5 THE DISOBEDIENT GIRL

The Disobedient girl

   Uma was the child of compensation for her parents. The first children of Mr and Mrs Obiora who were twins, died at the age of two. Delicate and cute boys.  

     Since their demise for years, Mr and Mrs Obiora had remained childless and unable to have children. God eventually answered their prayers and gave them Uma.

  Uma was a very beautiful girl who gave her parents pride as people love to comment her beauty and give her gifts. She is the heart of the village and the talk of the town.  Parents always used Uma as an example when talking to their children as Uma is not only beautiful but respectful and obedient.

       However, When Uma clocked ten, she started demonstrating some behaviours that were contrary to being good. She no longer listens to her parents and she stopped doing chores except when forced to. These made her parents worried, Uma was not like this before, she even knows how to pretend whenever they have visitors. Something is wrong somewhere, something or someone is corrupting their pride. Soon, she will start disrespecing her elders and talking back at them.

     After putting their heads together and after deliberations, they noticed that the friends Uma was following were misleading her and changing her characters, she was learning bad things from them.  They then decide to stop the friendship and warned Uma of associating with them after advising her to steer clear from them as they would be a black stain in her reputation. 

    Uma followed the advice of her parents and eventually steered clear from her friends, soon enough she began to be her good self again.  Her friends noticed that she no longer wants to associate with them and wondered why.

       One day, Mr and Mrs Obiora went to the farm, they left Uma at home as usual as she could not do anything for them but be a liability.   On their way, Mrs Obiora was uneasy, she began to feel that something bad will happen to her daughter.  "Obim, I'm having a feeling that something bad will happen." 

"What do you mean?" Mr Obiora asks.

"I don't just know, but…. Uma…Let's go back home."

"Nothing is going to happen. But to placate you, let's go and give her a work to do that she will be busy and will not leave the house." Mr Obiora replies

"And also tell her not to leave the house."

"Sure".

Mr and Mrs Obiora went back to their house and gave Uma a big pot of big stones to boil until it becomes soft, knowing fully well that she's unaware that stones can not be soft.  They left feeling relieved when Uma put the stone on fire to boil and locking the door as instructed. 

      Hours later, Uma friends came after planning on visiting her and asking her why her she no longer plays with them, knowing fully well that her parents are not at home.  Uma heard knocks on the door and asked who it was. A girl named Chinma answered, "It is us, your friends, Open the door for us let's go out to play."

"I can't play, I have work to do." Uma replied

"What work is that? Let's assist you. You haven't played with us ever since"

"I have to finish up before playing"

"We planned on plucking pepper fruit on our way and we know it's your favourite." Chinma said to make her agree

"Okay, come in." Uma who couldn't resist the offer opened the door and allowed them in.

"What are you boiling?" 

"Stones. My parents said that it must get softened".   The children roared in laughter.

"Okay. Go and fetch more firewoods from the backyard, let's be stirring it for you." Uma nods and left.  "Oh, innocent Uma, her parents deceived her. That means they don't want her to play with us.  We will still do what we planned no matter what." 

"Yes!" Replied the children in agreement.

"Chike, go and pluck cocoyam leaves from the compound and bring it fast let's use it to cover the stones."  Chike runs away.

 They eventually covered the stones with leaves and Uma comes in immediately.

"Uma, no need for the firewoods again, the stones are done. Come and touch it." Uma touches it and confirmed that if was softened then she excitedly leaves the house. After all, she has done what was asked of her, she will just go quick with them and come back before her parents come home from the farm.

         On their way, they saw a pepper fruit tree with ripe fruits and decided to pluck them. Since Uma was the best in climbing trees, they told her to pluck the fruits while they gather them. Uma climbed the tree and started plucking, she began to throw the fruits down as she plucks. The children gathered under the tree and began to plan

"She's up now, get the firewoods and set them under the tree." Ordered Chinma. The children did it.  "Now set it on fire."The tree began to burn.

Uma didn't notice until she started feeling the heat. She looked down and saw the fire coming upwards her, she asked for help but Chinma replied, "You will burn to ashes! You are the good child in this village, the most beautiful, right? When you die, our parents will no longer use you to teach us again. Die Uma, die!"

"No one will save you." Ifeoma added and they watched Uma burn to ashes before congratulating themselves and going home. 

    Mr and Mrs Obiora were coming from the farm and they followed that same road. Mrs  Obiora saw the ashes and fell in love with it, she said "Look, my husband, these ashes are beautiful, they look almost like Uma, her skin. I will take them and show them to Uma, she will be thrilled!"  But the ashes sang to her, 'Mother, Oh mother! It is me your daughter, I disobeyed you, I did not listen and now I am turned to ashes. Father, Oh father! It is me your daughter, I disobeyed you, I did not listen and now I am turned to ashes.'

Mr and Mrs Obiora wept. It was so disheartening. They asked the ashes who killed her and it sang; 'I was killer by the same children that you said I should not follow. I was killed by the same children that tricked me here'.

       Mr and Mrs Obiora went to the palace of their Obi and reported everything to him. The children were sent for and were tied to a pepper fruit tree close to the same one that Uma was killed and were burnt the same way she was burnt alive.

    The End

Moral lesson:  Do not be disobedient. Listen to your parents even though it seems like they're saying nonsense when in real sense, they aren't. Do not be jealous as it leads to hatred which is very dangerous. Do not let anyone take advantage of your innocence, think deep and check if their words are true.