Next to the Mulatto

By Gbemisola Akinsipe

Ayomi has lived in the shadows all her life, plagued by demons of neglect, insecurity and doubt but when a new job takes her to a new city, she has the opportunity to start over, form new friendships and maybe even fall in love.
Next to the Mulatto chronicles her journey to her true self, a journey many of us can relate to.Will Ayomi step out of the shadows? Maybe find true love?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gbemisola Akinsipe
• Release date: Mar 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463130414

Book preview

NEXT

to the

MULATTO

Gbemisola Akinsipe

(Author of THE ENOUGH EXPERIMENT)

Next to the Mulatto

© 2019 by Gbemisola Akinsipe

ISBN: 9780463130414

All rights reserved. This book is not to be sold but may be reproduced, copied, and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form.

It is purely a work of fiction. Any similarities to persons living or deceased, are coincidental and a product of the author's imagination.

For comments, feedbacks and reviews, send an email to [e-mail]

eBook Cover Design and formatting:

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all, I thank God for the privilege to know Him. I am grateful for His gift in my life and His inspiration at every turn, this book is His idea. I thank Him for His Word that is radically transformative and for several mentors He has brought into my life.

I acknowledge my parents, Pst & Pst (Mrs) Akinsipe for their support and teachings that have shaped me. I am thankful to my siblings, Yimika, Fayo and Demilade, for their love and encouragement.

I am grateful to my dear friends Folayemi, Glory, Fayoke who were of tremendous support. Thank you for cheering me on and reading this manuscript multiple times. Thanks to Fejiro baby and Blessing for being there and rooting for me.

I say a big thank you to my editor, Chukwuka Nwabuogor. I am so glad I met you. You are such a gift.

I thank all the amazing ladies who have been reading, sharing and giving feedback on the biGe stories, you have no idea how much of an encouragement you’ve been. May we continue to shine for the Lord.

Finally, to everyone that reads this book, thank you. Thank you for entrusting me with your time. I pray you are blessed by it.

DEDICATION

This is dedicated to you, beautiful one.

Every part of you is so beautiful, my darling. Perfect is your beauty, without flaw within Songs of Solomon 4:7 (TPT)

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

PART ONE

Ayomi got off the brown leather sofa and picked her wallet.

Where are your keys? she asked

Lisa, her sister pointed to the bunch of keys on the polished wooden table in the shape of an arc under the bronze accent mirror in the entryway.

Be making someone look like a screp she lamented, glancing briefly at the mirror.

Lisa who had been pushing for them to go out all day had finally got her to succumb. In honesty, it was not a difficult argument to win. They had been in the house since she came visiting the day before and being cooped up in the same place all day was starting to take its toll on her too. Though technically, a person could not be cooped up in a house as big as the one Lisa’s husband, Tonye, owned.

Moreover, they were in a good place in their complicated relationship, agreeing was the right thing to do.

I had no intention of going out today she continued, stepping out of the house with the door open behind her.

Thank you, thank you. It’s not far, the mall down the road is fine Lisa said, grinning sheepishly.

"Down the road, as if."

Let me get my bag

Get a face cap too and hurry before I change my mind Ayomi shouted as she unlocked the car and sat. Lisa came out of the house shortly after.

You’re not showing yet and you’re blaming everything on the baby

It’s the baby really Lisa replied

We’re only getting ice-cream and coming back

"Haba now. She handed the face cap to Ayomi Can’t you just be a nice baby sister for once? We’ve been inside all day. I’m tired of being indoors."

Lisa, you’re such a crook!

Me?

Yes, you.

Lisa laughed as they drove out, barely acknowledging the nodding gateman Say what you want, we’ve left the house. Do you think it’s easy to be jobless? I have nowhere to go every day.

Who sent you to quit? Ayomi said and rolled her eyes.

"Ehn ehn so it’s like that. 1-0"

"Ha-ha"

I couldn’t take it anymore. That woman is a stupid witch.

Lisa

I’m serious. She hadn’t paid me in three months and she was still expecting top notch, complete submission. That’s the problem with all these one-man businesses, they’ll just be doing anyhow and thinking they’re cool. We were not making any money and she was forming entrepreneur on Instagram.

Shade, beef, hate, Ayomi said as she laughed You worked with her for less than 6 months.

4 months actually and I can’t wait to go back to proper organizations.

Engineer Lisa. Is it not ordinary internship you did at your Oil and Gas Company? Be forming proper organizations there. Internship and finding Mr. Right

Lisa laughed, Leave me o

I’m not holding you

"Na so. You’re so cheesy, Ayomi she paused working for that woman was so annoying but staying home alone has almost been worse. I would have gone crazy if you hadn’t come yesterday."

Look at you, my new job starts on Monday.

Wait, you’re really going? You’re going to relocate?

Is that a question? Ayomi responded, laughing again We’re not all married to oil workers

That we never see

But you’re pregnant

This your mouth. You’re not alright. Lisa paused But you know he’s never around

Yeah.

When is he coming back?

Hopefully tomorrow

Tonye, Tonye Ayomi pulled into the supermarket. He’ll make it up to you as usual

Yeah Lisa got out of the car Are you not coming with me?

Looking like this? Definitely not

"You look fine jor"

Of course, she would say so, Ayomi thought. Looking at her half-sister, the perfect offspring of their Nigerian dad and her late Irish mother, she held back a sigh. This had been her life for 23 years and she was still not used to it.

"Oya please" Lisa begged, pushing back her mane; the beautiful black mass of natural hair she had.

But you can go in alone. Why do you always have to drag me along?

Why do you want to sit in the car?

Ayomi sighed, adjusted the face cap and got out, I’m just being nice because I’m leaving you soon

Thank you

I think I’m going to cut my hair Lisa whined as they walked into the store It’s becoming too stressful to maintain again. Half of the time I don’t know what to do with it

Ayomi almost rolled her eyes. They had been down that road before; Lisa had chopped off her long relaxed hair during her final year in University to go on a natural hair journey. Less than two years after, a forest had grown on her head.

It will only grow back. Moreover, you said Tonye likes it Ayomi reached for a basket.

"I don’t know jor"

Have you had this new cereal? Lisa asked reaching for a pack It’s terrible

The plan was ice-cream, why are we on this aisle?

We’re here already. We might as well make the most of it

Ayomi was about to reply when she noticed that Lisa had caught the attention of a tall weird-looking man on their aisle. She smiled, it happened every time. She observed him watch Lisa for the rest of the shopping trip and almost burst into laughter when he speedily abandoned his own search to follow them to the checkout line.

I’ve got it, he said as Lisa stretched out her ATM card to the cashier. He reminded Ayomi of one of those chiefs in old Nollywood movies. He was too young for the potbelly he had.

No thank you Lisa replied without raising her head. Ayomi could not restrain her chuckle at this point. She had always been fascinated by the exchanges that ensued when Lisa encountered a bold admirer. They had always been interesting to watch but since Lisa’s wedding six months earlier and her new interest in feminism, they had become far more entertaining.

I insist

Right on cue, Lisa turned to the man with a stiff smile, raised her left hand so he could see her shiny wedding band and blinding engagement ring.

Thank you but no thanks. I’ve got this.

It’s my pleasure

The cashier was amused at the moment but Ayomi knew the other people on the queue were not into the whole spectacle.

Here Ayomi gave her card to the cashier and completed the payment. Lisa walked out with the bags, irritated.

But why so angry? Ayomi teased on their way back

Did he think I could not afford to pay myself? I showed the idiot my ring.

I don’t remember you being so angry about these things. Moreover, you are not earning steady income. Ayomi said, laughing.

It’s not funny. So because I’m a lady he offered to pay. Why didn’t he offer to pay for the guy before me? Did he think I came into the supermarket and picked all those things because I was hoping some guy would pick up my bill?

Someone cannot be chivalrous towards you again.

Lisa hissed. Ayomi kept laughing.

And he had the nerve to follow us out after I shut him down

He didn’t even take anything out of the supermarket, such love, Ayomi added.

Ayomi, it’s not funny.

You’re right Ayomi replied and stopped laughing. For many years, such exchanges had been fascinating but definitely not funny. She had hated them.

Secondary school had been so tough for her because everywhere they went, the guys flocked to Lisa while she stood on the side, invisible. It was that thing about the Post-Colonial blues. Whiter just seemed better to all the ‘shallow boys’ in their school and they wanted to date Lisa, the half-caste, the mulatto. Lisa was always just a class ahead so her shadow had been impossible to escape. Lisa was the fresh, beautiful girl and she was just her shockingly dark sister. She had hoped that her more African genes would kick in and somehow make her more ‘endowed’ than Lisa so she could win on that end but even that had not worked. It turned out Lisa’s half African genes were enough to do the trick. By SS1, Lisa had not just the pretty face, light skin and full hair but the curvy body to seal the deal. It also did not help that she could play basketball, act and score pretty good grades. Sadly, it did not end in school. Even at home, it was all about Lisa.

Growing up, Ayomi felt she had been entered into a competition she could not win. Lisa was the only child of their dad’s first and probably one true love. Lisa was the child her own mother had to love in order to win her father’s favour. Lisa was the sister that her brothers preferred to be seen with, to boost their status. Lisa was everyone’s first choice and she? She was just the add-on. It used to hurt a lot back then. Now she tried to give it no thought but was hardly ever successful.

Sorry MBGN She said, feigning sympathy

You’re silly, Lisa said, grinning Please let’s go home.

Sure.

No, not my place. Mum said I should make you come

Lisa Ayomi shook her head, it was amazing that her own mother was closer to Lisa but then, that was how it had always been.

Ayomi was 10 when she accepted that there was something different about her family. She had always noticed the disbelief in people’s eyes when she insisted that Lisa was her sister; same father, same mother but at ten, when she found the carton with the pictures of her dad and an oyinbo woman, she knew she had questions to ask. Her parents had never brought it up so she knew not to ask them for more information. Curiosity had eventually led her to Lisa instead. Unfortunately, that did not go well. She would never forget the day she had calmly asked Lisa where her real mother was. She had seen surprise flash in her eyes and known immediately that Lisa had not been in on ‘the family secret’ too.

Lisa had burst into tears and gone to inform their parents. The flogging she received from both of them was what cemented that day forever in her memory, it was the first time her dad had beaten her with a cane. For the next couple of months, she had let confusion and silent resentment for Lisa brew in her. She concluded that it was Lisa’s fault that their dad flogged her. She was the kind of child that would say very little but let her imaginations run wild, and run wild, they did. She came up with several theories, with the help of the movies she had seen. The most outstanding one was that her parents had adopted a baby, Lisa, because they could not have their own children early on but unknown to them, the child was a demonic baby, a strange child from the river goddess which explained why Lisa was so fair and had eyeballs that were a strange shade of brown. At 10, the logic made sense and she put away thoughts of the oyinbo woman.

When Lisa turned 12 some months later, their dad called them together and with the pictures from the carton, briefly explained what had really happened. Apparently, Lisa was his daughter. His first wife, the oyinbo, had passed away and he had married Ayomi’s mum. He said it did not matter and that they were both sisters in every way. As their dad shared the story that day, Ayomi’s mum held on to Lisa, repeating that she loved her truly as her own daughter. Their twin brothers, who were too young to understand then, had been securely planted next to their dad on the sofa, his joy and pride. No one held on to Ayomi. It was the sadness she felt in that moment that made it unforgettable.

Maybe it was because of her wild imaginations, the mean thoughts she had previously harbored and the Cinderella movie she had seen the night before but Ayomi left that family meeting feeling like Lisa was Cinderella and she was her wicked stepsister.

Their dad’s narration that day was what they all grew up with and her mum did everything humanly possible to ensure Lisa never felt different. She was the antithesis of the wicked stepmother and in moments when Ayomi was not too jealous of Lisa, she admired her mother for being so large-hearted. As they grew older, different questions and assumptions had arisen, demanding a more robust explanation. Her dad dedicated several special moments to tell Lisa about her mother and that relationship became something else Ayomi envied. Their dad loved the freedom of being able to talk about his late lover. They travelled together a couple of times to explore the sites he had visited with her mother and to see her maternal grandparents who had initially disapproved of their daughter’s marriage to a Nigerian.

Lisa would return with stories of her adventures ‘overseas’ and her dear grandparents who treated her like a princess. There always seemed to evolve, another reason for Ayomi to be jealous. They eventually got to travel often as a family but she never got close enough to creating the kind of bond Lisa had with their dad. She lost her dad to Lisa. Sadly, her mother was no different. She felt the need to overcompensate for the loss of Lisa’s mum and Ayomi felt she lost her to Lisa too.

At 14, Ayomi had pressured Aunt Nife, their dad’s youngest sister and popular black sheep of the family, into telling her every detail and the answers she had received did not surprise her. It was as if she just wanted