ỊNÓ

The annoyingly aggressive knocking on his door awakens him. He sits up from the floor, fully awake, he didn't even want to respond, he just stares into an endless dimension at a corner of the wall as the nonchalant and aggressive knocking increases rapidly. He just didn't wanna... Wait a fucking minute, It could only be one person... Chizoba.

He gets up quickly, enraged, he marches to the door.

"Who?... Why the?... Who be that Ọkpọ?" He opens the door, fists clenched and ready to strike, Chizoba stands there right in front of him and his extended fist unhinged.

"Good morning Ézịgbọté Nwánné m Nwáọkè!" She lowers his fist with her index and middle fingers and proceeds to give him a hug. He doesn't reciprocate. She goes back to her former position, hands behind her back, legs apart, she stares at him eye balls to eye balls, "Ké dụ ụzó (way) gị na?" Chiukwuemeka seems to be staring into her soul, his right eye twitching as he seeks hard to find the right words.

"What do you want?" He manages to ask.

She maintains her smile, she knows he is raging red at her but she also knew her nigga couldn't do shit to her. E get why. She knew for a fact that this particular action was enough to receive a whooping from her big brother in any uncivilized society, good thing they were civilized people, besides, he had swore never to raise his hand at any Woman just like their Father had taught him. He would always flex about respecting Ladies so Chizoba knew she's gonna get away with this one and continues, "Nwánné m, wetin dey happen na? This is so unlike you, its half past ten am but you're still sleeping, I just came to check up on you," She says with her innocent and charming yet mischievous and annoying smile, at least to Emeka her elder brother.

Chiukwuemeka knew his little Sisters so well, this level of disturbance had to mean they had something serious to request and with Chizoba leading him to the dinner table, it was most certainly a good one, it meant Uju was the one in the kitchen, he wanted to be mad though because his sleep had just been abruptly interrupted but he just decided to play along. It was always a special something whenever the actual baby of the house was in the kitchen. Besides, not like it's anyone's fault anyways, after watching some Gaddaflips late in the night before, he grew tired but the bed was so uncomfortable, after various twists and turns on the bed trying to find a good spot, the right and comfortable angle to dose off but to no avail, he sought refuge finally on the bare floor, always super convenient and a lot of good things attached.

"Una no go gree me go baff?" He queries. "Won't you like it if I had a shower?"

"Nwánné, jịlịkéné nwáyóó ah! Be calming down, She says clenching his palms in hers. He stops thereby causing them both to stop. He stares at her a while.

"Bịà nwátá á, this child! Don't you know how old I was when you were born? Shey you no get respect?" She frowns a bit.

"Sorry Nwánné m," She lets go of his hand slowly and after rubbing his hand on his hair, he pockets them and rushes down the stairs. She moves slowly behind him.

"There's my baaabbby!" He exclaims as he opens his arms for an embrace and Uju comes running in, he lifts her into the air in the embrace and spins her around a bit.

"Nwánné m Nwọkè, good morning," She says hugging him again after he had dropped her. He lowers a bit and plants a kiss on her cheeks.

"Ké ụzó gị na Nné m?"

"I'm fine Nwánné, how was your night?"

He glances at an already seated Chizoba, "It would've been fine," She sticks her tongue out to him and he throws her a middle finger right behind Uju's back, "So what's for breakfast? I'm famished," He asks glancing over at the table while rubbing his palms together.

Uju pulls out a chair for him next to Chizoba and as he sits, she responds, "Pancakes, milk and a slice of apple," He laughs out loud.

"Nwá ńnà á, wetin be this? Which kain foreign dish be this one?" He says, Chizoba makes to hide her laugh.

"See Chi, stop laughing o, this was your idea," Uju notions.

"Me kwá? Bịkọ áká m ádịrọ ná yá o, No be dat kain person I be!" She responds immediately, "My hands no dey there, Màkà Nné m!"

"Wait, we're three, why a fourth plate? Is one of the servants coming to sit with us again?" Chiukwuemeka asks.

"No, but if they are, you got a problem with it?" Chizoba replies. He squints his eyes at her.

"Chizoba! Your mouth, that scissors in my room," Emeka says as he's seated across the table from her.

"My body, my FUCKING choice..." She replies confidently extending her middle finger in the process, causing Emeka to give her the stare a bit, eyes still squinted.

"Wait, where have I heard that line before?" He asks.

She realizing herself replies, "Yes o, I don't know o, I've forgotten, Ok, yes! It's some 21st century twenties hate speech slang directed against Women by Men which the Ladies skillfully turned around to their benefit against the useless Men, I love Ladies, I love Mayowa!Men are dumb."

"And you're saying it to me? Like seriously."

"I mean you're a Man you deserve to be insulted some more, that's all you guy..."

"Ngwá Ọbị Chizoba, jịlị nwayọọ!" Obianuju interrupts, "The fourth plate is for..."

One of the two doorguards opens up the main door and Uncle Akaji comes through fully kitted with his Ìgbo tribal regalia. The entire staff who had disappeared being here and there all came out to honor his presence.

"Why does he always do this? Tryna reap where he didn't sow," Chizoba remarks to the hearing of the trio. Chiukwuemeka throws a murderous glance at her.

"Chi baby be calming down na, he is of course not just only our Uncle but a Father figure to our sibling trio," Uju said trying to pacify the situation. She taps at Chizoba and with her face notions at Chiukwuemeka's sudden change of demeanor. Chizoba rolls her eyes nonchalantly.

As Chiukwuemeka stands to go welcome his Uncle, Chizoba says to Obianuju, "Girl, Emeka's just being an ass licker, he's fan boying over the old Man, what a piece of cock," Uju gasps and she hisses.

"Chizoba, ná éjị kwá nwáyó, be calming down o, may you no enter trouble, besides all Guys do that shit, always trying to kill or lick each other's ass to get to the top. Men are dumb you get? We all know that. Just let them be in their folly as long as they ain't in our way."

"Never o! Did our founding parents, the revolutionary voices calm down for the unification of Africa? No, never, they didn't! Though they were calm for a good number of years, it was simply their religions, propaganda and indoctrination that was used to convince our Africans that they could endure any form of sufferings, any hardships, that they could thrive in any economic state but with the advent of awareness on the dangers of religion and politics and most importantly the dangers of religion through the social media and the mental mobilization of youths across the continent now a country, we're now able to enjoy the Africa you see today, yes thanks to our founding parents, Mum and Dad's generation and the ones before them, Nkrumah, Lumumba, Gaddafi, Sankara, Traore, Mandela, Sekou Toure, Nasser, Njinga, Amanirenas, Nefertite, Cleopatra, Amina, Moremi and Yoko..." Uju yawns loudly.

"Is Chizoba boring you with her vast knowledge of ákịkóịféméré'mé (history)?" Uncle Akaji asks as he approaches the table, she yawns again as Chiukwuemeka pulls out a chair for uncle Akaji to sit.

"Ah ah! Nsọgbụ ádịrọ, Nné Nné yá, the Mother of her Mom, don't mind them o? They don't know that knowledge is power!" Uncle Akaji says as he extends his palm for a high five.

"And that's on periodt!" She says as she jams his palm with hers, "Good morning Ákọ."

"Ụtụtụ ómá Nwá m Nwáànyị, kédụ ká ímé?

"I'm fine Ákọ," He nods and turns to Uju.

"Ụtụtụ ómá Ìchịé," He stares at her coldly a bit.

In a mock voice he responds, "Ụtụtụ ómá Ìchịé!" Chizoba and Chiukwuemeka bursts into a self suppressed laughter, they both trying to hold their mouths, they arise and begin pacing around in laughter with Chizoba hitting on Emeka's biceps.

"You want me to greet you or answer your greetings?" He asks with a bass intonation, he chuckles and continues, "What ever you do in this life, never forget, 'The one who fails to learn from history..."

"...Is definitely doomed to repeat history," Chizoba completes the saying.

"How do you say it... And that's on periodt my sister! Yes, just like her darling mom," Chizoba sits with pride as Uju glances at Emeka now sitted adjacent her. He smirks and she pulls out a big laugh.

"Sorry..." Uju says.

"Stop apologizing too much, it makes you look weak," Uncle Akaji comments. Uju nods and he continues as normalcy was now restored.

"So you Girls, you Ladies sent for me, why?"

"Oh! I wanted to even ask you sef why you came around," Chiukwuemeka throws.

"Well, as your legal practitioner and Parent under the law for the mean time, I suppose I have as equal rights as you to this Uzoka property amongst other shey?"

Chizoba scoffs and under the table, Emeka kicks her on the shin but not faster than Uju who had already stepped on her foot. "Ouuuch!"

"Yes Ìchịé," Chiukwuemeka replies as if nothing happened.

"Anything the matter Chizoba?" Uncle Akaji asks with concern.

"Nothing o Ìchịé," She replies.

"Yes Ìchịé, it's probably just her play with Uju, you know, kids, ụmụ áká kịtá sha! Fá né mé kà ndị ntụ kụ pụ nà ịsị," He replies his Uncle as Chizoba eyes him in the most disrespectful manner she can conjure up.

"Ok Ladies, can you mind telling me why I was invited? Now look, I have a business meeting in Mai-Ndombe in the DRC region of the UMR in two hours, I have a plane to catch and you have fifteen minutes more."

"Ok Ìchịé, so we want to go to a real school, we're tired of home schooling," Chizoba calls out.

"Yes Uncle Ìchịé, we want real school," Uju adds.

He glances at them a long while and then turns to Emeka who avoids his gaze, he turns back to the Girls, "Why?"

"Ìchịé, we wanna socialize..." Chizoba clarifies.

"No, I know, your request is a good one, I have no problem or objections with your request, I only have a problem that the alleged Man of the house decided to be incapable!" Chiukwuemeka almost chokes on his piece of pancake, he knew he was being referred to.

"Ichié..."

"Chiukwuemeka nwa Onyebuchi nwà Uzoka nwà Mgbèké ná Ụmụezearoli, your Father was a leader, a great Man, I can go on and on but no, no time... You should be like your Dad Man! How can you be around and they are seeking Ìchịé Nnézụrụọkè Ákájị Ónyéọbọdọ nwá Ósọ́'bọdọ, the Ákụnnéjịnzụkóndịnná one! of Abiriba land in Abia province, bụ kwụ nwà (who is also the child of) Ónyéọbọdọ nwà Ábádọm nwà Mgbọnkwó nwà Ìyọm Mmélụnwá of Abiriba land in Abia province? No na!" He says glancing around, "It's not proper na!"

"Never forget, the African person's pride is greater than his achievement," Chizoba says to her self.

"But shey we have let that go and Africa is the greatest again," Uncle Akaji adds much to Chizoba's bewilderment.

"African girls and sense are like five and six." Uju says.

"And that's on periodt betch!" Chizoba replies Uju with a high five.

"Ok, no betching, biching or bitching on my table, now! Chiukwuemeka!"

"Ìchịé!"

"First of all, anything they want, handle it like the Man of the house that you are, you are greater than them, you are wiser than them, you're a man..."

Chizoba clears her throat," Ìchịé ńnà bịa." Chizoba stands up excusing herself. "I'm coming."

"Ébé ká ịná éjé?" Emeka queries, "Where are you going?"

"Ká njé nyụó ámịrị." She replies, "Lemme go take a tinkle."

"Why, màkà why?"

"Emeka ịná kụpụzị ná ịsị? Is something wrong with you?" Uncle Akaji asks.

"No Ìchịé, ndọ! Sorry!"

"Nné m, jé nyụpụrụ ọnwé gị ámịrị ọ?" As she leaves, he continues, "So tomorrow, I'll be sending you a few million Ègónné (Afrozx) so you can go change them to Nnefes and make sure them both are in school ok Chiukwuemeka?"

"Yes Ìchịé, you know I had actually just said that I'll wait on you..."

"Don't wait on me for anything, yes I'll be here to guide you but make your own mistakes, take your corrections and win, you're just 19 hypothetically speaking, logically you're 20 and that's the first stage of making mistakes and receiving corrections, you learn and you win. When you get to my age, experience is at its peak and your fame too and wisdom too."

He glances at the Boy by his side, at the Girl on his other side and the other coming down the stairs, "If I don't leave now, I'll be fifteen off the clock, have a nice day, thanks for the pancakes, of course, they hit a spot," He belches loudly, "Excuse me guys," As he stands up he adds, "Chiukwuemeka nwá Adamma nyà ná Onyebuchi, you're logically twenty, meaning you're a man, so act like one... That proves you're better than your sisters who are Girls," And with that he takes his leave, Chiukwuemeka stands to excort him out. Chizoba scoffs again. Uju gives Uncle Akaji the stares but says nothing. Chizoba makes to want to say something but Uju gives her a pleading stare, Chi reads, 'Let the sleeping donkeys lie.'

"Nné, ányị é mé gọ yá, (Babes, we've done it,) that your plan nice sha," Uju compliments her Sister as she arrives down the stairs.

"Ìchịé ná gbọọ o!" They chorus after him. He turns back and waves them a goodbye and continues on his way.

"So what happened na?"

"Chi, he told Nwánné that he'll send him some money dó ná ndé (in the millions) so he can enroll us in school tomorrow."

"Emeka should be in charge of the family wealth o, not for anything o but just because he's older than us, forget him being a Guy, Men no get sense, normally, but seriously why's an outsider handling our family wealth like this? Family friend my left back cheeks," Chizoba comments out of the blue.

"Sis, catch a break, give it a rest ah!" He shakes at her, "We're off to a real school, babe and that's all that matters right now," Chizoba smiles half heartedly and they begin to pack up the plates on the table to hand over to the maids. Chiukwuemeka always told them to wait for the maids to do their job but they actually really loved doing shit by themselves.

"Fast before Emeka comes back o," Chizoba adds.

"Abi? Before he fires one of these maids again," Uju adds.

"So las las which school na?" Chi inquires.

"Ah, you don forget?" Uju asks as they hand the plate to one of the maids at the kitchen entrance.

"Okaaaaay, African Savannah high school, Awka, right?"

"Yes, formerly British Spring college." Uju says to Chizoba who smiles broadly.

"I love the Motherland!" She says to Uju and exclaims, "The Union of the Motherland Republics, Ụsóró ụmụ Ánịóhá Ánịnné, my Africa! Ánịnné m!"

"Ká nchálụgị kịtá! May I comot go one side before you quiz me some history now... For some reason."

Chizoba pulls out her phone, "Nooo, it's just that Ákwụkwó Osagyefo nó ná Sankara (A segment of the UMR journalism block) put out this Morning that Ụnó Lumumba (The UMR Parliament) announced that the reshuffling of the UMR parliament will be in a few days."

"What the hell is that one about?"

"Girl, are you even a citizen?"

"E no really concern me, I'm just happy that the UMR is functioning properly without interferences from outside organizations in the name of investors and foreign aids," Ujunwa says.

Chizoba nudges at her biceps, "Look who's learning from her big Sister," She exclaims with a chuckle. Ujunwa stares at her a while and she continues, "Ah, why are you looking at me like that, Oya, wait, sorry, we're age mates."

"Ákịkó, as how na? Me wey commot outside before you," Uju replies.

"Oooook, if it's like that then my Leg came out first, the doctors tied my leg with a white rope, you know that na? Nné ányị ózó (Aunty) Oluebubendinne, that idiot Man's beautiful wife verified it, she was there."

"Leave our sweet Ebube Nné ányị ózó (Aunty Ebube) out of this, I still came out first..."

"I introduced the world to you..." Chizoba retaliates.

"Nope, you saw the world and went to hide for months on months... Coward!" Uju says.

"You stayed in the incubator for months but I'm supposed to be the weakling?"

"Instead of you to be thanking me every day for waiting for you like a good Big Sister, Wicked girl," Uju says sitting on the stairs.

"Táá! Big Sister my black back cheeks, My leg came out first, I'm older than you."

"My entire body came out before your own. Your leg may be older than me, but my entire body is older than you."

"That may be the case, but it doesn't matter because you went back to hide for a few more months.

"You're drifting from the point, we were talking about the Motherland," Chizobam says.

"See you, you don accept defeat."

"Ujunwa, you sef rest."

"Oooooo, sorry, I have heard you. So, It's common knowledge. And we only have our founding parents to thank, the Ancestors, our fallen but eternal heroes!"

"No cap, you're so for real right now but I'm still going to explain to you how Sankara and the parliament works," Uju covers her ears, stands up and begins running up the stairs as Chizoba loud and explanatory races after her spitting facts.

"Nné bịkọ zịénụ! Leave me the hell alone..."

"No, you must learn, you can't be my Sister, my bestie, my partner in crime and not know what I know..."

"Lalalalalalala," Uju keeps running up the stairs with both her index fingers in both ears. She's making the sound to block out her Sister's own but she forgets that they Ladies are the loudest beings in the Galaxy, it's a good thing because one can hear them scream from miles away.

"Chi, please now, áyịyó ká nnáyó gị, na beg I dey beg, I beg of you..."

"No Obianuju, you must learn!"

"Chai, ánwụlánụ m lé o! (Y'all, I don die o!)..."

"Nooooo, not before you finish listening," Uju quickly runs into the semi open room and shuts Chizobam outside.

"Mméééégị!" She mock her Sister, "You can educate the spirits of the woods there, ọkpọ!"

"Shey Nné ányị don save you from this one? No fear, next time still dey, shey na me and you get room? You go still Las Las open am na."

"Táá! Get out! Wáá ébéá!" Uju exclaims from the other side.

"No wam, one nought..." Chizoba says moving along.

"Táá! Wáá ébéá óịsó!

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