WHY AND HOW I KILLED MY DAD: PART 1

The talk about my dad gifting my kindred a cow to mark his birthday came up, I wasn’t interested. Two weeks after my surgery in October 2022, I told my family I would be moving to Igboukwu to live there. They laughed it off, saying I would be the last person to stay in Igboukwu because they know I don’t go to the village.

I surprised them and moved to live in the village the upper week. While there, I didn’t like what I saw but told myself I will make the change. I returned to my family in the city and told my dad that we would celebrate him in December 2022. He said, ‘Ngwanu’ but added, how many of his kindred (Umunna) will come on that day.

I told him he will start practicing the dance steps he will dance for us on that day, and he will go to the studio and take birthday shots, he nodded without a word.

Renovation work at the family house in the village was already ongoing, I will return and he will ask to see the pictures of the work going on which I will show him. He was happy with what he saw and will say, thank you.

He will ask me about his Umunna and I will tell him, I don’t know, that I neither visit anyone nor anyone visits me. In fact, nobody knows I’m around as i always locked myself inside the compound. He frowned at such. He enquired about some individuals in his umunna from me, said it has been years he saw them. Sincerely, I don’t know those names and those people.

I usually tease him about his then forth coming birthday and how he will perform for us. He will ask, who and who will come? I will list names and noticed that he was excited he will be meeting his Umunna, grand and great grandchildren he hasn’t seen before and others he hasn’t seen for over 7 years. He asked, “Chidi o ga anatakwa? Ebuka, o ga anatakwa” which I responded in affirmation. He said, “I will be alive to see all what you are planning and meet everyone because it has been years, after which I will retire”.

I said, what you mean. He asked, have I not tried? He called out names of those healthier or stronger than him that have all died.

The idea to wear asoebi to celebrate him came up, half of my siblings objected they will not wear because of what certain persons have said. I told them, you will not celebrate him publicly now that he is alive, when he dies, you will wear asoebi, dance around, celebrate the dead and not when he is alive and needs the bonding and joy.

Four days to his birthday, he refused to eat supper but asked me about Ogbuefi Igotuk which I failed to play Ogbuehi show for him, insisting he eats. That food he didn’t eat so by 1:30am, he started manifesting and I rushed him to the hospital late that night. I hid his condition from his only brother, Msgr. and my siblings.

He was discharged from the hospital on 30th Dec. and his birthday event was the next day, 31st. Immediately he sighted me and his grand child, Chiemerie at the hospital, he screamed with joy. I told him everyone was home waiting for him.

We arrived his compound, he asked where we are? I told him to look well before he finally realized that was his compound. He said everywhere has changed, he saw the cow he will gift his Umunna, he walked round the compound to see other things and was filled with awe.

He met his relations, grandchildren and his only brother, Msgr. He was looking good and had a long chat with all of them. That night I asked him if he was ready for tomorrow, he said, of course, though in a very soft spoken way.

The morning of the 31st, his birthday, he was elated to carry his great grandchild for the first time. We started the day with the Holy Mass to celebrate him and thank God for his life. Many of his Umunna came and he surprised them with the cow and yam, fowl and drinks from his grandchildren. His kindred prayed for him and his grandchildren. Everyone ate and danced.

At night, he asked me about Ogbuefii Main Market, which I played the show for him and we were all happy.

WATCH OUT FOR THE PART II HOW I STRANGLED HIM TO DEAD AFTER HIS BIRTHDAY. 😢

Ada Africa Udegboka

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