Tales of A Single Mum

EpisodeTwo

I sat in Aunty Nwando’s bedroom sipping Lipton tea. A lantern was lit and the kids had gone to bed. Not to be outdone, my aunt had made herself some Bournvita in an enormous white tin cup my siblings and I used to call aboki’s cup as kids. The cup had the pictures of Muritala Mohammed in his uniform and Herbert Macaulay with a dashing bow tie. Aunt Nwando’s cup was filled to the brim and she stirred it expertly with a spoon while blowing air into it. I would have asked if that wasn’t too much liquid just before bedtime but a frowning Muritala stared at me, daring me to say a word.

We were like that in comfortable silence for a while.

“You should consider filing it in Papalanto instead of Lagos,” my aunt said breaking the silence. “They have fewer court cases there and the judge is a no-nonsense person”. She said the last words as if she and the judge were old schoolmates.

“Where is Papalanto Aunty?

“It’s an hour’s drive from here in Ogun State. I will give you a lawyer’s number. His name is Barrister Obruche. Call him and Make appointment. He is a good man. He will work hard on your case.”

“’Thank you Aunty”

“Ehen”

I placed a call to the Lawyer and set up an appointment for the next day. First thing the next morning I was at his law office. Barrister Obruche greeted me very warmly. He was a tall gangly man with a balding head. He listened intently to my story without interrupting and when I was done talking, he went straight to the point.

“Your aunty is right about filing in Papalanto. They will get to your case quicker so the divorce can be concluded in time.” I nodded in understanding.

“Do you want anything out of this? Are there any assets you would want divided?”

I thought for a minute about all I had left behind when I ran for my life and shook my head slowly.

“I want full custody of my two children. That’s all I’m asking for”’

‘’Alright. In the instance that this divorce is not contested, the case should be open and shut and the ruling shouldn’t take time.”.

“Do you have a car?”

‘’No Sir”

“Okay, you can meet me here in the morning and we’ll ride together for your first day in court.” With that he stood up and extended his hand to me indicating that my time with him was over. I shook his hand firmly, smiled and left.

The next morning, my parents called from Enugu to give me their love and a pep talk.

“I hope you’re wearing something appropriate,” My dad said.

“Yes daddy all black for mourning. I couldn’t find any sackcloth or ashes”, I teased. I was wearing a red knee-length gown that was synched at the waist and black “court shoes

“Hmm you’re making jokes. Don’t go and start laughing inside there. You know you laugh too much” “They will think you are happy.” I couldn’t help but laugh at this to which he then said “Have you seen what I’m saying?”

“I hope you’ve taken some spoons of your anointing oil” This was from my mom.

“Yes ma” I answered. There was no need to argue that I wasn’t going for spiritual warfare.

I didn’t know what to expect on getting to Papalanto. I had never been in a courthouse before. I kept looking around as we drove into the parking lot. The place was bustling with activity.

We got down from the car and I looked around, there were people everywhere. Lawyers rushed in and out of the building while others stood in the parking lot with groups of people they were representing. There were villagers everywhere in colourful attires. Some were arguing while others talked softly.

A “Black Maria” arrived carrying two men. They were shackled to each other at their hands and feet and had no shoes on. They had been badly beaten and had bruises all over. A policeman escorted them into the courthouse. Just before they got to the door one of the men looked at me. His right eye had been bruised shut. Despite his condition, he smiled and winked at me with his good eye. For some reason the sight of this scary man winking at me in his condition increased my tension. I wondered what crime they had committed and if the shackles were tight.

“Margaret, are you ready?” said my lawyer, who had been watching me with amusement.

“Yes I am” I said, holding my breath and letting it go slowly. I felt like holding Barrister Obruche’s hand as we walked in but I didn’t think he would take kindly to it so I kept my hands at my sides and stayed behind him.

He pointed at one of the benches and I sat down next to an elderly lady. I looked up at the judge. He seemed like a no-nonsense man. Twenty minutes later I heard my name. “Is Margaret Onoh Here?” I got up slowly from the bench and answered “Present your honor’’.

My voice sounded to me like it was very far away….

Namaste. Mm