~~~EFETOBORE~~~
EPISODE 2
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Kate pulled out some duck feathers and crossed them against her lips biting them firmly with her teeth. She circled the egg around her brother’s head three times before smashing it upon his face. The unexpected impact caused Efe to instantly lose his sanity(ran mád), causing him to dash out of the house in nothing but his bare shorts. Upon hearing the commotion, Efe’s mother woke up abruptly and rushed to the scene, only to be astonished by her son’s absence.
Unbeknownst to her, Kate had already discreetly swept away the egg fragments, and even cleaned the areas that had been stained by the egg using a small mop conveniently placed by the TV set. Sensing her mother’s presence, kate decided to play the part of an innocent sleeper until her mother tapped her gently and inquired about her brother’s whereabouts.
“I’m not sure. Maybe he went outside to ease himself. Mama don’t worry too much, he’s capable of taking care of himself. Mom, you can go back to sleep. I’ll try and talk to him,” Kate said, feigning innocence and acting as if she had no knowledge of his whereabouts and also using style to hide the feathers under her skirt.
“Kate, please, when he comes back, talk to him. You know he’s my only son. The Efe I know would never leave the house at this hour, it’s almost 12:30pm. I’ve been busy all day yesterday, and my entire body is in pains. I need some rest. You know we’re doing all these things for you kids. We only want the best for you. Please help me talk to him when he returns. If possible, tell him to come meet me because I need to have a conversation with him,” his mother pleaded, showing signs of exhaustion as she loosened her wrapper and tightly knotted it around her waist.
Kate nodded in agreement and assured her mother that she would do exactly as instructed before storming off to her room to continue her sleep. Sandra was also awake in her room but Kate wasn’t sure if she saw her on not.
The following day, news of Efe’s disappearance unraveled, causing those who knew him to frantically bègin searching for him. His mother wept continuously, unable to find solace. His father, though burdened by the distressing news, still managed to go fishing because it was the only way to put food on the table, but his catch was meager as his mind was preoccupied with thoughts of his missing son.
A few weeks later, Mr. Ayoda, a respected community leader, approached Efe’s parents with dire information. He relayed that he had heard their son had been discovered running nàked through the streets, seemingly afflicted by insanity. Shocked by the News, Efe’s mother fáinted, overcome by the overwhelming news. However, it was Kate who was the first amongst them to break down in tears.
That same week, during one fateful night, Sandra, the eldest of the siblings, lay in bed, her health deteriorating to the point where she was in a near-comatose state, struggling to articulate her words. Throughout that week the nurse only visited her once due to financial issues from her parents. In the midst of her vulnerability, Kate approached her with a mischievous grin on her face. Sandra, with her cracked voice, managed to utter, “I know what you did.” On hearing that Kate annoyingly held her by her neck and began strangling her to dèáth so she wouldn’t expose her secret.
However, her mother’s footsteps caused her to rapidly lose her grip, reminding Sandra that if she wants to dîe, she should reveal her secret. Due to that fear, Sandra remained shût.
As days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, Efe remained lost with no trace of his whereabouts. The family’s situation grew increasingly dire, and they struggled to support themselves. There were days when their mother had to resort to begging for food just to ensure they could eat. Meanwhile, their father faced his own misfortune when he was bîtten by a snèke during one of his fishing expeditions. The venômous bîte resulted in a swollen leg, rendering him unable to provide for the family as he used to.
Tragically, Sandra’s health deteriorated further, and the lack of money to afford vital medications ultimately led to her passing away. Amidst the struggle, Kate took a different path. She decided to start her own business known as ‘hookup’ whereby men would seek her with the intentions of having sèx and, she’d get paid making her to spend more time outside of the house, neglecting her family responsibilities. Her presence no longer brought warmth or joy to their once vibrant home. During these challenging times, their mother’s face bore the weight of endless sorrow. She cried throughout the day, tirelessly seeking assistance and domestic support to ensure her husband’s well-being.
****Back to Efe
Efe found himself in an unfamiliar shrine hidden deep within a dense bush. As he regained consciousness, he noticed three men wearing glasses who seemed to be restraining him, their firm grip still holding him in place. The native doctor offered him some strange water to drink of which he declined but they fórced him to drink it. The men hauled him in their car, puzzled and uncertain about the events that had just transpired. Although efe was finding it difficult to understand their dialect but he could recall that they appreciated the native doctor by handling him some bundles of new Cash(Thousand naira notes wrapped in bundles), they later signaled him to remain shût before they drove off.
