The Cry

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 2

“Nna anyi, what are you thinking that since

yesterday you have not eaten anything”Mrs.

Udemba asked onowu his husband who at the

early hours of the morning came out with his

hands on the jaw

“Eeeh Nna anyi please talk to me”She inquired

and Onowu hissed shaking his head

“Nne,you won’t understand at all”He began

“What won’t I understand”Mrs. Udemba asked

sitting close to him

“This village is dying graduall,male children are

dying leaving just females. If our neighbouring

villages hear of this they will declare war on us

and overtake our land..Cheii!! Umuanyanwu

eeh”He lamented and the wife just looked at

him keeping quiet for words lacked in her

mouth..

*

*

“The Great Egwuatu”Ikenga called from the

outside walking to Egwuatu, one of the able

youth’s house

“Onye ka m nuru olu ya (Who am I hearing his

voice)”Egwuatu popularly known as the greatest

wrestler in Umuanyanwu replied from within

“Kedu onye iche n’obu (Who do you think it

is)..It’s me”Ikenga said walking nearer to the

door and Egwuatu came out. They greeted and

sat down

“This one you came to my house this hot

afternoon,hope I am safe”Egwuatu questioned

“Haaa!!..Can’t I visit my friend again??”Ikenga

asked as a reply

“Noo. It’s not like that but as we all know a frog

does not run in the afternoon in vain,either it

is after something or something is after

it.”Egwuatu spoke in proverbs

“Ehhee..So You are calling me a frog now okwa

ya? Alright, let me come and start going (Kam

bia laba)”Ikenga said and stood up to leave but

Egwuatu held him back

“Jiri ya nwayoo (Take it easy). Can’t someone

play with you again afterall,it’s just a

proverb”Egwuatu said laughing and Ikenga

looked at him

“But cherekwa oo (Wait ooh). I’m not

lying,everybody in this village knows you as the

news caster even the town Crier is no match to

you”Egwuatu added and Ikenga disengaged his

hands and started to leave

“Ikenga come back now. You did not eat Kola

nuts oo”He called Ikenga but he didn’t turn

back

“Hahahahaha..Lee nu ka o di (Look at

him)”Egwuatu mocked him,stood up dusting the

little wrapper he tied around his waist in a

typical village youth way and went inside..

*

*

Noises and chirps of birds and different

animals were heard from the side path bushes

that led to the only stream in Umuanyanwu.

Young girls and average aged women were

seen carrying their calabashes on their head

going to and fro..Moments by moments, the

number decreased as the sun began to set,only

three ladies were left at the stream,they

dipped their calabashes into the stream as

Adamma, the Village parrot (Gossip) vomitted

all that was in her mouth

“Ladies have you not heard?”Adamma began

and Chimma and Adanna looked at her

“Heard what?”Adanna asked taking her calabash

out of the stream

“Don’t tell me you are not in this

village”Adamma said placing her hands Akimbo

on her waist

“Adamma,what is it this time”Chimma queried

“Heee..So you have not heard that it is no

longer twins that die in this village

again”Adamma said fancying her eyes

“What?”Adanna exclaimed

“You don’t mean it”Chimma added as they

walked out of the stream

“Male children now die also my sisters

ooo”Adamma said

“Heyyyy!!”They exclaimed

“Maazi Uchendu’s 3 weeks old male child died a

day before yesterday”She added

“Chi m oo (My God). What has befallen

Umuanyanwu”Chimma pitied the village

“But what might be the cause of all this

because the gods are keeping silent”Adanna

asked

“Hmmm..I ka na-aju (You are still asking). It’s

the Prince”Adamma said with a lowered voice

looking around if someone saw her

“Chineke m oooo”Chimma exclaimed

“Adamma,you better keep your mouth

shut!”Chimma barked at her as Adanna placed

her hands in her mouth

“See,it’s not a lie. Don’t you see what he does

to the ladies of this land,molesting us as he

likes and his father is doing nothing about

it”Adamma said with all boldness

“See eeh,I won’t stand here and listen to all

this nonsense,Adanna I am going”Chimma said

and walked away

“Adamma jidekwa onu gi aka (Hold your

mouth) hmmm”Adanaa warned and left also

“I said it!!..The truth is always bitter. See them,

mtcheew. Let me be going home before my

mother begins to search for me”Adamma

carried her calabash and walked home

*

*

Little glows of light from the bush lamp placed

on the wooden table was seen as Anochie (The

flute Player) sat with his hands between his legs

and his flute always on his neck,he was lost in

thoughts that he did not recognise the

presence of his mother who stood watching

him for minutes. Later on, Anochie placed his

flute in his mouth an began to play a sorrowful

song with much melody..Little tears dropped

down his eyes as he played,but he was

interrupted by his mother who patted him on

his back and he shivered

“Haa..Mama,you have not slept”Anochie, a

handsome young man with a bit fair

complexion as his mother

“How can I sleep my son when you have been

out here for the past hours”Mrs.

Nworie,Anochie’s mother asked him

“Mama,it’s nothing”Anochie said

“See,you are even crying and you are telling

me that it is nothing”Mrs. Nworie said noticing

the tears in Anochie’s eyes so Anochie quickly

cleaned it adjusting his sitting position

“Eeh Nwa m (My Child),do you want me to die

premature? Since your father died,you have

been behaving this way,staying alone playing

flutes..Mere nu m ebere (Pity my condition).

Biko,let’s go and sleep”Mrs. Nworie’s words

touched the heart of Anochie so he held her

mother and stood up

“Let’s go and sleep Mama”Anochie said

“But you have not told me what is wrong with

you”Nworie adjusted looking at Anochie who

was not looking at her

“Pains are made for one to carry Mama,Sharing

to two will break up three situations Mama.

Let’s go to bed”Anochie said and his mother

withered at the words of his and stood up to go

with him. He placed his flute on his mouth with

one hand,playing a melodious song and the

other hand he used to hold his mother as they

walked in..

TBC…….