As the sun stood at the eastern part of the horizon,its golden rays shining down with majesty and glorious heat.The animals all going about their daily businesses. The voices of different hens can be heard in different locations all calling out to the world to rise and shine.The farmers with their working tools all strolling down to the respective farms.some on their long john bicycle riding down with their farms tied properly at the back their bicycle.Little girls can be seen laughing and chatting with their eatern pots.they are all dressed in a locally made dress with beautiful beards on their tiny waist. Their loud voices mixed with the voices of the birds singing on different branches of trees on the muddy path that leads to the only stream in the town.Every morning,parents wakes up their children so that they can go and fetch water from the stream for the home use before the stream gets crowded,because its the only source of water they have in the town.They called the stream ''MMIRI NDU" which stands for the water of life. Another reason for waking their children up early especially the female ones up to go and fetch water from the stream is because around mid day,the water normally dries up.And anyone who fails to fetch enough water that they will use at home for that day will have to face going almost one thousands miles to their neighbouring community to fetch water.
Small boys of the community can be seen with their cutlass and matchet going to the bush to fetch fire wood and palm frond for the domestic animals in their respective animal pen. Some early birds among them can be seen coming back from the bush with well tied bundles of fire wood.The town is always a beehive of activities in the morning.
The town is known mostly with one profession,farming. Almost every body was a farmer,some are large scale farmers while the rest are some scaled farmers.thuo they have palm wine tappers and fishermen among them,who majorly engaged in selling to their goods to the public.
As the town was full of activities,there seems to be a family that was stood at stand still. It was the family of mr and mrs Uzoma ikenga. mr Uzoma can be seen moving about and sighing.His hands hung round his chest as he mutters low words. His heart seems to be racing,as he sits and stands at intervals.
pushhhhh!!! ,a voice was heard from the inner room, as a woman who seems to be in great pains shouted with a sorrowful voice. That was mrs Nkechi ikenga,mr Uzoma's wife who was in labour.They have been married for ten years without any offspring. Mrs Nkechi has had multiple miscarriages in the past years.They are both farmers like most people in the town. Despite their predicaments,Mr Uzoma loved his wife greatly,and always tried to encourage her anytime she feels sober. They lived happily till Chukwu okike decided to bless them with a child that came to stay.
Odugwu, whats happening?,mr Agu asked he parked his bicycle properly.He was mr Uzoma's bossom friend.They have been friends for since their childhood.He was a farmer too.
Nnaaa! Agu my wife is in labour,mr Uzoma replied as he stretched his hand for an handshake,as his friend reciprocate the hand shake.
Odugwu take it easy on yourself ok,its gonna be fine ok.Your wife is a strong woman,and the gods will protect her, mr Agu said as her taps his friend's shoulder to console him.
Nne m push harder ok, i can see the babies head,the village local mid wife persuades mrs Nkechi who seems to be giving up after constant pushing.As the mid wife persuades her to continue,Mrs Nkechi pushes further with greater pain,as she shouts and cried as she calls on the gods to come to her rescue. The more she shouts,the more fear grips her husband who was listening outside. Anytime he didn't hear her voice,his heart misses a beat,he will suddenly feel like fainting.His friend always pulls him up anytime he starts falling.
heeee!!!!,praised the gods of our land,they are indeed great, came the voice of the mid wife. Mr Uzoma's heart started pounding faster and louder as he ran into the room with his friend running after him. As he entered the room,he saw the mid wife carrying a crying baby covered with a white clothe,as his wife lay down looking very tired.
congratulations mr Uzoma,its a girl the mid wife told mr Uzoma as she smiled at him. Mr Uzoma went on his knees and raised his hands to the heavens with joy in his heart.His friend taps his shoulder again as he smiled and appreciated the gods for blessing his friend after years of waiting.
Mr Uzoma stood up and went to where his wife was laying down,and gave her a passionate kiss on her fore head.His wife smiled at him as she mutter a word with a very weak voice. 'dim oma',the wife called her husband as she tried to seat up,but mr Uzoma held her back as he tells her to rest properly . The mid wide gave mr Uzoma the new born after cleaning her body properly with towel and water. Mr Uzoma looked at the child as the child sleeps on his hands.The child looks like a little angel,and thuo she was sleeping, she had this beautiful smile as she sleeps,and her so fair and bright.
Mr Uzoma held her up to the heavens and shouted,your name is 'ONYINYE CHUKWU',which means God's gift. Everyone in the room smiled,as people started trooping into the compand in pairs as they heard the singing and shouts of joy.