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Amope did not think twice on who to call or where to run to. She knew that it was only Baba that could explain what just happened, and the only thing she could do was to head out to Baba's shrine with Peter, Paul and Jenny. "Get the car key" Amope said to Paul as she wiped thetears on her cheeks. Like a madman, Paul rushed to the dining table to pick the car key. Mother and son hurriedly carried the partially calm victims into the car, as Paul maned the wheel. "Turn to your left. Turn to the left again. Turn to the right." Amope dished out direction from where she sat between Peter and Jenny at the backseat of the car. She kept encouraging them to hold on that they would soon be there. "Take the next turn off the road" Amope directed again. She even amazed herself for still knowing the way to Baba's house because the last time she went to Baba's house was when Paulina died. Her intention was to go there again before the boys clock 25 years old to perform the last ritual, just as Baba warned her. 30 minutes on the wheel, Paul was still taking directions from Amope. At first, he thought they were going to a hospital, but, when his mother directed him off the way to their family hospital, he was surprised. He initially calmed himself, thinking his mother had another hospital in mind. But, after they turned off the main road, Paul was really alarmed. Peter and Jenny were a little calm after some minutes. They weren't vomiting blood anymore, but were still complaining of slight pain in their stomach. "Mummy, where are we going?" Paul eventually asked. "Just keep driving" Amope replied swiftly, as if she was expecting Paul to ask the question. After her response, she remembered how she kept driving in silence the last time she came to Baba's house when Paulina died. "Baba, my enemies have attacked me" She cried as she narrated how she found Paulina dead. Baba calmed her down, and then took her in. Baba did some consultation with the Oracle, and later said to Amope, "omo re o'ku ooo (your child is not dead)". Amope looked at Baba like an audience looks at a comedian that is trying to crack an unfunny joke. "Baba, she is dead" Amope said, as tears betrayed her eyes. "Park in that house." Amope commanded, pointing to a house at the left side of the street. Paul obediently parked the car, and he was yet to turn off the engine when Amope rushed out of the car, shouting, "Baba! Baba!! Baba!!!" But, her eyes did not notice the grave in front of the house.
About an hour down the line, Peter and Jenny were in good shape. They sat on a three-seater chair, while Paul sat between them like a watchman checking to be sure all was well. Amope sat adjacent them, and opposite Baba. She felt condemned with the eyes cast on her by her children and Jenny. If looks were bullets, Amope would have died countless times. The whole place was silently loud, as the only sounds made were that of the looks from Peter and Paul, and the sound made by Baba's cowries as he poured them in a tray filled with sand. "Baba, what happened?" Amope asked, ignoring the condemning looks of her sons. She felt unease to have used the name "Baba". If not because it would look somehow, she would have preferred to use the name "young Baba". "I'm coming. That is what I'm asking the Oracle" Baba said in a very young voice. At that moment, Amope doubted if the "young Baba" would be equal to the task. "My father died many years ago, but he told me about you before he died." The young Baba said. The young Baba was a son to the very Baba that paved the way for Amope's child birth, and if not for her delay in child birth in the early years of her marriage, she would have birthed a child old enough to be of the same age with the young Baba. At first, Amope found it quite difficult to address him as Baba, but when she could not come up with any title for the young man, she unconsciously resorted to naming the young Baba after his father. Amope had earlier screamed when the young Baba told her of his father's death. As far as Amope was concerned, that meant there was no solution to her problem anymore. But, the young Baba instructed them all to come in, and he gave them an antidote that neutralized the pain, after which they all sat expectantly to hear from the young Baba.
"ABOMINATION!!!" The young Baba shouted, alarming the expectant guests. "What happened Baba?" Amope asked. "These ones have committed an unpardonable offence." The young Baba declared. Amope and Paul looked at Peter and Jenny as the young Baba pointed to them. "We didn't do anything wrong sir" Peter said. "Quiet!" Baba shouted. "Ifa n'paro. Opele ki'nseke (the oracle does not lie nor deceive)" Baba corrected sharply. Amope and Paul looked at the two parties as they talked. "What did you do before the pain started?" Baba asked. "Nothing" Peter answered sharply. "We did something" Jenny spoke softly from where she sat, directing everybody's attention to her. "We had sex!" She confessed. "When you went outside, Peter and I left Paul in the sitting room, and we went inside." She said, facing Amope as tears took the remaining words from her. "I told you that the Oracle does not lie" Baba thundered. For a moment, silence reigned supremely in the room, as Baba continued with his Oracle consultation. But, Amope broke the silence after a while. "But Baba, what has the sex they had got to do with the pain they felt?" Amope asked as politely as possible. "Are you sure you are a good mother?" Baba asked, facing Amope. For a moment, Amope felt embarrassed for not being vigilant enough to watch over his sons. "But, they are old enough to be monitored." Amope said to herself. "So, you mean you don't see anything wrong in your two children having sex?" Baba said, dropping a heavy bombshell.
©2016. Austus Ofmat Nwanne
Did you read that last part more than once? I guess you were shocked after reading it. Well, I can't imagine the series of questions going on in your mind right now. How can Jenny be Amope's daughter? Didn't she give birth to a set of triplet? Didn't Paulina, the only girl, die before she clocked a year? How can that be possible when Amope never even conceived again after giving birth to the triplet? Could the Oracle be crazy? Just keep your fingers crossed as the answers to these questions would come your way soon.
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OFMAT AUSTUS NWANNE
Inspirational Speaker/Media Consultant,
Swift24 Multimedia Services.
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