The house smelled like old stew and kerosene, the kind of smell that told you dinner was long over and asking for food would be a mistake.
I checked my phone-9:07 PM.
Not too bad. At least, that's what I told myself before stepping inside and spotting Aunt Linda.
She was waiting.
Wrapper knotted tightly around her waist, arms folded, Bible open on her lap like she'd been consulting scripture for the best way to deal with me. The TV was on, but the volume was low-too low. The real entertainment was me.
"Look who finally decided to come home," she announced, adjusting her position on the couch. "Hope they killed the fatted calf for you where you're coming from?"
I exhaled. "Good evening, Aunty."
She hissed. "Evening kwa? Evening don pass. This one is night. Where have you been?"
I rolled my eyes. "I went to see a movie."
Aunt Linda clutched her chest like I just told her I sacrificed a goat.
"God forbid! Cinema? So that's what big girls do now?" She turned to her daughters again, performing. "Una see am? Instead of carrying book, or at least Bible, she's carrying herself to cinema! My dear daughters, shine your eyes oh! Don't follow Jezebel's road!"
I pressed my lips together. "Aunty, it was just a movie."
"Just?" She smacked her thigh. "Nothing you do is ever 'just,' Jade! Nothing! You think I don't know what happens in those dark cinemas? Man and woman, whispering sweet nothings, next thing-pregnancy!"
I almost choked. "Pregnancy? From watching a film?"
"Yes! That's how it starts! One minute, you're watching film. Next minute-baby bump!"
I dragged a hand over my face. "Aunty, I am not pregnant."
She waved me off. "Not today. But keep going like this, and you will be. You think we haven't seen your type before? Small girls who think they know everything, using their bodies up and down. Now, when it's time to marry, who will take you?"
Miracle and Mary giggled. I shot them a look, and they immediately buried their faces in their plates.
Aunt Linda wasn't done. "So tell me, which useless man were you with today?"
I folded my arms. "I wasn't with a man."
She gasped. "You want to lie to my face? My own face?" She tapped her Bible. "God is watching you, oh! Because I know you weren't alone. Somebody paid for that ticket. Somebody bought popcorn."
I swallowed. The way this woman's mind worked, she could make breathing sound like a sin.
"Nobody bought anything for me," I said. "I went with a friend."
"Aha!" She pointed at me like she had caught me red-handed. "So it was a man! I knew it! 'Friend' that is a boy-is that not boyfriend?"
I exhaled sharply. "Aunty, I'm tired."
"Yes, tired from sinning!"
I almost laughed. Tired from sinning? This woman was a full-time comedian.
She shook her head like she pitied me. "Jade, Jade... You will never change."
Silence settled in the room. Miracle and Mary were still pretending to eat, but I could feel their eyes on me.
There was nothing left to say. Nothing that wouldn't drag this until morning.
So I did the only thing that made sense-I turned and walked away.
As I reached my room, I heard her mutter, "Continue. That's how it starts. But when they use you finish, don't come back here crying oh!"
I shut my door and leaned against it, exhaling slowly.
I wouldn't cry.
I had learned a long time ago-this house wouldn't let me forget.