THORNED LAVENDER

Jumanya.. you look well adorned and beautiful every day despite the war going on between the villages. I can't help but envy,I am sure your father will soon get you arranged with one of the prominent sons of this land, Ugo commented..

I laughed. I just like looking good Ugobe",it has nothing to do with suitors, and by the way, nobody has caught my fancy.. I want someone who will always adore me just the way my father adores me. I said proudly,it has always been known in the entire village of UMUHU, and the villages surrounding it of the fact that my father adores me as the only girl of my father.

My father, Mazi Akwu .. is known for his magnificent and productive farm and a great warrior he is blessed with six sons and a girl being me. He adores me just the way he adored my late mother and always gave me the best and the best ..like look at me pretty well curved and adorned with expensive

Lappa(wrappers) and beads, i know my worth and deserve the best.

I was used to praises and acknowledgement from both men and women.. I started getting marriage proposals at the young age of (15 ),so trust me, I really get it.

Jumanya! Jumanya ! What are you thinking about?

Have you even been listening to me?

Sorry, Akwaugo, what did you say?

Oh, chim ,so i have been talking to myself all this while,I said Jessica is getting married, did she tell you? I heard it was one of Chief Ikenna sons that came for her hand in marriage, and she agreed, "Well, she came close to whisper,I think they have been seeing each other before this whole proposal took place.

She didn't tell me, but it's none of my business,Whatever she does is her life, and by the way, she isn't my friend, but yours,Akwaugo let me tell you if I was giving the opportunity I would have preferred to be unmarried,rich ,and have young men into my chambers (a room) once in a while to service me and give me children....

Ah, jumanya, don't say such a thing. Where did all these come from?

Is an abomination.. I Akwaugo believe in marriage, and it works. You are just too used to your father's love that you feel no man can take care of you like him.

Eh..Ugo, let's change this topic enough of this marriage talk. i just want to buy the things I came for and go..any man that i see who treats me and loves me more than my father gets to have me.

Looking around my surroundings, I don't think anyone seems fit the men here are cheats. They love themselves too much with their manhood, which has been used to graze every woman they meet,i believe, and i know i can't be unfortunate to marry any of them.

We went around the entire market,buying new Lappas ( wrappers) and beads,I never in any doubt figured that life would toss me around in the manner it did . I was 18, and the people were already whispering how i was getting old and how all my friends were married and ugo would soon leave as she was already betrothed, but I knew they were jealous of my beauty and I wasn't in a hurry,cause my father never gave me room to fill like i needed to