Outcast - Episode 13

That night, we were done eating and we all sat at the frontage. Nwakaego told Mama to tell her a folklore, Mama declined.

"You are always saying  No", Nwakaego said as fake tears dropped from her eyes. I found it fake because tears were on her cheeks, and she barely cried.

"Nwa.. I don't know much of folklores", Mama said. Nwakaego ran to Mama Nnukwu's hut and dragged her to where we sat.

"Nne, tell us folklores", Nwakaego told Mama Nnukwu, while raising her head up for their eyes to meet.

"Tell your mother to tell you nau", Mama Nnukwu said. I knew Mama Nnukwu was trying to hear what Mama would say. She knows Mama doesn't know how to tell a folklore. I still wondered why she said that.

"Mama, doesn't know anything", Nwakaego blurted. I wanted to hit her, but I refrained. Immediately, Mama raised her slippers to hit her, Mama Nnukwu dragged her to her body.

"Get the long wooden chair and keep it under the orange tree. It's good to tell folklores outside and under the brightness of the moon", Mama Nnukwu said. She immediately went under the orange tree, and Nwakaego carried the chair along. I stared at Mama, she stared at me.

"Go and join them", she said

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

. I stood, went and sat on the chair outside. Nwakaego hissed at me.

"Why did you hiss at your brother?", Mama Nnukwu asked.

"He is always forming like he is not interested, whereas he is", she said and hissed again. I wanted to hit her so hard, but my palm constricted.

"It's enough, Nwakaego, but Obiefuna, you can't be allowing your sister or anybody to ride you", Mama Nnukwu said facing me.

"She is just a baby. She is allowed to talk", I told Mama Nnukwu and stared at Mama. She had a huge smile on her face. I could see clear because our lamp was sparkling clean and it shone in its brim. We recently cleaned its glass. There is always power supply mostly during the week, and sometimes weekdays; on rare occasions.

"Okay! Story! Story!!", Mama chanted.

"Story!!!", we replied. Nwakaego's voice was loud. I wanted to twist her mouth but stopped. I was always wanting, and I felt she understands my eyes language.

"Once upon a time", Mama Nnukwu said.

"Time, Time", Nwakaego replied in a low voice. I stopped replying because I felt her shouting would be enough.

Immediately, I heard noises. A woman with her daughter as one flashed torch light, and they kept murmuring until the came close.
"Enyi'm Nwanyi, My friend", the voice hailed Mama Nnukwu and it was Adaeze's grandmother.

"This one you came with your daughter, I hope all is well. Have a seat", Mama Nnukwu ushered them to seat with us on the long wooden chair. She told Nwakaego to get a smaller chair from the hut so she would use it to seat. Nwakaego hissed. She murmured some words I didn't grasp.

"I didn't come to have our normal conversations, but to warn your daughter in law and her children", she said. Mama immediately stood from where she was sitting and came outside.

"You people are mad. Adaeze looked for trouble first. She twisted my mouth, pushed Ifenyinwa and Obiefuna dealt with her", Nwakaego said with her heads raised up while she rolled her eyes.

"You this talkative OSU daughter I didn't come for you....", Adaeze's grandmother said and Mama interrupted her.

"You dont come here insulting me and my children in my own compound. So what's the problem?", Mama asked calmly.

"Which compound? You that's an OSU and killed several of your children and when you couldn't kill this one, you decided to take away your husband", Adaeze's grandmother said. I saw Mama Nnukwu looked shocked and nodding like she agreed.

"It's you and your stupid daughter that's an OSU. She should come again and Obiefuna will beat her very well", Nwakaego said with so much confidence. I wished I could have her guts and stand up for Mama.
"Shut up, little rat", Adaeze barked at Nwakaego.

"Come and shut me up, big rat", Nwakaego shouted back.

"Ehee! So, you sent your son to be beating my daughter. Just because he is a man. Don't worry, you will see that OSU don't mess with normal people", Adaeze's grandmother, said angrily and dragged Adaeze.

"Let's go Adaeze, Nne Obidike doesn't want to say anything at all", she said and Adaeze followed her.

Mama Nnukwu stared at us and stared at Mama. "Stop telling your children to create enmity where there isn't. This life is short.

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

. You can make the enemy yourself but not for me and your children", Mama Nnukwu said pointing at Mama. Mama ignored her and turned to Nwakaego, "I'm about to ask questions now, and if I didn't ask you don't ever interfere", Mama warned her sternly. She turned to me, "so, tell me what happened?". I quickly developed cold feet.

"Errrrr......" I stuttered. "While we were coming back from school, Adaeze and her friends overtook us and hissed. Nwakaego insulted them, she twisted Nwakaego's mouth and Ifenyinwa warned her not to do it again. She pushed Ifenyinwa and wanted to start a fight and I pushed her back. She couldn't overpower me", I said.

"Good, you are learning. Dont let anyone ride you. But, you Nwakaego, you need to learn how to bridle your tongue", she said and told us to go inside and sleep, because it's too late and the atmosphere wasn't hostile.

"Ehehehe!", Mama Nnukwu exclaimed and dusted her fingers. She stood in shock because Mama didn't talk to her and left with us.