Outcast - Episode 22

 

Obiefuna's Narration

It's been three years since I came to Awka. Life had been rosy until Mama Ebuka came to Mummy's house. Mama Ebuka was Mama's best friend while she was in the village, who helped Mama to convert to Christianity until she moved to Awka. She attended same church as Chief Igbokwe and Mummy. She was employed as Amaka and Amara's nanny, that will be taking care of them . She left Ukpor when I was ten. At eleven, I came to Chief Igbokwe's house and life was perfect. I ate on the same pots, tables and plates as their children. I attended a missionary secondary school, St. Philip's college, Awka and dressed like the rich men's children in the school. I couldn't see Ifenyinwa again, but I forgot she ever existed. Sometimes, I do remember her, but like the nostalgic moments. They made fun of my accent in school, but after a year, I adapted to a better way of pronouncing words. I had a close friend, Gregory who became my friend because we were seat partners. I didn't stop being first in my class. Mummy and Chief Igbokwe were proud of me.

After my Junior secondary school one, during the Prize giving day, I went away with most of the prizes in all subjects. Some dignitaries who were present, gave me money and when I got home, mummy and Chief Igbokwe congratulated me

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

. Mummy took Me, Amaka and Amara to event centres in Awka, and then to a restaurant where we had brunch. I had life at its purest form, until the second year, when Mama Ebuka was brought as Amaka and Amara's nanny because Mummy got a government work that took away her time.
Mama Ebuka was our church member in St. Philip's Catholic Church, Awka but we didn't know her, and when Mummy advertised the nanny vacancy on the Sunday bulletin, many applied but she was chosen.

That fateful day, I had finished bathing, wore my cloth, and came to the parlour to watch television, I saw a woman sitting on the sofa discussing with Mummy.

"Good afternoon", I greeted them. I was shocked to see Mama Ebuka. What a small world, I said in my mind. She answered my greetings and kept staring at me like she knew me somewhere. I had changed in look and appearance. I was taller and my light skinned complexion shone brighter.

"This is my son", mummy introduced me to her.

"Hi", Mama Ebuka said. "I think I know her somewhere", she said again.

"Yes, you do. Mama's friend", I said.

"Yes, you are Obiefuna?", Mama Ebuka asked.

"Yes", I replied.

"You people know each other. Well, I took him as my son", Mummy said.

"Wow! It's good. See how he is looking fine", Mama Ebuka said.

"Well, she is your new nanny that will take care of Amaka and Amara", Mummy said. I smiled and looked at Mama Ebuka. I noticed she had a fake grin.

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Mama Ebuka bullied and maltreated me throughout her stay.

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

. In her opinion, she said her children are out there in Awka, suffering to make end meets and I'm here enjoying instead of staying in the village. But, that's not my fault, I would tell her but she didn't care.

On my fourteenth birthday, Mummy and Chief Igbokwe bought a big cake for me and they cooked as we celebrated in the sitting room. Chief Igbokwe promised to get me a special gift, he excused himself, hopped into his car and left. It was 5:00PM. After an hour, he didn't return and there was a heavy rain with thunders and lightening. Mummy assumed it was the rain that was keeping him, by 8:00PM, the rain stopped and he wasn't still back. Mummy became so worried. 

We went to bed without Chief Igbokwe at home. That night, I saw myself in a strange river, standing at its bank, and a beautiful woman was at the middle of the river, holding a man by his leg which was up and the head down facing the water. A voice echoed.

"Your life or his own!".

Mine echoed back, but my mouth was sealed.

"Who is he?!".

"You, fool. No time for your questions".

It immediately dipped the man body inside water and the woman went underwater too, as the water bubbled. I freaked out and woke up immediately.