By the time evening breeze started blowing, the gist about Kemi’s mystery visitor had matured like overripe plantain. Children had already learned not to pass near her door; adults pretended to mind their business but stood in strategic positions where they could “accidentally” hear something.
Tunde, still holding his bread, knocked on Kemi’s door.
“Kemi! Open the door.”
Kemi stepped out with wrapper tied to her chest, looking confused. “What happened?”
Before Tunde could answer, Mama Peace emerged from nowhere like she had been waiting for her cue.
> “Kemi, abeg, don’t vex o, but the whole compound dey ask who be the fine bobo wey enter your room this afternoon. Na so we dey live together here; we suppose dey know our visitors.”
Kemi blinked. “Fine bobo? You mean my cousin Femi from Abuja?”
The murmurs started immediately—
> “Abuja ke?”
“E resemble Abuja husband?”
“Why she lock door then?”
Mama Iyabo, who had been sipping Lipton tea in front of her room, suddenly stood up.
> “Kemi, you better tell the truth o! Last time, na so Mama Bisi talk say she see you for junction with another man—”
“Ehen? So it’s you, Mama Bisi, that has been gossiping about me?” Kemi snapped.
The air went pew! like a balloon bursting. Mama Bisi dropped her garri cup and charged forward.
> “Me? Gossip you? Kemi, respect yourself! Na Mama Peace talk am first!”
Mama Peace gasped. “Ha! See how she wan put me for trouble. Na Iyabo I tell first, no be you!”
By now, the corridor had turned to market square. Voices were flying higher than church praise worship. Children were standing on stools for better view. Someone’s pot of beans was burning in the kitchen, but nobody cared.
And then—BOOM—Mama Iyabo, in trying to defend herself, mistakenly shouted:
> “All of you shut up! Is it not me that saw Mama Bisi’s own ‘customer’ sneaking out last week when her husband travelled?”
The whole compound froze.
Mama Bisi’s eyes widened. “Ah! You see your mouth ehn—today you go explain that thing very well.”
And just like that, Kemi’s gist was
forgotten. A new, fresher gist had just been born.
Ruthsexymama
11 days agoBy the time evening breeze started blowing, the gist about Kemi’s mystery visitor had matured like overripe plantain. Children had already learned not to pass near her door; adults pretended to mind their business but stood in strategic positions where they could “accidentally” hear something.
Tunde, still holding his bread, knocked on Kemi’s door.
“Kemi! Open the door.”
Kemi stepped out with wrapper tied to her chest, looking confused. “What happened?”
Before Tunde could answer, Mama Peace emerged from nowhere like she had been waiting for her cue.
> “Kemi, abeg, don’t vex o, but the whole compound dey ask who be the fine bobo wey enter your room this afternoon. Na so we dey live together here; we suppose dey know our visitors.”
Kemi blinked. “Fine bobo? You mean my cousin Femi from Abuja?”
The murmurs started immediately—
> “Abuja ke?”
“E resemble Abuja husband?”
“Why she lock door then?”
Mama Iyabo, who had been sipping Lipton tea in front of her room, suddenly stood up.
> “Kemi, you better tell the truth o! Last time, na so Mama Bisi talk say she see you for junction with another man—”
“Ehen? So it’s you, Mama Bisi, that has been gossiping about me?” Kemi snapped.
The air went pew! like a balloon bursting. Mama Bisi dropped her garri cup and charged forward.
> “Me? Gossip you? Kemi, respect yourself! Na Mama Peace talk am first!”
Mama Peace gasped. “Ha! See how she wan put me for trouble. Na Iyabo I tell first, no be you!”
By now, the corridor had turned to market square. Voices were flying higher than church praise worship. Children were standing on stools for better view. Someone’s pot of beans was burning in the kitchen, but nobody cared.
And then—BOOM—Mama Iyabo, in trying to defend herself, mistakenly shouted:
> “All of you shut up! Is it not me that saw Mama Bisi’s own ‘customer’ sneaking out last week when her husband travelled?”
The whole compound froze.
Mama Bisi’s eyes widened. “Ah! You see your mouth ehn—today you go explain that thing very well.”
And just like that, Kemi’s gist was
forgotten. A new, fresher gist had just been born.