THOSE YEYE PEOPLE - by Oluwademilade Soyinka

Pastor Akinbile used to tell me that wives were created from Adam's ribs.Under his arms to be cared for and protected.A part of his torso to be close to him.And close to his heart to be remembered and loved.He told me this was so. I believed him. Kilode ti o fi paro fun mi, Pastor Akinbile? When I married Toba, he was not smiling.He wasn't frowning, either. He had his face in a half-grin, his fore head lines contorted in worry. His eyes stared at something far away, as if he could see the future.Kind of like the way he was now.Toba was a handsome man. 6'2 build, caramel complexion, and dimples that put Micheal B. Jordan's to shame whenever he laughed. My friends used to laugh and tell me that I had eyes for men like that.But that's where it stopped. The eye. What I didn't have was reasoning.I should have ended it on his twenty- seventh birthday, a year before he married me, when I told him I was expecting. This man told me to abort it." This is not the best time nau, ehn Bisola? My mother will skin me alive if this thing should do mistake and fly past her ear. When we marry now, ehn ehn, we can even give birth to football team if you want sef. But now will not work."Stupidly, I agreed.It was two weeks before our two-year wedding anniversary when Dr. Ndukwu told me I could not bear children again. I wept my life out.That is where Yeye Person No.1 came in.Mama Afolayan. Toba's mother.This woman made my life hell. She said I was good for nothing, seeing as her grandchildren where not forthcoming. And Toba agreed with her. Before my eyes, she started making plans of remarriage.Yeye Person No.2. My husband.This man insulted me and beat me whenever he felt like it, forgetting the fact that he, the pig, pleaded for the abortion. The fact he lost his job and turned to alcohol made the matter worse. I became the symbol of a marital stress ball.Sometimes he apologised afterwards . Most times he did not. He never talked after our one- sided boxing matches, save once."Bisola.""Bisola.""Hmm?". I lay on the ground face down, mouth too bloodied to form any sensible sentence."Why do you make me do this to you?"No answer. He sat down, moving to comfort me." I still love you, shey you know?"Still no answer. Deep breath from his side." Forget wetin my mama dey talk. The day I follow any other woman na the day I go leave this life."Yeye Person No 3. Hadisa.This woman was my friend and work colleague- note the word "was".She was close to both me and my husband[ that pig]. I lost my parents and my younger brother [the entirety of your small family] in a car crash three years back. She became my family. I told her everything, including the situation in my home. She was the only one I told.She offered to talk to my husband about it. I warned her not to, knowing she still would. She was up to it though, being a voluptuous 5'11 woman in her late twenties as compared to my petite stature. Toba would have a hard time beating her up.Whatever she did worked, because the thrashings reduced.It was the the first of the month when I left work three hours early. I told my supervisor I felt ill. Surprisingly, he gave me leave.I arrived home to see Hadisa's car in the driveway. This woman was not at work today. What could she be doing here?An empty sitting room and dining table greeted me.I practically ran up the stairs.Opening the door, I saw her face. She was seated at the edge of the bed, pulling the cream blanket around herself. Toba lay naked on the bed, limbs spread like a starfish, his member erect. He was smiling at me.I didn't say a word. Neither did Toba. Hadisa muttered inaudibly.I left the room, shutting the door behind me. I sat on the sofa in the sitting room.I gave this man everything. Where did it all go wrong? I'm so done with those yeye people.Hadisa came down the stairs and made her way towards the door some minutes later. She made to say something, then she stopped immediately, as though petrified. She must have seen the look on my face. She took her leave.I sat there till about past nine p.m. Toba had not called, no text, not even leaving the room.I went to the kitchen.I took a knife.I made my way up the stairs.I open the door slowly. The animal was sleeping. "Forget wetin my mama dey talk. The day I follow any other woman na the day I go leave this life." I followed instruction, as a well trained Yoruba girl. Pastor Akinbile used to tell me that wives were created from Adam's ribs.Under his arms to be cared for and protected.A part of his torso to be close to him.And close to his heart to be remembered and loved. The paring knife is closer to your heart than I ever was.

Other insights from Oluwademilade Soyinka

Referral Earning

Points-to-Coupons