Prieto passed beside her, greeting " well done ma", in her usual way of answering him she said "nnua o".
The woman is an hefty lady, married to Prieto's grand Pa's servant. She will sit at the oven, pouring well dried fermented cassava into the heating pan that is beared underneath a furious fire. Heating the pan in a clay muddy built enclosed kitchen, that conserves heat to support the frying. It's a process of turning cassava into something durable, such as the flakes. The well known garri. Mama Ejima stayed put in the heated enclosure, sweating profusely, turning the pad in her hands left and right, apart and put together. So that the wet cassava shaft can dry off, to be fried into fine gravel texture. She does this process each time her fermented cassava is ready to be worked on. At the end of the process, she bags 4 sacks of this palm oil garri to sell at the market. In doing this, they have money to spend in the village. This happens to be the regular business, for most of the women in the village.
Prieto's mother was yet to report back to the kitchen, Prieto walked close to the entrance of the kitchen to see, if his mother was in there. There was a boiling pot of soup on the fire, when he looked through. He was still holding on to his towels and other things, but the subtle heat of the fire from the kitchen, made him stay at the entrance. Partaking the pleasant warmth, neutralizing the cold shivering his body. Soon enough her mother came to the kitchen, " what took you so long at the river", Prieto looking at the pot of soup on the fire, perceiving it aroma. The surrounding corners of the kitchen was littered with vegetable sticks and bones of dried fish. Sighting another gallon of red oil, at the top of the barn. Prieto smiles to himself. His mother told him to go inside and wear another clothe. "Drop the towel at the hanger behind the door". His mother reminds him. I have placed the bowl of Eba on the table, let me finish with the soup, I will bring it over.
He walked tiredly to the house, dragging his feet with the slippers on his foot. Prieto entered the house, turning to the water pot side holding up a cup. Uncovering the top lid with his left hand, to take some water to the table. He first drank from the cup, before taking another to the table to quench the thirst coming from the dry throat, as a result of the weed smoke he took. Prieto gulp down five swallow, and he felt refreshed. Another cup of water landed beside the bowl of garri, placed there by his mother. Prieto sat on the chair, the table where the food was still Incompletely placed was in front of him. He was looking at the hot Eba, with it steaming brittle flames. His mother heaped the bowl as usual. He got up from where he sat and helped himself to get water to wash his hands, using the basin. Soon enough, his mother came in with the sauced vegetable soup in a plate. The whole parlour was enveloped with it aroma. The plate of soup, came steaming hot. Another good delicacy to remember, Prieto thought. As soon as his mother placed the soup on the table, Prieto slice off a handful of Eba into the vegetable soup. He knot his fingers to pack the vegetable leave sauced, to enjoy the good taste of his mother's dish. A measured swallow he took into his mouth, the garri balls slide swiftly down his throat, while he munch on the vegetable sauce in his mouth. His other attempt to swallow, landed on the stock and fresh fish in the soup, which were already garnish with proper ingredients. Prieto kept scooping his hands into his mouth, enjoying every bit of other slices in the soup. His mother came in to share table with him, with her own food.
They both ate their food without talking. Anyway, this time his mother talked less. Prieto thought; maybe she was a little more hungry this time tonight. Whatever the case maybe, it is better of eating in this decent manner of not talking at all. Appreciatively, he reached for another cup to get his mother some water from the pot. He placed it in front of her. His mother drank from the cup and ask him for more. Prieto got some more from the pot and handed it over to her, she collected it and drank as much as she can, to force down the food she had been eating since, without the intake of water to refresh the process. She ate all the food in her plate, infront of her son. Prieto could not help the satisfied feeling from this nourishment, eating and at the same time watching her mother too. Most importantly, seeing her well fed.A
fter eating. She finished eating and sat up in a relax mode with her back on the chair. Prieto was still eating from his own plate, though the quantity of food served into Prieto's plate was more than what his mother ate. After his mother had relaxed to her satisfaction, she stood up packing her plates off to the cupboard sides in a bucket. She moved outside to the frontage of the house to meet mama Ejima. She and Prieto's mother always sit together at that time of the night, talking and discussing all kinds of matter arising before going into their houses. This time, their gist centered about her son's youth service. Mama Ejima asked Prieto's mother about important things that are to be in place, as regards her son's welfare on his journey. Prieto's mother said "she blessed God." Everything is under control Mama Ejima; she said. Infact, Prieto would be leaving for jos next tomorrow. Really! Mama Ejima sounded with such surprise. As Prieto was eating inside, almost rounding up his food he could hear the both of them talking.