" IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU, STAY AWAY FROM THAT CORPER" he had retorted angrily. Not that I was going to obey him, but I will rather not allow people see me with her. Don't get me wrong I am not disobedient or maybe I am. I have just come to see my dad's reasons for asking me to stay away from her as baseless.
" Corper katherine, I need to be on my way now. Thank you for waking me up". I said quickly
" It's alright, take care of yourself".
" I will ma" I answered sprinting away.
One would wonder why my dad had said that. Well on this fateful day, we were returning from the market in his car. My mum was not healthy enough to go, so my dad had offered to help and I had practically begged to follow him. We were at the bend before our house when I sighted corper Katherine and so I called her out.
"Who is that?" He asked
" That is one of the new corpers our school just accepted. She is very jovial and brilliant, almost everyone like her in the school. She teaches music art".
" Really, and she is dressed like that?" I could sense irritation in his voice. Corper Katherine was on a brown short that reached her knee, inner wear and something that looked like a jacket. I don't understand what is wrong with the dressing.
" Daddy, she is not a muslim. She is from Benin" I had said irritated myself.
"And so what? Is that why she should open herself up?" He continued.
" But daddy, everyone knows the heat in the north is different from that in the south. She also has to be comfortable" I said supporting her.
" Will you shut up lawyer Katiya! Is this how your mother taught you to dress up?"
" But daddy..."
" Shut your mouth, before I shut it for you with my leg", he said. When he says that, it is better to oblige him. "And if you know what's good for you, stay away from that corper. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir" I answered.
At that point it was better not to mention anything again, if not my dad would continue from criticizing her to condemning her and then graduate to giving I and my mum lectures that afternoon. He could even not spare visitors his self-righteous lecture. That was what corper Katherine did to offend my dad. The fact that she is not tying a wrapper or wearing a skirt that covers up to her ankle, then she is not dressed well.
The unspeakable part of this is that my dad is an hypocrite. He is going to continue on how everyone is bad, but he is worse. I wont be surprised, if he has tried conversing with corper Katherine or if he has intentions for her. My mom says men are snakes and every time she says that, I reply in my heart that her husband is not left out of the nest of snakes. Trust me, I have got reasons.
*****************************
I peeped into our gate to see if my mother was in the building or outside the building but she is not outside. So, I could steal into the building through the back door, I thought.
" you are welcome home your Highness " my mom startled me from the back.
" I thought you were going to wait for convoys before making your way home. So, since you closed from school, it is now you deemed it fit to come... Eh Katiya" she said staring at me.
" Mom, seriously I slept off in school" I lied.
It's not really a lie though. I straightened up and gave way for her to get in. It was better to watch her in front than to be at her front. It can be very dangerous.
" Really?" She asked not believing.
"Serious oo, it was even one of our teachers that woke me up. If it had not been her, I would probably still be at school "sleeping" I said quickly.
"The day I will break your bones in this house, you will think I am not your mother. I keep warning you and you keep testing me.... Banda lokachi nki (I don't have your time)" she said. Actually, that's my mom's best threatening line .
" I'm sorry mama. Let me help you" I said with sincerity, collecting the bag she had on her.
"Where did you go to?" I asked.
" I went to get your bridesmaid dress. Rabbiyatu is getting married next week. The wedding date has been fixed. You should thank your dad for giving money on so short a notice" she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"So, it's that soon? But mum can't you advise her against this? You know too well she is heading a wrong path... Or are you okay with me getting married at 17 too. Well, that's three and half years from now you know" I said.
" Will you shut up? You can as well marry now. It's like your father's relatives will not have rest this afternoon. Katiya, if they've sent you to me, tell them you didn't meet my head... Kinjiko? (did u hear?)" she answered, rather aggressive.
" I know you don't like it, but you won't talk" I queried, moving away from her seeing her raise her hand. She can be very fast with those back hand slaps.
" Why didn't you stay, so I can finally shut that enemy that wants to possess you out, nonsense!" she stated .