Chapter 1

“Aha, there comes our in-law.” Ntone’s younger brother, Nkoro, playfully announced, pointing at the figure of a man driving in a motorcycle towards their hut.

“You must be out of your mind.” Ntone hissed, casting a stern glance at Anjor who had brought the motorcycle to a halt a few yards away from the teenagers. The children in the compound had gathered around the motorcycle and like the six blind men of Indostan, each struggled to have closer inspection.

“I heard your age mates are poisoning each other over Anjor. And here you are feeling pompous.” Asinya chipped in. She was their step-sister. Ntone and Nkoro who were initially unaware of her presence simultaneously turned around.

“Good evening sir,” Nkoro greeted. Anjor now stood in front of them. He eyed the melon in Ntone’s hands. Their mother had asked them to peel melon seeds, and the only way they could complete the task before nightfall was to divide the melon between them and compete for ‘first to finish.’

Anjor’s presence seemed to increase Ntone’s speed, her intention was to accentuate the impression that she was busy. Anjor merely nodded a reply to Nkoro, his gaze was still on the melon in Ntone’s hand. He must have been thrice as the girl’s age, but in the village, no one bothered about that. A woman without a man was akin to a dog with excreta splattered all over its body.

“You’re welcome.” Asinya greeted, startling Ntone and Nkoro again, who both thought she had retreated to the backyard.

“Won’t you offer your visitor a seat?” Asinya asked.

“Certainly,” Nkoro retorted, and ran inside to fetch a wooden stool. Anjor grumbled a few word of thanks, sat on the stool, and was glad to have a moment of privacy with the stubborn teenage girl who thought she was too good for him. Nkoro had carefully retreated to a safe distance away from them and even though Asinya had given the impression that she was at the backyard, Anjor knew that she was lurking somewhere in the house. She was a cunning woman and she had encouraged him to go after Ntone.

“Ntone, why do you treat me this way? I love you and want to marry you.” He paused and cleared his throat when he saw a flicker in the girl’s eyes.

“Sir,” Ntone started, suddenly rising to her feet. Melon peel flew away as she brushed it off her skirt.

“The girl was ripe.” Anjor thought, eyeing her carefully. The signs of puberty were visible and if he didn’t act fast, someone else would.

“My mother would soon be back from the market. I need to finish peeling this melon seeds so we can prepare dinner. Besides, I have homework to do.”

“I did not say you cannot do your homework, Oyinbo,” he replied sarcastically. “I just need a reply to my proposal.”

Thick clouds had gathered in the sky. The children in the compound had already started dancing in excitement of the oncoming downpour. The women placed their water pots in strategic places where the rain would drain into. Nkoro was also doing same, though his eyes frequently darted to Anjor who seemed unperturbed by the prospect of a deluge. “Please don’t come to my house again. I’m not interested in marrying you,” the tone of the girl’s voice had risen. Anjor shot her a ferocious look. His temper too had risen.

“Almost every maiden in this village would kill to have me,” he thundered, rising to his feet. “I own a motorcycle and I make a lot of money from my ‘okada’ business. Little girl, you would regret this.”

A lightning bolt struck in the sky. Ntone rose to her feet. She quickly carried the basin containing the peeled melon seeds inside the house. When she came outside to sweep away the peel that littered the ground, she heard Anjor’s motorcycle roar into action as he sped off.

The rain had begun to splatter against the ground, and yet, there was no sign of her mother. She decided to wait on the veranda even though it was cold outside. Exhaling slowly, she prayed that the rain wouldn’t increase its intensity until her mother came home.

“Mama, where are you?” she frantically muttered to herself, closing her eyes and opening them almost immediately. She used to do that as a child whenever she was expecting someone to show up. She felt a tinge of disappointment when she opened her eyes, and didn’t see her mother.

“What are you doing in the cold?” Nkoro stood by the doorway watching her with unconcealed amusement.

“I’m waiting for mama.” Ntone replied sombrely, gently placing her left hand under her chin. A flash of lightning temporarily blinded her, and she quickly used her fingers to shield her ears from the thunderbolt that followed.

“Come inside.” Nkoro said in a loud voice.

Boom! More thunderbolts hit the sky. The rain no longer came down as small droplets caressing the earth. The downpour had already turned a flood from the entrance to the compound, and the water pots lined outside were almost filled to the brim.

“Mama is back.” Nkoro shrieked. Ntone’s eyes followed the direction of her brother’s attention. Their mother had a large sack on her head as she waded through the pool. One hand supported the sack while the other held a bunch of unripe plantain. The two children instinctively ran towards her. Nkoro lifted the sack from her head and carried it in both arms while his sister took the plantain.

“You didn’t have to get wet too. I’m already close to the house.” Nna Awor, their mother pointed out. “Welcome mama.” The children greeted, ignoring her concern. Her clothes were wet, and even though she was trying very hard to conceal it, Ntone knew that their mother had developed a cold.

“Mama, Anjor was here today.” Nkoro announced.

Ntone shot her brother a look that seemed to say “Won’t you even let her settle down?” Whether Nkoro understood the meaning of that look or not, he didn’t acknowledge it. They dropped the sack and plantain on the veranda. Ntone watched her mother from the corner of her eye. Nna Awor didn’t answer immediately. Her face was grim as she slumped on the stool that Ntone had earlier sat on.

“Which Anjor?” she asked in a tired voice.

“The ‘okada’ man. He came to ask Ntone to marry him.” Nkoro bent to whisper into his mother’s ears. “Asinya strongly supported him.”

“What did you tell him?” Nna Awor’s gaze was now fixed on Ntone, challenging her to a reply.

“I asked him never to come back here again.” Ntone shrugged, only expressing concern over her mother’s health. The wet clothes still clung to her skin, causing the hair on her skin to stand on end.

“You did well,” Nna Awor rose to her feet, her eyes glaring. “children destroyers! They want to destroy my children the way they’ve destroyed others. God will not allow them.”

“Amen mama.” Ntone nodded. “I know what I want and even though papa has abandoned us, I will not allow anything or anyone distract me from my dreams.”

Ntone’s words obviously had a soothing effect on Nna Awor. She smiled and nodded to her daughter.

“You will make me proud.”

It was neither a plea nor a mere statement. It was an order.