It's late December in Nigeria in the year 2010. Nnenne was seen under the shade of an oji tree behind their house at their hometown Parko during the wee hours of that morning breaking firewood that they can use for the days cooking.
"Nne good morning" Nnenne greeted an elderly lady passing by with a big big basket of oji and groundnut balanced on top of her head with an old wrapped twisted into folds. The old lady is mama Eyinna her grandmother's blossom friend.
"My child a wonderful morning to you too.How are you doing and how is your 'mama mnekwu' your grandma
"mama Eyinna replied with her signature smile on her face.
" Mama am fine and healthy. My grandma is inside talking to her 'chi' "
" Nnenne I thought I heard mama Eyinna's voice "Eliza Nnenne's grandmother said coming from the side door from inside the house.
" Oh yes nne"Nnenne replied beaming.
Nnenne is a young girl of twenty years old, she's about 5'9 feet tall with beautiful straight legs .
She's slender but curvy at the right places with just the right amount of flesh. Her face oval and small with siren eyes, a small round nose, dimples at the side of her cheeks when she smiles or laughs, a beautiful set of white teeth and lips like a perfect work of art.
Eliza turns to look around and there she was her old time friend mama Eyinna.
" Ee he! I just knew it's you because I can not possibly confuse your voice with someone else's old friend. Good morning " Eliza said hugging her old friend mama Eliza.
" Yes my dear it's me and a wonderful morning to you too "mama Eyinna replied while hugging her friend. It has been a long time since they last checked up on each other
"Oh thank the good Lord " Eliza said breaking the hug .
"haha Yes God has been told to an old soul like mine friend "said mama Eyinna laughing." I haven't visited you for the past three Market days my friend and am so sorry I have been busy with a lots of things you know . My children and grandchildren came around for Christmas "
" Oh no worries old Ann you can also say the same thing on my side as well"said Eliza with a kind smile.
Eliza is said to be the most beautiful woman in their hometown and the surrounding neiborghing villages during the time of her youth which can still be seen because she still looks beautiful even in this old age of hers.
She has lovable big eyes, full thick hair which now already greying on her temple's and a set of beautiful teeth which are still white even now when she's grown so old.
"Hahaha that's true old people like us and our love for a house full with family and loved ones"mama Eyinna said laughing.
" Hahaha but where are you heading to with a full basket of things "
" Oh good lord I totally forgot I was heading back home when a saw you hahaha"
" Ok I think you should start going back before the morning sun catches up with you so you can freshen up and rest a little before eating breakfast "Said Eliza.
" Very well then see at our next meeting "said mama Eyinna before hurrying out of sight to her house at the end of the second street.
Nnenne is already done cutting the firewood and has swept the whole compound. She is now inside the kitchen making breakfast for herself and grandmother.
"Nene what are you making for breakfast" asked Eliza when she went inside the open air kitchen to checkup on Nnenne.
Nnenne turned to face her grandmother.
"Mama am making your favorite porridge just the way you like it with enough smoked fish, stock fish and traditional 'ogili'."
"Oh my dear you just know me too well hahaha I have been craving for this porridge for a while now, how did you find out" Eliza said with a huge grin on her face.
"Mama I heard you saying the other day that it would be nice if you get your hands on some 'ogili' and smoked fish, so I knew you wanted to eat porridge because when you buy this two things at the same time you mostly use make for making porridge "
" Hmm None I didn't know you noticed . Very well then I will leave you to do the cooking "
" Ok mama just go freshen up and relax. I will be done in a while ".
" Yes madam Nnenne I have heard you"Eliza said making a sign of salutation. Nnenne looked at her and they both burst out laughing.
It's getting to two weeks since Nnenne came to the village to spend the Christmas with her grandmother Eliza and it's about time for her to return to Onitsha to her parents house to prepare herself for going back to school.
Nnenne is seen sitting on the floor of her grandmother's room with her grandmother sitting at the edge of the bed having a deep discussion between a grandmother and her granddaughter.
" Nnenne you said you are going back to Onitsha the day after tomorrow. Your mother called yesterday to know how your preparation to go back is coming along "
" Mama am getting my things together besides there is not much to pack anyways "
" That's good to know but that's not the main reason I called you here. I want to talk to you "
"Ok mama go ahead then am all ears "
" Nnenne my child I want to thank you so much for coming to stay with me an old woman already with a foot in her grave for Christmas and helping me out , even going to farm at times when you could have actually stayed with your parents in Onitsha and enjoy a stress_free Christmas with you parents and peers"Eliza said with a sad smile.
" Mama it is fine besides am not even complaining and I enjoy spending time with you and stop calling yourself an old woman your still young, beautiful and elegant "Nnenne said pouting her mouth .
" Hahaha you little brat with a sweet mouth haha.. "Eliza scolded Nnenne playfully.
" But mama it's true you don't look old at all some people still mistakes you for my mom most of the time "Nnenne said smiling.
" Ok my dear I feel much better now"hm! hmm! Eliza clears her throat and continues.
" My dear what I wanted to tell you is that you have been a good child in all areas whether it's your character or manners you have made me proud "she sleeps water from a cup she took from the mini table beside the foot of the bed and continues.
" Over the days you have been here men from both near and far have come seeking for my blessings to marry you but I rejected them all "
Took a deep breath and continued.
"I rejected them not because they are not up to the caliber of men that I would want for my inlaws infact some of them are very rich, some stable and some barely able to fend themselves and it's also not because I don't want you to get married"
" But mama when did all of this happen I didn't even know that something of this nature happened"Nnenne asked with her eyes wide open.
" My dear that is why something's are left for the elders to handle because what an elder can see lying down even if a child climbs the the tallest of the trees he can't see it "Eliza replied smiling.
" I have seen how you handled some of them that came to you professing love and affection trying to lure you into friendship or some kind of relationship with them and so far you have done well I must commend you for that"
" You have made me proud with how focused you have remained knowing the priority now is not you getting into the cobwebs of emotions and affections called love and I want you to keep it up"
" Thank you mama my mom always say that no matter how calm or serene the surface of an ocean appears to be there is always and endless turbulence going under the depth of the ocean so shouldn't be deceived because human are the same you never know what goes on in their heart even when they appears to be smiling at you not all smile is genuine "
" Hmm your mother has done a good job raising you my child. You should know that the tortoise appears to be the wisest of all the animals but not because he was born that way but because his got experience and the ability to bend and stretch when needed"
" Mama I don't understand. You speaking in proverbs "Nnenne said with confusion written all over her face.
Eliza faintly and patted her on the shoulder and said " Nne you don't need to understand it now but I believe you will in time. But remember 'All That Glitters 'are not gold be wise""Nnenne! Nne!" Eliza calls out to Nnenne who is inside the house packing.
"Mama am coming!" replied Nnenne on top of her voice from inside the house.
Few minutes later she rushed out of the house with her bags and hurried towards her grandmother standing besides the gate with her hands on her waist.
"There you are Nene hurry up before you miss your bus.
" Yes ma I know"she hugged her grandmother, bid her goodbye and hurried out of the compound to the bus stop.
Inside the bus beside the window Nnenne was sited looking out the window. She washed people moving around, people in their stalls, cars passing their bus and many others
The driver would stop at interval during the trip with the driver shouting Onitsha! Onitsha! Onitsha on top of his voice for potential passengers.
Few hours later the bus made it's final stop at Onitsha park.
"Oya make una bring money fast fast make I commot for here" the condutee Jared the passenger with his broken English.
The conduct is a young man that doesn't seem to have the habit of taking a bath judging from the odor oozing out of his body. Brown set of teeth with two of them looking crooked. Hai he looks like he's seen his own fair share of what life has got in store for him.
Nnenne gave him her money and made her way to stop a bike after the conductor help her carry her bag down from the boot.
She set off with the bike to their house at Onitsha which she got to few minutes later.
"Yes it's here stop in front of the red gate, the second building"
"Ok"
"Thank you. Your money"
The bike man collected the money and drove away on his bike.
Nnenne carried her bags entered the gate and made to their doorstep.
Kpai! Kpai! Kpai!
She knocked at their door.
"Onye! 'who is there'!" Someone shouted from inside.
"O bu m 'its me'!" replied Nnenne.
"Oh dear Nnenne it's you"
Click. The door open.
"Let me help you with the bags" Nnenne mon Uju said helping her inside the house.
"Honey look who came back today. It's your daughter her loyal highness Nnenne who has finally decided to grace us with her noble presence"Uju said to her husband joking around.
"Your impeccable Majesty welcome to my humble abode" Jude Nnenne father echoed his wife's joke.
"The pleasure is all mine my lovely people" Nnenne said and the family of three burst out laughing.
"Oh dear we have missed you" said Jude.
"I missed you too dad" Nnenne said hugging her dad.
"And you don't miss me your mom" hmm? "
" Oh mom I missed you" said aid and hugged her mum too.
" Well I know you didn't miss me you only miss your dad but I will accept your insincere hug because am a good person "
" Oh getting jealous are we? "
" No am not! "
" I never said you are" Jude replied looking smug.
" You.. well I won't argue with a big head like you hmm"Uju said pouting her lips.
She turned to her daughter and asked" how is mom doing "
" Mom grandma is fine and healthy "
" Of course look whose mother she is" said Jude smiling.
Uju rolled her eyes and mimicking her husband 'of course look whose mother she is".
"Hey!"
Uju made a funny face at him laughing.
" Come on girl go to your room and rest I have already cleaned it for you"
"Thanks mom you are the best" Nnenne pecked her mom on both checks and went to her room.
" You see our daughter said am the best" Uju said looking smug.
"Look our daughter said am the best" Jude said mimicking his wife.
"Hey are you copying me"
"Hey are you copying me" said John still mimicking his wife and making funny faces at her.
" Come here and see if I don't knock out your front teeth " Uju said punching at the air looking at her husband with a smile that says you are dead for sure this time.
"Ok madam am sorry for teasing I won't do it again" Jude said with both hands up in the air in a surrendering posture.
Uju raised an eyebrow and looked him over and nodded "good now move".
Jude turned and moved to their bedroom with Uju following behind him.