Outcast - Episode 6

Mama entered the kitchen to prepare food. Our kitchen was built different from our house. A small building at the backyard. I followed her and sat on a small stool and watched as she bent low to place the firewood inside the three bricks, which served as embarkment and stand for the pot to be placed on it. I watched her poured the kerosene on the wood, light match stick and placed the pot on the fire. I wanted to tell Mama what Mama Nnukwu did. Mama Nnukwu did abominable thing. She isn't worth dining with. These were words that rummaged in my stomach but it clung in my neck as I wanted to say it to Mama. Instead of saying it, I spat and Mama asked why I did that. I said nothing. After Mama was done cooking, she dished Papa's own and covered it in a plate and told me to place it on the table lying at the centre of the sitting room. I came back after I was done, and she gave me another one to give Mama Nnukwu. I said No.

"Why?", Mama asked. She rubbed off the water on her hands using the wrapper she tied around her waist. She adjusted her fluffy falling head gear.

"A Python came here, and rather than Mama Nnukwu killing it, she fed it with her mortar and carried it on her hand", I said looking disgusted. Mama gave me a look with different meaning

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

. I don't know whether she was with me or against me.

"My son, this is not the first time she is doing it. I know. She is the priestess of the river", Mama said. Mama didn't tell me to give her the food again. She kept the food and didn't go herself either. I wanted to ask why, but ignored. Papa came back from his farm work, ate his food and went to sleep. Mama said I should go to sleep which I did. I barely closed my eyes before I heard a noise outside. I peeped through the window. We use the window made of wood, through the small opening, I saw the ground trying to open and something like fire coming out. There were four children who didn't look the same facially, that circled the ground crying. They all looked alike. They looked like me. I freaked out. I stopped staring and laid back in my bed. I was covered in beam of sweat and didn't know when I dozed off.

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I saw my self walking in a path surrounded by bushes. Wind was blowing effortlessly and the trees, orchids and vegetations were singing. I felt the serene nature of the environment. The path could contain only one person at a go. I walked and it seemed like an already long distance. I continued walking until I got to a river. I looked back, the path I walked from, was already covered with vegetations. I was thirsty, so I bent low to scoop some water with my hands and the water made a splattering sound. I drifted back, and a beautiful young lady arose from the underneath of the water. I gazed at her, she was beautiful and her hair long overflowing. I could see her only from the waist to the head. She was light skinned with a long flowing hair that blew to the direction of the wind. It fitted the description of a mermaid. My father always told me folklores about mermaid and last time in class, we read a comprehension in our Igbo textbook about mermaid. I didn't know where I got so much courage and blurted.

"You are the mermaid?", I stared with mixed feelings. Papa pronounced it as Mami water while telling me folklores every night, but Mrs Okonkwo always said we should pronounce things like those who are learned. The mermaid face looked calm, but it evaporated immediately she shouted at me.

"Your time is up!!!" She yelled and made to drag me inside the water.

Read " Resuscitated Hope " by the same author ( Obinna Tony )

. I saw the four children again by her side crying. As her hands were almost stretched near me, I screamed and woke up. Papa and Mama ran to my room and found me panting. Mama put on her torchlight. Papa touched my body and it was hot. My temperature was getting higher. 

In the morning, Papa, Mama and Mama Nnukwu gathered around me. My mouth was dripping blood from the side.

"Obiefuna, please don't die", Papa wept. 

"Chai!! We need to get rid of Iyi uwa wherever it's buried in this compound. That's the only way this omen will leave us. And we need a daughter too", I heard Mama Nnukwu say.

Mama ran to the church to inform the priest immediately. She came back with the Priest and catechist, as they carried me to the parish hospital. When we got there, Mama fell into labour and was taken to the maternity ward.