Golden Grace

            I pounded three wraps of Akpu and warmed the remaining Egusi soup for Aunty Mba as breakfast, before dashing out of the house in my faded Ankara high waist skirt and an off coloured red blouse; in a bid to fetch water with the gallons.  "Olamma!" I turned to the familiar voice of Stella, my best friend. She was on a cheeky smile. A smiling angel indeed. She got joy from bottom of her heart which always radiated on the outside. However, Stella could be dangerous when stepped on.   "Why are you looking at me like that? Do I look different from the Olamma you know?" I quizzed at Stella whose eyes has been scrutinizing me. "Don't tell me that it's that your wicked Aunty that did this to you. Your body is filled with stripes

             I was seriously battered when Aunty Mba dragged me into the house by my ears. "Is that how you were trained? No tell me, we that didn't shuk mouth for matter ( put mouth in the matter) are fools. Isn't it?" She asked as a slap simultaneously landed on my face."I will show you pepper today. Go into the store and bring the Cameron pepper for me. M ga agbagi ose taata ( I will apply pepper all over you today)" She tied her wrapper which was almost falling of her waist."Aunty please, I will not do it again." I pleaded on my knees. Aunty Mba removed the bathroom slippers on her right foot and aimed it at me. It landed directly on my eyes."Aauuntty!!!" I screamed as blood circulated my left eye. I let myself remain on the ground where I kept weeping."Will you come here. I'm not even done with you ." Aunty Mba yelled and I crawled to the chair where she sat, shaking her extra large legs. "Open your legs!" She o

                            My travelling bag was half filled with few ragged clothes and torn shoes. Aunty Mba let me know that my mother would arrive by noon to take me back. I didn't know if I should be happy or not about leaving ghetto and its notorious indigenes, but I was definitely glad that my stay with Aunty Mba has come to an end.                                That faithful morning, She insisted that I do all the house chores so as not to be used by the devil as a workshop. Her exact word were, "Olamma get up and scrub the house, for an idle man is the devil's workshop."                             Stella came around and helped me out do th

               Ojiugo is a self opinionated and strong willed girl. Growing up together, she always displayed the stiff necked and adamant trait, Mama said she got it from Papa. Ojiugo only adheres to whatever instructions she wants to, anything other than that is going to be history."It's been long since I last descended on you, that is why you run your mouth like tap water." I began scolding Ojiugo. I paused before continuing, "Just walk out of here before you lead me into temptation."                   Ojiugo stood still with an expression that showed how much what I said irked her. She scrunched up her little nose in disgust and nothing short of irritation. I knew why she had little regards for me. It's because it's been really long since I gave her a touching beating. I stopped beating her since she was thirteen years. Although

                   It was about twenty minutes past midnight when due to the tremendous effect of tonight's heat, i got up from bed to remove my clothes. I hurriedly put off the bogus blue polo that has already gotten damp at the armpit and the long navy blue plitted skirt that reached my ankles. I wondered how on earth i got to sleep wity this kind of outfit at a night like this.