Chapter III
III
“I am dating someone. I have a boyfriend.” The announcement was made to the backs of the three women.
Ebun was pounding yam, seated on a stool with a massive mortar and pestle.
She had her skirt bunched up round her waist and was going at it as though her life depended on it.
Grandma East was standing at the counter chopping okro.
Grandma West was seated on a chair carried in from the dining room and had been given a task—plucking the spinach leaves from the stem.
The three women turned to face her. Her grandmother was beaming, her grand-aunt looked faintly confused. Her mother simply raised an eyebrow.
“Mmm. Really. And does this someone have a name?” asked Ebun.
“Don’t we all?”
“Funny.”
“Zubby. His name is Zubby.”
“Ah. An Igbo boy?”
“Yes. Do you have a problem with that?”
Her mother raised her hands. “I was just noting it as a matter of fact.”
Eniiyi backed down. She was too ready to fight. She should give her mother the benefit of the doubt.
“Where did you meet him?”
“I…It was at a beach.”
“What beach?”
“Just…a beach. In Lekki.”
Her mother narrowed her eyes but chose to move on.
“Is he your age?”
“Yes.”
“Well. When are we going to meet him?” her grandmother said.
“It is still early days, Grandma.”
“You want to wait for it to be late days before you introduce him?”
“No, but—”
“Bring him round for dinner on Sunday,” said her mother.
Eniiyi felt as though things were running away from her.
She had wanted them to know. She would have told the whole world if she could.
But she wasn’t sure if she was entirely ready to bring him into her world.
What would he think of the Falodun women?
“Sunday?!”
“Are you worried we will embarrass you?”
“A little bit, Mum, yes.”
Her mother rolled her eyes in response.
“Just bring him. I’ll make fried rice.”