Lonely Days (Summary Of Final Chapter)

Previously on Lonely Days;

Yaremi refused to pick a man at the cap-picking ceremony.
She became ostracised in the village.
Segi arrived in Kufi village to defend her mother.
They came to a verdict; Yaremi shall not wed again.
Woye wanted to leave with his mother.

Are you all caught up? Good!

Welcome to the Final Chapter of Lonely Days: CHAPTER 14

Woye left.

Yaremi felt like she lost a vital part of her body. She also wanted to leave Kufi village, perhaps to Apon, where her other child, Wura, lived. Until, her son, Alani, showed up.

For a decade, Alani was glued to the city, a completely different world from the world of Kufi. He was almost lost in the city. He had curly hair, burnt and bleached skin, a shining necklace, and a pair of high intimidating shoes.

Ajumobi’s friend, Uncle Deyo, was displeased with his sense of appearance; his mien, scolding him and keeping away from his father’s properties. He was also scolded for his unwillingness to stay by his mother through her predicament.

On Alani’s arrival, Uncle Deyo exposed him to his father’s cocoa farm, corn fields, banana trees, kola nut trees, and lands; the entirety of his father’s estate. He also told him stories of how he and his father communicated on the farm; through whistles and hoots. How they worked together on the farm, side by side as if they were twins.

They did a variety of competitions just to pass the time and enable work effectiveness. But they didn’t only compete in hard work, they competed in laziness. At times, they’d hang their hoes up on trees and gossip before bursting out into meaningless laughter. They would sing and sing, then later join the other farmers to drink fresh palm wine at the bawo under the cool shade of the large monkey bread tree.

The road to Ajumobi’s farm was narrow and crooked. Uncle Deyo led the way, shuffling through the trees, sliding here and there, he was a pro! Alani, on the other hand, was not sliding or gliding, he was stumbling and staggering. At one point, he even thought he saw a snake. This startled him. Uncle Deyo then turned to him to take care and follow his lead because he knew every nook and cranny of the farmland.

They went past a farmland that looked uncultivated for several years, which had become a formless mass of brown jungle. It stretched for four acres along the regions of Adeosi towards the land of Adeyipo, Ope, Idiogun, and Kange, ending up in Ojutu. That was Ajumobi’s farm land. Deyo looked at Alani and shook his head, saying; “It is the duty of the son, to look after his father’s property.

When fire burns out, it succeeds itself with wood-ash and when the banana dies, it replaces itself either young or suckered to endure life’s continuity. “This symbolism represents the death of Ajumobi and the system of continuity that ought to happen through his son”.

It was a long day on the farm. Their eyes were tired, sweat trickled down their faces. Back in the village, Alani told his mother about all the progress he was making and how he had fallen in love with a pretty city girl. Yaremi knew there was more he wanted to say. She mumbled short prayers under her breath. Alani began to put on his clothes and pack his things, a farewell look on his face.

He brought out two loaves of bread, a tin of corn beef, and a custard and handed it to her. He also tucked some money into her palm promising he’d return to give her some more. He was merely too busy in town to attend to flimsy village matters. He had so much going for him in the city; his developments, his pregnant girlfriend.

He had no time for farmlands and whatnot. He intended, however, to relocate his mother from the village to avoid all the wahala (problem) she was facing.

Yaremi knew what was before her. She had thwarted the traditional widowhood injunctions and trampled it under her feet. There were consequences. She was ostracised by the villagers, and her husband’s property was to be immediately confiscated. She was to begin to pack her things. She was going into exile. An exile that was imposed on her.

Was this the end?

It’s over?

After everything?

“It’s finally over”

“No!”

Over her dead body would she be carried out of Kufi.

She threw off her ipele, which circled her neck. Her eyes dimmed with tears of pent-up injustice and a strange smile settled on her lips.

It was not over.

She would fight!

God was in control!

It was not going to be easy, but she was going nowhere! Let them do their worst!

Worst scenario, they’d avoid her like a plague..and she’d be lonely.