Outcast - Episode 10

 

I was Nine years old and was in primary four. I was meant to be in primary three but I was given a double promotion due to my intelligence. Ifenyinwa and I, were best of friends. We became more closer as time went by. She always cajoled me to do daring stuff, and promised to bring me out of reservedness when we are done. I was now higher than her with a class due to my double promotion.

Adaeze was in my class . She was meant to be a class ahead, but lagged behind due to the snake bite that lasted for more than half a year. But she was twelve. She hissed at me whenever our eyes caught in class. I saw her telling her seat partner that I liked doing "I too know", because most times I knew the answers to questions they didn't know. I once overheard her telling her clique and some guys that I was an Ogbanje. She told them my story and said they should be avoiding me. I was sad, and didn't care still. I preferred my solitude. Ifenyinwa was the one that brought me out from my shell. I felt Adaeze noticed that the hearts she poisoned against me, didn't affect me, she started deploying another means to get to me.

As usual, after school hours had closed, I was walking home with Ifenyinwa. Most of the people identified us as lovebirds

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

. I hated the tag. I was shy. She smiled whenever we are taunted while my face showed displeasure. Immediately, we saw Adaeze coming towards us with two of her friends. She stopped us. Since Adaeze said she doesn't want to have anything to do with me, I never talked to her again, and she hissed anytime she sees me.

"Hello", Adaeze greeted Ifenyinwa while she gave me a stern look. I didn't care and removed my eyes from her. She dragged Ifenyinwa, telling her that she has something to discuss with her which she wasn't ready for me to know about. Ifenyinwa concurred to listen to them. They were her senior and she was just eight years, but had wisdom more than her age. She once lived in Awka. She told me to wait for her, I would have gone if she didn't. Throughout their discussions, Adaeze was pointing at me and I know I was the centre of their discussion. I saw Ifenyinwa facial demeanour after the discussion.

"Be careful o", Adaeze said to her, laughed with her friends and they scurried away. My eyes  started soaking with water. I tried to conceal tears about to drip out, as I quickly wiped it away with my hands.

"Why are you crying?", Ifenyinwa asked.

"I don't know. Nothing. I wasn't crying", I said all at once. There was some silence and we continued walking home. It was unusual, Ifenyinwa that used to be inquisitive never asked me a question, till we almost got to her house and she let out a bombshell.

"Are you an ogbanje?. A child from an OSU woman", she asked. Her face looked exhausted. She looked at me like an Angel in human form.

"I don't know", I stuttered.

"Just tell me, we are friends", she queried again.

"I don't know!!", I shouted in tears and took to my heel. I didn't look back, but I felt she was still staring at me. 

I ran into our compound and saw Mama Nnukwu and Adaeze's grandmother sitting on a long wooden stool under the orange tree gossiping. My sister Nwakaego was playing on the floor. I looked around and didn't see Mama and I quickly ran into the sitting room. I could hear them asking, "what's the problem? He is possessed, why worry before", and then other ramblings but I didn't care.

Read " Resuscitated Hope " by the same author ( Obinna Tony )

. I climbed the sofa in our sitting room and started crying. After some minutes, I heard Mama's voice around the doormat. She entered the sitting room, dropped Nwakaego on the floor and the basket of green vegetable lying on her other hand.

"What's the problem?", she asked me. Before I could utter a word, Mama asked again, "tell me fast because I'm not interested in your keeping mute. You are no longer a child".

"Adaeze is telling everybody that I'm an Ogbanje", I replied.

"And?", Mama said. Looking at her face, I could tell she was foaming in anger.

"My only friend Ifenyinwa already knows and I'm sure she will not be my friend again", I said.

"Arrgh!!", Mama said and shook. She continued, "don't worry, you are not an Ogbanje. You are a child of the most high". She immediately dashed outside. I had never seen Mama with so much energy.

"Where is that foolish hag?", Mama said.

"Who is a hag?", Mama Nnukwu replied.

"This your stupid friend that doesn't want to respect herself", Mama said. I stood at the door staring.