After Danddy left NNE's hut to prepare for the celebration of the arrival of his daughter , NNE placed the baby on her wooden bed cause she has noticed that Tobe is too interested and intrigued by the baby . She left them both on the bed and walked towards Dabi to check her condition, feeling satisfied, she nodded in satisfaction and thanked the one in heaven for the turn of event that day.
NNE proceeded in clearing the things she used in assisting her daughter-in-law in giving birth as she has cleaned them earlier, afterwards she went out to get her something to eat before she wakes up, at first she was worried about leaving the baby with Tobe but on a second thought she choose to believe that he wouldn't hurt her, but just to be safe, she told Tobe not to try to lift the baby that she will get hurt if he did, this caused the little guy to lift his face and looked at NNE and then he nodded to assure the elderly woman that he understood .... with that said, NNE left for her kitchen.
Few minutes later Nne returned from the kitchen but was shocked to her bones because looking at Tobe right now ,she realized he hasn't left the spot he was in when she left for the kitchen, recalling that he hasn't even spoken since he came in as well prompted her to snap out of her daze state and inquire what the matter was with her grandson.
My husband she called…and Tobe took his eyes away from the baby for a second to look at NNE and then return it almost immediately, NNE exhaled and walked towards the table to place the soup she brought for her daughter -in-law and walk towards Tobe and the baby. To make things light, she drew him closer but Tobe wasn't having any of it, and shake her off and return to his position of watching the baby, this caused NNE to exhale loudly again and drew closer to him instead and placed her hands on his little shoulder before asking the question she wanted to ask, what is the matter my husband?
You have not told me how your day was NNE told him, but she received silence in return, she tried again,, what and what did you do today at the market my husband ? she asked….still nothing from the little one. even the beautiful scarf he had bought for NNE was completely forgotten.
NNE figured that this was serious because, Tobe doesn't act like this …ever ..this was not him at all . So she took the object of his attention in her arms to gain his attention and it did the trick because Tobe turned his attention immediately to NNE who is now carrying the baby.
NNE smiled, she has figured out a way to get him to respond and maybe he can tell her what the matter was. She took another approach to get him to talk to her and she asked, Do you want to touch her? This automatically got his attention, and he looked up at her and nodded, NNE hummed and said alright, come , and he came and wiped his hand on his shirt again before touching her, this didn't get unnoticed by the elderly woman who has been observing her grandson since he walked in this evening.
Meanwhile Danddy was at the other end of the village booking palm wine in quantities, before coming to the tappers house, he made a stop at the butcher's place to buy his two biggest goat and few number of chicken that is to be slaughtered and brought to his house as soon as possible. His next stop was the hunters house, though the fellow complained that all his dry meat was sold at the market today but he assured him that he will bring some to his house by the next morning, Danddy was satisfied with his answer and left for his in- law's place to inform them of the good news and the celebration coming up the next day, on getting to the compound he met his father-in-law Nade who was at his veranda smoking pipe and taking the evening cool breeze, Danddy greeted him and exchanged pleasantries before taking the seat he was offered.
The elderly man asked his son-in-law if all was alright, considering the hour he's coming to his house and on a market evening at that , Danddy answered that all was well and that he actually brought good news for them, upon hearing this the elderly man, smiled and called out to his wife Sabina who was making dinner in the kitchen to come, that his son-in-law was here to see them and that he brought good news for them .This brought a smile to the elderly woman's lips she could guess the good news that her daughter's husband brought and danced her way to the veranda where they were sitting. after few minutes of pleasantries Danddy proceeded to telling them of the news and the celebration coming up.