The Dancing Mermaid Episode 4 – 5 Blessing-Enejo Abrahams Elleywrites

The Dancing Mermaid Episode 4 – Blessing-Enejo Abrahams Elleywrites

…As soon as I reached home, I hid it under my pillow. I hurriedly picked up a bucket, filled it up with water and then dashed into the bathroom. I returned back into the room, opened my bag and then brought out the native attire mama had bought for me during her nieces wedding, it still looked so new and smelled so nice too. I had one tied round my chest and the other one tied round my wa!st.

I carefully raised the pillow and then picked up the wa!st bead. I started to stare it, it took me another two minutes just admiring it while smiling from ear to ear, I then put the wa!st bead on. I ran straight to my Mother’s room to tell her I was ready for the occasion but couldn’t find her in her room, so I ran out of there and headed for the festival ground.

As soon as I reached Ruka my best friend was the first person that came to me. She noticed the wa!st bead I had on immediately, dragged me to a corner and then pointed at it.

“That must be very expensive ” she said staring at it.

Then she raised up her head and looked straight into my eyes.

“How did you get it?” she questioned.

“It’s a gift” I said.

“From who?” she queried.

“From…” I was about letting out when Ruka was called upon, it was her turn to dance.

“Excuse me” she said and then left to dance.

She danced so beautifully as usual, and was chosen by a very fine suitor. The crowd screamed in excitement as soon as Ruka was picked, I stood there watching as the young man raised up one of her hands and then paraded her in circles.

Six more ladies danced before me, and it soon got to my turn. Ruka hurried to me and whispered into my ear.

“Are you sure you can do this?” she queried.

I sighed.

“Yes I can ” I replied but deep down I was so sc@red that my heart was nearly in my mouth.

Ruka nodded.

My name was called upon, I didn’t even know wether to march or dance onto the stage. I looked left, some people already pinned their lips with their fingers so they wouldn’t end up laughing at my moves unknowingly cos they knew I couldn’t dance. I looked right again, same thing.

“I hope this works” I soliloquized.

“Shall i beat the drum now?” the village drum beater questioned.

I sighed again.

” Yes” . I said

Then he started to beat the drum. I couldn’t even control my moves. I no longer had control over my legs and my body as each part of my body danced to the drum beats on it’s own. People were shocked as soon as I began to dance, while some of them started to whisper into each other’s ears. I danced so well more than every other maiden and then I got chosen for the first time by the son of one of our chiefs who was doing so well. I didn’t even know that my mother was around. She jumped into the crowd and started to rain praises on me.

“But, how and when did she learn how to dance?” I heard someone ask her neighbor who was also standing right behind me waiting to display but I ignored.

Ruka hurried to me again, grabbed my hand and then dragged me to a corner the second time.

“I’m so happy for you Ojali, from the depth of my heart” she said with a hand on her chest.

“But, how and when did you learn how to dance? In fact, you’re the best dancer in this year’s festival. But tell me, I know that something isn’t right” she added.

“ok, I’ll tell you everything but let’s leave here first” I said.

As soon as we were done from the festival Ruka ran after me, asking me to tell her how I got the bead and how I also learnt how to dance.

“Don’t worry, when you come to our house tomorrow I shall tell you everything ” I said.

“Tomorrow? I’m coming with you to your house right away” she said and then we both bursted out laughing.

I became the talk on everyone’s lips. Anyone who passed by us would always turn back to take proper look at me as if I wasn’t the same Ojali they once knew.

We arrived my house. I sat Ruka down and then I told her everything but she became so sc@red instead.

“I’m not comfortable how you got this wa!st bead. Are you sure this doesn’t have any repercussion?” she asked.

“No it doesn’t, cos the mermaid didn’t mention anything like that” I said.

“hmmm…ok” she said.

“Secondly, don’t you think you should go apologise to Dogo?”

I turned swiftly to look at her.

“The gods forbid. I did nothing to him that would warrant such”

“Ok o ” she let out swinging her head back and forth.

That evening the young man who had picked me at the festival came to my house to officially ask for my hand in marriage. My mother was so happy that she danced for minutes non stop, and he was told to return again in few days with his people.

Three days later Ruka came to me to borrow her my wa!st bead so she could use it for an occasion.

“Please be careful with it” I warned with a hand dragging down my ear lobe.

“I will ” she replied

I removed the wa!st bead and then gave it to her. She wore it around her waist, and someone came knocking on my door almost immediately.

“Who is it?” I questioned as I moved towards the door but there was no answer.

I opened the door and lo and behold, it was a palace guard.

“Good day, the king wants you in the palace right away” he said squeezing his face.

I turned swiftly to Ruka who was already walking slowly towards us.

“For what?” Ruka questioned.

“I was asked to bring you. When you get to the palace you shall find out” he said.

“Mama! Mama!!” I called but no answer.

Ruka then went with me to the palace. As soon as I saw Dogo sitting on a chair looking at me with corner eyes, my heart splitted into two. The King was seated with some elders of our land. I became so restless, and shocked at the same time.

“Good day your highness”

“Good day elders” we greeted on our knees.

“Save your greetings” the king thundered.

I was still standing there like a lost sheep wondering what could be wrong.

“On your knees” the king ordered and I immediately knelt before him.

“Dogo here said you used magic powers during the dance festival. You know the implications of using such powers here”

“What?” I exclaimed with my mouth agape.

My father once told me that anyone found using magic powers in my village stands a chance of being banned.

“How?” Ruka exclaimed too.

“You will have to repeat the dance here in the palace tomorrow morning ” he said pointing his horsewhip towards me.

I looked at Dogo but he looked away. I had totally forgotten I caught him in the bush wishing my uncle de@d so I hadn’t tell anyone about it not even my mom.

“Do I tell the king?” I soliloquized.

And then I decided to let everyone know about it. As soon as I opened my mouth Dogo looked at me and I immediately choked on my saliva. I coughed for like two minutes, unable to utter a word as I held my neck and Ruka too started to pat my back.

“Sorry! Sorry!!” she and some of the elders said while some talked in whispers with the king.

As soon as it relieved me a little,

“Lock her up here in the palace in one of the empty rooms. Give her food to eat and water to drink till tomorrow morning” the king said to one of his guards.

As soon as I entered the room, I remembered I had given the wa!st bead to Ruka who was still standing with the elders and in tears when I was taken away. I begged the guard to help me call her that I had something to say to her and he did.

When Ruka came the guard opened the window and excused us. I looked left and right peeping through the window to make sure that no one else was around.

“Ruka, the wa!st bead. Please let me have it”

“What wa!st bead? Did you give it to me? ” Ruka said.

“What?!” I exclaimed…

The Dancing Mermaid Episode 5 – Blessing-Enejo Abrahams Elleywrites

…”Ruka please be serious, this is no time for such jokes” I pleaded.

“I don’t understand what you are saying. Yes I came to you for the bead but you were about giving it to me when there was a knock on the door and then you went to check.”

“No! I gave it you Ruka, you already even worn it before the knock. I have limited time please, enough of the joke cos I’m not just in the mood for it”

“What are you saying Ojali? You never gave me the bead” she said again raising her hand halfway into the air.

“I’m finished” I let out grabbing my hair so hard.

“Your time is up” The guard said approaching us. Then he turned to Ruka.

“Leave now” he ordered.

I turned swiftly to Ruka.

“Ruka please, don’t do this to me”

“I swear I don’t have it” she repeated, I stood there watching her leave hoping she would turn back and tell me it was all a prank but no, Ruka left and then the guard shut the window right before my face.

I slammed myself on the floor of the dark and empty as hot tears made it’s way down my cheeks.

“I’m finished” I whispered to myself in between sobs.

Some minutes later I started to hear my mother’s wail from afar off. She was finally brought to me and then the window was let open.

“Ojali! What is going on? Is the rumour true?” She questioned as she wiped her tears with the helm of her wrapper.

“I know I haven’t been a good mother. You are not a good dancer but I never even cared or bothered to ask you how you finally learnt how to and who taught you just like a good mother would do. Now the whole village is saying that you used magic powers but I don’t believe them. Please my daughter, who even taught you and how and when did you learn how to dance?”

” I never used magic powers” I said in between sobs.

“Yes, I believe you. I know the rumour isn’t true but, who taught you?” mama questioned bursting into another round of tears.

I stretched my hand forth through the window and then placed it on her shoulder.

“Mama, I shall tell you everything but please not now, it’s not necessary now. What I need you to do for me is for you to please beg Ruka to return that thing I gave to her latest very early tomorrow morning. That is the most important thing right now “

“But, what is that thing?” my mother asked.

“Never mind mama. I’ll tell you everything but not now. Failure to get that thing with Ruka I’m afraid of the outcome of all this” I said wiping a tear with the back of my hand.

“Then tell me what it is, please” my mother begged again.

“Mama not now”

“Time up” the guard who had been standing beside the building finally came and said.

“Please just give me five more minutes” mama begged.

“I’m sorry your time is up” he repeated again.

“Ok, ok, two minutes. Even a minute” my mother begged raising one of her fingers but the guard shook his head in disagreement, shut the window and then ushered my wailing mother away.

That night one of the guards brought a local lamp and a plate of food into the room. As soon as he dropped them on the floor, he turned to me.

“You didn’t touch your lunch?” he queried but I shook my head.

“How about dinner? It’s very hot, try and eat it before it gets cold” he said.

“I’m not hungry” I managed to say.

“Are you sure?” he asked staring at me.

I looked at him and then looked away cos my heart was too heavy to tell him what he needed to hear.

“Can I… You know, have the plates of food?” he asked rubbing both palms together and grinning so hard.

“Since food is your own problem you can go with them. I don’t have time for this” I fumed.

“Wow thank you. May the gods allow you remain here with us, at least for sometime” he said still grinning while bending down to pick up the plates of food.

“The gods forbid. It is you who will remain here forever. ” I r@ged.

He was still grinning carrying the plates of food as he left.

That night I couldn’t even close my eyes, I nearly cried my eyes out. I sat there in the empty room thinking of my best friend Ruka and all seemed like a dream.

“Why would Ruka do this to me? What has come over her? ” I soliloquized as I stood up on my feet walking slowly round the room. I finally sat down after some minutes with my head leaned on the wall.

The following morning as soon as the first cock crowed, my heart splitted into two and I began to tremble in fe@r. I opened the window multiple times even though it was still dark to see if Ruka would sneak in with the wa!st bead but she never did, and then I began to shiver.

Few hours later mama was around but they refused her seeing me.

One of the guards finally opened up the room and then ushered me out into the awaiting crowd. I looked round and then I saw the King, the elders, my mother, and then Ruka. I continued staring at her but she couldn’t look into my eyes.

I began to tremble in fe@r as the drum beater finally let out his usual question.

“Shall I begin?”

I turned swiftly to look at him, unable to answer his question.

“Shall I begin?” he questioned again but I said nothing as hot tears made it’s way down.

“Begiiinnn!!!” the awaiting crowd chorused.

He started to beat the drum but I couldn’t lift my legs and then I locked stares with mama who signaled me to dance. I tried, even forced myself to dance but I couldn’t.

The King ordered the drum beater to stop and as soon as he did, the crowd started to ‘boo’ me tapping their palms on their lips.

I had never been so ashamed all my life. I raised my head and then locked stares with Ruka.

“Thank you ” I whispered as tears gathered in my eyes but she only bowed her head.

“You’re hereby banished from our land” the king let out and then I fell on my knees.

Mama and uncle Ocholi hurried to me as mama held me in her arms. Ruka stood with her hands before her and her head bowed but couldn’t come close.

“Ojali, what happened?” Uncle Ocholi questioned.

I opened my mouth to say something and then I saw Dogo staring at me from where he sat, I then swallowed whatever I had to say.

I turned and looked at mama.

“Where’s Baba? Is he ok?” I questioned but mama sighed.

” He’s fine but, he refused to come” she revealed.

“Ruka refused to give it to you?” I asked.

“She said there’s nothing with her. But did you both have a f!ght?” mama queried

Some of the guards then came and asked me to lead the way, I was finally going to be escorted out of the village…

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To be continued!

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