It was about nine before Mama Vicky could be found alone. By this time, Obichi and Nwamaka had both left for school. Mama Vicky managed to get to the backyard and saw Euna huddled at a corner, still in tears. She watched her for sometime in silence before sitting down opposite her.

"Euna, you have not really told me what transpired between you and Ezekwe to bring about these tears. If not for my arthritic and rheumatic pains, I would have gone to Nneri myself to speak with Ezekwe. But as you can see, that is not possible for me. I want you to tell me the truth."

"What other truth since you have already judged in his favour?"

"No, I didn't. I merely stated a fact and the fact still remains that Ezekwe doesn't hate either you or your kids."

"Since you know this, what do you want me to tell you?"

"Tell me about how you went requesting for the land. Did you go with anything like oil bean salad and stockfish?"

She looked up at her for the first time.
"Did I need to go with that?" she asked.

"Didn't you know? Euna, it is by kneeling that the foal of the goat or sheep can suck its mother's breast."

"I didn't think he required that" she said after some thought.

"Who told you that?"

"I am saying that because he had already shown me a piece of land. He wouldn't have done that if what you were saying is so important." Mama Vicky stared at her daughter in apparent confusion.

"Did you say he had shown you a piece of land?"she asked, perplexed.

"Yes, but I don't like the one he gave me. He refused to allow me take the one I have chosen." Mama Vicky was silent. She could not understand what her daughter's problem really was.

When Euna sensed what might be going on in her mother's mind, she offered more explanation:
"I asked him for the land at Uhu Ama but refused to grant my request. Were Chikezie alive, would he have refused to give him whatever piece of land he asked for?"

"Where is Uhu Ama?" Mama Vicky asked slowly.

"It is by the path between Umulu and Umuome. There is a vast expanse of Oparaji's land situated there. It is just the ideal place for me and my children. We will have some breathing space and have more room or expansion later. But he wouldn't agree to this. He rather wants me to clear the land adjacent to the house we now live in" she finally concluded.

"And he has my firm support," Mama Vicky instantly replied. "That is exactly where the house should be built. What are you going to Uhu Ama or whatever you call it to do? Who will be there to protect you and your children? Don't you know that Ezekwe's presence offers you and your daughters a lot of
protection?" Mama Vicky looked at her daughter worried at her behaviour. "Do you want to expose yourself and the children to danger? Are you planning to build the Tower of Babel that the land near where you now live would not give you enough room to build? Euna, be reasonable. Stop being delinquent, you are past that age," she finished hotly.

"I am really sorry" Euna immediately apologised.

Mama Vicky was taken aback by this because Euna was not one to give in so easily. She turned to Euna.

"I am happy you now realise your mistake. Wipe your tears and go back to Nneri, apologise to Ezekwe and see to the clearing of that land."

"I will, but there is something else I have been thinking about. Some day or the other, my daughters will all get married and with time I will also die as all mortals must. So whenever one is planning, you must reckon with death. That is why I have come to ask for a favour." She paused, weighing her words. "I am begging you Mama," she said, kneeling down before her mother.

"Get up. Don't kneel before me. Sit down and ask me whatever you wish to ask for." Euna sat down.

"There's something I want you to do for me. Bearing in mind that my daughters will all one day be married off, I want to tell Moses to come here and build a house for me. I am asking this so that when I die, I will bequeath the house to my brothers' children. That will be my own contribution to this family. This is all I want you to do for me. Please Mama, don't refuse," she pleaded.

Mama Vicky was astounded and could not reply for quite some time. She sat back in her chair and closed her eyes. The shock was too much for her and she took a long time recovering. When she opened her eyes, there was a sad look in them.

"Euna, why do you always choose to be the odd one out among all my children? Why do your thoughts always appear hideous and shocking? Whoever heard of what you are saying before? After marrying you off to Nneri, now you want me to inherit your children again when your bride price was duly paid. Abomination! If you had wanted to come back why didn't you do that after your husband's death? Why do you choose to return now that your first daughter is getting married? What reasons will you give to Moses for the shift in the location of the house? If Ezekwe had allowed you to build at Uhu Ama, would you have thought of returning? You are worrying about who will live in your house when you are dead. Are there no other persons in your husband's lineage? You belong to Nneri and whatever you own belongs to Nneri also. Never ever mention this matter again to me. Excuse me."

Mama Vicky painfully got up and returned to her room.

Thanks for reading! Check my blog often for subsequent chapters.

LINKS:

• INTRODUCTION
• CHAPTER 1
• CHAPTER 2
• CHAPTER 3
• CHAPTER 4
• CHAPTER 5
• CHAPTER 6
• CHAPTER 7
• CHAPTER 8
• CHAPTER 9
• CHAPTER 10
• CHAPTER 11
• CHAPTER 12