Chapter 17

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Dedicated to nwiboko26 thank you so much for voting oh her father's wife your absolutely fabulous have a lovely Easter.

Exactly two months after the mgbede dance, Nwokeforo died. He was not sick in the real sense of it. He only complained of a stomach bite, that was three days earlier. Obidiye had prepared bitter leave soup for dinner that night. Bitter leave is known to be good for stomach upset. He seemed to be better, but the pain came back a day later. This time, the pain was excruciating. It had also settled at the right hand side of his stomach, near his groin. He could not stand upright. The spot itself was throbbing and warm to the touch. Some roots were prepared and given to him to drink. Medicinal herbs were also pounded into paste and placed on the affected area. These did not seem to give him much relief. By the third day, he got worst. He could neither eat nor drink anything. The worst was the vomiting. He kept throwing up, and he was running a temperature too. Everybody suspected poisoning. Accusing fingers were pointed here and there. Obidiye was beside herself with anxiety. She asked her husband a thousand time whether he ate or drank with anybody. The answer was always negative. Throughout that night, he was restless, turning and tossing on the bed. Then, towards dawn, the fever seemed to break, he came back to himself. Turning toward Obidiye who was sitting by his bed side all night, he called her name clearly and started talking. ' when I'm gone' he said, 'see that my compound does not turn to bush... Obidiye tried to hush him but he brushed her a side.' Listen carefully and don't forget. My daughter Onaedo should continue to live with you here in my house and bear children in my name. You are to get the other children married off as early as possible so that, the burden on you and Ona will not be too much. If you don't do everything the way I said it now, I will return and hunt you'. Nnanyi please stop saying such fearful things, Obidiye pleaded frantically. ' Go and call Nwaneri for me, he ordered'. Obidiye practically ran all the way to Nwaneri's house. Nwaneri rushed out and followed her without delay. The two of them came back running as if in competition of who will out run the other. They were about entering the bed room shoulder to shoulder when Nwaneri suddenly stopped and blocked the door. He told Obidiye to first check on the children and then join him. She obeyed. He stepped into the room and touched his friend. It was just as he feared, he had gone. Hot tears poured down Nwaneri's cheek as he straightened his friends body and closed his eyes. Obidiye who was running in from the children's room caught a glimpse of the tears and let out a loud cry, Nwaneri reached out and grabbed her and covered her mouth with his hand. You don't announce the passing on of an adult like that. Especially, somebody as important in the community as Nwokeforo was. Nwaneri advised her to go back to the children's room and stay with them, while he will go to one or two elders and tell them what happened. Later that morning, some elders were at Nwokeforo's obi. They were discussing in a very low tone. The mood was dark and heavy. Later on, a delegate of five people were sent to Umuoba, his maternal home to inform them of his demise. This is very important because, without their presence and consent, he will not be buried. When his mother's family heard the news, they send four men to follow the men from Ngodo. They were to confirm the news then come back. His mothers kinsmen were also of the opinion that Nwokeforo was poisoned. He was a man of means. He had yams in abundance and a lot of land. In reality, Nwokeforo died of ruptured appendix but nobody knew this. Medical science was still none existent at Ngodo. Preparations were made for his burial. His corpse was embalmed locally. This was to preserve it for some days while preparations were being made for his funeral. There was an option of burying him first, then holding the funeral after some months. However, this option was rejected by his cousin Amadi, his closest relative. His mothers kinsmen supported Amadi. They still wanted to make findings whether he was poisoned or not. If yes, they intended to reject his corpse for his kinsmen. Until they give them the person that killed their grandchild. This can postpone his burial indefinitely. His kinsmen were on the pleading side, until the consent of his mothers people was finally obtained. This after they have parted with money and livestock. Nwokeforo was buried like the great man he was. People wept themselves to stupor as he was being committed to mother earth. Ona and her mother were made to stand by the grave side and pour the sand... 'ash to ash' they said as they pour the sand individually into the open grave. After the burial, the funeral began. Obidiye's hair was shaved, she sat on the mat the umuada sprayed on the floor for her in their bed room. This in itself was significant. When Nwokeforo's was alive, nobody will dare enter his bedroom without invitation. Now he is dead, his bedroom has become a free place, the shied had gone. Anybody can enter as they please. Visitors go there to visit with and commiserate with her. She was looking pale and gaunt. She was never a fat person to begin with, now she looks positively lost. Her shaved hair followed to give her a wobegon appearance. Umuada did that. They gave her that awful hair cut. They took over immediately after the burial. They announced to themselves that Obidiye killed their brother by starving him. They also maintained that their brother Nwokeforo worked himself to death because Obidiye was too lazy to help him. Yes oo they agreed in unison. All she was good at is breeding children. Cheyiii one of them exclaimed and allowed tears to drop from her eyes as if filled with sorrow. ' he worked himself to an early grave. He went without breakfast too, she said as if she was there when it happened. So it happened they agreed again. Obidiye, who was sitting in the bedroom knew where all these will lead to. But, wait oo one of them shouted suddenly. 'Where is the woman? She asked, meaning Obidiye, Is she still enjoying herself eating and drinking? She continued in a harsh voice. At this, two of them ran into the house and brought Obidiye out. They forcefully pushed her down on the floor and tore her blouse. They brought out a plain black blouse and put it on her. Her children came running to help nne but some of the women caught them, there were many of them. They caught the children and dragged them away to safety. The children had to be protected, after all, they are all their brother got after years spent with the woman. Obidiye did not fight back. She could not fight them because, it was tradition. Even if it were not, she was not a violent person. Moreover, she had no male child for their brother which means they can even throw her out of the house. In her heart, Obidiye blessed her late husband. But for the measure he had put in place using Ona, these women would have sent her and her children parking. They can even do worst. After putting the mourning cloth on her, their leader sat on a low stool in preparation to shave her hair. A piece of broken bottle was brought, with this she proceeded to shave Obidiye's hair. Obidiye was sobbing all through, but they told her that what she was doing was gentleman's crying. They will teach her how to cry later. Everybody was looking on but, nobody has the right to interfere in umuada's case. They are law on to themselves. Visitors continued to pour in. Each of them must be entertained. Obidiye got assistance from many people in the village because her husband was a generous man. They brought livestock, yam, fermented cassava flour to help them entertain. Those that have nothing volunteered their services. Some were cooking some were serving, others were fetching water from the stream. Obidiya sat all day long on the mat, only getting up to relieve herself. She only speak when spoken to. She neither smile nor laugh. If she dares, umuada will ask her what there is to laugh about. At long last, the burial and funeral came to an end. Obidiye and her children can now plan on how to survive.

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