Utiembet

by E. C. Osondu

First published as “Waiting” in Guernica Magazine

Translated to Ibibio by Iquo DianaAbasi

Anying mmi ado Orlando Zaki. Orlando ado anying idung ke obio mbakara. Orlando Florida awede ke afọng mbon Red Cross ekennọhọ. Zaki ado anying idung mbon Red Cross eke nkidde mien ndien emben edi refugee camp ami adoho itie idung anọ mbon idiniehe ufọk ke ntak ekọng. Mme ufan mmi ke camp ekere anying ekene si wede ke afọng idem ammọ. Acapulco asine afọng awedeke Acapulco. Afọng idem Sexy awede Tell Me I’m Sexy. Afọng Paris abo See Paris And Die. Mkpe kid nte anye Paris assanga adi, mme bōb anyen, koro ami nyemme adikpa. Akpọkọm afo abọ ufa afọng idem, asụk abikere akaan anying. Paris ama anie ufa afọng awedeke Ask Me About Jesus, ado nnyin isụk ikod anye Paris, nnyin inyunghọ ibịp anye Ibanga owo ntekied. Etok abọikpa ked ke camp nnyin ama anie afọng awedeke Got Milk? Ayin abọikpa ama’top afọng ado aduọk sia usụk mkparawa ekemaha adi fiik anye esit, nse me eba amọ anie mmọng. Afo ukemeke idiọngọ sibiwede ke afọng mfo. Unyanga afọng ase ado ekamba anwan, ye mkpọ mfọniso, utọ nte Lousy assangake ko; afọng amọ awede My Dad Went To Yellowstone And Got Me This Lousy T-shirt. Lousy ikanna anwan inwana, ado anam anye asine afọng kied ado tọngọ anye akedi itie idung nnyin ami. Afọng ama akaana, siwede ama akwuoko, ado, anying ado ayide anye nte itued. Usụk owo enie ata mfọniso: London ama anie afọng akewedeke London, mfin ami anye aba ke idung mfiaowo, London. Awuwan mbakara ye ebe amọ ema edat anye nte ayin ammọ. Usen kied, ami nko nya nie ufa eka ye ufa ete k’idung Orlando, Florida.

Sister Nora akebo yak ami ntọngọ nwed mbụk ami, ake ambo ntom: ukpuyem adifre mkpọ, toyo anye, ndien ukpuyem itoyo mkpọ, yem usung fre mkpọ ado. Sister Nora ase'tang ikọ ntoro, ke nkana nkana usung. Mmenim ke anye ama itang ikọ ke nke, sia anye adoho Reverend Sister. Anye asima adi nnọ mien mme nwed yak nkōd. Ase abo ke ami mme nnie enọ unọ mbụk. Anye asin Sister Nora akere ke nya wed nwed usen kied.

Akpa nwed anye ake annọhọ yak nkōd akere Waiting For Godot. Anye abo ke mme owo ke nwed ado etetie ebet Abasi adi nyanga ammọ. Ke itie nnyin idungọke ami, nnyin iba ke utiembet; ayo asiere, ayo akim amana asiere, nnyin isụk ibebet. Ukwenge mkpọ se nnyin inam adoro. Nnyin imaida ibet ekamba mmoto aben ndidia adi, afịd owo eya ewọngọ eda ke nnennen udim, ama, iya ibet udim nnyin aswana, ndien anwan asaka. Nnyin iya ikene inwana anwan, akanowoamia afo amia, akanowoataga afo ataga, akanmkpọaswan afo aswan, ukpekan afo asweng owo, adom owo, anyung awapa ndidia owo afege. Amaamado, nnyin iya ikikono iko ubọ mmọng, iditie ibet mmoto mmọng. Iya ikama eyen ise me ekamba mmoto mmọng asụk aboko ntọng k’usung awad adi. Ndien, mmoto mmọng amaadisim, iya itie ibet nọ edọng mmọng ke iko owo. Etok ini awo ked aya abo ke mmọng iwaka ke ekamba mmoto ado, anwan aya amana asaka, nnyin inyung iwaak afọng owo, iwai owo idem, inyanga mmọng. Usen nnyin inie mfọniso ikịd mmoto mmọng adoro; uwak ini nnyin inyung ikakama iko mmọng ibet, inyung ibọng akam nọ edim adep.

Mfin ami, nnyin ibet owo ndise adi sio nnyin ndise. Mme ndise ami ke mbon Red Cross e b’ino esọk mme owo ke nsio-nsio idung k’obio mbakara. Mmọ ema ekiid ndise ami, eya esaat nditọ se ammọ eyem edidung ye ammo. Im’itie udua ita ibet owo ndise, ado, anye ana aboiyo mm’itie enwanake ekọng ndien anye adiwuọ mi. Akeme inam anye idisimme mi mfịn. Anye ama asio ndise ama, ana nnyin ibet anye akemịng mme ndise ado, ndien anye aben adi yak nnyin iben inọ mbon Red Cross. Do ke nnyin ibi itọngọ itie ibet ibọrọ ito mbon obio mbakara.

Nyem adi tie ye ufan mmi ke itak eto kied asughọke ke camp nnyin ami. Acapulco asụk awopo ndaidad ntan atop, ase me afim asụk affime; sia afim idifimmeke mfin, ntan ado anyung atimme aduọkọ nnen nnen k’isọng.

“Orlando, akere ke owo ndise aya adi mfịn ami?” Acapulco ambịb.

“Akeme ido aya adi.”

“Akere ke mbon America eya edi ndat mien nte ayin ammọ?”

“Akeme ido, ukpu nie mfọniso.”

“Eya enie usọbọ enọ ntọk ikim ufọk mmi?”

“Mkpasi-ibọk ababa anọ afịd udọngọ ke America.”

Acapulco ante mien: “Ami ndọngọke, asido kwa nanga ndappa ndap ntọk ikim ke esien, ado mma demme, afọng ukod mmi adenge. Mkpo akedogho ndap adi wuọ ata ikim.”

“Asidappa ukem ndap kwa okoneyo?”

“Ey. Mkpe daka America, akere ke ete mmi ye eka mmi eya ekop ebanga? Me ammọ eya ewed nwed enọ ensọk, ami nyung nwed ammọ, nnyung mbo ufa ete mme eka mmi eyak ammọ ediba ye ami?”

“Ekọng ama akwenge, ete mfo ye eka mfo eya eduyem.”

“Ekọng ami adi kwenge nsusen?”

“Ndiọngọke o, akpena asọp akwenge.”

“Apodo ekọng aya asọp akwenge, nsinam mbon Red Cross esụk eyem usung nanga nnyin ikpika America?”

“Sia ammọ iyemme nnyin ikene idụk nka mkparawa ekoddo Youth Brigade, ese’etop owo ewod, enanga ndioi-ndioi mkpo y’iban. Awo iyemme nnyin iyịp inọ, isin ikang, ibiat mme mkpọ, inyung inwana ntime-ntime, mbaak ediwod nnyin ikpọng ufọk nwed.”

Acapulco asụk ase atie ikpọng-ikpọng k’itak eto, sia anye ama ibimme ọkpọsong mbime. Sister Nora asebo ke afọn owo abịb mbịme, sia owo abịppe mbịme ikemeke idue usung. Idaha ado, Acapulco amana atop ntan ase me afim akpon. Imin asụk awuo ufan mmi k’utọng, mkpọ ado anam anye atebe nte mbianga nkwa-unem. Utebe ado anyung anam mme owo imagha issanga mkpede anye. Nsung asụk akwọ ikwọ akene anye k’utọng; anye ibọrọke nsung ikọ tutu nsung am’ayem adisọrọ anye k’utọng ndien anye abịn nsung usọp-usọp.

Acapulco asemme, “Mkpa ma adinie ewa.”

“Nso k’afo adinam mme ewa?”

“Mkpa da ye ewa mmi nsiongo ndise ebihino eka America, sia mbon mbakara ene ema ewa”

“Nkọ ammọ enyung ema owo nanga.”

“Ey, ema owo, ado ammọ enekke ema mme owo emaha ewa.”

“London iki ikamake ewa isio ndise.”

“Akpaniko, idaha ami London adiba ke London.”

“Akem’ido afọ nko aya asọp adaka Acapulco,” nke tang ntoro, ami ntọngo nsak etok imam.

“Idung ami ekōddo Acapulco aba ke mmọ?”

“Enie ekamba inyang ke nkang udo; inyang ado ayaya tutu.”

“Ami mmaha utọ inyang ado; ndiọngọke adiwọk ewọk. Nyem adi’ka America.”

“Afịd owo ke America ediọngọ adiwọk ewọk; afịd ufọk ammọ anienge itie uwọk ewọk ekōddo swimming pool.”

“Ami mkpa ma iwọk ewọk ke esit swimming pool, idoho ke ekamba inyang. Nke kop ke mmọng swimming pool ado anem ntom, anyung asana, afọn owo k’idem.”

Ami mme dōp uyo ntie ye Acapulco. Nnyin isụk ikop nanga tian aluminium ekemake ebọb mme ufọk nnyin anam uyom. Uyom ado aneke asọng, nte owo atop nkenge mkpasi ikang. Mme ufọk ebọppọ ke afọng akpọ ye nsọng afọng ekōddo tarpaulin asụk anyenge ke afịm nte mkpọ mbre ntokayin esi yidde udụk yak afọrọ k'enyong nte inuen. Acapulco awupo ayọgọ ntan atop ke enyọng. Afịm aswan ntan ado. Ubaak ntan ado afime ad’itọ nnyin k’iso, Acapulco asak.

“Abasi idayake,” Acapulco ake’tang ntoro, ami nsioho uyo. “Mme ewa ema esi banga ke camp ami.” Acapulco afiọngọ mkpọ ami sia anye ama ato aba ke itie idung ami ndien ami di. Anye akpon owo akan uwak ntokayin mi.

Abubịd ewa ema ewak mi. Mme ewa ado ekebanga nte ufan nnyin, enyung ese ekpeme nnyin. Ndidia ama anana, ado, mme ewa ado ikiisi isangake mbiong. Akesido etokayin ama asọrọ adi tọrọ uduang, ibaan ekōd mme ewa, ammọ efenge edi. Mme ewa e ma esibet ntokayin etọrọ uduang ema, ndien ammọ ekọrọ efụd ayin anye asana, ndien edia uduang ado. Mme owo ema ese etomo mbenge ndidia enọ mme ewa. Idaha ado, ewa ema enyung enie nsio-nsio mfọn. Utọ ini ado, mme ndiọi owo ema es’edisintịme ke itie idung nnyin ami. Akesido nnyin imaitipe isọng ifeghe idịbbe, ewa ekōōno mme mfaang ye nsio nsio mkpọ efūk k’anyọng ube anyin idịbbeke. Mme ndiọi owo eya ebuoyo itie ado, owo idiọngọke ke nnyin mmọdo idịbbe k’esit ube.

Amaaba ini mbon Red Cross ek’etieghe udua iba owo ikanna iben ndidia idi camp nnyin, sia mbon ekong ikiyakka mmoto anyọng ammo afọro adụk adi. Abiọng ama’idọng tutu nnyin iwud usụk ewa, item ammọ ita. Akemado, mbon Red Cross edi kịd ufang se ewad eduk itie nnyin. Mme ewa ado ikinemme esit, ado aba nte ammọ ema ediongọ ke idoho nnyin ik’inam; abiọng akenam.

Ayogho nkemba, ndidia ikibaha aneke akpene usen. Isang ado, nnyin ik’ikanna imụm ewa yak awak, akedo nnyin iti kpere ammọ, ewa effenge essomo. Nnyin ima isụk imum ewa item ita. Akemado, nnyin ikidde mme ewa ado aba, mbọn se iki feghe itimmeke idi aba. Usen kied, etokayin asọrọ adi tọrọ uduang, eka ayin ake awọngọ anyen, ewa itiokied ema ewọngọ edi dom ayin ado. Eka ayin abọng mkpo akak, mme ewa ekaiso edom ayin ado idem ewaak, akema, ewa ewip abụk ayin ado k’inua efeghe. Mme iden ema ekọk afia, ewōd usụk ewa ado. Mme owo ese ebo ke ewa ado ema edi sọng adudu nte ekpe. Usụk owo ebo ke ekọng anam owo ikidde mme ewa aba.

Mme diomo k’esit mmi ke nya bịp Sister Nora ikọ ewa ado. Acapulco aba nte adiọngọ se isine k’esit mmi, anye ambo ke ntang ikọ ado nnọ owo ntekied. Ke mme owo ke camp isimagha aditang ikọ mbanga mme ewa ado.

Ami mbo anye, “Nkereke ke owo ndise ay’asụk adi mfịm ami aba.”

Acapulco ante mien, “Usụk ini mmesikere ke mkpasi ikang mmọdo anfagha ke mfri.”

“Akpedo mkpasi ikang mmọdo ufagha ke mfri, afo akpaake kpa.”

“Mkpasi ado ake dụk utọng mmi anieghe mfịna mi. Mme si kop nanga mkpọ anbomo k’ibuot nte mkpasi ikang abomo, mme owo esụk ebọng useme, ndisime, bastard, wọ di mi idahaado, iya iwọng iyip mbufo mfịn ami! Amado, nya kop ufịk carbide, ye ufịk mkpasi ikang, ye mme nkanya efọppọ ikang. Anyesin ibaan ema etem ndidia k’ifia, nsimmagha adikop ufịk nsungikan ado; ase anam mkpasi ikang ado amana atọngọ abomo k’esit mfri mmi.”

“Afịd mkpọ ado ayaatre afo uma uwọ America. Owo itemme ndidia k’ifia ke udo; es’etotōd ikang etem ndidia k’udo.”

“Zaki, afo ame adiọngọ afịd-afịd mkpọ. Afo ananam die adiọngọ utọ uwak mkpọ ami, ke adoho afo ukaha mme itie ami akpa?”

Ami mbọrọ anye, “Mme si kōd nwed awak eti-eti. Uwak ifiọk mmọ do adọngọ ke nwed, usụk nwed asinne mme nke akọrọ.

“Ami mmagha nwed im’iniehe ndise o; mma nwed aniehe ikpọ, nyaaya-nyaaya ndise.”

“Idoho afịd nwed asi nie ndise. Nwed ntokayin kpọd ase adọngọ ndise k’esit.”

“Ankaak adi sio ndise afịd ini s’eno eka obio mbakara, ado ibaha anwan mme ebe eyeme adi ndad mien nte ayin ammọ. Afịd owo se nke sanga kied ndi camp ami enie ufa eka mme ufa ete, afịd ammọ ema edanga obio mbakara ema. Ufan mmi kied ama anwed letter, akenọ nwed ato idung ekōdo Dakota. Me nsinam owo indadda nte ayin ammo, akere ke ammọ imagha iso mmi?”

“Mkpọ ado ado mfoniso; ini mfoniso mfo ikemme kanga.”

“Usụkini, nka idiok mparawa Youth Brigade ase anwụd adi dụk, ado nka ado ase anyeng idem. Nkop ke ese eno owo ikọngekpo efip, ama do eya enwọng iyip, ma ekan enwọngọ mkpọ, mbak ammọ edi nie mbom nnọ owo, akpọkọm eka mmọ ye ete mmọ.”

“Sister Nora aya ayadesit akpe akop ikọ afo atanga do. Nkọ amediọngọ ke anye anekke anam ufọn anọ afịd nyin, Mbon Red Cross nko, esụk eneke esin idem eyem ufa eka mme ufa ete unọ fien.”

Acapulco akpughọ nneme, “Idung ekoddo Dakota, an’ado anie ikpọ-ikpọ itiad.”

“Nsinam afo abo ntoro?”

“Nyung nkene nanga anying ado aba owo k’utọng, nte uwak itiad aduọngọ atọ idem ammọ. Mkpa ma adi ka itie ado enieghe Angels.”

“Akọm idung ekoddo Los Angeles?”

“Mme ndiọi owo ado ema ewōd mbon ufọk mmi sia nnyin iki diọngọke adikod anying ekambawo ammọ mfọn-mfọn. Ekeebo ke nnyin ikanna i bo ‘Tsofo’, nnyin isụk bo ‘Tofo’ ammọ eka iso etop nnyin ikang. Ufan mmi k’itie idung nnyin ammi ad’imkpeb nanga mkpe bo Tsofo, akebo yak ntang nte ntan ansịne k’inua. Nte ikpọ ntan mmọ andoro ke edeme. Idaha’m ami mme diọngọ adikod anying ado nanga akpedodo.”

“Aafọn. Afo uma usim America, aya ayung akpeb itang ikọ nte mbon udo. Kwa nanga atang ikọ ayanam nte adi memen edeme, abiisem ikọ mbakara ntom larer, berrer, merre, ferre, herrer. Di, akpena nnyin ika. Ini ndidia uweme aya asesim.”

“Ami nnieghe inwek anwan. Ini ndidia amaasim ntom, idem ase anyeyeng. Akpedo eka mmi mmọ akeba mi, mkpe doho ananaitie-idung. Eka mmi akpese atem ndidia annọ, mkpe si nwanake anwan ndidia afịd ini.”

Nnyin owomba idipe anyen ise nanga nsungikang awọngọ ke ayọng ufọk Ibaan etemme ndidia. Ukpe ukịd owo adoho nsungikang asuk ase assanga ke anyọng akọm ammọ uwemeyo, diọngọ ke owo ado anie eka. Mme kere me nanga ami mme Acapulco ido ananaitie-idung ye anana-eka ye ete anam nnyin isọppọ ikịd ufa eka ye ete s’iben nnyin inyọng ufọk ammọ. Uwak owo s’ito mi ikaya obio mbakara edo mbon enieghe ete ye eka. Ntanga ikọ ami nọ Acapulco akop; nyemme anye atọngọ akere eka amọ ye ete amọ idikikanna ibo Tsofo. Usen kied mma kop owo nte abo ke akpedo Abasi ama aduak nnyin i bo Tsofo, Anye Abasi akpakeno nnyin edeme s’ikan ibo Tsofo.

“Acapulco, di yak nnyin issanga kied. Nya yanga ndidia unọ.”

“Orlando, ufọn afo adi yanga ndidia ibaha. Afịdafịd ntokayin enie ukpono unọ fien, ebo ke afo ubakka owo ntekied, unyungọ ubak mkpọ ntekied. Ebo Sister Nora aneke uma fien ntom, ke afo amenie nwed asekke awed afịd ndioi ndioi mkpọ se mmeowo es’enanga, amanam afo ayaanọ Sister Nora nwed ado anye akōd. Mbufo owomba ema etie adikōd mwed ami, eya etop iwod esaak imam nte ufa anwan mme ebe.”

Nnyin im’idangaida itọngọ isang ika ufọk atian nte nnyin isi bọ ndidia. Ufịk dawa afịmme anduk iwo. Ndidia nnyin asụk asedo usung dawa ado, asụk asedo k’ukem nwuno usan tian, nsung asụk ase kene ndidia nnyin; ado ikpana, ana nnyin isụk inyanga, inwana anwan ndidia kwa usen.

Kimono ato ankid mien, atọngọ ankod anying, ndien mme Aruba ye Jerusalem ye Lousy ye I’m Loving It ye Majorca mme mbon mfen ekene esio uyo. Mma atem ndidia, Chief Cook ama anen ada k’iso usan edọngọ dawa nnyin mme awawa efere. Ayinmma ami akama iso nte awuden adiọngọke ke ibaan iba eya enwana anwan, ewai afọng, eswenne idem ammọ k’iwud imọ. Chief Cook anyaan nnyin ubọk, abo: ekiwana anwan mfin. Ikọ se nnyin ika da ibet adoro; anwan asaka. Dawa mme efere aduọyọ k’isọng. Usụk owo ado nanga enyanga ndidia, esụk ewaak etok esin k’inua, mbaak apedo ndidia isimme ammọ ke utịd anwan. Mme sọp mben iboro idem dawa kied, ntop nnọ Acapulco, nke yan ubọk mbi ben usan efere, Lousy atagha usan ansio k’ubọk, efere aduọkọ k’isọng. Anye asak ibak imam amọ ado, ante mien: owo akpa mfia idiọngọke nanga emum eba enang enyimme mmọng eba, ado anye adiọngọ nanga anwanga mmọng eba eduọk. Chief Cook asuk abọng: kuwana anwan! E da kiedekied, da ke nnennen udim, usung dawa ami awak akem afịd owo. Ibaha owo akoppo ikọ anọ anye. Nke sin inwek mben ibio usan efere ama ake aduọkọ asughọ, ami nkama anyen mbo Acapulco yak iyem usung ikpọng itie ado. Nnyin ik’isọrọ ke edem ufọk ado, itọngọ idia mkpọ k’ubọk kied, ibịn nsung ubọk kied. Usung dawa iba ke nnyin ikama ye etok ibio efere. Nke dia akpọusung ifang, mme sughọ nnọ Acapulco, nkwuoko ubọk ke imugho afọng ukod mmi. Anye abọ ufen nsung tutu; ama abịn nsung ke ndidia, afiak abịn asio ke utọng amọ anieghe mfịna. Anye ake adịppe iso nọ ami nkịd anyen amọ, mme diọngọ ke anye adara nanga nsughọ ndidia nnọ anye.

Mme toyo nwed Sister Nora ake anọhọ yak nkōd mbanga ayin uwene kied ke England ke ini eset, etokayin ado ama ase bo Chief cook ammọ amana asin ndidia anọ anye. Ndise ayin ado k’edem nwed ik’imbaha mien nte ayin uwene. Afịd ndito iden ke nwed ado ema essine coat, eyara itam, enyung enie mbon se itapa ndidia idọng ke usan inọ ammọ. Nyin inwawana anwan ndidia k'umi. Ukpe ubo chief cook amana unọ ndidia mfen, anye adi yaan ubọk uwọd usung dawa mme efere aduokọke ayọhọ isọng, abo ke nnyin inisima adi duọngọ ndidia. Mma dak mbịb Sister Nora mbanga ndidia ye nanga nnyin isiwana anwan ndien nnyin ibọ ndidia, ado anye ikimaha adi mbọrọ. Akpa ami nkidde nanga anye asịn adinwam owo ke ini mfịna adoro. Akema, Sister Nora andọkkọ ke imọ inamma utom inọ mbon Red Cross, ke inyung ido esenowo ammọ nanga ami ndo.

Nsuk nkere nanga mkpe dakka mkpọng Acapulco, mkpa ma adi tie ikpọng etok ini, ado nyemme adi nọ anye idiọk esit. Mbo anye akono usan ndidia ake abono ke ufọk anyin isibọhọ ndidia. Ufọn adi yed usan ado ibaha sia nnyin im’ikọrọ usan ado k’edeme anye asana.

Acapulco ake akono usan adakka ufọk ndidia, ami nduọk idem usụk usụk.