Debby

By Michael Dorcas E.

Debby is an original work of fiction written by Michael Dorcas E.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publiseer
• Release date: Aug 18, 2018
• ISBN: 9788828376576

Book preview

Translations

INTRODUCTION TO DEBBY

Debby was seen carrying a gallon which seemed empty; she was on her way to the stream. The birds were visible on the trees chanting songs. There was really nothing scary about the path, if not for its straight and lonely nature.

Debby hung the gallon to her shoulder with the help of her wrapper which she had tied to the gallon. Some steps away from Debby was a woman lying down with her face to the ground, making it difficult for her to be recognized.

Debby approached the woman with  no concern, and so, still in that state of laxity she passed the woman. The woman called out to her, Please help me, daughter.

Of course Debby couldn't’ pretend not hearing that.

Old woman, what is it? What can I do for you?

My daughter, please help me up.

Debby being so angry and pissed showed it. See, old one, I don’t have time to waste on you, and you don’t expect me to use the strength for my water on you. With these and many other words flowing from Debby's mouth while she bent to help the woman. Debby looked at the woman with so much hate in her eyes, she was pulling the woman up when suddenly their eyes caught up with each other's, behold, it was Sola all the while.

Mama! shouted Debby with a very terrifying voice.

Sola grabbed Debby by the neck with both hands as if strangling her with what seemed or could be called claws, with her bloody eyes wide open as if ready to devour. Debby shivered as she felt horripilation through her spine.

You left me to die right? Now, I’m dead, you can now live and enjoy life. These Sola said amidst tears

Debby still screamed uncontrollably as Sola continued to scare her. I will make your life miserable. she blurted out. of course, you will never know the joy of motherhood.

SOLA, A TALL AND SLENDER woman, light skinned, with a face as bold as the upper case letter 'O' of the English alphabet. Sola had this face like a mermaid, if not for her facial mark, one could think her an Indian. Her nose was so pointed that it could be used to open a tin of milk, her set of teeth could make anyone forget their sorrow when seen, she had bold eyes and wore a beautiful smile always. She wore Ankara materials sewed in Buba (blows, mostly with sleeves and wrapper) style most times, she was known with that too and always in her flat flip-flops which came in different colors sometimes. Adeniyi was envied by other married men in and around the vicinity. They felt that not only was Sola beautiful outwardly but also inwardly, women too jealous Sola's beauty and composure. no wonder Debby had all of that in quantum.

Sola used to be a very enthusiastic woman, very vibrant and happy, always smiling. She was in fact an epitome of motherhood. Sola and Adeniyi lived in the city of Ebado They lived so well as husband and wife, having their only daughter and child Debora, who was called Debby for short.

Adeniyi had built a nice shop for his wife Shola close to Yinka Junction, the liveliest part of Ebado. That shop is in a good sight. Adeniyi told her, when she complained of disliking the position of the shop.

Sola who was also very playful still preferred her door to door service to sitting in her shop. That will give her ample opportunity to get the latest gossip in town like the story of Adekunle’s arrest for stealing his master’s money and Muyiwa’s pregnancy. She enjoyed talking with people a lot.

Her Banga soup and rice had made her really popular. So many people had been addicted to her food that they eat of it, at least two times daily, some go on to borrow, or better still eat on credit. Some even testified that they never had a good night rest without having at least a hunger for Sola’s meal. Apart from all these, Sola’s intervention in many family matters had given her edge above other women. On one occasion, one of her customers, a short man with a tummy bigger than his whole body was having a serious fight with his wife, it was Sola who came to the man’s rescue when his wife was about to use her pestle on him. On one other occasion had she saved a dying child from convulsion. She was so tired after selling her 'mama put' and was pushing her wheelbarrow which contained a big ‘cooler’ which was full to the brim in the morning but now carried a little amount of rice that would serve as supper for her family. Beside it was a smaller ‘cooler’ which had been full with Banga soup in the morning. A small ‘painter’ lay beside the big cooler, it contained two pieces of kanda meat. She had reached the junction which lead to her street when she saw the woman struggling to keep her convulsing son still. Immediately, Sola abandoned her wheelbarrow and ran to the woman. It was mama kehinde. At Sola’s command, she added alligator pepper to a dry pan and placed in on a fire. She moved the child close to the fire so he could inhale the smoke rising from the pot. Meanwhile, Sola was forcing a spoon through the child’s clenched teeth. Finally, he sneezed and let out a loud cry. The child was saved and Sola went home happily. 

The lifesaving spree made Sola love moving about than sitting in one kiosk. According to her she wouldn't achieve as much as she does if she sits in a place.  I prefer my door to door business. Said Sola to Adeniyi on one of the occasions he asked her to always stay in her shop, instead of stressing the life out of herself.

Every one misses Sola, including I, but what do we have to say or do? Even till date, on one occasion or the other we still see reasons to think and bring Sola’s life on earth to mind. Today too, we say, let the dead remain with the dead this also had been the case with Sola; may her soul rest in perfect peace.

DEBBY SCREAMED AND jumped out of her bed panting, it had been a dream; a bad one at that.

Debby’s room was not very big but beautiful and well arranged, the big bed was located at the left hand side of the room, with a makeup stand some inches away from the foot of her bed. Her wardrobe was directly opposite the bed, there are a ceiling fan and a medium sized television, a cushion by the leg side of her bed and a small stool.

Debby’s eyes darted in the dark, she threw the blanket off herself and headed for her wardrobe, she pulled a black, knee length coat,