CHARLES AND HIS TWIN SISTER(20)
She returned after a few minutes, murmuring as she molded a thick, brownish substance in her palms. The smell wafting from it was unbearable, causing Joyce to start sneezing and coughing.
“Shhhhh.” Madam hissed, signaling her to remain calm.
“Emm madam is that the soap you were talking about?” Uche muttered but she paid dรชaf ears and concentrated on what she was doing.
After a short while, she circled it on their heads thrice and divided it into two. He went to keep half, came back with the other half and wrapped it in a small nylon.
Madam poured some powder into the calabash, muttered some words, and instructed, “Take the calabash to the bathroom, lift your top, and sprinkle it on your body. Uche, you can go first. Once you’re both finished, return with the calabash. I’ll be here working on the soap.”
They both carried the calabash and left without asking questions. Uche entered first and used half of the calabash to bathe, while Joyce followed the instructions and used the remaining half. Hastily, they returned the calabash to madam, who then sprinkled some powder on their palms and instructed them to rub it on their bodies. Uche was on his white singlet, while Joyce was on her light green top without her bra. While they were rubbing the powder, She gave them back their keys and handed them the soap.
Madam thank you so much…
But how much is it?
“Don’t worry, give it to her. Make sure she bathes with it in the morning, afternoon and evening without skipping a single day. Now that I’ve given you this people the soap, I have some matters to attend to, and the challenges ahead won’t be easy. Give her this letter to read after 35days. Don’t open it, it’s for her. Ensure that she reads it,” she said, and handed them a small envelope from one of her shelves. She removed the red wrapper,told them to wear their top and then, escorted them outside.
“But madam why did you decide to help us for free?” Joyce asked her.
“Hahahahahahahahahah…” She chuckled and cleared her throat.
She said, but suddenly, she began coughing uncontrollably. As she coughed, blood spattered from her mouth, and she quickly lost consciousness. If it hadn’t been for Uche, who held onto her tightly, she would have collapsed on the verandah, potentially injuring herself. They quickly rushed her to the nearest hospital, where one of Madam’s friends(James) was present to care for her. After ensuring she was in good hands, they returned home with the soap, promising to come back and check on her later. On their way, they immediately stopped by the hospital, picked up Rachael and Charles, and drove them back home.
That evening Joyce quickly got Rachael undressed and took her to the bathroom to bathe her with the soap. Benita was just outside selecting her beans and minding her own business. The soap was not that foamy and Rachel was complaining that it was itching her. Rachel slept fine throughout that day without complaining of anything strange. Joyce purposely stayed with them to observe her to see if the madam’s claim was true.
The following day, Rachel woke up around 5:30am(morning) with their long broom sweeping the compound which was unusual of her.
Rachel how is your health? I see you’re getting better…. Joyce said, raising her top to observe her body. She noticed that the thick dark scars had wiped off, the only thing remaining for her was to start adding weight. Sister Joyce happily nodded and left.
Charles and Rachel resumed school the following week after being absent from school for over three weeks. Their administrator already knew what was on ground and didn’t both asking them further questions. They only continued from where they stopped (which was SS1)
Uche and Joyce on the other hand went to check up on madam in the hospital and they got informed that she had been discharged.
They got home and the woman was no where to be found. They reached out to James and questioned him about madam’s whereabouts, he said.
“Later on, she was discharged from the hospital and we went our separate ways, with me promising to visit her soon. However, when I went to her house that evening, she was nowhere to be found. I had first come to know her through the akara she sold, as she had recently started that business. I was taken aback when I discovered she wasn’t at home, and even the following day, I couldn’t locate her.”
Amidst all the distressing news, Uche and Joyce gave him some money to pass on to Madam on their behalf as a token of their appreciation. They exchanged pleasantries and then went their separate ways.
After some few weeks, Rachel started getting back her body. It turned out that the soap was working for her because Uche would always pressure her to bathe with it every now and then so she doesn’t forget. Aside that, they were still going to church, attending prayers and meetings as usual.
Regarding Madam, she was nowhere to be found. Even when they attempted to visit her place some months later, they discovered that someone else was now living there. It was Joyce who reminded Uche about the paper that Madam had given them to give to Rachel that very day. Madam had mentioned the 35th day, but it had already been 40 days since then. They called Rachel and handed her the paper, informing her that Madam had requested for her to read it.
She opened it and began reading it out.
“Don’t worry my dear. You’re going to be okay? I came back because of you. I’m your mother’s spirit. I don’t want you to dรฎe. Go on live your life. Uche is a good man, get married and live the life of your dreams. Charles anakonkwooo ooo….”
Charles and Rachel began shedding tears at the same time. That very word was what their mum used to call them whenever he wants to make jest of them…. And also the same word whenever he wants to tell them a story under the small guava tree that was in front of their house…
“Don’t worry Uche and Joyce, they will always be with you to guide you and protect you. As for you Charles, you’re a man now, don’t be like your father okay? And don’t ever return back to that man. Please take good care of your sister. And lastly, one of you should go to my grave in the village and bury the letter on top of it with some flowers. If you’re reading this, know that I’m gone but my spirit leaves in you. Goodbye lovely children..”
In accordance with their mother’s final request, they traveled over to the village. Uche and Charles exchanged warm greetings with many of their former neighbors upon their arrival. However, their father appeared aged beyond his years, with boils covering his body. Besides him were 2 crouches looking like someone that couldn’t walk. As he stood there, gazing at them, they all ignored him. Just as they finished burying the envelope and placing some flowers on their mother’s grave, the rain began to shower ๐ฟ.
Uche drove the children off under the rain and they eventually moved on with their lives. Benita later apologized for everything after noticing that Rachael was fully healed.
Charles and his twin sister, later got a scholarship to further their studies in Canada due to their intelligence and they were flown out to school there.
Life is unpredictable at times, most times what we don’t expect might be the what would end up working out. Hatred, jealousy, envy, enmity, and selfishness are traits that lead nowhere in life. However, when you surround yourself with the right people, your future is bound to be bright…
The end ๐๐
Written by ๐ Nicholas Stephen.
