My Bad Son

It was a sunny day in the afternoon which ruined by my youngest, third wife, Ojiugo. Before that, this week is the week of peace in our clan. It was a week of between harvest and planting yams. The thing or mistake that I had done in this week is something out of my mind.

          This serious mistake I had done was started when I was just come back from my farm. I entered my first wife hut and rest there in about 30 minutes. After that, I felt hungry and wished to eat with my family. As usual, I would eat my first meal from my first wife in her hut and my second and third wife would send their meal to my first wife hut after that. I hope all of my wives would cook me a very delicious meal for me. After a while, my first wife served her meal to me. I ate the meal with her and our children. In about 30 minutes, we finished up our meal. My second wife, Ekwefi sent me her meal to me. I ate the meal with her also and our daughter, Enzinma. In about 30 minutes, we finished up our meal. Now is my youngest wife, Ojiugo turn to send me her meal. I started to worry when she had not appeared with her meal and children. I went to her obi, to see what she was doing. There was nobody in the hut and the fireplace was cold. I asked Ekwefi about that matter. She said my youngest wife has gone to plait her hair. I tried to find children. My first wife said that they were eating with her children in her hut. I felt extremely angry and it was increased when I knew that Ojiugo did not feed our children. I waited for 1 hour and when she returned, I beat her very heavily and had forgotten that it was the Week of Peace. My first two wives ran out in great alarm pleading with me that it was the sacred week but I did not care as I was extremely angry. Some of the villagers came over to see what was happening and were shocked as it was unheard of to beat somebody during the sacred week.

          As for the consequences, Ezeani who was the priest of the earth goddess, Ani called me to have a talk about this serious event in his obi.  I was very nervous and truly repented my action. I brought out kola nut as a symbol of my respect but he refused it. I was also tried to explain the reason of my action but Ezeani did not pay attention to it. According to him, I had done a great evil which the evil I had done could ruin the whole clan. It was because I had insulted the Ani and might cause her to refuse to give us her increase, and shall all perish. I was asked to bring to the shrine of Ani tomorrow one she-goat, one hen,   a length of cloth and a hundred cowries. Another consequence that I had to face was the clan accused me of not respecting the Gods of our clan. They also called me the little nza for forgetting me after a heavy meal that I challenged my chi. I received that as I was repented much of my action.