ity to Echezona. Despite the pain that came with it, she felt excited abo

ng her absent mindedness. She jumped in her seat

hile on her feet and

and southern protectorate took place?" Her teacher asked.

e teacher while over fifty pair of eyes were

ou not been paying attention." Her teacher asked

doesn't go beyond what it already is. Besides,

ing." Her tea

eone say which made the entire class laugh in mockery

about someone that would add a little meaning to your life?" Ukokwe hissed, glaring

d at her friend who was si

denly over and Nmachi was allowed

e, the school premises. Ukokwe walked u

small oily nylon bag from the big bag she carr

the nylon on the locker. Ukokwe must have noticed how focused Nmachi was on the ba

rmission because she immediately took o

d softly while e

ss?" Ukokwe asked her in a very

r ordeal with Echezona. She thought it best

her things to leave the classroom. She wiped her oil

o." She responded, which was actually a very big lie.

ty Akudo wasn't one whom her mother or most women in the villa

kokwe responded.

end,"Do you know that your fa

we asked in a very sad voice. "My mother's chi has re

es I have Echezona." Nmachi bragged as she

y you talk about him, one would th

y." She revealed as they bega

Echezona but she had a strong feeling that they we

our legs, you know that right?" Ukokwe asked her but having her head in the clouds

the schools compound and said,"You said 'a m

even a man yet and he's already making promises. What do yo

we had said. What if she had made a huge mistak

makes

e shout and the next thing they saw was s

with the stick and she moved a little closer while holding Ukokwe

r heels as what had just happened is an ab

ad just killed the snake held it in his hand and ran past them. He w

man shouted at the bo

were having a meeting at the market square noticed what was going on

er rejoicing as fear had gripped him. Who wouldn't be scared being surrounded by older people most of whom were

ore making him sit on the sandy ground before folding the already de

being punished; all they have ever been told was that no one ev

llage!" One of the wom

ave like the Romans." Their leader said imme

wasn't done watching..she had made up her mind

n asked the boy who was visibl

staring from the snake in

inutes." A man who had a red wrapper tied around his waist re

rns and designs on their skin while most of the women used uli, a local dye which is

arm so that it could be hidden by the uniform away from teach

man came running towards wh

when he got close to them w

an said upon entering the c

this snake?" He asked the boy's

oth and a few more things like schnapps, kolanut so that we can bury it." The ma

Nmachi while pulling her away from th

she had gotten enough information out of what had just

e said as they walked,"If my father feels like h

r hand over Ukokwe's mouth,"Don

d if it's a boy, I'll leave him for my dad. You know it's possible to have a child for your

you wants the child? What if it's not a male child?" Nmachi

s just me in this world aside from my parents. No br

even sometimes my father hits her. He deprives us of some benefits, nobody knows this. All t

into marriage." Ukokwe said and shook her head,"ije ụwa

terrupt her so that she could express herself. She even felt guilty b

e same? She asked herself before pulling her friend who wa

ispered into her ears and Ukokw

just say?" Uko

o her and pulled her towards the nea

s not the way home." Ukokwe tried t

e. This road leads faster to his house." Nmachi info

asked while looking carefully at either side

e already." She replied pointing at th

ur huts situated at different positions in the compound, she

s unusually quiet as it was alwa

eone in there?" Ukokwe as

older woman come out of the hut just opposite to their

eir knees a little to the front and lowered their waist,"Nde

ied,"who are you looki

new it doesn't tell well for a girl in the village to come looking for a man in the village who i

e appearing on her face. Then she said

d been with him yesterday and he hadn't told her that

n asked,"Hope the

e replied al

hi?" The woma

re, he asked me to give something to you." The woman inf

, trying to process what she had just been told. Just yesterday, they had made love for th

is stepmother. You know how stepmothers can be." Ukokwe said while pul

tween Echezona and his stepmother. She also knew that

he hut with a white paper in

d you write back." She said before l

nto her school bag and turned around in anger while Ukokwe followed closely behi

Abomi

: Bea

: C

Maste

ell done