My Car Key

Photo credit: cjponyparts

There was never a dull moment in the Eke's household because something always happened, Beatrice found a reason to host people and so there was a party for most occasions. 

Beatrice was a woman who gave thanks for what many may see as little favours. So we had various thanksgiving parties not mentioning birthday parties for all the children which Beatrice never missed. 

The older kids always had friends in the house at different times and so a lot of friends became family. They would spend most holidays with us with same rights and privileges. A lot of these friendships went sour while some are stronger today. 

A certain friend even targeted one of Ferdinand's friends and before anyone understood what was going on, this leech of a friend got married to father's friend who was already married.  Big sis whose friend she was had a lot of explaining to do. The truth was that she never even knew how her friend, L who met "uncle S" in our home just a few times started to date uncle S and no one even noticed. 

That friendship died a natural death of course for that betrayal was more than any of us could handle, I was young but I read through the lines especially when I stopped seeing sister L. 

Beatrice was devastated that such a smart young girl could be so hideous, spiteful and desperate to escape the poverty stricken life that she was born into. Mother started to scrutinise friends more but still welcomed most people. The good and bad news is that it's over thirty years and the unrepentant pair are still married.

The constant arguments over little issues made the house bubble more.  Big sister Ebere was the fashionista and always had the trending clothes; she hardly shared her stuff and so she always had to argue or fight anyone who she caught wearing any of her clothes or foot wears or her "designer" bags. Hahaha! At that young age, I would hear from the room I shared with my two other sisters phrases like, "why did you touch my Prada bag?" "Those shoes cost a fortune, daddy ga ekpe ikpe a" (daddy will judge this matter) lol!!

Ferdinand summoned everyone after one serious episode of taking sister Ebere's property without her permission and warned everyone never to touch his Ada's things anymore.

The Igbos have a special kind of love and respect for the first daughter and first son and this was not uncommon in the Eke's household. Ferdinand never failed at any opportunity to show that his first "Ada" and "okpara" were special though he made each child feel loved.

After that meeting, I cannot remember what age exactly sister Ebere was but her birthday gift that year was a Ford Mustang 81 model. 

This gift was the determining factor,  she finally earned her full respect. She did not only have a room to herself while the rest had to share our rooms, she wouldn't have to ask Beatrice for her car anymore. 

That car was almost an idol, the red leather interior gave it a superior smell and getting a ride in it was a privilege.  I really do not know if that was a good move from Ferdinand because I was tormented the most by that car.

Any unacceptable behaviour deprived one of jolly rides to interesting places in the car and so I was under pressure constantly to be in big sister's good book. The car also made her quite popular which wasn't quite good. Only a few girls drove in those days and actually owned cars. 

She never went back to school with the car for fear of being victimized by her lecturers though she still suffered same fate in the hands of a few who learnt that she lived big in Enugu.

My best moments in primary school were coming out of the gate after school to see big sis standing by her car waiting to pick us from school. I would ensure every friend saw the car I was picked in on that day plus we never went home straight; just like mother she would take us to Leventis stores to buy chocolates and biscuits or some restaurant for a quick take away. 

The Ford Mustang became part of big sister's issues because she did not only fight for her clothes, shoes and bags; she also began to fight for her car key with the boys.

How I miss