Page 72 of Cursed Daughters
Eniiyi offered the brochures to Ebun, who reluctantly took them. She recognised the names. They were good schools; a little expensive, but good.
“What has brought this on? You don’t like your current school?”
“School is fine. But I…I think this will be good for me.”
“Boarding school is a big deal.”
“I know.”
How to say that she didn’t want to let Eniiyi out of her sight. The world could be hard on a young woman and she had heard stories of the things that took place in boarding school.
“You know it’s not like living at home. You will be expected to do as you’re told, when you’re told; you’ll be responsible for washing your clothes and making your bed…” Her words drifted off. Eniiyi had raised her eyebrow midway through her speech. Ebun had to admit that the things she was saying were not all that different from what Eniiyi was required to do at home. “Okay, well if we dothis, you better know you will finish school there. I am not going to change your school every other term because you aren’t feeling it any more.”
“You won’t have to.”
Was she imagining it, or was there a little attitude in the girl’s response?
“Boarding school can be tough. They don’t mollycoddle children.”
“I don’t think I am mollycoddled here.” The girl had a point. But the house wouldn’t be the same without her. Eniiyi lacked the grumpiness of her twelve-year-old peers. She smiled freely and often and was generous with her time. Her daughter had inherited all the best qualities of the women in the house, and apart from her stubbornness had managed to avoid their flaws.
“What about Sango? He’ll miss you.”
“I’ll see him during the holidays.”
If Eniiyi was prepared to leave the dog, then she must be serious.
“Well. Let me…let me think about it and get back to you.”
“Promise you’ll think about it properly.”
“I promise.”
And she did. Initially she planned to say no, but the more she thought about it, the more sense it made. Eniiyi had recognised what Ebun had refused to face—their home wasn’t a healthy environment for her. What better way to blossom than to get far away from the home she shared with her dead aunt?
She broke the news to the grandmas.
“I hope you told her no,” said Aunty Bunmi.
“Actually, I am going to let her do it.”
“Are you mad? They rape people in boarding schools! And they cook them horrible food!”
“Aunty, we will be able to check on her. We will go for her visiting days and—”
“Why are you doing this to me?”
“I’m not doing it to you, Aunty. I am doing this for her.”
Her mother said little, except “I hope you have thought this through.”
When she told Eniiyi, her daughter ran to her and wrapped her arms around her as she jumped up and down. The girl had already reached her height.
“Thank you! Thank you! Can I start this term?”
“Well, we’ll have to apply, visit, find the one you like…”
Eniiyi shrugged. “I’m sure I’ll like any of them.”
