THE GREAT MISTAKE

THE GREAT MISTAKE ACT ONE SCENE ONE.. (The scene opens at the Aro residence. It is a modest one-bedroom apartment with a sitting room. A worn-out curtain separates the sitting room from the bedroom. Kemi has just returned from the market, where she sells groceries. She sits down and begins counting the day’s earnings. After counting the money, she quickly wraps it in her wrapper. At that moment, her husband, Tobi, enters the house.) TOBI: Hello! Good afternoon. (He looks around.) Kemi! Are you home? Kemi! KEMI: Oh, my husband! Welcome home. How was your day? TOBI: It was very stressful. Please, serve me my food. I told you to prepare beans for dinner. I hope it’s ready. KEMI: Yes, it is. (She goes into the kitchen and returns carrying a covered plate and a cup of water. She places them on the table in front of him.) My darling husband, here is your food. TOBI: (Smiling.) Thank you, my dear wife. God bless you. (He lifts the cover, expecting to see beans, but finds only a sachet of water on the plate. His smile disappears instantly.) What is this? Kemi: Food. Yes, it is food. TOBI: Food? And what am I supposed to do with this? KEMI: (Pretending to be serious.) My dear husband, you’re supposed to eat it. (She hisses.) Eat it like a hungry dog. TOBI: (He stands up angrily.) Kemi! You served me only a sachet of water and covered it as though it were the beans I asked you to cook! KEMI: Yes… Why wouldn’t I serve you a sachet of water? Did you leave me any money to buy food? Is this how a responsible man provides for his family? Yet you expect me to cook and satisfy your needs. Nonsense! (She yells and hisses.) TOBI: What?! How dare you treat me like this? The fact that I’ve lost my job doesn’t mean I’m useless. Haven’t I always fulfilled my responsibilities as a husband and father before I became unemployed? KEMI: That was in the past. What can you offer now? You have nothing to contribute to this family except eating and sleeping every day. (She hisses.) TOBI: Kemi, you know I’ve been going from one company to another, submitting job applications, but none of them has called me back. Honestly, I’m not happy about what we’re going through. KEMI: I’m tired, Tobi. I can’t continue carrying this family alone. Every day I go to the market from morning till evening just to make enough money for food, while you come home with nothing. Do you know how frustrating that is? TOBI: (Pauses and sighs deeply.) I understand how you feel, Kemi. Believe me, this isn’t easy for me either. Every day I pray and hope that one of those companies will call me. Please, don’t lose hope. By God’s grace, things will soon get better. KEMI: Stop right there! I don’t have time for your empty promises anymore. God will not come down from heaven to hand you a job. Everything you say irritates me. I’m tired of suffering. As a matter of fact, I don’t think I can continue with this marriage. I cannot come and die. (At that moment, AUNTY SIMI enters the sitting room with little AJIKE, who helps her carry a small travelling bag. She immediately notices the tension in the house.) AUNTY SIMI: Peace be unto this home. (Looking from Kemi to Tobi.) Ah! What is happening here? Kemi, why are you so upset? And Tobi, why are you both shouting at each other? TOBI: (Surprised to see her.) You’re welcome, my in-law. KEMI: Good afternoon, Aunty. (She barely looks at her before turning back to Tobi.) You jobless old fool! I’m done with this marriage. I’m leaving you. (Aunty Simi opens her palms in confusion, while Ajike stands quietly beside her, frightened and unable to speak.) AUNTY SIMI:Leaving? Kemi, what are you talking about? Why would you leave your husband? TOBI: (Pointing a finger at Kemi.) Watch your mouth! You can’t speak to me like that. KEMI: And if I do, what exactly will you do? TOBI: Don’t push me too far. KEMI: Oh, please! Stop pretending to be strong when you can’t even provide for your family. You’re nothing but a coward… an ordinary man with nothing to offer. TOBI: (Takes a deep breath to control his anger.) Kemi, I know you’re angry, but you don’t mean everything you’re saying. AUNTY SIMI: Enough! Both of you should stop this quarrel immediately. TOBI: My in-law, ever since I lost my job, your sister has made life unbearable for me. I’ve been searching everywhere for another job, but nothing has worked out yet. Instead of encouraging me, she keeps insulting and humiliating me every single day. AUNTY SIMI: (Turning to Kemi.) Kemi, please calm down. This isn’t the way to solve your problems. Every family faces difficult times. Don’t let hardship destroy your marriage. KEMI: (Angrily.) Did you just realize how stubborn I can be? I’ve always been this way—even before I married him. I’ve made up my mind. I’m leaving him and his miserable life behind. TOBI: Kemi… you’re not thinking clearly. AUNTY SIMI: Kemi, think about your six years old daughter Ajike. She needs both her mother and her father. Today may be difficult, but tomorrow can be different. Support your husband, please. This difficult season will not last forever. Every family faces challenges at one time or another. Don’t destroy your home because of temporary hardship. KEMI: (Frustrated.) Aunty, I cannot wait forever. This wretched man will never escape poverty. I’ve opened my eyes, and I know what I deserve. I can no longer live with a jobless man. I’m tired of struggling every single day while he keeps telling me to have faith. AUNTY SIMI: Kemi, don’t say that. No one knows what tomorrow holds. The same man you call poor today may become successful tomorrow. A good wife stands by her husband in both good times and bad. KEMI: Enough! I’ve made my decision. No one can change my mind. (She forcefully removes Aunty Simi’s hand from hers and walks into the bedroom.) TOBI: (In a low voice.) Kemi… please don’t do this. We can still work things out. KEMI: (From inside the bedroom.) It’s too late! I’m done with this marriage! (She begins throwing her clothes into a travelling bag. Tobi stands helplessly, unable to stop her. Aunty Simi shakes her head sadly, while little Ajike watches her mother with tears forming in her eyes.) AJIKE: (Softly.) Mummy… are you really leaving us? (Kemi pauses for a brief moment but says nothing. She continues packing.) AUNTY SIMI: Be strong, Tobi. Sometimes, those who walk away only realize the value of what they left behind when it is too late. (The curtain falls.) THE GREAT MISTAKE ACT ONE SCENE TWO (A few months have passed since Kemi left her husband. The house is quiet and poorly furnished. Tobi sits on a chair, looking weak and worried. Ajike, now older and more mature, enters with a small bowl of food.) AJIKE: Daddy, please eat something. You haven’t eaten since morning. TOBI: (Forcing a smile.) Thank you, my daughter. I’m not really hungry. AJIKE: Daddy, if you don’t eat, how will you get well? TOBI: Don’t worry about me. God will see us through. AJIKE: Daddy… I tried calling Aunty Simi today, but her number is no longer reachable. TOBI: Thank you for trying, my daughter. Maybe we’ll hear from her another time. AJIKE: Daddy… the school management announced that next Monday is the final deadline for paying my school fees. If I don’t pay, they won’t allow me to write my examination. TOBI: (Looks down sadly.) My dear daughter… I’ll do everything I can. By God’s grace, I’ll find the money. AJIKE: Daddy, don’t stress yourself. God will make a way. TOBI: (Smiles faintly.) You’re a good girl, Ajike. I’m proud to be your father. AJIKE: And I’m proud to be your daughter. (They hug each other. Tobi begins coughing repeatedly. Ajike quickly supports him and gives him water.) AJIKE: Daddy! Are you alright? TOBI: It’s just a little cough. I’ll be fine. (He tries to smile, but he suddenly feels dizzy and sits down again.) AJIKE: Daddy… I think we should go to the hospital. (Tobi suddenly places his hand on his chest and breathes heavily. Ajike rushes to support him.) AJIKE: Daddy… you’re getting worse every day. TOBI: I’ll be alright… God is still in control (Ajike lowers her head sadly.) LIGHTS FADE.