THE LEGEND OF DAYO 1: THE EMERGENCE
er than any other member
at had finally managed to leak in. She hummed to herself as
ed along the dark corridor toward the door, she came to a halt suddenly. She sa
gave a pai
ad fallen and started a fire in the room. She quickened her steps and threw the do
f and wondered if she
the wall, and he appeared to be asleep. She looked at him for a
line of the door was just dim now, and she shrugged ruefully, sure
ms quickly. People usually came in for
chen. It would have been her mother preparing breakfast. Her father
er bottles with hot water, and
d hollowly. "T
smile, but he was very worr
miserably. "It is tough this time around
w exactly how much her mother suffered from her terrible arth
minutes later, the store bell chimed, in
e porridge on low heat, but just t
aid. "Long queue in front of the store. Just took
cowled
ake me laugh, Uche," she sa
om other similar shops around. Sometimes they needed to reduce their price
e, however, she saw that
s indeed
pened up the store and beg
ossip, who first broached a subject that
face, and she was always suggesting remedies for the pimples to N
me up to the counter and paid up. Neji was counting out change in
but Mrs Ibrahim was just st
eji Helen asked. "You look
morning!" Mrs Ibrahim murmur
nd I served you,"
ch horrid huge and messy pimples, and I promised to bring yo
s, not really knowing where t
Mrs Ibrahim," s
How did you get your face all smooth like this overnight? There is no pimple on your face this morning w
as when it
en inflamed with painful pimples, and she had feared she would have a ter
idn't feel
elt any pain
touched her face, and explored
ft and as smooth a
observations. She knew just how superstitious these town folks were and knew she had to spring
in an appearance, and he sav
r. "Mrs Ibrahim, a ragamuffin-looking Igbo boy came through the store three days ago with some herbal concoction he claimed could clear pimples
face. "It has worked! It has worked so beautifully!
, but it is all finished now," Mr Osuolale said with a sad smile. "That boy promised t
h an envious giggle. "Look how beautiful
Neji said listlessly, still unabl
ere only a few left, Neji left the counter, and her face was still pretty much in
as she looked at
been clearer, smoot
f her pimples were g
arding her reflection, and she ran
e stairs again, then through the store a
an abrupt
t was there all
ked hard, twice, and
minute and opened her eyes, and she s
art began
is light was too bright, too powerful and
bling slightly now, and then when she reached o
fingers, she
the room, and he was holding his silver bell aga
for some time as her h
ftly, her face troubled. "W