Wormwood

Mmaette Fusses

      Three months into Eyo's stay with us, everything went well except for the children who referred to the soldiers joining us as a nightmare. Mmaette was constantly ranting about her finished milk or biscuits or something; everything the soldiers did irked her. Ubokabasi, Abubakar, Rashid, Omawunmi and Kingsley were the names of the new additions to the family. Rashid was the one who angered Mmaette the most, with his large appetite he would eat almost anything including her food, if she let him. Unfortunately, Rashid wasn't endowed with height so just a few inches above Mmaette who was growing pretty fast she always told me clandestinely of her plans to beat him up if he ever got to her box of chocolates.
      The planet was practically a desert as a drought had swept through nations leaving the unprepared or untrained in severe conditions or worse, dead. Clouds had disappeared so the hope of experiencing the rains again gradually faded, the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and other oceans began to dry up including local streams and rivers. Rivers in Nigeria got the immediate attention of the president, many animals went into extinction. During one of the conferences, the leaders left agreed to work together to save the oceans, rivers and animals left so they won't die thereby leading to an inadvertent end of mankind. Nigerian scientists were put to work with international help to figure out means of sucking up the oceans as much as they could to store in re-engineered environments, conducive for aquatic, arboreal and terrestrial animals to thrive. Killing of animals in times like these could cost you jail term of a life time, permits were granted to people to ensure that animals mated before they were slaughtered. Almost every home practiced farming of different sorts.

One of those hot afternoons we heard Mmaette screaming at the top her voice.

'I have had enough of his savage appetite.' She roared. I ran down to mitigate the situation but my daughter paid no attention to me, apparently Rashid had found her box of chocolates and took 6 bars leaving 2 bars for her---absolute savagery I thought to myself.

'Honey calm down, when we go for supplies I'll get another box for you.' I said

'He's going to vomit that one in his stomach first.' She said slipping out of my grip, i turned around to spot Udoette laughing. I wasn't fast enough to hold her back as she ran outside to where everyone sat, relaxed with cold beers and oris cigarettes. Without warning---poor Rashid didn't see it coming, she decked him in the throat throwing him off his chair and unto the ground. Everyone stood up to hold her but I hushed them to stand back---it just occurred to me after all her training she had never experienced a real battle and so I thought it'd be nice for her to practice what she had learned. Rashid noticed I had hushed everyone and signaled him to give her the pleasure of fighting him.

'I won't go easy on her because she's your daughter sah.' Rashid said dusting himself and taking a rather provocative stance thinking the fight would be an easy one.

'She is eleven years old, make sure you don't embarrass soldiers all over the world.' I mocked.

    With the distraction, Mmaette attacked swiftly and fiercely, Rashid didn't know when he landed on the ground again this time wiping a smudge of blood off his lips. I smirked in hubris, folding my arms and watching Rashid's frustration. This time he took a better stance, she threw a few more punches and lost balance, Rashid took advantage of the opportunity and locked her joints in, waiting for her to tap out. For a moment I thought she would but she sighted my face and summoned strength, broke loose kicking and punching, Rashid was surprised at her strength and tenacity and conceded.

'She really is your blood Major.' Udeme said walking away with a big smile.

This happens to be one of my favourites. The next story should bring Vincent back...I kinda miss the dude😮