Chapter 4

Weeks after Philip's visit to Ame's place, the Obasogies were in their family living room, having a family time out, watching a movie and cracking general jokes of related past incidents. 

Ame sat on the sofa near her parents' two-seater 'love seat' as it was fondly called by Segun, their elderly cousin from their father's side, who was currently absent. Osahon, her athletic teenage brother, who was in his second year at a federal university, studying architecture, sat to her left, fiddling with the controls of the television remote. 

Osaro was telling his own version of a particularly funny incident in which Ame was a principal actor and all the family had burst into laughter.

"Not fair, dad!" Ame protested amid the laughter. "Why don't we get to hear of Segun or even Osahon's silly escapades?! And I'm supposed to be your princess!" she said as she laughed.

"Eei! I thank God I was not a princess that cried because I wasn't given a cup of beer from a commercial!" Osahon quipped, laughing.

"Don't let me start with your own o, prince royal," his mother had teased and they all roared out in laughter. The movie faded into the shadow as the Obasogies had the time of their lives.

"Mom! Let coz Segun return and tell us your own..." Osahon retaliated and his sister took it up for him.

"...how you fed dad strong rice on your first Christmas together!" Ame finished and they all burst out laughing.

Rosa hit her husband playfully on his side and flung one of the throw pillows at her children. "You snitch! None of the children were born then!" She laughed as her husband grabbed her head playfully. It was a happy time for them.

The shrill ringing of the table phone near Osahon brought an end to the joyful family time as they all quietened down as Osahon, who was nearest to the phone, picked it up. He spoke into it briefly then heaved a sigh of relief as he passed it to his sister, mouthing 'Dapo' as the receiver passed from him to his sister.

"Hello," Ame spoke into the mouthpiece. "Oh, yes," she answered the caller. "Everyone is great," she laughed as she looked at her family. Osahon made a face at her and she playfully hit him. "Oh...er, that's not going to be possible, I'm sorry...there's an engagement lined up for me then...okay, let's see how it goes...thanks...warm regards to yours too...bye." She ended the call on her own side and handed the receiver back to her brother who placed it carefully back on its cradle. His attention was now fully back to the movie.

Ame appeared flustered as she settled back on her seat. 

"Was that Dapo?" Rosa asked her daughter, drawing a raised eyebrow from her husband beside her.

"Yes," Ame answered curtly, not wanting to be drawn into any further discussion.

"What did he say?" Even Osahon was surprised at his mother's question. He turned slightly towards her and frowned but Rosa ignored him, as she gave her full attention to her daughter, who was already pouting in her seat.

Ame looked at her mother defiantly and replied with controlled calmness, "He asked me to accompany him to a gala night."

Rosa frowned deeply as she hissed. "And of course, you turned him down! Turned him down," she repeated emphatically, turning angrily at her husband. "You are the cause of this, Osaro!" she accused him, then turned back to her daughter, furiously wagging a finger at her. "You will do well to start nurturing your relationship with Dapo Adejare! You must be joking if you think you have a future with the nonentity you brought home the other day!"

"Mom!" Osahon had cried incredulously at the same time as his father had shouted, 'Rosa!'

"Stay out of this, you!" Rosa told Osahon angrily. She was indignant at her son. Trust him to be ever supportive of his sister, even in her indiscretions! Ame's eyes welled up in tears as she fought hard to get a hold on herself. Mrs Obasogie raved on. "And since when did an Obasogie's daughter become a mere whim in the very hands of nobodies?!"

"He's not a NOBODY!" Ame screamed at her mother, daring to defy her this time around. "I'm an adult, mom, AN ADULT! And, like I have told you severally, I am not interested in Dapo Adejare! You can't choose for me ANYMORE!" Ame covered her face with her palms but the tears coursed down her face freely. 

Osahon put his hands protectively around his sister, consoling her. His father gave a perfunctory cough, thus putting an end to any further squabbling. Rosa looked on angrily, her lips pursed in annoyance. Ame wept softly while her brother patted her back gently. The atmosphere was generally tense. 

"Osahon, please switch off the TV and then escort your sister to her room," Osaro instructed his son grimly. Osahon obeyed his father and led his whimpering sister to her room. 

Osaro broke the uncomfortable silence that trailed their children's exit. It was in times like this that his values clashed with that of his wife's and he knew that absolute care was needed to pass his message across to her. Rosa could be obstinate at times. "Rosa! Be a mother, not a match maker!" he rebuked her gently.

"Easy for you to say that, Osaro! You are the one leading her on! Imagine approving of that boy she brought home the other day! A penniless and nameless nobody! How can you approve of such?" She drew daggers at her husband.

Osaro drew his wife closer to him. "Rosa!" he chided softly, smiling at her sadly. "Philip is a good man. He may be a 'nobody', to quote your own words, today, but he has very good prospects. Remember that he already has a first class degree in Microbiology from one of the best universities in the country. And, he has the fear of God, plus, he loves our daughter deeply." He lifted her face to his own. "What more could a father ask of a son-in-law?" he asked his wife quietly.

Rosa snatched her face away from her husband's hold, still angry. "He's no son-in-law of mine! I don't approve of him!" she protested.

Osaro smiled sadly again and drew his wife into his embrace once more. "What specifically don't you like about him?" he queried gently as he probed her further.

"He...he ogled at the food, and he...he...was starring at the house," Rosa fumbled, the fight in her dampening. Her husband laughed softly and rubbed her back fondly.