I Can’t Help You

"Somma!", I heard my name for the second time in a row. "Nothing will make me answer this woman today", I told myself as I continued walking on the narrow path leading to Kaima's house for a late afternoon gossip before I returned in the evening to cook dinner for my parents.

"Somma! My dear please come", I heard her say again. The 'my dear' she said is melting my heart a little bit but I can't seem to forget what had happened a few days ago.

I had just come back from school, ate my lunch and decided to go help my mom out at her kiosk for a while. I was on my way when I met Mama Ifeanyi coming back from the farm with a basin of cocoyam on her head.

"Good afternoon ma", I had greeted her as I passed her that fateful day. I could have minded my business if I knew what was going to happen but no! I decided to show how good I was and how my parents had raised a homely girl.

Seeing that she is a middle-aged woman, I offered to help her carry the cocoyam home even though she did not need any help but I had thought how my parents would be proud of me after they heard what I did. Besides, her home is only a few walks away.

"Let me help you ma", I said in my innocent-sounding fifteen-year-old voice.

"Don't worry my dear, I am almost home", she said. This could have been my cue to continue my journey but I was determined to impress passersby who probably don't care.

"Let me help you ma", I insisted and after moments of going back and forth with her, she finally agreed.

She had helped me lift the basin to my head and I had walked with my head high, my chest out and my pride over my head towards her house. I couldn't wait to be seen. I couldn't wait for her to tell her friends who would tell their friends how well-mannered I am. I couldn't wait for the little gossip to reach my mother.

A few moments later, we reached her home where I dropped the cocoyam.

I was about to leave when she told me to wait. I had thought she wanted to give me a token of appreciation which I would have rejected to make me look more mannered.

I was wrong! "Come inside", she said. "Ok ma", I had replied with all enthusiasm.

"Please help me bring the gallon of water from the back of the house", she said. I made nothing of it. It's a usual thing to help with this kind of little thing when you are in another villager's house.

After I brought the gallon of water, she told me to empty it and help her fetch another one from a neighbour who had a borehole. I didn't like it but I didn't show it because I must make sure I show my good manners, not bad ones.

Well, that was the beginning of my downward slope towards a miserable day. Before I realized myself, I had fetched four gallons of water, washed the plates, gathered firewood and was about to set the fire to cook dinner when I got fed up with my good manners. I had sneaked out of the house when she wasn't looking.

Now she is calling me to make sure she ruined the good manners I had left. I gave up my reputation and pride to sneak out of the house. Surprisingly, I didn't hear any of my 'bad manners' from anyone including my parents.

"Somma! I know you can hear me, come I have an important message for your mother", she said. I stopped. "This woman is trying to make me feel bad", I thought to myself.

I started walking towards her.

"Good afternoon ma", I said as I stopped in front of her.

"Good afternoon my dear, how are you?" She inquired.

" I am fine, ma. You said you have a message for my mother".

"Yes dear", she said. "Tell your mother that she should remember to keep the chaff of corn I told her about for me."

"Ok ma", I said as I turned to leave.

"Wait", she said, "Please help me carry this bag to the front of my house".

I turned, looked at her, looked at the huge bag she rested on her left leg and I ran. I agree, I am not well-mannered.