Twelfth: The Sixth Day of Christmas by David Vera Sorochi

Twelfth:

The Sixth Day of Christmas

I felt my body collide with another and just immediately it was moved towards the sitting room and in a dash Amaka was pulled towards a room.
“ Good morning Sir” I greeted still shocked and standing not knowing if it was okay to sit down.
“ Good morning nne” the man replied signalling to the sofa for me to make myself comfortable.
“ Thank you Sir” I replied sitting.
“O kwa you hear Igbo?” Hope you hear Igbo? He asked standing and picking up the remote. The moment he stood I studied his face, it felt like a replica of the same face that had collided with mine just that this face was older.
“Yes sir, I hear and speak too” I replied with a smile, somehow the way he asked it had been okay unlike the way my cousins used to pounce on me.
“ Afa m bu Desire and nne m bu Aunty Joy” I replied all smiles as he laughed.
“Engli-Igbo? I like you Desire” he answered now dropping the remote control “ ooh my dear, I heard about your father. Big Mike was a great friend of mine, my name is Nnamdi but you can call me uncle” he added.
“ you knew my dad?” I asked wanting to know more.
“ yes, I did. Who did not? No matter how much we hid during hide-seek your father would find you eeehh!” He exclaimed with joy clapping his hands and giving off a laugh.
“ your father was the smallest person in our secondary school but the way he grew like they poured fertilizer on his feet eeh, became big and tall immediately after ss2 it shocked us oh and that’s why we called him big Mike” he said laughing and this time I joined him urging him to continue.
“ he could make fun of anything and everything” Uncle Nnamdi informed me shaking his head “Onwu! Oh death” he lamented “I’m sure he told you guys the crazy story about Six geese laying” he said bursting into fresh laughter and this time I joined as the funny joke dad had told us rang in my head. As much as I had so much memories of dad, hearing about his youthful escapades where amazing.
“How is your Mum? She’s one strong woman I must confess” He asked
“Mum is doing well, probably somewhere in the house reading or cleaning up” I answered with pride and joy.
“ I must apologise for my son’s rudeness though, Chiké knows better but I guess this discussion with his cousin Amaka was important to him. And how do you know Amaka?” He asked me now picking the remote control up again.
“It’s fine Uncle, Amaka is my best friend” I answered with a smile.
“Ooh, you were the best friend she cried about that made her switch schools to Chike’s school?” He asked laughing.

“Not true oooh! It’s not true Uncle I was not crying don’t mind mummy and Daddy “Amaka said immediately but already it was too late I had heard everything.
“Sure fine, you can join your aunties and mother at the Kitchen and biko send a text message to your dad I will be coming to take him to the place” He said all smiles
“Yes uncle” Amaka replied and by her side stood the guy.
The guy who in little effort had stolen something from me, the smile on his lips looked like a drawing of art and I couldn’t help myself as I ended up smiling back. His dark skin somehow looked magical and glowing standing right by Amaka’s light skin, his eyes lit up together with the smile. It was obvious he was trying to hold back a laughter from coming out. He looked younger now on a shorts and a see through shirt, he looked 28 at most and the more his smile widened the more he looked younger.

“Text ya Na whasupp” Uncle said interputing my thoughts and causing everyone to laugh out.
“Ogini? What? You people think I don’t know about whasupp?” He asked waving his obviously new phone in the air.
“Daddy it’s WhatsApp not whasupp “ The guy said walking to his fathers side and sitting down
“Whatever just inform your father for me oh nne”he told Amaka who nodded and quickly brought out her phone and typed fast before she hit send “Done Uncle” she said hitting me to stand and leading me to the backyard.

“Meet my Aunties, Aunty Ifechukwu and , Aunty Grace” Amaka introduced me to the women who were cutting vegetables and laughing at a joke being told by a young lady “Aunty Grace is Chike and Cheta’s Mum” she said making the young lady wave and smile, she and her mum had the same smile and I couldn’t help but smile back.
“ My mum needs no introduction na” she said leaving me and heading to the fire to gather up the firewood together.
“Welcome to our home nne” Aunty Grace said coming around to hug me and as I let the hug linger a little I felt a kind of peace and when I opened my eyes I could see those popular pair of eyes watching me with a grin.

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David Vera Sorochi

Edited by Ezinne Ikoro