Outcast - Episode 21

 

"Don't shout unnecessarily, young woman. I am Oma'mmiri, the river goddess", a voice said. I felt my mouth freed and I breathed in and out.

I smiled, "wow!, give me power", I said.

"For your acceptance to be the subordinate priestess of the river at ten before NwanyiEke dies, you will get it till then" the voice said. Mama Nnukwu name was NwanyiEke, and only some older men called her that . I was so happy that I'll be getting the supernatural power.

The shadow of the image disappeared immediately, and I quickly ate my food, locked the door and dashed out to meet Mama at the farm. Mama was done packing the kernels inside the basket.

"Why are you so slow today?", Mama asked. I stared at her confusingly.

"You don't know what you did, eh? School, you came back late, just to eat, you wasted your time", Mama said with mild anger written on her face. I didn't say anything, and she noticed I was smiling sheepishly.

"Why are you smiling?", she asked.

"Nothing", I replied.

"Okay, come and carry this", she said angrily. She assisted me, and placed it on my head. I carried it to the house, and she walked along with me.

That night, after Mama and me had eaten night food, she said we should select the kernel from its dirt, so that we will use to cook Ofe akwu tomorrow

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

. We picked it, and she told me to keep in a covered plate, which I did. The following morning, I washed it and Mama used it to cook. We cooked ofe akwu and white rice. It was Saturday morning. It was unlike every other Saturdays. Mama usually don't cook rice on any day except on Sunday or something special was happening. After she was done cooking, she dished the food into two separate plates and called me to carry my own. I sat on the sofa where the table was located and Mama sat on the opposite one.

"Go and bring the soft drink I kept inside my bag", she said.

"Which bag?", I asked.

"Do I have another bag?", Mama shouted rhetorically. I ran to the room and saw her bag in the bed, I opened it and saw a drink and brought it to her.

"Bring your cup", she said. I brought my cup and Mama opened the drink and poured some for me.

"Thank you, Ma", I said and went to sit on my chair, and continued eating. Immediately, there was a knock on the door.

"Who is that?", Mama asked.

"It's us", they said.

"Us doesn't have names?. Ngwa, come in", Mama said. They both entered. A young woman and a girl that looked familiar. She looked like someone I had seen before.

"Good afternoon, Ma", the girl said and the young woman echoed. I checked our clock and it was 11:53AM. The afternoon sun came out earlier.

"Good afternoon", Mama replied. I scratched my head, if I can recall where I knew her from. She was staring around the house, twisting her neck as if she was trying to find something missing.

"Where are you people from?", the Mama asked inquisitively.

"You don't know me, Mama? And Nwakaego is now a big girl", the girl said to Mama.

"I think I know you, but I can't remember", I said. Mama dropped her food and kept her eyes on the girl's mouth with keen interest.

"I am Ifenyinwa, and this is my aunt", she said.

"Ifenyinwa.....", Mama retorted.

"Yes, Ifenyinwa. Oh... Obiefuna's friend?", I asked.

"Oh", Mama said happily.

Read " The Dormitory (A Sequel) " by the same author ( Obinna Tony )

. "How is Obiefuna and everyone else?. How many times, do you see him?", Mama asked at once, inquisitively. I was beaming with smile. At least, I'll know how my brother was faring. Ifenyinwa looked confused from her facial demeanour.

"Seriously? We came back from Awka and my niece said we should visit her friend. I don't understand the question, Ma", Ifenyinwa aunt said.

"I am sorry. Obiefuna now lives in Awka with one of our relative and I thought you'd be seeing him", Mama said.

"Oh....Awka is a big city and that's not possible", Ifenyinwa's aunt cackled and said. Ifenyinwa looked moody.

"It's okay, Ma. We would be going soon. We wanted to greet your son", Ifenyinwa's aunt said.

"Join us and eat", Mama said.

"No thank you", Ifenyinwa's aunt replied as they left.

"It's good to have a friend that cares about you", Mama said, turning to me. I frowned my face, because they didn't know the whereabout of my brother.