MY BLOOD MY HATER
(A tall guy by name MKPONNAM 22 comes out from the kitchen)
MKPONNAM: (slaps Uforo and the water falls from her head) How
dare you talk when my mom is
talking?
Are you mad, is it because your foolish father sent you to school
and as such you think you should talk to
people however you like. Is that it. I wonder where you will go
now that your father is gone.
UFORO: (tears roll down her cheeks) What did I do to you now?
Why have you slapped me for what I didn’t do? Why?
ITORO: Go and fetch the water… Leave them alone Uforo.
UFORO: (cries deeply as she carries the gallon away) Daddy! Daddy mmi o!
Why did you choose to leave me so soon?
What were you thinking when you left me? Mommy, how about you?
Are you happy that I am going through all this? Imoh (she smiles) can you still recollect how much I told
you that I hate uncle’s family.
I knew they were never good people (tears roll down her cheeks) he has sold all the lands and has made
himself the landlord of papa’s houses. Papa I know you are seeing me, why not take me with you, why
not save me from this injustice world… I long to be with you people, am not joking, I hate the people am
seeing around me and my spirit does the same thing.
(she bombs into Paul, who wasn’t looking too)
Oh, am sorry.
PAUL: It’s okay. (looks up) Your face looks familiar can you please remind me of where that was, cause I
know we have met.
UFORO: It’s me Uforo.
PAUL: Yes yes yes, Uforo, the girl who drained me with her drink.
UFORO: Senior, it was a mistake, I didn’t me…….
PAUL: It’s okay. Am so sorry for what I did. And am so sorry for your loss too… So how have you been
and how is your sister Umoh right?
UfORO: Imoh.. She died at the hospital.
She couldn’t make it.
PAUL:
Oh my God, what a pathetic story. I am so sorry. So where are you headed?
UFORO:
To the stream to get some water.
PAUL: Would you mind if I accompany you to the stream.
UFORO: (she smiles) senior thank you…
PAUL:
My name is Paul Ekarika Eben. I do believe you know my father. Common let’s keep walking, it’s late
already. (they continue moving)
Do you know how to swim?
UFORO: No senior, how about you?
PAUL: Yea I do, but it is actually hmm… Am wordless.
UFORO: (smiles at him) apparently you have not swim before.
PAUL: Says who?
Okay, to be honest I hate going closer to water. My spirit hates water eh.
UFORO: (laughs at him)
Has anyone ever told you that you look very scary?
PAUL: (surprises) No. How?
UFORO: (looks at his eyes)
Your pupils are milky and scary. Maybe that’s probably why your spirit doesn’t seem comfortable each
time you draw closer to water. In order for you not to be taken into the stream by the mermaid, your
spirit develops this dirty fake hatred for it. (looks at him and chuckles)
PAUL:
You are very pretty whenever you smile
I actually doubted your friend when she told me about you. So tell me, how are you feeling now?
UFORO: better than before. There is the stream, senior can you please help take the water.
PAUL:
Uforo please do not send me this one, I can do any other thing for you but not taking water from the
stream…
Uforo:
Senior please (she kneels down jokingly) senior please.
Paul:
what the heaven are you doing (holds her up) okay I will, please stand up before I too go on my knees
for you…
Uforo:
You see, you can be so gentle when you want to.
Paul: (goggles at her) Hmm.
I can’t believe that just came from you…
Uforo: yea, certainly. It came from me.
Paul:
It’s getting gloomy already. Let’s start going home.
Uforo:
Alright. Thank you so much.
Paul:
You are welcomed.
Light fade
Scene II
at school Paul and Rita are seen studying together at the library, Paul looks quite disturbed, he finds
it difficult to assimilate. Uforo comes in smiling at them.
Paul: (to Rita)
Are you okay with the life you’re living?
Rita:
Senior I don’t get you…
Paul:
There is this girl my father wants me to marry. I don’t like her, not in the least…
Uforo:
Have you talked with your father about your feelings towards her?
Paul
(buries his head in his palms)
Uforo, you think I haven’t tried, I have. I have spoken with the girl’s father and guess what the idiotic old
fool told me to my face…
Uforo:
No no no Paul, I won’t have you insult a man who is old enough to father you. Try to get rid of such habit,
it does not befit you at all.
Paul:
Am sorry I called him names but I am so crazy at the man. I just don’t know why my father and the
damsel’s father keeps insisting that I take the girl to the altar before going into higher institution. Ufo
look at me very well, am I not old enough to make decisions for myself. Do I look like a tissue that can be
used and dumped anyhow?
Rita:
Paul, stop complaining, stop it. Just relax, relax. I think the best thing for you to do is make enquiries
about the lady.
Paul:
(looks angry)
For what?
Tell me Rita for what?
I don’t like that girl. She is narky, nasty, irritating and extremely horrible to be with.
Uforo:
Hmm. My brother life isn’t easy. I actually came to tell you guys that I have secured a job.
Rita:
(looks at her amazingly)
Are you serious?
Oh my God, darling am so happy for you (hugs her)
Uforo:
Thanks dear. Without you guys on my side it wouldn’t have been easy for me. (she looks at Paul who isn’t
showing any signs) Paul, aren’t you happy for me?
Paul:
My dear am sorry, I just don’t know what is wrong with me. So tell me where precisely did you find the
job and what kind of job is it?
Uforo:
good questions.
The job is situated here.
Rita:
I don’t grab, can you be more specific. Where precisely?
Uforo:
Here in school.
At the school canteen. She has finally agreed to employ me and guess what?
Paul:
how much is your salary?
Rita:
I don’t know why I can’t guess. So don’t keep asking me to guess.
Uforo:
five thousand naira monthly.is it okay?
paul:
It’s something closed to being cool. Make sure you start saving for your own good.
Uforo:
Thank you. she has given me a free room very closed to the canteen and finally, I have got a second plan
to execute…
Paul:
(hisses her)
Why a second plan when you are already making it.
Rita:
Yea Ufo, Paul is right.
Why do you need a second plan when you have just landed yourself a new job?
Uforo:
(chuckles)
life isn’t the way you guys think, I can’t just work there, I need to do something else so as to see myself
through school. I don’t want to end up here, after my secondary sessions, I would make sure I get jamb
form immediately. My brother, I want to make my parents and my lovely sister proud of me wherever they are…
Paul: (looks at her compassionately).
okay, what is it you really want to do?
Uforo:
(looks at them pitifully)
I had a dream last night and in that dream it was raining heavily. My aunt came out and told me to go
and fetch water unlike the real her, she doesn’t like rain water at all. So in that dream I got outside to
fetch the water I saw my father in white, he was drained with blood instead of the falling rain, he was
trying to tell me something but couldn’t, it actually seemed like his throat was closing up and blood was
gushing from his mouth. (tears rush down her eyes) He was seriously crying and looking at me
pityingly. (wipes her tears with her left palm) I went inside the rain, tried touching him but couldn’t. And
all of a sudden my sister in white tapped my shoulder and when I turned towards her direction, I saw
her, she was so beautiful, much more beautiful than when she was alive, she smiled at me and vice
versa. She sat me down in the rain and told me she has never left my side. She said so many nice things
about me. It was so real that I thought I was dead. She told me to start selling and that I will definitely
derive pleasure from it and it will surely help me, she put out her hand and handed me some money. I
was about counting the money when I was woken up by the voice of my aunt.
(she smiles) can you imagine, on my way coming to school I met a middle age woman who looked so
much like my mother, she gave me twenty thousand naira. After which, she told me sorry and that she
believed in me and my abilities, she left. I was so surprised and wordless. I still do not know what she
meant by she believed in me and what I can do.
Paul:
My dear, your deceased parents and your sister love you so much, and what they couldn’t achieve
because of death you will certainly achieve all of it. I think I have ten thousand naira in this my school
bag, my uncle in the city gave it to me to get a new school material set. But I was thinking of giving you
the money seriously. Immediately the money got into my hands, your name began ringing in my head,
you guys may not believe me but am dead serious.
Rita:
That’s by the way, we aren’t doubting you. (to Uforo) My dear, I don’t know what to say at all, but I want
you to know that we are always here for you. I also want to support you with five thousand naira (brings
out the money and hands it over to her)
Uforo
Thank you so very much, you two.
Thank you for standing by me regardless of my dreadful plight. thanks to you two for your contributions,
I really do appreciate it with a tender heart (laughs) so, Rita, where did you get this money?
Paul:
Yes, Rita, tell us and do not lie, who gave you this money?
Rita:
(tears flow down from her eyes as she stands up and moves forward backing Paul and Uforo) Am
married off to an old man with six wives and ten daughters who are older than I am.
Uforo:
(looks at her shockingly. she walks up to her)
What do you mean?
Rita:
You should know. My father has been collecting money from this right from when my mother gave birth
to me, and I never knew. I won’t be able to further my education anymore. He wants me to give him a
male child (to Uforo) life is not fair, life is killing me (she cries and goes down to her knees) Uforo I feel
like killing myself. The money I gave to you was my savings, I have saved that money for my new school
material set.
Paul:
(holds her up and cuddles her)
Rita dear, it’s okay. Am sure everything will be fine ok.
Uforo:
Oh my God, am so sorry dear. Don’t worry God will visit you.
Rita:
He has even given twelve pieces of land to my father already. And tomorrow he will come and get me
(she cries out loud)
Paul&Uforo:
(in unison)
Tomorrow?
Paul:
Why tomorrow?
They should give you some times to make your own decision. (he stands up) I hate this world, (to Uforo)
You see, have you seen how crazy and stupid some people can be simply because of money (he laughs)
Oh God, rescue us, we are another Daniel’s in the dens of the lion.
Rita:
Hmm. I have to go home now.
Uforo:
Oh no, do not leave me behind, have you all of a sudden forgotten that we go home together. How is it
doing you.
Paul:
Leave her, na she wan go cook for her visitors
(they all laugh together)
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