Itohan Enowa

Lanre got back to the house to find Eno looking dejected. She was sitting on the couch. Lanre studied the girl for a while. Did they start counseling her today? Did she not welcome the idea? Is that why she is looking this way? Lanre could not help but wonder. She clears her throat and walked close to Eno.

“How are you? Did you like the school environment? Hope your teachers treated you well today?” Lanre asked Eno. Eno didn’t answer. How would she answer that question when she did not even get to complete the form?

“Eno, are you okay?” Lanre asked. It was as though she was talking to her kid sister even though she never had one.

Eno deepened her frown. She stood up, walked into her room which was previously Chidinma’s room. She came back with a paper in her hand. It was the form. She gave it to Lanre.

“Can I submit it without putting my surname? I don’t want to answer that man’s name”. Eno said. Lanre shook her head. She told Eno she would need her surname especially in the future. Eno shook her head. She told Lanre she does not need her father’s name for anything. But when Lanre insist she used the name, she told Lanre she would use her name as her surname instead it if Lanre refuse, she would use her late mother’s name.

Lanre sighed. She asked Eno what was her mother’s name. Eno told her that her mother’s name was Itohan. Lanre asked her what tribe.

“My mother was from Esan in Edo state. She named me Enowa because she said I will have wisdom and will be a her strength. She said I will be a beautiful woman with power aty disposal, but she is gone now. She left me in this wicked world”. Eno said. Lanre sighed yet again. She asked Eno if she was also wicked. Eno shook her head. She told Lanre Lanre was different. Lanre smiled at her. She asked Eno to at least tell her about her father even if it was just his name. Even though Lanre already found out the man’s name, she wanted Eno to mention it herself. But Eno refused. Lanre decided not to force her.

At the end, Eno decided to go by her mother’s name, “Itohan” as her surname. She wrote on the section where she was to write her name, “Itohan Enowa”. Then she muttered to herself that she would make her mother proud. Lanre smiled. She hugs Eno. After their little exchange of warmth, Lanre asked Eno if she has eaten. Eno told her she was yet to eat anything.

“Eat and go to bed on time. You will be going to school tomorrow morning. I don’t want you to be late”. Lanre said before walking into her own room.

Lanre laid on her bed when she got to her room. Oh, how she missed her bed!? She hugged her pillow and kissed it with a smile on her lips. Her day’s activity replaying in her head.