5

Obinna woke up to the calling of the crows, he superstitiously thought that something bad had happened in the village but then laughed it off claiming it was a woman's job to be superstitious. He prepared to visit Olanma and apologise for not visiting the day before. On getting there, he saw a crowd and thought something had happened in their family as it was not unusual to see things like this in her compound but he then recalled the crow's morning call.

"Or is it that someone in her family is dead?", he muttered.

"Young man, haven't you heard? Olanma died this morning, another dead child! Aru! The gods are really angry and trying to strike us!!"

Obinna rushed to the front to see her dead body at least but there was no such thing. He entered her hut and his eyes caught the writing on the wall. It was like there was no one else in the hut with him, he had a feeling that this was related to him or someone was trying to tell him something but he didn't know what. He planned to return home and tell his brother about the incident, yes his brother should have an idea. And with that in mind, he walked out of the hut with a solemn expression. The people were trying to placate him because they thought he was another admirer that couldn't take the death of Olanma. They shook their heads in pity for Obinna, thinking about how many young men had come to drop things for her parents, they gave him a pat on the back and told him all would be well. Some girls even tried flaunting their waists and making their voices lighter so he could look their way.

'Disgusting, all these girls that haven't even brushed... I better get out of here before I am drowned in their smelly spit. How come this girl has even bathed?! She even put on make up!? Hia! This is a bit serious but it's not my problem.... I better get home before mother finds out, she'll kill me', he thought to himself.

As he got home, his brother was waiting in front of his hut to gist him.

"Why did you take so long ehn? There has been another gist, sorry death! This land is becoming more and more interesting".

"Hahaha, you goat. i'm just coming from Olanma's house"

Obinna had a smug expression and waited for his brother to beg him for the gist.

"So, you saw Olanma's bones bah?"

"Olanma's wha- it was there? i just saw the writing on the wall, that's all"

"Hahaha, i knew you won't pay attention to it. Well it wasn't even there, it was-"

"No need for that, what do you think about the writing on the wall? Do you think someone is trying to play a stupid prank on us?"

"Let's not even think too much, let's go to uncle's place to ask for solutions. i feel this is bigger than the both of us"

And off they went to their uncle's place still gisting and complaining about things that were not right in the village.