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MUSTARD II – Ch. 4 | KT OLLA

THE first night of Morrow’s return to Ede was one full of surprises, some petty august surprises.

For when news got to Wura in town that her man had arrived, she rushed back to their old home with the kids. Even that midnight hour.

Everyone had gone back to rest after finishing tidying up the house. So Morrow was the only one left in there.

And he was just beginning to find sleep where he laid in his chamber, when he heard a knock.

Then the door opened with a slothful creak, as both cold and the tears of a woman poured in.

‘Ah my lord, my crown and owner of my dowry! I told them you’ll come back—

‘Oh let shame be for my enemies! I told them you will come!’

Morrow picked the voice from the get-go, and nothing had changed in its nature. Yet that manner of greeting was the odd thing there.

Plus, the fact that Wura was rushing from her parents’ house that late hour of night.

So the man sat up on the mat where he lay down. He bent a knee and laid the other...

Then he looked to the door with one arm on his raised knee—he thought to study her.

Just then Wura stormed into their old chamber, shoved the kids in their rooms, then dropped to her knees.

‘I just heard you arrived, so I came running! I’ve been listening for your news all these years! I swear that I have been!’

Morrow kept quiet, so she stopped talking and faced down.

In a while the man spoke, un-bottling his doubts.

‘But you are staying with your parents, aren’t you? Or do you not lodge with them?’

Wura shot her head up. She stared in her man’s eyes, trying to read what he just said. So her eyes blinked as she glared at him.

Morrow went on. ‘If you’ve been staying with them, it is only natural that I come visit tomorrow. Then everyone can come back home.

‘But this—’ he chuckled. ‘Tell me, why on earth...?’

‘I can’t sleep tonight if I don’t see you!’ It was the point the lady broke down.

She burst out. ‘I told you that I have been waiting! Been looking out for news every single day!

‘So tell me how I could’ve slept when I heard! I heard you came and I couldn’t help it anymore!’

She bowed down sobbing.

Morrow was moved, so he got up and picked her up. He couldn’t bear to see those tears.

‘I already thought good of you, so you don’t have to kneel to explain this.

‘So get up, Wura – you do like you don’t know your man again!’

Yes, that first night that Morrow spent at home was one with new surprises.

For it was this man who hadn’t known his wife. He hadn’t known Wura.

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