WITCH CHILD
“…Wherein we see how uncomfortably similar one character’s sexual sin is to the protagonist’s revenge, hence forcing us to mark the question, “Just who is the villain in this story?””
‘Kachifo,’ the old man says to him in greeting.
It is indeed a good night, and Esosa knows this. He smiles back at the old man and nods his head to return the pleasantries. Esosa holds his breath as the old man walks past him and leaves the shop. The bell hanging over the door sounds as it closes after the man. Esosa can breathe again now the old man has left. He knows him – his name is Uncle Big. (It is uncomfortable for Esosa as he ponders how he got that name.)
It takes all of Esosa’s strength of mind to stop him from chasing after the old man and beating his brains out.
Esosa watches Uncle Big through the glass window. The old man is limping a little and stops to scratch his leg. Then he turns momentarily and spies Esosa watching him. He looks enquiringly at Esosa with a puzzled expression. That is when Esosa becomes aware that he is frowning. Esosa turns his dark face away. (Not yet. His time will come, soon.)
The bell sounds again. Esosa moves his head toward the shop entrance, and sees Uncle Big is now standing in front of him. He feels like holding his breath again, but knows he has already done enough to antagonise the old man. (Your time will come. But not yet.)
‘Have I done anything to offend you, son?’ Uncle Big asks him in Igbo.
Esosa shakes his head. His Igbo is still good and he has always maintained his accent. ‘No, sir,’ he says. Again the urge to hold his breath. ‘I was just thinking of something. I lost my job recently.’
‘Oh, I am sorry to hear that,’ Uncle Big says. ‘You know, we have a prayer meeting in church. You should come over tomorrow.’
‘Thank you,’ Esosa says. ‘Is it the Fellowship of Angels and Saints?’
Uncle Big pulls his head back and looks with renewed suspicion at Esosa.
(Don’t blow it now. I’ve planned too long to mess this up.)
‘It’s just that I’ve heard good things about that church,’ Esosa says. ‘I hear there are many signs and wonders shown by the overseer.’
‘I left that place a long time ago.’
(I’m sure you did.)
‘Are you sure you have not been sent to threaten me into going back, because I can tell you right now that I will not go back to that place?’ Uncle Big is shaking as he delivers his speech.
(He really is afraid of these people.) ‘I am sorry if I upset you, sir,’ Esosa says. ‘I did not mean to.’
Uncle Big looks intently at him, then he hisses and storms off.
(No, no, no…)
Esosa resists the urge to chase after him. He will have his day yet. Esosa knows it. The old man will come back. And Esosa will be waiting when he does.
‘It’s going on nine,’ the shopkeeper says. ‘I allow you to hang out here, but…’
Esosa nods. ‘I’m going,’ he says.
