Her Father's Wife

Chapter 6

They set out early the next morning to Eziama, a distance of more than seven kilometres away. Their destination is the seers house. They preferred to go this far for two reasons. Atakata has made name for himself in Eziama and all it's neighbouring villages. Everyone knew that he hears directly from the gods. He inherited it from his father. Afa has always been in his family. Secondly, they don't want the subject of their quest to become the trending gossip in the village. Luckily for them, he was around. He sometimes travel to go and attend to clients who cannot make the journey to his house. This is because, Atakata was a herbalist as well as a seer. Nwokeforo and Nwaneri joined the line of the teaming population waiting to see the native doctor. Some people were sitting, discussing in low tone, while others were dozing. At, first, Nwokeforo and Nwaneri were chatting softly about this and that, until Nwokeforo dozed off, overcame by worry and tiredness. Nwaneri gently nudged him to wake him up when it was their turn. They followed the seers apprentice to his consulting room . As soon as they stepped in, the native doctor called two of them by name. 'Nwokeforo afa is greeting you, and you too, Nwaneri, a good friend that is better than a brother, you are welcomed'. The two friends looked at each other in surprise. The seer ignored them. He invited them to sit down. Then he casted his cowrie shells on the floor, picked them up. He asked Nwokeforo to drop ten shillings on the floor which he did. He casted the cowries again and watched them chase one another around the floor. He shook his head sadly. He casted them yet a third time. Wearing a worried expression. With a very sad countenance he started speaking. He told Nwokeforo that, what brought him was to find the meaning of the bad dream he had the day before. Before Nwokeforo could answer he continued, he said that the gods had only shown him, the state his obi will be in, after he had gone to his fathers. 'You don't have a male child' it was a statement rather than a question.' And you will never have. Not even if you marry ten wives'. Nwokeforo wanted to ask why but, the block that lodged itself in his throat since yesterday, refused to move. He heard himself croaked out something which even him cannot interpret. Nwaneri took the cue and waded in ' Atakata elo, he greeted the native doctor by his name, the only ear that hears from the gods, he continued, what can we do to right this ugly situation? 'Nothing' Atakata answered simply. It is not in his chi to have a male child. I'm sure even your friend knows it, though he refused to believe it because of stubbornness. That is why the gods have passed through dream to warn him once more'. Nwaneri was not done yet. He insisted the native doctor tell them any way, they can by pass this sad situation. The only suggestion the native doctor gave was that Nwokeforo should allow his wife to go out and sleep with another man , that way she may be able to get a boy. A suggestion Nwokeforo rejected outrightly. The two friend left soon after, they were not at ease. Nwokeforo followed his friend to his house. It was already late in the evening when they came back. Agbomma, Nwaneri's wife brought food for them. Pounded yam and egusi soup. The food was appetising enough, but Nwokeforo seems to have lost his taste for food. He clearly wanted to turn down the invitation to eat but, Nwaneri insisted. He reluctantly took a bit of the pounded yam and moulded it into a ball, he dipped it into the soup and put it in his mouth, try as he may he could not get the ball of pounded yam to go down his throat, he started choking. He had to use a full cup of water to push it down. He gave up on the food after that. Nwaneri himself wisely desist from forcing him to eat the food. He told his wife Agbomma to prepare pap and some bean cakes for his friend. What he needs now, he thought, is some light food that can easily slide down his throat. After their meal, Nwokeforo told his friend that he had reached a conclusion on what to do. What will you do? He asked eagerly? ' I have decided to ask my daughter to help me. I have thought about the whole options and this one seems to be the only bearable one. I can't even think of allowing Obidiya to go outside like that. It is better I die without a male child. If I marry another wife, she may come in and become a nuisance to Obidiya, moreover, you know how much I value my peace. Secondly, the woman, a stranger, will also go out and be with a stranger. The child so conceived will not have one drop of my blood. Now, you know my daughter Onaedo, she is wise and very industrious, almost like a boy. I have decided not to allow her to marry out. She can live in my house and bear children, who will answer my name. She is strong and courageous, with the amount of landed property that I have, including the fruit trees, she and any children she will bear will not starve. Nwaneri was a bit apprehensive about this decision, but what other option do they have? He kept quite for a moment, then said, 'you have to let our umunna know. Such a heavy decision cannot be taken alone. Secondly, the umuada, have to be notified, the unuagbogho too. These measures have to be taken and their rights given to them, so that they won't start treating her like a leaper in this village'. Don't worry Nna, Nwokeforo answered, for everything they require, I will give them double. Ona is too precious to me, I cannot allow her reputation to be tarnished. In fact, I'll make sure she regrets nothing. If she will agree, I will make arrangement for her to go in to the fattening room'. Seeing his friend's still worried expression, Nwaneri hastened to console his friend,' Don't worry Nwoke, you are neither the first person nor the last that has taken this type of decision. It will all work out well'. Nwokeforo thanked his friend for his support and left.
Awww that's so sad I hate having nightmares shivering throwing my blanket over my head.
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