Shielded ByMy Parents, Others

As a child I was shielded by my parents and helps. I was rarely allowed to visit relatives. My aunts and uncles always told my dad "hapụ tu kwanu nwa gị a ka ọ ga holiday" my dad would refuse.

Me?
I wanted to to go. I wanted to feel what it felt like to sleep at an uncle's or aunt's house.

One day, my dad agreed o. His deal breaker was that I would only spend four days at my uncle's house in Aba. With gladness and joy in my heart I agreed. I packed my bags and got ready for a four days holiday.

On a Saturday, my uncle picked me and my holiday began - winks. I was served a plate of porridge ụkwa and ọka garnished with soft okporoko and ugba - bliss.

Mehn! I felt on top of the world. Life is good biko. When was the last time mma Ihuoma cooked ụkwa? Mtsheeew. Every time daddy would just chain somebody at home.

The next day was Sunday ooo my people. 4:30 am my uncle woke us up for devotion. After about 30 praises and fifty five worship songs, he led a short prayer and rushed everyone to prepare for service. According to him "oge adịghị", we're already late.

We got to church by 6:30am on AN EMPTY STOMACH.
We were among the first set of persons who got there for the first service. Service ended by 10:00 am and people started trooping out through the exit.
I looked at my uncle and the wife who were comfortably sitted, but these people did not stand up o. As in, they just kwechiri n'oche ha o. That was the day I understood the meaning of "in my father's house..."

11am second service started. My sister in law joined the ushering department while my uncle joined the traffic unit.
Hianity!

Ọ bụ gịnị ka m ji íshí kote biko nụ?
I remembered my mom's big stew pot bubbling with tomato stew or ofe akwụ on every Sunday morning. I remembered our big pot of rice and tears filled my eyes. Second service dismissed by 1pm.
1:05 - Third service.
Eh?

No. This is totally unacceptable. With a tight face I walked up to my uncle at his duty post.

"Brother, I'm hungry. When are we going home?"
He looked at me as if I had horns and said
"we are not going yet, the last service ends by 4pm nwe tụ ndidi..