Obiageli - Episode 10

 

"Obiageli..Obi"

"What.. Why are you shouting my name like that?"

Obi came out of her mother's hut to see Adaeze who held a broom in her hands, standing in the middle of the compound, Ada ignored Obiageli's attitude knowing she was spoiled  because of too much pampering from her mother

"Why haven't you swept the compound?"she asked

"But I did"

"With all these papers littered around, is that how your mother taught you to sweep"

"Please please, if you want to sweep it.  do so don't call my mother into this"

"You this rude girl, you think am your mate, you better respect your self this morning..sweep this compound again" she dropped the broom and walked away

Obiageli eyed her and hissing walked away from the broom she had dropped, Adaeze turned back, saw she was walking away and came back to hit her, Obiageli turned immediately and Adaeze landed on the ground

"ewo..eeh..she has killed me o" she yelled holding her legs

Everyone ran out to see what had happened

"I didn't touch her o" Obi said hands apart

"Why is she on the ground?"

"I only wanted to hit her" Ada said

"You wanted to hit my daughter..Nneanyi shey you are seeing this, what did she do to you eh" Oluchi exclaimed

"Witch..she's a witch o"

"Shut up your mouth there..before I do it for you..your little sister fell you and you are calling us out to witness it..tufia" Okafor spat out and went back to his hut, Ezinma who had been expecting something to happen snapped her fingers at Oluchi and her daughter, then walked away,  Eberechi raised her daughter up from the floor in silence

"I only told her to sweep the compound" Adaeze said as they went in together, Oluchi turned and looked at her daughter who turned and went into the hut without a word.

Okafor sat in front of his hut, brooding, he had just finished his morning meal, other members of the house had left for the farm or were cooking, he brought out his snuffbox just as Ikenna walked past with a ball..

"Ike.."

"Yes father"

"Where are you coming from?"

"Ball papa"

"Ball.." Okafors eyes fixed on him so he looked away" ball this early morning when  your mates are farmers,hunters,fishermen, see Ozor's son Ekene, he is even married, you are here wasting about"

"He's not my mate papa" Ike said with a frown

"You are not mates..? what about Uche?"

Ike grumbled" stop comparing me to them now..we are not the same "

Okafor stared at him, it wasnt the first time he was trying to talk to him like a father talked to his son but it was useless

"Come on get out" he shook his head when Ike walked away" I am most unfortunate, emptyheaded...just like his mother"

He began snuffing, all he hoped for now was a grandson at least, his first daughter was pregnant, Adaeze was getting old..

"Obiageli. . Obi nwam" he called then coughed, a long moment before she came into view

"Good morning papa"

"Ehen..get me my bag and some water"

"Yes papa" she went in obediently, he opened his snuffbox and discovered it was almost empty..Obi returned so soundlessly he was shocked, the way she moved surprised him

"Open the bag and bring out the bottle inside and pour some here"she did as she was told, he drank the water then

"Where is your mother?"

" To the farm papa..mama" she referred to Eberechi" went to the village meeting "

"hm.."
she sat with him, counting the grey hair he had started developing, he smiled, he loved her to bits, she was like the son he never had, well minus Ike

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/obiageli

. She was different from his other children and not afraid of him well he had never given her any cause to, and was getting more beautiful everyday,  he kept his snuff box then said

"Come and sit down here" he indicated his lap, she went and sat down on it just like she normally does since she was six, he cleared his throat looking at her..

"Obi..Nwam..I want to know something"

She waited scratching her nose. "what kind of man do you want to marry? "he asked

She was taken aback as she laughed uncomfortably, most fathers dont ask such, they just gave their daughters to the highest bidder

"Papa.." She shook head" I don't know"

"Yeah..I know you are young but tell me..farmer, hunter, fisherman..a chief..prince, you should like a prince"

She looked down as he listed, when he finished he looked at her for a response

"Papa ..I dont know, I'm still young.. Why do you ask?" she wasn't next in line for marriage, was she going to be sold off so soon, she wondered

"Because I want to begin looking for a husband for you"

She laughed and looked down shyly" oh papa".

Oluchi did not ask her daughter about the incident at the compound, she felt some things were better left unsaid, how a 13 year old girl would  fall a grown woman was beyond her but she kept it to herself..

"I'm going to see your father, I would be back" she left the hut, Obiageli nodded then shut her eyes to sleep..a rat whizzed passed, then another emerged and lingered...

Obiageli was at the river all night.

​​​​*Do you think she knows she cannot get married..? please comment below