THE ORPHAN AND THE DANCING TREE
Written by Chidimma Lucky
Episode 9
Ifeyinwa brought fortunes to Mr Emeka family, they ate three times daily unlike before they only managed to eat at least two times daily also his wife business was flowing well,she was a trader.They treated Ifeyinwa the same way they treated their daughter.Nneka and Ifeyinwa played together
One day Nneka and Ifeyinwa were gisting, Nneka asked her why she left her Village.
“So Ifeyinwa tell me why did you left your Village?”Nneka asked.
“They called me a witch,just because my voice made a tree to dance”Ifeyinwa said she started crying
“Oh so sorry Ifeyinwa,I didn’t mean to make you cry it’s alright”Nneka patted her and wipe her tears away.
A month after Ifeyinwa left, things fall apart in the village,the iroko tree that was in the village square the leaves started falling from the tree and crops were dieing,no harvest.There was no food and also the King fell sick.
The villagers reported what was happening to the King.
“Igweee we are dieing in hunger,no food,even the iroko tree is dieing”One of the kinsmen told the King
“It’s alright,the Ezeumuo is on his way coming now”The King said
Everyone waited for the Ezeumuo
The Ezeumuo arrived.
“Wise one,we are suffering please help us, and remove this calamity that befalls us,I will do anything you ask of and needed”The King said
The Ezeumuo laughed
“Igweee the maiden you accused will be the only one to stop this calamity”The Ezeumuo replied the King
“What!!”The King exclaimed
“If not it will get worster”The Ezeumuo said and left.
Chidi and Amara were happy to hear that.
The villagers pleaded with the King to bring back Ifeyinwa so the sufferings will be over.
The King was ashamed of himself, after all he did to Ifeyinwa.
“Oh no,where I’m I going to find her now?”The King asked himself
He summoned his guards,they were strong.
“I want you all to find Ifeyinwa and bring her to the palace”The King told his guards
They left in search of Ifeyinwa.
The King also summoned the village town crier to go to the neighbouring communities and announced to them they were looking for Ifeyinwa.
The first day the guards and the village town crier weren’t able to find Ifeyinwa
“Igweee we’ve search for Ifeyinwa in Umunna community but we couldn’t find her”The Guards told the King
The village town crier entered the palace,he bowed to the King
“Igwe I met King Ogbonna,I asked him about Ifeyinwa he sayed he haven’t seen her, I also announced to other villages but no one knew Ifeyinwa”The village town crier told the King
TBC
