The baby arrived at exactly the hour five in the evening , and NNE took extra minutes to get her to breath, afterward, she set the crying baby aside to attaind to the mother. NNE cleaned the unconscious mother and wiped off the blood that was on her and allover her hut, since the children will soon be home., and she wouldn't want them to see such mess.
once she made sure that the mother was dressed and comfortable in her position, then she proceeded to attend to the baby.
Outside the compound, voices of women and children finally returning from the market could be heard as they walk in groups , each group laughing and cheering while discussing the event of the day as they were mostly happy with the turn out of the day's event.
It was at about 6:00 that Olly NNE's other daughter -in- law returned from the market with her two sons" Tobe and Sop" (Tobe for Tobechukwu is the senior one and he's 8years of age) and Sop "sopruchi for long the junior one is 6". They have been in the market since they had breakfast this morning , each doing their own thing with their age grade.
Tobe has started learning his family business of making craft and is now making not so perfect ones to sale in the market or barter it for something that he wants , those that cannot afford to buy perfect basket made by the elders of the family who has perfectted the craft are always eager to buy or barter the ones that Tobe makes.
these baskets are very important to farmers and everyone in Dawanda kingdom because they are needed for practically everything, farmers use the carrying basket to carry seedlings to the farm and harvested products back to the house then the market. the women need market basket for putting there purchases for easy lifting and transportation. some others need drying basket to aid in sun- drying food and other things, while the women need sieve basket for sieving food while cooking, which makes basket craft a very lucrative business in Dawanda kingdom.
So today Tobe had carried market basket and sieves that he made during the week to the market so he could buy the hair scarf he saw the other market day for NNE.
he had seen the scarf and had thought that it will look very good on NNE but on pricing it, he realized that it was quit expensive and the money he had wouldn't cover the payment , so he asked the seller to keep it for him while also giving the seller the amount he had on him as part payment. he promised the seller that come next market he will bring the remaining balance.
The seller naturally agreed because they all know Tobe to be a child of his word, what Tobe said is what Tobe will do.
so now the young fellow is at the craft section of the market selling his craft so he could meet up with the promise he made to the seller and also take that beautiful scarf to NNE. Sop on the other hand is seen at the other end of the market playing while eating the snack he bought with the money his mother gave him, other children of his age love hanging around him because he always has money to buy things.
As instructed by their mother once the clock strikes at the hour to go, they will each locate their mother where they know she will be and then the three will walk home together.
It was by this time that they usually return from the market each market day and today was no exception because Olly needed to prepare food for her husband and children hence the reason for the early return of the mothers and children ,for the men are still in the drinking parlor celebrating.
As they entered the compound Tobe looked at The spot where NNE usually sits but couldn't see her, this was unusual because NNE is always there to welcome them home with a smile and her face and ears ready to hear what gist they brought from the market …and the boys were always ready and eager to share there adventures with her, but how come NNE is not seated at her usual seat? That was a first for sure the children thought.
Tope ran to the kitchen first shouting and calling out for her… NNE.! NNE.!! NNE..!!!where are you ? we are back, he kept calling out to her ,but NNE was not in her kitchen, he ran to the back of the house to check ..maybe NNE is in the bathroom but she was not ,that was when a thought came to his mind and he said to himself perhaps NNE is in her hut, so he went to check as well.
he needed to show her the scarf he bought for her and see the usual excitement in her eyes.
By this time Olly was already settled in her hut getting herself ready to prepare dinner for her family. She is not really a fan of NNE and NNE feels the same towards her because is no longer news any more in the kingdom that Olly is a troublesome fellow and trouble seems to manifest any where she went.
Olly changed into her house clothes and went into the kitchen to start her cooking ,even though her kids mainly Tobe is running around searching for NNE she seem not to care ,her own agenda right now was to prepare food for her husband and children to eat that evening, while Sop who is a little like his mother in character was sitting at the veranda resting because it has been a busy day for him ,he has been running around the market, playing with other kids all day long.
All he is just waiting for now is for his mother to call him to come eat dinner and maybe bath then the day is over for him.