EAGLE FROM THE RUBBLE: CHAPTER 21

geniusvic (54)in #story • 8 years ago

Natachinyem had stayed close to a month with her sister Obichi when she delivered her baby. By now schools had vacated and Natachinyem was itching to be replaced by Nwamaka. She loved being at home with Ezekwe and Nkeiru. She managed to stay for an additional three weeks and from then on, whatever Obichi did to hold her much longer could not work out. Obichi's husband went to get Euna for Omugwo. Euna reeled out a litany of reasons why she would not be
available ranging from one type of ill health to the other. Instead she suggested that Natachinyem should stay longer on her behalf. This would have made Obichi very unhappy but she reasoned that if her mother did not have her interest at heart, she would not have sent Natachinyem without her asking for her. The only problem was that Natachinyem was becoming restless and longed to return home. After managing to stay on for three months in all, Obichi could no longer hold her especially now her exams were near at hand. She got ready and left for Nneri.

Back at Nneri, Nwamaka barely managed to finish her exams. The incident of that night still haunted her daily. She became withdrawn and no matter how Euna tried, she could no longer cheer her up.
Things turned sour for Nwamaka when after some months people started looking at her with raised eyebrows. Ure was the first to notice and intimated her husband Ezekwe of her suspicion. Ezekwe maintained a watch-and-see stance and kept the information to himself.

Later, outsiders started asking questions. These included Adaeze, who voiced out her suspicion to the hearing of her friend Euna. This was in Euna's sitting room as the two friends sat discussing about general issues. Adaeze noticed that immediately on her arrival, Nwamaka withdrew to her room. This had become a routine. Whenever people were around, she always kept away to avoid their inquiring eyes. She virtually avoided any encounter with people these days. These days too, she hardly stepped out of the house for anything

"Euna, I had wanted to ask you a question all along," Adaeze ventured.

Euna, on her own side these days, was being more on the defensive. She acted like a lioness in readiness for any combat in defence of its cub. Immediately Adaeze said this, she became guarded.

"What kind of question could that be?" she asked.

"It is in connection with your daughter, Nwamaka. Have you taken a closer look at her lately?"

"Why should I take a closer look at her? She is my and I know her well, what do I need a closer daughter look for?"

"Euna, be reasonable and...."

Euna cut in, pretending to be angry

"You are the one being unreasonable. Why should you make a little girl, the age of one of your daughters a point of gossip?" she asked.

*"Gossip?" she asked her, feeling insulted. "Does talking to you about your daughter constitute gossip?"

"Let's talk about your daughters for a change. Leave my child alone. You and your band of idle gossips will not mind your own business. Instead, another person's problem becomes your source of headache," she said, hotly.

Adaeze was thoroughly embarrassed.

"Euna, do you realise you are talking to me?" she asked.

"Are you now accusing me of being insane? Please I think you should go and allow me to go on with my chores," she said as she got up, went outside and picked a broom. She returned to the sitting room where Adaeze was still sitting and started sweeping.
Adaeze looked at her and felt very hurt and
insulted. She quietly got up and left but not without hearing Euna's comments about busybodies.

Soon news got to the parish priest through the heads of the sodalities where Nwamaka belonged. The parish priest was very worried because Nwamaka was outstanding in her work at the parish. She normally led the members of her sodality to work at the parish house at the end of every week This made her well-known to the priest. The priest also knew her as a sister to Reverend Sister Nkechinyere now on mission in Uganda. He decided to pay a visit to Nwamaka. He went in the company of the Parish Catechist and the other members of the parish.

Nwamaka was first to see them as they approached their house. She instantly disappeared inside. Euna however emerged from inside. She stood by the door and eyed the group angrily.

*"Good morning Madam," the priest greeted.

hesitation

"Good morning, Father," she replied while still standing at the door.

"Can we come in?" he asked, after a moment's hesitation.

"I am sorry, Father. But you have to tell me what you want here," she said with a set expression.

Fr. William considered this for some time.
"Okay, if you won't let us in; please can I see your daughter, Nwamaka?"

"Why? For what purpose?" she snapped.

""Euna, what has come over you? Is this the way you should talk to Father?"* one of those who accompanied Fr. William asked. She glared at the speaker and hissed.

"Leave her alone," Fr. William said gently. "I want to see Nwamaka because for some time now she has not been showing up as she usually did. I was wondering if something was wrong. So, kindly allow me to see her and speak to her."

"Father, please go back to the parish house, that's where you should be. Leave my daughter alone. Haven't you done enough harm already? You have brainwashed my daughter, Nkechinyere and now she has gone off to God knows where. Isn't that enough achievement for you yet? This time, you have turned to Nwamaka. What do you want with my daughter, Nwamaka?"

"Shut up, woman. Have you no respect?" the catechist asked.

Turning to him, Euna said:
"I don't have time for you now. So quietly bundle yourself out of here before I get angry."

Stunned, Fr. William stared at her.

"Madam, I am sorry you sound this way," he managed to say.

*"Yes, you should be sorry. Leave my daughter alone to live her life. Stop meddling in my affairs, Father. When I need your help, I will come to the parish house." Turning to the others, she said "All of you should go back to your different houses and leave me alone. Or don't you have better things to do?""

"You will hear from us," the catechist said.

Fr. William and his entourage quietly left the compound while Euna continued deriding them as they left.
Ezekwe had watched the whole drama from the door of his obu. When Fr. William and his group walked past him, he shook his head sadly and went back into his obu and sat down heavily.

When the members of the C.W.O. heard of how Euna treated Fr. William and those who came with him, they summoned her to their meeting severally but she failed to show up. They sent emissaries to her, comprising the executives of the organisation but she meted out to them similar treatment as that of Fr. WIlliam. This enraged the members and they had her ostracised from their group. They converged at her house bearing leaves in their hands. They came singing songs of anger and later dumped the whole leaves in front of her house. They formally handed her the suspension letter which she refused to accept. They dropped same in front of her house however.