Lineage

Funmi Dada Part 10

Funmi became more vigilant ever since the mob incident. She was almost certain she saw her Aunty Tolu in the crowd. She will not put it past them to be instigators. Now there were rumours everywhere that Iya was a witch. There were several publications in the local tabloid magazines containing a lot of bizarre stories about her. Whenever Iya was outside tending to her garden, people passing would throw stones at her and calling her names. Sometimes people would gather outside her home, praying against her. She could no longer go out of her home without being attacked in one form or the other. It was clear that it was no longer safe for them to remain in this town. Iya had agreed to follow Funmi and Bankole back to their own home. They've made plans, arranging Iya's things that they would take along. They could only take the things that had to do with the art of healing, light walking, her books, and any other valuables. Furniture, appliances, and kitchen wares will remain and be sold along with the house.

Iya's health was deteriorating. She suspects that someone had poisoned her. It must have been on the day of the mob attack. She remembered being pricked. It was killing her slowly. Iya did not tell Funmi or Bankole, not wanting to worry them. She also refused to go to the hospital. Now she is no longer sure if she could make the trip. That evening Funmi joined her at the back of the house for a brief chat and then she told Funmi.

Iya had grown quite fond of Funmi and her son. She is her granddaughter and Bankole her great-grandson. She knew her talk was strange, but it was necessary. Iya also gave her the papers to her house and the phone number of her lawyer has as well. She had willed everything to Funmi. She must bury her quietly at the back of the house in her garden, in an unmarked grave. It did not matter to her as she knows they would always remember her. This wasn't what Funmi expected to hear. She knew Iya was feeling unwell, but not to the extent of preparing for her death. Funmi also knew that for Iya to talk in this manner, it means she is sensing the end of her life's journey. Funmi fell on her knees and cried on Iya's lap. She told Iya she would never bury in an unmarked grave. Even if Iya died now, she would take her corpse and bury her where her parents were buried.