Outcast - Episode 17

 

Mama asked me how the examinations went and I told her it went well. We entered the sitting room and she pointed the table where my food was lying on. Mama entered her room and Nwakaego came and sat beside me, and asked if she could join me. I agreed and told her to get her spoon. I opened the covered plate, the aroma engulfed my nose. There was a big chicken lap inside the Jollof rice . Immediately, Nwakaego arrived with her spoon, she started eating with me. Mama came out and saw her.

"Why are you allowing her to eat? She has eaten. I prepared the food specially for you and added the big chicken lap inside it, to celebrate your examinations. I know you'll come out well", Mama said.

"It's much, and I might not finish it", I said.

"Okay oo", Mama said and whistled outside the sitting room.

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I was done with my primary school and Mama said she doesn't have the money to send me to secondary school. Secondary cost much more than the primary. I was really hurt, but couldn't inform Ifenyinwa about the latest development. I didn't want to cause more burden to her. Sadly, her grandmother died. I helped Mama carried some farm products to the market everyday where she sold them to cater for our daily feedings.

After the usual sales, I came back and sat at the house's frontage thinking about my life and its direction

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

. My classmates would make mockery of me. I folded my legs, and laid my back towards the wall as tears dropped from my eyes. My hands were flung by each sides.

"Kikikikikikikiki", I heard a laugh on my side. I looked around and saw nobody. I looked inside our parlour, nobody was there. I heard Mama's voice telling Nwakaego in the kitchen to help her with the spoon. I became scared, and as I wanted to stand up, a hand hit me by my shoulder, I fell down immediately and screamed. I saw a figure ran out from my side and jumped into the bush beside our house. The image was blurry, and looking like a human being but the body was opaque. I could only see the ruffled hair. It looked like attachment those rich girls wore to events. Mama and Nwakaego both ran to where I was.

"What's that?", Mama asked.

"I saw a scary creature", I replied crying.

"Follow us to the kitchen, then", Nwakaego said. I gave her a stern look and hissed. Immediately, Ifenyinwa entered our compound and greeted Mama Nnukwu first. Mama Nnukwu bent low at the garden in the compound eavesdropping on our conversations while pretending she was weeding. Ifenyinwa came close and greeted Mama too.

"Good afternoon, my daughter. How are you doing?", Mama asked.

"I am feeling fine", Ifenyinwa replied.

"I guess you'll like to stay with your friend here let me go to the kitchen before my food burns", Mama said to me. I nodded and she dragged Nwakaego to the kitchen.

I looked into Ifenyinwa's eyes and smiled. I looked again, and noticed that her eyes were getting soggy with tears.

"What's the problem?", I said and hugged her close and tightly. I had never made an attempt to hug her first before. I had smiles on my face as I looked into her eyes.

"I'm leaving this village. My aunt wants to join my parents in Awka to pursue her dreams", she said.

"It's nothing", I replied.

"I will come back often to visit you during holiday", she said. She waved her final goodbye at me. I couldn't tell her the scary nightmares I was having. I wanted her to stay but I couldn't.

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

. Only Mama doesn't scare me anymore. Nwakaego does, same as Mama Nnukwu.

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One day, Mama came back home and said she has a good news for me. I looked at Nwakaego's face, she blushed. I smiled and Mama had a huge grin.

"Someone in church promised to sponsor you through school, but he resides in Awka with his wife and children", Mama said. "He'd be visiting us tomorrow to see you", Mama said again. I jumped up and down so many times. Mama haven't seen me as jubilant as that before. I saw Nwakaego frowning.

"So, only me will stay here now", she muttered out. I hissed and continued jumping up. I quickly hugged Mama and thanked her so much. It looked like my dream won't fade and it has brightened my chance to see Ifenyinwa again.