And all of a sudden, Nnenne started acting strange.
She refused to eat her favourite meals and even refused to play with her friends, umuejima (twins), who will usually flock around the open space at dusk to play hide and seek with other kids from the neighborhood.
Nnenne also quit her catechism classes.
I was the first to notice of her derisive or rather strange behaviour and quickly complained to Mama about it.
Mama was so obsessed with her desire to have a male child that she hardly listen to any complaints.
“Ngozi, leave her alone. She will be turning eight in few days time and she is getting wiser, Mama said.
Nnenne is my only sister and I care a lot about her, after death had taken four of those before me as I was told by Mama, I decided to give Nnenne my little sister the love she truly deserves.
But right now, there is something smelling, I think something devilish.
Papa had gone to the next neighbouring village four days ago for his palm fruit business and Mama had devoted all her time going to prophet Isaiah new church in quest of a male child.
I refused to tell Mama that I had seen her most revered prophet in the bush with Nkoli, the village parrot who has large breasts and thin waist.
What they were doing was not my business though.
I had also refused to tell Mama that I was the one who ate the sardines she had seen the tins few days ago.
She had been keeping grudges for Papa thinking he was the one who ate them without sharing it with her.
Yes, prophet Isaiah had wooed me with three tins of sardines. I had collected them from him but hid each time, I sighted him coming.
Few days later, I had seen Ukamaka my friend with two tins of milk and wondered where she had gotten them from.
My curiosity was quenched when I saw her in the bush with Isaiah, the same spot I had seen him with Nkoli, the village’s parrot.
What they were doing there was my business now because as I drew closer, the two scampered farther into the bush.
I was disappointed with my friend. Could she be so cheap?
That night it rained heavily in the village with claps of thunder and heavy breeze.
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I put a small wooden calabash on my bamboo bed to protect it from getting drenched, because there was a hole on the roof of my little hut and papa had promised to fix it before his impromptu journey to the next village for his business.
I was thinking about Amobi, the young man who had stolen my heart.
He was recently posted to the village clinic to help the doctors and nurses attend to the patients.
Mama had sent me to the clinic earlier in the day to get some drugs for her, and it was him who had attended to me.
When he asked of my name, I smiled shyly and had told him my age too, the name of my father and grandfather.
He had smiled and told me my name was just needed for reference purpose. I was not disappointed, but embarrassed.
But here I am, thinking of him again…
I was called out of my oblivion when I saw a shadow lurking behind my windows. I was startled because it was late.
“Could this be a thief, I thought…, who is that? I asked bravely.
There was no answer. I was immediately seized with fear and crunched tightly to my pillow which was made out of mama’s worn-out clothes tied into a bundle.
The shadow reared closely and I closed my eyes, saying some prayers. Then I heard Mama scream. I boldly rushed into her hut.
I saw her holding her stomach and writhing in pain. She was sobbing. Then I noticed Nnenne was not in the hut with Mama.
“Nnenne bit my stomach and ran away” Mama said sobbing.
What? I shouted. Where is she? I asked unsure of what to do next.
She ran away mama repeatedly weakly, then I noticed blood dripping down her laps. I screamed for help… Mama had a miscarriage again, I never knew she was pregnant, and I am sure she did not know either.
I quickly rush out and shouted for help from the villagers. Then I screamed Nnenne’s name with anger.
“Nnenne!”
I continued screaming for help but no one came around. I was surprised. This had never happened in Umuofia land.
Then I thought about going to prophet Isaiah’s house to call him for help. I was crying, sweat dripping down my body even with the cold weather.
I ran back to Mama but to my greatest dismay, she was not in her hut again. I screamed louder…
“Mama! Mama!! Umuofia help ooh! Immediately I saw Nnenne in the middle of the compound as I made towards the entrance leading out of the compound. Her mouth was covered with stains of blood. I gasped.
“Why did you bit Mama you devil I shouted and made towards her to give her some spanking as I usually do whenever she misbehaves. She took to her heels, I ran after her.
She run faster this time and I was shocked. Her legs were making swift movement. I stopped. Nnenne was obviously being possessed by evil spirit, I said to my self and weep profusely.
Then I thought about prophet Isaiah’s prayers.
The rain started again, with heavy breeze, and claps of thunder and I look around to behold the path leading closely to Maazi Uzo’s house, one of the highly respected village elders.
I strolled the dark road, walked into his compound, knocked but there was no response. I knocked louder.
Then Nnenne opened the door with a devilish smile, I screamed and she took to her heels running with such swift.
Then I noticed that no one was in the house, I remember greeting Maazi Uzo on my way to the stream yesterday and he had asked me about Papa. I wondered what was happening.
I quickly rushed to the king’s palace, the rain has intensified and I can feel the numbness of my own body. When I reached the king’s palace, I noticed that no one was there, it seems as if everywhere was deserted. I slumped…
The thunder and the rain continued, and then I noticed I was being dragged by the arm down the valley by someone.
I was too weak to bother, too numb to speak. My strength has failed me. I can’t even fight back.
I thought about Mama, about Papa…
I thought about the blood flowing down Mama’s laps.
I thought about Amobi the young man I met at the clinic.
I thought about the major incidents which had happened in the past years of my life.
I thought about the kids Mama had lost, my siblings, tears were gushing down my eyes. I can feel it.
Then I thought about death, and the life after…
But I never thought about Nnenne.
Yes, I never thought about the little sister whom I had grew to love over the years because we survived death together.
At the last hour, it had escaped my mind to think about my only sister Nnenne.
But I asked myself for the second time, did it really escaped my mind?
MMESOINSPIRES
