Secrets and Sins Between The Mother And Son

CONSEQUENCE

1

Some where in a developing village,in Enugu state,Kachi and her mother were seated on wooden chairs peeling the cassava they harvested from their farm. The cassava would be later processed into cassava flakes(garri) and sold at the village market.

Mazi Okeke,Kachi's father is a palmwine tapper whose income can barely feed the family. Oriaku,Kachi's mother is a petty trader of different food items,including cornflakes (garri).

Apart from these,Okeke's family also have their farm lands as another source of living,which is in fact,the major source of living in the community.

Kachi jerked up from her chair,startling her mother. She ran to a corner and threw up the contents in her mouth.

"Kachi,are you OK?" The voice of a concerned mother filled the air.

"yes mama" Kachi replied,wiping her mouth with the back of her hand before walking back to her place.

"why are vomiting?" Oriaku asked,suspiciously.

"mama,I don't know. I am not feeling well" Kachi replied.

"Kachi,you have been behaving strange lately,tell me what is wrong with you?" Oriaku was filled with expectations. "I hope it's not what am thinking?"

Kachi's heart skipped. She knew what her mother was thinking. But she was very careful for that not to happen.

"mama,which one is behaving strange?...and I don't know what you are thinking o" Kachi said in her defense.

"OK. After we are done with this,we will go to nurse Eliza's house." Oriaku said before picking up a cassava.

"nurse Eliza,to do what?" Kachi shrieked.

"to find out what is wrong with you" Oriaku replied.

Kachi was scared. She didn't need to ask that question because she already knows the answer. Nurse Elizabeth was one of the lucky people who got to further their education after secondary school.

Elizabeth came back to the village after studying nursing because she wanted to help the people of her community.

Elizabeth owns a small clinic in her house; one segment is a room and the other is a clinic,that is not properly equipped. Nurse Eliza came from the combination of nurse and Elizabeth.

FEW HOURS LATER.

"mama Kachi,I have collected Kachi's blood and I will be taking it to the place where the test will be done." Elizabeth announced.

"we should we expect the result?" Oriaku asked,not happy with what she heard.

"in two days" Elizabeth replied.

"it is far,but no problem" Oriaku replied unhappy. Oriaku paid off her debt and left for home with her daughter,whose mind has never been at rest.

Through out the day, Kachi was restless. She drowned herself in thought and prayed earnestly for the test result to come out negative.

"what if this result comes out negative?" Kachi asked herself.

"what will I do?" She muttered.

"oh God, please do not let this happen to me" The thought of being pregnant overwhelmed her.

Kachi was so lost in thought that she didn't hear mother calling for her. It took a thunderous slap from her mother to bring her back to reality.

"Kachi, what are you doing here?" Oriaku roared

"ma? nothing" Kachi replied quickly and sprang to her feet.

"what do you mean by 'nothing? Won't you join me in the kitchen to make dinner?" Oriaku queried.

"umm..." Kachi tried to speak but her mother shut her up.

"will you get yourself in to the kitchen before I slap you to the kitchen!!" Oriaku said sternly and in seconds, Kachi found herself running to the kitchen.

Kachi helped her mother pound pepper and picked out dirt from the beans they were to cook for dinner.

Oriaku looked at her daughter who was absent minded in what she was doing. She noticed that something was bothering her.

Oriaku thought of how to get Kachi talking and the best way was to use her motherly love and understanding.

"Kachi my daughter" Oriaku called tenderly.

"yes mama" Kachi jerked. She quickly looked down to the tray of beans sitting comfortably on her legs.

"are you OK?" Oriaku cooed.

"yes mama. I am fine" Kachi replied. She never looked at her mother while responding.

"you know you can tell me anything right?" Oriaku tried as much as possible to be as polite as she can be.

"are you angry with me? OK am sorry, my daughter" Oriaku apologized. Kachi snapped her head up. She stared at her mother with eyes wide open.

"mama!" she was appalled because it is impossible for an African mother to apologize to her child when she corrects him or her.

"what is the matter?" Oriaku chuckled.

"ah ah, since when did you start apologizing for querying me? Talk more of when you hit me?" Kachi asked suspiciously.

"forget that one. Just like you always say, there's always a first time" Oriaku responded and Kachi laughed to that.

"Kachi..do you have a boyfriend?" Oriaku dropped the bombshell. Kachi froze. She knew her mother was up to something when she became all sweet and apologizing.

"mama, what are you talking about?" Kachi stuttered.

"it's a simple question my dear daughter, that requires a simple answer" Oriaku smiled.

"mama I don't know what you are talking about or what you are trying to hear from me" Kachi replied.

"why are you trying to shy away from this question? Why are you being coyly?" Oriaku asked but Kachi remained quiet.

"my dear daughter, you are teenager. No a young adult and it is understandable that you desire to have such relationship with a young man, just like other teenagers" Oriaku continued.

She collected the tray of beans from Kachi and poured it into a pot of boiling water seated on the fire. She asked Kachi to push in the fire woods to enable the fire to keep burning.

"so tell me, do you have a boyfriend?" Oriaku asked again.

"no mama, I don't" Kachi replied shyly. She played with the hem of her dress, smiling sheepishly.

"but your actions right now, is saying otherwise" Oriaku noted.

"no oo, I don't have a boyfriend oo,but..." Kachi hesitated but Oriaku urged her to go ahead and say her mind.

"there are men who are interested in me" Kachi replied.

"men!!!" Oriaku squealed "who are those men?"

"have they touched you?"

"ah mama, calm down. I never said that I accepted them and they did not touch me" Kachi retorted.

"Kachi, I hope for your sake, you are saying the truth o" Oriaku warned "because you are behaving suspiciously lately"

"mama, I don't know what you are implying o. How are am I behaving strange?" Kachi sulked.

"OK. No problem. In two days we will find" Oriaku replied before concentrating on her cooking.

Once again, Kachi was drowned in the river of fear. After dinner was served, she couldn't eat because she had no appetite.

CONSEQUENCE

2

Kachi sat on a wooden long chair,under a mango tree in peter's compound. Peter is her boyfriend.

"obim,you have not spoken to me since you came here,what is the matter?" Peter asked,before sitting beside her.

"nne,is everything okay?" he asked again after silence greeted him.

"Kachi? Kachi?" he called tapping her.

"peter ogini? what is it?" Kachi snapped taking peter aback.

"you are not saying anything to me and it's bothering me" he replied calmly.

Peter for one,genuinely loves Kachi and it bleeds his heart to see her sad.

"obim,talk to me,please" he begged again. The sincerity in his eyes pricked Kachi's conscience for yelling at him. She sighed and wiped away the tears from her cheek.

"Kachi,you are crying?...Kachi stop this suspence and tell me what happened" He said frustrated.

Kachi took her time to calm down before talking to him. She told everything that he needed to know.

"my mother suspects that I am pregnant" Kachi ended her tale.

"is that why you are crying?" peter asked,earning a scornful look from Kachi. "is it certain? I mean the pregnancy?"

"no. the result will be out soon" Kachi replied,marveled at Her boyfriend's nonchalant attitude towards the issue at hand.

"Kachi i don't know why you are killing yourself over nothing" Peter said.

"what do you mean by that?" Kachi growled.

"even if you get pregnant,it will be a good news" He said smiling but Kachi wasn't smiling. "OK am sorry. it's just that the thought of becoming a father makes me happy"

His actions and reactions caught Kachi off guard. Aside from how disappointed her parents will be at her,She also feared that peter might deny her child,judging from the stories of most girls who got pregnant and was denied by those responsible.

"you are not going to deny it?" She couldn't help her curiosity..

"deny my child?" peter furrowed his brows. He held her hands gently in his and massaged them with his thumb.

"Kachi,you should know that I love you too much to do that to you" He continued,but Kachi wasn't buying that.

"Peter,that is what is trending in this village. Young men denying their children" She rasped.

"even your friend,Ebuka did that with Chinelo.." She threw her face away.

Peter chuckled "I am not Ebuka. Kachi,I am peter,the son of Dike and I can never deny my child no matter what" He replied calmly.

His words melted away Kachi's heart. Now that she was sure that Peter wouldn't deny her child,if eventually she was pregnant,she only have to worry about her parents.

"But...what about my parents? they are going to be disappointed." She frowned.

"Don't worry about them,we will find a way out,together" Peter cooed and pulled her to himself.

"but we are not even sure if you are really pregnant or not" Peter said after a little while.

"well,the result will tell" Kachi replied and silence followed,each lost in thoughts.

+

At the market, Oriaku overheard some women discussing about a girl who got pregnant. She picked interest and stylishly drew closer to the group of women discussing.

"did you hear about Chizoba?" The first woman began

"which Chizoba?" the second asked.

"Ukamaka's daughter. Remember Ukamaka, the leader of Umuada" The first woman explained.

"yes what about her daughter?" another woman asked curiously.

"hmm, I heard that she's pregnant" the first woman said with disgust.

"is she married?" another person asked.

"why are you asking as if you don't know Ukamaka and..." the first woman said but the second woman cut her short

"and her show off" the second woman chirped.

"were you asked to contribute anything for anybody's marriage?" the third woman asked. She directed her question to the person who asked if Chizoba was married.

"if Chizoba got married, we all know that Ukamaka would have shut down the whole village" the second woman said in contempt.

"eh? So Ukamaka's daughter is pregnant, out if wedlock?" the fourth woman clapped her hands dramatically.

"yes o, my sister" the first woman replied.

"I remember the way she condemned Nkechi, before excommunicating her from Umuada when her daughter Chinelo got pregnant" Someone stated.

"yes I remember that day. Chai! I really felt pity for Nkechi. The poor woman was crying bitterly" the fourth woman cooed.

"this is the true definition of kamar,because..." the first woman said.

"what goes around comes around!!!" the other women chorused. They laughed and high fived each other.

"so what becomes of her?" the fourth woman asked.

"Bia this woman, why are you behaving as if you are not a member of the Umuada?" the first woman retorted.

"nne, okwanu ka okwu na ga'aga (my dear I want the discussion to keep flowing)" the woman replied defensively.

"first, she will be stripped off her leadership position and then excommunicated from the Umuada" The second woman responded.

"chai, poor Ukamaka. I hope she learns her lessons and not judge others in their bad times" the fourth woman said with empathy.

"that serves her right. I wish she would be given more punishment" the first woman said contempted.

"ah ah why?"

"because she deserves more and worst" The first woman said frantically.

"this is becoming personal. Are you sure there's nothing more to this than the matter at hand?" one of the women asked and the rest stared at the frantic woman with suspicious eyes.

"and I hope that all of you can stand before Ukamaka and say all what you just said behind her?" Oriaku asked. She was tired of the malicious words that was being lashed out at the poor woman.

"and how is that your business?" the first woman glared at her.

"it's not my business but remember, no body is perfect. It is her turn today, tomorrow might be the turn for any of you here, and just like you lashed at Ukamaka, people, even your friends will lash out at you" Oriaku replied.

"God forbid!!" the women said simultaneously.

"is that a curse?" The second woman asked.

"it's just an advice" Oriaku replied.

"Oriaku okwuruora, (Oriaku the mouth piece) thank you for your advice, but take it else where" the women taunted.

Oriaku left the scene but the women kept throwing tantrums at her. She even heard one of them telling her to make sure that her home is prefect.

NEXT DAY

Angry Oriaku stormed into the compound and met it exactly the way she had left it. She met Elizabeth on her way to the market.

After asking Elizabeth to read the result,Oriaku lost her joy. Even though she had trekked a far distance from her home and almost at the market,she couldn't continue her journey.

Oriaku got hold of a bucket full of water and splashed it on Kachi who has been sleeping. Kachi flawed her eyes open and met the angry eyes of her mother,staring daggers at her.

CONSEQUENCE

3

Oriaku was infuriated. She never imagined that her child would ever become pregnant out of wedlock...

'this is my enemies at work' Oriaku thought to herself. She thought of how she will become the topic for discussion among the market women.

"Mama,what is the meaning of this?" Kachi snapped.

"eh eh! Kachi so you still have the mouth to talk?" Oriaku asked angrily and flabbergasted. The nerve of her daughter.

"Mama why won't I talk? what did I do to you that made you pour water on me?!" Kachi retorted.

Oriaku chuckled in disbelief. "you have eaten what I ate that is why you have the guts to disrespect me in my husband's house".

" I don't blame you" Oriaku added.

"mama I don't know what you are talking about. what did you eat that I have eaten?" Kachi paused and observed her mother's face.

"see see,if someone made you angry at the market please don't put it on me. allow me to be" She replied angrily and folded her arms under her chest.

"Kachi! Eh Kachi?" Oriaku chuckled in disbelief

"even after bringing disgrace to this family,you now talk back at me!!!?" Oriaku yelled with so much anger that could shake a building.

Kachi was quiet surprised. She honestly didn't know what her mother was talking about. Disgrace? what did she do?

"Mama what are you even talking about? tell me because I am clueless" She demanded.

"This is what am talking about!!" Oriaku tossed a white paper to her before walking to a near by seat and plunged herself on it.

Kachi wondered what the paper contained that made her mother so mad. Nonetheless,she opened the paper and then it dawned on her.

It was the pregnancy result. Even though she already knew the content through her mother's reaction,she still had to read it to make sure her mother wasn't tricking her.

Kachi was a little bit educated than her parents. She had gone to the community school. Even with the poor education system there,she still managed to scale through. At least she can read and write.

Kachi buried her face in her palms,while listening to her mother query her.

"Kachi how could you? how dare you do this to our family?" The poor woman lamented. Her heart was broken.

"Mama i am sorry" Kachi apologized.

Both mother and daughter cried;Kachi felt guilty while Oriaku heart broken.

"You have disappointed me,your father and your self too" Oriaku continued.

"you have made me a laughing stock" Oriaku cried.

"I am sorry,Mama" Kachi apologized again.

"Sorry?" Oriaku scoffed. "you are sorry"

" what can sorry do now? absolutely nothing. You should have thought of how sorry you will be before opening your legs and allowing a man who is not your husband to get you pregnant..." Oriaku complained bitterly.

LATER IN THE DAY

The news of Kachi's pregnancy had gotten to her father's ears. The trios sat down in silence,each in his own thoughts.

"Kachi" Mazi Okezie called,breaking the silence.

"yes papa" Kachi's response came through.

"How old are you?" Okezie asked. His voice was calm,but the anger in it was visible.

"I am 19 years papa" Kachi sniffed back tears.

"19" Mazi repeated,nodding his head like he was just understanding what she meant. His daughter's act hurt him the most. Well every parent would be hurt if their daughters gets pregnant outside marriage.

"19 and you are already pregnant?" He asked rhetorically.

"who is responsible?" He continued his question,this time expecting answers. Even when Kachi hesitated,he still didn't repeat himself.

"it's peter" Kachi stuttered "Mazi Dike's son"

Okezie has no problem with the young man or his family,because they are a very notable people in the community.

His anger was his daughter getting pregnant outside marriage. Assuming the young man came to ask for her hand in marriage,he would gladly give her to him.

"well in that case,you have gotten yourself a new home" Okezie said after a very long silence. Oriaku snapped her head to face her husband,She was surprised by his statement.

"Papa..." Kachi called,not sure She understood what he said.

"I want you out of my house,this instant" He roared.

"hey..mbanu,nna anyi. it has not gotten to that" Oriaku pleaded with her husband.

"Papa please" Kachi pleaded in tears and quickly got to her knees. "I am sorry. I don't want to be laughed at"

"you should have thought of that before eating the forbidden fruit" Okezie replied. "and you are already a laughing stock but I won't be part of it."

"mama,please help me beg papa. Tell him am sorry" Kachi cried and pleaded with her mother.

"My husband please...have pity on her. Remember She's our only child." Oriaku pleaded. She was angry at Kachi,but she can't allow her daughter to leave her sight in that condition. She also wanted to take care of her grand child.

"Nna anyi please...at least let her stay till she gives birth,then you can send her away."

"woman,I don't want to hear anything from you again." Okezie shunned her. "when she was opening her legs did she think about her being the only child?"

"mistakes happen. I am sure she has learnt her lessons,oh biko. forgive her" Oriaku still pleaded.

"Oriaku not this kind of mistake,not in my house. and if you had taught her well,she wouldn't be in this mess..." Okezie snapped and walked away.

"oh now it's my fault okwaya? It is now my fault that she got pregnant?" Oriaku yelled to his hearing.

"if a child behaves well,it is the father's doing. but if a child behaves badly,it is the mother's fault. no problem! nsogbu adiro" She was angry.

"mama I don't want to leave please" Kachi cried and held her mother's cloth.

"will you let go of my cloth!" Oriaku said and forcefully removed Kachi's hands. "get out my sight!" she ordered.

Kachi reluctantly got up and left as ordered. She could hear her mother throwing insults at her...

+

At the market the women whom Oriaku confronted for gossiping about someone gathered to gossip about her.

"my sisters wonder shall never end" the second woman enthusiasd. She urged the other women to gather around her.

"mama ikenna what is the matter?" The third woman asked as she left her shop and walked briskly towards mama ikenna.

"you remember Oriaku, who came running her mouth here two days ago?" mama Ikenna asked and the others nodded.

"good. I hear her daughter is pregnant!" she announced.

"are you serious?" the first woman asked enthusiastically.

"yes oo. I heard it directly from nurse Eliza" Mama ikenna said with pride.

"where did you meet with the nurse?"the first woman asked.

"are you sure that your daughter is not pregnant too?" the third woman asked.

"Bia mama Emeka are you trying to insult me and my daughter?" Mama ikenna asked furiously.

"nooo, I am just curious" Mama Emeka shrugged.

"please don't mind her, give us the full gist" the first woman interrupted.

"I met nurse Eliza on her way to Oriaku's house. I was on my way to the market" Mama Ikenna began her tale.

"I asked her why she was going to see Oriaku and she told me how Oriaku had visited her with her daughter to get a pregnancy test done on her child" She continued.

"and out of curiosity, I asked her what the result says and waaaaa like a stream, Eliza opened her mouth and told me that Kachi is pregnant" mama Ikenna concluded her tale.

"heyyyy, I can not wait to see her excommunicated from Umuada. She had the guts to run her mouth meanwhile her daughter is no saint" Mama Emeka danced happily.

"I am looking forward to that as well" The first woman chirped...

"Oriaku, shame!!!" the women chorused. They spatted on the ground in disgusting before going back to their various shops.