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THE MUSH REGISTER
Polycarp Okey
I protest when the food drips with oil or has an extra pinch of salt. The kitchen is our war field. Our big fights often originate there. Whenever we visit her relatives, I have to mess up my fingers to have food served on plantain leaves. Hilda and I are married for 17 years, but I am yet to get used to her relatives’ style of hospitality. I used to fight with Hilda over her peculiar food habits – sometimes she simply shunned food. At the time of our marriage, she was wraithlike. Our wedding took place in a school. Everyone seemed to oppose the marriage, except the school principal and Hilda’s aunt. Hilda does not have parents and my father and siblings are away in Nigeria. So, we were living like orphans. I call her mummy and she calls me daddy. We brought up both our children by ourselves. When they were infants, we used to take care of them by turns. If both of us were busy, I would take the child in a baby carrier to my workplace. Relatives and friends can drive a wedge between a couple. Especially in a multi-cultural marriage, their well-meaning advice can aggravate a situation. We’ve been through such a problem. During the first few years, we were always quarrelling. Now, are we over the hump? We made peace a few minutes ago, after giving each other the silent treatment for four days. But I think we are inseparable.
Hilda Diana
He never took to south Indian food, but I managed to thrust it down his throat. I am often successful in getting him to do household chores. Like mopping the floor. Oh no (laughs), let me be fair to him! He volunteers to do such work if he notices I am overburdened. During both my deliveries , he brought food that he made. He can cook African delicacies. As he can smell out a bad preparation a mile off, he is at times a bit demanding at the dining table. He considers me immature in my decisions and judgement of things and people. I agree with his conclusion, which is why I often let him lead me by the nose. He calls me ‘mummy’, but I am more his ‘daughter’.
As told to PRINCE FREDERICK
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