Outcast - Episode 9

 

I peeped outside and saw Mama sitting on the floor with her legs stretched forward. She was flanked by Mama Ebuka and a new friend she made in church. She was crying and they were rubbing her shoulder, trying to console her. There were lot of people sitting with a moody face. Mama Nnukwu sat under the orange tree in front of our compound with her wooden stool. I saw her mouth moving in a clockwise direction . She was regurgitating unknown words. I thought it was her usual way. I was staring from the door. I came outside from the door where I was standing, an old woman consoling Mama Nnukwu made an eye contact with me. Her face looked sober. I withdrew my eyes away from her. I moved closer to Mama. She didn't call me by my name. I wanted to ask what happened but words stuck in my throat. I sat down in front of Mama. My eyes caught up with Mama Ebuka's own as I looked up. Her eyeballs looked clogged with water. I continued staring, she removed her face, and used her hands to wipe tears away from her face. I brought my face down, and stared into Mama's eyes. She drew me closer and rested my head on her breast. After some minutes, she raised my head up again and spoke in a low voice.

"Obi'nnayaefuna, like your father named you, Your father's palace will not be lost", Mama said. I stared into her eyes, and immediately, like storm, my mouth spake.

"What happened? Why is everywhere like this? Where is Papa?", the words flew out from my mouth, calmly and slowly

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

. I saw Mama and her friends smiled in a unison.

"Papa is dead. You are now the head of the house", Mama said soberly. I didn't understand the gravity of death. I stared at Mama Nnukwu sitting outside and looked at Mama again. I wanted to ask another question again but words failed me.

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During Papa's burial, Mama wore all black. She had cut her hair with razor blade. I watched some women rub soap on her hair before they shaved it off. She tied a black head gear to cover the head. Mama Nnukwu wore all whites while Nwakaego and me, wore all whites too. We wore white up and down lace. Mama carried Nwakaego, while I sat beside Mama as people trooped to where we sat to greet her. Some were saying, Mama Obiefuna, take heart, God will grant you fortitude to bear. You will be fine. God is the giver and receiver. I wished they would stop calling my name. A man on a red chieftaincy cap, came to greet Mama. He didn't stop emphasizing to me that I would soon join the umunna, male kindred. I told Mama I wanted to urinate outside after the man was done. On my way, I saw a canopy occupied by older women that wore same kind of dress. They were singing and dancing. After I was done urinating, and was trying to adjust my trouser's rope, I heard my name and I twisted my head backward. It was Ifenyinwa. I smiled.

"Wow, first time I'm seeing you smile", she said.

"Thank you", I muttered with my head bent down.

"I heard your daddy died and he is being buried. Accept my condolence", she said.

"Thank you", I replied again like a programmed robot. We smiled together and she screamed, "run". I looked back and we both ran inside the compound. The MC told everyone to run inside the house. All the women and kids ran to parlour.

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

. We peeped from the window, it was a masquerade. Papa was a member of the masquerade's society. For you to be a member, you must be initiated. This masquerade looked scarier than the one we saw during Christmas. Mama told Ifenyinwa and me, that it's called Ojionu. It has the mouth of a vulture and always came when a core member of their own dies. Ifenyiwa looked at me and said, "Mrs Okonkwo discussed it with us in our Igbo textbook. The masquerade that comes from the ant hole when an egg is broken on it and palm frond is used to wake it up. It's done as a sacrifice". I nodded. Our Igbo textbook has extraction of cultures and excerpts of Chinua Achebe's translated novels like Things fall apart, Chike and the river, Arror of God, No longer at ease, some Cyprain Ekwensi's, Flora Nwapa's etc.