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1824 Words
Mrs Chima woke up with a disturbing noise as she rushed to check what's happening.
She hummed ,pulling herself sluggishly to the floor wearing her flip-flop.
"I won't have peace at Andoni,I won't have peace here either"she mumbled strolling to the door as she pushed it.
She hissed realizing what they were doing,"people won't get tired of fetish believes"she cursed underneath breathe seeing Mrs patience and her cohort,a man usually in white garment whom she normally calls to performs rituals and sacrifices for her.
He dances round the compound,hitting his small gong as he chanted, "Evil!!,there's evil!!,evil roaming around this house!"He declared his eyes fixed above the sky like he was seeing things.
"Yes I knew!"She could hear Mrs patience mumble which got her hissing.
Definitely she was the evil, there wasn't need for explanation,she knew her mother in-law was looking for way to find fault in her just as always.
Everyone stared at the man in the compound,few were frightened ,few were just staring in disbelief while others saw it as a joke.
Chinazamekpere, Mr Chima younger brother's wife slowly walked towards Mrs patience as she whispered something to her ear, suddenly she turned towards Mrs Chima's direction fuming.
"Man of power!"She called like she was with all authority as the man faced down turning to her,"I want to know who this evil is! Today! And Right Now!"She requested,her eyes tightly fixed on Mrs Chima who just scoffed eye-rolling.
He laughed hysterically faint"not even I can say,there are lot of forces guiding this evil...."
"Just tell me who it is!!!!!,is it even human???"She interrupted him impatiently.
"Time will tell"He responded with a smirk facing up.
"What???!!"She scoffed in disbelief staring at the man, chinazamekpere just bowed her head lowly, cursing underneath her breath.
"Birds of the same feathers!"Mrs Chima hissed as she chuckled mockingly.
She stylishly walked to the kitchen as she bent to pick the broom,"good morning to you all oh"She greeted in a rather mocking way as they all eyed her badly.
Mrs patience couldn't hide her already fumed face as she gritted."just do the rituals already and leave please"came her sudden outbursts as turned to move into her room.
"Everyone is present already,the rituals starts now"he commented.
"Everyone except ME!!!!"Mrs Chima rebuked immediately.
She hissed moving to other end of the kitchen as she began sweeping,she rejected them inwardly as she prayed silently.
The old looking man smiled,turning to face Mrs Patience,"let's head out"he finally said after a weird silence.
Mrs Chima chuckled,"better be!"she murmured to her self while she continues sweeping.
Chinazamekpere hissed bitterly as she followed the man whose eyes was tightly fixed to sky,he moved so slow yet accurate.
Soon,they were out of the compound along side Mrs patience who was also not satisfied with the outcome of their rituals.
Mrs Chima concluded the sweeping as she went ahead to set fire,she cooked the general meal as she shared it among the available people in the compound and kept the remaining food for those who went to finish the ritual rites (in ikwerre culture,the wives of a family, especially if it's a polygamy and they're all living in the same house cooks for the whole family available).
When she was done with what she was doing outside she rushed inside as she secluded herself to prayers.
Later that day at noon....
Mrs Chima sat outside their mini room peeling some melon she'll take back to her children as her husband dashed in. Immediately,"bag all the garri....pack everything we're leaving right next!"Came his sudden reply as he rushed in.
Mrs Chima who was already perplexed stood up immediately,"what's wrong with you??,what happened??"she asked staring at her husband who just tossed around the room not knowing where or what to start from.
"Honey???!"She yelled out immediately as she held his shoulders firmly,"what's wrong??"she asked trying to calm him down.
"Helene....Helene is sick!"came his sudden outbursts as she snickered.
"Chima?!"She called with a husk voice,"don't joke with me right now"She added frowning.
He sighed frustrated at that moment,"will I really joke about our children's well-being???"He questioned as she stared at him suspiciously.
Seeing the seriousness in her husband face her mind began to wonder,"honey you're serious?"She questioned again this time he just folded his arm and stared at her in silence.
"Oh my God!"She exclaimed as it became her turned to move round the house in confusion.
"When did you talk to them??,how did she get sick??,it's not even up to a week!!!!"She kept talking to no one in particular as her husband just shook his head moving towards her direction.
"Comfort!"he calls out,"relax !!we haven't even gotten there yet!,let's calm down and arrange everything before going!"he tried calming her down.
"It isn't serious sickness right?"she questioned her eyes becoming teary.
He gulped hard,"No,it's not".
She smiled lightly feeling relaxed,"at least it isn't so serious then"She exhaled as she began arranging their things.
"I'll be right back"he stated moving outside before she could say a word.
She sighed deeply,folding up their clothes as she arranged them into the bag.
**********
It's been days already and Helene wasn't getting any better,the deaconess had taken full responsibility since their parents lines weren't reachable.
The lady thought of many measures to treat
the child which was effortless,"what kind of sickness is this??"she lamented glaring at the swollen boils on the child's body.
"Lemme try your parents lina again,I don't know why it isn't reachable"she suggested as she went outside leaving the children who were already tired with everything happening.
Helene was shivering in cold,yet her body was hot as hell,Clara was seated on a stool lapping Samuel ans Isabella while Annabelle and Francis just stoof staring at their sick sister.
"Ah finally it's ringing"a little smile creeped across the lady's face as the phone rang..
"Hello Deaco....."Mr Chima hailed from the other end.
"Where are you people now??,how com you left your kids at home alone???,Helene is seriously sick!"She dismissed the chatter immediately.
"Huh how com???,is it really serious??!"he questioned disturbed.
"Pretty serious!,I haven't seen a sickness like this that wouldn't just heal immediately!"She responded.
"Ha!!!oh my good!! We're coming back right now"He responded hanging up.
He didn't even allow me finish - the deaconess scoffed in disbelief as she turned moving inside,"don't worry your parents are coming okay??"She encouraged the kids which got them nodding like an agama.
She hummed sitting close to Helene,"mummy's coming you hear??"She smiled parting her head filled with boils...
"If you guys are hungry,you can eat the rice I brought,it's for you all"She turned to Francis who's face lit up immediately.
"And what of Helene??"Clara questioned immediately.
"Don't worry about her,I'll give her some glucose later,since she isn't eating mu...."
Her statement was disrupt with a phone call...
"It's your father"She stated viewing the caller as she answered it.
"Hello??"she replied.
"How's she???,what exactly happened??"he questioned.
"Are you guys coming already??"she questioned back.
"Yes we are,don't worry about that...we'll be there likely at night"He answered.
""Okay,when you guys come then,this isn't something we should discuss on phone"She replied as he replied "okay"from the other end,"thank you very much Ma"
"That's not a problem,it's my pleasure"She smiled broadly as he hung up immediately.
"You guys see??,your parents are coming okay??"She reassured them,their face becoming bright all of a sudden.
"Are they coming already??"Isabella questioned,'yes they are "she replied as she giggled.
They all rushed to eat the food while she looked after Helene who slept uncomfortably.
*******
"I'm home....."Mrs Chima annouced joyously as the children rushed outside hearing their parents voice.
"Mummy.....mummy....mummy...."They kept yelling rushing towards their parents who struggled to get down from the bike due to excess load.
"Where's Helene?"came Mrs Chima questioned as soon as she noticed they weren't complete.
"She's sheeping"little samuel responded.
"Her body is very hot! And she has big boils"Isabella added pouting her lips in a rather pitiful way.
"Ah ah,big boils from where??"Mrs Chima questioned as she hurriedly came down from the bike not minding her already torn skirt due to the rush.
"You people would not even allow her breathe small",Francis rebuked them,"where's she"she questioned.
"Inside"Clara responded pulling the two little kids who held their father's trousers tightly.
"Francis help me hold this bike "Mr Chima suggested as he left the front handle of the bike which Francis grabbed immediately while he went ahead to the back to loose the ropes tied to the bag.
"Jesus Christ!"they all heard Mrs Chima's voice from inside.
"Isn't this measles???,how come it became this severe??didn't you guys give her 10keys??"She questioned no one in particular as they all came in.
"10keys heals measles??"the deaconess voice was heard towards the kitchen as she walked towards their direction."I only gave her antibiotics"she replied.
"No no .....it's 10keys"Mrs Chima responded,hope she's not bathing hot water??"she questioned again which got the deaconess jaw drop,"Comfort!!!!!so you expect me to bath this child cold water????,is that what you're saying ???"the lady asked in disbelief.
"Ohhhh God!!,why didn't I return on time"Mrs Chima who's eyes was already teary wishes in regrets as she touched her child's body.
"Chima please go and buy 10keys,I beg you...amy pharmacy or chemist open,ask them of 10keys please"She pleased as he nodded dashing out without hesitation.
"How come??.....ha!!!!!this is serious!"she raised the young lad up to her lap smooching,"Eruchi?? Are you awake??, mummy's here"She whispered into her ears as the young girl open her eyes weakly.
"Mu...my..."She whispered,tears dropping down immediately.
"Is okay,I'm here,sorry...I'm really sorry...."she pleaded tapping her gently,"I won't go anywhere again alright??"She cleaned off the tears from her eyes touching her head,"ah so hot"she exclaimed.
"Clara get me a bucket of water and that big bowel too,lemme bath her"she requested as Clara nodded immediately rushing to get the necessary items needed.
Soon it was set as Mrs Chima single handedly washed her body properly.
"Here's the drugs!"Mr Chima dashed him immediately after she laid Helene down,"I could find 10keys,I saw 7keys"he added.
"No problem,it still works the same thing"came her reply as she took the drugs."is that antibiotics remaining??"She questioned.
"Yes"the deaconess replied turning to bring it from the table nearby.
"Oh great"She sighed in relief opening the capsule,she poured certain amounts inside the other medication as she closed it shaking it vigorously to mix up.
She measured it into to cup,"Eruchi.....here take.."She turned to her as the child sat upright sipping the bitter herb.
"Don't worry you'll be fine alright??"She reassured the child who nodded smiling.
"Have she eaten??"She questioned staring at their faces,seeking answers.
"She hardly eats,I do give her glucose before her medication"the deaconess replied.
"Humph!,I see....but have she eaten this evening?"she asked.."no,she refused eating ".
"Ah ah!!"she exclaimed turning to Helene,"Helene why didn't you eat??"She questioned.
"I'm not hungry"came her response,"would you eat noodles then??"She asked further which got the young lad nodding.
She smiled turning to her husband who just nodded in affirmations leaving the room while she faced the deaconess as they chatted, laughing heartedly.
- Writer
