Chapter VI
VI
Eniiyi quickly fell into the rhythm of home.
She was unable to sleep past six a.m., because all three of the women who had brought her up were early risers.
As far as they were concerned, the day began at six, and that was when they would decide the floors needed sweeping, and that they wanted to listen to their praise and worship songs.
If they woke anyone up in the process, they were simply drafted in to help.
So she got into the habit of rolling out of bed and taking Sango out for his morning walk.
The walk was followed by a series of chores—which was how she found herself responsible for the laundry, sweeping the house, dusting the shelves and scrubbing the floors each day.
When she was done, she would escape to the dining room, which lay between the east living room and the kitchen, and set up her laptop.
She scoured the internet looking for a job as a genetic counsellor.
After enduring a bachelor’s in biochemistry and a master’s in human genetics, she had assumed getting a job she wanted would be a piece of cake.
She had seen plenty of clinical scientist roles, genetic tech roles and guidance counsellor roles advertised, but no posting for a genetic counsellor.
She wanted to become a specialist who could assist and advise people dealing with inherited genetic illnesses.
She felt a kinship with individuals whose lives were spiralling because of something a relative had suffered.
As a last resort, she filled out a few applications for jobs in labs and hospitals, but she would hold out as long as she could for her dream role.
At 8:30 a.m., they would come together for breakfast. Grandma East would regale them with the latest gossip—so-and-so’s granddaughter had been caught cheating on her husband, such-and-such was being pursued by the EFCC.
Her mother barely said anything, except to remind Grandma East that she shouldn’t be spreading things she didn’t know for certain; words that were quickly and firmly ignored.
Grandma West spent the entirety of breakfast time staring at Eniiyi with her big eyes.
And after she had had a fill of studying her grand-niece, she would nod repeatedly as if confirming something to herself.
Her mother had told Eniiyi to ignore it, but how could she?
Ebun wasn’t the one enduring a stare so relentless that the moin moin became like sand in her mouth and she started to come up with reasons to leave the table earlier and earlier.
On this occasion, she decided to take herself for a swim. She needed some air and an opportunity to clear her head. She grabbed her swim bag from her room and then, just as she was headed for the front door, Grandma West appeared in the hallway as though by magic.
“Where are you going?” Her voice was frailer than it used to be, but there was still a sternness behind it.
“Swimming,” Eniiyi replied.
Grandma West’s eyes widened. “You will not go!” she shouted in English, bringing Ebun running from the dining room, a piece of toast still in her hand. “Tell her she will not go!” Tears were beginning to gather in the older woman’s eyes, and Eniiyi felt a stab of guilt.
“What did you do?” hissed her mother, coming into the hallway.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Stop her! Tell her she cannot leave this house.”
“Eniiyi?!”
“I only said I was going swimming.”
Her mother gave her a look, one that was part exasperation, part irritation; and the look incensed Eniiyi.
She watched as her mother drew close to Grandma West, soothing her, telling her that in fact Eniiyi—no, Monife—would do no such thing.
That she was not going to go near the water.
Eniiyi turned away from them and, ignoring Sango, who was whining at her feet, stumbled out of the house.