Olamma

Episode 5

Olamma went about her selection with suitors.
While some of the men stopped coming, others still wanted to try their luck with her.
Olamma’s mother who was left with the chores of fetching water, going to the farm for fire wood, cooking, cleaning, washing even both Olamma’s cloth.

She got tired of of the numerous house chores which doesn’t give her time anymore to rest or do anything for herself.
Olamma was trained up without knowing how to pick a pin.

A time came when Olamma’s mother asked her to carry an empty pot of water and follow other maiden of her age to the stream to fetch water but Olamma bluntly refused.
She will rather take a stroll to the stream, have a cool evening bath with her friends and return back empty while her friends Carries their different pots of water to their houses.
Some wanted to start following Olamma’s footsteps but their parents cautioned them.
They warned and even threaten to starve their daughters if they don’t participate in their rightful duty to the house.
Some parents wanted their young daughters to grow into a beautiful maiden just as Olamma so that they can make men’s heads to turn and also to attract different rich suitors just as Olamma does.

Some of this mothers and fathers gave little or no house chores to their daughters just to achieve their aim.

Most of this young girls became lazy and not ready to do anything because they consider themselves more special than others.
While many other parents cautioned their daughters and made sure they grew up into a hard-working woman like Adaugo.

Olamma’s mother got tired of the house chores and complained to her husband of how she wish Olamma could assist her with some of the house work even if is to be fetching water or fire wood for the house or even washing.

Her husband shut his wife up immediately and asked her never to disturb their beautiful daughter.

“Ogini ka i na e ye Olamma nsogbu mgbe obula? (Why are you disturbing Olamma everytime) she complained to me last week after I came back from my journey that you asked her to sweep the compound in my absence. Why will you even do such? You never thought her how to do any of this things yet you are asking her to do them. Leave her alone… aririo Kam na rio gi biko. ( I’m begging you please) stop disturbing her. Do you want to spoil her skin or let something to bite her? Don’t start troubling her because Adaugo the errands one is gone. Let Olamma enjoy her life While she await the suitor that will suit her and treat as the queen she deserves to be.

Olamma’s mother breathed in and then out as her husband speaks.
“Dim oma (my good husband) I didn’t mean to disturb Olamma. I know the implications of doing such but I’m tired of all this house chores. I don’t know how Adaugo does it without looking stressed out but is never easy. I wish I can get help with few things around this house.

Olamma’s father gave a frustrating sigh before saying.

“, Don’t you know there are alot of young girls who will want to be close to Olamma. Some of this girls adores her and their parents wish their daughters are like Olamma. You can make good use of the opportunity by asking their parents to allow one of their daughters to come and live with us. If you asked like three parents at least one will jump at the offer. With that you will have an errand girl. Olamma is too beautiful to run house errands. Find another, get a maid who can assist you with chores. Don’t trouble Olamma again.”