“Not at all. I came for my uncle's funeral.”
“Hiss. Are you proud to call him your uncle? You have the money to throw around,” Dora declared sarcastically. They laughed happily, and she continued, “Welcome back, all the same. How is your family?”
“My family is good.”
Now, Evans, was not happy when he saw Joe opened the gate, so, he walked out of the group while Sarah continued chatting with her relations.
“Frank,” He called out. Frank, who was behind him, appeared at once.
“Yes, uncle.”
“Good. Arrange for someone to man that gate. The children cannot do that.”
“I got it, uncle.”
“Oh my God!” Sarah screamed. Now, Evans and Frank halted and looked at her. Evans had to walk back to her when he saw her looked on in trepidation, and Frank followed.
“Oh!” Evans exclaimed when he saw the source of her fear.
“Don't panic. It came to welcome the children to their maternal homes,” Emma pointed out. Now, Sarah had moved closer to her husband, and he encouraged her, “Calm down. It won't attack.”
Now, the adults got more revelation about the mysterious visit. It never allowed the children to see it because they would be scared and not be free to play around.
“How do you know, my in-law?” Evans asked.
“The Chief Priest said so. It arrived the day Callum brought his children. Since then, we did not see it again except today.”
“This is serious.”
“I greet you, Mr. Aaron,” the Chief Priest greeted. Then he looked at Evans and greeted too, “I greet you, my in-law. You are welcome.”
“Thank you, Chief Priest,” Evans acknowledged. Then Frank greeted, but Sarah was too frightened to speak.
“I can see that our grandchildren are around. They are welcome to their maternal home. We beg to take our leave.”
Before Evans, Sarah, Frank and Dickson, who were witnessing the mysterious reception for the first time could process the situation, the Chief Priest, who just barged in had walked out of the compound and his python followed. To their consternation, mama, and her mate, were not disturbed. They were relaxed and smiling.
“We can never know it all,” the forty-five years old Dickson, who had been abroad since he was twenty years, remarked.
“You are right,” his mother supported. She had stopped opposing the traditionalists. She had realized that it is only God that is omniscient and unfathomable.
“We did not offer the Chief Priest any cola nut,” Evans pointed out.
“Yes, my in-law. I will send for him,” Emma declared.
“Okay,” he responded. Then, he turned to his wife and advised, “You need to rest. Come with me.”
“All right. Mama, uncle and everyone, see you later,” Sarah, who thought that they were leaving for the hotel, greeted cheerfully.
“We, are you going?” Her mother asked.
“We are going to a hotel. We will come back tomorrow morning,” she explained innocently. Now all eyes were on Evans, who had a smug smile on his face as he took his wife away.
“Let me say hello to my sister before we leave,” she pleaded. Frank, who could not comprehend what his big sister meant by 'going to a hotel', excused himself.
“Excuse me, uncle. I will get the gate man.”
“Okay.”
“Why gate man?” Sarah asked. Before she could get the response, her sister, and her husband, who had been waiting for them to come in, appeared suddenly to welcome them.
“Uncle Callum. Big sister. It's nice seeing you,” Sarah greeted happily.
“It's pleasant seeing you, too. We have been waiting for you to come in since we saw the children.”
“We have been with Uncle Emma and mama.”
“I see. How was your trip?”
“Our trip was fine.”
“Welcome, my in-law,” Ada greeted Evans, who was walking briskly towards the building. “Thank you, my in-law,” he responded hastily.
“Let me join him. We are leaving for a hotel now.”
“Hotel!” The sister exclaimed. Nevertheless, Sarah had caught up with her husband, who was in the front of one of the buildings. Callum, who was part of the game, dragged his wife and they tagged along. To Sarah's amazement, her husband walked into the apartment and she followed.
“Are you familiar with the occupants?” She asked, hoping that her husband wished to say 'hello' to the inhabitants. To her surprise, she saw her children, with the help of their cousins, arranging their things.
“What are you doing here?” She asked enthusiastically.
“The driver said that it is our house,” Lillian responded innocently.
“That's where you will stay for the moment. Uncle Emma arranged for it,” Ada explained. Now, Sarah believed her sister more than she believed her daughter.
“That is thoughtful of him,” she said with excitement. “It is better than being in a hotel and shuttling every day,” she pointed out and took her seat.
“I'm glad that you like the arrangements,” Evans pointed out.
“Why not. The place is fine,” she remarked. Now, Callum and his wife had taken their seats and Ada commended, “You are right. I'm certain that Uju would love it too.”
“Certainly. She would love it,” Ada agreed. Now, Evans had excused himself and walked upstairs. He was glad to see his children and their cousins playing the online games in their room. He walked into his bedroom and changed to house clothes before he returned to the parlor. His wife was surprised at his level of familiarization, and she teased.
“Hubby, you are very much at home. Did you know about this arrangement before now?”
Now, the question put Evans on the spot, and he swallowed hard. Callum, who was afraid that his face may betray him, looked at his phone and attempted to turn it on.
“Go and change into a simple wear and pull off your shoes or your legs would ache.” Ken instructed, just to evade the question.
“You are right. Excuse me,” she said and walked upstairs. Meanwhile, Evans walked to the refrigerator and got a bottle of wine and glass cups.
“You are indeed very at home,” Ada pointed out, and they laughed happily. Soon, Sarah returned with her simple house wears and joined in the merriment. Subsequently, Frank returned with ten youths, who were willing to work as gate men.