Chapter One

The rainy season is finally at hand, with its constant and torrential downpour. Its visitation to the earth marks the beginning of the planting season. Industrious farmers usually start preparing the land for cultivation during the early stage of the season while the lazy and carefree ones wait for this stage to pass by.

The crop normally planted at the early stage of the planting season is yam which is referred to as the King of crops. Only the men have the privilege of embarking in its cultivation. Cocoyam and other crops such as maize, vegetables, nuts, and pepper are consequently regarded as women's crops.

Before the planting of crops in the soil, the land is firstly cleared in readiness for its cultivation. During the planting of yam, big mounds dug out of the earth will be made by the farmer because of the dominating nature of the crop. Few weeks after the yam have been planted, other crops can then be planted around the mould.

During this time, the rain falls constantly at will and even the rerenowned rain-makers are not capable of holding the rain from falling.

Sometimes, the consistency of the rain keeps people within the confines of their homes from morning to evening, and even for days endlessly. Oftentimes causing the river bank to be overflown thereby leading to the flooding of peoples homes and farmland.

The nights of this season are often heralded by thick darkness as a result of the disappearance of the stars from the sky. Even the children are forbidden from whistling to avoid drawing the attention of the evil spirits of the night that hovers in the darkness looking for whom to devour.

Though the authenticity of this belief has not been proven by anybody, it is still held in high esteem hence nobody has the courage to violate them because nobody wants to become a scape goat that will be remembered by history for falling prey to the warning.

On nights like this, when the heavy rainfall is accompanied by the rumbling of the thunder and the flashing of lightning, in each of the numerous houses of Eru village, children sat around the fire place in their mother's or grandmother's rooms listening to stories or fables.

The mature ones usually sit with their father in his obi (local parlour) listening to the exploits of great men of the past and even the present. Some of them were great wrestlers, warriors, farmers, sculptors as well as medicine men.

They normally keep themselves warm with a local chimney made of heavy logs of wood. The burnt log of woods are always removed in the morning by the wives and fresh ones kept, to be used in the night.

This very night was exceptionally cold. Both children and adults kept their hands within the confines of the fire from the glowing log of wood. Grandma's room has always been a point of call for Emeka's children after dinner. Grandma, always feed their ears with good stories.

Emeka, the only son of Ma Iruka, who is fondly called mama Nnukwu by every member of the family as well as the entire inhabitants of Eru, a remote village gifted with the weaving of baskets and rafia mats. The village happens to be the highest supplier of baskets and rafia mats in the popular Ochanja market which is not too far from the village.

It is widely speculated that the people of Eru can make baskets that do not leak when water is poured inside it. Their fame resounds within the riverine area and even beyond.

Emeka did not use his position as the only male child in the family as an excuse to be lazy rather his hardwork is evidently seen by everybody. His father, late Pa Ofordile, died when he was at the teenage age of fifteen years.

Most people who lost their father within this delicate age bracket filled with juvenile delinquencies, usually turn out as rascals. Emeka did not cash-in on this unfortunate situation rather he followed up the training given to him by his mother who played a good role by disciplining him despite his status as the only son born in the family.

Emeka was tutored on how to do virtually all the domestic chores in the house contrary to the belief that such duties are meant for only the female folk. This is necessary as a wife can give birth or even fall sick and it can prevent her from carrying out domestic chores. During this time, the man can help in taking proper care of his wife by even cooking for her before the coming of her mother for the traditional post natal care known as Omugwo in the case of child birth.

At such an immature age, he realized that the world is not a bed of roses. Being the first born in the family, he was saddled with the responsibility of taking care of his three younger sisters.

According to the tradition of the land, Emeka was expected to marry at an early age so as to bear male children for the continuity of the lineage of the family.

On his seventeenth birthday, his mother summoned him and told him what will be the fate of the family if anything should happen to him. His father, Ofordile, died unexpectedly after complaining of dizziness the previous day. He slept and did not wake up in the morning. He left the family with little to live on.

They found it difficult to survive because he was the breadwinner of the family. After his demise, Emeka became the breadwinner of the family because according to the tradition of the land, after the death of the man who is the head of the family, the first son takes over his position as well as his responsibilities. This was the condition Emeka found himself.

...

"My son", Ma Iruka called out, "our tradition does not recognise or respect any family without a male child. Such a family will be disinherited by the husband's relatives and sent packing. You are the only son I have, if anything should happen to you we are doomed. It is better to look for the black goat in the afternoon because when night falls, it will be difficult to find. A stitch in time saves nine.

I have called you to discuss the future of our family. Our people say that anything numbered as one is finished. We are still suffering from the painful death of your father, if anything should happen to you too, I cannot bear it. We have to act fast. You have come of age. You are no longer a small child. What I am about to tell you, if it is not considered and anything happens to you, I will be left with no son and your father's relatives will chase us out of this house. They will also dispossess us and the worst of all, our family lineage will come to an end. What an elder sees while sitting down cannot be seen by a child even if he climbs the tallest iroko tree. You are now seventeen years old. I want you to start looking for a wife. I am very happy with the way you have comported yourself all these years. I am certain you will find a virtuous wife by yourself."

'My son", she continued, "I am not asking you to get married immediately, no, no. Marriage is not something to be rushed into because if you jump without looking well, you may jump into a pit covered by grasses thinking it is a safe ground. I am telling you this as an elder because the duty of an elder is to speak and that of a child is to take heed and consider.

You are the best son anybody can desire to have. I am proud of what you have achieved so far but you will make me happier and prouder of you if you consider my request. I am not telling you to rush into marriage. No, no, my son. Take your time and you will find that which you desire. I know your father would have supported this idea if he was alive."

"Mama, thank you for your advice and concern for the wellbeing of our family. But I don't have an intimate female friend. From where will I start searching? I am confused. How do I get a virtuous wife? Why not help me find a good wife." Emeka blabbed amid his confusion.

"My son, I cannot choose a wife for you, if I do and the marriage crashes, you will blame me. Marriage demands that you should personally choose who you want to marry." His mother answered.

"Women are every-where but only few are qualified to be wives. Most importantly, don't marry a woman because of her physical appearance or beauty, they fade with time. Don't marry a woman because of her wealth or that of her family, they may fizzle away. If these things fail, your marriage will grow bitter and cold. Marry a woman with a good character, a woman that will love you for who you are and not for what you are or what you have and you will live long, happy and fulfilled all the days of your life."

"Thank you ma for your wonderful advice", replied Emeka. I have heard all you said and I will not disappoint you.