FLAMING HEART

FOUR - HOUSEMATES

First time in history she was leaving her village so she waved when she saw the little sign board planted by some village youths which reads: Goodbye Amopa. Tears formed in her eyes and she took a glance at Uloma who looked so unconcerned and not bothered. She was instead rampaging through the glove compartment. She finally brought out a disk and flipped it into the stereo player.

Loud ultrasonic music blasted making Obioma shudder. She looked at Uloma in surprise, however, Uloma's eyes were fixed squarely on the road whilst nodding her head and singing along.

Suddenly, the opened windows whined up and cool breeze filled the car. Obioma shivered; wondering what magic was happening. She looked at Uloma again but the girl was totally less concerned to what was occurring; bopping her head to the music.

Obioma gazed out instead; looking at the surroundings outside her village. All she saw were bushes and hills; nothing interesting unlike what she had pictured. Disappointed, she sank into her chair and shut her eyes.

She was awaken by the sudden halt of the car.

"Are we in Lagos already?" She asked looking around her.

"Not yet."

"So why are we stopping?"

"We have to eat or don't you want to eat?"

Just then Obioma's tummy made some funny noise remembering her that she hadn't tasted anything that morning. She got down from the car and followed Uloma into an inbuilt restaurant in a petrol station. Other public transport vehicles were parked at different angles and many traders; selling goods ranging from bananas to groundnut to some other fruits and fast food.

After their meals, Uloma asked to sit on a vacant bench in front of a bus for a while.

"I thought we'd be heading to Lagos since we're done with our meal." Obioma asked as they sat down.

"I have to rest. I've been the one driving since unlike you who have been sleeping." Uloma replied blowing air at her fingers.

Obioma frowned as she noticed a note of sarcasm in her voice. She decided to change the topic to something else.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Would you not still ask if I said no?"

"I wouldn't ask." Obioma replied.

Uloma stared at her, "But you didn't ask for my permission before you 'asked' me to take you to the village?"

Obioma pursed her lips, "Well . . ."

"So stop acting all goody goody and ask the damn question."

Obioma looked away and sighed. Uloma always had to be rude like it was her legacy. It felt like she was waiting for an action to be done so she could pounce on her victim with her murderous tongue.

"Never mind." Obioma blurted out.

"Fine!" Uloma replied; getting up and walking to a banana seller. Obioma tagged along; looking sideways to watch other travellers troop out of their vehicles.

Many of them went to ease themselves in the public toilet offered by the restaurant while some walked to buy something to eat.

Uloma took the plastic bag from the trader and began to head to the shade of a Hausa man whose front was occupied with spicy red meat. She bought some from him in two separate packs and handed one pack to Obioma who accepted it readily.

"We're going now." She announced as she walked to her car and got in. She started the engine and they continued their journey to the city.

Obioma savoured the delicious meat to the extent she nearly bit her lips. She had never tasted a me so sweet like the one she was eating. She fell asleep after eating only to see a street so rowdy- people looked like soldier ants- when she woke up. She rubbed her eyes to wipe out any form of sleep.

"Are we in the city already?" She asked Uloma whose eyes were fixed on the road and Uloma nodded.

Obioma squealed happily as she watched vehicles speed past and people walk hurriedly. She had often heard about the people in the city. They had always been described as angry people. She smiled inwardly as she gazed at the tall buildings painted with glittering colours coupled with windows as numerous as sand. These were just the buildings she was in her English primary reader.

She adjusted in her seat trying to pry the stupid belt that had held her still for so long away. She sighed in frustration; straining her neck to read the inscription on the buildings.

"Ike. . .Ja. . . city. . . mall. . . Dia. . .mond bank." She would have loved to ask what a mall was but she was scared Uloma would insult her.

"People go to the mall for shopping." Uloma popped in suddenly like she had read her thoughts. Obioma looked at her in gratitude.

"Oh! So basically it's like a market."

"You can say that but a modernized one. It's more comfortable to shop in the mall than the rowdy market." Uloma explained honking at a man who attempted to cross the road carelessly.

"That's what you see in the city. People looking for a scape goat to share in their own problem." Uloma groused.

"Why are there so many banks and why are they congested in a single place?" Obioma asked.

"Well! I can't really answer that question but I think it's okay that way."

Obioma nodded. After all, there were no banks in Amopa. The elders had discussed about building a bank but like the secondary school, nothing happened. People saved their money in their houses or in the ground. Her mum, hid hers in her wrappers.

Just then, a car stopped in front of them and Uloma did the same. The cars at the back stopped also. Was anything happening in front? Obioma wondered.

"What is happening? Why are all the cars stopping?"

"We're in a traffic jam. There are lots of vehicles on the road because land transportation is the only means of transportation that an average man can afford. Each day, many people go to various places and the road is often crowded with vehicles." Uloma explained.

Obioma was surprised with this new Uloma who was clarifying things to her. Nevertheless, she liked this new Uloma better.

"So when will this traffic jam be over?"

"Soon, I pray." Uloma replied.

Just then, people began running with trays on their heads; showcasing different goods. Some carried their on their palms as they ran from one car to another. Some even had the guts to push their products inside cars and under the nostril of the drivers. Obioma was enamored by this act. One of the hawkers was even winking at her; waving his plantain chips and smiling. For the first time ever since she had been in the car, Obioma was grateful that the windows were shut.

"Why are these people selling on the road?" She asked Uloma who was now eating the spicy meat she had bought earlier.

"Well, I think the basic reason for this is their inability to afford a shop." Uloma answered; her mouth filled with meat and spice.

"But it's dangerous. Look at that girl, she wants to fall down." Obioma pointed to one of the hawkers who was now running helter skelter after a bus which was speeding ahead at the other lane of the road.

"Yes, it is." Uloma sighed.

Fortunately for them, the cars began to move and they continued their journey. There was a man dressed in uniform, waving his hands at them.

"That's the officer controlling the traffic." Uloma informed.

Obioma nodded at this as she continued her examination of the streets of the city. There were no huge trees; all she could see were tall buildings of companies; a statue of a man stood by the road.

"That's the statue of Gani Fawe. He was a lawyer."

"He must be a remarkable one to be statued."

"Yes. He is. He was called the lawyer of the people. He was a human rights activist; he was so helpful to students."

"What a man!" Obioma exclaimed and Uloma nodded in affirmation.

"Are we close to your house?" Obioma asked after a while.

"Almost."

"Who owns all these bananas and breads?"

"You ask a lot of question. Since we left the village, it has been like I was in who wants to be a millionaire? Questions upon questions." Uloma snapped suddenly to Obioma's surprise. She had been carried away with the good Uloma to forget the real one.

"I wouldn't ask if I knew the answers."

Uloma sighed "All these are for my house mates."

"House mates?" Obioma nearly choked. "You didn't inform me about having house mates."

"Do I need to inform you?" Uloma asked smugly.

Obioma shook her head. Never in helpful wildest dream had she expected to live with any one other than Uloma. Who are these house mates and what are their personalities?

"Following your words 'house mates', they are more than one."

"Yup!"

"Why?"

"I couldn't live alone in that mighty house so I rented some rooms out. I hope to rent the rest sooner or later."

"Are these house mates females or are there males?"

"Do you have a problem with that?" Uloma smirked. When Obioma didn't respond, she began singing along with the music blaring out of the stereo player.

They stopped at a gigantic gate with tall walls besieging the house like a shield. Uloma blared her horn and the gate pulled opened after a few minutes. Two young ladies appeared by the side of the gate; they were like two contrasting magnets. One was tall, dark and very skinny - her shorts and singlet not helping issues as they assisted in exposing more of her skinniness. Her face was palmed with makeup and her hair was plaited in a style so heavy; it reminded Obioma of the old woman she had seen the day before carrying a heavy load down the road.

The other lady was of moderate height; fair in complexion but plain. She was chubby and her simple hairstyle - cornrows - made her look more plain. In spite of this, she had hips so prominent that they looked like sickles that would tear her soft yellow fabric. The dress clung to her like a second skin; hugging her hips and revealing her curves. Obioma could see the black spot on her nose and her diastema when she smiled. It felt like sunshine; her smiles were comforting in some way Obioma couldn't pin point.

★ ★ ★

Mmm, I'm speechless.