Chapter 2

I saunter towards the house of the people that owns them.

Four more houses to go to before completed my customary routine

A daily routine that ends with me back in the forest collecting more herbs for the ungrateful villagers.

You might be wondering why I still help them despite their ill-treatment of me.

Well, you can say I help them to prevent a disaster.

It won't be right to whatever God must have gifted or cursed me with my healing powers, to ignore the sick when I can be of help to them.

God must have gifted me to heal the people by giving me what the people consider a curse.

“Murderer,” a girl of almost the same age as I spat as she walks by, “witch”, she continues to spur more evil words.

“A person like you is better off in Okumu where your fatter Ekwensu is residing in his pretend Obi (palace),” she says with a glare at me.

“Trash like you isn't worthy of living,” she spat as she resumes her journey to wherever she was supposed to be.

Touching my dyed hair, I resume walking; not bothering to acknowledge her and her words.

I learned from a tender age not to talk back at them, despite their harsh words towards me; ignoring them and their words is what I do.

If you talk back, it makes life more unbearable for you.

Shut your mouth and concentrate on yourself, is one of my favorite words.

Walking briskly to avoid being caught by the teachers of Akwukwo, I walk past their small mud building

This place has seen better days, yet it's standing as firm as it was when it was built. 

The reason it must still be standing will be based on the materials used on them; materials that are more superior and firm than the ones used to build now.

The mud was built to resemble an Itu *an ancient building where the hides of animals are dried; an Itu is divided into four parts, each part has work and function·, it's divided into four different parts, each part have its functions.

The first divided part is for the beginners; those from their second moon cycle* a complete moon cycle is a year* to the ones in their seventh moon cycle. This first category is the one Soso feels in, since she's in her fifth moon cycle.

The second divided part is for the Iganihu* that's the advanced students·. The class is for those from their eighth moon cycle to those in their fourteenth moon cycle.

This second barge of learners can be called the senior of the bunch.

A person who completes their Akwukwo is eligible for the best job in the village.

The person can either become a farmer for the boys or a trader for the girls.

It's like strife trying to complete your Akwukwo days.

Hardly have more than ten Learners emerged after a complete thirteen moon cycles in the Akwukwo.

More than half the students failed before the final Iguonogugu *result calling·.

The third part of the building is the Mosi, it's the place the learners answer the call of nature.

The place is built like a bucket, you can squat there to relieve yourself.

The third part is the only place I hate in the entire establishment.

The place smells as badly as the rotten corpse of animals.

I detest passing there every night on my mission* the third part is the only place it's the door is guarded with an Oja, a magical stone that detects thieves* it's always a must for me every night to avoid the Oja.

Secretly stealing into the school at night; I try to envision myself sitting on the oche *the place the learners sits during the day* looking up at the person teaching me.

I can still recall years of yearning just to attend the Akwukwo.

For years, I cried myself to sleep because my wishes weren't granted.

Father said am too intelligent to attend the Akwukwo when I asked him the reason others go to the learning center but not me.

“Your Oburu* that's what we call the brain* is far sharper than that of the dumb children who attend the center. A brain like yours is far better off in places like Ugiri before the war laid waste to all the other towns”, he will smile down at an angry-looking Rabel.

“ I still want to attend”, I will protest none stop, even after he tells me if reasons why am not allowed to attend the Akwukwo.

A year after his death, I thought to attend the Akwukwo; a mistake on my part.

Dad who prevents me from attending the school is no longer alive, I thought I will take the opportunity to soar high up in the sky making sure I reach my peak since my cage has been broken.

That day was when I thought back to how odd it was, I never, for once, had a friend.

I see kids walking around with their friends, but I've not for once had one kid 

over to my place for a long game or any game at all.

An incident that happened years ago was what made me start thinking differently about others.

The first Ubochi* that's the first day in a week. We call the days Ubochi and the week we call Izu Uka* I was sitting on the front Oche at the house my father built before his death.

The children who were playing at the last house before ours *I've not questioned Father about the reason we live far from the other villagers. I thought that was the way he decided to build it. It was years later that I came to learn of the reasons why we live on the outskirt of the village.*

The closer the children played the Ukwu* it's like a game of football, but instead of the ball, they play with an Ukwu; around like fruit *the giddier, I became.

They haven't played their games thus far, they always stop at the large tree near my house.

Kicking the Ukwu, it landed close to where I was sitting.

I stood to get the ukwu form where it is; I thought playing the game near me was their way of inviting me over to be their friend and play with them.

When the children saw me holding the said Ukwu in my hands; they all ran back, each shouting at the top of their voices.

That was the beginning of the Okumu is suffering now.

I'm afraid without Soso and her buggy feely ways I won't have survived as long as I did.

I met Soso two years after my Father's death.

She was just a chubby two years old when she captured my heart, wrapping it expertly around her little finger.

#

Most of the little ones came out to gawk at me as I briskly made my way past their learning place.

“That's the witch!” one of the children shouted.

“Mom says she will rot in Okumu!” says another. 

“Her white hair is because she's as old as time!” the first one says, *I know it's the first child who spoke based on his voice.*

“She's nothing like that! She's my friend” I hear Soso say as she tries to defend her friend.

I would have turned back at least to give her a wave if not for fear of the teachers catching sight of me.

“ Rabel! “ She calls after me.

I break into a run to avoid wasting more than enough time. 

Stopping to wave at her or acknowledge her presence might make her mom forbid me from visiting her again.