Nightmare in the Morning





My mama used to tell me that things could follow you, and no matter where you go, they could find you.

When I was six, my father went away with his brothers and never came back, mama said he went to pot, and I used to wonder how a grown man could fit into a cooking pot - it had to be big, I had concluded. Not until much later, did I understand that she'd meant Port Harcourt.

But Mama didn't tell me he had been mad, that that was why she had had to send him to that native doctor; to his death.

It was a generational curse for people to go mad in my family. Aunt Etinosa went mad on her wedding day, and Uncle Monday, well, there's a rumour he's still roaming the markets of Dutse.

Before my mother hung herself, she told me of a tittle-tattle going around the family.

Supposedly, there were some signs the soon-to-be-insane would see. The most significant was the having of nightmare. This nightmare, unlike usual nightmares, came in the morning, just before cockcrow.

Three days ago, I had such a nightmare. In the dream, I dug a pit with so much purpose, and as dreams go, I felt I knew this purpose. But the digging never ended and it only seemed like I was descending into a bottomless pit of my making. Then I saw the eyes at the bottom of the pits, looking at me and they felt near and their eyes were heavy with derision, coldness and death.

"It's okay, " the dibia said as he listened to me describe my dreams, "I'll help you."

I was in a shrine seeking help against my coming insanity. The shrine was a mud house, with all the decor of Nollywood shrines. It had the idols with eyes similar to my dreams and it looked sort of familiar...

................................................................

" Ewaen! " it's my mother's voice.

" Mama? "

" You were telling me about your dream, what did you say happened as you dug? "

I feel six-year-old, and I'm back in my childhood home.

" Where's Papa? "

" He's in the room."

Things could follow you.

Mama shifts in her chair, "Ewaen, tell me your dream quickly, I have to get your papa ready for his brothers, he's going to pot today."