THE ORPHAN AND THE DANCING TREE
Written by Chidimma Lucky
Episode 5
Ifeyinwa reached home,her aunty was waiting for her outside the house with Chidi and Amara
“Where are you coming from?”Mrs Adaku asked harshly
“Ehm aunty from the village square”Ifeyinwa answered
The palace guards emerges into the compound.
“Greetings, Ifeyinwa you are needed in the palace”One of the guards said
“Please what happened”Chidi asked
The guards didn’t responded to Chidi,they dragged Ifeyinwa and left.
Chidi and Amara looked at each other and tears rolled out from their eyes.
Mrs Adaku was confused,she asked her children what was wrong but they kept quiet.
Chidi and Amara ran and followed the guards till they got to the palace
In the palace
“Ifeyinwa I heard you are a witch”The King said
“Igwe I’m not a witch”Ifeyinwa answered as she was crying
“Then if you are not a witch how come the iroko tree that is in the village square dance whenever you sing”The King asked
“Igwe I don’t know why the tree do dance whenever I sing”Ifeyinwa answered
“Guards, announce to the villagers to assembled at the village square now”The king said
“Okay your highness”The guards responded as they left
In few minutes
All the Villagers were gathered in the village square.
Ifeyinwa was asked to sing,she sang a sorrowful song of help to the gods.The tree dance as she sang
“Amoosu (meaning witch in Igbo dialect)”The villagers accuses Ifeyinwa
Chidi and Amara cried the more.
Mrs Adaku was shocked,she never knew all this.
“So my kids have been keeping secrets from me”Mrs Adaku soliquies
The King didn’t inquire about Ifeyinwa to the ezeomu of the community before taking action.
“What are we going to do to her “The King asked
“Let her be killed”Few of the villagers answered
“Let her be barnished out of our community”Others answered
The King decided to barnish Ifeyinwa from the community..
“On Orie market day,she will be barnished from this community,for now she will be locked up in the palace”The King answered.
TBC
