Chapter 5

             I became alarmed and just before I could dash inside and inform Aunty Mba of her missing goats, she came out of the house with a wrapper tied firmly on her chest.

"What did I tell you to do? And where are my goats? Have you swallowed them?" She roared at me.

"Ma, I don't know. I just___"

"Shut up and look for them, that is if you want to have lunch today. I knew you were devious right from the very start. I even wonder what inspired your mother to name Olamma." She hissed and walked back inside the house.

                  I heaved a deep sigh before going ahead and asking neighbours if they had by chance seen the three terrible goats, that went missing. When all the answers were negative, I retreated back to our Batcher. I was scared of entering the house. After muttering a short prayer to the God of all heavens, I entered the house through the backyard where I thought she wouldn't notice my presence. But to my greatest dismay, Aunty Mba was stretching out in the yellow and green striped mat she purchased last week from the market. I gulped down and wondered why I have such an unlucky fate.

"Olamma please bring the vegetables for me, if you like don't bring the basin along." Surprisingly, her voice was calm.

               I went back outside to the kitchen to bring the vegetables but to my utmost surprise, were the three miscreant goats diligently chewing the vegetables. Anger rushed through my veins, I had to whip them out of the kitchen. I fought tooth and nail with them before I could drag them back to the tree and re tie them, this time more strongly.

                  What will I tell Aunty Mba now? , I thought in self Pity. Knowing my aunt, she would rather accuse me of eating the vegetables raw than believing that her precious goats ate them up. The most annoying aspect is that the goats kept on making stupid sounds. I just pray that a terrible day will befall one of those goats.

"Aunty the vegetables are all gone." I whispered in fear.

"Wait! You said what? God of Zechariah!! You mean that you gave my vegetables to your friends to show that you are a big girl. I will show you today that you are just big for nothing." She barked madly.

"The goats were the ones that I saw chewing it. How can I give out your vegetables?"

"If you talk again eh, I will make sure I slap out your Jaws. I will give you a mark that you will not forget. So your intentions is to make me angry. I na cho ka mu na ekwucharu gi onu mgbe niile. Ndi ogbe juo, odi nno ka agbam wicked. ( You always like me talking off my mouth. So that when the neighbours ask, it will be as if I am wicked.)" She barked like a loose dog.

 She coughed and used her huge palms to rub her chest before continuing " This afternoon and night you will not eat anything. And  you better pack all your properties for surely, your mother will come and take you back tomorrow."

                              All this while, tears poured down my cheeks like water falls. I fell down and held her feet but she roughly pushed me off and if not for the grace of God, I would have hit my head on the ground.

"Get out, you Imp!" I heard her yell in a tone of finality.

                           I ran out of the house in my green and white Okirika gown that stopped just above my knees. The hands of the clothe was three quarter and it has a canoe neck pattern.  My hair was Still un made and I intended that Stella would do justice to it. I walked to her house, because my only hope of eating is there. My heart was filled with bitterness. What have Aunty Mba told my mother? How will my parents feel? My siblings, they would surely feel sad. How would the villagers react?

                          Stella was idling around when I got to her abode. She was dressed in a tank top and a rugged bum short. Her pink tight could be seen through the cuts.

"Olamma dear, wetin happen? Dis one you dey look like person wey trailer jam seven times." She creased her brows and folded her arms just below her small boobs.

"Babe your pot get joy? My skull dey peel o" ( Babe is there food? I am very hungry o" I yawned repeatedly. My stomach was already growling.

"Na Jollof rice bottom pot dey o. Oya wait, I dey come." She stood up and dusted an imaginary dirt off her ass before going inside the house.

                         After taking down the delicious bottom pot with a chilled water, I discussed my fate with my best friend who had long began plaiting my hair.

"That woman weak me o. Hmm, I can't believe you went through all this, Ola. You better be happy that you are leaving  that evil woman to stay with your parents." Stella murmured as she listened to my touching story.

" Abi o. But i will miss Inside life wella."

" Na true talk o."

                        When Sarah was done braiding my hair, I followed Apia way ( Shortcut) to return home. My Aunty was laying outside on her mat, taking in fresh air.

"Were are you coming from? Probably, Sodom and Gomorrah. Kneel down there. You will kneel down till the sun goes down ." A terrible voice that belonged to my aunt instructed me without sparing me a glance.

                        True to her words, I knelt down till dusk. When I was in the comfort of my room, I made for my travelling bag where I began packing in my belongings. I tried doing all my works quickly, So that I would sleep and have enough strength for my tomorrows untold journey.