The Stubborn Fly

                     The Stubborn Fly

       (a short story by Lene Ododomu)

Woman is a crown on every man's head when her womb is blessed with fruitfulness, and she signal to everyone in the society that they should honor and respect her because she holds the mantle of kingship. Whereas, she is also a slave when the womb is cursed with barrenness. She will be dishonored and treated like a leper because she does not deserved the pride of a crown.

Infertility couples have to deal with much societal and family pressure and stigma, especially in societies that take pride in having children. In such societies, woman is deemed responsible for the situation. In trying to find courses for her condition, society claims that the woman has been cursed or bewitched, that she might have committed abortions or questionable lifestyles. Hence, though a challenging condition for couples, infertility makes the woman suffer more. Ebiye was ill-fated in her marriage because she could not bear children for her lovely husband, Perewei, for over fifteen years of their marriage and this was a very serious bane for both of them.

However, their marriage was one leg in and one leg out because of the agitation of Perewei's family. They agitated that Perewei should divorce his cursed wife, Ebiye and replace her with a good one who can be a crown on his head and the family. 

The tension was so cumbersome for Ebiye that she could not carry it on her head. So she started going to one prophet to another, and also one native doctor to another. But unfortunately, they could not proffered solution for her problems, instead makes the load more heavier. Although her husband was not disturbed because he believes that one day God will remember them. So he advised her not to worry about their infertility, that when the appointed time comes their clock would work without battery.

Perewei is a member of the Egbesu brotherhood called "Okparans" and also the head of the Egbesu priests who fortify and install the Agadagba, the king of the Ijaw people.  However, Egbesu is a primordial gods and a Ark created by God according to the cosmology of the African belief system in Oral Literature, and it is a mini and supreme god of the Ijaw people, and a minister of God that was believed to have descended from heaven. 

According to history, Egbesu is identified as a woman in lion's form. She forbids what God also forbids-for example: she is an enemy of bias and injustice. She loves her people so much, and whoever sinned against her would be punished and forgiven when regained purity. So Perewei is also a devoted christian and loyal servant of God. He is an anointed man of God with the rank of Boanerge in a white garment church, so he always bait his faith on God.

One beautiful morning, Ebiye announced to him that she is three months pregnant. This became a great surprise to him, so he could not controls his happiness from traveling across the sky then started shouting alleluia which was heard by the entire world! She gave birth to twins in different gender, one baby boy and one baby girl. Indeed, this brought honor, respect and made her to be a crown on his head.

 

Living as an infertile person is very distressing and challenging. Ebiye always remember how she crossed a thousand seas to fertile her twin babies. Ebiye mirrowed how she faced mental health issues, such as depression, suicidal ideations, insults, and even divorce. The worse was that she was alleged of a labelled witch, all by her husband's family, though Perewei did not give up on her. Because of this bitter experience, she started pampering the children. 

She provide whatever thing they need in life and gave even more  than what they wanted. You cannot dare to make them unhappy because the mother will not allow it. So they were like an egg on her palms.  But Taye, the first born takes this opportunity for granted by becoming stubborn. Unlikely, his twin sister, Kehinde was not behaved as he does, but completely different from him as she had a very responsible character that is expected from every good child.

Kehinde was very good in her academic performance  and she won a scholarship to study law in Canada. But Taye was very poor in his academic performance and enjoyed to live with the shame because he believe that his mother would not hate him for that.

Taye started school at the same time with his twin sister, Kehinde, but she was promoted from primary two to class five to write her common entrance because of her excellent performance in school. But he was busy failing and repeating classes. 

Even in the secondary school, his twin sister was promoted from JSS 3 to participate in the final year exams (WAEC and NECO) but still  he could not improved himself to be like  her. He failed several times, so his mother had to register him at miracle center before he been able to pass his WAEC and NECO. He also failed JAMB many times but later admitted in Lead City University to study Sociology through the connection of his parents.

A student cannot pass his or her school exams without attending lectures, writing attendance, doing assignments and participating in exams. Taye was busy roaming around the streets with his friends, and many times going to night clubs with girls. He has never one day attends any lecture, and he will not bother to borrow notes from his course mates, so he started having issues of carry over in almost all his courses. He was even given a notice for expel, but he proves stubborn and continues with his  wayward life.

Instead of the parents to react over his misdoings by punishing him, they encouraged his stubbornness by bribing the lecturers to give him good grades. So he feel that he had a free life, and even can achieved whatever thing he likes without struggling for it. 

Having such hope and help gives him courage and confidence to be consistent with his irresponsible behavior. But he has never had the plan or intension of involving in any criminal act and this was the only benefit that the parents had.

Taye returned home for vacation which was to last for three months. During the week he returned home, some notorious robbers robbed almost all the neighborhood in Kunle street where Taye and his parents live. The robbery used to happen two times in every week. To stop it, soldiers and local vigilantes were deployed to watch over the entire street and one who is catch a glimpse of, would be arrested and sent to prison. So all the residents in the street were warned not to walk out in both morning and evening, except afternoon by 12:p.m. to 4:p.m.

 There was a freedom given to those who go to church or mosque, but identification like Bible or Quran must be shown before they would be allowed for any movement. So no one goes to church or mosque without his or her identification.

One fateful day which was Sunday morning, Taye was preparing to go to the church but he refused to take his Bible except phone which he believed that he can read Bible from. So his mother advised him to carry it along and keep the phone at home, but he ignored and told her that he can read the Bible through his phone so there is no any single need to stress himself by carrying the Bible. 

On his way to the church, he was stopped by the local vigilantes and questioned, then he told them that he is going to church. To confirm that he was truly going to church, he was asked to bring out his Bible, but he only brought out his smart phone and could not provide the Bible which was to use to defend himself. He was arrested and alleged that he is a member and messenger of the robbers who robbed the people in the street. No single explanation can defend him, instead he was given a deaf listening.

Immediately they arrest him, he was transferred directly to Ikoyi prison and wait for his fate to decide both the present and the future. His parents tried all they could to save his life, but their struggle was no avail.

A fly that does not heed advice follows the corpse to the. Taye was brought to court and his lawyer also tried all he could to save him, but he could not succeed. He was sentenced to death by hanging. What a pain😭. How can the mother and his only surviving sister bear this severe pain? No amount of tears can bring him back, except his story can only be a statue of lesson for the living.

The pain and bitter experience of the mother became new as she lost her only surviving son whom  she suffered before brought to life.  Life became an hidden shadow and empty sky for her. She felt like losing the whole world for pain, so her hope was zero point. But she later increased her hope to 99% since she still survived with her only daughter, Kehinde who was projected and hoped to cover the blessing of the family.

      

                    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lene Ododomu is a student of English and Literature in the University of Abuja. He hails from Whygirigha-Arogbo, Ondo state, Nigeria. He was a one time PRO of Derimobo Model College Old Students Association (DMCOSA) and currently the Vice President of the Association which is under the guidance of the grand patron, High Chief Karina Tunyan, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He is a Legislative Member of the National Association of Students of English and Literary Studies (NASELS) University of Abuja chapter, and currently: the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Body. Also, he is a member of the NASELS Editorial Committee.  He is a lover of literature, and a literati. Inception from his time in secondary school-he has being a student teacher of literature, and he was nicknamed  a Professor by the students body. Also, he is a student lecturer in the university. He is a researcher, novelist, poet and playwright.

Phone: 07065053810

Email: proflene676@gmail.com