At last…I’m smiling at the thoughts going on in Folakemi’s mind. You see, I had promised her based on one of my Freedom Friday to talk about lies and how I handled a case.
As a child (I’m sure most children were like this …I don’t know about ‘nowadays-children’ o!), and growing up and surrounded by many family members whom I loved dearly, many things I was told I believed. Especially when I was made a promise by an older person. Don’t get me wrong, I knew right from wrong and so didn’t fall into the category of gullible young girls who listened and believed every story. But I had an Uncle whom my Dad calls “*Wayo Imeh”. I thought that was his name and in my innocence I addressed him as such in his absence. Until a day, he called me to wish me happy birthday and made a promise to buy me some gift (I can’t even remember what he promised, but you see I never forgot either). Whilst still on the call, he asked to talk with Dad and he enquired who it was I was talking to and I answered “Uncle Wayo Imeh”. I got a sharp rebuke and scolding from the earpiece.
“Who are you calling “Wayo Imeh”?
Innocently I replied, “You, Uncle.”
“Idi afe asong? Meaning Are you okay? Is that my name?!
“Yes, that’s what Daddy usually calls you”, I replied feeling sober and upset he had said that to me on my birthday, when I had done no wrong. After all, I added ‘Uncle’ to his name. Oh, the thoughts on a child’s mind…LOL.
After I had handed the phone to my father, I went to ask my mum what was Uncle’s name and to my shock she simply said “Imeh”. Did I let it rest? No! I needed to know why Daddy and other elderly people called him “Wayo Imeh or Imeh Wayo” so I prodded her on and she replied because he plays a lot of “Wayo” and the name stuck. Did Uncle live up to his name, yes as he didn’t give me my present (till date) and some other promises he didn’t keep. I felt really bad because as a child, I expected adults to be truthful.
*Wayo means deceit
*Imeh means Patience
FAST FORWARD…to modern times
My help had celebrated her birthday and we got her a cake so she’d feel our appreciation. I asked her to take some to her family (brother and wife with child) in Lagos whom she said resided in Agege. I live in Lekki axis, so it’s quite a distance. While discussing with my King if to let her go there or not, I had my doubts if she would return same day and she said she would. To help facilitate this, we allowed her leave early on the said day. By 6pm, she wasn’t back so I started calling her and she didn’t pick my calls. After a while, about 8pm or so, I called her again and she picked and I asked where she was, thinking she was probably held up in traffic. Only to be told “Aunty, I’m not coming back today, I’m helping my brother’s wife and she says I should stay.”
Yeah! The picture in your head does not add up to the real picture of how mad I was. And to think that she didn’t even have the courtesy to call and tell me this and ask for permission to do that. I gave her an ultimatum, if she didn’t return, not to bother. Something told me she wasn’t at her brother’s place. Case in point, she had wrapped 2 big chunks of cake differently and when I asked why she didn’t put them together since they were going to the same place, she replied that the wrapping foil wouldn’t go round. See story o!!! I indulged her.
Well 🙂 she got back from Agege in less than 2 hours wink wink I didn’t say much but she heard VOLUMES from my silence. And in the morning, we had the AIDS, Protection and Abstinence discussion, as before now we had had the Pregnancy and Ebola discussion. I’m sure I made your day Folakemi LOL
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