Chapters (3)
Segun I don’t think this is about you darling.
Mosun I never thought this would happen. I knew when she moved in with her it was serious. But I thought she would come to her senses eventually. Me, I just took it to the Lord. God, what are we going to tell people? Segun?
Segun Why does this thing always follow me? Just when I think it’s gone it comes right back.
Mosun This is different.
Segun It’s like I’m cursed.
Mosun Ah-ah! Don’t say that. We are blessed and highly favoured! This, her wedding, doesn’t mean anything. It’s just a road bump. We will get past it.
Segun Maybe I was wrong.
Mosun No.
Segun Maybe I should have done more for him.
Mosun You did everything you could.
Segun What if, this thing with Omotara . . . what if it’s some kind of punishment? Divine justice.
Mosun Stop that Segun. God wouldn’t punish you for your brother’s sins! You tried to help him.
Segun But I should have stayed longer. Not booked that early flight home. Maybe I could have reasoned with him.
Mosun What were you going to do? Camp outside his compound? If he didn’t want your help then you couldn’t force it on him. You’d already spent enough money getting there in the first place!
Segun But he was in danger.
Mosun He knew the risks! Segun, I don’t care what he said. I’m not saying it’s right. The laws back home, they’re too harsh. But he knew the risks when he went there.
Segun But if he’s not safe?
Mosun He is. He was exaggerating. Emotional blackmail. It’s just another kind of 419. You did the right thing. He couldn’t come here. Once he’s stopped his sulking, he will call you. Don’t worry about him. We’ve got more important problems. Three months? Chai! We need to start fasting and prayer from this night! Now, now! I won’t even do the dishes.
Segun What?
Mosun Yes o! They can wait till morning. This is an emergency.
Beat.
Are you coming up?
Segun Yes.
Mosun No weapon formed against us shall prosper. Amen?
Segun Amen.
Scene Three
The North Star.
There is a slight bewildered pause. Yetunde stands apart from Adebisi and Babatunde.
Adebisi What on earth?
Babatunde I could barely hear a thing.
Adebisi Is it always like this? I know you said it was hard but –
Babatunde It’s usually better than that.
| Adebisi It was like a bad | |
| radio. Did they have those | |
| when you were last alive? | |
| Like . . . the frequency | |
| was off. | Yetunde Back when, way back. |
| Way back, way back when | |
| Babatunde There must | When I lived, I lived with – |
| some kind of interference. |
Adebisi What is she doing?
Babatunde I don’t know.
Adebisi Yetunde?
Yetunde Back when, way back
Before, before
They scatter our ways.
Before, before