Witch Feathers

“The both of you no longer have respect for your mother again, so continue! Lanre you have grown breast, you are now a woman disrespect me. As for you Olamide, naval officer, you have grown hair! Don’t forget it is my garri you ate and grew up to be a man. Go ahead and beat your sister let my soul weep”. Mrs. Olayinka said. Immediately she said these words, Olamide felt like he has been poured cold water. He retreated from Lanre and sat down. While Lanre only puts down the vase when she was sure he was not going to hit her.

“I am sorry Maami! I won’t touch her again. But let her mind the way she talks”. Olamide said. Lanre scoffs. She did not say anything. She remained silent just like everyone else. It was the mother who broke the silence after a few minutes of silence.

“Olanrewaju!” She called. Lanre looks at her and answered.

“You are twenty two and in two months time, if I am not miscalculating, you will be twenty three”. The mother said. Lanre nods her head. In two months time, in the month of July, she will be twenty three. But why was her mom laying emphasis on her age?

“I am glad you have finished school. And at this point, it is your choice whether you will further your education and do your masters or you will leave it at this level. But one thing is certain, you have to marry”. The mother said to Lanre. Her words sounded like a bell ringing in Lanre’s ears. She does not want to believe it is what she is thinking, that her mother called her to nag her over not getting married. It is not like it has been long she finished school.

“Maami, what are you saying? I just graduated not too long ago and you are already on my neck asking me to get married?” Lanre asked. The mother eyes her disapprovingly.

“Today somebody will be here to ask for your hand in marriage. Your uncles will be here as well, so behave yourself. Make sure you accept the young man”. The mother said to Lanre. After which she stood up and left the sitting room. Lanre was dumbstruck. Somebody was coming to ask for her hand in marriage, and her mom wants her to marry someone she does not know. She could not see anything as ridiculous as her present situation.

“Shey you have heard. You better go and remove that witch feathers you fixed in your eyes”. Olamide said referring to the eyelashes Lanre had on as a witches feather. Lanre hissed. She stood up and left the sitting room as well. She went into her room and locked the door. She was going to stay for the sake of her mother. Staying was the highest respect she could give her mother in this situation. But for her to agree to marrying a stranger, it was out of her court. She will out rightly reject the man whosoever he is.