chapter 5

"Eh eh! Ifeoma or whatever they call her has turned my own son into a houseboy. My son now enters kitchen o! Your Charm or voodoo will not work o, useless woman, it won't work! It is not while I am alive that you will turn my own son into your house boy!" Mama shouted running helter shelter like a deranged woman as soon as she succeeded in dragging her son out of the kitchen.

"Who is that shouting like someone who escaped from a psychiatric hospital now?" Ifeoma asked in false politeness as soon as she walked out of her room.

"It is your whole family that will end up in a psychiatric hospital, not me!"

"Oh, I am so sorry mama. I had no idea that it was you. I was just wondering why anyone would shout like that when it's not that she got bitten by a dog." Ifeoma apologized in a mocking manner all the while trying not to laugh.

"Why won't I shout when you have decided to turn my Akanni into your house boy!"

"Seriously?! Fikayo who has not stepped into the kitchen for months even if it's to take ordinary bottled water from the fridge? And then he steps into it just today and he has turned into my house boy?! The height of foolishness in this house amazes me a lot! Meanwhile, house boy, it's better you get into that kitchen and cook cos I won't do it for you and I better not see that dirty girl your mother brought into this house in my kitchen either! Even your mom isn't allowed and you know me o, so don't try me at all!" Ifeoma concluded as she walked gracefully into her room with no care in the world.

"Mama, you caused all of this o! Oma hardly gets angry at everything you say to her but now you have pushed her to the wall." Fikayo complained.

"What have I said or done? How can I see the truth and keep shut about it? I never liked that girl since the day you introduced her to me as your wife. She's so disrespectful!" Mama snapped.

"You're just been tribalistic cos she's an Igbo girl and she hasn't given birth yet but mama, our marriage is not even up to three years yet! Let her breathe, please. I've had enough of rivalry in this house and I can't deal with it anymore. Meanwhile, take Tofunmi back to Imeko, Oma will never accept her into this house." Fikayo concluded as he walked into his wife's bedroom to cajole her.

"Since when does your wife's opinion matter in your own house? Why would you allow her to make decisions for you? Is she now the husband in this house? Tofunmi, get your things, we are going out of this house. I'll have to do something to nullify the voodoo that this stupid woman has put in my son's food to turn him against me! Let us go!" Mama said as she banged the door angrily on her way out.

Meanwhile, Fikayo succeeded in cajoling his wife and Oma went into the kitchen to cook for her husband.

TO BE CONTINUED...