It was the fourth night after Euna's discussion with Nwamaka. None of them had broached the subject again but each knew it was uppermost in the mind of the other. This night, after supper, Natachinyem as usual went over to be with Nkeiru and Ezekwe. As much as Euna hated this, she was grateful these days whenever Natachinyem made her exit. She needed to be alone with Nwamaka in order to succeed. Therefore, she did not mind when Natachinyem walked out after supper.

Nwamaka finished arranging things in the kitchen and then went into the sitting room. She sat down on one of the seats and turned to her mother. Euna had been unusually quiet that night and had sat gazing into space.

"Mama, what do you say is the problem? I have asked you before, but you refused to tell me?" Nwamaka asked.

"My dear," she said after a pause. "My problem is of the mind. So I can't explain it to you."

"Why don't you try?" she urged. Euna looked at her, tried to say something, but changed her mind.

"Go to bed," she said instead.

"I can't leave you like this, Mama"

At this Euna replied with a smile.
"But one day, you will all leave me like this. I will be alone with no one to talk to, reason with, and confer with. Only waiting for my death to come, all alone," she said pitiably.

"Mama!" she said moving towards, her. "You are breaking my heart and I don't like it,"* she lamented.

"Then do something tangible to change the situation. Help me. Have a child for me," she said emphatically with tears in her eyes.

"Okay. If that will bring a solution to your problem, I will do it. I promise," she blurted out.

Euna could not believe her ears. She turned to her and asked:

"Did you say you were going to do it?"

She nodded.

"Yes I will."

Euna rushed out of her seat and embraced her with joy.

"Natachi, I want you to prepare and go to your sister, Obichi. I heard she is heavy with child. Be with her till her delivery and on the other hand, let her enroll you in a better extramural class for your JAMB exam," Euna directed.

Natachinyem was taken aback. This was because her mother had not been very happy with Obichi since her marriage for reasons best known to her. On her own part, Euna had not shown any interest in her writing JAMB. This she attributed to her lack of finance to see her through. Even when Oyibo promised paying for her university education, there was still no significant change in Euna's attitude.

Based on the above reasons, she became suspicious of her mother's sudden interest. She turned to her sister Nwamaka, who tactfully turned away, avoiding her eyes.

"I don't think I need any other extramural lessons apart from the one I attend here. I and Nkeiru study together and help each other."

At the mention of Nkeiru, Euna became angry.

"You see that Nkeiru, she is going to lead you to your doom if you don't take care. Anyway, just go and find out how my daughter is faring and try to be of help to her. Concerning your JAMB, it is entirely up to you to decide what to do about it," she said.

"Why don't Nwamaka go and stay with her?" she asked

"Don't you see she will soon be writing her exams?"

"I mean during the holiday."

"Well," she said softening up. "Obichi needs someone around her now. You go and be with her. When Nwamaka finishes her exams, she will come over and you can then return home." Natachinyem reluctantly agreed.

A week after Natachinyem's departure, Euna and Nwamaka finalised their plans.

"You see, once you are through with your monthly period you let me know. I will take care of the remaining part," she said to Nwamaka.

"That's okay but can't we tell sister Oyibo about it?" she asked.

"No, we won't," she said becoming alarmed. "We will let her know after we have succeeded."

Nwamaka smiled shyly and with reservation.

On the d-day, they had an early supper and after cleaning up, Nwamaka retired to her room as was directed by her mother. As she lay down, her heart pounded heavily. She turned to Natachinyem's neatly made bed and wondered if Natachinyem could go through this were she in her shoes. She quickly pushed this thought to the back of her mind. She turned down the wick of the lantern and moved it farther away from where she lay.
Other thoughts bugged her too. But she turned these aside too and was just contented to believe that she was about to do something to redeem her family.

Several hours later, she was roused by muffled voices approaching her room. Moments later, the door opened and she could just make out two people standing in the doorway. One was Euna but the other person she could not make out. Though she noticed it was the frame of a man.
After conferring with Euna, the man came into her room and closed the door behind him. He then advanced towards her bed and she froze.

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
• CHAPTER 13
• CHAPTER 14
• CHAPTER 15
• CHAPTER 16
• CHAPTER 17
• CHAPTER 18
• CHAPTER 19