Page 12 - Metro Record May 2021

12 THE METRO RECORD - MAY 2021
THE QUILT We Are Our Stories. Tell Them As They Are Told!

Uchechi. Spirits in the Wind

The story of two brothers and their lives before slave traders tore them apart. One remained in Nigeria, the other forced into slavery in America. Follow their journey Monthly [Part 4]

supposed to have a meeting came to visit before going for the
tonight?" I didn't hear any festival. Nnamdi was a short,
response, Lota had drifted to dark boy. Nobody was sure
sleep. Right from when we were when he stopped growing but
little he always found it easier to we all knew it had been a while,
sleep, immediately his head Nnamdi was the shortest
touched the pillow the spirit of amongst the boys in the village
sleep carried him off, very unlike but he made up for it in wisdom
me who would spend time and trickery. He was an expert
drifting from one thought to in dodging and escaping from
another before I finally slept. masquerades, he would
The rain had subsided to a fearlessly taunt them and when
drizzle again when I left Lota's they chased him he would weave
hut and went to mine. The hut through the air left and right,
was surprisingly warm and I the masquerade's cain would
soon drifted to sleep too. swing in the air right above his
head as he ducked, his speed
It was late afternoon the and size earned him the
following day before the sun nickname egbe. We stood
decided to finally undress itself outside discussing the last
from the clouds. The rays shone masquerade festival when
down in many beautiful orange mama called to us
bursts that made the earth look
like a giant sunset, the earth "won't you boys leave for the
looked refreshed. The soil had festival?, it must have started by
I walked in front of Papa with thunder was clapping now and it down to how he arranged his been fed with enough moisture, now and you're still here
Lota by my side, we kept to came with the occasional pillow. He lay down and rested the muddy floor still retained gossiping like young girls!"
ourselves as we walked and only lightning, when it did it made his head on the pillow, at that some of the rain and the cashew
pap talked when he wanted to our house look like it was moment I stood up to leave. tree in our compound shone like "We are already leaving mama"
direct us on which side of the morning, I dashed inside Lota's a beautiful maiden who had just I said laughing and started on
road to follow even though we hut, he was seated on his "Uche, I didn't mean to call you taken her bath. It was almost our way out. We walked a great
knew our way. A light drizzle bamboo bed. lazy, it's just that.." he said. I sat time for us to go watch the deal and we're almost at the
started and chill winds blew, back down. That was probably mmawu, usually Lota and I festival location when Nnamdi
suddenly the weather had gone "Uche, won't you go to bed?" as much an apology as I would went together and it was fun stopped to urinate in front of a
from humid to cold, the weather Lota said to me, he was asking a get. watching the masquerades tree. I stopped too and found a
was like that in our village question but I could tell from his dance and twirl. The tree not too far from the one
during the rainy season. I loved tone that it was just a routine, he "The thing is that," Lota masquerades chased after Nnamdi stood by but not too
the rainy season, the rain falling had thoughts on his mind and I continued, "when Azuka was children and oftentimes adults close for me to feel
meant that I could stay in my wanted to share them. talking I couldn't help but think too who stood by watching, the uncomfortable. At first the urine
hut trying to stay warm and about how it could be you telling chase was the highlight of the refused to come out and I had to
would do so undisturbed. I liked "I would go to bed later, the same story. I'm not saying festival for many people. I didn't stay patient and squeeze, then I
the sound of rain on the roof, I moreover I am not feeling so you're weak, but I couldn't push know what happened if the closed my eyes as it finally flew
especially liked the smell of rain sleepy" I said as I came to sit the feeling away." masquerade ever caught out. The release made my body
on sand, occasionally it gave me beside him so we could hear anybody, nobody wanted to shiver and my hairs stood. All of
goosebumps, just like I had now. ourselves properly under the The silence came again, as much know. Rumours said that a sudden I heard a rush of
clattering of rain on the roof. as what my brother said hurt me anybody they caught would be footsteps and a scream, my
"Gasike, odika mmiri chori zo, I couldn't deny the reality. It flogged till the person fainted, I heart bolted and my legs did the
walk faster, it seems it's about to "Azuka was extremely lucky, it could be me in one of my rests wasn't sure of that because I had same. I didn't stop to check for
rain", Papa said. The wind blew scares me to think of what under a tree at the farm, if they never seen it happen and frankly Nnamdi because I could see him
harder and I was thankful we would have happened if that came there was also no way I I didn't want to. The in front of me running too, he
were almost home, I liked the man didn't know his father" I would fight them off. I masquerades chased with long was so fast and despite the fact
rainy season but I didn't want to said to Lota. I had my arms understood why he was scared canes and the speed with which that I was running with all the
catch a cold. When anyone wrapped around my chest for me. I hated the feeling. they chased even with the energy I could muster I couldn't
caught cold mama and mama because the cold was getting to masquerade regalia always catch up with him, meanwhile I
nnuku were in charge of me. There was a narrow but long "A tunu ujo, don't be scared," made me marvel. Lota joined could hear the sound of men
administering care. Mama crack on the door, too narrow to Lota said, "We have each other, the masquerade group this year chasing behind me. Fear
nnuku would pluck special allow water in but wide enough you will watch my back and I and that meant he had to leave enveloped me and I kept
leaves and ask one of us to cut for air to flow in and as it came will watch yours. See, your home earlier. I was excited when running, I couldn't see Nnamdi
the barks of some special trees in my legs felt the cold embrace, muscles are getting bigger" he he joined because then I could anymore and I felt a rush to my
too, they were special because like bathing with cold water on a leaned to tap my arm. He smiled ask him questions and get real head, the footsteps behind me
they always worked. Sometimes harmattan morning. and I smiled too, I knew we'd be answers, but when I asked him had suddenly stopped but I kept
I wonder what is in them that okay. to tell me about the running right until I tripped and
has the power to heal a sick Lota hissed and I turned my masquerades, he refused saying fell. I turned to see what I
person, even more so I wonder gaze from the narrow crack on I stared at the door again for a that they were secrets and I'll thought would be huge slave
who first thought about using the door to his face, I couldn't while. "Tomorrow is mmawu only learn them when I joined. catchers who were on my heels,
them, I assume they were see clearly because the room day, let me go to bed so I can instead I saw a masquerade and
directed by the gods. Mama was dark. "do you not agree?" wake up early", I said to him, It also meant I would have to go a few boys singing and dancing
nnuku would boil the leaves and "you and your boys would have a alone and I didn't want to. off in the distance. I fell back on
tree barks for a really long time "Why would a man be sleeping busy day tomorrow, weren't you Luckily, my friend Nnamdi the floor.
and then the sick person would at his work? Eh? Uche. Why
be locked in a hut and made to would Azuka go to tap wine and
inhale the hot, peppery steam sleep off? That's what lazy men
from the pot. The treatment do. You know I warn you about
always worked, Njideka, my lying about at the farm, that's
cousin was sick not too long ago the kind of thing that can
and Mama nnuku did the happen"
treatment for her, in two days
she was strong enough to join I was quiet, the tone in his voice
the atilogwu dancers at the sounded off, I could sense a bit
village tournament. of anger and it startled me.
"Lota, what are you saying", the
The rain increased just as we got words barely left my mouth,
to our compound, it was as if the when they came out I doubted
gods knew and were watching they would get to my brother. I
us. We dashed across to our huts assumed they didn't when he
and Papa hurried to his room turned to lie down on his bed, I
while I went with Lota to his, I watched him as he fluffed his
wanted to talk with him before feather pillow, his
we both slept. I was trying to meticulousness and energy
find my way in the darkness, displayed itself in everything,