It was a blissful friday evening and the neighbourhood was lively, pumped up as the kids had just returned from school. The girls sang loudly as they played the local “Eyi” game.
Some were engulfed in the local “kerosine, stove and matches,” as they popularly called it; their minds focused on winning more boxes.
A typical Friday evening in Osi village; the boys were not left out either. They engaged in a game of street football, as usual.
“Goal!!” Akin jubilated, running around the sandy pitch as he performed the famous CR7 celebration. The local Ronaldo had just netted another goal.
After everyone had settled in, the game was to restart but they couldn’t find the ball, Akin had fiercely shot it into the small wooden post and it landed in the thick bush.
“Where’s the ball?” Tochukwu asked.
“It should be there.” Tari said pointing at the dense forest in front of them.
“Akin go and get the ball, you were the one that shot the ball there.” Tochukwu said frightfully.
“You fear too much. Don’t worry I’ll get the ball.” Came Kelvin’s voice. Kelvin was very big for his age. He was just sixteen but he had the stature of an elephant. Hence, everyone called him biggie.
He ran to bush, and began searching for the ball. Almost a minute had passed, and Biggie was still searching for the football.
“Guys are you sure the ball is here?” Biggie asked.
“Yes, check your left hand side.”
“JESUS! JESUS?!!” Biggie screamed, running out of the bush like someone being chased by a ferocious animal.
“What happened?” They asked a terrified Biggie who was struggling hard to catch his breath.
“I saw… I saw … I saw…” Biggie stuttered.
“You saw what?” They said almost immediately.
“I saw… a dead body!” He said quivering vehemently, it was only a matter of minutes before he would piss on his pants.
“Dead body!!” Some of them took to their heels, running as fast as they could into their parents’ houses.
“Whose dead body?” Akin asked keenly.
“I don’t know.” Biggie said.
“Oya, come and show us where the dead body is.” Said Tochukwu who happened to own the ball.
“Ehnn? If you want to see it go there yourself.”
“I think say you no dey fear anything?”
Biggie gave a big laugh.
“You people must be crazy, I’m going to my father’s house.” Before they could say Jack, Biggie had ran off with a speed they never expected because of his size.
Only a few of them were left and Akin was ready to lead them to see this dead body. Unlike the rest, he was courageous, he hardly feared anything and he had the heart of a lion even at just eighteen years.
“Let’s go and see if what Biggie said is true.” Akin said.
He marched confidently towards the thick bush, and the others followed after.
“Jesus!” They screamed.
They were stunned by what lay in front of them, especially Akin.
It was a girl. She lay in a pool of blood; totally naked and all her genitals were gone. She appeared to have been stabbed on her chest.
Akin was speechless.
“How could they do such??” He cried.
You wouldn’t blame him, that was not where he expected his elder brother to dispose her body.
Written by Henry Zibima
