Empty Vases: Episode 1

The car hung on the side of the road like an imbalanced crate of eggs. Nedu and his girlfriend, Otito, stared at it as though it was a naughty child. It was late in the afternoon when the sun hung low on the earth and scorched everything, but Otito could see the hand of a dark cloud peeping out far beyond the sky.

“Let us find a vulcanizer,” she said.

Nedu put one hand on his waist and looked ahead. Nothing but trees and foliage spilling onto the narrow road – not a bird or human in sight. He scratched his head and wondered if he should go ahead and leave Otito here, or if they should go together. Otito was already leaning against the car, rubbing her big belly.

“I don’t think I should leave you here.”

“I’m not staying here all by myself!”

“Yes, that’s what I’m saying …“

“Why would you even think of it?”

They began the journey. Nedu was angry with himself, angry that he had fought with the vulcanizer in Enugu instead of fixing the spare tyre when it got bad. He was also angry at his mother for insisting that he take Otito along with him on this journey. Let her lay her hand on your child and pray for him, she had said. What if she dies before the baby is born? Nedu had seen reason with her at the time, but now he was angry. Well, I hope it’s not too far from the village, he thought. Maybe we can get there before evening.

“There’s no one here. We’ve been walking for a while now and there’s nothing around.”

“We’ll find something soon. I haven’t been here in years, but I know we’ll get to a school, and then we’ll reach the village.”

The road curved in a bend, and that’s when they saw it. A bowl of sacrifice laid under a tree, dried by the sun.

“I can’t believe people still do this. That’s somebody’s breakfast wasting away.” Otito waved her hand with a flair, like the dancer that she was.

“You think these things are not real?”

“They are not. How come the white man came and took slaves away? How come these powers couldn’t paralyse them?”

Nedu laughed and shook his head. “Don’t underestimate these things.”

Just then, the baby in her womb kicked. Otito stilled for a millisecond but said nothing about it. Weird, she thought. The hand in the cloud had grown into the size of a cow, and soon started to spread like stew in a flat plate. The wind picked up her feet and the trees began to dance. Nedu began to worry that they wouldn’t get to the village on time. How long had they been walking?

A shack sat on the roadside. A man was in there, mending a bicycle tyre, surrounded by earthenware and bowls of clay.

“I don’t know how to mend a car tyre,” he said, eyes twinkling. “But there is someone in the village who does.”

The man’s name was Obichi. Nedu told him in Igbo that he had been away for a long while, and could hardly remember the way home. Obichi laughed pleasantly and told him not to worry. He led them down a rough path and brought them into his home. Otito was relieved that they had finally found help, she could hardly move when she got to the doorstep, pain had settled into her back like lead. Obichi’s wife, Munachi, was picking beans. When she saw Otito, her eyes widened and stayed thus until Obichi called her name again.

“They need help,” he said, as though he really wanted Munachi to understand what he was saying. “They need help, they have come from far away.”

Munachi staggered to her feet and headed straight for Otito. “You are welcome, my friend. You must be tired.” She took her arm and led her to the sofa. “Come, sit here. I will bring you water and food.”

“I will be back to take you to the man who will help. Let me drop my bag.”

Nedu went to Otito. “These people are too helpful.”

“What is the matter with you?” Otito leaned back and kneaded her back. “They are just trying to help. Why didn’t he take us to your grandmother’s place?”

“He said the place is farther, and he was worried about you.”

“You see? These people are kind. Stop worrying; go and fix the car and let us get to your grandmother’s house.”

A window slammed shut, shaking the frame and scaring Otito. The sun was gone now and the wind swept in through the cracks, gently whistling in the house. Cold seeped into Nedu’s bones. Otito yawned.

There was one picture on the wall, Obichi and Munachi on their wedding day, smiles bright, faces young. Faded, old calendars swung from nails in the wall, and an empty vase sat on the wooden table in front of them.

“There are no pictures of their children.” Nedu said.

“Rub my back for me, jo.” Otito turned away from him.

Nedu laid his strong hand on her back. Don’t they have children? He wondered.

****

Munachi was pacing their room, expecting Obichi.

“Can you believe it?” he said, throwing his bag on the floor and taking his wife into his arms.

Munachi was crying. “I cannot believe it. How quickly our prayers have been answered!”

“I told you Dibia Emefuna is powerful. We should have gone there all this time.”

“I couldn’t. We are Christians.”

“And how has that helped us? The priest comes to bless our dead children, and that is all.”

“So what do we do now?”

“We follow Dibia Emefuna’s instructions. Be kind to the woman, give her all she needs. See to it that she is happy at all times. I will go and offer the second sacrifice tonight.”

“What if they want to leave?”

“Leave that to me. They won’t go anywhere.”

“Oh Obichi, I will be very happy if our dream comes true. We have waited for so long … all the shame, all the pain …”

“I know,” he said, folding her into himself and weeping into her neck.

“Promise me nothing will go wrong this time.”

“I promise.”

****

“How long does it take to drop a bag and come out?” Nedu murmured. Otito was snoring lightly. The room had become colder and darker. If he did not fix the tyre soon, they would be stuck in Obichi’s house overnight. He opened a closed window, there was little light left outside.

“I think it is about to rain. No one will want to come out and walk a long journey in the rain.”

Nedu turned back, Obichi’s face looked swollen from crying. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, yes, I am fine.” Munachi forced a smile. “We cannot go out anymore. You can spend the night here, we have an extra room.”

“No, no, no. My grandmother is waiting, I have to see her tonight. Why don’t you just lead us to her house, we don’t mind walking.”

Obichi’s face hardened, and his grey eyebrows curved upwards. “You young men of nowadays are so irresponsible. How can you allow your pregnant wife to roam around in the rain?”

Nedu laughed a short dry laughter. “Okay. First off, she’s not my wife. She’s my girlfriend. Second, you have no right to insult me. I think we should leave; this was a mistake.”

“No, please don’t leave!” Munachi burst into the room with some water. “Don’t mind my husband,” she turned towards him briefly. “He can be … hasty with his words.”

Nedu didn’t know what to make of the awkwardness of the couple, but the chill in his bones persisted. He wanted to take his girlfriend and just leave, but Obichi’s voice rang loudly in his head. How can you allow your pregnant wife to roam around in the rain?

“Please, stay.” Munachi pressed her palms together. “I think it will be good for your woman.”

The roof began to ping with the beating of rain. Nedu had no choice.

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Image copyright: Micah Boerma/Canva

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