A NIGHTMARE

Our family was set, everyone had clutched his or her bible with such tenacious reverence, and was waiting in solemnity for the routine activity which usually initiated the morning devotion. However, a turn of that moment was to wait for Amaka, the youngest in the family, to join us. Then, it was like a rule: the devotion hardly commenced until everybody was ready.

A few minutes later, Amaka emerged, almost limping into the sitting room. That was really strange. Amaka had straight legs – and they were spotless too, which gracefully complemented her sterling elegance. As a matter of fact, those legs never witnessed any problem, and so the curiosity of some us was instantly aroused when she entered – Papa’s especially. Amaka was his favourite. And he’d constantly made it obvious.

As much as I could count, not even for once had Papa forfeited buying a gift for Amaka since she was born. During holidays, he would take her to visit his friends and other important places. Amaka liked going to the zoo and she never missed it every Saturday because Papa would always oblige to take her there. None of us was permitted to scold her unless you desired to fallout with Papa. So Amaka had usually had her way in almost everything.

Meanwhile, that interlude was not good enough to truncate our mood. Because even though Papa was a bit jilted by the way Amaka walked into the room yet surprisingly, it did not stop us from continuing with what we were doing. Things had truly changed – for everyone, including Amaka. Then, the activity before us had become second to none within the periphery of our domain. In fact, Papa had code named it: Priority Permanetum; and so defaulting in that regard was tantamount to the denial of two straight meals in one day or any other punishment as Papa deemed fit. For this reason, Amaka was gingered to show up in spite of the tremendous irritation ravaging her thighs.

And as soon as Amaka entered, choruses rented the air in the sitting room. So we were all lifted into the supernatural – giving us the chance to recuperate for awhile considering the overbearing circumstances bedeviling our family then.

Papa and Mama had lost their jobs coincidentally in the same month. As a result, life had turned out to be very rough for us. Consequently, our religious inclination had become a sort of refuge. Truly it was because people from the church in one way or the other had laid a helping hand. We had always prayed that the providence would be compassionate on us and wedge the ranging battle on our behalf.

Then, that morning, the sonority of our mother’s voice – which usually beautified our mornings and often times lightened up a whole day as well – laced with glorious impeccable melodies had completely consumed us. So as we all sang - clapping and shaking our bodies in synchronicity, the thought of Amaka and her legs virtually vanished into thin air.

But while we were deep into the spiritual realm, basking in the euphoria of heavenly bliss, my only sister was in the physical agonizing with enormous excruciating pains. Although intermittently, her voice interrupted our songs but we were lost from the terrestrial to the celestial.

Eventually, the morning devotion ended. Yet Amaka’s voice did not fade. Then, it had risen to crescendo. Her thighs had enlarged and she was unable to stand from her seat. Amaka resisted any move to touch her legs because she felt it would increase her pains. At this point, we have all been compelled to become very concerned. Then, it dawned on us that we had landed into another huge palaver.

“What is happening to us?” This was the question littered on the faces in that room. One could readily spot the goose pimples that had enveloped Papa’s hands. He was speechless, looking at Amaka’s legs like a moron. Mama had quietly sat on a seat behind her as she began to sob. I was utterly dumfounded as I knelt down near my sister to see if I could do anything to assist her. But I was daunted by her yelling. Suddenly tears began to gush down my cheeks.

At that moment, it was obvious that none us was thinking of any solution because it would involve money and there was no penny anywhere – in our house or in the bank. I was so sure that our parents did not keep money anywhere. In fact, that week appeared to be the worst in house since Papa and Mama lost their jobs. We had found it very difficult to have just a balanced meal even for one day. And we were already on Saturday.

Suddenly it was as if a thick dark cloud had engulfed everywhere in daytime. I could feel it. Then, I had Papa sigh heavily, and turning towards that direction, I saw him lying on the bare floor gasping for breath. I rushed to help him.

But being unable to do that alone, I looked up to ask Mama why she was not coming to assist me and then, I discovered that she was also lying on the floor, breathless! I was befuddled. And then, I jumped out of the house like a lunatic, screaming for help…

Behold, I woke up! “It was a dream!” I exclaimed breathing in spasm.

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