N. 28 - Aprile 2010
(LIX)
THE PRIZE OF A WICKED AUNTY
short novel - part i
di Emmanuel Celestine
CHAPTER
ONE
In
the
little
village
of
Amazi
was
a
couple,
Mr
and
Mrs
Nwanneka.
They
have
three
children,
Nana,
Ify,
and
Kachi.
They
lived
with
Chioma,
Mr.
Nwanneka's
late
younger
brother's
only
child.
Mrs.
Nwanneka
loved
her
daughters
very
well
and
did
for
them
everything
they
wanted
her
to
do
for
them,
but
she
hated
Chioma
with
great
passion
because
she
was
not
her
biological
daughter.
She
had
asked
her
husband
to
throw
Chioma
out
of
their
house
but
he
did
not
agree
because
he
loved
his
late
brother's
daughter.
Nana
was
twenty
years
old
and
the
oldest
among
the
three
girls.
Ify
was
two
years
younger.
Kachi
and
Chioma
were
age
mates
and
a
year
younger
than
Ify.
The
two
little
girls
loved
each
other
and
played
together
whenever
they
have
the
chance.
Kachi's
mother
and
her
two
elder
sisters
did
not
like
how
she
got
used
to
Chioma
because
they
did
not
want
to
have
anything
to
do
with
her.
Chioma
would
always
do
the
domestic
work
alone
while
the
other
girls
would
be
playing.
She
would
fetch
water
from
the
stream,
fetch
fire
wood
from
the
bush,
cook
the
meals
and
tied
up
the
house
alone.
Sometimes,
she
would
not
eat
any
food
until
evening
while
the
other
girls
would
have
already
got
intoxicated
with
food.
Kachi
always
felt
for
her
and
sometimes,
she
would
help
her
to
do
some
work
at
home.
Her
mother
had
in
several
occasions
punished
her
for
helping
Chioma
to
do
some
domestic
work
but
she
continued
to
help
her
because
she
loved
her
very
much.
“Kachi,
please
I
don't
want
you
to
be
beaten
again
because
of
me.
Please
let
me
do
the
work
alone”.
She
told
her
one
day
as
she
offered
to
help
her
wash
the
heaps
of
dirty
dishes.
“Let
her
beat
me
if
she
so
desires.
I
cannot
see
you
do
all
these
work
alone.
It
is
not
proper
before
our
gods
and
man.
You
know
I
love
you
and
would
do
anything
for
you”,
she
replied
pitying
her.
“I
pray
that
our
gods
would
reward
you
gratefully
for
all
your
help
and
support
to
me”,
she
appreciated.
“What
do
you
think
you
are
doing?”
Mrs.
Nwanneka
interrupted
as
she
entered.
The
two
girls
suddenly
became
naive.
They
did
not
know
what
to
say.
Chioma
was
already
shivering
with
fear
because
she
knew
that
her
aunty
will
give
her
the
beaten
of
her
life.
“I
am
sorry
mother...I...”
“Shut
up
your
mouth.
Who
is
your
mother.
Don't
you
know
your
mother
in
the
grave.”
she
interrupted.
“Now
tell
me”,
she
continued,
“who
asked
my
daughter
to
do
these
work
with
you?”
she
queried.
“Mama,
nobody
asked
me
to
do
any
work.
I
decided
to
do
them
myself
since
I am
not
doing
anything”,
Kachi
intervened
innocently.
“Leave
here
now
before
I
slap
you,
you
idiot”
she
ordered
Kachi
out.
Now
remaining
her
and
Chioma,
she
drew
her
closer
and
started
beating
her.
Chioma
was
quite
helpless
in
her
aunty's
hand
because
her
uncle
was
not
there
to
rescue
her.
After
being
beaten,
Chioma
lay
down
on
the
floor
without
anyone
to
console
her.
CHAPTER
TWO
Mr.
Nwanneka
was
very
infuriated
when
he
heard
what
happened
to
her
niece.
He
had
just
come
back
from
a
journey
he
made
to a
neighboring
town
in
search
for
an
herb
that
curses
Iba
{malaria}.
He
did
not
take
it
easy
with
his
wife
who
already
was
ready
to
fight
him
if
he
dares
beat
her.
Chioma
wasn't
happy
when
she
heard
that
her
uncle
and
his
wife
were
quarreling
because
over
her.
She
never
intended
to
tell
her
uncle
what
happened,
but
Kachi
told
him
before
she
could
knew
it.
Nana
and
Ify
were
already
threatening
to
beat
her
but
she
wasn't
concerned
about
that.
Her
concern
was
how
to
quell
the
misunderstanding
between
her
uncle
and
his
wife.
“You
are
a
very
wicked
woman.
See
how
you
are
treating
somebody's
child
as
if
she
was
not
a
human
being.
I
don't
have
anything
to
tell
you
but
you
must
know
that
the
gods
are
above
watching
you”,
he
warned
and
left
her.
Her
wife
stood
there
as
she
laid
him
all
sorts
of
abuses,
but
her
husband
was
no
where
near
the
home.
That
night
was
very
quiet
in
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Nwanneka's
compound.
Nobody
was
talking
when
the
meal
was
going
on.
The
man
was
still
very
angry
about
what
his
wife
did
to
his
niece
while
the
woman
was
not
happy
that
her
husband
scolded
her
because
of
another
man's
daughter.
When
Chioma
and
Kachi
saw
what
was
going
on,
they
felt
very
bad
but
their
two
elder
sisters
did
not
mind.
After
a
while,
Chioma
stood
up
and
beckoned
Kachi.
Both
girls
went
inside
the
room,
thinking
on
what
to
do
to
reconcile
the
situation.
“I
have
a
plan”,
Chioma
suggested.
“And
what
is
it?
Kachi
queried
inquisitively.
“Come
closer
let
me
tell
you”,
she
said
as
she
drew
Kachi
close.
“Yes!
Wonderful
idea!”
Kachi
exclaimed.
After
a
while,
Chioma
screamed,
“somebody
help!
She
has
fainted
ooh!
Kachi
!
Kachi!”,
Chioma
shouted
repeatedly.
Everybody
outside
rushed
in
as
they
heard
the
girl
shouting.
“What
is
it?”
Mr.
Nwanneka
and
his
wife
chorused.
“I
don't
know.
We
were
discussing
and
she
fell
down
and
started
foaming”,
Chioma
replied.
“Mama
Nana
what
do
we
do
now?”
Mr.
Nwanneka
asked.
“I
don't
know.
May
be
you
get
some
herbs”,
she
replied.
He
hurriedly
went
out
and
got
some
herbs.
“Here
is
it,
squeeze
and
put
in
her
mouth”,
he
said
as
he
came
back
with
the
herbs.
As
the
woman
was
about
to
put
the
herbs
in
Kachi'
s
mouth,
she
woke
up
and
started
laughing.
They
were
all
surprised
and
looked
at
her
in
amazement.
She
was
only
pretending.
They
agreed
to
do
that
in
order
to
quell
the
differences
between
their
parents.
“What
happened
to
you
my
daughter”
her
father
asked
looking
perplex.
“Nothing
papa,
you
and
mama
refused
to
talk
to
each
other
and
we
planned
to
do
something
that
will
make
both
of
you
to
talk
to
each
other
again.
And
I am
happy
that
you
have
talked
to
each
other”,
the
little
girl
said
smiling
at
both
of
them.
Her
parents
looked
at
each
other,
smiled
and
went
inside
the
room
holding
each
others
hands.
CHAPTER
THREE
That
evening,
Mrs.
Nwanneka
asked
Chioma
to
go
and
fetch
water
from
the
stream.
It
was
on a
market
day
and
nobody
was
allowed
to
fetch
water
from
the
stream
on
that
day
because
it
was
the
belief
of
the
villagers
that
the
market
day
was
a
sacred
day
when
the
spirits
of
the
land
held
their
meetings
and
that
was
normally
done
at
the
stream.
That
was
her
strategy
to
get
rid
of
the
poor
girl,
because
in
the
history
of
the
village,
nobody
had
gone
to
the
stream
on a
market
day
and
returned
home
alive.
“But
today
is
our
market
day
and
we
are
not
supposed
to
go
to
the
stream,”
the
little
girl
reminded.
“Shut
up
and
do
what
I
asked
you
to
do.
When
have
you
learnt
to
question
my
authorities
in
this
house”,
she
commanded.
Chioma
went
into
the
room
quietly,
carried
her
pot
and
left
for
the
stream.
Kachi
and
her
father
were
not
at
home
when
this
happened.
When
they
came
back
and
heard
what
has
happened,
they
felt
very
bad.
Before
they
could
know
what
was
going
on,
Kachi
ran
out
of
the
house
in
search
of
Chioma.
All
the
attempt
to
stop
her
was
futile.
Mr.
Nwanneka
was
disappointed
at
his
wife's
attitude
towards
his
niece.
Kachi
continued
to
shout
Chioma's
name
as
she
ran
deep
into
the
narrow
part
that
leads
to
the
stream.
At
last,
she
found
her
and
the
two
girls
embrace
with
joy
as
tears
flowed
from
their
eyes.
Even
though
Chioma
was
happy
to
see
her,
she
was
not
comfortable
about
her
going
to
the
stream
with
her
because
she
knew
that
her
aunty
will
beat
her
mercilessly
if
she
comes
back.
She
persuaded
her
to
go
back
but
she
refused.
“I
must
go
with
you
anywhere
you
are
going.
If
it
would
cost
our
lives,
then
let
two
of
us
die
together
because,
I
cannot
live
in
this
world
without
you”,
she
reiterated.
When
Chioma
saw
that
she
could
not
convince
her
to
go
back,
she
allowed
her
to
follow
her.
Sooner
had
they
moved
forward
than
they
noticed
an
old
woman
carrying
a
heavy
load
on
her
head.
They
felt
pity
for
her,
but
were
afraid
to
help
her.
Chioma
suggested
that
they
should
help
her
but
Kachi
refused.
After
a
long
argument,
they
agreed
to
help
her.
When
they
went
close
to
help
the
woman,
she
refused
to
allow
them
carry
the
load.
But
when
the
girls
insisted,
she
gave
in.
the
two
girls
carried
the
loads
as
the
woman
followed
them
far
behind.
The
girls
became
scared
when
they
walked
a
very
long
distance
without
seeing
anybody
or
building.
When
they
came
to a
three-path
way,
the
woman
asked
them
to
follow
the
left
turn
and
immediately
they
turned,
they
saw
a
small
hut.
They
wondered
how
only
that
old
woman
could
be
living
in
such
a
lonely
place.
She
called
them
back
as
they
were
about
to
leave.
She
put
her
hand
into
her
pocket
and
brought
out
two
gold
necklaces
and
gave
each
of
them
one.
The
gold
necklaces
were
very
beautiful
and
were
the
type
worn
only
by
princesses.
She
also
gave
them
a
pot
of
water
which
she
had
fetched
from
the
stream
the
previous
day
and
warned
them
not
to
go
to
the
stream
that
day.
The
girls
thanked
her
and
went
home
rejoicing.
Mr.
Nwanneka
was
very
happy
to
see
them
when
they
came
back.
It
was
already
mid
night
and
nobody
believed
that
they
could
still
come
back
alive.
He
rushed
out
and
hugged
them.
His
wife
was
not
happy
at
all
to
see
Chioma
because
she
knew
that
her
plans
had
failed.
Nana
and
Ify
had
already
gone
to
bed
and
did
not
know
when
their
sisters
came
back.
Their
father
offered
them
food
and
they
ate
and
went
to
bed
but
they
refused
to
tell
anybody
what
has
happened
that
day.
CHAPTER
FOUR
The
next
day
was
the
new
moon
festival.
It
was
always
a
big
ceremony
in
the
village.
That
day,
the
children
wore
the
best
of
their
clothes
and
shoes.
The
people
had
gathered
at
the
village
square
where
the
masquerades
and
various
dancing
groups
were
entertaining
the
people.
The
men
had
a
place
where
they
stayed
as
well
as
the
women
and
the
children
respectively.
Mr.
Nwanneka
had
gone
where
the
men
sat
and
his
wife
to
the
woman's
wing.
Nana
and
Ify
paired
while
Chioma
and
Kachi
were
together.
When
the
dancing
masquerades
finished
dancing,
the
little
girls
decided
to
have
a
stroll.
They
held
their
hands
as
they
walked.
They
saw
a
palm
tree
and
decided
to
rest
there.
As
they
were
resting,
two
young
men
approached
them
and
pleaded
that
they
want
to
be
in
their
company.
The
two
girls
refused
and
stood
up
to
walk
away
from
them
but
the
young
men
resisted.
Chioma
pleaded
with
them
to
allow
them
go
back
to
where
they
were
staying
but
the
men
would
not
listen.
“Who
is
your
father?”
the
senior
among
the
men
asked.
The
girls
did
not
answer
because
they
were
afraid.
Even
though
the
young
men
were
looking
very
handsome
and
innocent,
the
girls
were
not
comfortable
standing
with
them.
Again,
if
their
mother
comes
and
see
them
there,
she
will
beat
them
especially
Chioma,
for
talking
with
strangers.
“We
are
Mr.
Ogbonna
Nwanneka's
daughters.
How
can
we
help
you?”
Kachi
replied.
This
time,
the
men
smiled
and
told
them
they
knew
their
parents
very
well.
“I
am
the
prince,
the
first
son
of
the
king
of
this
village
and
this
is
my
friend,
Ikedi.
What
are
your
names?”
he
queried
but
the
girls
did
not
answer
because
they
were
scared
of
being
seen
with
the
prince
of
their
village.
“I
will
like
to
marry
you”,
he
said
pointing
at
Chioma
“Me?”
Chioma
asked.
“You
cannot
marry
me
because
we
are
of
different
backgrounds”,
she
continued.
The
prince
and
his
friend
were
busy
gazing
at
the
golden
ornament
the
girls
were
wearing
on
their
neck
because
they
knew
it
wasn't
meant
for
ordinary
people.
“Yes,
I
will
marry
you
and
my
friend
wants
to
marry
your
sister.
He
is
the
prince
of
Umunta,
our
neighboring
village.
We
shall
come
and
see
your
father
the
next
market
day.
You
may
now
go”,
he
told
them
and
left.
By
the
time
the
girls
went
back
to
the
venue
of
the
festival,
people
were
already
going
to
their
houses.
Their
parents
and
sisters
had
gone
home
after
searching
for
them
and
could
not
find
them.
The
girls
agreed
that
they
will
not
tell
anybody
what
they
witnessed
that
day.
When
they
got
home,
their
father
was
not
happy
with
them.
He
reprimanded
them
and
asked
them
not
to
leave
the
venue
of
events
any
time
they
go
out
for
such
occasions.
They
apologized
and
promised
not
to
disobeyed
him
any
more.
He
asked
them
to
go
inside
their
room
and
have
their
dinner,
as
it
was
already
mid
night.
Nana
and
Ify
were
disappointed.
They
expected
their
father
to
beat
Chioma
and
Kachi
but
to
their
greatest
surprise,
he
didn't.
They
went
to
bed
disappointed.
As
they
were
eating,
Chioma
reminded
Kachi
the
need
for
them
to
tell
their
father
what
those
young
men
told
them
but
she
declined.
After
many
attempts
to
make
her
agree
failed,
Chioma
angrily
left
the
food
for
her
and
lay
on
her
mat.
When
Kachi
saw
that
she
was
angry,
she
went
to
where
she
was
and
tapped
her
on
the
shoulder.
“Are
you
angry?”
she
asked
politely,
but
she
did
not
reply.
When
she
saw
tears
flowing
from
Chioma's
eyes,
she
was
touched.
“Are
you
crying?”
she
asked
as
she
tried
to
turn
her
face.
She
could
not
withstand
the
tears
that
flew
from
Chioma's
eyes.
She
felt
her
face
with
the
back
of
her
hand.
Chioma
was
crying
because
she
didn't
want
to
betray
their
father.
She
believed
that
her
father
would
feel
betrayed
if
those
young
men
came
to
meet
him
while
he
had
not
been
informed,
but
Kachi
didn't
seem
to
reason
with
her.
When
Kachi
saw
her
sister's
mood,she
told
her
that
she
had
agreed
that
they
would
tell
their
father.
“If
telling
our
father
this
will
make
you
stop
crying,
I
have
agreed.
Please
don't
cry
any
longer
unless
you
want
me
to
start
crying”,
she
said
as
she
turned
her
face.
Chioma
looked
at
her
with
great
passion
as
they
hugged
each
other.
Now,
the
deal
has
been
sealed,.
They
have
agreed
to
tell
their
father
about
their
suitors'
proposed
visit
to
their
father
next
market
day.
They
went
straight
to
their
father's
room
to
let
the
cat
of
the
bag.
Their
father
was
surprise
to
see
them
in
his
room
that
night.
“You
are
supposed
to
be
sleeping
now,
I
hope
there
is
no
problem?”he
asked
surprisingly.
“No
Papa,
there
is
no
problem.
We
just
want
to
discuss
something
with
you”,
they
chorused.
He
wondered
what
the
girls
wanted
to
tell
him
which
could
not
wait
till
morning.
The
girls
had
never
paid
him
such
emergency
visit.
He
gently
rose
up
from
his
mat,
sitting
tenderly
as
he
leaned
on
the
wall.
He
was
happy
when
the
girls
told
him
the
story.
They
told
him
that
it
was
because
of
that
they
came
back
home
late
that
day.
He
was
very
proud
of
them
but
asked
them
to
commit
everything
in
the
hands
of
the
gods
of
their
land
so
that
they
would
not
have
any
obstacle.
“There
is
one
more
thing
father”,
Kachi
said
“What
is
it?”
he
queried.
“Please,
don't
let
mother
know
about
this
yet”,
she
pleaded.
“Why?”
he
asked
amazingly.
“You
know
that
mother
does
not
like
Chioma.
If
she
knows
about
this,
her
hatred
for
her
will
double.
Again,
she
will
tell
you
that
we
shall
not
marry
before
our
two
elder
sisters,
Nana
and
Ify,
she
remarked.
Her
father
was
surprised
that
such
a
thought
could
come
out
from
his
little
daughter.
“Alright,
I
will
not
tell
her.
I
hope
you
are
now
happy?”
“Yes
father”,
she
said
as
she
looked
at
her
sister,
who
also
affirmed
by
nodding.
Unknowingly
to
Mr.
Nwanneka
and
his
two
innocent
daughters,
Mrs.
Nwanneka
hid
at
the
back
of
the
door
listening
to
everything
they
were
saying.
As
soon
as
they
finished
their
discussion,
she
sneaked
back
to
her
room.
The
girls
were
very
happy
that
their
father
supported
them.
Happiness
could
be
read
on
their
faces
as
they
could
not
hide
their
feelings.
Mrs.
Nwanneka
could
not
sleep
that
night.
She
was
just
contemplating
on
how
Chioma
could
be
the
princess
or
queen
of
their
village.
She
was
full
of
pomposity
and
could
not
see
herself
stooping
so
low
to
be
under
her.
Like
Kachi
had
earlier
noted,
she
wondered
how
the
two
girls
would
marry
before
their
elder
sisters.
Anybody
who
had
seen
her
that
night
would
surely
know
that
she
was
bothered.
“I
must
do
something
to
prevent
this
calamity
urgently
before
it
is
late”,
she
told
herself.
Nobody
could
say
for
sure
what
her
plans
were,
but
looking
at
her
mood
that
night,
you
would
definitely
know
that
she
was
nursing
evil
plans
waiting
to
be
executed.
CHAPTER
FIVE
Mrs.
Nwanneka
was
wearing
a
very
deep
frown
that
morning.
Nobody
knew
what
her
problem
was.
Her
husband
had
made
many
attempts
to
know
what
was
bothering
her
but
she
refused
to
open
up.
Nothing
seemed
to
be
moving
well
for
her
that
morning.
“Chioma”,
she
shouted
repeatedly
for
three
times.
“Yes
mother”,
she
answered
as
she
came
out
to
meet
her.
“Who
is
your
mother?
How
many
times
do I
have
to
call
you
before
you
answer
me?”
“I
did
not
know
that
you
were
calling
me.
I
was
sweeping
father's
room”,
she
replied
kindly.
Before
she
could
say
another
word,
her
aunty
had
started
beating
her.
She
dragged
her
to
the
kitchen
and
brought
out
firewood
which
was
on
fire
and
designed
her
face
with
it.
Chioma's
face
was
burnt.
She
wondered
what
she
had
done
that
morning
to
deserve
that
kind
of
treatment.
That
was
a
strategy
by
her
aunty
to
mutilate
her
so
that
she
would
no
longer
attract
the
admiration
of
the
prince.
Kachi
was
at a
corner
crying,
calling
neighbors
to
come
and
rescue
Chioma
but
nobody
heard
her
tiny
voice.
“Go
inside
now
and
carry
the
water
pot
to
the
stream
before
I
squeeze
life
out
of
you”,
she
commanded,
looking
satisfied
that
she
had
accomplished
her
mission.
Without
uttering
any
further
word,
Chioma
went
inside
and
carried
her
water
pot
to
the
stream.
She
could
not
control
the
tears
flowing
from
her
eyes.
Kachi
followed
her
immediately
as
she
left.
She
tried
to
console
her
but
she
was
in
real
pain
and
could
not
pretend
that
all
was
well
with
her.
Kachi
collected
the
water
pot
from
her
and
carried
it
herself.
As
they
were
going,
Chioma
remembered
that
they
have
not
visited
the
old
woman
who
gave
them
golden
necklace
for
a
long
time.
“Let
us
go
and
see
that
old
woman
who
gave
us
necklace
and
know
If
she
needs
our
assistance”,
she
suggested
“You
must
not
be
serious.
You
are
bleeding
and
are
in
serious
pains,
yet
you
are
here
looking
for
a
woman
to
go
and
visit.
To
do
what?”
Kachi
responded
angrily.
She
imagined
the
kind
of
person
her
sister
was.
Chioma
was
not
yet
convinced.
She
insisted
that
they
go
and
see
the
woman
since
it
was
long
they
saw
her.
At
last,
they
agreed
and
took
the
direction
of
the
woman's
hut
again.
They
were
convinced
that
they
met
the
woman
in
that
place.
“I
am
sure
this
was
the
place
we
came
with
her
that
day.
Look
at
the
mango
tree,
it
was
just
behind
the
hut
but
now
we
cannot
see
the
hut”,
Chioma
remarked.
After
a
long
search
and
they
could
not
see
the
hut,
they
left
the
place.
On
their
way
back
from
the
stream,
they
saw
the
old
woman
resting
under
a
palm
tree.
Kachi
saw
her
first
and
called
her
sister's
attention.
They
argued
whether
it
was
actually
the
old
woman
they
saw
before
or
not.
When
they
came
closer,
they
observed
it
was
the
woman.
Kachi
drew
Chioma
back
as
she
wanted
to
rush
and
greet
her.
“I
think
this
woman
is a
ghost”,
she
whispered
into
her
ears.
“I
don't
think
so”,
Chioma
replied.
“She
is
just
tired
and
may
need
our
assistance.
Kachi
was
really
scared.
She
was
unlike
Chioma
who
can
withstand
any
kind
of
horrible
situation.
She
didn't
want
to
argue
further
with
Chioma
so
that
it
would
not
be
as
if
she
always
antagonize
her
decisions.
They
agree
to
go
and
see
the
woman
but
Kachi
was
quite
far
behind
her.
When
they
got
there,
they
found
out
that
it
was
actually
the
woman.
“What
are
you
doing
here?”
they
asked
her.
“I
should
be
asking
you
what
you
are
looking
for
around
this
place
this
early
morning,”
the
woman
replied.
“We
have
been
looking
for
you
all
over
the
place.
We
went
to
your
hut
but
we
couldn't
find
any
building
there.
What
happened
to
your
house?”
Chioma
bombarded.
The
old
woman
did
not
answer
them.
She
was
gazing
at
them
one
after
the
other.
“Why
are
you
looking
for
me?”
she
asked.
“We
want
to
know
if
there
is
anything
we
could
do
for
you”.
They
replied.
She
was
pleased
to
hear
this
from
the
girls
and
could
not
hide
her
happiness.
As
she
was
about
to
draw
them
closer
to
her
arms,
she
noticed
the
wound
on
Chioma's
face.
“What
happened
to
you?”
she
asked
anxiously
“I
fell
down”,
she
lied.
The
woman
knew
she
was
telling
lies.
She
knew
that
the
wound
must
be
one
got
from
fire
burnt.
“Y
our
aunty
did
this
to
you,
didn't
she?”
she
asked.
The
girls
were
surprise
how
she
came
to
know.
“I
know
this
woman
must
be a
ghost,”
Kachi
thought
in
her
mind.
They
did
not
know
what
to
say
again,
so
they
admitted
that
Mrs
Nwanneka
did
it
to
her.
They
told
her
exactly
what
happened.
The
woman
was
very
and
disappointed.
She
looked
around
and
saw
some
palm
kernel.
She
gathered
them
together
and
broke
them.
She
made
oil
out
of
them
and
gave
her
to
apply
on
her
face.
Chioma
hesitated
but
later
took
them
and
applied
on
her
face.
She
asked
the
two
girls
to
always
cooperate
with
each
other
and
be
good
to
their
fellow
human
beings.
She
also
advised
Kachi
not
to
be
as
wicked
as
her
mother.
The
girls
still
wonder
why
the
old
woman
was
saying
all
these
she
was
saying.
They
told
her
about
their
prospective
suitors
and
she
told
them
that
she
was
already
aware
of
that.
They
were
surprise
how
she
came
to
know
much
about
them.
After
a
while,
she
brought
some
oranges
and
gave
them.
She
assured
them
that
the
gods
of
their
land
were
with
them.
They
took
the
oranges
with
joy
and
left.
When
they
got
home,
Nana
and
Ify
were
outside
the
building
playing
while
the
dishes
were
left
unwashed.
Their
mother
has
gone
out
and
nobody
knew
where
she
had
gone.
Kachi
and
Chioma
were
annoyed
when
they
saw
that
the
dishes
were
not
yet
washed
but
they
did
not
say
anything.
They
dropped
their
pot
of
water
and
started
washing
the
dishes.
When
they
finished
washing
them,
they
went
back
and
have
their
breakfast.
It
was
already
mid-day
at
that
time
and
both
of
them
were
very
hungry.
They
ate
voraciously
like
people
who
had
not
eating
for
some
days.
When
their
father
came
back
from
the
farm,
he
was
happy
that
every
where
was
clean,
and
he
knew
that
Nana
and
Ify
couldn't
have
done
the
work
because
they
were
lazy
people.
He
thanked
Kachi
and
Chioma
and
gave
them
some
pieces
of
roasted
meat
he
had
bought
from
the
market
on
his
way
back.
He
called
them
into
his
hut
and
told
them
some
interesting
folktales.
He
continued
to
wonder
how
Kachi
and
Chioma
were
growing
bigger
and
more
beautiful
than
their
elder
sisters.
The
oranges
that
the
old
woman
gave
them
made
them
glitter
than
never
before.
Chioma's
wound
could
no
longer
be
seen
because
the
oil
from
the
palm
kernel
which
the
woman
rubbed
on
her
face
cleared
everything.
They
did
not
tell
their
father
what
Mrs.
Nwanneka
did
to
her
since
the
wound
has
healed.
Both
of
them
went
to
bed
that
night
happily.
