Marry Me 3 - Bonus

 I know say I’m fine but I also know say I’m not THAT fine.

Tell me why the mother, father and a fine brother come stand in front of my father’s house, looking at me shade my mama market? They watched me squirm.

Pardon my pidgin o.

I was not comfortable at all. I felt like a fish in a pond.

I took my mother to our backyard.

“Nma o, why are these people here?” Who are they?

More importantly, “why are they looking at me?”

“I told you about them”, she said. “They saw your picture and want you to marry their son.”

“The guy that didn’t go to school?” 

“Yes”. 

“Is he the one standing with them outside?” Why didn’t he come to me instead of gawking with his parents? Not sure I want to marry that kind person.

“He’s not the one”. I breathed out. “They said he’ll be around during this (October)season.”

Ah! The famous October. Well, I’m here and ready to mingle but; I quickly remembered,

“Mumsy, don’t try to marry me off. I will decide when I see the guy” I’m not into arrange marriage at all. Seen enough to know marriage is a biiiiig institution.

“Don’t be tempted to tell them YES, Nma, I mean it.”

“I know you na. I’m not that stupid. You that can barely stand this place. You’ll run off with speed.” At least she knows.

To prove her point, a snake ran past us with annoying speed.

My Dad(we didn’t know he was close), complained out loud; “they assured me this snake poison will work.” 

“Snake poison?” I screamed.

“Yes. I bought one yesterday and sprayed it in the rooms and compound.”

Who sent me to leave my work oooo and come village?

I remembered visiting my grandmother and the snake experience. You’ll be in a room and hear the sounds of a moving animal. No, it’s not rat you hear but snakes. Snakes you can’t kill because my people worship them.

I heard town criers bemoan their killings and share news of what one must do to be forgiven. The people who see their killers were encouraged to make formal reports. Punishment includes paying almost brideprice and at a shrine no less! I shuddered.

I held Mumsy’s hand firmly.

The suitor’s family finally came to pay proper respects. I said hello and went back to shop.

October was running but there was no suitor. On the twentieth, My Dad listened to my response to one of my former colleagues who called to share gossip and asked why I am so lucky getting work despite just finishing my OND.

I just smiled. Grace, plenty unmerited grace. Then came the inevitable question.

“Do you really want to get married?”. He heard us.

“I’m not really sure.” 

“Then what do you want to do? Continue your education or get into business or get married?”

I really wanted to go back to school but I understood my family’s financial constraints and knew better. 

“Papa, I want to go back to school but I also need to work to pay the bills.”

“Don’t worry about bills. Which school can let you work and study?” I love my Father. 

I’ve always preferred him to Mumsy(Please don’t tell her).