I BEAR THE PLIGHT OF A WOMAN EPISODE 3

By Bassey Ekpaha Silver

Attah's day was sadden by the visit of the clan heads led by Ntia the chief priest.

"the throne will be move from your clan to another since you don't have a male child, that is the message I am sent by the gods to deliver" Ntia said.

" Attah you are a disgrace to men. I regret having you as a brother poh" Nyong said has he spat on the floor.

Nyong is Attah's younger brother. " is he even a man ? I am sure he doesn't even know the right SEXUAL positioning one should use in order to produce a male child.

I am also sure his wife claims on him when they are doing kerewa" Itoh added. Chief Itoh was one of the Chiefs who explore every opportunity to mock Attah.

His anger was that people often compare the tranquility in Attah's house to the pandemonium in his house since their houses were directly opposite.

His house was called a market square since his sixteen children were always at
each other's neck, and others called it a shrine since the three wives were always at enmity.

" Eka ndem abri kon, you who dwells in the seven oceans in Ekondo. I plead with you to give me a male child for my husband, or may I not recover from the pains of child birth" Nko could be heard praying amidst tears in the sitting room.

She had over heard the conversation between the elders and her husband.

Nko's own ridicule came during the
meeting of Iban Ndo Ekondo, ordinary she would have kept quiet but the tax levied on women were too much so
she wanted to make her opinion known when Iquo, Itoh's last wife cut her short " please this meeting is for married women.

Women let me ask you: a married
woman that has not put to birth a male child for her husband, is that one married at all? " no, they chorus. "

so you see, you are not yet a married woman" as she concluded the women laughed Nko to scorn.

The pains of child birth came heavily on the nine month. Nko was rushed to a nearby maternity home.

Few minutes later the midwife appeared " sir, your wife has put to birth a son" on hearing a son, Attah fell on the ground, all this while he has been anxiously waiting to know the child's gender.

Few minutes later the doctor confirm Attah has stopped breathing.

He said he was hypertensive and the
shock of the "supposed good news" was too much for his weak heart.

" is my father death?" Idoreyin asked......
. To be continued