MY ORDEAL✊✊
Episode 92.
We were not surprised the distance was quite a long one, and when we arrived, the man was sitting outside his hut with 2 young boys.
The man seeing the youths he recognized got a little bit relieved as he was scared to see strange faces entering his compound.
We greeted him which he calmly replied us and his sons stood up from the bench for us to sit.
“Ermm sir concerning what you told us few days ago, the daughter of the woman is here, one of the youth spoke up.
“How can you be so sure? The man asked.
“Ermm sir, can you plea-se tell us exactly what happened plea-se? I asked and he heaved and nodded at his sons to clear the tray before him.
“It was in the evening I got into the bush to see if I can get something for dinner when I saw her lying dead. If I’m not mistaken she should be in her early 40’s, light skinned and average in height, he said and I weakly looked at Chinwe knowing she is the one.
“Okay sir, when exactly did you see her? Chinwe asked and he replied which was the next day the incident happened.
“I didn’t know what to do and I suspected this face won’t be from the village. As a human being I felt weak to leave her there, I went home and told my late brother about this who pas-sed away last year.
Together we couldn’t leave her there, so we agreed to keep it ourselves as a secret, dug a shallow grave because her b©dy was about to decompose and we buried her. I still remember the sp©t because I placed a stone there, the man continued and Chinwe was crying alre-ady.
“Sorry my dear and its sad she’s your mother, its just that i heard what happened in your community and decided to share it to the youth when i met them that there was an unknown corpse I buried which must be from your community hearing all the evil that has been going on. One of them suggested it must be your mother because her b©dy was not found, he said and Chinwe sniffed.
“Thank you sir, but can you plea-se take us there? I’ll so appreciate it I beg you, Chinwe said and he nodded.
“Let’s go then, but its a distance, he said and we got up re-ady to go as he called his sons giving them some instructions…………..
We got into the bush and saw the said stone the man said he placed, it was just beside a big tree there while the fallen leaves covered the ground.
I held Chinwe hands ti-ght as we looked at the place,
“It gives me peace she was buried at least, rest in peace mom, Chinwe slowly said and Uche held her for a hvg.
“I’m sorry i couldn’t st©p this nor had any idea of where she was dumped, I wasn’t trusted completely and they hid a lot of things from me. At least i should have picked her up from here and give her a place, Uche said but she shook her head.
“But you’ve done enough and it was not your fault anyway, it has happened but I’m happy the bastard who do this didn’t have a grave either on her own when she died, she said.
“Can something be done here? I asked.
“Like what? The man asked.
“Like put up something to indicate a grave is here, I replied.
“This is someone land plea-se and it was wrong i did what I did, and only I and my late brother knows there’s someone buried here. If you feel you should do something, then you have to buy this land, I know someone you can meet for that, the man said.
“Sure i will any amount, Chinwe anxiously said…………..
We got home tired with the excess walking we had despite we arrived without resting.
We inquired about the land and was told to come back tomorrow, there we pas-sed to Chinwe father house which was occu-pied by my slave master when she killed him.
Though the place was burnt down, but as the only child of her late father, the property belongs to her and can’t be struggled by anyb©dy especially now the whole truth is out.
Another property of her father was located somewhere else and we checked it out, it was a landed property where my slave master do use as a hideout for her evil practice, and it we there she chose to bury Chinwe father.
The lands and everything didn’t make Chinwe happy, because the said father she’s inheriting his properties, she never met him.
Her mother practically hid everything from her and took everything Chinwe should know about herself to the grave.
I thought my own case was sad, but when i tried putting myself in Chinwe shoes, I guess hers was more sad and bad than i thought.
So we both bec@m£ owners of properties without stress, properties that we are not even interested in neither does it excite us.
Linda crush put in some notes on the palm of the youths who followed us for the tour when we got home, and they thanked us and promised to return tomorrow so the structure of my parents grave will be put up, The materials nee-ded for the work was available alre-ady.
“I pray you get the land so you’ll do same, i said to Chinwe.
“That’s my prayer Dorothy, even though my mom was buried without a coffin and is long eaten by ants, I feel i should do this for her memory and my dad too, its sad i never knew him, she said and i cleaned her face.
“Its sad you’re calling those names when they cant hear you, but I pray they see what their daughter is doing for them, they will be so proud of you Chinwe, i said and hvgged her and her b©yfri£ndcall c@m£ on phone to check on her while i excused myself to get food re-ady……..
The next morning work began while Uche, Chinwe and 2 interested youths left to check out the land Chinwe mom was buried.
Evening c@m£ and they returned while we were resting, and i saw she was smiling.
“What took you so long nau? I asked ma-king her to sit down after giving Uche a pe-ck.
“It wasn’t easy you know, we were directed from one place to another, this one will say no and another will say yes. We had to make them agree o to avoid stories later, finally the amount was agreed on and I paid for it immediately and made sure i signed whatever was necessary and Bought the drinks and whatever they requested for. It was stressful sha but it worth it, she replied.
“You Bought the whole land? Like the whole land i see so? Linda crush asked and she laughed.
“The whole land doesn’t belong to 1 family, we got the p@rt that interest us but its very big,it can contain Dorathy house with a big space, Uche replied.
“Ahh that’s better, small children don come get land pas-s us sef, this life sometimes no clear me, abi we be God step pikin? The funniest asked and we bur-st out laughing………
The next day finishing tou-chings was carried out on my parents grave and it was just left to paint which i agreed to hold on and look into Chinwe own which is also necessary.
We were in the bush discussing when Chinwe asked of my plans in the lands and i heaved.
“I was thinking to build a school where my mom is, the land is too spacious and that will be my own gift to the village considering the distance of where my brother school is, i replied.
“Good idea,and you’ll name it using your mom name right? She asked.
“I didn’t even thought of that, i replied smiling.
“Its a nice idea, at least that will be bringing you down to the village from time to time, Uche said.
“Dear i have every reason to come here, this village is now my heaven and I wish it the very best if I’m that capable, I replied.
“We promised the youths something sha and we have agreed to have boreholes open everywhere, the guys said and i shouted happily.
“Ssshhh don’t be too loud, you may wake my mom up, Chinwe said and i threw her some handful of leaves on the ground.
“Abeg o! The guy who saved us said.
“Always talking silly, thank you so much guys you’re the best, I said.
“You’re welcome, they said and we continued ru-bbing heads together to see what we can do for the village before Treasure call c@m£ on phone and we knew trouble has just set in…….
3 days later everything was done on our parents grave, it was tiled, painted and looking so beautiful that made our hearts at rest.
We were to return very early the next day, so we decided to have our quiet time talking to them before we say goodbye.
The youths were told of our intention for the village, my friends opening of boreholes, my building of school and Chinwe to bring in electricity into the community.
The project was hvge but surprisingly the people believed in us to bring it to pas-s, that was our greatest motivation as we went home with all their prayers and well wishes for us……….
We arrived Enugu and that night when i sle-pt tiredly on the be-d, I saw myself in the village on the land where my Mom was buried.
There was a building that looks like a school, and when i walked in, there was my dad teaching on the board.
My dad was once a teacher and that was where he met Mabel before he dropped for a better job where he died.
When i slowly stepped into the clas-s, He looked at me and smiled,
“Thank you Dorothy, was what i heard him Say.
“Dads are you happy? I asked and he pointed at the children i saw sitting down,
“they are all happy and so i am, we love the comfort and the serene environment, he replied.
“What about mom? I asked.
“She’s in the next clas-s, he replied and I hurried off to see my mom taking care of the children there.
She kept the child she Carried down and held my Hand ma-king me to sit beside her,
“There’s too much on you my child, you don’t have to do too much to make us happy when we are alre-ady happy. Dorothy, i know it’s not your fault, but I’m surprised myself you’re br@ver than i thought, she said.
“How do you know this? I mean I’m not complaining right doing all this? But then I’m not br@ve as you think, i still feel very weak, I said and she smiled.
“I know that’s because you’re too young to carry such burden even though you had no choice. But then thank you Dora, here is so cool and nice and we are happy, very happy and don’t forget this, we are always proud of you my daughter, she said tou-ching my chin and i woke up.
I turned and saw Chinwe in tears and i slowly t©uçhed her,
“What’s wrong? I asked but she shook her head………….
Hey God can i finish this story before my exams tomorrow?
Tbc