Half of a Yellow Sun Page #2

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- My Auntie!

- How is your mother?

- She's good.

Oh!

May another person do for you.

May another person do for you.

Ahh...

Cousin!

You should've warned us

that you were coming.

At least we would've swept

the yard better.

- Cousin, you look well.

- Thank you.

There are stories to tell.

So you are going to Nsukka

to marry Odenigbo, Sister?

I don't know about marriage yet,

but I want to be closer to him.

And I want to teach.

The way you describe him,

you had better not wait!

'A special woman

is arriving this weekend. '

Very special.

Make sure the house is clean.

I'll order the food from the staff club.

But, sah, I can cook.

She likes her rice a certain way.

Fried rice, I think.

I'm not sure you can make

something suitable.

I can make that, sah.

Let me make the rice.

And you get the chicken

from the staff club.

Artful negotiation.

All right, you make the rice.

- Did you go to school?

- Standard two, sah.

- But I learn everything fast.

- Standard two? How long ago?

Many years now, sah.

But I learn everything very fast.

- Why did you stop school?

- My father's crops failed, sah.

Why didn't your father find someone

to lend him your school fees?

Sah?

I will enrol you

in the staff primary school.

Yes, sah. Thanks, sah.

I suppose you'll be the oldest,

starting standard three at your age.

But the only way to get their respect

is to be the best. Understand me?

Yes, sah.

- What's your name again?

- Ugwu, sah.

Ugwu...

Yes. Call me Odenigbo.

Sah?

My name is not "Sah".

Call me Odenigbo.

It's quite tasteless.

Which is better than bad-tasting,

of course.

I'll show you how

to cook rice properly, Ugwu,

without using so much oil.

- Ugwu told me he could cook rice.

- He can't.

My God.

Quick, drink coke.

You should eat first.

Ugwu is making a stew.

I know what I want to eat.

So, what happened here?

Your older books are

in the second bedroom.

I needed the space for my books.

- Why can't they go to your flat?

- Because I want them here.

You've really moved in, haven't you?

We have visitors, sah.

- Can't they leave?

- Odenigbo!

- I can't wait for them to meet you.

- Is she here? Come out, now!

Stay just a little longer.

Ugwu, go and fetch your master.

Tell him to come out now.

My friends. This, finally, is Olanna.

How are you?

You must be Lara Adebayo.

Faculty of Medicine?

Yes. He did not tell us

you were illogically beautiful.

- I will take that as a compliment.

- And what a proper English accent.

I'm Okeoma. I thought Odenigbo's

girlfriend was a human being.

- He didn't tell us you a water mermaid.

- Thank you.

- Victor Patel. Nice to see you finally.

- Olanna.

- And what's your discipline?

- Sociology.

Voodoo science! You should've

studied one of the proper sciences.

Didn't the great thinker Hegel

call Africa a land of childhood?

Nobody can take Hegel seriously.

Have you read him closely?

He's funny, he's very funny.

You are the one that is Ugwu.

How are you?

I'm fine, Mama.

Did your journey go well?

Yes. God led us.

- How are you?

- I'm well, Mama.

My son has told me

how well you're doing.

- When will my son be back?

- They will return in the evening.

They said you should rest, Mama,

when you come.

I'm cooking rice and chicken.

Rest?

I have brought ingredients

to make proper soup for my son.

I know you try,

but you are only a boy.

What does a boy know

about real cooking?

Is that not so, Amala?

Does a boy belong in the kitchen?

Mama, no.

You see, Ugwu?

A boy does not belong in the kitchen.

Yes, Mama.

Eh? My son wastes money

on these expensive things.

- Do you not see, Amala?

- Yes, Mama.

Those belong to my madam, Mama.

She brought many things from Lagos.

- Amala, come and make the cocoyams.

- Yes, Mama.

Mama, welcome!Nno!

I'm Olanna. Did you go well?

- Our journey went well.

- Good afternoon.

Is this Odenigbo's relative from home,

Mama?

Amala helps me in the house.

Come, Mama, let's sit.

You shouldn't bother in the kitchen.

You should rest. Let Ugwu do it.

I want to cook a proper soup

for my son.

Of course, Mama.

At least let me help you, Mama.

I'll go and change.

I hear you did not suck

your mother's breasts.

What?

They say you did not suck

your mother's breasts.

Please go and tell those

who sent you

that you did not see my son.

Tell your fellow witches that

you did not see him! Do you hear me?

Tell them that nobody's medicine

can work on my son.

He will not marry

an abnormal woman,

unless you kill me first.

Only over my dead body!

Mama...

Don't "mama" me.

I said, do not "mama" me.

Leave my son alone.

Go and tell your fellow witches

that you did not see him!

- Neighbours!

- Mama, will you stay inside?

Neighbours!

There is a witch in my son's house!

Neighbours!

Tell your master I've gone to my flat.

Neighbours!

I'm so sorry she acted that way.

- I just had to leave.

- No, no. You didn't have to,Nkem.

You should've ignored her, really.

I've decided to talk to Okeoma

about the Labour Strike.

- We have to show support...

- Your mother made a scene.

You're angry,Nkem?

I didn't think you'd take this

so seriously.

You can see my mother

doesn't know what she's doing.

She's just a village woman.

You never talk about your mother.

You've never asked me

to come to Abba with you to visit her.

Stop it,Nkem,it's not

as if I go that often to see her,

and I did ask you the last time

you were going to Lagos. Huh?

- What did you cook?

- Rice.

- Aren't you going to play tennis?

- I thought you would come.

I don't feel up to it.

Why is your mother's behaviour

acceptable

because she's a village woman?

I know village women

who do not behave this way!

My mother's entire life

has been in Abba.

Do you know

what a small bush village that is?

Of course she'll feel threatened by

an educated woman living with her son.

Of course you'd have to be a witch!

It's the only way she can understand it.

- Did you talk to her about this?

- I didn't see the point.

- You didn't see the point?

- I want to catch Okeoma at the club.

Let's discuss this when I get back.

- I'll stay here tonight.

- No.

- What?

- I said no.

What's wrong with you, Olanna?

Go. Go and play your tennis

and don't come back!

Olanna?

Did something happen?

Nothing happened.

'I just wanted to say hello,

find out how you are. '

How's Nsukka?

How's your revolutionary lover?

'Odenigbo is fine. Nsukka is fine. '

Richard seems taken by it.

He even seems taken

by the revolutionary, but I forgive him.

'You should come and visit. '

Soon.

You sound rather subdued.

Are you sure nothing's happened?

Out with it, Olanna.

'It's nothing much.

Just a little misunderstanding with... '

- The revolutionary?

- 'No. His mother.

'But there's nothing to it. Really. '

You reek of brandy.

Are you still angry?

Get dressed, we'll go back together.

I will talk to Mama.

No, you don't have to do that.

Stay here.

If you won't marry me...

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