Chapter 2

Ntone looked at the blue hard-cover book with mixed feelings. It was her father’s Ph.D. thesis. Her father was no doubt a genius and she was proud of him for that. A part of her didn’t want to mind that he didn’t even think about them not to mention that he didn’t even care. Doctor Francis had obtained his doctorate in English and Literary Studies many years back at the prestigious University of Ibadan. She flipped through the pages, swallowing hard when she got to the acknowledgement page. Mama had told her that her father defended his doctorate two days after Nkoro’s birth. Mama had even blushed when she revealed that when she gave birth to Nkoro, Papa wouldn’t leave the baby’s side. She had to whisper to a nurse to take him away so that he could prepare for his defence.

“You brought me good luck,” he had whispered to the baby after his defence. Their father had however made no mention of them in the dedication and acknowledgement pages. Even then, they had not mattered to him. Two streams flowed from her eyes as memories of the past jolted her. They had lived in the university staff quarters until that fateful day when mama had strapped Nkoro to her back, held Ntone’s hand and left the house with their belongings. Papa’s words still echoed in her ears.

“Don’t ever come back to my house.”

It wasn’t the first time papa had issued this warning as he suddenly started taking lots of alcohol and seemed to be angry all the time. He kept late nights and always reeked of alcohol. He was always throwing tantrums, and when mama refused to leave the house, he immediately solicited help from his relatives. That morning, his elder sister had arrived from the village with two uncles. Aunty Njan had refused to answer mama’s greetings. Instead, she ordered mama to pack her belongings and leave with her children. Nna Awor had cried clutching papa’s trousers as if her life depended on it. Ntone could still see the sad scene in her mind’s eye as if it were yesterday. The loud sobs still reverberated in her eardrums. She remembered that she had cried too. The tears had gushed out like a fountain when papa who was already stinking drunk pushed her mother away from him. Nna Awor had lost her balance, and fallen on the sofa.

“Papa, please don’t hurt my mother.” she had cried, wishing that the nightmare would suddenly roll away and papa would come back to his senses. Then, things would go back to normal. Sadly, things never went back to normal and they had to settle in the village. People said that it wasn’t normal; someone had used juju on her father.

They only heard stories about him, but he never came to see them. With a deep sigh, she put the project back inside an old knapsack.

●

Ntone flipped through the pages of the book and smiled gratefully when she found the page she was looking for. School had closed for the day and she was on her way home with her best friend Agbor. Shakespeare’s works always held her spellbound and she coudn’t resist the desire to read as they walked home.

“Don’t you know that you aren’t supposed to read while moving on the road?” Agbor chided, snatching the copy of the play ‘OTHELLO’ from Ntone.

“I just want to conclude all the compulsory literature texts before our WASSCE.” Ntone explained, her eyes imploring Agbor to return the book.

“And you think reading on the road is the best way to finish your literature texts?” Agbor replied with a hint of sarcasm, at the same time shoving the text inside her friend’s school sack.

“It’s just that we would be writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination soon and I really want to pass my papers in only one sitting.

“Everyone wants to pass.” Agbor replied nonchalantly.

Ntone shot the other girl a curious glance, contemplating the reason for her display of indifference. “Isn’t she interested in attending a university?” Ntone wondered, returning her gaze to the market women in front of them. The day was the market day at Nkonfab. A group of market women were removing bags of garri and yams from a vehicle. Ntone remembered that her mother had also gone to the same market to purchase yam tendrils. It was already a planting season.

“I would really love to write like Shakespeare.” Ntone said, her mind racing back to the play she had been reading. “Do you think he was extraordinaire?”

“How would I know?” Agbor shrugged, suddenly straightening the blue chequered school uniform. They were close to the Abinti two junction.

“My mother asked me to deliver a message to her friend. She lives across the road.” Agbor declared, suddenly halting in front of Benson Hospital.

“Alright then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Agbor crossed over to the other side of the road, and continued her journey down the street. Ntone didn’t know what to make of the recent change in her friend’s behaviour. Something was obviously bothering her and she wondered what it was.

Later in the evening, Ntone observed that almost all the water pots in the house were empty. She picked up a bucket, slung a piece of cloth across her shoulder, and made for the stream. Ntone didn’t want to be outside in the dark because dusk was gradually creeping in. She broke into a run hoping to fill up the empty pots before darkness finally descended. At the stream, she joined the crowd of women and children.

Only two men were present. The stream was almost running dry because the rains had stopped. Ntone stooped inside the stream and scooped the cloudy water into the bucket. As she lifted the bucket out of the stream, she desperately prayed for a cloudburst. She however knew that her expectations were only possible in a cloud-cuckoo-land. The rains wouldn’t come down for a month or two.

“Ntone,” a familiar voice called. She turned her head in the direction of the voice. Agbor’s mother stood behind her with a water pot on her head.

“Is Agbor at your place?” her friend’s mother asked.

Ntone was taken aback by this question.

“No ma.”

“She isn’t back from school. Did you see her in school today?”

Ntone was at a loss of words. She knew her friend’s mother was waiting for a response but she was too confused to answer. Fear suddenly gripped her as she wondered what had happened to Agbor. Mama Agbor must have read the panic that was clearly spelt out on Ntone’s face. She gently put down the water pot taking care to wipe off the water that had dripped onto her blouse before asking the next question.

“Do you know where your friend is?” she drew closer to Ntone.

“We left the school together, but when we got to Abinti two junction, she told me that you asked her to deliver a message to a friend of yours.” Ntone replied when she finally found her voice. A moment of silence passed before Ntone added, “I hope she isn’t in any form of danger.”

Mama Agbor stared at her as if she were a ghost. Ntone lowered her gaze, fixing her eyes on her feet. She did that whenever she was nervous. If she had looked at mama Agbor’s face after her first explanation, she would probably have known that her last remark wasn’t necessary.

“I didn’t send Agbor on any errand. In fact, I have no friend living at Abinti two junction.”

Ntone instinctively raised up her head to look at mama Agbor.

“I really don’t know where she is.” the words came out in a stutter because she was shocked.

“Thank you my daughter. Now hurry before darkness overtakes you.”

Ntone nodded, and placed the water pot on her head.

She trudged home amidst the chatter of villagers, not knowing what to make of the situation. Until she saw her friend, she would keep her thoughts to herself.

She resolved.