Is this really you?” he said, sounding surprised.

She shot him daggers and walked into the kitchen.

“Efua? He was talking to you,” Mum said.

“I know,” Efua said, scowling.“It’s okay, dear. You know these American values. They forget who their elders are,” he said with a mocking expression. Efua rolled her eyes and smirked, setting down salad bowls while silence filled the room.

“Well, honey, why don’t you go up and freshen up, then come down for dinner,” Mum said, pecking him on the cheek.

He nodded and went upstairs. Not before glaring at Efua. She just smiled and went back to the kitchen.

“Efua, I know you’ve had misunderstandings with him, but he—”“Oh, Mother, please. I’m the evil child who’s hell-bent on destroying your beautiful marriage. That’s it,” Efua cut in, quoting one of her mother’s favorite insults. Her mother looked hurt, clutched her chest, then dropped her hand to her waist and hardened her face.

“That does not give you the audacity to accuse him of sexually abusing you and attacking him with a knife, almost—”

“You know what? I’m very hungry, Mum. So if you could just leave me alone, go call your husband and his son, and let me eat and go to bed, I’d appreciate it,” Efua said, exhausted, before plopping into a seat. Her mother shook her head and went to the kitchen.

Later that afternoon, Efua sat under the small thatched shed, reading and sipping iced tea. Soft footsteps came up behind her on the gravel. Before she could turn, warm hands covered her eyes and a familiar perfume hit her nose.

“Guess who?” the feminine voice whispered.

“I’m not good at guessing, so spill it, or I’ll shove you off!” Efua said seriously.

“Kai, babe, you sef sari vex,” the stranger huffed.

“SUPRISE!” the voice yelled, letting go. Efua spun around. A pair of brown eyes stared back at her.

“AMAKA! Is this you?”

“No, it’s P-Square,” Amaka said sarcastically, and Efua laughed, standing to hug her. Amaka had been one of her best friends at St. Catherine’s. They did charity work together. Amaka was also her stepfather’s niece. Unlucky for her.

“Oh, Amaka, darling, I missed you so much. Ah, Amaka, only you carry this one?” Efua said, eyeing her friend’s big butt and laughing.

“So what have you been up to these past few years?”

“You’re looking at one of the best attorneys in town, baby,” Amaka said, flipping her hair.

“No way!”

“Believe it or not, baby girl.” They had once pledged to help people with their professions. Efua in health, Amaka in law.

“PACKAGED FOR THE PEOPLE!!” they both yelled, giving each other a high five. That had been their slogan.

“So, I heard Uncle and your mum are renewing their vows this Sunday.”

Efua frowned. “Renewing? Wait, they’re doing that?”

“Yeah" Amaka said as if it wasn't news.

"You’re coming, right? because I was planning to go out that day,” Efua said, uninterested.

“Yeah, I am. And stop with this antisocial behavior. You should stay, meet cute guys, and—”

“Ugh,” Efua said, rolling her eyes.

“I’m sure you’re not even dating right now.”Efua blinked and scowled.

“And how are you so sure?”

“Do you really want me to go there, Efua Coker?” Amaka squinted. Efua sighed.

“Honestly, Amaka, I think I’ll just remain celibate forever.”Amaka snorted and shook her head.

“Don’t worry, honey. You’ll find your Mr. Right soon enough. And speaking of Mr. Right, have you seen my baby boo!!!” she said, clapping and laughing.

“Wow, really? Spill the details.”

“Oh no. I’m not telling. Wait and see, baby doll.”

“Alright, I will. I bet he’s one hell of a guy.”