Twelfth:The Ninth Day Of Christmas by David Vera Sorochi

Twelfth:

The Ninth Day Of Christmas.

“It’s fine if you don’t want to talk about it, I totally understand” I told her maintaining my smile. I was enjoying our conversation and I wouldn’t trade it by making it awkward. “ So tell me your greatest achievement?” I asked keeping the ball rolling.

“ his name was Jake and we started dating sometime in college”. It took me a minute to realise that she was talking about her break up .

“ I was into food and nutrition and he was almost done with medicine. We met at a frat party and things started from there. It was slow but somehow I felt like since he was the one for me, why should I rush it?” She smiled mesmerising me .

“And few years later, he proposed at thanksgiving saying he was thankful to have me with him and would do anything to have me forever” she laughed. One could tell that the pain and memories were still fresh.

“ I wanted a fast wedding so we decided to meet my family first, they were all welcoming then his family wasn’t. I was treated like a new maid from the moment I came into the house until l left and he couldn’t even fight for me. To crown it up his mum made it clear that he will not and cannot marry me unless he wanted to forfeit his inheritance “ she finished laughing.

“He picked his inheritance over you?” I asked the most stupid question.

“Obviously and you would do the same too” she added. I kept quiet not wanting to discuss it with her. She was still in pain and I could feel it deep down.

We were sitting quietly when we heard a noise and soon footsteps followed. I stared at my wrist watch and smiled

“What’s happening?” She was panicking as the dust around us kept rising

“The football match is about to start but before it starts there will be entertainment and stuff” as I spoke the field started filling up and soon it wasn’t just us in the big space. Because of the crowd we were pushed closer and now I could feel her body on mine, I reached out and placed my arm on her shoulder drawing her in to shield her from anything including the hungry eyes of the guys at the back.

We watched in silence as the entertainment started, two masquerades danced and somersaulted on each other. At the far end were nine ladies dancing in a wrapper. I wanted to explain why but the crowds noise of cheer as the footballers came rushing in.

“Nke obu finals?” Is this finals I asked the young man near me who nodded in approval.

“Wow!”