Inside Out, page 4
“Temper?” Affy asks with a confused frown, momentarily forgetting her problem.
“It is so bad. The citizens are circulating rumours that she might be insane. Therefore, chances of her getting married dwindle alarmingly,” Jesam explains, looking pained.
As the night progresses, they share the appalling experiences of their children. Not just that. They are monarchs, so it is unavoidably necessary to talk about their kingdoms' affairs.
“It appears then that we reared our children with too much emphasis on the homestead. We’ve made them too common,” Liman analyses with a frown on his brow.
“Do you think she has a bit of low self-esteem?” Affy asks, concerned for her friend’s child.
“Why wouldn’t she? I know my son sometimes does, but he handles it. It doesn’t really show in him. He hides it behind a casual attitude,” Jesam explains.
“But they are royal children. Why would they have low self-esteem?” Asuquo wonders.
“We also have someone like Uyai, back home – the next governor’s daughter, Nancy,” Jesam replies. “The children don’t know that we know about her and the things she’s been saying to them. But there is no way we are embroiling ourselves in young people’s problems. I hope they can handle it at some point.”
“Why is this Nancy a problem? Is she coveting the princess title?” Affy scoffs, already hating the faceless Nancy.
“Apparently, my boy rejected her advances, and since then, she’s held a grudge. Not just at him but also at my daughter for reasons I’m yet to decipher,” Liman says with a sigh.
“Slut,” Affy murmurs in disdain under her breath, but her friend heard anyway.
“Exactly,” Jesam concurs in a murmur, too, and they both smile at each other. Both also recognize the worry for their children.
“It appears that although you raised your children in humility and invariable made them suffer low self-esteem, we did the very opposite. Now we have a daughter with too much arrogance. Her ego can barely contain the kingdom,” Asuquo laments.
“I wish there is a place we could send her to knock her down a bit,” Affy says fiercely. She really needed her daughter back in her skin. She needed Nkoyo to understand that one did not have to be a tyrant to be regarded as a powerful royal.
So, at this point, these monarchs are silent, pondering why the world doesn’t have such a place where they can send their children to either reduce their arrogance or gain some self-respect.
I must say here, the mind is a unique part of the human brain. Sometimes, it aligns with its counterpart in other people’s heads and shares a common idea among them…and most of these unique ideas are preposterous.
A dramatic realization occurs to the monarchs, the men anyway. I say dramatic because they glance up at the same time with wide eyes.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Liman asks with a bit of excitement twinkling in his eyes.
“I don’t know if I’m thinking what you’re thinking. But what I’m thinking is preposterously brilliant,” Asuquo replies, his eyes mirroring the enthusiasm in his friend’s eyes.
“I’m not sure what you’re thinking is as brilliant as what I’m thinking,” Liman continues, touching his chest in the process.
“It is possible that what you’re thinking is brilliant as well as what I’m thinking,” Asuquo points out.
Affy leans into her friend and talks from the side of her mouth so as not to interrupt the back and forth between their husbands, “Did he tell you that they did this kind of thing when they were young?”
Jesam nods, “He did, but this is the first time I’m experiencing it. When he told me, I thought it impossible to say the same thing multiple times and yet not say anything at all.”
“Asuquo told me they could go on for a while when they are really excited.”
“And they seem really excited,” Jesam points out worriedly.
“We need to cut in now, or else we’ll never know what the heck they are thinking,” Affy says and rolls her eyes in exasperation.
“Let’s do this,” Affy says, and Jesam nods.
They count to three together and exclaim at their husbands simultaneously. “Enough!”
The men instantly turn to their wives.
“What, in heaven’s name….”
“…are you thinking?” Jesam completes Affy’s question, perfectly mirroring her exasperated expression.
The husbands grin widely.
“You go first, money man,” Asuquo says with a smile.
Liman nods and reaches out, holding Jesam’s hand. “I was thinking that, if we managed to bring up our children too humble and grounded, that they now suffer low self-esteem, and….”
“…we brought up our daughter in such a privileged manner that she lost all forms of humility,” Asuquo took up the narrative. He smiles because, once again, he and his friend are aligned in thought. It is a sign of great friendship and brotherhood.
Okay, let me point out here. Though the wives are yet to synchronise their ideas like their husbands, it’s going to change. The conversation at the table is about to go really fast.
“And you, Affy, were just wondering where you could send your daughter to….”
“…knock her down a notch,” Affy completes with a slow, realizing frown.
“What better place than at our friend’s house….” Asuquo says, holding his wife’s hand too.
“…whose children are so humble that they now suffer from low self-confidence,” Affy completes again, her eyes widening and her voice increasing in pitch.
Both women instantly gasp and turn to each other in immediate understanding. Their eyes are round in shock.
“You want us to switch children?” they both ask. Their minds finally align with their husbands.’
The husbands turn to each other, both speaking with their eyes.
“Hmm…” Asuquo began, his head moving slowly from side to side in contemplation.
“Only the daughters?” Liman suggests to him, and Asuquo nods.
“Only the daughters,” they both confirm simultaneously to their wives.
“Oh,” Affy breathes.
“Wow,” Jesam exclaims, both considering what such a switch would mean and the possible consequences.
“Wofai might actually welcome this,” Jesam points out.
“And Nkoyo will be royally pissed,” Affy confirms what her husband must have been thinking because the man nods at her observation.
“But at this point, do we care what Nkoyo thinks?” he asks his wife, staring into her eyes for her answer.
Affy stares back contemplatively. Then she shakes her head.
“No…no, we don’t care what she thinks. This is for her own good,” she concludes determinedly and her husband nods, still holding on to her hand.
“I’m thinking there should be a time frame for this,” Liman suggests.
Asuquo nods. “Yes, a month?”
“Maybe two,” the women say at the same time, causing the men to grin, and they all agreed.
“But,” Affy begins with a worried frown. “Nkoyo might try to run.”
“On foot? My palace isn’t by the roadside, so that might be difficult,” Liman points out.
“I have an idea. Let’s set a date and send our different drivers over to our palaces to pick up the girls. They will be advised to drive in a roundabout manner so that the girls will be confused on the direction and not be able to run even if they get a car.” Asuquo looks at his friends and wife to get their agreement.
“That’s another thing. Keep the car keys locked up. Nkoyo is quite tenacious when she puts her mind to something,” Affy adds.
“I’m beginning to think that you may be getting the best bargain. Your daughter sounds like a hand full,” Jesam chuckles ruefully.
“I’m afraid so, dear,” Affy says with a smile.
“Don’t worry, we’ll try our best,” Jesam says with a comforting pat on her friend’s arm.
“And we will, too.”
I have to tell you, I’m keen to find out how this will work. Aren’t you?
5
“I know it will be good for Wofai to take a leave of absence from the kingdom. But on the other hand, I don’t see how that will cure her of screaming like a banshee whenever her temper is stoked,” Onen points out to his parents.
The king and queen of Atam kingdom share their plan with their son because they always find him reasonable. And let’s face it, the guy is going to be the next king. He might as well put in some practice in decision making.
Liman sighs wearily, “We aren’t going to tell her that she’s going there in the hope of changing her habits. Rather, we are offering her an escape from the rumours.”
“For a time,” Jesam adds and Onen nods in understanding.
“She’ll like that,” he adds.
“And desist from teasing your sister, please,” Jesam begs.
“Yes, let her accept this offering with a calm mind,” Liman adds.
“Of course, father. I care for my sister, and I won’t do anything to jeopardize this. It is a good thing. At least I won’t have her breathing down my neck for a time,” he says and leaves their room.
Husband and wife exchange a guilty look. They refrain from telling their son another female worse than his sister is coming their way, and they are still unsure how they will help their friends’ daughter.
Wofai, as anticipated, is open to the idea. So, let’s take a hike to Efik kingdom and find out how Nkoyo is treating her parents.
***
Children, no matter how big they’ve grown, or in Nkoyo’s case, how arrogant they’ve gotten, will always be children. And parents, well, they remain parents because they’ve experienced the world far longer. Also, let’s face it; they made the girl, so they know what buttons to push…sometimes.
I say ‘sometimes’ because Nkoyo rules the roost currently. But in this situation, her parents take over the reins of leadership and act with the wisdom expected of monarchs.
“You called, my king,” Nkoyo says, arriving in a gown worthy of a gala night and a regal gait, leaving her parents’ mouth open. Apparently, she got worse in their absence, or it still may be the shock of realising their daughter turned out this way.
Isn’t it weird she’s now referring to her father as ‘my king’?
Asuquo recovers from his shock swiftly enough to respond.
“Yes…yes, I did call,” he says while giving his wife an inconspicuous glance. The expression speaks volumes and confirms they are doing the right thing for their daughter, even if the method is underhanded.
Nkoyo stares at her parents with her head regally lifted as she waits for them to say their piece. She hasn’t forgiven them for not taking her along to the Symposium, so she’s been a tad cold towards them since their return.
She’s confident they are about to do something nice for her just so she’ll cut the attitude towards them. It depends on what they give her, anyway. She mentally shrugs, devious enough to make them suffer a tad longer just by seeming unimpressed with whatever gift they produce.
“So, I thought about your urge to learn the ropes of leadership. Your mother and I think it is a good direction. In that vein, we discussed and finally decided that there is another way it can be done,” Asuquo says and peeks at his daughter’s face.
Nkoyo presses her lips into a thin line. She is trying not to look ecstatic even though she feels high at having overruled her parents once again.
“What other way?” she asks in a calm voice.
“A two-month-long diplomatic visit to another kingdom,” Affy declares and is satisfied to see a small, albeit superior, smile appear on their daughter’s face.
“A kingdom of my choice?” she looks hopeful.
“No, darling,” her mother replies.
“We have to send you to where you can learn the necessary things and the best attitude for a queen,” Asuquo concludes.
“So where?” Nkoyo asks after a deep sigh. She refrains from telling her parents that she already had the attitude of a queen. It did not matter. She could always ignore the unnecessary instructions.
“It’s a surprise,” her parents declare with adoring grins, making her smile too.
***
“They say it’s a surprise,” Nkoyo reports to Prince Ekong later in the day.
“When are you leaving?” he asks with an anxious expression.
Nkoyo is excited and directs the maids on her outfits to pack in the big open suitcase on the bed.
“Give or take, a couple of days,” she replies and waltzes past him, flashing a coy smile.
“How long are you staying at this unknown place?” Prince Ekong is slowly losing his regal attitude. Even though he is sure they are not in love with each other, he will miss the only woman who feeds his ego.
“I already told you, two months…at least,” Nkoyo adds after a second thought.
“At least? What does that mean? Are you planning to stay back after the mandatory two months?” Ekong seems askance as Nkoyo flutters around her room, unaware of her fiancé’s perturbation.
“There’s a possibility of that happening,” she replies casually with a playful smile.
Ekong narrows his eyes at his fiancée. His mind is whirling. He wonders if she is planning to avoid him or break their engagement.
“Fine. How do I locate this obscure kingdom? How do I visit?” he asks with a determined expression which Nkoyo doesn’t miss.
One look at his face, and she deduces Ekong is about to become difficult. She doesn’t want it happening in front of the maids. With a flick of her wrist, she sends the servants scurrying from the room while she takes a deep breath and sighs wearily.
“Darling, if I knew, I would tell you,” she says, draping her hands lightly on his shoulders and looking into his eyes to transmit her sincerity.
“Well, when your driver returns, he’d be able to direct me,” he reasons confidently.
“Err…the kingdom is sending a car for me,” she answers but doesn’t think anything of it. In her head, the unknown kingdom sending a car for her declares how much she is revered.
Her fiancé doesn’t see it the same way, though. He is suspicious. “Are your parents trying to break us up?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Ekong. What would they stand to gain from doing that? Besides, what’s stopping them from just breaking the engagement with a royal decree?” she points out reasonably.
Ekong’s arms curl around her soft and curvy waist. He rests his hands on the gentle swell of her bottom. But she swiftly reaches behind her and pulls it up to her lower back.
“But, Nkoyo, you don’t need to learn about leadership. That’s solely my role. Yours is to look regal and complement my power,” he complains and draws her closer, aligning his body with hers.
Nkoyo allows this while she tries to calm the spark of anger at his condescending attitude towards her urge to learn leadership.
“Humour me, darling,” she says simply.
“I can do that,” he concedes and only hesitates for a slight second before adding, “Now would be a ripe right time to give me that kiss you’ve been denying me.”
His low tone, which should’ve been sexy, is only grating on her nerves.
Nkoyo leans her head on his chest and faces away from him, rolling her eyes in angry exasperation at his request. She arranges her face into a coy smile before turning back to him and acting shy. Standing on the tip of her toes, she places a kiss on his jaw and loosens herself from his hold.
“You’ve waited all this while. It’s just a little more time,” she says and shrugs while moving to her wardrobe.
Ekong sighs in blatant disappointment. He even groans under his breath.
“Are you even going to miss me?” he asks with a frown as his brain realises that she doesn’t look broken to be leaving him for so long.
I can assure you that the answer is an emphatic NO!
“Of course, darling, I’ll miss you so much. But then, there is the phone. We can talk every day just as we usually do,” Nkoyo points out with an adoring smile, repairing Ekong’s cracked ego.
Another thought causes a frisson of dread in Ekong’s mind. Is there another prince at the kingdom she’s headed? Will she prefer the new prince? He looks up at her then, and she smiles at him. Ekong instinctively smiles back even though all he wants to do is forcefully hold her down from going to this unknown kingdom. He has a strong feeling that their lives are about to change irrevocably.
***
When human beings assume privilege and begin to take most things for granted due to their status, power and wealth, simple things escape their notice.
The car that comes to pick up Nkoyo from the Efik palace isn’t expensive, something which should have given her inkling as to the ideology of the kingdom she is headed. Instead, she is distracted and impressed with the liveried chauffeur.
She is already thinking of implementing new livery designs for her father’s chauffeurs on her return. Her parents stand together, waving her off as the car drives into the street.
“I feel guilty for dumping her on Liman and Jesam,” Affy says with a sigh of relief. “They really don’t know what they are getting themselves into.”
“Let’s just hope it turns out for good, or else she might return worse than she left,” Asuquo pulls his wife close to his side and kisses her temple as the mighty gates close.
Nkoyo fiddles with her phone all the way. She ignores where the chauffeur is going. It is his job to get her to her destination. She hasn’t said one polite word to him. She takes selfies and doesn’t notice when one of her father’s customised cars rolls by in the opposite direction.
***
Wofai frowns at one of her father’s cars as it speeds by the luxurious one chauffeuring her. She can recognize the car anywhere and the driver too. She thinks there is a strange lady at the back, but she can’t be sure.
Her parents usually treat their children like responsible adults, keeping them informed of kingdom business. However, they didn’t mention anyone coming to visit.
