Checkmate Episode 5 (By Adeyoola Ojemola)

Theresa had one thought as she looked at the pregnant woman before her: How is one person this beautiful?

 

Taking her face towel, she wiped her face dry, trying to stand up and address the pregnant woman before her. She remembered her face; she was one of the choristers, and she sang so beautifully too.

 

“Good afternoon, ma. I am fine, ma. Thank you for asking, ma.”

 

Daniella looked at her more keenly.

 

“You don’t seem so.”

 

She looked at Theresa’s feet and saw that her slippers were mismatched. Then, looking back at her face, she noticed how puffy her eyes were from so much crying.

 

‘Have you eaten?’ she asked.

 

Theresa, still on her feet, responded quickly with a ‘No problem ma, I am fine ma’.

 

Daniella, looking at her as though she were a baby sister, smiled so lovingly, pulled at Theresa’s hand and said, “This baby inside seem to be making her mother hungry, please go with me so I don’t eat alone. Please!”

 

Not knowing what to do and short of refutable words, Theresa responded with a solemn “Okay ma,” saying in her heart that, “Father, You knew I was hungry, even when I hadn’t asked. I trust You even more now.”

 

They both entered a food canteen just across their church on the other side of the road. Theresa was busily thanking God for the daily bread she was about to get, simply choosing not to bother about the weight heavy upon her.

Daniella was thinking, “Food is the least of my worries right now! What am I doing for God’s sake!” but deep down, it just seemed right, perfect even.

 

As they entered the food canteen, the food seller just shouted, “Ounje eeyan kan lo ku o” (Just one portion of food is left o’).

 

Daniella retorted back, “Iru ounje wo?” (What type of food?).

 

The woman, not bothering to respond to the initial question, said, “Ki n ta wa abi ki n fi sile?” (Should I serve it or leave it alone?)

 

Daniella was already getting irritated and decided she had had enough rudeness from the woman. She simply wanted to tell Theresa that they should look elsewhere but then she thought that she didn’t want to eat initially. Not wanting to stress Theresa, she told the food seller to sell it.

 

Lo and behold, it was a generous serving of pounded yam and egusi soup with bush meat. The soup had sufficient bites of ponmo, dried fish, and cow intestines.

 

The food seller asked again, “Mimu nko?” (What about a drink?). 

 

Daniella ordered two bottles of cola drink.

 

After the drinks were served, Daniella encouraged Theresa to dig in. At first, Theresa was reluctant to ask but she did.

 

“What about you ma?”

 

“Me? I dislike pounded yam with passion. God knew I wouldn’t eat it even if there were many portions. What a funny Daddy. To think I was going to let you miss a delicacy like that! Please eat sister… What is your name ma?” Daniella said all that in high spirits.

‘Theresa, ma’ she replied. 

Theresa said nothing more. She simply rinsed her hand and ate the food. While she ate, tears were streaming down her face. Her nose began to run, and she used the lower tip of her blouse to clean her nose. As she ate, the tears wouldn’t stop.

 

Daniella, at first, wanted to get up and console her in any way possible. But she felt glued to her chair and kept wondering why she had crossed paths with this woman. She watched as Theresa ate and cried, or cried and ate. She couldn’t even decide what exactly it was she did more.

 

She looked around the canteen, and the food seller was not in sight. Thankfully, that felt good as she wondered if she would say something about the crying woman that might cause her irritation again.

 

Daniella watched Theresa finish every bite of the food, hand-lick the plate super clean, crush the bones of whatever meat was served to her, including the dried fish bones, and also the entire bottle of cola.

 

Theresa could only think within her that, “Father, this soup is sweet! This meat tastes so good! This meal is heavenly! What other food can be better than this right now! Thank You for this provision! What can I do without You! You provided this meal for me! Now I have strength to face whatever is next! I refuse to not enjoy this manna sent to me!”

 

The more she ate, she bothered less about the tears and focused solely on enjoying the meal and praising God for it. In fact, Daniella seemed invisible the moment she began to devour the meal. Until she finished the meal, she didn’t look up, and her tears didn’t stop flowing.

 

Just as she was finishing the cola after the meal, the food seller came in, “Mo fe pale mo o, e she kia o!” (I want to clean up, hurry up!). 

 

Before Daniella could respond, Theresa said, “Mo ti setan ma, e le wa ma.”

 

The middle-aged woman walked up and began packing the dishes. As she was about to turn away, Theresa said, “Mummy, ounje yin dun o. Eseun ma. Amo se e n binu siwa ni? E o yo mo wa daada ma” (Mummy, your food is very delicious. Thank you. But are you angry with us? You were not really welcoming, ma).

 

The woman, shocked at first, responded with, “Ema ma binu, ko ribe. Omo mi lo sere lo lataaro. Kaka ti yio fi wa ba mi sise, n o ri. Mo si ni ipade to ye kin lo. Amo, tin ba ta ounje tan n le ti soobu. Owo o gbodo sofo” (I am sorry, I didn’t mean that. My child went off since morning and has not come back even when he could have helped me out. I have a meeting to attend, but if I don’t sell all the food I cooked, I can’t close the canteen. Money must not go to waste).

‘Ko si yonu ma. Epele’ Theresa responded. As the woman packed the dishes, Daniella followed her to pay the bill while Theresa waited. Returning, Daniella asked if Theresa will be returning to the church with her, nodding affirmatively, Theresa stood up and together, they walked back to church in silence. Each was to her thoughts, not sharing any talks yet feeling comfortable with the other’s presence. 

Daniella walked to where she sat previously and as though on cue, Theresa followed suit and sat right next to her. ‘Thank you for buying me the meal, it was God sent. I don’t have money to repay you but when next you will like to change your hairdo, please reach out to me. I will give you my contact so you can call me. I make hair for a living.’ Theresa said while not making eye contact with Daniella.

Daniella on the other hand, kept her gaze fastened on Theresa, waiting for her to finish talking before interjecting. ‘You are welcome and you don’t have to repay me. I believe I was led to do that for you. Also, you seem lost, Sister Theresa. You are wearing two separate slippers. Something must have warranted that. Are you alright?’

As Daniella spoke, she saw Joshua walk into the church. Their eyes meet, but she immediately evades his’ and fixes it on Theresa.

 

Wheeeew!

Something huge seems to be brewing up between Theresa and Daniella. What do you think that might be? Let’s discuss in the comments! And don’t forget—Episode 6 is on the way. You can try the link below to see if it has dropped.

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Checkmate Episode 6