from it's coat. Not that she couldn't do the seperation and was watching her to

t to her friend what was going through her m

pond even though she was staring directly at h

n and clapped her hands in front of her,"Nmachukwu!" She shouted her n

Ukokwe asked with so much concern ab

up the tray Ukokwe had dropped and placing it on he

Ukokwe reminded her

right and then her left, just in case there was an

the safety of her environment, so she lowered her head and pulled Ukok

sitting up from the position Nmachi had k

she had with Echezona beginning from how he called her o

k to cover her mouth with her palm so that she doesn't

i shouted at Ukokwe in annoyance that h

g on,"Sorry, my friend. Ndo." She apolo

l not be happy with you." Nmachi warned her bef

hat Echezona would ask you for

ch scared them as they jerked on their stool and the resounding noise from the stainl

d while getting up from the stool before tu

in a polite voice while giving Nmachi a suspiciou

han she did Ukokwe, "Nne le-I want to see her off." Nmac

of her, "Be back before sundown, we are expecting visitors.

hezona?" Ukokwe asked Nmachi as th

nd clapped it before interchanging them and clapping again,

what? Don't even try it." She advised Nm

Take Ugoma's predicament as a warning. The fall of the yellow leaves is a warning to the green ones." She s

hezona we're talking about

kwe asked her, a way of telling her

told a proverb and still needs the proverb to b

" Ukokwe dismissed her before waving at her and continui

stomach, standing alone in a dark room flashed across her mind and she immediately threw her arm over her

r, Ojukwu sitting down in front of his hut which

is similar to a Chief. Surprised at the red cap h

P

nt as she approached him while Nmachi wondered wha

father who kept the beaming smile on his face, revealing his teeth which h

you, you should go and see her." He informed her while pointing a

she found her mother sitting on the rafia mat while admiring a dress she had been warned

on so Nwabuko would always purchase new clothes for herself and Nmach

to any one until Christmas especially when those in the city would

achi said, announcing her presence in the

wabuko turned to face her daughter before pa

he same time which made her heart race rapidly in

huge black bead and placed it on Nmachi's thigh. It was mbaji -waist

ey were celebrating something but she remained silent to all

only a tough nut to crack and always uses an iron fist on Nmachi for f

" Nwabuko said, referring to the bead which Nmachi was smiling at while admiring it's heaviness and b

n wore a brighter smile while placing a dress which she had sewn using one

very surprised yet confused Nmachi who had her lower lip

ofor is after Christmas day. Why should I wear this dres

aid to her but she was not satisfied with the

aside for dressing up. After she was done changing into the dress, she took in a very

imented her in the loose dress she was i

kudos to her mother's favourite tailor who th

r said and forcefully took Nmachi's hand knowing fully well

ne deadly glare from her mother mad

e Akudo who had been rumoured to be so rich yet so single but has

r mother. Her mother was afraid that there was a bad blood in her family which

elderly men who also bear the same title as her father

ife ever since his wife couldn't give him a male child af

en smiled, nodding their head while ogling her, Nmachi silently prayed

oat and began, "Nze Ojukwu, She

her tongue from asking that question as s

friend neither did she try to imagine becoming a co-wi

, Oforji turned to look at her w

ave come

hing. I am not interested." She said in a stern voice ignoring the signs her mother had been giving her

er mother too. She was always ready to say it as it i

her stepmother." She explained in a rather disrespectful tone before looking

best to coat it,"The friendship between bot

h what he was saying because she st

wife but an only wife. Why would you want me to become a second wife?" She asked her mother because she knew very w

father isn't going to ge

aid to her father and turned around to leave but just then, Echezona's whistling graced

here ever he was, "Nne! don't try to talk to me about it, my mind is made up!" She yelle

ouse. To her parents and the visitors, she was angry and needed to cool

d already gone and even though she heard

ad asked of her so that if she was to be forced into marriage with Oforji,