BEFORE DECEMBER
CHAPTER 1
….I can no longer go to weddings without people questioning me about when my daughter will get married,it is becoming very annoying,I am so ashamed of myself,daddy, today at Ijeoma’s wedding,I was very embarrassed, immediately I came in,the other women in our club just turned and all eyes were on me,even though I didn’t hear them,I knew they were certainly taking about Chimamanda.it was as if the ground should open and swallow me, but what to do,I was already there…after greeting the women which they could barely answer,madam Oluchi started,Ngor,are is the family,oh they are fine,I responded,oh “ekeledirichukwu”,she said,how is Chimamanda , she is fine thank you,hmmmm,don’t be offended ohhh, I was wondering when we shall be coming to eat jollof rice in your house ,I mean Chimamanda’s wedding,you can not keep attending other people’s own and eating, even going home with take aways,when your own daughter has refused to get married,she said, daddy,I felt like dying,it was as if the world should fall on me,,,I managed to fake a smile and said soon,okay ohhhh,we shall be expecting the invitation,we really hope the soon is soon enough,she was talking to the other women now,and they burst into laughter…all through that party,i was not myself,,,,my dear,I understand what you are saying,father continued,I can no longer talk in the presence of my mate,when other men speak I keep quiet,for fear of been mocked,at my age,I have not collected bride price,neither am I a grandfather,”Chia,ijuwa”.daddy the most painful part is that,she doesn’t even have a boyfriend,let alone fiancée who is ready to settle down,oh my God
At this time I was getting pissed,as they talk about me as if I wasn’t there,i stood up to leave,,,and were do you think you are going to Young lady,mother asked,mama I am going out side for some fresh air,ohhhh,so what we are discussing here is not important abi,ehhennn Chimamanda,mama you are not having the discussion with me,you are having it with your husband,so let meeeee, exactly,mother interrupted me, exactly,I am having it with my husband,when are you going to have a discussion with your own husband,ehen Amanda tell me,when are you going to have your own husband,,mama please not now, not today please,and when will it be Amanda,when,so you don’t want me to be called granpa,father added,oh my God,it’s a beautiful Sunday, can’t I have peace ,of course no,you can not have peace when I don’t have peace.Amanda you are 34,going to 35,when I was your age,I had finish giving birth,yesssss,I had you when I was 24,your elder brother ikechukwu when I was 21,and your younger brother chinedu when I was 26,at your age I had long given birth,so tell me,what are you wanting for,tell me Amanda,,,,
Mama am I supposed to marry myself,am I,oh shut up,how can you get a man to marry when you don’t go out,once you come back from work you are inside,when you are not at work you are at church,,you don’t go out,parties movie houses,club houses, amusement park, airports,airwhat?,mother,what will I be doing in an airport when am not traveling????
marketing,yesssss, Hawking yourself, husbands will not come to you,you go to them,if the mountain refuses to come to Muhammed, Muhammed will go the mountain, haven’t you heard that parable before….
See Amanda,I do not know how you will do it,but you will get married BEFORE DECEMBER,mother,this is September,,yesss I know, you will get married before December,so you better start making arrangements on how to get a husband,papa mama is joking right,,who has time to be joking with you,I can not keep housing and feeding a full grown woman like you,papa I wanted to go live on my own, but you and mama refused,I am a bank Manager,and I can take care of myself,oh shut up,you want to go live on your own,you only live my house to your husband’s house,don’t you know men don’t like getting married to women who live on their own,for they think they are prostitute, Jesus, father from where did you get that, there are a thousand and one ladies who live on thier own that are very disciplined, whereas there are a thousand and one ladies who live with thier parents and are still wayward,being disciplined is a thing of choice,and not,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,oh shut up,do not deviate from the topic at hand,get us a husband period…
I walked out and excused myself to the garden for some fresh air,my parents has been like this,they have been making my life miserable since I was 28,I still wonder how I have survived that long,,,by the way I am CHIMAMANDA OKEKE, popularly called AMANDA,this is my TALE.
I am 34,going to 35,and Single,yes I am single, and in our today’s society, been single at such age,has become a crime, especially if you are a lady,my elder brother would soon be 37,but he doesn’t get pressure from my parents,oh I forget, HE’S A MAN,and they can do what’s so ever they want,,,don’t misunderstand me,I want to get married like every other young African lady,but in a case where a man is not forth coming, should I kill myself?.i am a graduate of Banking and finance,also done with my master program and, working with one of the biggest banks in the country,as a branch manager,yes,you heard me, branch manager,I receive good salary,but of course,in an African society i am a failure since I am not married.left to me,I am not bothered,not because I think I don’t need a man,but because I know, God’s time is the best,and he’s plans for me are perfect,I an a good believer,and I know the thoughts God has for me are that of good ,but,,,,,,,
Chimamanda,Chimamanda, mother voice interrupted…..
Written by
Rejoice Igbinovia Aluyi
