Act Of Faith - Season 1 - Episode 32

4 years ago

Act Of Faith - Season 1 - Episode 32

People of Atata I greet you o, the chief priest, Eze Ani, the priest of Ani has been found murdered in is shrine, the king has ordered all individuals, old and young, to be gathered in the village square tomorrow morning!!! The king has sent me so I have delivered” He beat the gong again. It wasn’t a news anymore to those of my household, it was only a news to those who were hearing it for the first time. “The chief priest died mysteriously” Adanna shook her head while i continued with the digging. ” Maybe his evil deeds caught him” I continued digging, ” But who murdered him?” She asked but got no reply. I continued with the digging and soon some village boys came to join me. My mom prepared food so that they would eat when they were done, my dad brought out the palm wine he had tapped the day before.

• it was in the evening around 5pm that we finished the digging, Adanna was still in my compound but her dad had gone. ” Thank you very much I really appreciate ” I turned to the village guys who were mulching their rice like hungry wolves, They only nodded in response. My dad was sitting in a corner looking at me, I turned to him and he gestured to me to come. ” Yes papa” I answered as I got close to him, ” Oyinbo, I am proud of you but in Atata, you shouldn’t try get in the way of the gods”he hit his walking stick on the ground. ” Papa, I am not scared of any traditional, they can’t take my sister to that forest, they can’t” I told him. ”

Hmm, Oyinbo, I hope you dont bring a curse upon my family?” He stood up. ” Then let the curse be on me” I walked away while he stared at me ” I think the city has gotten into your head” I heard his words followed me.

” Come and eat now, you have worked too much for a day” my mom said as I walked to the kirchen, she was with Adanna, Adanna’s mom and Christy. ” Mama, am n….” Adanna interrupted, ” Ogbakpo, you must eat” She said while the women bursted into laughter, ” Your wife have said you should eat, come and eat” Adanna’s mom pleaded. ” Mama stop calling me his wife” Adanna shouted. ” Ada, I will tell him o” Her mom threatened while my eyes moved from her to her mom. ” Mama, please dont say anything” Adanna pleaded twisting her mouth, ” Mama tell me” I also pleaded. ” Okay, Oyinbo when you…” Adanna interrupted her by rushing to cover her mom’s mouth while my mom laughed. ” Okay let me eat now, am only eating because my wife asked me to” I smiled while Adanna eyed me. My mom gave me a plateful of rice with two big meats, I carried Charity and went out. ” Charity, have told you that big girls don’t cry” I patted her back. ” Brother, Sister will not come and fight my school boys when they beat me again” she bursted into tears while I smiled, ” Dont worry, am here to fight for you” I consoled while she stared at me, ” Will I see her again?” She asked, ” Yes now, we shall all go to meet her one day” I told her. ” when? ” she asked, ” There is no date for that, take” I handed a large piece of my meat to her but she shook her head to signify that she doesn’t want. The charity I know doesn’t refuse meat but the atmosphere and problems on ground made her refuse. ” Charity, take it so that I will take you to the city” I pleaded and she took it willingly, she had always wanted to go to the city with me. ” Brother, is aunty Adanna your wife?” She asked again while I bursted into laughter, ” No, she isn’t my wife” I replied. ” Will you marry her?” Came another question, ” Yes, I will marry her one day” I answered with a smile while she also smiled. ” Marry who?” I heard Adanna’s voice from behind, I turned sharply to her. ” Marry who?” I asked back, ” You just said you will marry me one day” she stood arm akimbo. ” Aunty Ada, you also told me you like my brother” Charity continued while I bursted into laughter, Adanna’s hand fell and she twisted her mouth. ” See who is pretending o ” I clapped my hand like those village gossipers. ” Charity, go inside” I told Charity who ran away with the piece of meat. ” Hey, I only said those to make her happy” Adanna sat down, ” I wonder when you will stop those pretence of yours.

My friends from the city will be coming here today” I told her, ” That’s good, I will like to even know them. ” She smiled. ” Yeah, they will also like to meet you, I have told them a lot about you” I told her, ” Tell them about me? Why? As what?” She asked while I got up, ” It will do you a lot of good if you stop this pretending stuff, it will help only you” I smiled and walked away, she also stood up and went to the kitchen. I walked to my father who was still sitting on the bench alone, ” Papa, I am about to bury her” I told him, he looked up at me and shook his head, ” Go ahead, but am not a part of this abomination” he hit his stick on the ground. ” But papa, you have to throw the first sand on her body” I told him and he got up ” Thank you papa” I said and walked to the kitchen to call the rest. We all went to the grave, it was just I, Adanna, her mom, my dad, my mom, Charity , john and some village boys who stayed behind. With the help of some boys, the body was lowered to the floor. My dad fetched a handful of sand, said some inaudible prayers and threw them at the body, so also mom and the rest of us.

With the help of the boys again, we covered the body with sand, mom started a new chapter of crying so also did the rest except I , dad and some of the village boys. We stood for some minutes staring at the grave and mom suddenly bursted into a local sorrowful song, the rest sang with her, even Adanna joined in the singing.

• ” Hello, Gabriel we have gotten to the park ” israel voiced echoed over the phone, the time was 10:19pm, Everyone had gone to their various habitats. I wore a jean trouser and a blue shirt, I then went out to meet my dad and mom who were staring at the skies sorrowfully. ”

Papa, I am going to pick those my friends from the park, they have arrived” I told him. ” You mean those ones from the city? ” he asked while I nodded. ” Oh, that’s is nice, go and pick them ” He said, ” Oyinbo” my mom called back, ” Be careful of the night” She said, I nodded and went out into the dark. It took about 20 minutes for me to get to the park, I had actually ran all the way. I met Morgana and Israel sitting on a bench while the driver to the slow and steady bus was cleaning it for the next day journey. ” I will never come to Atata again” Morgana hugged me, ” The only good thing here is the fresh air” Israel said as I led the way to my house. ” So you mean, there are no cars here?” Morgana asked,” Of course there are vans but they can’t pass through this bush path” I answered. ” Am sorry about your loss bro” Israel consoled. ” Thanks” I said and we continue the walk until we got home. Mama and papa had gone inside to sleep, so I led them to my small room. ” You know I will sleep on the bed” Morgana said as she jumped on the bed, ” Yeah, but tomorrow you will start sharing bed with Charity as she now sleeps alone” I told her as I and Israel made to sleep on the floor, Morgana love sleeping alone. ” That shouldn’t be a problem” she yawned and every where was quiet, Israel could now be seen snoring loudly.

• The morning was cold, the breeze of the morning was also fresh and chilling. I opened my right eye and took a glance at the clock, it was 7:15am . I could still here somebody snoring beside me, I opened my eyes fully and stood up, ” Wake up!!” I slapped israel who sprang up immediately. ” You must behave like you are in Newriton, dont over sleep” I told him tying a wrapper across my chest. Morgana wasn’t on the bed, she must have gone outside. Isreal wore a T-shirt on his boxers and also went out with me. We met Morgana sitting on a bench, she was putting on a trouser and a singlet. ” You guys can snore like, your snores woke me up” she lamented while I smiled. Israel looked around the compound, “Gabriel” he called out while I turned to him, ” You guys haven’t buried her?” He asked pointing to the grave, the sand has been dug out from the grave, like a flash of light, I walked towards the grave and looked into it, the body was gone, Linda’s body had been dug out.
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“The body has been stolen” I turned to israel who opened his mouth wide in shock. ” you mean you buried her and her body was dug out?” Morgana who was just joining us asked ” I suspected this was gonna happen, they had taken her body, they need her skull” I said , ” That should be precisely, the case, sir Jude boys are behind this” Morgana supported and israel nodded. ” We need to do something fast, we are running late” Morgana bent staring at the grave. ” Oyinbo ” My dad called from afar, he was walking towards us dressed like a chief, he was obviously heading to the village square to hear what the people have to say about the chief priest death . I walked towards him, ” Linda’s body had been dug out” I whispered to him while he stared at me in disbelief, almost immediately,he dashed towards the grave. ” I told you, the gods have taken their property” He turned back to me. ” Good morning sir” Morgana and Israel greeted in union. ” My children, welcome, dont mind me, your friend wants to make me mad, I told him the body belonged to the gods, but he went ahead to bury her and now the gods has come to take what us theirs” My dad hit his walking stick on the ground to emphasize what he was saying, ” Papa, if the gods had taken her, then there shouldn’t be foot prints here” Morgana who was still bending pointed at the foot prints made by some kind of booths. My dad stared in disbelief at the floor, ” Abomination ” he hit his walking stick on the ground again,” This has never happened before” he stared from Morgana to israel . ” Dont worry papa, something will be done” Israel assured with a smile. ” Oyinbo, make your friends comfortable ” My dad said as he walked out sorrowfully. ” Okay, I have seen daddy, what about mummy , John and Charity?” Israel asked, ” They will soon be out” I assured, ” And Adanna” he added, ” you will surely see her” I assured again while Morgana stared at us, ” Who is Adanna?” She asked with a smile, ” His girlfriend” Israel blurted out and Morgana smiled at me,” You already know what is love ?” She asked with a punch , ” Do you think am a small boy?” I asked back, ” I still senior you anyways” She bent at the grave side again, ” This act wasn’t done just by one person, it was done by a group of people” she stared at the scattered shoe prints. Just then I heard foot steps approaching behind us, I turned and it was my mom. ” Good morning ma” Israel and Morgana greeted before me, ” Oyinbo, your friends are looking good o, Good morning my children” she hugged them, just then her eyes caught the grave, ” what happened here?” She asked in shock as she let go of them. ” The body has been stolen” I said standing arm Akimbo, ” Ani has taken her” my mom turned to us, ” Ani doesn’t have shoe prints” I pointed to the floor and she also stared in disbelief, ” Who has done this evil? ” she asked as tears fell down her eyes, ” Mama, its okay” Morgana hugged her and wiped off her tears, israel drew me away to a side ” Gabriel, this is getting out of hand ” He started staring at me while I nodded, ” We have to do something” He added, ” What do we do?” I asked spreading my hands out, ” I dont kn…” Charity’s voice interrupted him ” Brother good morning” She greeted running into my widely spread arms. ” Hmm, charity, how are you? Israel this is the charity ” I handed her to Israel who carried her. ” Beautiful girl, I am your brother’s friend from the city” Israel said smiling while charity nodded and touched his small beards. ” Will you carry me to the city?” Charity asked while Israel nodded, ” Yeah, one day you will come to the city” He assured while she smiled happily and hug him. ” Hey baby girl” came Morgana’s voice as she walked towards israel and took charity from him, ” hey , you are really beautiful” Morgana started while charity stared at her with a confuse expression written all over her face. ” oh, I am your brother’s friend from the city ” Morgana introduced herself, ” Are you his wife? ” charity asked while Morgana smiled and stared at me, ” No, I am not his wife” She turned back to Charity. ” Will you also carry me to the city?” Charity asked again, ” But I promised to carry you to the city” israel put in, ” I dont trust you, my brother has been promising that he would take me to the city but he never did ” Charity explained while we bursted into laughter, ” Okay, I will take you” Morgana assured her while Charity hugged her and ran off to look for my mom who should now be in the kitchen. ” okay, two more people to go, John and Adanna” Israel said counting his fingers, ” Okay, let’s go see Adanna” I said as I went to fetch a cutlass .

” Mama, I am going to the stream” I shouted to my mom who was in the kitchen, ” Oyinbo, aren’t you going to the village square, didn’t you get the town..” I interrupted her, ” Am not interested in that, I might come later” I said and walked away to israel and Morgana who were standing waiting for me. ” So are you going to her house with a cutlass?” Israel asked me as we walked out, ” No, am going to the stream, she will be going to fetch water this morning” I explained. ” Then why the cutlass?” He asked me, ” hmm, just in case I might need to cut off your head if you try anything stupid with Adanna” I explained as I dropped the cutlass, I had initially wanted to use it to check my father wine, but I remembered I was still mourning my sister. We walked to the stream, there was no one there. We decided to sit under the huge mango tree which I always climbed on whenever I came to the stream. Soon, people started coming to the stream, they were all girls.

Israel would always access them with his eyes and will then ask me ” Hope this is not Adanna?” , I would simply smile and shake my head. Morgana soon left us as she would go to help some of the girls put their water pot on their head, some lazy girls to be precise. ” And that is Adanna” I pointed in the direction of Adanna who was just approaching the stream. ” Oh my God!” Israel exclaimed and got up , he made to walk towards her but I push him back . ” Where are you going to?” I asked him, ” To greet her now” he replied and got up again. ” Mumu, she will get here” I pushed him back to the ground. Adanna soon came nearer, as expected, she came towards me. ” Good morning…”

Israel interrupted her, ” Behold the most beautiful maiden of Atata, the only maiden whose smile is enough to cool the temper of a hungry lion, her voice alone will make all the young men of Atata bow at her feet, her face shines like the morning sun, pardon my stupidity , more than the morning sun. Adanna of Atata, the only one who has been able to cage the heart of my friend, who has been able to make his mouth sing her praise everywhere he goes, Israel greet you” Israel concluded as he bowed with one of his knees on the ground, all at the stream were surprised and soon started clapping. Adanna twisted her mouth like she always does when she is shy, but it actually makes her more pretty. She stared at me like expecting me to explain what just happened, even I myself was surprised. ” He is my friend from the city” I said as I walked up to her, israel also got up. ” Yeah, he has said so much of you, its a pleasure meeting you” he stretched fort his hand , Adanna took it happily. ” Thanks for the…”

Israel interrupted her, ” You deserve more than that” He said and turned to me, ” When will you lead her to the alter?” He asked, ” Very soon” I replied while Adanna eyed me . ” So this is that girl Gabriel won’t stop talking about?” Morgana asked as she came towards us, ” She is my other friend from the city ” I told Adanna who nodded and greeted Morgana, Morgana preferred hugging her. ” she is really beautiful” Morgana turned to me while I nodded, ” Hmm, you are really the most beautiful maiden of Atata” She added and Adanna smiled. ” So israel, what was the meaning of the movie you just acted?” Morgana asked him, ” Should I act for you?” Israel asked back while Morgana punched him. ” let me quickly fetch my water” Adanna turned to go towards the stream but Morgana held her back, ” I will help you with that, because you are my friend’s future wife” She said and collected the water pot from Adanna.