Egbin~A Tale Of One Goat By Tola Okunlola

The story below is a sequel to A Tale of Three Goats, please find the link here https://toyinfabs.wordpress.com/2013/01/21/a-tale-of-three-goats-by-toyin-fabunmi/

 

“Hin hin hin… Hun hun hun…”

Iya Ijesha had returned to her vantage position on the upper floor of her one storey building, the same place where she had announced and cursed and implored her detractors to return Egbin, her missing goat. She had refused to eat, sleep or even stop crying since she got back from the police station with her #2500 still in the purse that was always fastened around her waist, between her lace embroidered underskirt and her wrapper. When she heard the news that Egbin her beloved goat was in the government’s custody, every evil seed of thought that saw a fertile ground in her mind had been uprooted. She had tied a wrapper, worn her slippers and headed to the police station.

 

 

Iya Ijesha had attacked like a maniac upon the news that Egbin had died in custody. Her beautiful Egbin that stood tall amongst a herd of goats was no more. Egbin of the snow-white hair that marked her neck out and caused other goat owners to stare. Egbin’s name wasn’t a fluke, her hair shone like silvery waters. Her horns sat like a crown on her head. And Egbin was the princess amongst goats in the area. A pallor had fallen on Iya ijesha’s household by dusk. The other goats milled in her doorway, hungry and eager to have their evening meal but it was as if they mourned the demise of Egbin too. No overt bleating was heard in the compound that night.

 

 

People commiserated with Iya Ijesha and urged her to be strong. They all understood the ramifications of Egbin’s death and advised her to make sacrifices to Osun -to help Adunni deliver safely-, to Oya -the fearless wife of Sango to fight on Adunni’s behalf. Sanponna, -to avenge Egbin’s death. She nodded her head and thanked them all. She had a bigger problem. How would she explain to Adunni that the pregnant goat whose fate was interwoven with hers had been taken to its death because it decided to squat and shamelessly open its “yansh” to pee at the roadside in the full view of government officials?

 

 

LAGOS

Adunni was rushed to the hospital sometime in the early hours of the morning. The sky was still veiled by darkness though the first rays of light would soon be ready to burst onto the horizon. Adunni knew this because she had taken a long look at the sky, exploring the telepathic connection between man and God by sending a prayer via her heart into the heavens. She had to deliver safely. She had looked forward to this day with churning emotions. Sometimes, she would will the days to move faster. This mostly happened in the early months of her pregnancy when her mouth secreted foamy saliva per second and her feet were permanently swollen and her mouth was primed to jettison whatever it took in. Other days, in the latter months, she began to dread the due date for the tales about delivery rooms were not mother-friendly.

 

 Fast forward to 8 hours later, she was still in labour. The pain had entered uber mode, taking control of her body. They say once you can identify your problem, the remedy is within your reach. How untrue! Adunni knew the center of pain in her body. There was a clogged wheel in her lower abdomen and it was being pulled in different directions. She pulled at her hair and winced when the scalp under d uprooted strands singed but it wasn’t enough to distract her from the tightness in her lower abdomen. She needed the pain to be decentralized. She needed a full labour-free minute.   Another spasm of pain engulfed her and she yelped loudly just as the voices around began to fade into a mumble. She heard the doctor tell her to preserve her energy. 

 

Iya Ijesha’s cries engulfed the waiting room of St. Michaels Hospital. The nurses had begged her to keep quiet, other people had thrown disdainful glares at her, but her swollen eyes continued to fill as easily as a well during rainy season and her voice added value to the tears. When she saw the doctor enter the waiting room she rushed to meet him. He was already talking to Adunni’s husband.

 

“The situation with your wife is called “Cord Prolapse”. When the membranes ruptured, the umbilical cord descended before the baby and there is a possibility that the pressure of the head can pinch the cord against the pelvis and cut off blood supply to the baby. Your wife needs a Caesarean Section. Please come along to fill some necessary forms.”

 

 

Many things were going on in Iya Ijesha’s mind since the time they wheeled Adunni to another room. If only Egbin were alive. Egbin would have had a safe delivery and nobody would have cause to cut Adunni up. How could the government not see other goats to arrest other than Egbin, the goat Adunni’s in-laws brought as part of her bride price. Now, Adunni’s personal god was angry and had refused to allow her deliver the baby. Iya Ijesa was now clinging to hope, awaiting the verdict from Adunni’s personal god. Adunni’s husband held his mother-in-law’s hands awaiting science’s verdict.

 

The writer is on twitter as @tlatifah