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Apron Strings (prologue)
The car jiggled like a bag of coins. Its bits and pieces held together by an unseen force, getting home was a prayer. He had traveled back to the village, a journey of about seven hours by road, which was the only means he could afford. Mama had called about a week ago telling him to come back immediately. 'What if papa was sick and about to die?' He had thought. He did not have enough money to sponsor the kind of ceremony his family will require of him as the first son. He had rushed to Enugu by the 'early morning bus' and was surprised to see mama welcome him with smiles, ' nothing is wrong with papa' he thought happily to himself. There was a girl there, in the small welcoming party, he was not sure.
Small electric fans whirring in the front seat, the driver's wise substitute for air conditioning added a certain melody to the noise the car made. The sound brought him out of his reverie, he looked out the window at the paved roads. The car was speeding across the horizon, but the sun in its setting glory chased, riding gloriously on a stallion made of cloud. Then, it slowed and the stallion faded slowly, and night started to fall. He adjusted himself on the seat he had paid a relatively huge amount of money for, in order to be comfortable. He was dozing now.
The car hit a pot-hole, his eyes flew open. He thought again as he rubbed his eyes, like that would ease the stress, Mama wanted him in Enugu in such a hurry because she had 'found' him a wife. She had everything planned, the wedding, food and the bride. She wanted him to meet Nneka before their 'marriage rites' were properly conducted. He had laughed so hard during their introduction to one another, that the girl was embarrassed. Nneka was a beauty to behold, she seemed warm at heart but her eyes were what caught his attention. She did this thing with her eyes that he could not explain, well, the eyes are a mirror to the soul and he was almost satisfied with what he had glimpsed throughout his three- day Stay.
Edafe was not taking chances, he did not want to end up like his friend, Kingsley. Kingsley had fallen for the beauty, charming smile and the seemingly warm heart his mother 'found' him and he had married her. He endures a different kind of hell each day.
He yawned loudly as the driver announced his stop. Well, he got home in one piece. His prayer, answered, with unsettling peace.
