Taking a stand

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Nothing is as exhilarating as standing up for one's self.

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Agatha didn't understand what drew her to watching the sunset. She was seated on their wooden bench known as agada, her legs spread apart with the wrapper on her waist forming a curtain in between her thighs.

Obanma had gotten one of her convulsive fits earlier that afternoon, which was quenched with eloaku almost immediately.

The children had been playing ludo in the verandah before a loud shriek escaped the little girl's lips. She had been shaking vigorously on the ground, sparse bruises marring her flawless skin.

Agatha had planned on taking both Adaugo and obanma to have their hair braided that afternoon till the illness took over. The little girl's hair was often a weekly issue as it was barely held together by attachments.

It was almost as if the girl's hair was that of a white woman. Agatha used to tease her elder sister about the issue, often referring to Obanma as onye ọcha furu ụzọ (A white woman who missed her way)

Thankfully they still had bottles of eloaku and quickly attacked her whole body with the oil, dropping certain quantities into her eyes and mouth.

The eloaku arrested the situation once again but the bruises had already surfaced. Agatha dressed the little cuts Obanma got from rolling on the ground, a considerable amount of the purple ointment GV finding its way to her body.

Adaugo had been the one who suggested taking her little sister to the hospital to see if the convulsions would be put to an end, Agatha was in acquiescence as she had become quite terrified for Obanma.

She pictured the little girl having fits in school or on their play ground. Places that would leave her body with more cuts and bruises and almost flinched at her imagination. Agatha, couldn't wait for Obinna's burial to come so that she would take the children away.

The word the elder said to her still tugged her mind, often making her skeptical and terribly skittish about spending more time in the village.

"If it had really been a plot to remove Iheanyị, his children were in real danger"

"Daa I've finished cutting the pineapple" Adaugo declared munching the fruit.

"Ngwanu give Chijioke and Obanma, take your own and keep the remaining for me ịnụ"

Adaugo nodded and quickly went about her assignment.

Agatha's eyes could make out a human silhouette which approached slowly. She focused her gaze on the figure all the while adjusting her outfit so that she would look presentable.

" Nne ndighi otu ? How are you doing?" The voice boomed revealing the gender of the figure. Agatha inwardly cursed her eyes for not being as sharp as they used to be. The man had even caught a glimpse of her.

"Adị m mma, I'm doing okay, I biala"

"ụmụ a we kwanu? How are the children?"

"They are fine o, oche ndị o, Please have a seat"

"Adaugo please get me a lantern o!" Agatha bellowed

Agatha recognized their night visitor as iheanyi's younger brother Osisioma. His broad nose and pointy teeth was a feature ghat distinguished him from all his siblings. He wasn't too tall but had grown considerably fat since the last time Agatha had seen him

"I would have come earlier maka ụmụaka, but I've been too busy with business."

"I have been taking care of them, I don't know if you've heard about what happened to their mother" Agatha thought Osisioma's excuse to be meaningless and fought herself from glaring.

"it was an unfortunate event"

"Adaugo! Where is the lantern?"

The girl hurried out with a lantern and a broken glass. She had been hesitant to reveal why the light never came on.

"Ikuwala Aba ya? Have you broken the glass?" Osisioma enquired with a grin.

Adaugo nodded slowly, Agatha's eyes piercing her remorse filled face.

"Ngwá take this money, get a new one then bring the lamp here so that I can help you with it"

She took the note from Osisioma's hand and ran to get the item.

"That's how she'll still break the new one." Agatha muttered rubbing her aching leg. Her week was filled with going to the hospital and back,sourcing out food for her nieces and nephew.

None of Iheanyị's siblings had shown interest in caring for the children ever since she arrived, Osisioma had taken her by surprise.
A part of her found his visit rather suspicious but she maintained her decorum and proceeded to make him feel comfortable by offering kola which he rejected.

"When I heard what he did, I could not stop myself from weeping.
That Chidozie man, I don't know if Ngozi....."

"Did what!" Agatha flared up, she was tired of people insinuating that her elder sister was an adulteress.

"Agatha we can't overlook the fact that she was caught in a compromising position with that.. That ohụhụ man!"

"were you there!"

"Don't be unreasonable, my brother would not have done what he did if Ngozi had been faithful. Who knows she might have been having an affair with that man even before.."

"Osisioma you have overstayed your welcome, you need to leave" Agatha tersely spoke

"This is my brother's house!" Osisioma fumed

"I see that you have no reason for coming here today."

"I came because of my nieces and nephews, those children should not be left alone with you "

"Maka gịnị? Why?"

The laughter that escaped Agatha's lips were bitter and she fought the urge to break the man's head with the lantern.

"You mean the children that you and your brothers left on their own till I came. For all I know, your brother deliberately let his madness drive him to tearing his family apart and landing my sister in that condition.

Oh and these children, Mark my words! I will never let any of them come close to you and your madness ridden family! Inukwa m nonsense! "

Agatha secured her wrapper on her waist, picked up the gloveless lantern and went into their house.

It wasn't long before she heard retreating footsteps. It was becoming more difficult to stomach accusations from people. The looks she got from the villagers at the market and certain side talks made her realize that a lot of people did believe her sister was involved with chidozie.

It wasn't an environment suitable for raising young children. Not only was their father a murderer, their mother was a supposed mistress.

Adaugo returned with the glove and Osisioma's change which she told the young girl to squander.

She managed to prepare spaghetti for the children and they ate over stories that she weaved out of her childhood.

They went to bed after she spoke with her husband, she cozened the man into coming to pick them all by the next weekend. They agreed that they would come from her own place for the burial.

Osisioma shouldn't find it difficult planning Obinna's burial as the oldest uncle.

Obanma had been quiet the whole night and when Agatha sought her she was staring at the flame in the lamp positioned beside the door of her room.

"Nne ọ dị kwa mma? Is everything alright?" She enquired puzzled by her attitude

"Obinna is not happy daa"

A bit startled and quite surprised by the little girl's utterance she moved closer to where the little girl sat.

"Is Obinna here?" Agatha scanned the whole room slightly amused by how skittish she had become.

"Mba! He has gone"

"Oh" The revelation got Agatha even more terrified and speechless.

"Why is he not happy?"

"He wanted to tell me before you came in"

Was the little boy visiting because she had slept on his own side of their bed?

"He only comes when I'm alone" Obanma whispered biting her fingers.

"Does.. Does he want you to go with him? Eh"

She shook her head gently, locking her gaze with Agatha's

"He wants us to go with you" She muttered almost teary.

"He said somebody wants to kill us. He said that he'll stop coming to see me" The tears that had clouded the little girl's eyes began to fall uncontrollably followed by sniffing

"ozuola nnu! It's okay" Agatha whispered as she embraced her little niece rubbing circles on her back to sooth her.

The fact that the Obanma knew her plans even before Agatha had opened up to her was terrifying.

"Daa I don't want him to go"

"Ndo but he has to, he needs to be there so that he can protect you"

A soothing silence engulfed the pair and Obanma's eyes began to flutter.

Agatha gently placed her on the bed, covered her with the wrapper she found at the edge of the bed and made a move to leave the room.

The fact that Obinna's spirit hovered around didn't sit well with her.

"Daa ifuwala? Are you leaving?"

Obanma suddenly enquired halting Agatha's steps.

"Mba! Asị m ta m gbanyuo ọkụ. No I just wanted to turn the lantern off"

"Okay, Obinna said you can sleep on his own side"

"Hewu eziokwu? Ngwanu I will do just that"

She gently lowered herself on the bed spooning Obanma who slept peacefully, leaving her to battle with thoughts about his nephew's ghost.

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Morning snuck up on Agatha like a thief, leaving her very tired and worn out from getting little sleep.

The children had almost finished their chores by the time she hoisted herself off Obanma's bed.

"I'll make nkwobi today, Ada make sure you scrub the back of all those pots today o"

The message wasn't received well by Adaugo, who was mentally counting the number of pots to be scrubbed with a look of disdain.

"Daa chijioke should help me now, he knows how to scrub pots too"

"Mba o! Daa I don't know how to do it oo" Chijioke yelled from their living room.

"Chijioke is going to cut the weed in the back yard. Obanma will be dusting those chairs"

"Daa my own is the hardest o. Chijioke is only lying because he wants to play football with his friends. He can wash pots"

"Adaugo biko hafu dị m ma nnu ntị! Stop whining like a child. Do you expect Chijioke to carry out chores a woman should be doing eh! Don't you know you're a girl, one day you'll get married oo"

It was excruciating for Adaugo to hear that same line her mother always used from their Aunt Agatha. How it was fair for her to die in their kitchen because her male siblings had penises and scrotum was not what one got used to.

The Loud banging of pots followed by mumblings and hissing was a signal that Adaugo had gone to work.

Agatha had her bath in a deft manner and set out to purchase the items they would use in cooking at the market.

Buying food items took longer than expected and the blazing sun signalled that afternoon had approached.

Agatha always hated going to their market because of how rowdy it was. The segment which he had gone to get food items was termed freezone. A part of the market which should have been designated for the strong and mighty.

Being pushed, pulled and tugged by traders to purchase items was irritating to her. She strongly believed that their calls didn't change the minds of the buyers as they trooped past except those with the intention to buy.

"Mummy enwere m ihe ịna achọ! I have what you're looking for!"

"Mummy bịa lee ya ebe a, Come and see it here!"

"Buy your fresh tomatoes! Your fresh pepper nọ here!"

Pushing past the barricade made by two women who bent down to select pepper, Agatha got to the last stop. She ordered for crayfish and the woman went at it.

She gave Agatha a thorough look before making signs at her neighbor while selecting the quantity Agatha had requested for.

It drew on Agatha's nerves that they women were gossiping with her name, the blazing sun coupled with exhaustion waned her tolerance and completely broke her sense of reason. She waited, praying for the woman to mention her sister so that she would unleash her frustration. And almost immediately she heard the woman call her sister a mistress.

Chijioke had snuck out to play football  leaving behind his chores as he couldn't finish on time.

"Bịa two out o!" The boys had agreed that the first team to score 2 goals would continue playing while the other team will be automatically disqualified.

They had converted mazi Roland's land to their football pitch. Mazi Roland was a business man who people believed his brothers bewitched to spend his whole life overseas abandoning his property for them.

One  children measured out a post with his feet by placing them in front of each other sequentially counting. Two sticks were impaled into the ground where the measurement was engendered forming goal posts.

Most of the boys were clad in just boxers, a considerable percentage weren't done with their house chores just like Chijioke.

Chijioke was just in time to be selected among the players on Nnamdi's team. Nnamdi the head master's son was accorded a great level of respect for purchasing the football which they used.

The compound was filled with sand, leaving the soles of their feet dusty. The children often never played with their footwears because they feared tearing them and receiving punishments from their parents.

"ọ fọrọ One person my team ezuo. My team is short of one person " A boy from the opposite team opined. They were playing four against four because of the size of the compound.

Chinyere a short dark boy opted to join the team but Arinze cut in. Chijioke was surprised that he was, even available, he also took note of Onyedikachi who mostly never played with them.

Chijioke began the match very cautious of one of his opponents who seemed to wear an annoying smirk. Arinze was just a bully.

The first goal was scored against Arinze's team. A lot of passes with yells and screaming got Chijioke close to the opponent's goal post . He dribbled in an adept manner and quickly ran past Arinze, putting the ball through his legs as the older boy ran after him. A swift pass was accorded to his team mate before an equalizing goal was scored.

This earned cheers and loud praises from the growing number of spectators also clad in only underpants. Most people dwelling in the fact that the ball went through Arinze's leg. It was known as solo

Onyedikachi was against his brother joining in the match because they had been sent on an errand and he couldn't go with him.

He was however impressed with Chijioke's dribbling skills.

Another counter attack came almost immediately and Chijioke's feet set out to do their magic again.

A loud cry escaped Chijioke's lips and he landed on the ground. Most boys who saw what had happened rushed to where the boy was writhing in pain.

Arinze had purposely kicked the boy down.

A fresh bruise appeared on Chijioke's shoulder and chest , his team mates protesting for a penalty kick.

"He did it on purpose" Chijioke muttered wiping his tears

"Ashi! It's a lie!" Arinze replied with a smirk.

Chijioke quickly got up, his anger fuming, the bruise he had gotten from hitting the floor had started bleeding but he didn't care. He felt Arinze had pushed him to the limit.

The little boy ran to where Arinze stood and kicked him hard on the groin. Arinze fell like Goliath on the field while Chijioke pounded his fists into his face.

Onyedikachi and the other boys ran to Arinze's rescue pulling  Chijioke away from a groaning Arinze.

Obanma had been instructed by Adaugo to fetch Chijioke. She arrived the compound to see Onyedikachi dragging her brother like a thief.

Her repeated screams seemed to fall on deaf ears.

"Hafu ya! Leave him alone"

Her eyes fell on the bruise on her brother's chest and she fumed. She suspected Onyedikachi had beaten him up.

Recalling the incident that Chijioke explained had happened with eloaku she ran to where they were and sunk her teeth into Onyedikachi's thigh.

Onyedikachi yelled out in pain trying to shake the little girl off with causing her any injury.

The other boys noticed his predicament and helped pull her away. The two siblings were instructed to go home and Onyedikachi went after his elder brother.

Chijioke hailed his sister as they walked home, he had been impressed with how she had come to his aid but cautioned her about biting people.

They arrived home to meet their aunt in a disheveled appearance. The foodstuff she bought in front of her as she shook in anger.

Her wig was no longer on her head and her wrapper had been torn. It dawned on Chijioke that he might not have been the only one who had an eventful afternoon but neither of the children had enough courage to ask about what happened as they feared Agatha's aggression being transfered to them.

Chijioke went to finish his chores with a smile on his face.

Arinze truly deserved what he had gotten

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Hello everyone!

Happy Sunday!

Hope we enjoyed this chapter?

What do you think happened at the market?

What would you have done if you were in Obanma's shoes?

What do you think is the source of Obinna's sadness?

Oh and lest I forget, I've decided to be leaving the statements written in Igbo in italics with their meanings placed by the side. I would have opted for brackets but it would only make the chapter filled with ().