Soulful Return by Fidelis O. Mkparu

Author:Fidelis O. Mkparu
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: immigrant, nigeria, guerilla war, return home, africa nigeria
Publisher: DX Varos Publishing

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Later that morning, while sitting in the family room mulling over what to do about Elisha’s divorce petition, I heard a knock on the front door. I tucked my father’s notebook under a cushion before answering. Ejike, doused with sweat, walked into the house with two men as soon as I’d opened the door. The two men were tall, with protruding eyeballs, and dressed in black suits. They stood close to the front door as Ejike sat in my father’s chair. His audacious behavior angered me.

“Ejike, do you mind getting out of my father’s chair? No, forget that. Get your ass off the chair,” I said.

“It’s my house too. I can sit anywhere I want,” Ejike said. First it was my land that he’d wanted, and now he’d returned to claim my house. What else was left for him to claim?

Ejike was recalcitrant after my request. The two men wandered around the family room and into the living room without any introduction.

“You’re not welcome in my house anymore,” I said.

“Your house? This place belongs to me too.”

“I’ll ask you for the last time to get your ass off my chair.”

“That’s all you learned in America, boasting and threatening,” Ejike said. He stood up and stepped closer to me, as if sizing me up.

“If you keep this up, you’ll push me to kick your fat ass,” I said.

“You’ve added insults now. That one I’ll not forgive.” The men with him were watching without intervening. They kept silent, as if deaf to the verbal combat.

Pointing his finger at me, Ejike said, “After you run back to America, everything will belong to me.” Then he walked toward the door, still pointing his finger at me, and the two men followed him. I was confused about the purpose of his visit. Was he unraveling? If it was an attempt to intimidate me, he’d failed.

“Gentlemen, I didn’t even get your names,” I said. The men turned and then smiled for the first time.

One said, “Afunugo Okeke, sir. I’m the local government chairman. We were told you came home.”

“I’m his security escort, sir,” the other man said without giving his name.

“Why are you in my house?”

“Your brother came to us with some issues. We’ll discuss that some other time. I’m here to meet you,” Afunugo said.

“I’m ready to discuss it now,” I said.

“We’re leaving,” Ejike told me.

“Hold on, Ejike. I’ve heard you and what you wanted to say. I want to hear what your men have to say,” I said.

“We’re not his men. Ejike is a good friend. He’s the local chairman of my political party. A good man,” Afunugo said.

“I wonder how you define a good man. He’s shifty. Trying to cheat my family out of our lands that we’ve held for generations. That’s not a good man.”

Ejike rushed toward me. When I stood astride and raised my fist, he stopped. I remembered when I used to throw punches at him when we fought in grade school, but his fat belly was my target that day.

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