OH MY MOTHER GODDESS

"Mama... what is it?" I asked as I helped my mother drop down the basket of fruit from her head, she heaved a heavy breath and stared at me silently for some seconds, pores of sweat dripped from her neck down to her bossom and the on rushing tears at the edge of both eyes could not be left unnoticed. I was getting scared and I feared for the worse.

"Wh..wha...what happened?" My voice croaked, I couldn't imagine mother return to those pale mood of hers again, scenes from the gory days kept flashing through my mind.

"Ikenna has killed me!!" She lamented while she held her hands on her head and walked slowly into our hut, I stood dumbfounded.

         The night was deep and darkness slowly crept in, the silvery moon seemed dazzled at a spot and the shiny stars brightened the dark blue sky, you could hear the screeches of lizards and rodents on the mud walls and the melodious whistles of the air creatures, the beauty of our land, the handiwork of our earth goddess,Ala. I served a plate of hot pounded yam and bitterleaf garnished melon soup to my brother, Ikenna, who sat in front of our hut. Mother sat by his side silent. I already knew this night wasn't going to be like the previous nights, there would be no talks of beautiful maidens mother wanted Ikenna to marry or the abandoned land of my late father she wanted him to cultivate, it was something more serious and I was eager to hear.

"Ikenna..." Mother called softly, her gaze fixed on him. His response was muffled by the lumps of pounded yam in his throat, he drank from his cup of water before returning to his feasting.

"You came with white men to Ameze today?" Mother tried to sound as calm as possible, Ikenna jolted. I walked past them after setting a bowl of water beside Ikenna, I stood behind the door eavesdropping

"Yes" Ikenna answered almost inaudibly

" So...you don't know what these white men did in neighbouring villages...orba... nru?!!" Her voice rose steadily

"Why are you raising your voice now?" Ikenna turned to her

"Why won't I...tell me Ikenna...why won't i?!!" She stood just opposite him

" You came here with mad men to tell elders that you want to destroy our goddess,Ala" Ikenna remained still

" Ikenna...why do you want to put me to shame... haven't you done enough?" He swallowed hard and brought up the bowl of water by his side and washed his hands

"Aren't you going to finish the food?" I asked from behind

"Mama..." Ikenna began, Mother standing in his very before, hands akimbo. I carried the leftover and walked into the kitchen

"While I was in Enugu..." I could still hear Ikenna say " I discovered that Ala is rubbish and our village is backward...if we are to move forward, we will have to worship the only true living God just like everyone else in big places like Enugu...it is only when..."

"It's a big lie!!" I thundered on returning from the kitchen, I was already angered from all I was hearing

"Did you just shout at me?" Roared Ikenna who turned to me, Mother was in shock, I came forward to where they stood

"I know this God from my friends who go to white schools in orba and this God is no better than Ala"

"Can you leave here!!" Ikenna barked

"Ikenna quiet!!" Mother screamed, Ikenna stood to leave

"You are only doing this for money and power the white men will give you over their schools...you think I don't know?" Ikenna stood still, I was shivering but I was determined to rub him his own deceit to his face.

"I heard you tell okoye about it" I muttered, Ikenna sneered before giving a heavy cackle 

 "No matter what you or anybody do, it doesn't matter...Ala is going down tomorrow" he walked out,hurriedly into the hut. Mother was speechless, I was in rage. I couldn't believe Ikenna would be this much of a betrayal. He wasn't even considering what people will say of us now, the scourge mother will face for this. I ran out into darkness, Mother called out loudly but I refused to stop, she pursued me but for a little while, her strength betrayed her. I was far gone into peach dark.

       I ran into the shrine of Ala, the female deity of the earth, the most important god in our community. It was as quiet and calm as it could be, I could only hear my footsteps. The lights from the local lanterns led me in. I stood before her statue, a regal figure seated on a throne and a small child in her arms. A tiger skin hung across her shoulder to depict her strength. Various fruits and foodstuff laid at her footstool, they were from villagers who regularly paid homage to her. A gigantic tree stood right behind her, an ode to her shielding power, you could also hear the screeches of crawling insects on them. The calm sounds from a stream beside made for a serene scene and you could see the carcass of animals on the wild flowers that surrounded it.

     Above her was a huge hill that bore the root of different plants. My leg felt so warm in the red clay and my heart bumped faster as I knelt before her.

"Don't let it happen, my Mother,Ala" I said a little prayer as I shedded tears. My mind wound back to those moments and stories and I wondered why we would lose such heritage to Ikenna's selfishness. I looked at Ala's womb that was covered with dead leaves, I remembered Mother telling me that was where she held deceased ancestors and that Father was lying peacefully there, I kissed her womb and it left sand in my tongue. I laid on her muddy leg and sobbed, my mind went numb.

         Fresh windy cool and crispy air started whistling like an invisible ghost, the leaves whispered to each other and the tree branches danced, welcoming the morning. I rubbed my sleepy eyes, oh Ala!!! I couldn't believe it was morning already, I slept at my Mother's feet. The loud noise of a machine captured my attention, almost deafening my ear. I turned sharply to the scene, it was a huge bulldozer and a host of funny looking men. A white man in khaki and black pants led them.

      I was already boiling inside. Rage,acrimony, I felt like murdering someone but I was helpless. I turned to my Mother goddess, I wanted to kiss her goodbye but somewhere in the deepest part of my heart, I still believed Ala will never let herself be destroyed.