Outcast - Episode 18

 

Mama told us that the man would be coming the next day. Mama said his name was Chief Igbokwe. Mama told me to mop the floor and clean the sitting room while Nwakaego washed plates and do other menial jobs in the house.

That night, Mama cooked bitter leaf soup. She cut the bitter leaf from her garden opposite our house, and I helped her to wash it. She cooked the soup with bigger dried fish, stock fish and chicken . The aroma saturated the nearby to the extent that it attracted Mama Nnukwu to our kitchen.

"Hmm, the bitter leaf soup is scenting nice", Mama Nnukwu said.

"Thank you", Mama replied.

"Can I bring my plate?", Mama Nnukwu asked.

"I thought you don't eat our food?", Nwakaego asked rhetorically.

"Will you shut up", I shouted back at her.

"Don't mind her, it's not her fault", Mama Nnukwu said and left. We thought she was angry and won't come back again, but she came back with a round plate for us to put the soup inside it for her. Mama collected it, and put soup for her and added two meats. I saw Mama weighed the meat with her spoons before she added it. Mama Nnukwu collected it, and weighed with her hands while squeezing her face

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. I knew she was feeling that it was too small for her. I still watched her grumbled and went to her hut.

The molded fufu was inside a pot, placed on the fire, and Mama told Nwakaego to blow the dying firewood with her mouth, so that the flame would lighten and the fufu gets done easily. Nwakaego bent low on her knees and positioned herself as she blew the fire until it was in its brim. She stood and ran to where water was, and washed her face. After some minutes, Mama opened the pot and checked if the fufu was done. After that, she brought it down and kept pounding it with all her strength as we watched her, while sitting down. When she was done, we all ate our night food and went to sleep.

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The next day, because of the visitor, Mama said we will not be going to the farm as usual. She said we should both take our bath. We did and dressed in our Sunday outfits. We only wore our beautiful clothes on Sundays or special occasions. We both sat at the frontage, while Mama prepared the visitor's food in the sitting room.

"I heard a car honked outside", Nwakaego said.

"Go and check who it is", I said. Our house had a fence but it was without a gate. So, we had a small entrance which no car can enter to come in. Anybody that wanted to come, had to pack outside.

Nwakaego ran back quickly and said she saw a man wearing a red cap and he asked if Mama was around and she said yes. So, he said he is coming. I replied, "okay". 

Not so long after, a man on red cap and white up and down lace cloth entered as he flaunted his car key in his hand.

"Good morning, Sir", I said while standing.

"Good morning, my son. I hope I'm in the right house.

Read " The Missionary's Journey " by the same author ( Obinna Tony )

. This is Ichie Obidike's house?", he asked.

"Yes". I replied and Mama came out immediately to welcome him. She ushered him to the sitting room and called us inside.

"Welcome, Sir", she said. "I prepared that for you", Mama said again.

"Your husband always bragged about your cooking prowess", he said and Mama laughed. Mama had told me that he was Papa's best friend in the village, until he converted to Christianity and left to the city at a young age. He normally visited during holiday, but it's been long he came back to the village.

I stared at Chief Igbokwe throughout as he held mould of eba, dipped inside the bitter leaf soup and swallowed it.

"You are indeed good", he said after he was done eating. He washed his hands and pointed at me.

"You are Obiefuna", he said.

"Yes", I replied.

"Good", he said. He discussed with Mama and told them that he would be leaving next week and I need to start preparing. I was so happy and wished the next week would arrive. When it finally arrived, I was happy. The day I left, Mama Nnukwu, Mama and Nwakaego gathered outside to bade me goodbye.