THE CURES

CHAPTER FIVE

"Children,obey your parents in the lord , for this is right. Honour your father and your mother, which is the first commandment with promise. That it may be well with you and you may live long on Earth. " That was always what the bible tells us to do so that we would love long and also inherit the blessings of our parents. But in Ugomma's story, it was the opposite of what the bible told us. Ugomma hated her father and hated the fact that she was the only one taking care of him. She has done uncountable things to him that if not God, the man would have been dead by now. She would have killed his own father using her own hands, but heavenly father God loved him and kept him alive despite his sickness. What brought the dislike and malice between Ugomma and her father... one could not tell.

It all started the very day and week she arrived in her father's house with her children.

". You mean your siblings want you to be taking care of the old smelling man you called your father?." Nnenna, a friend to Ugomma asked.

" Yes,my dear. I don't mind taking care of him. He is my father." Ugomma explained.

" If I'm to be you,I'll show that man pepper. Show him pepper. All his mates have dead,why is he still alive? Punish him do that he won't mind joining them too."

" I think you have a point. I'll do that. That man don't want to die. He has been suffering me and causing me pains that I can't even have a peace of mind. I think now is the time to show him pepper." She said without thinking twice.

" Yes ooooo. Do it!" Nnenna enforced her with her words.

Nnenna was a very good friend of Ugomma. There friendship was rooted from their childhood. She was a daughter to a very rich farmer in Ama village who died years ago in a ghastly accident. People said that it was Nnenna that killed her father, while some said she bewitched her father so that she would inherit everything the man owed. No one in the village could explain the cause of Uzor's death

Uzor was a very rich farmer in Ama village. He was the father of Nnenna. Everything happened the day he was to travel to Onitsha with his only child,Nnenna. They board a bus in Ama park,since he couldn't use his own car because of some faults the car was developing. He paid for two seats and the bus set in motion to leave in order to beat up the traffic jams. The bus drove off from the park and got absorbed in the distance. After they had driven for some hours,the uncertainty happened. It happened that no one that was in that bus could explain. The bus got hitted by a big truck which had failed brake. The bus somersaulted ten times on the road which led to the death of every passengers in that bus. Everyone died except Nnenna who survived the trauma. She was neither dead nor sustained any injuries from that accident. Some helpers came and took the bodies to a nearby morgue where any relatives of the dead person could come and claim them.

When the news about Uzor's death came to the villagers, they were sad and began wondering what was the cause of his death. They started seeing Nnenna as an evil child. Some parents would tell their children not to have anything to do with Nnenna,that she was a witch. While some stayed clear off from her in order not to bring bad luck's to their home. But still, some who knew the truth and that Nnenna could not do such thing to her father kept coming close to her. And also consoling her. Nzekwe was not excluded amongst the people who stayed away and strictly warned their children not to have anything to do with Nnenna. He warned all his nine children to stay away from her and also told them that if he ever see anyone talking with Nnenna that he would disown that person. Of course, Nzekwe was know as a man of his words. So in order not to let such happen, his children abided by his rules. And all stopped coming close to Nnenna.

Perhaps,that could be the reason Nnenna wanted Nzekwe's death. This could be the reason she wanted to pay him back with his own coin. She knew that Ugomma was the only person she could use to archive her goals. Perhaps, she knew that Ugomma would comply with her not knowing her intentions. Ever since her father's death,she vowed to make sure that the villagers feel the taste of pains. She vowed to destroy every homes and families, especially the ones that left her when she needed them most. The ones that could have consoled her but left her. She vowed to maltreat every sons and daughters of Ama village. She promised herself not to spare anyone in that village. Her countenance changed that moment as Ugomma agreed to deal with her father.

"Grandpa,why are you crying?". Chiboy asked innocently. Ugomma walked into the room and met Chiboy sitting next to her father. Her countenance changed that she walked angrily to her son,Chiboy.

"What are you doing with him!" She shouted angrily. She held him on his hand and slapped him heavily on his face." Next time I see you with him...I'll kill you! Now get out....."

Chiboy held his face as tears were teeming down,and attempted to leave but Nzekwe's voice jolted him back.

"Don't go anywhere,my son"

Ugomma became surprise.

" Leave now or else you'll see the other side of me" She ordered Chiboy again.

" Why are you being harsh on your son, Ugomma. Why? What did he do to you that made you slapped him? What?"

" Is he your son,you old man? Is he your son" Ugomma asked pointing her fingers at her father. Chiboy watched as his mother was exchanging words with her own father.

"He is my grandchild,and you know that. Why do you hate me, Ugomma? Why? What have not done for you as a father? I provided everything you needed in life. I gave you life, I gave you hope. I loved you the most amongst all my children. I gave you everything in life. But why are you doing this to me? Why Ugomma?" He asked in between tears. Chiboy felt emotional over the words. He knew his grandpa was saying the truth,but he couldn't confront his mother. Children don't have a say in such matters.

"Where have I gone wrong in taking care of you as my child. Tell me where I have wronged you so that I'll apologize to you?" He went on asking his daughter so many questions that could make one cry. Chiboy kept looking at him with tears still dropping down from his eyes.

"I'm not done dealing with you yet.. I'm just starting. I'll kill you as well. Look at your mates,they are all dead. But you don't want to die. Tell me,why are you still here? Why are you still alive?"

" Mother!" Chiboy cut her short and was baffled over the questions his mother was asking Nzekwe.

" Keep quiet! And you, Nzekwe" She called her father by his name without showing respect again.

" you see today, you are not going to eat anything. There's no food for the lazy man that can't work. So,if you want to eat better stand on your feet and gi work like your mates. After all,your mates are out there making money and bringing money for their family. But you are here causing much pains and sorrows for me everyday." She roared at her father. Ti make the situation worst,she walked to her and began dragging his walking stick from him. " Give it to me! Give it to me!" Chiboy was bewildered by his mother's actions and began pleading with her to let go of grandpa. But Ugomma insisted...telling the young boy to keep his mouth shut or else she would beat nonsense out of him. Chiboy never listened to her but rather continued begging and pleading in tears......

Nzekwe in other hand was also struggling to make sure Ugomma don't take the stick from him. It was in this process of struggling and dragging the walking stick from one another that Nzekwe fell down from his bed and broke his ankle. Ugomma succeeded taken the stick from him and whipped his head with it. Chiboy screamed hard as Nzekwe bursted out crying and weeping seriously.

"Nonsense man" She said. Chiboy ran towards Nzekwe and held him but he couldn't stand up.

"I...I... from this day cures you. You will know no peace. what you did do to they will do to you. you'll never live to Rio the fruits of your children. You will die a miserable death and the earth will reject your body!" Nzekwe said his last words tearfully and died.

" No grandpa! Grandpa!" . Chiboy shook his body furiously but he could not make up. It then dawned on him and Ugomma that he had joined his forefathers. Ugomma attempted to leave the room but wailing from Chiboy drew her back. She ran and beheld her father but found out that he was no more. She began sobbing,and regretting every of her actions towards her father. But it was too late to cry when the head was off!.

THE END