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MUSTARD II – Ch. 7 | KT OLLA

NOW Morrow went back in the house and met his woman dressed up and serving his breakfast.

It was a lone breakfast.

‘Are you going out?’ he asked her.

‘Yes, my lord. I just need to get something in the market. Then I’ll get to my mama’s place for other things.’

Those words rolled out with a bright smile.

Morrow wasn’t content and pulled back. ‘Oh is that so?’

‘Meanwhile,’ added Wura, ‘I’ll first drop the kids with Mother before going to market; and then return to pick my things. So I might take long!’

Morrow snapped. ‘Taking long isn’t the issue here, woman. Or didn’t I say I’m visiting your parents today?

‘So why are you dropping the kids off and going there before me?

‘More so, you are just telling me what you already decided. What is going on with you, Wura?’

Wura took her man by the hand and implored him to sit. She sat with him on upturned mortars left as seats in the house.

She looked in his eyes, and explained:

‘Oh my husband, things are not as serious as you keep taking them.

‘There was no way I could tell you last night. Then you woke up late, and there was no time to tell you too.

‘You’ve been outside for some time and I have to prepare your meal. That is just why I decided it myself.

‘The thing is, we rushed out last night and didn’t say goodbye. I must tell Father you returned first. And let the kids stay with him till you come.

‘Meanwhile, can you delay going to my parents till I head back? We can go together tomorrow and pick the kids!’

Hearing this Morrow’s fears dissolved like mist in the sun.

So he smiled. ‘You didn’t tell me it wasn’t so serious!

‘And let me commend you ’cause it’s a wise thought you made. I am the one to bring you back—that’s wise!’

Wura looked at him, then dropped a thank you.

‘Still there’s one thing you missed out,’ added Morrow. ‘You shouldn’t be going with me... it is on me to ask my family home.

‘So Wura, stay back with your parents today. I’ll come around before sunset tomorrow.

‘And if I didn’t make it, don’t come running! Don’t tell me you can’t sleep at night!’

He laughed at this point while he humoured her; but he was the only one amused. Wura had turned serious and was rapping:

‘Thank you, really thank you! Thank you, my one and only husband!’

She clung to him while she rapped those lines. So her man stiffened up and just said, ‘Okay.’

Wura got up beaming wide. ‘You must take your breakfast now. Ah it’s almost getting cold; I’ve wasted much time!

‘I’ve set the table and it is your favourite. But I can’t wait to eat, and the same with the kids.

‘We must honour my parents by taking their breakfast. So I must hurry now because of the kids; they will be hungry!’

She didn’t wait for her man to answer. She just dashed inside and called her sons.

Morrow got up to table and washed his hands. ‘Be sure to cover the kids well,’ he called after the hastening one.

‘Yeah!’ she answered.

‘And look in the cloth bag! There’s still good ofi there—use that around their neck!’

‘All right sir!’

Morrow opened the hot dish in an earthen bowl and out poured both aroma and steam...

For it was a saucy yam pottage.

And in that moment when Morrow stopped and gazed, he heard talks drifting in from outside. Some saucy remarks about his home.

It was the neighbours who went visiting, talking.

But she’s done nothing wrong—she thought he was dead.

No, she could have waited longer. She only waited a year and went off!

Woman, forget about her! What about the man? He shouldn’t have let himself be taken for war. Is it his peers that are needed in war?

Well, let’s leave the blames—what will happen now? I heard her new man gave her two days to return.

So, what will he do now? Do you think he knows already—I mean her old husband here?

How will he know what no one spits out? Then I’m sure she will not tell him! Or do you want to tell him, my friend?!

Oh, I pity this man!

Morrow caught those things, and he just froze. It seemed like the puzzle bits were fitting already. So it felt too much for him.

Is Wura living with another man now? Has everyone been using her parents to cover up?

Is that where she is heading back to? To that other man she lives with?

But I was prepared to understand she remarried. Yet now that I’m hearing this from outside—!

No... what am I saying? It may as well not be true. Then why should it be?!

That moment Oji and Daleka went knocking, then Wura came rushing outside.

‘All right, my lord. We’re leaving – the kids and me.’

‘Oh is that so? Very well then... go well.’

That moment was tense as Morrow’s guests met Wura leaving home.

Yet only one of those folks knew of a time bomb. Ticking.

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