Life With Tutu

The latest couple in town travelled to far away Greece for their honeymoon. Femi had always been a lover of Greek mythology and so she spent hours exploring with a reluctant but besotted husband in tow. Love is a beautiful thing, especially a love that transcends time. The nights were spent in each others arms, nights of endless pleasure, pleasuring and being pleasured. To their dismay, their one month honey moon was soon over and they had to return to Nigeria. Life quickly fell into a steady rhythm. Femi found herself trying to juggle being a working class lady and a wife catering to the needs of her husband and sometimes, his large extended family. Wale was from a dirt poor home and his family knew his wife was from a comfortable home and expected her, now that she was married to their son, brother and nephew to help them. Femi was initially open to assisting them as it was obvious she was earning way above her husband, but when she discovered they were greedy and grasping, she stopp...

Femi was sure theirs was a match made in Heaven. She marvelled at the strength of the love she shared with Wale. Life could only get better and better ‘ I worry about you Femi' said her father one evening. He was seated on the lone couch in her room whilst she was seated at the edge of the bed facing the couch. Femi gave him an exasperated look because she knew what was to follow ‘I wonder why you trust this guy so much. Do you know the number of girls I dated and disappointed before I married your mom?’ ‘Ah, dad, Wale is no player' ‘Oh so your father is now a player' Her father asked feigning anger Femi moved beside him on the couch, hugging him “Noooo. That’s not what I’m saying. Wale loves me very very much. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. And, he can never ever let me down. Dad, the guy is crazy about me!’ ‘Hmmm’ her father replied, pensive ‘ Trust no man, Femi. I’m a man and I know what I’m saying. I don’t want someone that will break your heart.’ ‘ He won’t!. He d...

Femi knew she was hopelessly in love…for the first time ever in..her existence. Wale was the centre of her universe. Her darling who could do no wrong. She discovered Wale was in the school on a partial scholarship. His parents were dirt poor and he had to do odd jobs during vacation to make ends meet. Femi was determined to help him as much as possible and so, her allowance plus monies she made by the side, she shared with him. They were like two peas in the pod. From year three they started winning the couple of the year award on campus up until they graduated. Femi discovered Wale wasn’t good at the practical aspect of Mechanical engineering and decided to do his project work for him, as a result he got a distinction and this adhered her to him even more. Service year brought about a separation. Femi was posted to Lagos through her father's influence whilst Wale was posted to the north. Femi had tried to persuade her father to influence her lover's posting but her father was...

She found herself going down memory lane. She was born the second child in a family of four, all girls: Oluwafemi Deborah Santos. People always thought she was a boy before meeting her and she liked it. ‘Twas fun seeing the look of shock/surprise on peoples faces. The scan result had shown she was supposed to be a boy and her father had insisted on naming his supposed first male child, even whilst in the womb, Oluwafemi. He had refused to change it when she eventually landed one cold rainy night. Her mother was able to squeeze in the name Deborah upon seeing her feisty baby girl.  She was a tomboy. Always imitating her father and hanging out with boys in school. Automatically, she was her dad's favourite. Femi would be the one to buy gas, fill the gen, change deflated tyres, climb the roof to change the position of the antennae and even go with her father for some of his….political meetings. Her father had her enrolled in martial art classes. He wanted his favourite daughter to be ...

Femi looked at the wailers seeing….yet not seeing. She had cried so much she was numb. She was seated betwist her elder sister and mother. She wondered how she would have coped….without them. They were her bulwark. The wailers were apparently tireless. As one set left another came in to continue the wailing. Idly she wondered if her late husband could see or hear them. She wondered at the state of their vocal chords and lungs…at this stage. Her eyes roamed the sitting room that had turned to the wailing room. Just a few days ago there was so much sunshine and happiness here. Her husband and best friend was still alive, vitality his middle name. She sighed and her mother looked at her with utmost concern. She tried to give her a reassuring look. The sitting room looked so dirty now. In her depression she had ordered the two maids to leave her house. Normally guests were not allowed in with their footwear, but now, no one could be bothered with those rules. What was the essence of cleanl...

Just how will this triangular relationship end? Will I remain afloat or sink? I had no close friends I could confide in around me. I thought about my bridesmaid. Yes, we were close but she was in the East. Dare I discuss this via the phone? I felt it was too weighty. Could I trust her absolutely not to betray my confidence? For days I ruminated over this. Jude had asked for another date, but I felt it was too soon. I had to think of a better or should I  say another excuse to give hubby. A water tight one, this time. It was tasking living a lie. I was excited yes, but I was also afraid. Indecision was too heavy a burden to carry. Just then I discovered I was pregnant. I had mixed feelings. On the threshold of leaving my marriage, with a baby inside me? Hubby was overjoyed, an answer to his, our prayers. God works in mysterious ways indeed. When I was two months gone, I decided to give in to Jude's request for us to have another meeting. This time at a resort. He was already waiting...

Time stood still. All was silent save the sound of my heart. Hubby suddenly stood up from the bed and started pacing ‘What in the world has gotten into you, Soom? You’ve changed! When did you start lying?! This just isn’t the wife I married! This isn’t you!’ I started crying, I cried so hard he had to take me into his arms as I blurted ‘I….i…had an appointment with a herbal practitioner who said he could help me get pregnant. I….i…didn’t want to tell you because I know you dislike stuff like that'  May God help me! Where the lie came from I don’t know. I just knew I had to give a plausible excuse. Anything to save the moment. ‘Ah! Soom! You went too far. Is it because I told you my people have been putting pressure on me to have more children?! Children will come, it’s God that gives and he will give more. In fact, as many as we want.’ I cried harder at the tenderness and empathy I was shown. Guilt apparently made the tears flow even faster. Eventually I slept off, cradled in his a...