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We were all seated in a big circle listening to Ifedi’s story of how and why Tortoise has a patched shell. Stories then were told like they really happened. We asked questions when we needed clarifications after the stories. Of course, the storyteller will answer based on discretion.
Some of us, especially the boys, held our folded legs with our arms in the moonlight. Some rested their jaws on their hands which they placed on their folded knees. For most of the girls, they kept their legs straight on the ground filled with sandy soil, and hid their palms under their armpit after folding their hands.
… “Who owns all these drinks?” Tortoise asked.
“It's for all of you.”
“Again Tortoise shifted all the drinks closer to himself. Tortoise drank and drank…” Ifedi continued.
“It's for all of you.”
“Again Tortoise shifted all the drinks closer to himself. Tortoise drank and drank…” Ifedi continued.
When our parents called us, or we received a message from someone that our presence was needed at home, we always wanted a second call, even a third to get us up to go answer the call. We always did what we were told to do quickly before the storyteller goes far into the story.
The party had ended in Ifedi's story, and all the birds were flying angrily back to earth…
“Ife! Ife! Ife!” Mma, Ifedi's younger sister was screaming with almost every joule of energy in her. We all turned in her direction.
“Nne amugo!” Meaning mama has given birth.
There was a stampede to Papa Ifedi's compound at the sound of that. We ran as fast as our legs could carry us. It was a good news. We wanted to witness it as fresh as it was.
Some of us squatted immediately for our younger ones to climb on our backs before we took off.
Some of us squatted immediately for our younger ones to climb on our backs before we took off.
A crowd was gradually gathering in Papa Ifedi's compound as the good news spread. Most of the women ran straight into the house in excitement to help out. The men were shaking hands with Papa Ifedi, who was filled with joy.
Benches and stools and kitchen chairs were brought hurriedly so that the men could sit down. Some of the men that lived around ordered their children to help bring more benches and chairs.
We were told that it was always a big celebration whenever Mama Ifedi gave birth because it took the couples eight years before giving birth to Ifedi. Mma was about four months younger than me, so it was the first celebration I witnessed.
Akudo, Papa Ejima's second wife shared biscuits to all the children. She dropped two pieces of Oxford cabin biscuits on my palms I already joined together. I bit a little of it, and allowed it to melt in my mouth before taking my time to swallow it. That was our style of eating things we ate occasionally.
Some of the boys and me were targeting the empty biscuit packet so we construct a car with it at dawn. We all dived it as soon as she flung it away. None of us took a whole of it, we tore it into pieces. Some of us who knew we wouldn't have overpowered the bigger boys dived it just to tear it.
I collected back my biscuits from my younger brother after my effort was futile, and continued my little biting…
We all heard a sharp scream.
"Ewo!"
Our attention was drawn immediately. All of a sudden, some of the women started coming out crying. The men rushed into the house.
"Mama Ifedi awugo!" meaning, Mama Ifedi is dead. One of the women cried out as she threw herself to the ground…
Question
How would you have wanted the story to end?
How would you have wanted the story to end?
