A Kind of Madness by Uche Okonkwo

Author:Uche Okonkwo
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tin House Books
Published: 2024-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

• • •

Chekwube woke to Soty moaning and writhing beside her. The moaning only got louder the more Chekwube tried to comfort Soty. When Soty started crying, Chekwube got out of bed. There was still no electricity, so she felt her way to the door, and then across the living room, which now felt as familiar as hers, to Mrs. Onwuchekwa’s bedroom. She only had to knock once before the door flew open and a silhouette of Mrs. Onwuchekwa stood before her like she’d been waiting to be summoned.

“Soty?”

“Yes,” Chekwube said.

Mrs. Onwuchekwa disappeared and reemerged with a lit kerosene lantern.

Back in Soty’s bedroom, the moans had grown louder. The bedroom door swung open and there was Aunty Ngozi, in her hairnet and a wrapper tied around her chest. Her mouth was an unmoving line. Mrs. Onwuchekwa went to her room and returned with some tablets in her cupped palm, and a glass of water. Soty forced them down and promptly resumed writhing on the bed. Chekwube stood in a corner of the room and watched. It looked as if some malicious spirit had invaded her friend’s body. She’d never heard Soty sound like this, and the few times she’d seen her cry—like on the peet-sah day—the tears had always dried up quickly. Now, Soty’s eyes were closed, as if whatever she was feeling needed all her attention. The hands of Mrs. Onwuchekwa and Aunty Ngozi raced across Soty’s limbs and torso, rubbing Mentholatum ointment on knees and elbows and chest until a cloud of menthol hung in the air, stinging Chekwube’s eyes.

“Please, boil some water,” Mrs. Onwuchekwa said to Aunty Ngozi. “Let me use it to press her joints.” Aunty Ngozi walked toward the door, and Mrs. Onwuchekwa added, “Also, bring your oil from my room. It’s in the wardrobe.”

Aunty Ngozi nodded. If she felt vindicated for her healing oil ministrations, she said nothing. On her way out of the room, her eyes fell on Chekwube and she looked confused for a second, like she’d forgotten Chekwube was there. She beckoned to Chekwube to follow her. They went into the kitchen and Aunty Ngozi lit a second lantern and set a pot of water to boil.

“What’s wrong with Soty?” Chekwube asked.

Aunty Ngozi stayed silent a moment too long. “She’s having a sickle cell crisis.”

Because you made her play in the rain. Because you made her mother take away her oil. Chekwube imagined Aunty Ngozi thinking these words. She waited for Aunty Ngozi to call her small witch again. Soty’s blood was on her head.

They went into Mrs. Onwuchekwa’s room and found the bottle of olive oil in the wardrobe, next to the stack of books with Everywoman. In the dull light of the lantern, the oil didn’t shine like Chekwube remembered.

When Chekwube made to follow Aunty Ngozi back into Soty’s room, Aunty Ngozi stopped her, gave her the lantern. “Stay in the parlor.” Chekwube obeyed. Moments later, Aunty Ngozi returned with a blanket and a pillow so Chekwube could sleep on the couch.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.