TEARS INVISIBLE:::episode 2
...my life
It was already late when I got home. I gently dropped the wet logs on the kitchen pavement with the thatch extension covering them from becoming wetter and preceded to check on mama. The poor woman had slept. I checked her body temperature with my dorsum to know how she fared. I took the small clay pot placed beside her bed frame which had ogwu iba inside to refill the roots with fresh water to serve mama for the next day. After refilling the roots, I retired for the night; I felt dizzy and needed to rest for the night.
Nkwo sales was actually wonderful, I had lots of customers and very few vegetables remaining. It was as if I hit a jackpot. I bought some corns to add to the ones at home, they would serve for dinner since I didn't use them in the morning due to the wet firewood. I had to buy more to go round and mama's friends might come along to gist and they would definitely have their share.
When I got home from Nkwo, you could barely see one's shadow. I balanced my sales, hid the money under my bamboo bed and made for the kitchen. I had to clear the ola ntu, the ashes leftover from the previous day and sprayed them at bitter leaf stems at the kitchen balcony. I then prepared the cooking-stand to roast the corns.
"Chukwubugom,you have tried today nwa m. Go and pluck some pears let me do the roasting" mama said walking slowly to the kitchen with faint smile wiping the smokes going towards her direction as if wiping the air would stop the smoke.
"Mana Mama, you are not strong yet, aru adiro gi. Am not complaining biko" I reacted cleaning my running nostrils with the edge of my wrapper.
"Ezigbo, don't worry your mother is not that weak. Just go and do as I have said, nsogbu adiro"
"Mamaa-a-a I..."
I heard whistles as I nagged with mama. The whistles were familiar, it was Obi m; that was the way he calls whenever he came to see me. Chukwuolisa! I was not prepared to meet him. It was not yet time to face him! He might deny the pregnancy. I had to plan on how to tell him. My heart beats went into twenties and my temperature at that moment could boil water for white yam.
"Chibugo the hand-fan you are holding is shaking"
It was then I noticed that sweat oozed from my feet and palms as if I ate anu ezi.
May be it was the right time to let the cat out of the bag but Chibugo was not ready for it. I needed to practice on how I would present it .
'Chibugo you can do this! Be smart for once! 'I murmured to myself to summon courage. I needed to comport myself but it was as if something right inside was saying I should let go and visit Dibia Ogwudile.
"Chibugo did you forget anything at Nkwo or is there a customer you forgot to collect money from?" Mama continued, gazing confusingly at me. The whistles came again and was more consistent this time though fainter.
"Mama let me go and get stick to pluck the peer;there is a longer one I saw outside near our palm tree.
"But there is..."
"Maa-a-a-m-a-a-a,mama don't worry too much . Remember Dibia Ozoigbo said that rest is part of your treatment. I will be right back, let me get the longer one." I said with a forced smile to convince her that all was well.
Obinna was sitting on a cassava ridge in the farm opposite our compound. When he saw me, he got up, dusted his buttocks and made some steps towards me with his usual descent and broad smile. I couldn't look at his face to admire his dimples, full eyebrows, side beards ,obvious laryngeal prominence, and masculine appearance; I didn't expect his hyping, adoration and teasing as I used to. It was as if I was seeing a destiny destroyer!
"Ugo m,kedu? Your face does not look good, kedu onye choro gi okwu nne? Who is that person? Tell me Ugom" He asked, this time closer; his hairy arm around my neck. He stroked my hair, and tried to bend my head to his chest. I felt sudden coldness as he touched me. It was as if he was doing something odd. I felt betrayed. I slowly pulled his hand away.
"Obi-nna let's take a walk to our farm" I said trembling with my heart beats pounding as if it would explode.
TO BE CONTINUED