The Dancing Mermaid Episode 6 – Blessing-Enejo Abrahams Elleywrites
…” Please, let me have a word with her” mama said in between sobs.
“A minute” one of the guards let out staring into the air.
Mama then looked straight into my eyes. Her eyes were already so red and swollen, she had cried too much.
“Ojali, I know you’re a very strong girl and I strongly believe that one day there will be a ray of light in this darkness. There’s no need asking you how that dance at the festival was made possible. Go straight to Ochi, your paternal aunty’s place. I’m sure you know your way there?”
I nodded sporadically.
“Tell Aka your aunty the reason why you’re there, I’m sure she’ll take good care of you. I’ll be coming to visit you from time to time. Go well my dear daughter, may Ochi village favour you” my mom said with her shivering hand on my head.
“Baba did not even come to visit me when I was locked up here, and he hasn’t even shown up” I said wiping a tear with the back of my hand.
“Let your father be for now, all will be well” mama said giving me a tight hug.
Uncle Ocholi who had been standing with us then came before me with a hand on my shoulder.
“I shall be coming to visit you too from time to time. I sure have that feeling that something is not right, but how come you danced so well during the festival? Did anybody teach you prior to that time?”
“Uncle, that isn’t necessary now. But uncle…”
Then I sighted Dogo who stood staring at me without a blink.
“Yes, talk to me Ojali”
“Uncle…” I said and paused all of a sudden.I tried to tell him to be careful of Dogo when I suddenly choked on my saliva the second time and started to cough.
“Water! Somebody please help me get water!!!” mama cried out pacing when the cough wouldn’t stop but there was no one to get water. It finally relieved me and then one of the guards voiced out all of a sudden.
“It’s time to go”
Then some elders came out of the palace with palm fronds stuck in between their teeth.
“Lead the way to the boundary” an elder said to me.
They were already standing on a straight line waiting for me to lead them.
“All these show for me?” I soliloquized as mama still held onto one of my hands so tight, not letting go.
“Lead the way!” the elder repeated again.
“Mama please, let me go” I begged mama who wouldn’t let go of my hand. She finally did after some seconds and then I marched before them to be on the line and as soon as I did, mama passed out.
I left the line and hurried to her and then I heard all of a sudden.
“No! It is time to go!!”
I looked at mama who was already in uncle Ocholi’s arms, and then at the elders. I then went before the straight line again and we marched slowly out of there while some villagers followed. I looked back, mama still hadn’t woken up, and then I locked stares with Ruka again but she immediately covered her face with her palms.
We finally arrived the boundary.
“Ojali, know this that anyone banished from this village will never ever return. Go now and don’t look back” one of the elders said and as soon as I crossed the boundary, some women came and swept off the prints of my feet from the soil of the village.
I turned and looked back not minding the warning, and then i proceeded to Ochi village to my aunty Aka.
Aunty Aka was outside with one of her daughters Ebi when she sighted me from afar and then she stood up all of a sudden staring at me.
“Ojali, is that you?” she let out popping her eyes.
I reached where they were in front of the house and then I went down on my knees and greeted her.
“Ojali, how is your father? Is your mother ok?” she queried curiously while helping me up at the same time.
“They are fine aunty” I said trying to control the tears already welled up in my eyes.
“Ojali, are you sure you’re ok?” said Ebi and I shook my head.
“Come, come inside. Come tell me what’s wrong” said aunty Aka.
We went in and we all sat down and then I told them how I danced very well at the festival, some people then went to tell the king that I had used magic powers cos they knew that ordinarily I wouldn’t have danced the way I did cos I’m not a good dancer, and how the king later made me dance in the palace in everybody’s presence but I couldn’t dance and so I was banished for using magic powers.
“But, did you use magic powers?” Aunty Aka queried with eyes popped open.
“Of course no, I never did”
“So how come you danced so well on the day of the dance festival but unable to dance when you were summoned? Is there anything you’re not telling me ?”
“No aunty, there’s nothing. I don’t know how it happened too” I said.
“Hmmm! ” Ebi let out aloud folding her arms.
“If you’re sure you’re telling me the truth, you can stay here. But if there’s anything you’re not telling me Ojali, hmmm” she said as she leaned her back on the chair shaking her legs.
The following day I was inside the room Ebi and her sister Mola shared with me when Mola called my name all of a sudden, she was at the backyard. I rushed there to see what was going on and then I met her standing with Ebi before an empty pot of water.
“Yes, Mola you called me” I said
“Yes. Here is an empty pot of water. Can you please fill it up with water using magic powers?” she said as they both busted into laughter.
“Are you trying to make mockery of me?” I questioned with a hand on my chest as tears welled up in my eyes but when they wouldn’t stop laughing I left their presence.
Days went by and Ebi and Mola wouldn’t stop making mockery of me at the slightest opportunity.
I went to the backyard and then I sat under a tree when Mama’s thoughts suddenly crossed my mind. I cried cos I had miss her so much, wondering if she was fine.
“I hope she’s ok? Why hasn’t she visited?” I soliloquized with a hand on my jaw when I started to hear a voice like that of Baba.
“Finally, Baba has come to see me” I said jumping up. I quickly wiped my tears with my wrapper as I hurried into the house.
“You this cur-sed child, you can’t continue to stay here in my sister’s house cos I don’t want I and any family member of mine to have anything to do with you” he fumed.
“Calm down. Just calm down ” Aunty Aka said repeatedly while rubbing his chest.
“Don’t you tell me to calm down. I’m sure she didn’t tell you what she did. Ojali used magic powers during the dance festival” Baba fumed again.
“What?!” Aunty Aka exclaimed and then turned to me.
“Did you lie to me?” she asked but I stood there like a tree unable to utter a word while tears kept flowing down.
“Well, I am sorry Ojali. I can’t continue to harbor a sorcerer in my house cos if these villagers get to find out I’ll be in trouble” she said rubbing her palms together.
“Please, you need to leave my house now” she added.
I took few steps forward, turned and looked at Baba, wondering if he was truly my father. They watched me leave without saying a word.
“Where do I go from here?” I kept on thinking to myself when I suddenly remembered the river and the mermaid…
The Dancing Mermaid Episode 7 – Blessing-Enejo Abrahams Elleywrites
… But, if I needed to see the mermaid I would need to go back to our village and I had been warned never to step foot there.
“How do I do this? ” I soliloquized with a finger on my lips.
I was still on my way out of the village pondering on the next thing to do when I saw this m@d man pass me by. At first, he was all cool and calm but as soon as he passed, he busted out laughing so hysterically. I turned and looked at him, and was about walking away.
“You, your major problem is that you trust people so easily” he said and began to laugh again.
I looked back swiftly as soon as he said that. He was right but I ignored him without saying a word.
“If you haven’t learnt your lesson, then you’re on your own ” he added and then began to dance.
I opened my mouth to say something but then I remembered he was a m@d man. I stood there for few minutes. Passersby thought that I was enjoying his display but I was actually in a very deep thought, then I finally decided to leave.
I walked for three hours cos I took the back road leading to our village. I was thirsty and famished at the same time but I dared not go into anyone’s house to beg for neither food nor water so as not to put myself and my family members into trouble. I then spotted a mango tree with very ripe mangoes from where I stood and I hurried there to pick few mangoes to eat.
I picked the first one from the ground and I pounced on it like one who hadn’t eaten in days. I was about picking the second one when I heard a voice from behind all of a sudden.
“Are my eyes deceiving me?” he said and then I turned swiftly. It was Abuya, Dogo’s friend.
I was thrown into confusion and I stood still thinking of what to say.
“Ojali!” he exclaimed.
“Ojali the magician” he called with his mouth agape but I ignored him and started to look around.
“Don’t even try that which is running through your mind. If you try to run away I will split you into two like a piece of wood with this machete. I thought you were warned never to return?” he said raising the machete in his hand.
“Please, allow me go away from here. I know I am on your soil but I promise I won’t step foot into the village.”
” Well, if I must let you go I’m sure you know what to do” he said rubbing his chin and licking his lips.
“No I don’t. What do I need to do ?” I queried.
“Simple! Just lie on your back and spread your legs let me explore your world” he said grinning as he threw down his machete.
“The gods forbid! I will never do that!! ” I let out and then turned to leave but he dragged me back and tried forcing himself on me.
“Help! Somebody heelppppp!!” I started to scream.
“Even if you scream from now till tomorrow, we’re the only ones in this forest” he said still trying to force himself on me.
“What are you trying to do? Let her go!” we heard all of a sudden and then I turned swiftly to see the savior the gods had sent my way and lo and behold, it was the old hunter I met at the river who told me what to do if I wanted to see the mermaids.
Abuya withdrew immediately and then picked up his machete.
“Who are you?” he questioned as he gripped his machete firmly
The old hunter too repositioned his guπ and then pointed it at him.
“If you don’t get out of here this minute I’ll blow off your head” he threatened.
” I’m not afraid of you, I’m only leaving cos i respect your old age.” Abuya let out as he turned to leave.
“Thank you Baba” I said bowing my head.
“I don’t want to ask you where you’re headed or where you’re coming from, but this place isn’t safe for a young girl of your age”. He let out as he still held onto his guπ.
I nodded sporadically.
He left and then I took to my heels as I ran straight towards the river, a journey which took me like an hour thirty minutes cos I missed my way multiple times cos I wasn’t too familiar with the back road.
I stopped running as soon as I arrived the river, I fell on my knees panting so heavily then I decided to rest for few minutes. As soon as I was done resting, I picked up six stones by the river and then threw the first one into the river, then the second and the third. As soon as I picked up the fourth stone I started to hear voices.
“There she is! There she is!!” I heard from afar.
I looked closely, lo and behold it was the palace guards.
I hurriedly threw the fourth and the fifth stone.
“Stop it! Stop that or I’ll shoot you!!” one of them threatened.
“Stop her, she’s trying to summon the mermaids! Shoot!!” Another said.
Hearing that, I threw the six stone and then all of a sudden I heard a gunshot…
#OpraDre Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid Dancing Mermaid
To be continued
Do not copy without giving credit to the writer.
DROP YOUR COMMENT
