Underneath the Earth

Underneath the Earth is one of my books, so far. although it is unpublished, it is one of my finished book from last year. Anyways, here is just Chapter one of the book, although i excluded dedications and acknowledgments, please do give a feedback.

Underneath the Earth

Treasures unfold,

One gem to the other,

Ranging from wanted to unwanted.

What value do you hold?

Right there,

Underneath the Earth?

The wind howls,

The trees sway,

But nothing affects the Under Earth,

Strong and Protected,

How safe art thou

Right there,

Underneath the earth

                                                                                                         

Prologue

The wind carried up dust up and around. Oformah walked briskly to the goat shed. She inspected the ropes that held the goats. The black goat had slept off, while the other was busy chewing its cord. She had ensured that the ropes were tightened to the trunk of the mango tree.

“Nonye!” She called as she stood up right. “Nonye!!’

“Nne.” A thin female voice replied from the hut. A girl of about ten years of age came out of the hut.

“Go and bring the sheeps from the pasture, hurry before the rain reaches the ground.”

Nonye raced out the compound that was fenced with dried palm fronds.

Oformah walked to the front of her hut, she grabbed a cane, and then sat down on a stool. She had specially gotten the cane from the Udara tree outside the compound. She intended to use it on Madu. Her first and only son.

He had gone to his friends hut to play and had forgotten to pluck the Onugbu leaves his mother had arranged for that nights supper.

Madu’s whistles made her adjust properly on the stool waiting for him to enter the compound.

He kept whistling, till he entered into the yard. He approached her smiling not knowing the folly that awaited him.

“Nne, goodi evening.” He greeted. Oformah didn’t even reply, she landed the cane on his shoulders. “O gbu wo moo ooooooo.” Madu cried out in pain. He raced away from her.

“So you think the bitter leaves would pluck themselves out?” Oformah asked walking towards him, then hitting him again on his hands. Madu cried out again then ran to the kitchen to pluck the leaves.

Adanma, Oformah’s eight year old daughter came out the hut, then rubbed sleep off her eyes.

“Nma.” Oformah called dropping the cane and patting the girl’s head. “You’ve awoken.”

The girl nodded in approval, then made the sign of hunger. Oformah ignored her.

“Go and help Madu pluck the bitter leaves.”

Sluggishly the girl went to the back where the kitchen was.

That night, the rain only drizzled. The goats and sheeps kept calling. Madu was fixing the roof; he had climbed on top of the hut, and had been covering holes with planks of woods and more palm fronds.

Chapter 1

Oformah was a respected widow in all of Ori Kingdom. Her motherly values and advices were always the talk of the town, but then no one dared to fall into her trouble. In the past, she had won many wrestling competitions apart from that she was a very strict woman. Her husband Mazi Obu mostly known as ‘Teacher’ who had passed on four years after Adanma birth was even afraid of her in most cases. When Teacher was alive he had avoided all paths that could lead to quarrels with her, one day she almost broke his head in two with a pestle. Although, Oformah was a caring, loyal and understanding wife but she was also a stubborn and crazy wife.

A particular day she had beaten teacher’s assistant just because she had seen both of them standing together. She had already beaten the woman to pulp when she found out that, Teacher was only appealing to the said lady to help him take his class the next day.

In all, Oformah was a humble woman. She had single-handedly raised her three children up for four years after her husband’s death. Even when things were so hard she had struggled to put Madu in the Village Primary School.

Madu was a naughty and playful, but when it came to his studies he was a sharp-witted fellow, unlike Nonye who didn’t know much. The previous term her mother had beaten her and called her an ‘iti.’  She commended Madu and Adanma.

The Eastern breeze blew gently. The sun wasn’t up yet but Oformah had gathered her foodstuffs from the shed. They consisted of yam, dried pepper, vegetables and few other items.

“Nonye?” She called. She went into the hut. Her three children have curled up together. The wrapper she had used to cover them last night was at the other end of the room. How it had gotten there she didn’t care to know.

“Nonye.” She called kicking her first daughter lightly.

All the children aroused, then looked at her.

“Go to the stream, my friend. I gave you food last night and now it is sleep galore, that you don’t even know when the day breaks.” Her eyes darted to Madu. “Take the sheeps to the pasture.”

She turned to leave the hut; she carried the “mkpanaka” lamp, half way she turned to Adanma. “Bia nwa, go and set the firewood.”

As she headed out she heard the slight murmuring of her children and the rustling of the mat.

When Madu and Nonye had finished their chores, Oformah served them cold cassava and bitterleaf soup.

“Madu, when you get back from school, make sure Adanma eats. There is yam inside the pot under the cupboard. E nu?”

“Eh!” Madu replied swallowing a large ball of fufu.

“A naba go m” Oformah said carrying her basket and settling it on her head.

The sun began to peer from the clouds, giving light to her path.

“How can you tell me that fifteen plus six is sixty?” Teacher Jiofo asked a boy. The boy whose name was Okoro stood there looking at the board. His clothes were tattered and dirty, most of the buttons were loosened out. “I am talking to you.” Teacher Jiofo shouted, hitting his cane on the table.

“I don’t know sir.” Okoro replied. His eyes darted from the teacher to his cane. He was one of the most opinionated pupils in the school; he was also a friend of Madu.

“And you are going to Secondary School next term. You are so poor in your studies.” Teacher Jiofo told Okoro who was looking non-chalantly at him. “Fifteen plus six equals sixty. Tufia” he spat.

Teacher Jiofo wrote an equation on the board, and then called Okoro to solve it. Okoro came to the board trembling. Fearfully, he collected the chalk from Teacher Jiofo’s hand. He stood in front of the board, chalk in hand, his eyes darting sideways to know when the teacher’s cane was about to land on him. Suddenly, like lightening the cane landed on his back.

 “Nne moooooooo” he cried dropping the piece of chalk on the floor allowing it to break into three pieces.

“Nne gini. Wait till your mother hears you don’t know common arithmetic. She would flog you more than this.”

A girl quickly ran to pick up the three pieces of chalk. She kept them on the teacher’s table.

Teacher Jiofo stared at Okoro as he went back to his seat with a sulky face. The other students gave mumbled laughter at the way Teacher Jiofo kept his face as he watched Okoro. He was an ugly, stout man with the beard of a goat. Most students called him “afo ewu.” Meaning “The beard of a goat”. The village headmaster had once told him to shave off his beard but he ignored vehemently.

When school was over, Madu waited for Adanma. His friends waited with him. Chibuzor, Okoro and James, these were his three bosom friends. They went home together with Adanma in front of them.

“We didn’t buy akara today?” Okoro said looking at his friends. Chibuzor laughed, Madu followed in the laughter.

“What is funny?” Okoro asked confused. He stopped walking and made a face.

“You didn’t bring your two cowries today.” James said as he continued to walk.

“Shat up, Jamies. Didn’t I bring two cowries yesterday? Did you people buy any?” he asked following them as they kept on walking.

“Madu lost the money.” Chibuzor said. Okoro looked at Madu.

“Madu!” he called angrily. Madu turned to him. He shot him a disastrous look.

“What?”

Okoro swallowed his speech. Madu was their leader. The most intelligent in class, the most stubborn boy in class.

Madu had actually bought bean cakes the day before without their knowledge.

“Why did you fail that simple arithmetic?” James asked Okoro.

Okoro ignored at first then looked at the others who were laughing out loudly.

“Nne moooooooo,” Chibuzor mimicked.

In anger Okoro pounced on him. Chibuzor was a short boy, with words but no strength. Just like Madu, he was an intelligent boy of eleven. He was the only youngest boy in the group if friends. The others were twelve. James and Madu tried to separate them to no avail.

“He has bitten me.” Okoro cried out in pain. He quickly left the boy who was sprawling on the ground as he got up to nurse his hand.

“Chineke meeeeeeee. Is that my son’s teeth?” Oriaku Malaka asked examining the mark on Okoro’s arm.

“Whose is it? If it is not that dog you call a son” Oriaku Osinachi fired back. When she had seen the bite on her son’s arm, she was shocked. How could a boy bite like an animal?

“Bia Osinachi don’t insult my son. Something must have happened to have resulted in this.”

“My son told me that Chibuzor called him a goat.” Osinachi said looking at her son who nodded in agreement.

“Chibuzor!” Malaka shouted. “Chibu…”

“Nne.” A reply came from the back. Seconds later, Chibuzor came out. He was first perplexed when he saw Okoro and his mother, but then he summoned courage to go to them.

“Good afternoon.” He greeted Osinachi.

“Nkita Afternoon.” Osinachi replied eyeing him dramatically.

His mother pulled his ear, and drew him closer. “Did you bite Okoro?” she asked bending her head towards him as if she was trying to hear him properly.

“Yes ma. He was beating me.” Chibuzor said. He had managed to pull away from his mother’s grip on his ear.

“Liar!” Okoro screamed out. That drew the attention of Chibuzor’s father who was taking snuff at the backyard.

“O gini na eme eba?” he asked coming towards them.

“Okoro didn’t know ‘common’ fifteen plus six. He said it was sixty. So Teacher Jiofo flogged him, and then we were going home, I told him why he failed and he pounced on me so I bit him.” Chibuzor explained.

Osinachi looked at her son. “Fifteen plus six. Isi na o gini?” Okoro turned away to avoid her gaze. “Ngwa bia ka anyi luo ulo.” She dragged him as they headed for home. Okoro sensed that he was doomed. He tried to pull away from her, but her grip on him was strong.

As they left, Mazi Anato looked at his son. “What is fifteen plus six?”

“Twenty-one”

“Good boy.” He said commending him. He patted him slightly; as he went back towards the direction he came out from.

“Madu!” Oformah called as she walked into the compound. Her basket was standing firmly on her head as she walked briskly towards her hut. Madu had actually gone to find mango fruits that he would share with his sisters. Oformah brought down her basket, adjusted her wrapper, then sat down on the wooden stool that was outside the hut.

She brought out the remaining items from her baskets, and then arranged them near the hut. She loosened one edge of her wrapper, then dropped all the cowries on the ground. She began to gather them one after another. In all it was a hundred and seventy cowries. She had paid Nnanyi Nnake the woman she had collected seven bottles of red oil the previous week.

She made sure she hasn’t left any cowry on the ground. She got up, pushed away the basket. She went to the kitchen; she brought out the pot in which she had kept the soup from last night.

“Oformah.” Someone called from the outside.

“Onye?” Oformah asked coming out of her kitchen. “Bekee. Is it you?” Oformah asked. Bekee was a family friend. She was known for using vast English words. Most of the words she spoke, she didn’t know their meanings. She married a linguist who traveled to obodo oyibo for a decade and hasn’t return. It wasn’t been alarming to her since she had been receiving letters from him.

“Yes it’s me. You are so sentimental, who else would come to your hut this hot afternoon?” Bekee asked sitting down on the stool which Oformah had vacated minutes ago.

“I was even going to Ijeagha’s house to collect the debt she owes me.” Oformah said, she rested on the wall of the hut, then looked gracefully at Bekee. Her hair was done in the traditional “koso” style. Her black lips were well curved and attractive.

“Ijeagha. That woman is a great debtor. She owes Nkemamaka two hundred cowries; she is debatable when it comes to money she owes.”

 Oformah scoffed. “That won’t matter to me. She has to pay me. My son would enter the secondary school……..”

“A secondary school”

“Oh. Nwunye Linguwist. Anu mu.”

“I am just saying…”

Oformah adjusted her wrapper. She went into the hut to change her blouse.

Nonye and Adanma came into the compound.

“Aunty Bekee, Goodi afternoon.” They both greeted.

“Afternoon, my dears.”

The two children retired to the hut.

“Did you hear that, Mazi Dike deliberately challenged Dibia Ofor?” Osinachi asked Oformah as they both headed to the women’s council meeting the next day. They were clad in their usual white blouse and yellow wrapper. Oformah’s right hand held a small purse. She looked at Osinachi, as if she hasn’t heard her very well.

“You don’t mean it?” She asked folding her arms in surprise as her eyes darted to the road in front of her. Mazi Dike was one of the chiefs of Ori Kingdom. His wife, Oriaku Ngozika was one of the most stone hearted women in the village. They both engaged in fightings and yellings that the villagers wondered why they got married at first.

“I guess his chi would fail him by the time the Dibia sends leprosy on his family.” Oformah said as she transferred the purse to her left hand.

“He talks too much. One would mistake him for a woman if it wasn’t for his flat chest.” Osinachi said stupidly as she laughed out alone.

“He is a busy-body. I wonder what Ngozika sees in him.”

Halfway they saw, another woman who was headed for the same meeting as they were.

“Nkoli” Osinachi called out to her. The woman stopped, then turned to see who was calling.

“Hiya. Osinachi is that you?” the woman asked as she saw Okoro’s mother.

“I should be asking you the same. I heard you went to Umunkwa to see your daughter and her new baby?” Osinachi said as the three of them continued their journey together.

While Osinachi and Nkoli talked, Oformah’s mind wandered to what she would give as a reason for her not paying the monthly fee for seven months long. Seventeen cowries wasn’t a small money for a woman to pay each month especially women like her. She had been saving money to send Madu to the Secondary School in the village. Not most children went to Ori Missionary Secondary School, only the rich chiefs and top farmers sent their children to school there. It was the only secondary school in the seven districts that surrounded Ori Kingdom.

Moreover apart from the fact that Madu would be going to the school; he needed books and textbooks unlike the slates and boxes which he carried to his primary school. Oformah wanted the best for her children her dreams was that, Madu should become something in future, that he would go to obodo oyibo just like Bekee’s husband and then he would bring them good fortune.

But nowadays Madu seems to be lacking ever since he became friends with Osinachi’s son, the village olodo as Teacher Mokeme called him.

“Adanma.” Madu shouted angrily. He examined the soup again. “Chai. Nonye. Adanma!” he called.

“O gini du?” Nonye answered going into the kitchen to meet him. Seconds later Adanma appeared behind her.

Madu assessed them, he checked carefully if he would be able to find traces of soup at the corner of their mouth.

“Who took the meat in this pot?” Madu asked angrily pointing to the pot. Nonye and Adanma looked at themselves then turned to Madu who was standing unmoved, like a palm tree. “Didn’t you hear me? Who ate the meat in this pot?” Madu asked almost vibrating in anger.

“Ask me again.” Nonye retorted. “What do you want to do with the meat? Is it not to eat it as well?”

“Shat-up” Madu said angrily again. “I know you are the one. When Nne comes back you would explain yourself.”

“Lies. You ate the meat.” Nonye said.

Adanma was busy biting her fingers as her two elder siblings engaged in hot insults.

“Ezi. Get out of my way.” Madu said pushing Nonye out of his way.

On his way out he heard the chants of women as they marched into the compound. Oformah was in front, being pushed and scorned for not paying her monthly fees for seven month. They sang chants, with leaves and palm fronds in the air.

Onye achori nu ihe

Ye kwa ya nnri ewu

Obi onye ahu di ka okwute

Ndi nwanyi, anyi aghaye ekwe.

Oformah na eme ka nwoke,

Obi ya ajoka.

“Bia. What is going on here?”  Madu asked pulling his mother away from them. Oformah hid her tears from her children. The women had mocked her and called her all sorts of names. When she told them she had no money, except Madu school fees, they forced her vehemently to pay her fees on else she would be disgraced. She felt it would be a minor disgrace but then the women had disgraced her all over the town saying that she had killed her husband to bring shame to her family.

Nonye eyed the Women’s leader angrily.

“Your mother has enjoyed from our meetings enough. She comes and drinks with us, eats with us but she can’t even pay like other women. She is a disgrace.”  The woman leader said. The other women only nodded in approval

“You are the disgrace Nne Obosi.” Nonye fired. “How can you do this to a widow? You are a miserable disgrace.”

“Taa, Mechi onu ma sa wa gi anya.” Nne Obosi said in anger.

“Come and close her mouth.” Madu said looking at her. The women stared on agape. They knew Madu to be a stubborn boy just like his mother.

“We have only come to take our seven months fee which she hasn’t paid.” Nne Obosi said

“Yes” other women shouted.

“Wait. I would go and bring it.” Madu said. He went into the house; he slashed his father’s cutlass along the wall to draw their attention.

The women ran out of the house as Madu chased them.

“Madu nwam bia ngah. Biko” Oformah cried out as she noticed that Madu had chased them out of the compound.

Madu frowned at his results, he had come tenth. His mother would kill him that evening.

He quietly waited for his sister, and as soon as she came out, he disappeared home with her. He didn’t want his friends to see or hear that he came tenth.

He brooded intensely on how he had dropped from first to tenth. He refused to eat the roasted plantain and oil which his mother had prepared in the morning before leaving for the market. He had even given his share to Adanma and Nonye to split amongst themselves. Indeed when Oformah returned, she placed his head in-between her thighs and flogged him mercilessly.

“Madubueze kedu etu ndi ike si we da?” she asked as she flogged him without mercy.

Madu cried all through that evening, he climbed the Udala tree outside the compound and stayed there, even when his sisters had called him to come and have supper he didn’t even reply them. He sat there in soliloquy, recollecting things out of the vast.

When Nonye and Adanma told Oformah that Madu refused to eat, she got up and went to the Udala tree.

 The moon lit up the night graciously. Only the chirping of crickets was heard.

“Bia Madu. If I get you there, I would make sure your eyes see your buttocks this night. Wait first….”she walked a few miles searching for a piece of wood that she would use on him. Madu jumped down and ran into the compound. When Oformah heard the rustling of the leaves, she turned and followed him.

“Onye apari.” She cursed him under her breath.

As she got into her hut, she sat down on the mat that lay on the ground. Madu had joined his sisters who were eating foofoo and egusi soup.

She looked at them, and then looked at the wall of the hut. Her mind filled with indescribable thoughts.

Cold wind blew. The clouds gathered and the sun hid its face. The afternoon suddenly began to turn to night. Madu rushed into the compound dragging the sheeps who where struggling with their ropes.

“Adanma,” he called to his youngest sister who was sitting down just outside the hut probably trying to relish the cool breeze. She looked at him. “Gather the clothes at the back near the kitchen. Quickly, the rain would start any moment from now.” He said as he took the sheeps to the small room that was made for them, just near the goat shed. After putting them in, he covered the room with a door that was no longer attached with its hinges. He placed a heavy wood in front of the door to wedge it from falling.

Oformah haven’t returned from the market. Nonye was looking for the white cock which her mother had tied to the plantain tree near the kitchen. She had been playing with the cock and the cock who didn’t want to play had loosened the ropes with its beaks and ran into the bush. Madu had refused to help her look for the cock; she knew that she was done for as soon as her mother returned. She didn’t wait for anyone to tell her to look for the cock; she had hurriedly decided to search high and low for the lost white cock.

Suddenly there was a thunderclap and then it began to rain. Adanma rushed into the house with the clothes as Nonye ran in with the cock. Madu returned with more palm fronds to mend the goats’ roof properly.

After he was done, he and Nonye decided to re-heat the soup again. Total darkness had covered the village due to the rain. It rained heavily. After eating they sat down in the hut, since there was nothing to do they decided to play the Okwu eme game. The scope of the game was that two people would be involved in egwu ukwu dance steps, any body who danced very well would ask the other to do a particular thing, and the other person must comply to do so. That day, Adanma was the judge unlike other days when Madu was the judge. So then the game started. After Madu had danced his round, it was Nonye’s turn. She danced gracefully and when Madu noticed that Adanma was praising her with powerful words like ‘egwu ukwu o ya nu.’ ‘nwa Ori, gbawa gbawa’ he rapidly told them that he wasn’t interested anymore.

“But you would have to do what I want?” Nonye said. She sat down to catch her breath. Madu smiled then scoffed.

“What do you want me to do anyway?” he asked sitting down near her. Adanma joined them.

“Wash all the plates for two days.” Nonye said after thinking for a few seconds.

Madu and Adanma burst into laughter which Nonye followed suit.

“Nonye?” Oformah’s voice sprang from the outside. The three children sprang up and ran outside. The sky was darkened totally like it was night already. The children helped her bring down her basket from her head.

“Nne nno.” They greeted her as she sat down on the wet stool. She was drenched with rain.

“Have you children eaten?” Oformah asked looking at Madu. He nodded positively, then carried the basket to his father’s hut which was now used as a shed.

After which they all retired to the hut.

Madu could not contain his joy as his mother took him to Ori Missionary Secondary School. The school was on five hectares of land, and surprisingly it was a boarding and a day school. Madu admired the white painted school building. He had never been to the heart of Ori, which was actually where the school was located. His mother had taken him there to get information about registering him in the school.

The principal’s office was a wide room, his picture stood at on the wall above his head.

“Good morning Sir.” Madu greeted bowing down just like his mother had told him to do before they left the hut.

“Good morning Pincipal” Madu’s mother greeted.

“How are you?” the principal replied. Without waiting for an answer, he motioned them to sit down. He shuffled through piles of paper, and then looked at them. He was a huge man, in his early sixties. Madu looked at the bow tie on the man’s neck and swallowed his laughter.

“How can I help you madam?” the principal asked Oformah. She smiled wryly.

“I want to register my son in your school sir, how much is the fee?” she asked going straight to the point.

“Which class is he registering in?” The principal asked, looking at Madu. Madu looked at his mother, to give the reply.

“J.S.S1 sir.” Oformah replied. Her gaze was settled on the principal’s face.

He turned to Oformah. “Oh, I see.” He said as he opened his drawer. He brought out a book and flipped through it. He stopped at a page then stared at it, using his fingers to trace in between the lines.

“Are you a native?” he asked without looking up.

“Yes sir.” Oformah replied.

“The first term fee is three hundred and fifty cowries.” Oformah swallowed hardly, the saliva that stood in her throat.

“But Pincipal….I am just a widow.” This time, the principal looked at her, in pity.

“I am sorry ma’am if you were from the surrounding villages you would have to pay five hundred cowries, so kindly bear with us. Our prices can’t be changed for anyone.”

“Okay sir.” Mama Madu replied. She stood up and her son followed eagerly.

When Madu went home he told his friends and his sisters about the school and he furthermore went on to describe the principal’s ‘chain’ which he wore on his collar instead of on his neck.

That night, Oformah gathered all the money she had after her children had slept. She counted the money in total it was just two hundred and six cowries, so she was short of a hundred and forty cowries. Even if she had gotten the money, she would still need money to feed her children and even pocket money for their feedings.

She tapped Madu. “Madubueze.”  Madu yawned then turned and continued sleeping. “Nwa nnaya.” She called. Madu sluggishly sat up then stared at her. He wondered why his, mother would be waking him up at that time of the night.

“Ma.” He answered, and then yawned again. Oformah displayed the money in front of him.

“I am going to your uncle’s place in Umunkwa, so he could borrow me three hundred cowries.” She explained to him. Madu nodded. He just wanted to sleep. He hated been awoken from sleep, mostly when ever he was on a good dream. His eyes darted from the money to his mother whose eyes was heavy with sleep.

“I am leaving at the first cock crow and I hope to be back before sunset. Boil the yam I remained yesterday and make sure you re-heat the soup at night. E nu?” she asked.

“Yes ma.” Madu replied. Oformah began to gather the money into a jar.

“If you like when I leave become the onye isi ulo beat your sisters how even you like because it is only when you see them, your power appears.”

Without replying, Madu slept off.

Oformah returned gracefully that evening, the smile on her face vanished when Nonye told her that Madu took Adanma to his friend’s house.

“Maka gini zi.” Oformah fired Nonye like she was the one who took her youngest daughter out.

She didn’t even go into the hut; she turned back and marched like a wounded lion. She hasn’t gotten to Mama James house when she began to shout her son’s name.

“Madu. Madubueze!” she shouted.

Madu who heard his mother’s voice quickly called his sister, as James tried to lead them out through the back, Oformah sprang in.

“Ne kwa ha. Ndi apari.” She cursed. They stopped to look at her. Chibuzor and James and Okoro looked at her. “So, Madu, you want to corrupt my daughter for me eh?” she asked.

“Nne Madu…”

“Taa Mechi onu. Jamies ma obu gini ha na kpo gi. You people made my son to carry tenth and bia Madu so you still follow them?” without waiting for an answer she threw her right slippers at Madu who ducked. “Let me reach home before you. Adanma come her quick.”

Adanma who had been hiding been her brother, came out and walked briskly to her mother.  Before Adanma even got closer to her, Oformah had leaned forward and dragged her harshly.

“You see you this girl?” she said as she pulled her ears.

Agam a nu di nke di mma

Nke nwe ego.

Abum asa mpete

Nwa oma kam bu

Udala mmecha

Ojiugo nwa.

The girls sang under the moonlight. They danced gracefully under the command of their leader. Chidumebi, the daughter of Dibia Ofor.

After they had danced to their fill, they all sat down under the orange tree in the village square.

“Nonye, why weren’t you in our last meeting?” Chidumebi asked as she searched the group for Nonye.

Nonye quickly thought of a lie to say. “I was at Umunkwa.” She lied.

“Lies.” Chinsa said. She was a fat girl. Their leader’s eyes darted to her. Chinsa looked at Chidumebi. “I had seen her that day at the stream.”

“That was before I went to Umunkwa.” Nonye added eyeing Chinsa who ignored the piercing eyes.

“That’s enough. You know the punishment of missing a meeting. You won’t dance in the village square on the Nkwo market day.”

“For what reason?” Nonye asked firing Chidumebi an angry look. “You missed a meeting.”

“And so? Am I the only one who missed that day?” she asked.

“I don’t care.” The leader said looking away. Nonye gave a wicked laugh then shrugged. She stood up from where she sat.

“I am the best dancer. Without me let’s see how your dancing would be a success.” She said, as she walked out into the darkness.

After the break, Oformah had paid Madu’s fees and had gathered all he needed. Principal Jones had told her that he would be in the boarding section of the school, meaning that he had to stay in the school as a boarding pupil but has the grace to visit his family during the weekend because he was from within the village.

She had pleaded with him that Madu was her only son and she wanted to be seeing him everyday. Her pleas where turned down. She had vividly cried her way home. She had thought to herself why a mother would allow her only son to stay in a school like a prisoner, where the teachers are the security guards and the classrooms are the prison cells. She wasn’t a big fan of going to school, but when her husband became a teacher, his English Language changed completely and he became excellent in mathematics, so also Madu. But when she realized that she wouldn’t be with her son forever, she decided to overlook the fact.

When she told Madu, at first he was happy, but when he realized he was going to be away from his sisters, he became sad. His sisters were sad when they learned of his fate, especially Adanma. Madu and Adanma had boned together more that they had individually bonded with Nonye. Nonye didn’t care but she loved her siblings at all cost.

Madu on his own stood up for his younger siblings. The villagers had warned their children secretly not to even go near not to talk of touching the family of ‘Teacher’.

Most people said he inherited the devil inside him from his mother. Other clarified that Madu was an angel underneath the earth. But to Oformah and those who truly knew him, he was a good boy, which was why Teacher had given him the nick name ‘nwa nnaya’

The news that Madu was going to secondary school spread like water spilled on a slope.

That was when most women began to compare Oformah to their husbands. Just like Osinachi, Okoro’s mother who had rained insults on her husband and then in the end used Oformah to compare to him. Oformah felt proud of herself.

The night before Madu left for school, his friends gathered at his house. They kept talking; James was also going to the secondary school.

“I heard that the teachers are wicked.” James said. They couldn’t see their faces in the moonlight.

“That is true Jamies. They flog anyhow.” Chibuzor added.

“The Pincipal would be a very wicked man. You should have seen his necklace. I told you that day. Odi ka ewu.”

They all laughed.

The next day, Oformah woke her son as soon as the first cock crowed.

She had helped him pack his clothes the night before. Nonye and Adanma kept following him, looking at him ceaselessly.

James came to his place, so they could go together to their new school.

Adanma began to cry as soon as they left the compound. Oformah had managed to hold her tears. She felt like she was selling off her son. Even though the school was in the district, she felt like it was in another planet that her son was headed to.

Madu and his friend journeyed down the path that leads to Mmiri Ori, the village stream. They had to cross the stream to the other side where the school was. They kept talking about what they would face and all the new teachers they would see. James explained to him that he actually didn’t want to come. His father had forced him to come. His father was a building contractor that worked for the Chief of the village. He was a wealthy man who had supervised the building of most of the Chief’s companies as well as his own house. Unlike Madu, James didn’t live in a hut. He lived in a duplex with his family where he had his own room. His father initial source of wealth was gotten from few white men who had come to the village to help filter the water. James often times bragged about his father who had talked to white men, and ate with them as well. Madu and the others would keep their mouth shut and listen because neither of their parents had seen a white man not to talk of eating with one.

Madu adjusted his box on his head. He noticed a mango tree far ahead of him.

“Look at that ripe mango there.” He said pointing to a mango that hung down from the tree. James looked up at the tree. He turned away quickly.

“If we waste our time plucking mangoes we won’t know our dormonitories.” James said. Madu burst into a hilarious laughter that his box nearly fell of his head. James stared at him in astonishment as they walked on past the tree.

“Dormonitories…” Madu laughed harder, this time he brought down his box, dropped it on the ground and laughed harder.

“Tell me what you are laughing at now. If I am not correct, the least you can do is help me out. We are all learning.”

“Say it, dormitories.” Madu told him like he was a teacher. James quietly said it after him.

“Now you can carry your box and let us go.” James said. Madu kept laughing silently as he carried his box.

After settling in their new dorms, the two boys ran to the assembly ground, the principal was addressing the new students. Madu and James who didn’t know where their line was stood at a corner of the assembly ground. Madu made a chuckle as he saw the principal, he then whispered to James.

“That was the man who I saw back then, when Nne and I have come to register.”

James smiled.

“You all know your dorms, make sure you safe guard your properties.”

The principal cancelled all activities that was to take place on Monday so as to enable the new students arrange their properties.

Charles House was a large house with ten rooms. When Madu and James arrived they had seen their name in the seventh room, with three other boys, Ogbonna, Okafor and Nwaego.

They had arranged their properties in silence.  James and Madu had arranged their properties close to each other’s bed.

“Move your box to that side.” Madu told Okafor, he was a boy of the same height as James. He was fair and slender.

“For what reason?” Okafor asked looking ignorantly at Madu.

Madu stood upright to stare at the boy who dared challenge him.

“This is my portion of this room.” Madu replied almost close to anger. He eyed Okafor until James tapped him.

“Leave the boy alone. Let us arrange our properties and rest.” James said.

“Jamies leave me alone. Look at this conconbility of a hypocrite.” Madu said. The other boys gave muffled laughter apart from James.

“Olodo. Conconbility.” Okafor said as he turned to the other boys and they all burst out laughing at Madu. Immediately, Madu rushed him and gave him a blow across his face. Okafor spat blood. He nursed his lips.

“Madu!!!!!!!” James shouted pulling Madu who was still rushing to his poor victim to give him more blows.

Madu hissed then walked out of the room. The other boys looked fearfully at his retracing figure as it vanished out the room.

The teachers in the staff room were busy arranging their notebooks and wiping dust from their table and cupboards in preparation for a new academic session, when Okafor rushed in accompanied by Ogbonna.

“Uncle….” Okafor called to a teacher.

“Would you get back outside? Is that the right way to come in here? Or is this your father’s room?”  A teacher said looking at them with disdain.

The two boys went out the room, the paused thinking of what to say to get in.

“Excuse me uncles and aunties, please may we come in?” Ogbonna asked. Okafor gave muffled laughter at Okafor’s English formation.

Even some of the teachers hid their laughter while some made open mockery.

“What is it?” The same teacher who had queried them at first asked.

“A boy gave me a blow. A boy in our room.” Okafor said.

The teacher scoffed. “Go and solve it on your own and don’t disturb our peace. You hear me?” The teacher said placing some books on his table.

The two boys left the room in shame.

“Those teachers are wicked and bad. They can’t even respond properly to students.” Okafor said as they walked to their dormitory. Ogbonna looked at him in anger. He was angry that Okafor had laughed at him when he was making the request to permit them into the staff room.

He walked faster ahead of him. Okafor tried to walk quickly to join him.

“Wait for me. What is wrong with you?” Okafor asked catching up with him.

“You are so undethickable.” Ogbonna said. Okafor laughed out this time. He nearly fell to the floor. Ogbonna hissed and eyed him. He walked away.

“Did you guys see the teacher? Which of them is calling me?” Madu asked as Ogbonna came into the room. Ogbonna sulkily walked to his bed. He sat down not facing Madu.

“What is it? Did they flog you?” Madu asked. Nwaego and James looked at him, they studied his weak face.

“Okafor kept laughing at every mistake I made.” Ogbonna said sadly.

“That boy is so proud, that blow served him well.” Nwaego said in approval of the blow Madu had given Okafor.

“I hated him right from the moment I saw his name on that notice board.” Madu said in sarcasm.

As Okafor entered, they looked at him and silence filled the room.

“What are you guys looking at?” Okafor asked.

“Taa… Mechi onu gi…Onye apari.” Madu said in anger. Okafor scoffed then walked like a boss to his bed.

Okafor’s fame of intelligence spread like wild fire, when he came first in a mathematics test. The other four boys who had become tight friends were so envious of him. They hated him because he was so proud.

“This is not the primary school where you were once intelligent and a brainier kid, you face challenges here and it’s up to you to overcome them. In a secondary school, your competitors are not ordinary people; they are people of your grade who rack the same brain as you.” Mr. Amadi told the Form One students one day.

Mr. Amadi was the English Language teacher.  He had studied English in America with the aid of Father Robert who sponsored his trip. The students were often amazed at the momentum of large words which he spoke. Father Robert was the owner of the secondary school; he had appointed Mr. Okwu to be the principal because he had traveled to his hometown, the United States of America.

“So back to the topic for today, I am going to read your essays especially, the poorest of all. Ogbonna Onugburu.” He said. He carried the first book on the piles on the books that were on the table. His eyes scanned through the classroom for Ogbonna. Slowly, Ogbonna stood up.

“My Chistmas was spended in my fathers village. In a bigger fields. Although there was no light and there was many minerals….” He paused then looked at Ogbonna. Okafor burst out in laughter and the other classmate joined apart from Nwaego, Madu and James.

“It’s very poor. You don’t even know how to spell ‘Christmas’. It is too appalling.” Mr. Amadi said. He gave Ogbonna his book then searched through the piles of book. “Who is Madu?” He asked.

“I am Sir.” Madu replied standing up. He noticed Okafor chuckle. His heart began to beat rapidly like the traditional mortar and pestle.  He swallowed as the teacher opened his book and smiled. He bowed his head in shame. Why is he smiling? Is he mocking me? I know I wrote gibberish just give me my book. He thought to himself.

“This is the best essay so far.” The teacher said. Madu looked up. His face lit up with joy. He looked at Okafor with a smile playing on his lips.

“But then, how come you still live in a hut? Are there no new innovations of houses?” Amadi asked.  Madu sighed in shame. The whole class was now staring at him.

“My father is dead. My mum is still struggling to cater for me and my two sisters.” He said looking away from the teacher.

“Is that why you live in a hut?” Okafor asked. Madu stared at him in anger. A wry smile played on Okafor’s lips as he looked at Madu.  “How poor is your mother?” he asked again. This time, Mr. Amadi’s cane landed on his head.

He screamed out, the others laughed at him. He nursed his aching head.

“Why would you ask him that?” Amadi asked looking sternly at Okafor who was still writhing in pain. “You and Ogbonna should see me after the class.” He told Madu. Madu nodded as he collected his book from his teacher. After sitting down, The English teacher distributed the books to the students.

When the mathematics teacher entered, the students stood up to greet as usual, then sat down. The mathematics teacher, Mr. Austin was the Form Teacher of the class. He had scheduled the appointment of a new captain for that day. Austin dropped his book on the table. He was the same teacher who had yelled at Okafor and Ogbonna at the staff room.

“Good Morning. Sit down everybody.” He said as he dropped his books on the table.

“Bring out your mathematics textbooks. Quickly.” He said. The children brought out their books noisily making noise with either their chairs or their lockers.

“On every Mathematics textbook cover, I see people who smile and enjoy themselves, but I don’t feel that way when I am solving mathematics.” Madu said to Nwaego who was sitting close to him.

He nodded in approval as they both smiled.

“Before that, we are going to appoint a new class captain and an assistant so who do you kids think….”

 Shouts of Okafor and Madu filled the air.

“Quiet!” The teacher thundered. There was dead silence and total stillness.

“Okafor and Madu please stand.”

The two boys stood up, eyes glued to the teacher in front of them.

“Which of you can be the captain of the class?” He asked. Okafor threw his hand in the air immediately. Madu didn’t even move.

Austin’s eyes darted from Okafor to Madu, then back to Okafor. “You!” he said pointing to Madu, “You are the class prefect of this class.” He looked at Okafor. “Let the good things come to you. When you stop chasing things for the wrong purpose, they come to you.” He said. He motioned them to sit down, then he wrote on the board.

The class was tiring especially to Madu and Nwaego who were bad in Mathematics.

They both spent time trying to understand the given laws of logarithm which was a harder task for them.

“Okay, who can solve this question for us?” Austin asked as he looked at the class. He had dropped a question on the board but then no hands came up. His eyes scanned through the class, looking for any available students. The students in turn pretended to be seriously thinking the result to the question so as to avoid been called up by the teacher.

“Prefect. You can help us out.”  Austin said looking at Madu. Madu melted in his seat. Cold buds of sweat descended down his face.

After solving the question, he handed the chalk to the teacher.

“Hmmm, quite impressive. You’re right.”

Madu looked at the teacher again like he hasn’t heard well. I am the most smartest boy alive. He thought to himself.

He hadn’t thought himself to be a mathematics expert. He hated the subject right from his primary school days.

In all, Okafor was still the most brilliant boy in the class. He answered questions swiftly and got them all. He always wore a proud look after answering any question correctly.

That evening while Madu and Nwaego were reading their social studies textbook, Okafor came into the room, he began to whistle loudly. He sat on his bed. His bed was unlike the others torn on the edge. The form was peeping out from the blanket. He hadn’t arrived at the room to choose a better bed before the others.

“Lower your voice Okafor.” James said. He was close to sleeping off. He was curled up already in his bed.

“What’s your business? Won’t you sleep off?” Okafor asked. He turned away from James and looked at the wall in front of him. He kept looking at the wall and whistling loudly.

“What is actually wrong with you?” Nwaego asked. Okafor narrowed his eyes to him.

“Who just talked? Because all I see is a room with someone sleeping?” He asked pretending to look around for Nwaego.

“Come don’t let me get annoyed with you oh.” Madu said almost getting up. “Just because you’ve read doesn’t mean others won’t read.”

Okafor scoffed then lay down on the bed. He was a proud boy. The reason his parents had sent him away to the school was to avoid his pride and the shame it had brought to the family.

“Onye ocha abia na skuulu.” Ogbonna said running into the room.

“Come and sit down, olodo.”

“Look at this three inch fool. Since when were you made the dorm prefect?” Ogbonna asked eyeing Okafor.

Okafor sprang up like a wounded lion then strode to Ogbonna.

“Who is a three inch fool?” he asked almost putting his fingers into Ogbonna’s mouth. Okafor who was no shorter than four inch was angry because three inch was way too short.

“Mind my mouth.” Ogbonna said pushing his fingers away and walking to his bed. He was hell bent on avoiding Okafor but then he was also ready to deal with him when necessary.

Madu who had been quiet all the while looked at Okafor then examined his height; he smiled, and then chuckled. He was truly short just like Ogbonna had described him.

“What is funny?” Okafor asked looking at Madu. Nwaego adjusted his position, so as to allow him sit comfortably and know what would happen between the two boys.

Instead Madu laughed, then nodded solemnly. “You are not worth the candle. Three…inch…fool.” Madu said looking at him.

Okafor hissed, and then walked slowly to his bed side. All Okafor ever wanted was to be a cynosure and not to be disregarded the way he was right at that moment.

Okafor carried his books that was on the bed, and then walked out the room.

The school bell dinged again. Madu got up and walked to the time table that was pasted on the wall near the black board. It was free-period. When the whole class found out that they were not having anything, they all began to make a cacophony of noise.

Madu had tried all to no avail to calm them down but then the whole class were enjoying themselves, most students jumping from one seat to another. Most of them started singing songs that was sang in their primary school and others made it noisier by drumming to the rhythm of the music.

A boy who sat at the extreme made a comment that made every on go into cachinnation. When it had all gotten too much, Madu who had laughed to the extent of tears coming out of his eyes got up and went out the class. He had felt he was laughing so hard that he might die. He noticed at teacher coming out of the staff room, he quickly went back into the class.

“A teacher is coming. Act normal.” He said running to his seat. The noise grew more louder. He had expected the noise to be reduced. But then, they did the opposite of what he had said.

When the teacher entered into the class, he asked for the class prefect. All eyes narrowed to Madu who was sitting quietly. He looked up at the teacher like he hasn’t heard who he asked for.

“Are you the class prefect?”

“Yes Sir.”

“I heard some thing about you…”

Madu’s heard skipped a beat. “Me?”

“Yes. I heard that you allow your classmates to make a hell of noise ceaselessly.”

“I tried to calm them down.”

“Liar!” Okafor said. He looked at Madu like he carried a bag of shit on his head.

“Why do you say so?” the teacher asked. He looked at Okafor who stood up in respect.

“He saw you and came into the class to inform us that you were coming.” Okafor said proudly. He folded his arms after explaining to his own satisfaction

Madu was called to the staff-room and was asked to knee down in front of the staff room.

After two periods had passed he was released to go. Mr. Amadi was taking the class English Language.

“Amaka answer the question, and stop looking around.” He thundered. He looked at Madu who stood at the door way then motioned him to enter the class. His eyes darted back to the tall girl who was standing up in front.

Madu sat down then looked at the black board. The teacher had ordered all the class to produce their English textbooks. One of the textbooks Oformah didn’t buy for him the day she came to buy his books.

Amaka as well didn’t have the book so he had assumed that Mr. Amadi was asking her about the book. He believed his assumptions when Amaka gave the answer that her parents were going to buy the book for her.

Mr. Amadi scanned the class then he noticed Madu’s table.

“Where’s your textbook?” he asked looking at him.

Madu looked at the teacher in front of him. Fear engulfed him.

“My mum said she will when she has the money. And she won’t take long.”

“Join someone else who has the book.”

Quickly, he joined James who was two seats in front of him.

“The two of you should make sure you get your respective textbooks before next week.”

When Madu got home that weekend, he regretted going to that school.

“They are so wicked. They don’t allow us to ask for extra food.”

“No wonder you look so thin. Adanma had gone to her friend’s house.” Nonye told him.

“E bee ka itiboribo ahu noo.” Oformah called from the kitchen.

“Nonye.” She called out.

Nonye quickly sprang to her feet to answer her mother. She met Oformah as she was about to turn towards the kitchen.

“Ma.” She answered.  Her mother accessed her from head to toe.

“Go and turn that soup on the fire so your brother can eat before he leaves.”

They both went their separate ways, Nonye to the kitchen and Oformah to the front.

“Nwa nnaya.” She called as she came out.

Madu answered, and then looked at the plantain trees that stood at the far end of the compound.

“Here is the two cowries for the book you had requested for.” She said handing him two cowries. Madu collected the money then thanked his mother.

“Thank you ma.” He said. Oformah lifted his chin, turned his face towards her looking carefully for any scars on injury.

“Nne I am fine. How many times would I tell you that?” he queried pulling away from her.

“I know. But those Ndi nkuzi, that their hands dosen’t stay calm if they don’t flog someone, I don’t trust them.” She said. “Nwa di mma.” She said looking at his hands. The three weeks that went by without him at home had been tormentive for her. Whenever she awoke in the night, she would call him to go and answer nature call forgetting that he was somewhere else.

She had only managed to live. Her son had grown lean and weak. He wasn’t the active boy that she sent to school.

“I am going back to school.” Madu announced standing up. Oformah adjusted her wrapper as she stood up near him. “For what? Can’t you wait till tomorrow? How do you think Ada would feel when she comes home and didn’t see you?”

“I have an assignment to do. Besides we are not allowed out of the school unless on permissions or holidays.”

Oformah eyes widened.

“I came back because the teacher permitted me to come and bring the money. He says he know Nnanyi.” Madu said.

“You mean he know my husband?”

“yes.” Madu replied. He shove the two cowries into his pocket. He peered into the kitchen.

“Okay then, so you won’t eat anything?”

“No ma. Tell Ada I will come back during our midterm break.

“I have heard you my son. Make sure you keep that money very well, and I will make sure I visit you often so I can know what you need.”

Madu nodded then started for the path that leads out the compound.

When Ada had returned home that night she was angry with Nonye and her mother for not telling Madu to wait for her to return. Her mother tried to make her see the fact that Madu had something to do.

“But then, you could have told him to wait a little while.” Adanma insisted.

‘He said he had something, Nonye what did he call it I didn’t hear well.” Oformah asked her eldest daughter who was already lying down on the mat that was in the middle of the hut.

“Assignment.” Nonye supplied.

“Ears of a bat. So from the kitchen you were listening to our conversation.” Oformah cursed.

When Madu’s matter had died down, Nonye told her mother about what had happened before she returned from the market earlier that day.

“So you mean that Chidumebi actually fought with you. In my own house?” Oformah asked getting up from her bamboo bed.

“Yes, she came to beg me to join the girl who were dancing on the next market day, which I vehemently turned down. The next thing I know she started insult me, then papa, and then my entire family. When I began to insult she started a fight.”

Without anymore explanations, Oformah carried the lamp that stood on the table; she headed for Dibia’s compound.

“Produce that chinch you call a daughter.” She thundered.

“How dare you come to my house and start barking. Or is it because your husband didn’t build one for you?” He asked coming out of the house.

“I am contented with what my husband left me, Ofor where is your daughter?”

The Dibia gave a surprised look. “And what do you need her for?” he asked looking at her like she was a ghost.

“Let her tell me why she fought with my daughter. Whenever she sees her age mate her body is always high on temperature. Then she begins to jump like a cat that hasn’t eaten for a year.”

“Woman don’t come here and rain insults on my daughter. You are a shameless woman who sends her son to school when you know you have no money at all.”

“At least in the end he would wipe away my shame. That’s just it. Unlike you. This god will fail you, they always do anyway.”

“What did you just say? Are you referring to Ajanla the Slayer?”

Oformah gave a hysterical laughter

“Ajanla that can’t move, that can’t rejoice in your praise, that doesn’t even touch you. May you and your god burn to ashes.”

“Woman mind your mouth.” Ofor said coming out his house.

“Just tell that little brat to stay off my daughter. Tufia Ajanla re oku.” She said walking out the compound.

The village stream was not too far from Oformah’s hut. The next morning which was Sunday, had woken Nonye at the first cock crow to go to the stream and fetch water. She also asked Adanma to take the sheeps to the stream to feed them.

While, the eldest daughter arrived at the stream she met a man who was watching his cutlass, she could tell he was a palm wine tapper when she saw the gourd that hung on his shoulders. He was Amalite, one of the tappers in the village.

“Good morning.”  She greeted. The man replied without looking up. After fetching her water, she carried it up the slope. It was there she saw Chidumebi who was also coming to fetch water.

“So your mother can talk like that. Her mouth runs like a flowing waterfall.”

At first Nonye ignored her rattling. As she wanted to follow the other path her opponent blocked her.

“Bia. You had better leave me alone, before that mad man you call father comes close here.”

That was what kindled the fire in Chidumebi. She dropped her pot on the pathway. She pulled Nonye harshly; Nonye in turn dropped her pot and started with her. As the pulling continued, Chidumebi pushed her opponent and she landed on the chief priest water pot, and it broke to pieces.

Chidumebi screams alerted the man who was down at the stream.

He ran toward the two girls, before he got there, Nonye had carried her pot and disappeared down the path.

It wasn’t long after Nonye got home and narrated everything to her mother that Ofor came along.

He announced his presence by screaming Oformah’s full name.

“Who calls me?” Oformah asked coming out of the hut. She tired her wrapper again above her breasts then stared at the chief priest who was in front of her.

“Oformah Okonma Nwamike.” Ofor thundered again. He looked at Oformah with piercing eyes.

“What is it? Please talk quickly; I am almost late for church.”

“You and your daughter have gone way out of your personal limits.”

“Where you the one who drew the lines?” Oformah asked standing with her hands on her waist.

“So you can still talk?”

“I am not dumb; maybe it is your low sensed daughter that is dumb.” Oformah retorted.

“Good morning Dibia.” Bekee greeted as she entered, when Ofor didn’t reply her, she looked at her friend to explain what was going on. After her explanation, bekee laughed.

“What is so funny, Ajo nwanyi?” Ofor asked her in insult. Bekee stopped laughing immediately and looked at the chief priest.

“Look at this low-witted, down-looping, one truck pushing cow? I don’t care what your gods can do, but on the contrary, you are nothing but an ungodly lunatic in this corrupted kingdom.”

Ofor swallowed the hard saliva that stood in his throat. He didn’t wait for anyone to tell him to turn back. Half way out the gate, he kicked the plantain tress, making them fall.

“Ajo mmadu. E jo ka kacha ekwensu.” Bekee said as Oformah ran to hold the tree from falling.

“But I try my best everyday Sir. I am not good at most things.” Madu told Amadi.

The two of them had bonded over the week. Since he said he knew Teacher because he had been thought by him before been flown abroad. He was surprised when he heard of Teacher’s death. The man was a real teacher always wanting a child to learn.

“Your best is not always enough. That’s what your father used to tell me and other boys back then in school.” Amadi explained.

Madu sighed. He stared at the man who sat on his table.

“I really want to make my mama proud. She works a lot. I didn’t want to school before. She just wants me to help my family in the end.”

“Then you must try to be a chip of the old block.” Amadi said. Madu gave a confused look at the teacher. Amadi who sensed his confusion smiled. “I mean you have to be like your father.”

“Oh. I get it now.” Madu said smiling. He noticed a book on the table. Things Fall Apart. He didn’t make any attempt to touch or take the book.

“Those are idioms and they are a combination of words with a special meaning that is different from the individual words combined.” He looked at Madu who was looking out the window at the other boys who were playing football. He wanted to join them but Mr. Amadi had asked to join him after lunch that break period.  “Are you even listening to me?”

“Yes Sir.” Madu said turning to him in fright.

“What is the meaning of an eye for an eye?”

“Exchanging eyes. I give you mine and you give me yours.” Madu replied. His reply made Mr. Amadi to burst out into laughter.

“You are so wrong I said the meaning is different from the original contest of the words combined.”

Not that Madu understood his last statement but he was amazed at the large words the man had joined together.

“I don’t understand what you said.” Madu said feeling uneasy. He really wanted to go out and play.

“If you don’t concentrate on trying to study you can’t be the best.”

“But our math’s teacher said all work and no play makes jack a dull boy.”

“That doesn’t warrant you play every time. I haven’t played all day, and after the break it would be class teachers.”

“If you try to fluctuate your time it would help a lot. Your mother was really wise to send you to school. Nowadays only wise men understand stars.”

“I will always give it my best shot Sir and try to make my mother happy.”

Mr. Amadi smiled. He was happy the young lad was willing to learn. He could see the sparkle in his eyes.

He had the same oval face as his father and the same convincing eyes as his father. He believed that if the young village boy could work it out, he could be a bigger man. Not now. Probably in the future.