Chapter 2: Chapter 2

The rays of the moon had begun creeping in steadily, illuminating the small cottage she shared with her elder sister Affiong. The light bounced off the clay walls giving it an eerie glow. Uyai turned to the candles beside her straw bed and blew out the flames. A slight breeze whizzed in eliciting a shiver from her. The night was unusually cold, and it wasn't a good thing for Uyai since she lacked the adipose tissue to insulate heat. Remember, she was all bones and no meat. Okay, little meat.

She drew her wrapper closer to her chin, and with a deep sigh closed her eyelids preparing herself to be whisked away into dream land.

"Uyai!" Startled her eyes opened. Holding her breathe, she waited, hoping with all her heart it wasn't her mother calling...

"Uyai!" She heard again. It was louder this time, and there was no mistaking the owner of the slightly pissed voice. Abruptly she sat up

"Mama!" she answered back with a shout.

With a grumpy sigh she arose fully and ran outside, quickly slipping her feet into the mismatched slippers that had seen years. The magnitude of her acceleration almost tearing apart the faded green curtains that separated her room from the backyard which was draped with overly grown weeds brought into light by a shadowy cast, making them look like giant apparitions that curved over the clay walls. Come to think of it, they looked like a scene from a horror movie.

Uyai's lips twisted in a frown as cold breeze slithered through the night and hit her at once. She shrugged off the tremors that followed and went after the echoes of her mother's voice which was in the direction of the west just in front of the father's yard. Uyai ran leaving trails of dust in her wake while some clung to her slipper- cloaked feet, until mother appeared in her vision.

She sat on a large bolder that had a flat base and top. A hint of moonlight grazed its edge reflecting it in an obscure form. Mother's back and neck were arched over a figure. Her envy worthy hair was concealed by a bandana tied in an unruly knot round her head. Her ebony skin was a shadow forecast, since mother was naturally light skinned. And so was her sister Affiong, who sat on a small wooden stool groaning in pain as her feet rested on mother's leg, while mother soothingly rubbed it.

On hearing her footsteps, mother turned and ushered her closer, her face pulled in a frown.

"Quickly! Come. Come massage your sister’s foot. I am weary and have to retire soon, your father must be missing my presence." She turned to her eldest daughter and smiled endearingly. "My daughter you have done well, you danced so gracefully, you left everyone in awe. I am sure many of the young men will line up for your hand." She said and sister just laughed.

“Of course mother I'm sure the next winner of the largest harvest will ask for my hand like Mfon. Mama she is so lucky.” Her sister sighed, her eyes had taken on a shine and a coy look had taken over her beautiful features that was still apparent in the moonlight.

"Never mind that. All in due time dear." Mother encouraged.

Uyai scoffed and mentally rolled her eyes. Indeed Affiong's dance skills was praiseworthy and she knew she couldn't compare. But Uyai didn't think Mfon was lucky, because the fellow who won the largest harvest was a short, weird looking man with thick and ugly looking veins running down his arms not to talk of his protruded stomach. An ugly sight indeed. Besides that, he was from the neighboring village, Etai Inyang and already was married to two wives, and Mfon was going to be his third. It seems mother was not aware of that part because if she knew, she wouldn't have been so forthcoming in her encouragement.

Moreover, the only attracting quality he possessed was his wealth. Uyai didn't see any luck in being chosen to be his bride at all. Sister should be glad she escaped it.

Uyai shivered in disgust.

"What are you still doing standing there? Come immediately and relieve me of this duty." Uyai was drawn out of her musings and immediately ran to her sister's side carefully avoiding the glare her mother aimed at her. She averted her gaze to the floor as she knelt on the cold floor and made a show to move her sister's leg from her mother's lap. Her mother made a hiss sound and she flinched.

All this while, her sister just sat in silence, quietly observing the duo; already a smug smile formed on her lips. She felt tempted to say something that will arouse her mother's already brewing anger towards her younger sister but she was tired, and besides her feet hurt and the weather was quite chilly.

She made a show in hugging herself alerting the two of her distress and was pleased to see her mother's glare transform to a concerned look. Oh she loved the attention...she indeed did.

"Hurry up you twig, can't you see your sister is catching a cold?" Her mother scolded. Uyai had gotten used to the name calling that she had even accepted the name twig after all she was bones and no meat.

"I am going to sleep..." she announced before walking away briskly, the wind had swept her wrapper making it cling to her well-endowed curves, a trait she didn't inherit. Uyai heard her mutter lowly "Useless child."

It was no news that their mother daughter relationship was strained especially after her thirteenth birthday, when girls her age sprouted breast and grew butts and her youngest daughter was missing in action. No sign of puberty was visible apart from the monthly flow. Everyone could tell mother was disappointed in her younger daughter.

The telltale signs were enough

With little vigor, Uyai massaged her sister's feet, groping it gently on each sides, carefully applying pressure here and there. While she did this, the other party hissed and groaned; carrying out all the necessary reaction. Uyai herself groaned, she was tired and her eyes were beginning to drop and her movement were becoming sloppy.

"Let's go inside sister, the wind is in constant rampage and my hands are freezing." Uyai raised her head up and inclined it to bring her sister's face into view, only to find the other dozing off with her head hanging limply against her shoulder.

"Sister, Sister, Sister!" she shook her violently while the other party just groaned. Uyai gave up with a deep sigh. "I have no choice then..." she rose up from the cold floor and gripped her sister's arm, throwing it round her shoulder in attempt to carry her to their little cottage. But sister was heavy weighted and her weight even dragged the both of them to the ground. Uyai sighed in frustration at her sister who appeared to be in deep sleep. She angled her head to the sky and thought...mother better be asleep oh... She must not witness what I will do next, if not I'll surely be disowned.

"Forgive me sister. You really give me no choice..." She said with a grunt, and with both hands dragged her sister on the cold floor until she got to the soft willowy grass that served as a cushion for her head. Uyai continued dragging her carefully avoiding bums which she failed to miss when she heard a bang that announced that her sister's head had collided with a hard object... Yep! She's definitely going to get a swelling.

Finally she brought her after much dragging to their cottage and unceremoniously dropped her on the straw bed. With a tired sigh she dove under her wrapper and immediately dozed off.

*****

Uyai stood by the door that separated the living room from the front yard, contemplating whether to interrupt the men enjoying their palm wines and participating in a game of draft. They sat in groups of twos and threes on sturdy benches that had been passed from generations to generations, each having their own personal meetings. Only one sat by himself helping himself to some snuff which he apparently enjoyed so much that his eyes were squinted in bliss.

Uyai thought to announce her presence with a cough but knew she'll be ignored because they seemed to be well engrossed in their activities.

Uyai knew she had to tell him sooner than later if not mother would be so pissed she would refuse her a meal.

Uyai held her breath and released it sharply, she fisted her palms in determination and scowled her features; she gritted her teeth and pulled her lips into a thin line, her back was armored straight like a soldier ready for battle. She began her movement by pulling one foot in front of the other and did the same with the other and continued the motion only to realize she was walking at snail pace and the men stopped what they were doing looking curiously at the display.

In their eyes she seemed to be walking on a thin edge, her gait appearing funny as her eyes were squinted in concentration. They couldn't help but cease their activities to look at the young girl who was walking like a thief.

Uyai froze at the realization that she seemed to be drawing unwanted attention.

"Ehg-ehg..." Father coughed while giving her a pointed look. Uyai shut her eyes and grimaced. She looked away to hide her embarrassed face; cursing softly she chuckled nervously and with hurried steps ran to her father's side.

"E-Er Papa your food is ready." she whispered into his ear "Should I bring it here?"

"No!" he yelled. Uyai jumped taken aback. Even the men had stopped their activities to curiously look at the duo. "Er... I mean no oo..." he gave his friends an unsure smile and waited for them to resume their activities. He turned to his daughter. With a glare he beckoned her closer and furiously whispered in her ears "Tell your mother to leave my meals there, let me dismiss my friends first."

"Er..." she started

"You may leave now!" he pushed her away refusing to listen to whatever she was going to say.

"Okay Papa." she bowed and hurriedly left with her head downcast.

***

"Mama, my head hurts." Her sister whimpered. She must have just risen out of bed since she still appeared disoriented. Her skirt was rumpled and her V-necked blouse had shifted to the side showing a generous part of her skin, a swollen part that indicated the curves she possessed. Uyai pulled her eyes away and focused instead on the blacked stained hot pot that held a sumptuous delight, her favorite Ekpang kukwó. She licked her lips already savoring the taste as the smell drove her senses wild.

"Ah you must have developed a headache, perhaps the weather is harsh on you." Mother surmised as she observed her elder daughter.

"No mama. There's a bruise. I can feel a bruise." she frowned as her hand massaged the posterior surface of her head.

"A bruise?" Mother's voice rose in alarm. She left the fire place and immediately ran to her daughter's side. "Let me see." With both hands she turned her head to the sides probing them gently.

"Eiii...eiii...mama it hurts" she cried in protest.

"I can feel it. It's a large bruise. Did you fall and hit your head?" Mother queried.

Uyai stilled at that and squirmed where she stood, the food now forgotten.

She was done for.

She began conjuring lies in head she could think of, aligning them in order

as back up for each lie she would tell in case she was asked.

"I can't remember... I remember Uyai massaging my feet and then..." she frowned when memory escaped her "...that is all I remember."

At once they both turned in her direction, just as realization hits them

"Uyai!" they yelled at once.

She flinched.

"Do you have anything to say?" her mother asked coldly, her arms folded while her eyes shot daggers at her.

"Er..." she chuckled nervously "Papa said you should leave his food here until he dismisses his guest." she replied instead, purposely ignoring her question and made to leave.

"Stop there young woman!"

Uyai froze.

Oh God why?

"No food for you today!" Mother angrily stumped her feet and the ground shook from the impact, her hand was now mimicking the movement of her feet.

"B-But Mother..." she cried as her tongue twisted finding words that could placate her. When that seemed to fail, she turned to the last resort, her sister. The latter just upturned her nose, taking care to avoid looking at her.

"Please mother..." she tried again. But mother just scoffed, her eyes blazing.

Uyai sighed in resolve.

Again no meal.

No wonder she was skinny as a twig, and they still had the mind to blame her?

It was not fair.

Meanwhile behind mother was grandmother quietly dishing an extra meal for Uyai. Mother was unaware still quietly fuming.