Chapter 4: Pie Testimony

Little sister-in-law get big belle. She don reach five months, almost born, but still hot-tempered like this.

Her stomach big, but her mouth sharp pass pepper soup. Some women go mellow with pregnancy—Amaka own na double wahala.

Obinna continue: “Nnenna, Mummy know say you like meat pie, na why she make am for you. You like carrot filling, she clean the carrots one by one, wash am over and over. You no dey chop beef fat, so she buy beef leg. Mummy say machine-grind meat no get taste, so she chop am herself. She don dey make meat pie all her life, everybody dey praise her filling. When you first come our house, you no talk say the pies sweet?” Obinna talk am like person wey dey defend family honour. The way he talk, you go think say the pies na royal food.

True, I no go lie. That time, I feel say my mother-in-law pies better pass any roadside one. That first week, na her pie I take break fast. I even snap am post for Instagram. That time, love still dey sweet. E shock me say now, na fight dem bring come.

Obinna go on: “Mummy dey insist on hand-rolled dough—na so e dey soft. She knead the dough, roll am, wrap every pie by hand. Where you wan see this kain handmade pie apart from Mummy hand?” He dey try sell my mother-in-law like better commodity for market. Other people dey nod, dey hail.

Na true. Pies wey dem dey sell for outside now, dem no dey hand-make am at all. The ones for supermarket dey hard like stone, no taste. This one suppose be special, but e no reach my mind again.

She wipe eye, voice low: “I fear say you no go fit adapt after you marry come, I no wan make you feel anyhow. Na why I dey always stay with you, dey treat you like my own daughter. You no dey chop breakfast, I dey worry say you go sick. So I make plenty pies keep for freezer, so you fit chop every morning. But you throw away all my effort. Wetin I do wey pain you reach like this? Abeg tell me, I go change. Wuwuwu…” Her wailing loud. If to say neighbours dey pass, dem for come knock to beg her. Her wrapper don soak for chest, her eyes red like say pepper enter.

You see am? Dis their ‘explanation’ na just opportunity to insult me. Na only how my mother-in-law good dem dey talk; nobody even ask why I do wetin I do.

I dey look all of dem, dey wonder, "So na only her side una dey see?" Nobody pause to ask, "Nnenna, wetin happen?" Na only her version full everywhere. The thing pain me for bone.