Chioma

Five

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It had been exactly two weeks since papa's demise. Uncle Obinna still insisted on mama taking an oath. Mama didn't see any need to take an oath. I didn't either. Uncle was just being unnecessarily annoying. It wasn't enough that he embarrassed me before the elders and women of our community by denying my allegation. I felt like a crazy girl who wanted to make her uncle look bad and just had to use sexual assault. Well, attempted sexual assault. Ugochukwu looked disappointed too. It seemed he was avoiding me. He neither asked after me nor came over for days. I really missed him. I missed his tickles. I missed his crazy talks. He always messed around with the teachers at school. Especially teacher Ugwu.
Teacher Ugwu was a tall, lanky, dark skinned, middle aged man. His jaw was neatly shaven and his bald head always reflected the Sun's rays. His interest in adding much hair oil to his bald head gave his figure a more comical look. His steps were as if he was dancing to a song being played in his head. He was known to always carry a pile of books in one hand and a long cane in the other. He always used the cane on students who were late to school. Before beating anyone with his long cane, he would shake it as if he was charging it or maybe getting more strength to imprint marks on their bodies.
Although he seemed rather harsh and tough, he had a soft sport for justice and equity. When papa insisted I dropped out of school, teacher Ugwu visited papa to plead with him to let me continue my schooling. I thought papa would bulge. He seemed to had given the conversation rapt attention. My hopes were shattered when papa ordered teacher Ugwu out of the compound. Teacher Ugwu was very much persistent. He didn't move any step away from his initial position. When papa went into the house, I knew papa was planning something really embarrassing. All I could do was avoid any drama that hot afternoon. I walked up to teacher Ugwu and begged him to leave. He remained adamant. Before I could plead any further, I felt what seemed like a bucket of water soak my dress. Still shocked, I shivered amidst the scorching heat. Teacher Ugwu wasn't wet. His shoes were only stained by wet mud. If I could mutter anything at that moment, it could have been curses on teacher Ugwu. But that would have been really silly of me. Ugochukwu always mimicked teacher Ugwu's walking step. His mimic could be likened to the movement of the belly of a pregnant goat.
As I got closer to the stream, I couldn't help but notice the uncomfortable stares of passersby. I could guess what they were talking about. Of course! It was my case with uncle Obinna. Well, that didn't go as I had expected.
*****
When I had finally picked the right words to say, the prime minister who was about leaving, walked slowly back to his seat with a huge expression of surprise written all over his face. The women rushed to me to see if I was really serious. Mama was the most concerned but she remained glued to her position. I knew further questioning from her awaited me. The prime minister stood up from his seat while clearing his throat. "Obinna, what do you have to say about this allegation?". I wished his question had come out differently. Maybe it could have been more direct. I wished it had just been different from what the prime minister said.
Uncle Obinna bluntly denied my allegation calling me a mini prostitute. All I could do was to stand and watch. The prime minister still standing, looked at me and said " Nwam, I know death is a heavy load on you. Most times our minds make us say things that didn't happen". Taking further steps towards me he said "Nwam, take heart. Apologize to your uncle for wrongly accusing him and try to sleep well". I had never seen that part of the prime minister before. Well, I had to apologize to uncle Obinna for nothing exactly.
******
Taking off my dress just at the bank of the stream, I slipped my feet out of my slipper. The cold soil brought fort ease from tension. I didn't know I was under any tension. The coldness of the water calmed me down totally. Memories of Ugochukwu kept flooding my mind. I couldn't explain how I felt anytime I thought of him. I always smiled when thoughts of him came. Still swimming round areas of the large water body, I felt the negligible current of the stream. I wished I could stay in the water. It seemed comforting. It distracted me from my thoughts. But I had to move out of the water. It still wasn't completely home. My dress had a perfect fitting to my body. My feet slipped back into my pair of slipper. I had to hurry home.
I wish I knew what Ugochukwu's thoughts were. Still lost in thoughts, I felt a large palm cover my eye. I touched the palm to get clues of who it was. It didn't feel like Ugochukwu's palms. But I wanted it to be. Holding the wrist of the strange hand, I turned to see who it was. "Uncle!!!". It was him again. "Uncle good afternoon". "Chi Chi, forget about the greetings. I was on my way to Mazi Ndukwe's home when I saw your gorgeous behind shake its way to my head. Chi Chi, let's just go into the bush and do it. I know you want it as much as I do". The lust in his eyes suddenly triggered a building irritation." Or do you want to tell me that you're a Virgin? Don't mention that. I know these village boys have had a taste of you". He was at it again. "Uncle! You're my father's brother. My father's blood!! My blood!...." He interrupted me with his words of rage. The lust in his eyes had suddenly turned to rage. "Will you shut up! I don't care if we're blood, I must taste every bit of you". His rage disappeared in a twinkle of an eye just as it had come. I wished someone could hear him or see us. The road leading to the stream was a lonely road. I could only wish. " You're talking about blood. Haven't you given that scum that calls himself your friend that thing you don't want me to..." The irritation that had built within turned to instant rage. I had hit him hard on his face. "You can never be half the man Ugochukwu is. And yes! I'm still a Virgin". His hands were quick to grab my throat. "You child of a witch! How dare you slap me! I'll kill you and leave your body to rot here. In anger and obvious self-defense, I raised my knee to his groin and gave it a hard hit. Releasing my throat from his tight grip, he cupped his groin. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. I didn't care about the stares any longer.
Mama sat in the company of the elders of the family. I couldn't control my breath. ineeded air. Everywhere had suddenly turned stuffy. Walking slowly towards the gathering my looked up at me and said " Oma, come join us". I couldn't say "no!". I sat next to mama. Our grand uncles and maternal uncles were all seated. Uncle Amadi stood, cleared his throat and said " we all know why we are gathered here" he cleared his throat one more time and continued "our brother has been dead for two weeks now. We know what the tradition says about not burying him before the next two weeks. We have to figure out how we can raise money for his burial". Pausing again, he turned to the entrance of the compound " oh! His brother has joined us". What! Why was he here? I thought he had somewhere else to be. Although his sudden appearance made me feel uncomfortable, I loved the disorderliness in his steps. Could be the pain from the hit in his groin. All I could do was make a silent prayer hoping he won't mention anything about slapping him or hitting him in the groin. He can't! He won't! What explanations would he give? I jumped to the conclusion that I was safe this time. Uncle Obinna took a sit next to Uncle Ikemefuna. Uncle Amadi continued. "Obinna, we were just talking about how we can get money to bury your brother. Do you have any suggestions on how we can get money?". Uncle Obinna stretched his body in his seat. " well, the only reasonable thing to do is to think of how to raise money. Selling off our properties is out of the picture ". He gave me a lustful gaze one last time and continued " our only option is clear. We should give Chioma out in marriage". He cleared his throat before continuing. "She is ripe for marriage. Chioma should get married to Chief Odogwu. He had shown interest in her. The only wise thing to do is give her out in marriage and use her bride price to bury her father". What! Marriage!