The Absurdity Of Her Behaviour

After driving around asking questions, taking wrong turns and going back to the right path, they finally found Eno’s maternal home. When they arrived there, those around kept looking at them wondering who they were and what they were doing in the compound. They wondered if it was a family member that has come to visit for the first time in a long time after staying away from the village. But then, when the driver got down from the car to ask questions, they thought he did not look like someone from any of the family in the neighbourhood.

“Excuse me, abeg na Ossai compound I de fyn (please I am looking for Ossai’s compound)”. Tega said to one of the elderly ladies who was seated outside in the compound. The woman said something using their native language. Tega could not understand. He told her he does not understand the language. The woman called a young boy to interpret.

She told the young boy what she had said and he interpreted it to Tega. The woman had asked him to tell her who he was and where he is from. So Tega told them his name. He also told them he was from Delta state. Then they asked him why he was looking for Ossai’s compound.

“I came with my madam. She wan see mama Itohan”. Tega said to them informing them that he had come with his boss and it was his boss who had come to meet with Itohan’s mother, who is Eno’s maternal grandmother.

“She no de (She is not around)” The old woman said. Tega was shocked. The woman could actually speak using the Nigerian pidgin, but she has been acting like it was only her dialect she could speak use to communicate. Tega wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the woman’s behaviour, but still had to respect the fact that she was an elderly lady.

“Tega, what is she saying? Are we at the right place or not?” Lanre asked straining her voice. She had come down from the car,she was tired of sitting down and waiting.

Tega ran to Lanre’s side. He told Lanre the woman told him that Eno’s grandmother was not around.

“That means this is the right place. We will wait. Just that I’mtired of sitting up. My waist is paining me. Please ask her if there is anywhere I can get something from. I’m hungry. I want to eat groundnut”. Lanre said to Tega. He laughed. She asked him why he laughed.

“Nothing really. It is just that I found it funny that you are hungry and what you want to eat is groundnut”. Tega said.

“Is it your hungry? I’m the one who is hungry. I’m the one who needs the groundnut. It is none of your business so do not find it funny”. Lanre said with a frown on her face. Tega smiled. He asked her how much groundnut she wants him to buy for her. She told him to just get whatever amount pleases him.