Weeks after Philip's visit to Ame's place, the Obasogies were in their family living room, having a family time out, watching a movie and cracking general jokes of related past incidents.
Ame sat on the sofa near her parents' two-seater 'love seat' as it was fondly called by Segun, their elderly cousin from their father's side, who was currently absent. Osahon, her athletic teenage brother, who was in his second year at a federal university, studying architecture, sat to her left, fiddling with the controls of the television remote.
Osaro was telling his own version of a particularly funny incident in which Ame was a principal actor and all the family had burst into laughter.
"Not fair, dad!" Ame protested amid the laughter. "Why don't we get to hear of Segun or even Osahon's silly escapades?! And I'm supposed to be your princess!" she said as she laughed.
"Eei! I thank God I was not a princess that cried because I wasn't given a cup of beer from a commercial!" Osahon quipped, laughing.
"Don't let me start with your own o, prince royal," his mother had teased and they all roared out in laughter. The movie faded into the shadow as the Obasogies had the time of their lives.
"Mom! Let coz Segun return and tell us your own..." Osahon retaliated and his sister took it up for him.
"...how you fed dad strong rice on your first Christmas together!" Ame finished and they all burst out laughing.
Rosa hit her husband playfully on his side and flung one of the throw pillows at her children. "You snitch! None of the children were born then!" She laughed as her husband grabbed her head playfully. It was a happy time for them.
The shrill ringing of the table phone near Osahon brought an end to the joyful family time as they all quietened down as Osahon, who was nearest to the phone, picked it up. He spoke into it briefly then heaved a sigh of relief as he passed it to his sister, mouthing 'Dapo' as the receiver passed from him to his sister.
"Hello," Ame spoke into the mouthpiece. "Oh, yes," she answered the caller. "Everyone is great," she laughed as she looked at her family. Osahon made a face at her and she playfully hit him. "Oh...er, that's not going to be possible, I'm sorry...there's an engagement lined up for me then...okay, let's see how it goes...thanks...warm regards to yours too...bye." She ended the call on her own side and handed the receiver back to her brother who placed it carefully back on its cradle. His attention was now fully back to the movie.
Ame appeared flustered as she settled back on her seat.
"Was that Dapo?" Rosa asked her daughter, drawing a raised eyebrow from her husband beside her.
"Yes," Ame answered curtly, not wanting to be drawn into any further discussion.
"What did he say?" Even Osahon was surprised at his mother's question. He turned slightly towards her and frowned but Rosa ignored him, as she gave her full attention to her daughter, who was already pouting in her seat.
Ame looked at her mother defiantly and replied with controlled calmness, "He asked me to accompany him to a gala night."
Rosa frowned deeply as she hissed. "And of course, you turned him down! Turned him down," she repeated emphatically, turning angrily at her husband. "You are the cause of this, Osaro!" she accused him, then turned back to her daughter, furiously wagging a finger at her. "You will do well to start nurturing your relationship with Dapo Adejare! You must be joking if you think you have a future with the nonentity you brought home the other day!"
"Mom!" Osahon had cried incredulously at the same time as his father had shouted, 'Rosa!'
"Stay out of this, you!" Rosa told Osahon angrily. She was indignant at her son. Trust him to be ever supportive of his sister, even in her indiscretions! Ame's eyes welled up in tears as she fought hard to get a hold on herself. Mrs Obasogie raved on. "And since when did an Obasogie's daughter become a mere whim in the very hands of nobodies?!"
"He's not a NOBODY!" Ame screamed at her mother, daring to defy her this time around. "I'm an adult, mom, AN ADULT! And, like I have told you severally, I am not interested in Dapo Adejare! You can't choose for me ANYMORE!" Ame covered her face with her palms but the tears coursed down her face freely.
Osahon put his hands protectively around his sister, consoling her. His father gave a perfunctory cough, thus putting an end to any further squabbling. Rosa looked on angrily, her lips pursed in annoyance. Ame wept softly while her brother patted her back gently. The atmosphere was generally tense.
"Osahon, please switch off the TV and then escort your sister to her room," Osaro instructed his son grimly. Osahon obeyed his father and led his whimpering sister to her room.
Osaro broke the uncomfortable silence that trailed their children's exit. It was in times like this that his values clashed with that of his wife's and he knew that absolute care was needed to pass his message across to her. Rosa could be obstinate at times. "Rosa! Be a mother, not a match maker!" he rebuked her gently.
"Easy for you to say that, Osaro! You are the one leading her on! Imagine approving of that boy she brought home the other day! A penniless and nameless nobody! How can you approve of such?" She drew daggers at her husband.
Osaro drew his wife closer to him. "Rosa!" he chided softly, smiling at her sadly. "Philip is a good man. He may be a 'nobody', to quote your own words, today, but he has very good prospects. Remember that he already has a first class degree in Microbiology from one of the best universities in the country. And, he has the fear of God, plus, he loves our daughter deeply." He lifted her face to his own. "What more could a father ask of a son-in-law?" he asked his wife quietly.
Rosa snatched her face away from her husband's hold, still angry. "He's no son-in-law of mine! I don't approve of him!" she protested.
Osaro smiled sadly again and drew his wife into his embrace once more. "What specifically don't you like about him?" he queried gently as he probed her further.
"He...he ogled at the food, and he...he...was starring at the house," Rosa fumbled, the fight in her dampening. Her husband laughed softly and rubbed her back fondly.
"Rosa, my darling! Remember that the day Philip came was when I returned from Brazil, and you had specially prepared that meal to welcome me? I guess your daughter wanted him to have a feel of what good cooking is all about! Rosa," he paused as he lifted her face up to his again. "He merely praised your mastery in the art, my dear. He never ogled. As for the house," he swept his arm across the large but comfortable room they were in as he continued. "Anyone with a great taste for beauty can not help admiring our home. The structure is out of the ordinary!" he said proudly as he brought his forehead down on hers, smiling into her eyes.Rosa did not return her husband's smile. She still sported a frown as she argued further. "I know he's one of those people who take advantage of unsuspecting ladies. He has Ame wrapped around his finger! You should have seen how she ran to welcome him the day he was here! She behaved rather shamelessly, I'd say!" she complained fur
Dapo sat beside his mother on the bed, his expression suddenly serious. "Ame? Mother, she is not my type of woman."Abiola folded her arms across her breasts and looked at her son in a strange way, with her eyebrows raised. "And, who is your type of woman, my son?! Those free women you go about with?! They are simply for the fun of it, if you want to hear the bitter truth! Ladies like Ame are well bred and would add prestige to you!" Abiola told her son in a firm voice.Dapo bent his head and shook it slowly. "Ame is not interested in me either, mother," he explained to her. "She always acts elusive too," he complained. He was startled by his mother's laughter.Abiola tapped her son's shoulder when her laughter subsided. "There is your perfect example of a well-bred lady, my son! The easy going ones are the cheap ones. You have to dig deep to find diamonds, son; you don't find them strewn on the streets or at every
Nwakaego Kaodiliye, popularly called 'Ego' for short, was a fun-loving, strong-willed and hardworking lady. She was the only child of her parents still living at home with them. She was light-skinned, of average height and 'fleshy'. She liked to change her hairstyle often because she always wanted 'a new look every time'! She was Ame's best friend and was in a relationship with Jide Alatise a six-footer who was a dedicated banker.Now until he met Ego, Jide had been a seriously boring individual, lost only in the doldrums of his career as a banker. But all that changed when fate thrust Ego into his life 'by design' as Ego would always describe, for they had met at a fundraising event, where Ego was one of the speakers and Jide had gone there to represent his bank.Jide thought the world of Ego and the feeling was mutual. Jide began to see the world anew through Ego's eyes and he liked what he saw. He vowed to have Ego for keeps. He eag
The gate of her house was opened abruptly and an armed guard came out, no doubt to investigate what the noise was all about but Philip waved him back inside. The fellow gave a smart salute and nodded, then went back inside.Oh, Philip's pride has ruined everything! Her father had pulled heavy strings to see him get a better-paid employment and had even offered to send him overseas where he could pursue his dream of becoming a neurosurgeon, at no expense, and had also offered them a house, when they got married, 'in any part of the world' that Philip desired but an egocentric Philip had TURNED IT ALL DOWN! Claiming he was 'fighting for our future'! when Ame had dared to challenge him! He had persisted in pursuing his God-forsaken scholarship, AND now that he had it, their young relationship would be the sacrificial lamb on the altar of his proof of self-worth! "Oh, Phil, you just ruined everything!" she wailed amidst her sobs.Philip ju
Jide watched as Ego cleared the remaining shrimp on her plate and then washed it down with her drink. He enjoyed watching her eat. And he was thankful that he was a great cook, so he could spoil her with his delicacies. He burst out into a soft laughter, attracting Ego's attention.She smiled as she made a face at him. "Something funny?" she quizzed as she wiped her mouth with a napkin.Jide shrugged. "I was just imagining what it would look like to prepare a feast for you!" He laughed.Ego made a funny face and quipped, "He prepares a table before me..."Both of them laughed out loud, drawing a few stares from fellow clients around. Jide nodded and raised his hand apologetically at a couple of them then coughed slightly as he became serious once again.Ego sipped her drink quietly.Jide took Ego's left hand and planted kisses on each of her finge
Osahon rang for the maid who brought three bottles of water to them. The maid cleared the remains of the half-eaten food and left the room."What's wrong with her?" Ego whispered to Osahon when Ame left the room to do her toiletries."Philip," Osahon replied in a conspiratorial whisper. Ego nodded knowingly and signaled for Osahon to leave."Hey sis," Osahon called to Ame, who was brushing in the bathroom. "I've got errands to run for mom, okay? I'll see you around!""Okay, Osahon. Later," Ame replied from the bathroom. Osahon left the room, shutting the door gently after him.Ego helped Ame to open her windows in order to let the rays of the morning sun filter into the room. Ame met her at her task when she came out of the bathroom."Thanks," she muttered as she sat on the sofa to the right side of her wardrobe."You're welcome, de
Ego gave her an odd look then shook her head as she continued with what she was doing. "He'll be a fool not to, but if I know Phil well, then you'll come back home with his ring tonight! Otherwise," She raised her hands up, a devilish twinkle in her brown eyes, "skin me alive!"Both girls burst out, laughing."My, I don't believe how hungry I am!" Ame exclaimed as she sat before her dressing table to allow Ego fix her hair for her. Ego nodded and laughed as she combed her friend's luxurious hair."That's the spirit, babe! Love does wonderful things to one's appetite!""And our graduation party is next week!" Ame said joyously, her face brightening up."Yes, babe! Think on only happy things," Ego replied as she looked at her friend's reflection in the mirror.Hours later, Ame w
In a rage, Ame jumped down into the water beneath them, causing a huge splash of salt water to settle on her and Philip with some entering his partially opened mouth which was his shocked reaction at her impulsive behaviour."You dare to, Philip Omagbemi!" Ame cried angrily as she hit him with her feeble blows continuously until he overpowered her and held her in an embrace. She began to weep as he rocked her. The waves continued to pound on them as Ame continued to weep. Philip carefully led her out of the water and onto the shore where he made her sit down. Her clutching at his shirt pulled him down with her and so he made her lie down with him on the cool sand of the beach."I'm sorry, my love. Please forgive me," he pleaded as he patted her back affectionately. He knew he had touched a raw spot and that had hurt her deeply.Of all the things she hated most, it was the fact that she was an Obasogie. That n