The First Clue

The next morning, as soon as Father stepped out, Ebere and I went back to Mother's room. We had not had breakfast. We pounced on the poems and continued from where we stopped.

"Chimaobi, please let me read this one to you," Ebere offered when we got to a sad poem.
I nodded. She read out the poem with a voice deep with emotions. The poem was titled "You are the man".

You are the man


Who brings out the best in me


Who gives me reason to live


Who opened my eyes to bliss;





You are the man


Whose touch speaks sweet words


Whose words churn my world


Whose love is like none I know;





But fate has stepped in


And I see that we were not destined to be


Now I leave with someone else


I fear we may never see again;





I will miss our treasured moments


Of sweet kisses and whispered sweet nothings


Of shared dreams and love inexplicable


Of a planned future that cannot be;





You are the man


I will always love


I will always adore


I will always keep in my heart:



How do I say goodbye?






"Are you thinking what I am thinking?" I asked Ebere.
"Yeah, Daddy is not the man she was in love with," Ebere replied.
"What could have gone wrong?" I wondered out loud, "How could she go with someone else?"
"We might have to ask Aunty Adaeze or Grandma."
"You know mummy does not really like them. They only come here to take money from Daddy."
"We could have an idea from asking."

I had mixed feelings. I was happy the man mother loved was not father, but I was not happy that she did not marry the man she loved.

"Let's search the poems maybe we could get more clues," I suggested.
"Suddenly I feel like a detective," Ebere said humourously.
"Oh yes, Private Ebere. Let's dig the poems for more info..."