Finally, Yaremi’s children appeared to speak on behalf of their mother in chapter 13.
I low-key always wondered why they were never there for her through her early days as a widow. Finally, they show up.
Yaremi was deeply conflicted. She didn’t understand her rock-like flexibility. How did she become so hardened? What had she done? The village was against her guts, what would she do? Did she love Ajumobi this much? Oh poor Yaremi!
A week after the cap rejection incident, Segi entered Kufi like a thief in the night; how dare they sentence her mother to another marriage? At what age? It was barbaric! At what period of life? To achieve what? How dare they?
Segi was Yaremis first child. She was daring, bodacious. Of all Yaremis children she was the most audacious; outspoken. You know how there’s always that one child that has the strongest, closest relationship with the mother? It was Segi.
In the village of Kufi, a first child was highly symbolic. He/she had to be the most intimate and best person to reach the heart of one easily. It always seemed as if parents entered a covenant with the first born, because their tie could never be broken.
During adolescence, they signed unwritten pacts, and during adulthood, they spoke intimately on issues that the other children never got the chance to know about. A first child indicated joy, companionship, peace; a fresh leaf plucked from the fruiting tree in the family garden.
Yaremi had had intense sessions with Segi in the past, where she shared confidential information. During the conversation, she described Ajumobi in his truest essence. She said he was her protector and care taker.
He was like a mighty tree with leaves so big that protected her from the blasing sun. He clothed her with his protection giving her hope and optimism. But death respects nobody.
Death had stripped her naked. Now, the Kufi villagers are seeing her nakedness; all her scars, wounds, out in the open. It was disgraceful.
Segi had brought a truck load of unanswered questions to Yaremi concerning her situation.
Questions like, “Was a second marriage really necessary? Was it feasible? How would she cope? How would she play the role of a stepmother? Would her stepchildren accept her? Would she be able to put up with a new man? How would she get rid of the memories of the past and settle down? How would she resist comparisons between Ajumobi and her new man?”
The mother and child pondered severely for hours then came to a verdict.
No marriage!
There was no reason on earth for it.
While the world of Yaremi was falling apart and her distant daughter appeared to pick it up piece by piece, there was one person who was completely unbothered. Guess who? Yes! Our dear Woye.
Nothing was amiss to him. Nothing unusual was happening.
He was so happy to welcome his mother. He spoke so much; told her everything. He told her all the stories Yaremi told him. He listed them one after the other. He was so full of joy.
At the back of the house, he’d play and play to his hearts’ content. He’d blow the whistle round and round, take in a deep breath, fasten his leather belt and tightly squeeze his stomach in the process. He played taffeta games that enhanced his statistics.
He could count numbers rapidly up to one hundred. He was fully ready for formal education. It was time to enroll him in the Kindergarten School, and the Anglican Junior Primary School at Olode was Segi’s choice for her son.
The following morning, Segi was set to return to her husband’s village. Woye clutched his mothers’ clothes so that she would not escape and leave him behind. He told her his load was ready.
Segi was puzzled, what load? He raced back to the house and came out with the polythene bag. His mother laughed and asked him where he was going. The little boy longed for his parents’ home at Olode and wanted to be enrolled in school.
All through Yaremi stared expressionless. She was overjoyed that her grandson was intelligent and wanted to go to school, but he wanted to leave – the very source of her joy wanted to leave.
She unconsciously rose and began to stitch a loose lining on an old taffeta buba. She was heartbroken. The idea of Woye leaving her was painful. She knew the implications.
Read here, Lonely Days(Summary of Chapter 10)
