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MUSTARD II – Ch. 3 | KT OLLA

MORROW had turned the house upside down, lit up the dark with the lamps left there; and was throwing out water from mopping bowls.

He was moving up and down, multitasking, when his kin showed up.

First, Daleka went. He stepped around the door and took a long peep inside, some thoughts pounding his chests.

He tapped on the hard wood. ‘Who goes in there? Show yourself, will you?!’

Then Morrow went taking out the water bowl. He was humming one of the war songs they chanted at camp fires.

His mind was elsewhere, so he didn’t hear or see anyone.

‘Hey, who’s there?’ repeated Daleka. But the words fell like he caught a cold, as he thought he’d just seen a ghost.

So, as the younger one pulled back, Morrow poured the water out and stopped...

For he heard the sigh drop beside him. ‘Ah brother! Big brother!’

Truly, Daleka had given up all hope for his brother’s return. Yet it wasn’t because he’d lost hope that he did, but rather that he hoped so much he used it up.

He’d expected his brother back every new moon. From the first, in fact.

And he’d been quite fierce, so he broke down now.

Morrow looked beside him, and there on the floor crouched the man. For he just couldn’t stand the shock.

‘Ah Daleka, it’s you! Look at me, it is me—it is Moro!’

Both men were down with each other as Daleka cupped his face to feel sure.

Right then they heard footsteps match towards them. Morrow’s guards were up.

‘It is Oji,’ answered Daleka. ‘He hasn’t heard also!’

Morrow got up to receive him as the man walked closer.

‘Brother, is that you? Is that you, Moro?’

‘It is him, Oji,’ Daleka smiled, standing up. ‘Come here and touch him too!’

Things went light that cold night in this clan of three brothers. So they joined hands to clean the house, the place their eldest returned to.

They woke their families, and cleaned all through night.

Now when Morrow asked Daleka about his own house, Oji intervened and told him they went back home.

That Wura lodged with her parents along with the kids. That they’d been waiting for his return.

‘Oh, I will go see them tomorrow!’ answered the man. And after those words, Oji went missing.

Truly, Morrow’s immediate younger only intercepted Daleka when he thought he could give first aid...

But that quick help wasn’t saving their situation as he hadn’t preempted Morrow’s response.

Therefore – to help save a fall, he decided to reach Morrow’s wife as fast he could—even within that night hour.

Yet the cleaning folk had woken their community with people learning that Moro was back.

Within that time word travelled, so people woke to watch what he’d do to his wife.

Now talk raced like fast wind and reached forbidden places. For neighbours got up that cold night and ran all the way to Wura.

They reached her before Oji did.

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