REUBEN Episode 9 – Blessing-Enejo Abrahams Elleywrites
… “If I tell you where he is, I’ll be telling a lie cos it wasn’t revealed to me. But, all I see is that he’s alive somewhere, but not as healthy as he used to be and you both will meet soon”. He said hanging his horsewhip on his shoulder.
“This… This is… Just so unbelievable.” I stuttered staring at a spot.
“I carried his head in my arms the very day the bul!et met his head and he was in the pool of his bl00d. Even though I was just a little boy then, I knew what it looked like when one’s soul leaves its b0dy. Not like I saw his soul leaving his b0dy though, but, his b0dy turned cold, and he was no longer breathing. So it’s hard for me to believe that my father did not d!e” I added turning to him.
“I know, but it’s the truth” Said the native doctor, locking stares with me.
“Look look, enough of all these, please. I think I’m interested in this egg stuff. Me I’m tired of this my life already, I need to start making real money” Said Melvin.
I turned and looked at him as soon as I heard that.
“You’re ready now to go back to that old life of yours? Of crime?” I quizzed with eyes still glued to him.
“Ah, if it’s going to favor me this time then I have no choice. At least, be in charge of my own territory. You know what I mean.” He said with a grin, and then I turned to the native doctor.
“So, do we just go and destr0y those eggs like that? Or are there some other things to be done?” I quizzed.
“I will have to put some incisions on your palms cos, picking those eggs up without any form of fortification can be very danger0us.” He said pointing at us.
“Ok so, when do we begin?” Asked Melvin.
“We can do it right away if you want. But, your charge is 10k per person ” He said.
“Ah! That one is hard o cos, I don’t even have a dime on me like this for anything” Melvin said.
I was already dipping my hand into my pocket and I brought out some Naira notes. Counted 20k out of the Notes in my hands and I dropped it before the native doctor.
“Here it is, for both of us. I wouldn’t have been interested in all of these but as far as it concerns that man, then I’m ready to do anything ” I said.
The native doctor raised his head, looked at me, and then nodded.
“You are a very wise boy” He said, stretched his arm, and then picked up the Notes, and put it in his pocket.
“Come and kneel here, both of you ” He said pointing before him.
We both rushed and knelt before him.
“Stretch forth your arms” He said and we heeded.
He brought out a small knife from the bag hung behind him and then put some incisions on our palms with it. It was so pa!nful, but I had to endure it with my eyes shut and my teeth gnashed.
We left there later and on our way, Melvin wouldn’t stop fantasizing about how his new life was going to be. How he would cruise in his new car from here to there, and how he would order around his maids and security guards. I heard him but I just couldn’t contribute anything to whatever he was saying.
“Sparrow, you have been quiet since we left that man’s shrine. Are you ok? Or… Is it about your Dad?”
I nodded while tears welled up in my eyes.
“Yes” I said, wiping my tears.
“But, the man said you were going to see your father someday. So, just cheer up. You both will surely meet soon” said Melvin and I nodded.
We arrived home that day, but I was too s@ddened to even do anything. Melvin too understood and we had to wait till the next day, very early in the morning.
We sneaked into the man’s shrine, whispering to each other as we tiptoed into it.
“You, go and do it sharp sharp let’s leave here” I said in whispers to Melvin.
“Me? Do what? I can’t please. But I was the one who followed you to the native doctor nah for this same purpose. So you should be the one to do it” He whispered back.
I moved forward, turning left and right. I picked up the first egg and then slammed it on the ground and the man scre@med so loud all of a sudden from his room. I paused, turned swiftly, and looked at Melvin.
“Did you hear that?” I asked in whispers.
“Do it sharp sharp man, let’s leave here. Have you forgotten what the native dictor told us?” He replied.
I picked up the second egg and then slammed it on the ground, and the man appeared before us as soon as I did. Melvin and I startled as soon as we saw him, and my heart started to pound so rapidly almost popping out of my chest. If not that the native doctor warned that we should make sure we break the third egg, I would have raced out of there.
“What have you both done? You have finished me” The man cried with hands on his head.
I was about picking up the third egg not minding his presence when he hurried to me and grabbed my hands. I looked at him and then pushed him aback and he fell on his back.
“No, don’t try it” He said rushing to me again but Melvin hurried to him and grabbed him, and then covered his mouth with his palm.
“Somebody, he… he… lp” He managed to say as he f0ught back but Melvin held him in a tight grip and covered his mouth again.
I destr0yed the third egg and Melvin looked up all of a sudden.
“Sparrow, where did you go? Where are you ?” He quizzed in whispers and I looked at him, surprised.
“I’m here. Can’t you see me?” I asked.
“No I can’t see you” He said looking around.
I was sc@red initially cos the native doctor didn’t tell me that part that I was going to become invincible after breaking the third egg.
“How then can I be visible again? ” I asked rhetorically and Melvin exclaimed.
“I can see you! Touch the content and lick it! Touch it and lick it!!!” Melvin whispered almost shouting.
I squatted and touched the content with the tip of my finger. I rushed to Melvin and then grabbed the man from him, and covered his mouth with my palm. Melvin hurried and licked the content too and after seeing him do so, I whispered to the man’s right ear.
“Do you remember that little boy that was going to blow off your head some 11 years ago? After pulling the tr!gger, you redirected the bul!et to his Dad instead and then absconded with his mother. Here I am.” I said and despite the fact that I had one of my hands around his neck and the other covering his mouth, he went on his knees. But, I turned his neck instead and he fell lifeless on his chest.
“Sparrow, what did you do that for?” Melvin yelled.
“Jesus! Mommy!! Mommy!!!” We heard all of a sudden. I looked back and I saw one of the neighbor’s children, standing and staring at us while she continued calling on her Mom at the top of her voice…
To be continued.
Do not copy without giving credit to the writer.
©️ Blessing-Enejo Abrahams Elleywrites
