Joycee

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Before I share this story, do not throw blames.

That is not the purpose.

But thank God.

I was inside the house watching movie when the light suddenly flickered. Then I heard a loud scream. It was the scream of my neighbours daughter. She is just five years old.

I thought she was being beaten, but when I heard the little child shouting "mummy" over and over again, I decided to open the door and check.

I entered the house to find the elder brother on the floor with yam in his mouth. I though he had died from food poisoning. That was the first thing that struck my mind. But when I asked the little girl what happened, she explained that he had used his fork and dug into the holes of this extension.

"He was playing."

I picked up the boy and shook him.

I didn't know what to do.

Hospital was far from us.

Cars and bikes were also far from us. I would have to run to the junction and stand before I even get an empty bike.

The mother of the child was not at home.

"Where did mummy go?"

"She said she is coming."

I ran outside the compound seeking for help.

But no one was home.

Just I and this two children.

Fear gripped me.

I have never been in such a terrible condition before. I was so scared.

I grabbed a towel and poured water on it and began touching the boy's body. I didn't have the mother's number. The cry of his elder sister became louder.

At a point I began to pray.

"You can't die."

I tapped his cheeks severally.

I poured water on his forehead. It was done out of fear.

Some got into his nostrils and he sneezed and coughed.

There was hope again.

The sister stopped crying.

I heaved a sigh of relief.

I had milk in my room and ran out to bring it so I can give it to me.

He kept looking at me.

And eventually slept off.

Since 6pm this incident happened, I've been waiting for their mother to come back home and she is not back till now. We are all outside with other neighbors.

Her phone is off.

She doesn't know what happened in her absence. She doesn't even know that she would have lost a son if not for God.

If only our eyes can be opened to see how many times God has stood in for us, to wipe tears from our eyes we would be forever grateful.

I am happy we didn't cry tonight. I wouldn't have gotten over this for a long time. I've never held a dead person in my hands before.

Mothers please be careful.

My name is Praises Chidera Obiora and I am the best at what I do.

Good morning to you all

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So you remember the flogging game I told you guys about some weeks back? About how my wife and I decided to play a game by testing whose hand is more painful and who can flog more. And how I let her start flogging me first, but just when it was about to be my turn, my mother showed up to spend the night.

Well, that night I could not flog my wife like she had flogged me because mama was around. So that was how that game ended.

This is over a week plus since that incident happened.

This evening my mother called me into her room and tapped her bed.

"Chidera sit down."

I sat.

Shocked.

"Mama hope everything is okay."

She lowered her voice.

"Everything is not Okay. Chidera I have been trying to hide this thing in my heart but I cannot hide it. The more I keep it inside, the more I find it hard to sleep."

"Ah! Mama, what is the problem?"

"Chi."

"Yes, ma."

"Don't be ashamed to tell me the truth."

"Okay, ma."

"I am your mother. I am the one that born you. I am the one that carry you up like this and hold you. I give you breast to suck."

"Yes, ma I know all this. Leave breast first. What is the problem."

"Chi you know you don't have a brother. And I know sharing things like this with your sisters can be shameful. Even to your friends. But I just want you to tell me the truth."

"Okay, ma. What is the problem."

"Chi..."

"Yes, ma."

"Don't be ashamed o."

"Mama tell me na."

"Okay."

She exhaled and folded her hands.

"Chi..."

"Yes, mama."

"Does your wife beat you?"

Shock entered me.

"God forbid. How can my wife beat me? Why na? I have never even beaten her so why will she beat me? My wife and I love each other so much."

"I know. You see why I say you should not be ashamed. I know it is a shameful thing to say. That is why I am asking."

"Just tell me the truth. Does she beat you? Don't lie. Does she beat you with cane?"

"Ah! Mama. Why are you asking?"

"You see, the other time I came I stood at the door and heard how you were shouting Ah Ah Ah. I thought it was husband and wife thing that was going on. I even thought it was my son that was pounding his wife so I stood there and listened carefully. Only to hear you shouting it is paining me. Small small. I was like this is not the son I born. His father is not like this. So I now peeped through the keyhole."

My mouth opened.

"Ah! You peeped."

"Yes o. I saw you lying on the table without clothes and your wife was beating you with belt. You were even the one helping her to count the strokes. That was when I decided to knock and enter to save you."

"Mama that was..."

"Chidera, you know you are not strong right from when you were small. You are just like Agric fow. No power. So just tell me the truth, I will not tell anybody. Not even your wife or your father. Tell me the truth. What did you do to warrant such beating."

Me: 👇🏽

My name is Praises Chidera Obiora and I am the best at what I do.