DIMGA’S PLACE (I)
Nduka W. Dike
ShewasthefirstthinghesawasheenteredDimga'splace.Shewasstandingby thecat-fishtank,staringintentlyatthefish.Awaiterstoodbesideherpointingatthe fish,willinghertomakeachoice.ShehadherbacktoEbube,buthewassureshewas beautiful–somethingaboutthewayshestood.Herhandswereonherwaistand herheadwasslantedtooneside,likeamodelonarunway.Hershorthairdyedlightbrown–acoupleofshadeslighterthanhercaramelskin–glitteredintheorange, eveningsun. Sheworeablacksinglettuckedintoaloose-fittingpairofAnkarashorts.
Hetorehiseyesawayfromherandallowedthemrestonthecompound.“Dimga's placeisalwaysfull”,hisfriend,Ade,hadtoldhim“youmightnotevenfindatable.”
Helookedaroundthetablesscatteredacrossthecompound,theywerealltaken, allbutone.Hemadeforthetableandsatdown.Henoticedthebookonthetable afterhehadsatdown,itappearedthatthetablewastaken.Hehopeditwasonlyone occupant,hewouldaskifhecouldsharethetable.Hepickedupthebook,SefiAtta's EverythingGoodWillComeandhewascertainitbelongedtoher.Hewasprovenright whenshejoinedhimatthetable. “Doyoumindifwesharethistable?”heaskedasshesatacrossthetablefromhim. “No,”shesmiled,“notatall.” Herfacewasperfect,herlonglashes,hercarefullycarvedbrows,thedarkpurple lipstick;eventhepimplethatsatonhershortnosewasperfect.Heavertedhiseyes, calledforthewaiterstandingnearby. “Goodevening,whatdoIgetyou?”thewaiteraskedwhenhecame “AplateofNkwobi,”heanswered.“DoyouhaveOrijin,thesmallbottle?” “Wedon’t,it'sthebigbottlewehave” “Youshouldhavethepalmwine,”thegirlsaid “Palmwine?” “Yes,it'sveryfresh,itwastappedtoday,”sheassuredhim.Ebubewantedtoask howsheknewwhenthewinewastapped,ifsheworkedatthebar,buthesaidinstead “Iwillhavepalmwine”. “Okaysir,”thewaiternodded. “Wait,howdoyousellit,inbottlesright?” “Yes,inbottles.” “Justonebottlethen,”Ebubesaid,thenadded,“Ihopetheyarenotverybigbottles.” “Youcanfinishonebottlesir”,thewaiterlaughed,sodidthegirl,alightchucklethat endedwithagrunt,averyfaintgrunt.Helovedherlaugh. “Auntyyounko?”heaskedthegirl “MyPoint-and-killisontheway,”sheanswered. Thewaiternoddedandwalkedaway.Asaxophonesolofilteredthroughthe eveningair,thegirlshuthereyesforamomentandswayedtothemusic.Ebube smiledwhenherealiseditwasFelaKuti'sGentlemanandhefoundhimselfmoving hisheadtotheAfro-jazztunes. “Whynkwobi?” “Eh?”Ebubeasked,takenabackbythequestion “WhyNkwobi?”thegirlrepeatedherquestion.“Dimga’splaceispopularforthe point-and-kill,nottheNkwobiyoujustordered.” “IwasassuredtheNkwobihereisverygood” “Itis,butthePoint-and-killiswaybetter” “Idon’teatfish” “Makagini?” “Nothingreally.” “Doesitdoanythingtoyou?” Ebubechuckled“itdoesn’t,Ijustdon'tlikefish” “Youwilllikethisone.” “Doyouworkhere?Orperhaps,doesyourfatherownthisplace?”Ebubeasked. “Youaredoingagreatjobsellingit.”
Shelaughed,notalightlaughthistime,adeep,throatylaugh.“Iliveinthenext compound,”shepointed.“IcomeherewhenIhaveenoughmoneytospare.Trustme; thepoint-and-killhereispureheaven,especiallywhentakenwiththechilledfresh palmwine.” “Ihearyou,”Ebubesaid.“It…”hecontinued,butshecuthimoff.
“Holdon,Ilovethispartofthesongsomuch,”shedeclaredandsangalong:“Africa hot,Ilikeamso,Inowantwear…,butmyfriendsdon’tknow.Youputonsocks,you putonshoe,youputonpant,youputonsinglet,youputontrouser,youputonshirt, youputontie,youputoncoat,youcomecoverallwithhat,youbegentleman.Yougo sweatallover,yougofaintrightthere,yougosmelllikeshit,yougopissforbodyyou nogoknow.Me,Inobegentlemanlikethat,IbeAfricanman,original…” “Youaredressedfortheheat,”hesaidwhenshestoppedsingingalong. “Youtoo”,shesaid. Hewaswearingashirtandshorts,theheathadbeensomuch hehadn’tbotheredtowearasinglet.“Itistoohot,”hesaid.
ThewaiterreturnedwithEbube'sorderinatray.Heplacedthesmallmortar containingthepiecesofmeatdrenchedinspicyoilpasteandpalmwinecontainedin asmallEvawaterbottle.
“Yourpoint-and-killisalmostready,aunty,”thewaitersaidashefilledabasinof waterforEbubetowashhishands.Heleftafterwards. “Joinme”,hesaidtoherashewashedhishands“beforeyourscomes” “Thankyou,butIdonotwanttospoilmyappetite”,shesaid“anditisjustoneplate” “Iwillordermore” “Youshouldtrytheisiewu”.Hesmiledatherthendippedhisfingersintothemortarandemergedwithalargepieceofmeatcoveredinoil.Thearomafilledhishead andhismouthwatered.Hebitintothechunkofmeatandtorefleshoffthebone.His eyesclosedinvoluntarily,histastebudscamealiveashechewedthemeat,crushing anonionringtoo.Thepeppersethistongueonfiresothatwhenheswallowedthe pieceofflesh,hismouthmisseditsomuchandsohetoreanotherandanothertillall thatwasleftwasaninediblepieceofbone,suckedofalltheoilandsweetnessitwas preparedwith.Heopenedhiseyesandshewassmilingathim. “ThisisthebestNkwobiIeverhad”,hesaid “WaittillyoutastethePoint-and-kill,”heshruggedandtookanotherpieceofmeat todevour.Thewaitercameagainwithanothertrayandcarefullyplacedthecat-fish peppersoupbeforeherandherbottleofpalmwine.
“Canyoubringanotherspoon?”sheaskedthewaiter.“He’sgoingtobeeatingwith me.”Thewaiternodded,Ebubepouredhimselfaglassofpalmwine. “Doyouhaveisiewu?”heaskedthewaiter.Themannodded,“Bringusaplate.” “Us?”sheasked. “Iameatingyourfishwithyou,”hesaidasthewaiterleft,“it'sonlyfair”. Shenodded,thenhummedalongwithFela'sSorrows,tearsandblood. “It'smybirthdaytoday,”Ebubesaid.Hehadnotplannedtotellher,hejustwanted tosaysomethingtoher.
“Ohreally,”shesaid.“Atoastisinorderthen.”Shepouredherselfaglassofpalm wineandraiseditup.Henoticedthenherdaintyfingersandherblacknailpolish.He admiredthebraceletsonherwrist,theywerehandmade,thekindthatspeltnames, thefirstonespeltYUGEEandthesecondMMA.Heknewshemadethemherself. “To,”shewassaying“what’syourname?” “Ebube.” “ToEbube,”heraisedhisglasstoo“Iwishyoulonglifeandprosperity,Iwishyou happinessandjoy,goodhealthandstrengthandmanymoreyears”,theirglassesmet. Ebubesippedthecold,sweetwineandheknewhewouldkeepcomingbacktothis place.