The Old Woman's Chicken Written by Felicia O. Eze @ijehdeboss//10% Payout to Steemkidss
Introduction
Greeting to you all am happy to be here once again. This is an art work written by Felicia 0. Eze and it is title The Old Woman's chickens. My reason for writing this story is for those who do not have this book and for student's who are writing junior waec and this is a good opportunity to read this book.
Title:The Old Woman's Chicken
Writer: Felicia 0. Eze
Chapter One
At the junior staff residence of akueze federal polytechnic,enuka , there lived an old woman and her daughter-Ogadimma. Ogadi as she was fondly called was her only chlid.Ever since she lost her husband, the old woman became cool about other life issues, except her christian life.
Although she was not learned, the old woman will have the holy bible read to her hearing every night by her daughter who was already in already in her final year in the same institution. Ogadi rarely copped with the evening fellowship that her mother usually attended because at her academic activities. Which became too tight at that level. However, she maintained a personal relationship with Christ.
The old woman used the corridor of her apartment as her work place, where she mended clothes for students. Unlike before when she used to stay at the hostel, she now has fewer customers. Only those students who appreciated the unique way and carefulness with which the old woman handled people's clothes still went for her services after she had left her shop at hostel: the rest left. Nevertheless she was contented with what ever sum she made a day . At least it would be enough enough for their feeding since it was just the two of them.
By the end of that year, Ogadimma graduated. The joy of the old woman knew no bound. How ever,her joy would have been more if her husband,maduka,was alive.
''Oh death!Why did you take him before the harvest time?Oh death!Why are you harsh on me?Why? hmmm.......The old woman lamented and started crying.She remembered how maduka used to hold Ogadi's fingers to learn how to construct the English letters during her nursery school days.That evening also,she could hear maduka's voice as he called the names of the letters for Ogadi in her heart.life! you are sweet and sour.You release each taste at your own convenience,not minding how cool or harsh the tongue feels about it," she continued.
Again she flashed back her memories to the event of yesterdays.She saw maduka dipping all sorts of snacks into his daughter's lunch box.He would carry her to school high on his shoulder, despite the fact that Ogadi was already five years by then.Ogadi placing her head well on her mother until maduka crossed the gate to their compound.
"Mama! Mama!" Ogadi interrupted her meditation. "I saw that black cat resting here again. This cat must be a witch for insisting on using our backyard as it's resting place.instead of staying at its owners house.
On hearing Ogadi's voice,the old woman quickly cleaned her eyes with the edge of her wrapper and moved to the backyard. She wouldn't like to sour her daughter's mind on the day she dropped her pen as an under-graduate.
Three months later,Ogadi proceeded for her national youth service. she was posted to Port Harcourt one of the oil producing states in Nigeria. At first, Ogadi vowed never to leave Enuka without her mother.
Mama, I can't leave you to survive all alone.No now, I will return the call-up letter. We will pray hard for God to post me here in this state. Or better still, I can forget about it," Ogadi told her mother.
"Can u ever sleep when I'm not sure whether you have eaten or not," Ogadi tried to let her mother see reasons why she should stay back from the national assignment.
"Ogadi, you will go. Remember, many families are praying for such blessings for their children. I understand your points.You are considering my age. But I am assuring you that the Lord who owns each of us will care for me when you are not there", the old woman said trying to hide her bitterness from her daughter.
She hadn't slept properly since the issue of youth service came up. However,she had a strong feeling that it was better to allow Ogadimma to join her fellow youths to answer the clarion call for National service. Ogadi later resolved to go after so much persuasion from friends and their church members.
Ogadimma's departure from the house made the old woman to feel lonely most of the times. She would cook and eat all alone. This condition made her to lose appetite most often. However, she tried to make life better for herself by inviting members of their fellowship to pay her visits from time to time.
Her regular visitor was Njideka, a student of akueze federal polytechnic Enuka. She is from a poor home and as such,she sells recharge cards at the institution to complete whatever her parents would give her. The old woman had encourage her to come and feed from her pot. This was an opportunity Njideka jumped at.
To be continued...
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