Aunty Bamike’s wedding took place on the first Saturday in December at her church, a small unpopular Pentecostal church that held their services in a multi-purpose hall in Festac. The hall was not decorated, in exception of the backdrop behind the pulpit.

The choir sang a hymn as the bridal train walked in, Aunty Bamike and Big daddy who was acting as father trailing behind them. Aunty Bamike’s right arm was looped in his left, the skirt of her white ball gown swept the floor as they proceeded slowly and Tomini got a glimpse of her made up face underneath the white veil.

After the procession, the choir led the congregation in worship. Tomini was surprised at the choristers’ dressing, the women wore dress pants with Ankara wrap tops and their hairs were not covered. When it was time for the solemnization Tomini walked to the front carefully in her heels, holding the hem of her floor-length lace dress. She videoed the exchange of vows, the couple had written their vows.

The service was brief, lasting for only an hour and a few minutes. Tomini rode in big mummy’s car to the reception venue with her cousin, Gbola and three women she didn’t know. One of the women said she was her mother’s ‘sister’, that she had backed her when she was a child and that she hoped to back Tomini’s child, too when she got married in the future. Tomini wanted to laugh. She tried to hold it back but the laughter broke free. 

The couple’s entrance was the highlight of the reception for Tomini. She made sure to video it while dancing to the music playing. After the couple’s entrance, Gbola took pictures of her at the table they sat at, and some by the balloon backdrop that had ‘Bamide2017’ on it.

When her table was served, she took a picture of her plate of Jollof rice, fried rice, chicken and coleslaw and sent it to Lolade. Lolade was going to rain insults on her but she didn’t care. She wanted her to know what she was missing.

***

The next day, the whole family including the newly-weds had a thanksgiving at Grandma Ajayi’s church in Satellite Town. After the service, they all headed to Grandma’s house where they feasted on her famous amala, gbegiri, ewedu and assorted meat stew. Before they left Grandma Ajayi’s place Uncle Demide, Aunty Bamike’s husband gave Tomini a token of five thousand naira. She thanked him heartily and resolved to deposit it in her bank account the next day since she wouldn’t be going to school. They were through with their mock exams and did not have any classes to attend for the rest of the term. However, there were on-going exams for other classes.

In the evening, on her way back from the supermarket where she had gone to buy spaghetti, she saw Michael walking down the road that led to their close. He was in a red T-shirt and jean knickers, carrying a keg she assumed contained fuel. She was on the other side of the road so she crossed. She walked behind him for a while before calling his name. He turned and on seeing her, a smile graced his face.

“Tomi,” he drawled. “How far?”

She laughed. She didn’t know why though. There was nothing funny.

“What’s funny?” he asked, as if reading her mind.

“Nothing,” she replied, chuckling.

They began walking side by side.

“How are you?” she asked him.

He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m okay.”

She nodded, twirling the tip of a braid with her right hand. When they were nearing a suya stand, Michael spoke.

“Do you want suya? I didn’t plan to buy before though.”

Tomini laughed. “No, I’m good,” she declined.

“Okay,” he said and they walked past the stand.

“So you’re not buying?”

“You said you didn’t want now.”

“Yeah, but I thought you wanted to buy for yourself.”

He shrugged. “Not really. I just thought you might want.”

“Are you going to school tomorrow?” he later asked.

“For what? Abeg we’ve finished our exams, what’s the point?”

“I might go,” he said. “I want to read in the library. I concentrate better when I’m outside of the house.”

“Serious student,” Tomini teased.

He laughed and shook his head. Many of their classmates had not started studying for the WASSCE exams even though it was barely three months away. She was grateful she had home tutors for her core subjects. It made studying consistently easier.

“What do you want to study in uni?” she asked.

“Ah,” he chuckled. “Literature. Literature-in-English.”

“You want to be a literature teacher or what?” Tomini laughed. He frowned at her and she laughed the more.

A moment passed and he joined in her laughter. “I want to be a writer, majorly. But I’ll also like to pursue a masters degree, PhD and teach at a university hopefully…alongside writing of course.”

“That’s nice. I never really knew what I wanted but I recently developed interest in nutrition and dietetics.”

“Cool. I don’t think many people go for that course.”

“Yeah, but I’m not going for it anyways. My dad wants me to study Engineering. Chemical engineering, that’s what I’ll be studying.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah,” she smiled sadly.

“You should read my works sometime, Tomi,” he changed the subject.

“What work?”

“I write stories. Actually I’ve written two novels. I’m not working on anything currently. I’ve decided to focus solely on my exams for now.”

Tomini was surprised, two novels? She never expected that from him, not that she thought little of him but it was so great an accomplishment for someone his age.

“What? Wow. That’s so cool.” He smiled, flashing his pearly white set of teeth.

“I’ll love to read them sometime. Wow, I’m really surprised.”

“You think so little of me?” he feigned hurt. She knew he was only kidding.

She let out a short laugh. “No, I’m just surprised, not that I think it’s above you or anything.”

It was a lie. She hadn’t expected that much from him.
They reached her house and they said their goodbyes.

***
Christmas was going to be fun this year, Tomini was sure. She was glad that she’ll get to spend Christmas with her cousins, Lolade and Gbola. It was usually boring at her house. Guests would come over; she’ll help in serving food and drinks and would be left with many dirty plates to wash. Christmas was more of a work day than a holiday for her. Things were going to be different this year, though.

Her dad dropped her off at big daddy’s house on Sunday evening, which was also Christmas Eve. Lolade was back from school for the Christmas break. They slept late that night catching up and watching movies on Lolade’s laptop.

They had hired a caterer to cook for Christmas, Tomi couldn’t be happier. If she was at her house, she’d have had to join her mum in cooking the meals and since they usually cooked in large quantity, it made the task stressful.

They all ate at the dining table and afterwards Lolade and Tomini cleared the table.

“Tomi, you’re going to wash the plates,” Lolade said as they carried the last sets of dishes into the kitchen. She heard Gbola’s laughter and hissed loudly.

“No. Why? Can’t Gbola wash them? Abi what’s wrong with his hands?”

Tomini dropped the plates in her hands on the kitchen counter beside the sink.

Lolade laughed before saying, “Hmm you’ve not seen anything yet. Since I came back from school, I’ve been doing all the chores on my own. I know mummy does everything when I’m not around. He’s just so lazy.”

Tomini’s frown deepened and Lolade laughed again. “Please, you hear? I’ve been suffering since, all alone. Please, and the plates aren’t much at all.”

“Ehn they aren’t much, why don’t you wash them?”

“Please now, do you want me to kneel down for you?”

“Yes,” Tomini replied and Lolade chuckled.

She washed the plates while Lolade went to clean the dining table. They entertained a number of guests shortly after, two families visited, one after the other. Lolade washed the next set of dishes and Tomini, the ones from the last guests.

***
Lolade was telling Tomini about her church’s Teens’ Hangout or was it party? She wasn’t sure and she really didn’t care. Lolade was going to try to force her into going for the program and she didn’t want that.

“Look,” Lolade placed her phone in front of Tomini. It was a picture, the flyer for the program. Tomini kept mute.

“I’m not even asking you whether you want to go or not, you’re going. If it’s that I’ll drag you o or carry you, anyhow, you’re going.” Lolade said as she retracted her phone from Tomini’s view.

“I don’t have anything to wear,” Tomini whined, squeezing her face.

“You’ll wear my clothes. That’s not an issue, madam.”

“Stop calling me madam.”

“It’s on Friday.”

“I saw it on the flyer, I’m not blind.”
“Nobody said you were,” Lolade rolled her eyes.

“But you implied it,” Tomini retorted.

“Can you shut up?”

“I don’t want to go Lolade.”

“Why?” Why? She didn’t know.

“I don’t know,” she shrugged, echoing her thoughts.

“Tomini,” Lolade drawled. “You’ll enjoy it. It’s always fun, and it’s not even a normal service. Although, don’t get me wrong, our services are not boring. ‘Madam I’m not blind’ didn’t you see all the fun stuff lined up for the Hangout?”

Tomini didn’t answer.

“You look swollen,” Lolade reached out and pulled at her cheeks. “Better smile.”

Tomini slapped her hands away.

***
On Friday, Tomini wore Lolade’s stripped shirt dress. Big daddy dropped her, Lolade and Gbola off at the church but he wasn’t going to come back to pick them up. The hall was almost empty when they arrived. Lolade had made them leave home earlier; apparently, she was an usher and needed to be there before the start of the program.

She walked down the aisle beside Lolade. Gbola had found a seat at the back.

“Where do you want to sit? Or will you sit with Gbola?” Lolade asked her. They were close to the front of the hall.

“No no,” she sighed. “I don’t want to sit alone though.”

There was a pause before she spoke again.

“I’ll sit with Gbola,” she shrugged.

“Okay,” Lolade said and Tomini turned, walking to the back. Tomini sat beside her cousin and watched Lolade nod as an older man spoke to her. He was probably giving her instructions.

People stopped from time to time at their row and said hello to Gbola, some to her also. The program started about thirty minutes after. It was more interesting than she had thought it would be. A pastor had given a short exhortation and prayer at the beginning and dance, drama, spoken word and song renditions had followed.
Towards the end of the program, they had shared gift bags.

They didn’t leave immediately the program ended. Lolade had a workers meeting so she waited for her. Gbola, on the other hand, left with a friend, saying he’ll come home later in the evening.

After the meeting, Lolade walked up to Tomini.

“Oya let’s go.”

“You can’t even say sorry for keeping me waiting,” Tomini glared at Lolade.

“Sorry ma. Oya,” she said sarcastically.

Tomini rose from her seat.

“Lolade, are you leaving now?” a boy asked, standing beside Lolade. Tomini had seen him earlier. He was the one who had led worship.

“Zion! Come meet my cousin.” Lolade said, ignoring his question.

“Hi,” Zion said, smiling.

Tomini smiled back. “Hello”

“This is my cousin, Tomini,” Lolade said, pulling her left cheek.

Tomini giggled. “Can you behave yourself for once?”

“Nope,” Lolade said, popping the ‘p’. Tomini shook her head.

“Nice meeting you, Tomini. You’re finer than this fish. Are you sure you guys are related?”

Lolade let out a gasp and Tomini laughed.

“We are related, not by choice though.” Lolade glared at her and Tomini suppressed a laugh.

“Oya be going, Zion. Bye bye,” Lolade said.

He laughed. “Bye Tomini. I wonder how you cope with this child,” he ruffled Lolade’s hair and she groaned.

“Oooh Do you want my wig to fall?” She whined, removing his hands from her hair angrily.

Tomini chuckled.

“That would be nice,” Zion grinned.

“This one is just laughing anyhow. Let’s go abeg. Or you want to sleep here?”

“Don’t let this girl bully you,” Zion said to Tomini.

Tomini laughed. Zion gave Lolade a side hug and shook Tomini’s hand before walking away. Her eyes trailed him as he walked through a door by their right.

They walked outside and soon flagged down a tricycle.

***
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