UDEME
©Kikelomo Fadugbagbe
Episode 3
“Relax your mind,” he hid her before opening the door. He was shocked to see bunch of angry women. In their hands were harmful objects like that of protesters.
“I’m Mrs Ogbonna but they call me Mama Mazi,” Udeme’s stepmom introduced herself. She continued “I am the women leader in this village, we heard you have been telling our daughters to disobey us, you told them to say no to circumcision”
Udeme heaved a sign of relief where she was hiding, she thought she had come for her.
Mama Mazi Continued “You must be a fool to try to pollute the mind of our children from following the custom of our land. All the women here were circumcised.”
“Yes oh” the women answered, thrusting their weapons.
“You want our children to rebel against us. But before they start their own, we will first deal with you. We are here today just to warn you, next time we are going to butcher you.” They turned back and leave.
Jesse did a cross sign and exhaled deeply.
“This is serious”
“You are lucky, they were not holding those things for fun. Whatever you are doing please stop” Udeme said as she moved out from her hiding place.
Udeme remained in Jesse’s house.
Ekene was seen mumbling while fetching water.
“Mama I’m tired ooo, let’s look for Udeme, I can’t be fetching water.”
“Sorry my son, she will soon come back from wherever she went to. She want me to look for her, and I won’t, I promise you I won’t look for that stupid girl, she will walk back here with her two left legs. If you are tired drop the bucket.” Ekene flinged the bucket angrily.
“Don’t be angry now,” she robbed his head.
One of her friends met her grumbling over Udeme’s Issue.
“Mama Mazi, is it true?”
“That what, Mama Ngozi”
“That udeme is missing”
She hissed, “Do you know what that prostitute did to my son. She raped him.”
“Are you sure, that was not what we heard. We heard it was your son who wanted to rape her.”
“Lies, pure lie, Mama Ngozi leave my house. You are a gossiper, you are not my friend, tofiakwa”
“What if I don’t leave”
“Then wait and see what I will do” she ran in and returned with a bucket of hot water. Though mama Ngozi had already escaped.
“You could have waited for me, mad gossiper, tatafo, ekwensu” While she was ranting, she mistakenly poured the hot water on herself.
“My Legs oo” She screamed. Ekene ran out
“Mama, what happened to you?”
“My leg, bring cold water” She put many things just to get a relief, but instead it got worse. The legs had swollen up within few seconds.
“Are you sure this is mere hot water?” Ezeudo asked.
To be continued…
