A Heart to Mend - Page 96/185

“That‘ll be great…”

“I think you‘ll feel right at home on Okpara Avenue where most of the bank main branches are located. Other main streets include Chime Avenue, Ogui Road, Zik Avenue, Agbani Road…”

“It‘ll be nice to see them.” Edward felt himself warming to the young boy. “You can join us on the way back to the hotel.”

“How come you didn‘t drive up with your car?” Ngozi asked. “After she talked about it earlier I looked forward to seeing it when Gladys said you were coming down for Christmas.”

“That would have been the last resort if I didn‘t get a flight ticket. I‘ve heard horror stories of the holiday traffic jams on the Onitsha Bridge crossing over to the east.”

They all laughed and Olisa began to describe his own public transport experience the day before Christmas Eve on his way back from the University of Benin. Edward was gladdened that her brothers took to him. He removed his outer jacket and relaxed back into his chair. Gladys and her mother soon called them over to the cramped dining room and served up a delicious onugbu soup and pounded yam. The discussion was fast as furious between all of them as they ate, making him feel like one of them. Edward was glad he‘d made it down to Enugu. This was his best Christmas ever.