skin deep

one

Deyinka got to the top of the hill, finally. This was the only time of the day she had to herself, she breath in the cool morning air and sighed, if only things were as easy as breathing.
As she looked over the land, and felt her heart swell in pride, the great Odugba land. Her land, well not really, since her parents weren't from this land originally, they had emigrated from their own small village, Tadeoun, after a drought that had left the people destitute. She had been born here and knew one day she would be buried here, this was the land she knew and had come to love.

It wasn't hard to see why they had settled here, 'the land is green', literally, from her spot on the hill, she could see the expanse of green vegetation that covered most of the land. She looked around with her wide chocolate brown eyes, she could see most of the inhabited land from here, the waterfall, the many huts that seemed so tiny but weren't at all little up close, she giggled, funny how your position could change your view of things, she knew if she looked hard enough she'd be able to point out her compound, it was one of the biggest after all, OK, modesty aside it was the second largest save for the palace.

She could see the market that was now empty, but would soon be buzzing with traders, the village square, where festivals were held,speaking of festivals, she thought, a coming of age festival is in 3 full moons time, and she so wasn't looking forward to it  at all. She pitied the girls who had come of age, she let her mind wander for a while, thinking about the cruelty of the ceremony. If only, she took a deep breath and let the thoughts flow out with her exhale into the morning air, they'll be  fine, she muttered to herself.

Finally, the last but most definitely no the least, the palace, the biggest ground in the village. Its grounds were impressive. Even from here. She had never been in there but she could see it well enough from the top of this hill, she could see the torture chambers, the king's courtyard where he sat during the day, settling disputes and whatnot. There were so many huts, for the King's wives, their children, the maids and guards and even for visitors or immigrants. Ohh, let's not forget the shrine. It looked scary, even from up here, she shivered, and prayed to the gods never to give her any problem that would make her so helpless to visit the shrine. Beyond the village were the farm lands, each family had a farm, and only those with slaves could indulge in other forms of livelihood.

The sun was finding its way up into the sky and from her place on the hill she could see girls with their calabashes making their way towards the stream. Deyinka knew it was time to go, she got up, picked her calabash and started down the hill, but first took a wrap of leaf from under her wrapper and rubbed its contents on her face. Time to face the teasing, she thought dryly.

Bolade, Deyinka's mom helped her put the heavy clay pot down, "my dear, tell me what took you so long?" She asked looking at her 12 year old girl, her baby girl, that was growing up so fast.

Hmmn, how time flies, seems like yesterday when Demilade and herself had arrived in Odugba with their first son, Adewale, and now he would be getting married soon.

"Nothing new mom, thanks to Joke or I might still be struggling at the stream" she was smiling but it didn't reach her eyes. Her daughter was so strong, she had been teased by the village children, even the adults since birth because she was ugly, but my little princess never once complained, even though she knew well that she had a choice, I'm so proud of her.

"Bless her soul, that girl, she is so nice to you my princess" her mother took her hand and led her inside, "sit, eat, your brothers have all eaten and gone to work, but Dekunle said to tell you to go meet him at your usual spot" she smiled at her daughter's smiling face, she didn't completely approve of her always hanging out with her brothers, lest she hurt herself but what could she do? Girls her age wouldn't play with her, they all tease her,  and make fun of her. She took a glance at her daughter who was busy eating her meal of eba and vegetable soup she herself had prepared the previous night, even Joke couldn't hang out with her, not that she didn't want to but her mother had prohibited her from even saying a word to her. She sighed and looked at her daughter again, the last of her nine children, the only female and thanked the gods for such a wonderful child. She watched as her daughter finished her last bit of food thanked her and went to wash the dishes. She was one lucky woman, Bolade thought to herself as she went into her room to prepare for her day.

Bolade made aso-oke,she was so good that everyone in the village and even neighbouring villages came to buy from her, but Deyinka was even better at it, and it was because of her wonderful designs that even the queen now patronized her. Mummy Shade walked into her shop then, "good afternoon my sister, how is business?"

"All is well, thank god" Bolanle replied. Mummy Shade went on to fill her in on all the gossip she had heard that morning, Bolanle just 'hmmned' and nodded at the right time. While she was talking about the prince's broken arm when Deyinka and her immediate older brother Dekunle came in.

'Mummy! Mummy! look what Dekunle's trap caught!!' It was a big fat bush rat. 

'Wow! that is so big! Your biggest one yet! Oh my! I can't wait to see the look on your dad's face when he sees this!

'Oh my, this is meat o, real nice meat! it would be nice in some egusi with some smoked panla and pounded yam! I think I know where I'll be visiting for dinner tonight' Mummy Shade chirped

'Yes o, you got it. Deyinka, you and your brother go and prepare the meat.Dont forget to show it to your father on your way home . Deyinka, oko mi you know what to do with it when hes done cleaning it. Dekunle, make sure to shave off al the hairs on it, don't be lazy with it like the last time. Save some of it with the skin for your Dewale to roast it for drinking garri. God bless you my son, may your path ever be filled with success and may you keep prospering and blessings follow you every where you go!'

'Thank you mummy, Ase. You will eat the fruits of your labour and you will see all your children grow, multiply and prosper.

'Thank you my son. Oya, both of you, while the day is still young. Oh and don't forget to branch by Mummy Sola's shop for the panla fish and show your daddy too!'

'Cook it let it be sweet o Yinka' Mummy Shade called out after them.