FAMILY TIES 2

Their uncle was by their door again four days later. Three times in one week, after six years of not caring whether they lived or died. Zaire was not sure what to make of it. Christy on the other hand, knew exactly what to make of it.



"You cannot be serious" she had exclaimed the previous day, just after he left. He had brought them more food stuffs than they had need for.
"I do not want anything from him, I still remember how mum loved him, dad always told her she was spoiling him. But she didn't care, she was his only brother. Did any of that count when they died? Did it count that they were coming back from the convocation of his masters when they had the accident? He didn't care. He said he had to sell the house to bury them. What could we do? Zee please do not expect me to forgive him. It is impossible"  Christy had tears rolling down her eyes.

But she was right, he had done all that and more. More than she could remember. There he was, standing by their door with a smile on his face.
"Welcome" Zaire greeted him curtly. His smile got broader.
"I have good news for you" he said
"What news?" Zaire asked, looking around for Christy and the kids before she remembered that Jaja and Deso had choir practice.
"I was able to pull some strings, to get your siblings into Foresters Academy" he replied excitedly.

Zaire looked at him like he had sprouted horns. She wondered what made him think she wanted to change their schools.
"Thank you, but that is not necessary" she replied. No way she wanted to be indebted to him. That was the best school in the state, and their school fees could feed a family of five for a year comfortably.  She could see the trap from fifty yards. She was ok with the government schools they attended, at least she could pay their fees there.
"What do you mean Zaire? You cannot deny your siblings the chance for the best education money can buy, that is what your parents would have wanted"

"Don't tell me what my parents would and wouldn't have wanted. You have no right. Where were you when we were homeless? When Jaja nearly died of malaria? When Christy was hit by a car when hawking? Where were you when all we had to eat were restaurant left overs? Don't ever talk about my parents" Zaire walked into their room and slammed the door. She was overwhelmed by emotions. She had been through a lot with her siblings for years. She hated her uncle for abandoning them and coming back pretending everything was good.

"That man must think we are stupid. It is because of the respect I have for you, that I have been letting him near our door. He wants to change our schools, where was he for the two years when we couldn't even afford to enroll in government schools? Zee just give me permission, and I would treat that man's f*&k up" Christy said in a monologue. She had been going on and on since she hard of their uncle's visit.

"So Zee what about that our new customer?" Christy asked with a wink.
"What customer?" Zaire asked, even though she knew exactly who Christy was talking about. The man in the car. Handsome yes, but definitely not her type. She wondered what her type was.

"The man likes you.... He has been asking questions, hanging around, so what do you think of him?" Christy asked.

"Nothing Christiana I do not even know the man" Zaire replied. They were in the public kitchen, preparing the tomatoes and meat for the next day's business. Christy stopped cutting the onions, and focused on her sister.

"You are very beautiful Zee.... If you marry a rich husband, we would not have to worry about all this uncle nonsense" Christy said matter-of-factly.

"Ehen..... So now I should marry a strange man in a big car? Hmm. You are sixteen now. In the north, you would have like eight children already, so you can marry him"

This got Christy laughing so hard tears rolled down her eyes. Where the tears due to the onions or the laughter, she didn't know.



One month later, the stranger in the car became uncle Harry to her siblings. He had gradually implanted himself into their lives, and the kids seemed to like him. Their uncle was now a frequent visitor, and so far there was no reason to be too suspicious of him.

Harry was a doctor that had recently been posted to the hospital close to them. He always had breakfast from them, sometimes dinner when he was not on call. Dinner at their house, in their tiny room. He didn't seem to mind and the children looked forward to his visits. He was very funny and doted on them. Christy was the happiest, she was looking forward to marrying Zaire off to Harry. He was rich, his parents were rich and that was all that mattered to her.



"Who is that man I have met here about three time now" uncle asked Christy one evening during his "visits" referring to Harry.

"How is the man your business?"

"I hope you and your sister have not started prostituting yourselves around this town with all these men"

"If we want to prostitute, it is not your business. Don't insult my sister. She is not here, and what I would do to you if you insult her again, you would not believe.Rubbish"  Christy walked out on him.



Zaire walked around the market, shopping for some food stuff. She was in a hurry, her uncle had told her to come to the office to sign some documents that would give her siblings a trust fund for their education.

She didn't want to be late, moreover Harry's marriage proposal weighed greatly on her mind. He knew nothing about her except her apparent poverty and yet he wanted to marry her. Christy was so happy about it, that she had even accepted on her behalf

"My daughter!" a woman called out beside her. She didn't turn around, all these market women trying to get you to buy from them.
"My daughter!" the voice called out again.
Zaire turned impulsively, looking into a very wrinkled face that had the voice.

"Ma good afternoon" she responded going on.

"Wait.... Are you not the daughter of late Mr. Ferguson Alwell?" she asked.

Zaire stood in shock. Her father, she wondered how the woman knew him. She nodded.
"Yes ma.... I am"

"Where have you been? They have been looking for you in the village for one whole year now"

Zaire was confused. Truly she and her siblings have not been to the village for almost two years. They haven't had money for the trip.

"We would try and come this year ma" Zaire smiled, wondering who was looking for them. She hoped nothing had happened to their father's compound in their absence.

"But that man... your mother's brother, he said all of you are in America. Una don return?" she asked.

Zaire was even more confused. "No ma...we no go America. We dey here since"

"Ahn ahn... but why have you not received the message to come? The company people have been waiting, they said you must sign first" the woman said with a frown.

"Ok ma. No problem ma. I would come" Zaire said, leaving the woman. Obviously she must be confused. Company people indeed.

"Make you go village O. Go and collect your money"the woman called after her. Zaire stopped at the mention of money. She turned around, going towards the old woman. "Mama which money?" she asked.







It all made sense to Zee now. She thanked God for sending he old woman to her rescue. For the first time since she knew her uncle, she was ushered into his office immediately she got there.

He has a huge smile on his face, as he stood up to welcome her. She smiled and sat down.
"Welcome dear" he said and she smiled in response.

"No need to waste time, I am going to transfer the sum of three million naira into your account, for their school fees, from now till whenever they finish university. But first you have to sign the documents accepting to make sure the money is used for their education." He opened a drawer, and brought out a sheaf of papers.
Ha turned around to her side of the table, handing her a pen.
"Sign here" he said pointing to the dotted line.

"I have to read it before I sign it" Zaire replied.

"No need, I am in a hurry, I have a meeting. So let me just show you all the places you have to sign." He said.

Zaire smiled, looking into his eyes.

"I am so disappointed in you Uncle. I know your plan. You want to reap where you did not sow? What did we ever do to you to deserve your greed and wickedness. I cannot believe that you are the same man my mother loved and cherished. How disappointed she would be."

"What are you talking about?" He asked her surprised at her out burst.

"Oil was found in my father's compound, and for over a year, you have been doing all you can to collect the entitlements, claiming to be our legal guardian. But they have insisted on my signature, and you came up with this plot to dupe us.... God has a purpose for everything." with that Zaire stood up and left the office.




LIFE IS A CHOICE MY FRIENDS
SO CHOOSE WISELY
ENOUGH SAID



Happy New month darlings. It is 24 days to Christmas. This is my favourite time of the year. Shout out to our in-house Otondo ....Tamir Lixir. Corps wee