THE SNARE! Episode 9 Over the months, the rate at which she self- serviced had reduced, but with the bitter pill she was forced to swallow, she went back to full time mast.urbation with a vengeance. However, the voice of her conscience had grown louder and more insistent, and she could no longer silence it. The voice demanded she stopped polluting her spirit and body. Many times she would tell the voice that she didn’t have any power over the magnet that drew her to por.nography, and that she was fully under the control of whatever demon that was responsible for mas.turbation. She wept, prayed and self-serviced, in that order. In her seventeenth year, Chilo wrote the UME for the second time. “I wonder what course UNILAG will offer you this time” Andrew wondered, when the admission season opened. Chilo pouted and remained silent. “Emma’s cousin was offered Urhobo Linguistics last year” Andrela said. Everyone present chuckled, except for Chilo. The memory of Chilo’s outburst was still fresh in their minds, so they were mindful of what they said. “So did he accept it?” Mother asked. “Of course he did. He has been writing JAMB since year 2000!” “It doesn’t matter what you study” Father offered. “Even if it is Broom and Sweeping Technology, as long as you can make a 2.1, you can even be able to work in the bank with it.” “O daddy please,” Chilo interjected “Igbo Education is the very last thing I ever want to study!” Months later, when Father brought back an envelope bearing the University of Lagos’ seal, everyone gathered in the sitting room for the opening. Chilo was too nervous to open the envelope so she handed it to Oliver. Oliver cleared his throat with an air of self- importance. “It is our pleasure to inform you” he began, “that you have been offered provisional admission to study. . .” He paused and looked up at the tense faces of everyone present. “TO STUDY WHAT??” Chilo barked. “What’s your problem? Will you finish reading it, my friend!” Andrew rumbled. “Islamic Religious Knowledge” Oliver burst out. Everyone froze. “Give me that!” Andrew snapped, and grabbed the sheet of paper from Oliver’s hands. He quickly skimmed the lines and handed the sheet to Mother in utter shock. Mother adjusted her glasses and read what was written on the pristine white sheet, word for word. “Oloko!” she exclaimed disbelievingly. Chilo took the letter and read it. Her eyes bulged. “Are these people mad?!” Father exclaimed incredulously. “Didn’t they see her name before offering her that course?” Chilo stood stock still for a few seconds before suddenly bursting into laughter. “Salim really needs to do something about these UNILAG people.” Andrew interpolated in exasperation. He had never bothered to apply in the university, and was now studying Printing Tech in Yaba College of Technology. Chilo had continued laughing uncontrollably, and at the end everyone ended up laughing over it. It seemed she would have to wait another year again. However, in the middle of the night when everyone was fast asleep, Chilo soaked her pillow with hot, briny tears. She wept bitterly, feeling very frustrated with her life. She wondered again if her sins were catching up with her. By this time she had broken up her friendship with Big English, haven decided that his influence was doing her more harm than good. Chilo was making a conscious effort to stay away from por.nography, and had resorted to giving herself very hot slaps whenever she felt the urge to self-service. Mother was rendered speechless when she walked in one day to behold Chilo mercilessly hammering away at her face. After glibly lying as to the reason why she was beating herself up, Chilo fled to her room. However, she quickly realised that it would take more than self-torture to kick the bad habit, so she intensified her prayers and got rid of every material in her possession. Big English was in faraway Ibadan studying at the Polytechnic there, so he wasn’t around to supply her por.n even if she had the inclination to request. Despite her efforts, she still gave in to the urge occasionally, but it was no longer as frequent as it used to be. Whenever she found herself thinking dirty thoughts, she ran to her bible and read Psalm 19 over and over again. By the time she sat for the UME for a third time in her eighteenth year, she was very well on the road to recovery. She had stopped self- servicing and had forced herself to develop a strong hatred for everything X-rated. ******** ********* ********* “Chiloooooooo!!” Mother called from her bedroom. It was a hot Thursday morning and Mother hadn’t gone to work because the school where she worked was on mid-term break. Chilo lay spread eagled in bed. Her legs were wide open and positioned in front of the standing fan by the bed side. She had taken off her underwear, and the fan was at full blast. She had read somewhere that it was very important for a woman’s nether parts to have access to fresh air at least once a day to avoid germ infestation, so she was putting the claims to the test. “Chiloooo!” Mother called again. The loud grinding of the fan’s engine made it difficult for Chilo to hear. “Ma!” she answered, but made no move to get up. “Daddy just called” Mother shouted. “Okay. What did he call about?” She asked. “He said you have been given admission.” She immediately sat up and switched off the fan. “Admission to study what??” she shouted back. Her heart had begun to hammer, even as she absently wondered why Mother hadn’t come over to the room to pass on the good news. Rather, they were conducting a shouted conversation. ‘What had they offered her this time?’ She thought cynically. Mat Weaving Technology? “Creative Arts!” Mother yelled, happily. “Creative Arts ke??” “Yes o. Finally, the Lord has done it.” Chilo was silent for what seemed like an eternity. Her mind felt strangely blank. “Are you there?” Mother inquired. Her voice was still raised. She shook herself and answered: “Yes, mummy. Thank God sha.” Chilo looked around her. Colours suddenly seemed warmer, more vibrant. She leaned over and switched the fan on. Her long hair billowed like a black cloud behind her. She leaned back on the pillow and positioned her legs again directly in the path of the rushing, cool air. While she savoured the feel of the delicious air in her nether parts, the eerie numbness that had possessed her senses since Mother had first broken the news began to break apart, bit by tiny little bit. Comprehension came, swift and sudden. Chilo hastily reached behind her, yanked the pillow from beneath her head and covered her face with it. Taking a big lungful of air, she screamed louder than she had ever screamed in her entire eighteen years on earth. . . For sooth, Part One endeth.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 10:19:32 +0000