I reached her, she and the child within had lost the battle.

My son, I wailed myself into oblivion for weeks.

But when she began to visit me I put food on her plate.

She tells me it was the juju of your father’s women,

to draw my strength so that I could no longer visit them

to claim the land and houses he left me in his will.

I pray the Lord will show them mercy on Judgement Day.

So! You choose an England-lady to woo? Eh! Eh!

Son, there are plenty nice Nigerian girls here.

Come home soon to look after your poor mama.

TAIWO

TEARS are for sissies, women and Nancy-boys.

Pain is shit to be flushed down the toilet.

I have taken my heart out, dug a grave for it

and said good riddance. I never want to see it again,

Man was put on this earth to suffer, but not me.

I will make a success of my life and one day

go visit Mama with a suitcase full of green notes.

Ah, life can be good when put into perspective.

Taiwo did not paint his childhood landscape for Ellen,

did not orate the sequence of births and deaths, her mind

should be kept blank, he decided, she need not know.

She is the only person in this country who cares for me.

She is my sonnet, my England-lady, my woman.

When Taiwo withdraws, I am drawn closer to him.

I wonder what thoughts fill his mind? He is so secretive.

Next weekend I’m going to tell Mummy about him.

It’s time they met. I wonder what she will say?

‘OH! He’s not too dark, is he?’ Peggy grimaced.

‘Pass the butter, dear, and don’t slouch. Goodness

knows I’ve told you enough times. You’ll end up

like the hunchback of Notre Dame. Where did

this Tiyowoyo spring from then? What did you

go there for? What’s wrong with the Strawberry Hill boys

or nice Stephen Brown from church? Of course,

John McBride is ideal but he’s off to seminary soon.

Such a waste. At least you’ve put this nun nonsense

on the scrap heap. A nun indeed. So where does

Tooyamiya hail from? All right, Tie-wo. Bill?

Well, that’s better. A native from a colony? Good Lord,

so he is dark. Have you no sense of morals?