Page 45 of Cursed Daughters
“Ebun is killing it,” said Tolu.
“Still,” began Aunty Kemi, “A ò m? ?kan tí obìnrin ma dì kó tó gbélé ?k?.” Monife translated it to herself and then repeated it in English for Golden Boy’s benefit—“We do not know what a womanwill become until she marries.” How Ebun would have hated her mother’s reaction to her accolades.
Ebun’s speech was followed by prizegiving, during which she was acknowledged twice. And then the principal spent the rest of the time taking advantage of the large audience by advertising the school’s achievements, while Bunmi muttered thatshewould never be so boastful about her own school.
Mo zoned out and squeezed the hand holding hers. Golden Boy turned to her and smiled. Things between them were great. He still showed up for her, still spent time with her, still spoke to her for hours on end. And yet something had been dislodged when she met his mother, and she couldn’t figure out how to put it back in place.
The ceremony ended and Ebun found her way through the crowd to reach them.
“Congratulations, love,” Mo said. She remembered then that she hadn’t followed up with Ebun about asking her father for money. She had got caught up in her own drama. She gave her cousin a hug and wondered if she imagined the stiffness in Ebun’s body.
It was quickly decided that Tolu would drive the mothers home in the beat-up car and Ebun would ride with Mo and Golden Boy. They got to the vehicle as Oba jogged up to them, blue robes fluttering behind him.
“Can I hitch a ride?”
“Sure,” Golden Boy said, and Oba hustled into the back beside her cousin. Mo looked out of the window whilst Golden Boy chatted cheerfully.
“Are you excited about uni?” he asked Ebun.
“No.”
“No? Why?”
“It’s just more work.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” announced Oba. “More independence. A new environment. You make new friends…” Mo remembered that Oba would be leaving for the UK and furtheringhis education there. She squashed the envy that was threatening to rise.
“I’ve seen you talking to strangers…it ain’t pretty,” Ebun said.
Oba laughed along. “I’ll get better.”
“Meeting new people is just stressful j?`.”
“What about guys?” asked Oba.
“What about them?”
“You’re not interested in dating?” asked Golden Boy. Mo twisted her body, to better hear what Ebun would say, but her cousin only sighed.
—
They dropped Oba off first, in front of a charming home that may have lacked the grandeur of Golden Boy’s house but was attractive in its own right. When they arrived at the Falodun home, Ebun said a quick thanks, then jumped out of the car and disappeared up the drive. Golden Boy turned off the engine and began to drum his fingers on the wheel. Mo could tell there was something on his mind, so she waited.
“My mother has been going on about some chick.”
“What do you mean?”
“Try not to get mad, okay. I am being straight with you here…”
“Kalu, what do you mean?”
“She is the daughter of a friend of my mum’s. And they want us to meet.”
“You have a girlfriend.”
“I know.”
“Tell her no.”
