Introduction

The stormy day couldn’t have been anymore windy as Mama Nnena sat gloomily at the entrance of her two room thatched hut and watched as the rain continued to beat the ground washing away the sandy soil she had ordered Adam and Udoma her two youngest sons who were seven and ten respectively to carry sands from the river to fill the various potholes that littered the yard. Looking at the fast action in which the rain carried the leaves and sand in the compound she heaved a heavy sign, Her children’s two days effort to the village river had just been wasted, Looking back she signed was that not the way her own efforts to live a good life had been futile

When she was young she had envisioned a good life with her late husband Maduka, they had been the happiest couple in this same thatched hut that his father had gifted him when they newly got married, Two years ago Maduka died leaving her with ten children to look after six boys and four girls.

Only she knew the way her husband died was mysterious, he had been in a dispute with the one of the king’s men over a farm land, weeks after her husband was found dead on his farm.

Two years later at 46 she looked like a grandmother, when her first child was not even married, Being a mother of Ten wasn’t easy on her, Her first child Nnena is just twenty three old, and is working as a housemaid in the city hardly making any returns, the second child was a boy, Kuma, he was given to his teacher as houseboy since she couldn’t afford the school fee, the teacher had offered to take him as an houseboy which had worked well for her since she was just a cleaner at the palace.

The third, fourth and fifth were boys Chika, chike and Chukwuma were all learning vocations at least she could afford to pay for that with her meagre salary and still feed her children with the little left even though they had to fast most of the time.

She continued watching the rain falling like it would fall down the roof, she sat gloomily on the kitchen stool thinking on her current situation, Just recently the king had expressed interest in her youngest daughter Adanna who was five years old, he wants to betroth the girl to one of his chiefs as a wife, who was to marry her when she reaches the age of fifteen, She signed. Only those who don’t have a crown have to face this sought of life challenges

Standing up sorrowfully, she picked up the wooden stool she had been sitting on, she walked dizzyingly into her room where she met her son Adam lying on her bed shaking like a leaf, he was drenched from head to toe

Mama Nnena rushed to the bed, calling loudly for her other children, she touched his forehead which was burning hot “What happen Adam? Talk to me biko”

He only grunted in response and indicated to be left alone, he turned his back to her hugging himself

“How can I leave you alone when you are like this,where did you go? “She asked again getting irritated by his silence

“I hope you have not been to Mama Chijioke’s yard to pluck mango, you know that woman does not like us, I hope she has not put poison for you like this? “She stated panicking; she called for her other children again, Udoma who was nearby walked in slowly clutching his stomach, looking so emaciated he was only bones, seeing the way he was walking she queried

“Is something wrong with you too? “

“Mama, am hungry” the reminder came to her like a time bomb that was planted and discovered on time but no one knew how to detonate it, she remembered she had not feed her children the evening meal; they had only eaten garri in the morning and nothing since then

As she was still thinking, Adanna came wearing her loosed rags that had been patched with different materials, looked nothing short of a cloth of many colours only the clothes were washed and worn, her fair skin had been stained with charcoal that she had been playing with at the firestead, her big brown eyes met her mother’s before flicking to her brother lying on the bed and back to her mother

“Mama Can I go to Joy’s house, their mother say I can come to eat anytime I want yesterday when I was playing with Joy in their house, and it is time for them to eat in their house now, I checked the last time” she said in her baby voice looking hopefully at her mother

Seeing her mother delayed in answering her, she quickly added” I will bring food for Udoma when am coming, I have nylon with me….” she put her hand in her pocket showing her mother the black polythene she had hidden in her clothes to put food in

“you can go and take Ada with you” Mama Nnena decided since she didn’t see anywhere she could get food for her children at this time, she motioning to three year old Ada sleeping on a raffia mat on the floor, she stood up and went to her, waking her gently was going to be a waste of effort since she was an heavy sleeper, she dragged her to Adanna putting their hands in each other, Ada was still drowsy occasionally tilting her head forward and backward making Adanna carry her on her back before they both made their way out the door in the drizzling rain

“Mama, should I follow them? “ Udoma asked still clutching his stomach

“There is no need, go and call the twins for me, where did they go to without telling me first?

“They went to look for snails in the bush”

“ehhh ehh” she hadn’t thought of that, Since Rain fell it will be easier to get snails, she had a little ogbono in the house, they can use the snail to eat it alongside garri, she was due to collect her monthly contribution the next day, then she will buy adequate foodstuffs in the house to last them for a long period of time

“Udoma, leave that your hungry stomach aside, let us make small ogbono to eat you hear ndo, the food will soon be ready” she encouraged him, rubbing her hands on his head

“I don’t want to eat Garri”

“Let us make do with what we have, am due to collect my Monthly Contribution tomorrow “As she said that she set her eyes on the wrapper lying on the mat Ada slept on, picking it up she use it to cover up Adam before dragging Udoma up, pushing him towards the backyard, where the firestead was and instructed him to make the fire and the garri ready before she gets back.

She made her way into the bush where she knew she was likely to find her twins Chima and Chukwuka, she recognized the path so well, since they were so poor they couldn’t afford to buy any supplement, snail eating had become a source of meat for the family and occasional times when there are left overs at the palace was when they had good food to eat

While going she reflected on the offer of the king, what harm would it do? The girl would even grow up to thank her, if she died from hunger when she was a child what good would it do? She would accept the king’s offer and let her marry the chief at least their sufferings would end, who knows the chief might even send her to school, she has ten children

It is not a sin to sacrifice one.

The lively atmosphere in the next compound contradicts Mama Nnena house, Mama Joy sat cheerfully in her block house which was coloured blue and white, her family were sitted in the living room eating and drinking merrily, The center table was well decorated with several assorted meats and drinks, the whole family was sitted at the diner with their guests laughing and eating when the doorbell rang

“Who could that be? “ Mama Joy wondered aloud, she looked at her husband’s friend who had come visiting, with his family his visit was a guarded secret, if the villagers knew she had a visitor from the city, her door will never tire of visitors from the village women who will want to eat all she was given

“Excuse me let me check who is at the door?” Feeling extremely reluctant she got up from her seat and walked to the door, all eyes were on her as she walked to the door, she tied her wrapper very well on her way to the door preparing her mind for all excuse to turn away the visitor from her door, she had earlier instructed her guests not to come to the village with their car so as not to cause commotion yet it seems all effort put into avoiding the commotion was at her door

Mama Joy opened the door to behold two little ragged and dirty looking children holding each other’s hands tightly and shaking terribly from the harsh wind, she dragged them into the house quickly

“Adanna”

“Mama good evening” Adanna greeted a big smile on her face despite the fact that she was shaking from being exposed to cold

“Why are you here this evening? Where is your mother?” she couldn’t help but to query, why was their mother so irresponsible, leaving two small children to the terrible weather, she touched Ada’s wet body and discovered the girl might develop a fever if left in the dress, she lifted her up and made to go to change her clothes

“Adanna go and sit down there” she said indicating to the dining table where the whole family was gathered, it was at her words that Adanna seems to discover that there were other people sitted at the dining room, picking her at her feet’s she remain where she was

Mama Joy left to attend to Ada, Pa James Mama joy’s husband paused his eating, dropping his fork on the nearly empty plate of rice and chicken

“Adanna “he called loudly, she did not reply but began to put one foot over the other using her bony tone nails to pierce her skin, head hung low feeling shy

The wife of Pa James friend Mrs Adams watched the girl with interest; the girl looked so emaciated she couldn’t help but to comment

“That girl is malnourished, where are her parents?” she asked Pa james

“Her father is dead and as you are looking at her she is the second to the last of ten children “ Pa Jmes informed causing Mrs James to open her mouth wide

“What?”

“She is and she is here to eat, my wife takes special interest in feeding her especially, am very sure she came here to eat as usual and to take home to her siblings” Pa James replied pointing at Adanna who had now moved closer towards the door wanting to slowly creep out, Her sister was still going to be given food anyway and she was sure there was no way Mama Joy will give Ada food and not send hers too, The adults were still discussing when the sound of a chair was heard, a chair was dragged back to allow the person to pass.

Mrs Adams inquisitive mind halted when she saw her son Jezreel got up pulling his twin brother Joseph with him, her eyes nearly popping out; she watched as Jezreel walked to Adanna, he used Joseph’s hands to wipe the dirt off her face, wiping it thoroughly clean, he didn’t seem to care, he dragged Adanna by the hand and walked her to the dining table sitting her on his own chair, he placed an empty plate in front of her, piling it up with food from his plate. he sat down beside her and watched as she devoured the food hurriedly hardly pausing to take a breath

“Eat slowly” Jezreel cautioned as he also busied himself with his own food ignoring the stares the elders around them were giving them, Mrs Adams was the first to recover from the surprise, she knew her son very well, he hates contact with girls, he mostly keeps to himself or spends time with his drawings, she knew it was extremely difficult for anything to catch his attention, seeing he went to get the girl himself was a little shocking but she knew her son so well, he will never directly tell her why unless she asked coyly

“Jez why did you have to use Joseph’s hands to clean her face”

He did paused his eating, looking up she was startled a little bit at the beastly look on his face as he said with disgust” it was dirty and he is a dirty boy, so the two work together” he replied stealing a glance at Adanna who seems to be lost in her food world

At his reply, his mother couldn’t help but to lament her sorrow, what sort of a child was this? Behave like a child will you, she eyed her husband who was quiet and seemed to be examining the situation

“This is your fault he takes after you completely” Mrs Adams accused her husband; her husband was flabbergasted how was this his fault?

But was interrupted by Mama Joy entrance with a washed and dressed up Ada, carrying her in her arms she made her way to the dining room, she smiled when she saw Adanna consuming her food

“Adanna you are very busy” she patted the girls head and sat down with Ada on her laps, she began feeding the girl

“Where did you get clothes her size? “Pa james asked picking up a glass of water to drink, gulping it loudly causing Mama Joy to be irritated

“Stop doing that “

“Answer my question woman?”

“I bought it for her yesterday when I went to the market, I forgot to give her mother when I saw her this morning” she explained while using a napkin to wipe Ada’s hand clean of oil that the girl had used to grab some rice to stuff into her mouth while Mama joy was talking and did not feed her

“Just don’t waste money unnecessarily you are not their savior” he cautioned putting hard lines on his face

“Is it that much of a hard life for them?” Mrs Adams asked wanting to know more

“Watch what you say, the children are still at the table and they are not deaf” her husband cautioned knowing his wife she can be very nosey if given a free reign

“They are still children they won’t understand what am saying” she defended herself

“If your ten year old son can behave like an adult most of the time, what can’t a five year old girl who has been forced to face the hard side of life do?” he countered looking straight as at her, she had no choice but to shut her mouth but since she wanted to find out the end of the matter, she hatched another plan it was so hard for her to connect to her son now he finally shows an opening it was a once in a life time opportunity

“Jez take Adanna’s food to the living room let her go and eat there, joseph you hold Joy, be careful with her, she is already feeling drowsy” she quickly urged the children to leave them, she took a peep at Ada who was already fast asleep on Mama joy’s lap

After they left Mama Joy told the Adam’s couple everything they needed to know about Adanna’s family, the couple listened in silence.

“It is such a sad story” Mr. James said looking sideways at his wife

Mama joy nodded in the affirmative” so please if you can do anything to help this family it will be appreciated”

“If you can call the woman, I can write a check for her that should help out a little, I believe there is a local bank here in the village”

“Yes there is thank you so much Mama Nnenna will be so happy”

Everyone at the table was happy with the arrangement except Mrs Adams who was looking at the living room from where she was sitted, Adanna was already sleeping alongside her empty plate while Jezreel knelt beside her holding her thin hands, she didn’t know if it was just mere concern for a poor person that he had since she and her husband had ensured her children are well comfortable at all time and they rarely mingle with other children easily

His next action made her stop thinking and also made her to act, under her watch Jezreel removed the jacket he was wearing to wade away the village cold and use it to cover up Adanna, her heart melted at the sight, this indifferent son of hers actually had a heart he just wasn’t used to showing it, she knew what to do, not even her own husband had shown her such display of affection when they were still courting

“That is not all, we will also like to take Adanna to live with us” she declared not giving her husband chance to object

“Chineke “ Mama joy screamed folding Ada close to her chest

Mr Adams looked at his wife” …….” what is this woman saying?

“she will be able to attend school, it is not too late and the other ones with the money my husband promised to give them she should be able to take care of the others and getting something doing for herself”

Mama joy laughed out loud

“let us go to her compound and tell her this, she will be very happy to hear this?”

“Mum”

Their noised quieted at the sound of the voice calling, Mrs Adams looked back to see Jezreel with Adanna on his back

“Call the driver to bring the car over, she is having a fever and she is very cold, her sleeping on the floor isn’t helping matters, the car heater can help bring down her body temperature”

He said slowly his eyes fixated on his mother

“Mum answer me please”

“Jezreel”

“Yes Mom” he answered feeling exasperated, the girl was terribly cold yet his mother was only interested in asking questions, he turned to leave he just had to look for other methods to keep her warn

“You are in love at ten”

“What?????? “ Everybody at the table screamed