Stranger in his Homeland

Chapter Eight

59 Chapter Eight N ine days after Antony’s arrival, Anuse came up to him and told him that a party was being arranged to welcome him back. He called it “a Function.” “Father,” he began, “I don’t think that sort of thing is necessary…” “It is necessary,” Anuse told him forcefully, even before the last syllable left is lips. He had seen that unless he treated Antony with severity, he would never do what he wanted to have done. Antony had spend the last two nights sleeping at his aunt’s place. This Anuse had found highly insulting to Antony’s position as the most learned man in the tribe. The house was dirty and old, and whenever it rained, it was impossible to stay in because the thatches leaked like a sieve. Antony had not given any precise explanation for taking the risk, but Anuse believed it was the result of an inability to take a serious look at his position in life. He tried to explain the importance of the party: “… We do not eat people. When you have come back like this, the only way for us to show the world that we are people too, and that we are very glad, is to call the tribe together and thank the gods of our fathers that they took you there and brought you back without trouble. That party is necessary. You hear m?” Antony shrugged, threw his hands open resignedly and said: “Well, as you say, father. But look at the expenses to be incurred…” “That is not your palaver, Nkoaleck. We are not going to borrow from anybody. I am ready to sell even this house for that party. The world must be shown what l am.” “But father…” There is no but, Nkoaleck. A snuff-box does not sneeze. It is his owner who sneezes.” Bullshit, Antony thought. He remained silent for a very long time and then said very imploringly: 60 Linus T. Asong “Father, listen. This money could have been used for many other profitable things for this tribe. Everybody keeps complaining of poverty. It could pay the fees of a helpless child in a college for even…” Nkoaleck,” the man shouted furiously, “if you were still a small child, l would have said, “shorrup your moufth! If you want me to talk to you like a child l will do so. Age is as age does. The mistakes you have made already are too many. We are waiting for you tomorrow, you come today. I prepare a room for you in a house, you choose to live in a latrine. What is all this? Does book add sense to a child’s head or it removes it? How then are you different from those who never went anywhere, if you will not be treated differently? “Everybody already knows that next week as l said, all Biongong will gather in the house here to receive you. If you don’t think it is necessary, we tell you it is. If it does not please you, it pleases us. If you are already thinking of walking on your head, you should first of all know that you did not deliver yourself. Please, don’’ let another person hear this king of thing that you are saying about the party.” Antony spent the night in Anuse’s house, in his own room. His luggage was still there. He had not just being stupid and ungrateful. His mother had long died, and his aunt who lived now in Likume had often taken very good care of him long before he left for further studies. On his return, he found that Anuse had completely neglected her, perhaps because he saw that she had nothing to offer to increase his wealth. Antony did not want to make her feel more miserable by choosing to live only in Anuse’s house. He did not want her to think that he too had forgotten of her simply because he had become a very educated man. This was the point he tried to explain to Anuse for going to live with her. But Anuse would not listen, nor would he bring himself to see any sense in Antony’s objection to the welcome party. *** The following day, Angela herself came to see Antony. She brought food for him. As far as the custom went, this was a very important preliminary to any discussion about marriage. It turned [18.119.123...