The Welcome

September 2003

It doesn't look very different. Zibby thoughfully examined the passing landscape as he and Uncle Nobu cruised towards the latter's North London home, Nobu's red Mercedes gleaming in the evening sun. The streets looked strangely familiar. He had of course seen a lot of London already, thanks to the twin wonders of digital television and the internet, so he was not suprised by the absence of American-style skyscrapers. Still, the streets looked suprisingly similar to the better parts of Lagos, and he had to continually remind himself that he was in a different country.

He and Uncle Nobu chatted all the way from the airport, as calm, soothing 90's tunes wafted out from the radio. Zibby made a mental note to check out that radio station again. So far they had not played a single song he didn't like!

Before long, they were pulling up to the house on Balthazar Lane. Zibby was brimming with excitement. As the door opened, Uncle Nobu called out that they were home, and out rushed the girls. Zibby quickly scanned the room for the only one he had met before, but she was not there. It was his three younger cousins, and they were meeting for the first time!

"Hello!" said Nikki cheerfully, as she came forward to give him a quick hug. She was his Uncle's third child, and the second oldest of those present. The others followed suite in rapid succession.

"Hello!" Zibby replied, beaming. He was not sure what to expect, and was glad for the warm welcome. "It's great to finally meet you all!"

"Oh my God, have you lived in America?!" asked Nikki. Zibby rolled his eyes and smiled. "No, I haven't" he said. "Lived in Lagos all my life!" "But you sound American!" she insisted. Zibby shrugged his shoulders and smiled again.

Just then, his aunt Ify stepped out from the kitchen. "Zibby, you're welcome" she said. Zibby looked into her eyes and felt suddenly uneasy. He couldn't place his finger on it, and perhaps it was his imagination. But it just seemed as if Aunt Ify did not feel quite as warmly towards him as she was letting on. As he scanned the faces of his 3 cousins, he slowly saw the same look creep in their eyes, and he began to worry.

Shrugging off his over-active imagination, he allowed them to take his things as he was ushered to the living room. The 3 sisters promptly returned to whatever it was they had been doing and Zibby was left to chat for a while with Auny Nikki and Uncle Nobu. It was really strange. He could sense the genuine warmth from his Uncle, but Aunty Nikki seemed to smile with her lips but shoot daggers with her eyes. Slowly but surely, Zibby began to feel homesick.

"Roooar!" Little Chuki ran down from wherever he had been playing and burst like a tornado into the living room. "Do you know who this is?" asked Uncle Nobu. "Yup!" said Chuki. "It's Zibby!" His five-year-old gap toothed smile was adorable! Zibby ruffled his hair with his standard greeting for little tornadoes. "Hello, young man!" Chuki grinned even wider. "Mum, dad, can I show Zibby around?" Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed Zibby by the arm and proceeded to drag Zibby him round the 5 - bedroom house, giving him the grand tour.

By the end of it all, Chuki looked up at Zibby and asked "So, are you my big brother now?"

Zibby smiled. Perhaps his initial misgivings were misplaced after all. He was still in this happy mood when cousin Ama came in from work. Ama had spent some time with Zibby and his folks in Lagos, almost 10 years earlier. They had all got on pretty well at the time, but had not seen or spoken since then.

As Ama's eyes met his, she shrieked, "Zibby!" and ran over to meet him. She hugged him tightly as Zibby laughed. "Ama!" he said, "Wow, it's been forever!"

"I know!" she said. "I'm so glad you're here." She didn't let go. And then she broke down. Slowly, then violently her body shook with sobs as she clung to Zibby tightly and cried. "I'm so glad you're here" she repeated.

Zibby was touched, but slightly puzzled. "It's great to be here" he said, albeit a little awkwardly. After a while, Ama composed herself and went upstairs to change.

It would not be long before Zibby would fully understand the reason for her tears.