NOT OF GOD✋✋✋
Episode 10.
©Miriam Edem
Despite how Chinedu mother tried to pretend to be at peace with Ife, Ife kept telling her that his eyes is just on her.
After 5 months of pretense, Chinedu mother felt her powers is back and ready to pull out Ife from the house but she didn’t know how to do that when his subjects were on increase and not even hiding anymore. She decided to visit her son and heard Agnes complaining of Ife having a weak back that can’t make him sit or even attempt to crawl.
“I don’t un-derstand anymore, when I try to make him sit he falls back immediately its just as if there are no bones in his back or his legs and its no longer funny, she complained to Maureen.
“You worry yourself too much Agnes, he is still a baby and not every children are smart, Maureen said.
“But aunty you’re a mother yourself is this normal? Mama say something nau, Agnes said very worried and Chinedu mother heaved.
“You know we took time to m@$$age his back the African way to make his bones strong so I don’t un-derstand what you’re saying, She spoke up.
“Ahhhh mama yes I know you did but for a child of his age he should at least sit down on his own na, despite i try to support him with a pillow its not working, he just slides down smoothly. Okay look at this, Agnes said and carried Ife from the be-d and took a pillow and tried making him to sit but his back just la-id down and Her mother in law breathed out.
“If that is so let’s see the doctor, calm down Agnes you’re worrying yourself too much, Maureen said carrying Ife up as he began to cry.
When Chinedu mother left, she knew problem has started with Agnes beginning to worry, of course how can a snake sit?
“I think its time for me to do something because this is not good, if Agnes continue to complain this way and the snake starts feeling uncomfortable, oh no this should not happen, she said thinking as she entered her compound and the first thing that entered her eyes was the snake plant. She walked up to it looking at it and slapped herself that it didn’t cross her mind to use it when it reacted even when he was still in the stomach.
“I have you now, but I’ll take my time, she said to herself nodding and entered her house.
Agnes left with Ife the next day to the hospital and the doctors did some scan and ran some tests on him but could not un-derstand the result that came out.
“I don’t know, should they do an X-ray? A doctor asked his colleague.
“The boy is Far too young, I’ll suggest we give them supplement you know to build his bones until he comes up of age, his colleague replied.
“This is strange, well let’s go tell them that, the doctor agreed and left to see Agnes and Maureen waiting.
‘Uhmmm madam what can I say? Ermmm….. The boy looks fine but then hmmmm……… “Doctor what is wrong? Does he nee-d an operation? Agnes asked.
“No no no we can’t even see anything to think of an operation, we will suggest that you take the boy home and we will give you supplements for his bones. I think from his wa-ist down is very weak and he is negative to what we thought he is suffering from, but not to worry he can surprise you, the doctor said.
“Doctor you’re saying confusing things to me, if my son has a problem let’s solve it now don’t be scared to tell me before it gets worst. You know a stitch in time saves nine, he is my only child please, Agnes said and Maureen tou-ched her to calm down.
‘Calm down, if after a month or two he is still this way bring him back, the doctor said.
‘Okay doctor, we’ll be going now, Maureen said when Agnes wanted to say something else.
“Okay I’ll prescribe the drugs you’ll get, don’t worry he will be fine as long as it is not poliomyelitis just calm down, the doctor said.
“Thank you, Agnes said and they left with Ife.
On the way Maureen looked at Agnes and saw that her mood was obvious that she’s not still convinced,
“Do you think we should go visit white mother to know what’s going on? Maureen asked her.
“Aunty I suggested this to you but you talked me out of it, I have the money now with all the gifts sold out we have been having from the villagers, Agnes replied.
“Talking about this gifts what is going on? Each time I want to ask this it sli-ps from my head, why are the villagers bringing his gifts almost everyday? Don’t you think you should stop it? Who knows if a villager is using those yams and c@$$ava to attack your son spiritually? Maureen asked and Agnes looked at her.
“Can you imagine that such a thing didn’t cross my head, I am so so stupid and blinded with gifts that I can’t think again, i must stop this aunty I don’t trust them anymore, Agnes said.
“The gifts are enough, in fact too much and why should he be treated different from other children in the village as if he’s a god, people are beginning to talk and that is endangering your son, be careful Agnes, Maureen said.
“I will aunty, but what about white mother? Agnes asked.
“Let’s calm down first, if there’s no development in the next two months then we have to see her well prepared, just calm down, she replied and Agnes breathed out looking at Ife who was busy slee-ping.
A month later, Ife began to sit on his own and that relieved Agnes. Chinedu mother saw that and knew that he was up to something and he decided to carry out her plan on him.
2 days later, in the afternoon, she went to the snake plant cutting its leaves to ru-b on her hands so she can go visit her son and ru-b it on Ife hoping it will harm him somehow. Suddenly a bird from no where flew to her and before she could dodge from it, its wings slapped on her face and she fell.
Instantly she felt so weak as she la-id on the ground struggling to breathe. She remained that way till midnight until her friend appeared and revived her. She opened her eyes weakly and looked at him,
“What happened? She asked him.
‘You survived it? I only wanted to check if you’re still alive, he replied and helped her up but she noticed she was not the same.
“I won’t survive this, she said to him when he helped her in.
“I know that and I warned you didn’t I? His subject did this, he has been monitoring you, he is indeed smart, He said and she held his hand.
“Please help my son, protect him I beg you, he can’t kill him, she cried.
“What makes you think that I can stand against your grandson? With the way things are going, when your grandson gets to a year he will be very matured to manifest and rule. His subjects are anxiously just waiting for him, I think that is his mission here to dominate and have subjects in this village, i wish someone can stop him before that time for I fear what he will do, The man said and she cried the more.
“Please look after him, I tried my best but it was not enough, I can’t stand it anymore, my powers are all gone. Before you go, please take away everything you know my son should not see, this is my last wish, she weakly said and her friend pitifully looked at her.
Chinedu got to know about his mother health the next day. It broke him down to know his mother is suffering from stro-ke and her condition was not comforting at all,
“Dear take it easy, your mother nee-ds you now, she wants to see you strong for her, Agnes said.
“I feared this will come but I never knew it will be now, but she was so strong and agile, why is she leaving me now? He asked crying.
“She’s not dead yet stop sounding this way, she is still breathing and who knows she can get better, Agnes said.
“No you don’t un-derstand, mama is gone, she won’t survive this and I can feel it, Chinedu painfully said and Agnes hu-gged him.
2 days later, Agnes was at home feeding Ife when Chinedu walked in looking so miserable and she quickly kept Ife on the ground and went to him,
“What is it? She asked.
‘She’s gone, she finally left me, he whispered with tears streaming down his face and she hu-gged him.
“Sssshhhh its okay, she has gone to rest and you have us okay, you still have us you’re not alone, she said and he sniffed nodding.
“Where is she now? She asked.
“In her house, I prepared her at home, he replied and she led him to sit down and he carried Ife.
“Grandma is gone, he said touching him and he smiled su-cking his fin-ger.
“Should I get you something to eat? Agnes asked touching her husband shoulder and he shook his head.
“I’ll go take my bath and rest, he replied keeping Ife back on the ground and left.
3 weeks later, Amarachi was la-id to rest in her compound. As Agnes was busy serving people she felt a sharp pain in her stomach and stopped for some seconds and continued to carry the cooler she wanted carrying and it came again. She quickly told someone to take over it and settled down somewhere to rest.
That night the pains became very severe, Chinedu had to run around that night to get her herbs to subside the pains,
‘What’s going on? When this this start? He asked when she was a bit calm.
“When I was serving today, what’s wrong with me? She asked and Chinedu tou-ched her stomach and noticed something just close to her navel,
“We have to see the doctor tomorrow, her husband said looking at her…………
TBC