Outcast - Episode 3

 

I was six, and my life had only been staying indoor, follow Mama to market and walk with her whenever she runs an errand for herself. 

My first day at church, everywhere looked angelic to me. The last time I was at the church compound, I wasn't myself. The church compound was quite big and spacious with a tiled floor. Our community had quite a countable numbers of rich men who didn't relocate abroad . Some did. Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha are the metropolitan cities. I always hear people say, "Nno nu, welcome back from Onitsha. How is Onitsha treating you?. See how your children are sparkling like the morning star. Money is good oo". Some will smile, while others will frown their face.  The day I saw a picture depicting commercial cities of Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi, I was wowed. It was beautiful. I wished I will live there one day. The church, St. Vincent De'Paul Catholic Church was spacious. I stared at the beautiful small and mighty cars, and some looked quite intimidated. If I was it, I wouldn't have stayed in their midsts.

"ChukwuEbuka!!", Mama yelled. I was lost in admiration of the cars. She came close abnd tapped my body. I responded and entered the church with her. The church looked beautiful

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

. It was big. We were early and the choristers were having their rehearsal. Their voice sent goosebumps all over my skin. The baritone going deep and alto responding, I felt like I was in the best place. A well dressed church warden on a sash written, St. Vincent De'Paul Catholic Church warden, pointed at a seat for Mama and I to seat. I was staring all through to notice next sign I would be making while Mass was going on. Two ladies one after the other, climbed the alter to take a reading at the lectern. I stared at the shape of their mouths till they were done. After the mass, Mama moved to the tabernacle where the blessed sacrament was placed to pray and I watched her, moving her mouth in a clockwise motion.. When we got home, Mama Nnukwu was in the front of her hut trying to spread melon seed she had sprinkled water on, so it would be easy for her to peel, on the floor. She saw us, raised her head up and hissed. Something caught her attention, she raised her head up again staring at me. I was putting on a holy rosary which Mama bought from the sacramental stand and gave a Reverend father to bless for me. I was in the church staring at the white Reverend father as he moved his mouth trying to mutter some words in Igbo during mass. 
"Umu Chineke, ndewo", he stressed in a British accent. After he was done blessing my sacramental, he bent low and asked for my name. 

"ChukwuEbuka", I said. I stared at his curly hair. It looked like Uncle Emeka's own. Uncle Emeka used gel to make his hair curly. He smoked and chased women. I always saw him in Madam superwoman's bar while running an errand with Mama, where he drank away.

"I am Padre Pio", he said. I looked at him weirdly. He smiled and let out a huge laughter. 

"I get that a lot from people. They find my name hard and weird to pronounce", he said. Padre Pio was quite ageing. His white colour made his wrinkles quite obvious. He had a bald hair at the middle and gray at the back.
Mama Nnukwu stared at me for some seconds and shouted, "Bia Nnedi, what did you put on that boy's neck?". Mama Nnukwu never cared before. Why sudden care?

"That's light which represents being in Jesus", Mama said with so much boldness.

"We allowed you to take ChukwuEbuka to church, but not to initiate him deeper into any religious stuff", Mama Nnukwu barked.

"Last, I checked, he is my son", Mama said and dragged me into the house. I could still hear Mama Nnukwu muttering some incoherent ramblings outside, but Mama didn't care. I concentrated on my Sunday rice as I devoured it while sitting on the floor.

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That night, Papa came back from his farm work. He spent days with his labourers, supervising them and doing some menial farming in his four different farm lands.

Read " Living In The Ghetto " by the same author ( Obinna Tony )

. Mama served him Fufu and Egusi soup. Papa hated eating rice. He ascribed it as obodo oyibo food, and he is a real Ukpor and Igbo man. The Egusi, had washed bitter leaf in it to make it thick. Papa enjoyed every bit, licked his fingers and washed his hand in a bowl of water. I was beside him. Papa dropped a bomb shell.

"I'm officially giving ChukwuEbuka a new name. He is a special child and I believe he will live. I will call him Obi'nnayaefuna", Papa said.

"Yes, Obiefuna. My son you have thought and done well", Mama Nnukwu said. I saw how she gave Mama a snide look.