Deconstruction of a Gambian Marriage [FICTION]

The Nouns



Meeting. Infatuation. Surrender. Retreat. Advance. Ending. Beginning. Ending. Beginning. Progress. Regress.

Decision.

Honey. Baby. Boyfriend. Introductions. Best friend. Cousin. Darling. Sugar. Neh-nehhhh.

Fights. Make-ups. Dinners. Break-ups. Silences. Words. Patchings-up.

Possession.

Proposal.

Acceptance.

Kola Nuts. Uncles. Mosque. Hew. Griots. Histories. Lavishness. Gifts. Friends. Smiles. Pride. Mothers. Fathers. Joy.

Vans. Buckets. Taasu. Paans. Lockets. Tama-kats. Guewels. Woyaan-kats. Imams.

Work friends. School friends. Old friends. New friends. Felicitations.

Night.

Old Women.

White Sheets.

Darkness.

Ceiling Fan.

Entry.

Obstruction.

Woye!

Inside. Outside. Blood.

Woooye…

Inspection.

Announcement. Celebration. Drums. Singing.

Tiredness.

Morning. Stiffness. Limping. Phone conversations.

Nijaaye. Baby. Babes. Love. Chapali Bon Bon. Honey. Big daddy. Mandingo Warrior.

Kitchen. Domoda. Super. Benachin. Meatballs. Dinner Table. Conversation. Bills. Visits. In-laws. Njaykays.

Period. No period. Vomiting. Roundness. Day-sleep. Insomnia. Mood swings.

Pregnancy kit. Confirmation. Joy. Announcement. Phone calls. Congratulations.

Plans.

Big belly. Kicks. His Names. Her Names. Discussion. Argument. Resolution.

Contractions.

Car ride. Hospital. Midwives. Hospital Bed. Pain. Strength. Pain. Firmness. Pain. Pain. Pain.

Expulsion.

Liquids. Solids. Semi-liquid solids.

Incubator. Tears. Assurance.

Death?

Prayer. God. Trust. Serign Sallah. Alms. Sowe. Mbuuru. Maalor.

Life.

Hope.

Fever. Trembling. Weight Loss.

Despair.

Death.

Blamings. Shoutings. Fights. Crashings.

Silences. Bed walls. Kitchen walls. Dining Table walls. Wall walls. Word walls. Walls of silence. Walls of stone.

Divorce.

Absence. Ache. Numbness.

End.




The Verbs



Meet. Speak. Discover. To be demur. To be forward. Part. Leave.

Re-meet. Speak. Call. Speak. Text. To brush against. Reply. Flirt. Advance. Retreat.

Offer.

Hesitate. Convince. To be scared. To be assured.

Withdraw. Advance. Withdraw.

Surrender.

Imagine. Wonder. Call. Fight. Make up. Fight.

Imagine. Remember. Daydream. Night-dream. Fight. Make up. Fight.

Talk. Worship. Fight. Hate.

Make up. Worship. Irritate.

Desire.

Want.

Possess. To be possessed by.

Miss. Call.

To feel bad. Call. To feel better.

Dine. Propose. Cry. Agree. Announce. Call. Buy. Visit. Plan. Buy. Hire. Arrange.

Pack. Cry. Depart.

Approach.

Enter.

Woye!

To cry out. Inspect. To be satisfied. To announce. To celebrate.

To feel stiff. To walk slowly.

Make breakfast. Talk. Make lunch. Talk. Make dinner. Talk. Hold. To be held. Snuggle. Canoodle.

To mess up bed. To change sheets. Remake bed. Repeat.

To miss period. Pee. Look. Read. Call. Surprise. Return. Hug. Cry.

Push! Push! Puuuuush! Scream!

To be happy.

To be worried.

To be sad.

To be numb.

Depart. Forget.

End.




The Adjectives


Noticeable.

Attractive. Well-spoken. Well-dressed. Sexy. Curvy. Smart.

Perfect. Flawed.

Crazy. Moody. Temperamental.

Vivid. Vicarious. Various.

Poetic. Burning. Intense.

Falling.

Gentle. Tender.

Soft. Curvaceous.

Passionate.

Beautiful. Nice. Fragrant.

Masculine. Deep-voiced. Lispy.

Jet-black. White. Dark.

Happy. Sad. Happy. Irritating.

Needy. Needful.

Slow. Fast. Painful.

Peaceful. Delicious. Happy. Chatty. Fulfilled. Fulfilling.

Lush. Filling. Inspiring.

Joyous.

Agonizing. Sad. Devastating.

Final.