Pains of Amara

The young girl of about 5 years sat still on the wooden chair as the woman's finger walked around her thick afro hair. Cutting some hair apart, she braided them downwards and let the dark braids fall on the girl's neck. She was making a popular hairstyle"All Back". She cut out another part of the young girl's hair and swiftly but carefully braided the hair downwards. Her fingers were strong yet soft on the young girl's scalp which made her very comfortable with having her mother make her hair.The young girl kept on smiling to herself as her mother braided her hair. "Amara!"She suddenly heard her name but it sounded like it was coming from a faraway place because her mother was still busy braiding her hair and she was sure her mother didn't hear it."Amarachi!" The voice shouted again, this time very harsh. It immediately jolted her out of her dream and back to reality.Amarachi was a

AMARACHII stepped outside the house with heavy sleepy eyes. Scanning the empty buckets in the backyard, I realised my workload this morning will be much.  The atmosphere was so cold and  sky was still dark. Some stars could be spotted as the darkness covered the entire horizon. I rubbed my hands together trying to feel warm.A deep sigh escaped my mouth as  I took a jerry-can and made my way out off the house."It was still dark, why couldn't aunty Lydia just let me rest?"Stepping outside the iron gate of my house, I felt the cold breeze run through my body and I shivered.There were just few people on the road, probably those of the working class as they went their way not even minding anybody elseI greeted some of them, most replied while some didn't.Heaven knows I was still sleepy as I tried to keep awake whilst wa

FlashbackMany Years Earlier  Lydia quickly and stealthily walked out of the compound, opening the gate quietly and closing it in that same manner so as not to make a noise.   "Where could Francis be now?"Lydia thought to herself once outside the gate."Yes, he is probably at Dike's workshop. Francis my love prepare to loose your Chinenye"   A smile formed on her lips on the thought of Francis loosing his love for Chinenye. She quickly hurried towards meeting Francis.She would have to pass the community market which was a very good way of seeing Adanne or as she is popularly referred to as "Nne", Francis' and Emeka's mother.

AMARACHII stepped outside the door of the house, putting on an okrika(fairly used) blue floral gown. I didn't have much fancy clothes like Ogechi, aunty Lydia hardly bought me any nice cloth so the ones I had, I made sure to keep them in good shape. My afro virgin hair was combed and packed to a bun and I carried a little handbag which contained some sowing equipments.I was already through with the house chores and I had already freshened up but I had not eaten.The heat of the sun had already begun, it was probably ten o'clock by now.I spotted aunty Lydia and her husband, my uncle Francis, sitting under the umbrella mango tree discussing. 'Uncle Francis', that tittle 'uncle', was he really my uncle?He accompanied his wife in maltreating me, he hates me the way aunty Lydia hates me.Is this man really my late's father's younger brother?I doubt it.If

AMARACHI  After my friends left, I went back to my work. It really wasn't easy. Time moved really slow and it frustrated me.I was cutting, sewing and mending customers cloth. More and more customers kept on trooping inside aunty Lydia's shop, bringing materials for sewing.I took measurements endlessly. I liked the fact that aunty Lydia's business was booming but the effect was taking a toll on me seriously. I was working round the clock here and I didn't even get a 'thank you' from aunty Lydia.I kept on working until aunty Lydia came in during noon.She was on a yellow lace top and she tied a wrapper matching the lace coupled with her handbag and her heavy jewellery.I immediately stood up and cleaned her particular seat for her even though I had cleaned it before."Aunty good afternoon" I greeted her with a courtesy bow.She eyed me and hiss