NOT OF GOD✋✋✋
Episode 8.
©Miriam Edem
The next morning, it was as if a wind went throu-ghthe village to announce the delivery of Agnes, and people trooped in to congratulate her.
Agnes was inside hearing the people talking outside because Chinedu didn’t allow anyone go in as he insisted that his wife is still very weak and does not want disturbance.
Maureen was seen running inside the compound and Chinedu stood up smiling to welcome her,
“Is it true? She asked ignoring his greeting.
“Anything anyone hears in this village is always true, he replied and she went in to see for herself.
She saw Agnes sitting down with her baby and she shouted dancing first before carrying the boy from her,
“Finally my dear, haven’t you given birth? Maureen asked.
“I have aunty, look at how handsome he is, Agnes replied and Chinedu entered and stood by the door smiling.
“You have a son now, and more will come, Maureen said to him.
“Ahhhh I can’t wait to welcome them all, I can’t wait. Look at my boy, Chinedu said carrying him from Maureen,
“Do you have a name for him yet? Maureen asked.
“Yes, I thought about it this morning, because this is a gift from God he will be called Ifesinachi, he replied.
“Ife! Ife! You’re welcome, Maureen shouted happily and sat down touching Agnes.
“How are you and how was the experience? Was it sweet? Maureen asked and Agnes burst out laughing.
“Oh aunty don’t even go there, it was not funny at all, Agnes replied.
“I always like to hear ladies experience when they do throu-ghthat way so they will come out to respect their mothers especially those disrespectful ones, Maureen said.
“My wife did well, she really did well, but you nee-d to see me. I didn’t know I have such litres of water in my bo-dy, I’m sure I emptied all of it when she was in labour, Chinedu said and they heard a voice at the back yard and Maureen stood up to check it out and greeted the woman.
“Can I see my baby? The woman asked and Chinedu recognized the voice.
“Yes yes mama please come in, Aunty she was the one who helped Agnes out this morning, Chinedu said.
“Ahhhh thank you very much, thank you, Maureen said to her.
“Its okay it was nothing. Ahh Chinedu this one you’re embr@cing the baby like this did you sleep at all? The woman asked getting Ife from him and Chinedu scratched his head.
“He has carried the baby more than I have o, Agnes said.
“He has to, do you know the way he pushed? He pushed more than you sef, The woman said and Chinedu burst out laughing.
“Seriously, I didn’t know if I was the one pushing but him, he took it all, Agnes said laughing.
“Thats a good man, all he did was support his wife and how many men can do that today? Maureen asked.
“That’s true, Uhmmmm big boy, the woman said looking at the child and a knock was heard outside which Chinedu left to see who’s outside.
“My dear have you eaten? Maureen asked Agnes.
“No and am very hungry, she replied.
“Okay let me get you pepper soup prepared already, Maureen said.
“My husband wanted slaughtering one of the fowls for it but villagers will not let him concentrate with me inside, Agnes said with a frown.
“Ahh they should not congratulate you again? Though I know most of them only want to confirm you really give birth but that does not matter anymore only enjoy the show, Maureen said.
“She has to take her bath, please boil a very hot water for her, The woman came in and Agnes eyes bulged out.
“No nau I am not the fowl, Agnes said and Maureen laughed going outside.
Chinedu came out and Agnes quickly reminded him on the fowl he wanted killing,
“Dear I’m hungry nah, She said.
“Oh yes yes, will you take an appetizer while I go prepare the fowl? He asked and Agnes only looked at him with a frown.
“Oh dear let me give you an appetizer and I’ll quickly get it prepared, what do you want? Should I get you coconut water? He asked.
“Don’t worry I’ll wait, i only want the pepper soup, she replied.
“Okay let me get you plenty coconut water to drink, he said and ran out and Agnes shyly smiled with the way the woman looked at her while carrying Ife.
“Its today I know Chinedu is like this, I know him to be quiet but then he’s a good husband, she said.
‘He’s more than good, that was why I wanted running mad when I could not conceive for him and another woman wanted coming in, I didn’t want to be replaced, Agnes said.
“Don’t think about that anymore, you have your child now and this will strengthen this marriage the more and make him shower you with more love, she said and Ife began to cry.
‘Looks like someone nee-ds food, the woman said giving her to Agnes to bre-ast feed and went outside to see what is going on.
The water was ready for Agnes bath and the woman entered to tell Agnes to get ready for the bath getting the baby from her and Maureen came in.
“Madam oya time to bath, she said and with the tone Maureen used, Agnes knew she is in for trouble as she remembered how her aunty bathed her first daughter when she gave birth.
“Aunty please small small I am still someone wife o, Agnes said almost crying and Chinedu walked in with a big cu-p of coconut water for her.
“Hiannnn I am jealous o, Maureen said.
“You’ve not seen anything yet, Chinedu said and watched his wife drank all and burst out laughing at the face her aunty kept.
“Please don’t feed her too much, let her not get fat abeg, Maureen said.
“Anyhow she wants to be fat let her fat, Chinedu said.
“Oya march in front to the bathroom, Maureen said and Chinedu smiled at her and left the house leaving the woman with Ife inside. The woman peeped outside and saw Chinedu trying to get one of the fowls and Maureen was with Agnes in the bathroom, she carefully la-id the baby on the be-d and brou-ght out a white native chalk and drew a circle at the back of her palm to place on the baby forehead but Ife opened his eyes when her palm drew near on his face.
He began to cry and Chinedu heard him,
“Aunty is he okay? He asked outside.
“Very okay, he is only trying to tell you that there is a new born baby in the house, she replied laughing ru-b-bing Ife and placed the pa-rt of the chalk on his forehead and saw something that looks like a yolk of a raw egg showing on her palm.
“What does this mean? She asked herself and tried again but had instant muscle pull on her palm and she withdrew looking at the boy,
“Ahh mama you’re here? You’re welcome, She heard Chinedu outside and she quickly cleaned the chalk on her palm and returned the chalk to her wrapper and came out greeting his mother…
“Thank you, I heard you’re now a father, Chinedu mother said.
“You’re now a grandmother mama, its a boy, she gave birth this morning. Sorry I didn’t come myself to tell you but I planned of doing that when am done with this, He replied.
“I see, i already know i am always the last to hear something from you, you planned of telling me indeed, she said.
“Ahhh mama the villagers were just all over me and there was no one to take care of my wife if not her aunt just came few minutes ago, try to always un-derstand me na, Chinedu said and they heard Agnes shouting in the bathroom.
“Who is cutting her in pieces? His mother asked and the woman laughed.
“She’s taking her bath, Maureen is bathing her, the woman replied.
“I see, Chinedu mother said but Chinedu noticed something.
“Mama where’s your stick? Chinedu asked her.
“I told you that I am healing didn’t I? I don’t nee-d it anymore, she replied and looked at the woman who quickly shifted for her to p@$$ and she smiled and went in to see Ife on the be-d. “Uhmmm Chinedu I have to go now, Ife has experienced people to take care of him now, the woman said.
“Oh mama thank you, when I’m done with this I’ll surely see you at home thank you again, Chinedu said.
“Its okay, greet your wife for me, the woman said and left and His mother came out carrying Ife and Chinedu smiled.
“He’s lovely isn’t he? Chinedu asked.
“You have a name for him? She asked.
“Ifesinachi, what do you think? He asked and she nodded.
“Its good, I’ll take him in, She replied and smi-rked keeping him back on the be-d.
“Ifesinachi, welcome, and know that the battle line has been drawn, she said and the baby blinked his eyes and smiled.
Chinedu mother was not comfortable there especially with the prese-nce of Maureen. Maureen on her pa-rt on purpose threw words just to piss her the more but she will only smile and nod her head.
“Agnes eat enough, eat so that you will give birth again do you hear me? eat because the next will be triplet, Maureen said, and Agnes knowing what her aunty was doing only rolled her eyes.
Chinedu mother stood up after she was satisfied and called her son who was in the bush,
“Mama, are you going? He asked.
“Yes, i’m feeling sleepy, she replied.
“This morning? He asked coming out.
‘Is it your sleep? She asked back.
“But have you eaten? He asked.
“Such a food is not good for me, too much pepper, she replied.
“Ahh mama at least eat for my sake or are you not happy for me? Today is a happy day and I expect you to be with me. I thought you were the one disturbing me to give you a grandchild yet you are not cheerful, I don’t like this at all, Chinedu said meeting her and she shook her head.
“Stop talking like a child, you have a son now congratulations and I am happy for you, bye, She said and left and Maureen who heard them came out and scoffed.
“How will she be happy when its her enemy that gave birth? Maureen asked him.
“I really don’t know what I will do to make her like my wife, I am so confused, Chinedu said.
“Forget her, there are some people that are just destined to hate you with no cause, just forget about her, Maureen said and Chinedu heaved and returned back to the bush.
His mother left to the next compound and met the woman who helped Agnes sitting outside with her hands on her chin thinking. She stood up when she saw Chinedu mother walked in,
“What are you doing here? The woman asked.
“What did you do to that boy? Chinedu mother asked.
“What are you talking about? The woman asked and Chinedu mother held the palm she used on Ife,
“What did you see? She sternly asked and the woman heaved and looked around.
“I only wanted to see if he has a bright future nothing bad so keep your voice low, the woman said.
“So you’ll take it? Chinedu mother asked and laughed shaking her head.
“Tell me what you saw? She asked.
“Something that looks like an inside of an egg, and when I wanted trying again I could not, I don’t see that child ordinary I mean there’s something wrong I can’t un-derstand, the woman replied.
“Uhmmmm you think so? You better Stay clear from him, that’s not a threat but a warning, Chinedu mother said pointing her fin-geron her and left the compound.
“Oh Agnes, mock me today but you’ll cry more, She said in her heart smiling to herself………
Tbc