All In God's Time

"When will my Prince Charming come?" "When will someone come and sweep me off my feet?" "Will I have to grow old living with my parents, while aunties pity my lot?" Labake asked herself while she combed her hair that morning as she got dressed for work. Just as the thoughts settled in her mind she made a conscious decision to shove them into the dark places of her heart that no one else saw. Not even her. What would happen if she opened the door to the overstuffed closet that contains all her regrets and fears? No, she would not go there. Instead she would soak in the beautiful morning around her; the birds chirping outside her window, and the sounds of school busses and moms saying goodbye to their little ones.

Really she had nothing to be concerned about. She was quite successful at her young age of 26 years. She had been awarded a first class degree in Computer Engineering from Hull University in England before she moved to the States. She had a great job, one that had afforded her the privilege to be a homeowner in the nice suburban town of Topeka, Kansas. To top it all, she had the best friends and family anyone could possibly ask for. Anyone would look at her life and call her blessed.

As Labake pulled her hair back in a ponytail, her mind raced back to a family retreat 2 years ago in her Western Nigeria village of Ora. It was late evening, and her parents were entertaining aunties and uncles who were also around for the annual Christmas family retreat. They had set up some chairs around a small fire pit to keep warm during the harmattan season. She pulled up a small stool and sat next to her mum in order to be able to listen to what the older adults were talking about. Not long after she had joined the group, her aunty Bola looked at her and said, "ah Labake, it's soo good to have you around this year. Last year your mum told us you couldn't take time off work since you just started working." To which Labake replied, "Awww aunty! It feels so good to be home." "Yes my dear, there's no place like home," aunty Bola replied and continued, "ehen I've been meaning to ask you something." Then as if she wanted to get permission before proceeding, she looked at Labake's parents and then said, "when are you going to settle down? Don't you know you're no longer getting younger? Just last year we had the mo mi mo e (Yoruba introduction ceremony) of your cousin Bimpe." At this point Labake looked at her mum then her dad, smiled, and answered, "aunty all in God's time." And ever since that conversation that is what she's been saying whenever that question comes up.

Now fully dressed, she takes one final look at herself in her tall mirror and snatches her purse off her desk and runs out of her room, down the stairs, out of the house and into her car. Getting into the car she chides herself for getting carried away in her thoughts when she has a report to give that morning for which she needs her mind clear. Thoughts about Mr Right are just going to have to wait till lunch time.

Labake was glad to finally be heading towards the cafeteria of her company for her lunch break. As she set her tray down, her phone vibrated. It was her close friend Toke. She hesitated for a second before answering, this better be good she thought. "Hello... Toke what's up?" "'Bake! How are you? I think I just found your Mr. Right!" Before Ronke could finish the last word, Labake rolls her eyes as Toke always finds her "soul mates" Amazing how one person can have so many. "So what is this one's name this time o?" She asks, wanting to amuse her friend. "Ore, you won't believe it! He is the son of the Oba of Benin. I met him at a conference on African Development at Harvard this past weekend. Immediately I saw him I thought of you. You too have to talk. I hope you don't mind but I gave him your number." Labake almost choked listening to her friend, she had to cough to prevent from passing out. With a raspy voice she said, "You did what?!?"