Outcast - Episode 11

 

"Wait, who is stupid? Don't allow this OSU woman to insult me", Adaeze's grandmother barked pointing at Mama Nnukwu.

"I'm not here to banter words with you. He that is in me, is greater than he that's in you", Mama said with so much braggadocio. She always blurt out this sentence. I hear Padre Pio say it during homily . But I used to wonder if Mama doesn't have any other sentence apart from that to use, from Padre Pio. 

Adaeze's grandmother was pointing at Mama Nnukwu with so much meanness. "Warn this your amunsu daughter in law or I put her in the rightful place she belongs to", she said.

"You are just an hag who can't find a well meaning to her life apart from coming here to gossip your life away. You are done calling me OSU and had to switch to Amunsu; witch. I don't blame you a bit", Mama said.

"It's not my fault you are an OSU and your son is an ogbanje. I don't really blame you. Cry me a river", Adaeze's grandmother said. She touched Mama Nnukwu, and blurted, "Nne Obidike, it's because you are my friend that I haven't dealt with this your daughter in law. I'm still keeping my cool"

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

. Papa name is Obidike and Mama Nnukwu was called Nne Obidike on a rare occasions. Some of Papa friends called him Ichie Obidike. 

Mama couldn't talk anymore. Adaeze's grandmother silenced her. Their noises attracted passerby's, as they stood like heap of sands staring at what didn't concern them. I had a reason to believe I inherited her quietness. I saw Adaeze's grandmother tapped her buttocks and raised one of her legs up backward as she mocked Mama and left for her house. Passerby's, who stood around to watch kept muttering words. I could feel they were asking one another what transpired to cause the exchange of words. I shifted away from the door, and sat on a long wooden chair lying haplessly. Mama Nnukwu's calmness surprised me. I knew her to talk too much, but she didn't mutter a single word throughout the brouhaha.

Mama entered the house and said I should follow her to the kitchen, so she would cook the food we are going to eat. Mama brought out a yam from the barn. We didn't peel the back of the yam before we cooked it. Mama cut them in equal parts, washed away the sands and dirt and placed it in a big pot. We cooked with the firewood, and the back of the pot, had so much charcoals. After we were done cooking, Mama brought out the yam, and scooped out vegetables she placed on top of the yam while it boiled. The vegetable was soft and clustered. She told me to pound fresh pepper in the mortar. After I was done, she added other ingredients and poured the vegetable, before she collected the pistol and pounded the vegetables. She poured oil and turned it with spoon. It looked sumptuous. I was salivating on the aroma.

Mama gave me my own food in a separate plate, and ate with Nwakaego. Nwakaego was two and could feed herself a little bit. After I was done eating, Mama said I should bath because the sun was hot, before I leave for catechism class. 

I had received holy communion after I was baptised with Nwakaego. I was attending my first Holy communion class before Nwakaego was born, but we did baptism same time and I received Holy communion afterward. Papa was alive at that time. That day was the day Mama had anticipated. I dressed in white apparels. White shirt, trouser, shoe and rosary. After I was done getting dressed, I came out and Mama said I was looking like Angel Gabriel's incarnate. I heard a sound. It was Mama Nnukwu's hiss. I didn't care. Mama said I shouldn't mind her. We were extraordinarily happy because Papa said he would follow us to church that day.

Read " The Odds Are Against Me " by the same author ( Obinna Tony )

. When we got to church, Papa was just smiling and praising the beauty of the church structures. The first holy communicants, sat at the front. Our Reverend Sister, she said we should call her Sr. Rebecca. She came and lighted one candle with matchstick and we all got our own from the source. After receiving my holy communion, I walked so slowly and calmly to my seat and knelt down to pray.

After the mass had ended, the photographer Mama called, took pictures for us. I was at the middle, and Mama and Papa flanked me by each sides. On our way home, Papa said I looked like an angel after I had received holy communion. He loved the calmness I used to receive the communion.
Mama retorted facing Papa, "I think you should be coming with us more often". Papa removed his face and made a weird expression. I laughed.