think she is too young to open the eye between her legs? Look at yourself, it demanded forcefully, Look at yourself. She saw herself in her mind’s eye: white hair was starting to fall from her huge head in patches; bloodless veins stretched all the way to her ears and neck; her skin was unhealthily soft and peeled like overcooked yams; pelvic bones protruded from the sides of her fleshless hips; in place of buttocks, she had hollowed cavities. Two bones jutted out unnaturally from her back, making her flat breasts seem to have been turned inside out. At least, I still have all my limbs, she thought sadly. She had heard of people, who in desperation for food had become anthropophagic, eating their dead children, until they had nothing left to feed on but themselves. She picked at a scab on her ankle, tearing at it absentmindedly. The voice returned again, waxing temptatious, Listen to me, you are not that bad looking… imagine what you could look like with some more flesh on your bones, eh? You could be the envy of the village you know. With that, whatever hold the words had on her was broken, I do not care about myself! Leave me alone! I only care for them; I will not do it! She walked over to a corner of the room and waited for the children to return, her little body curled up against the cold. ~ When she awakened from her unexpected nap, she saw that the children were still not home. Where is Amnogu? I will beat Anneki for this. Haven’t I told him to make sure he brings her back before going out to play? A sound outside startled her. She jerked upright just as her little sister ran in. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw the fear in the girl’s normally playful dark brown eyes. “What is it? Talk to me now ah baaaaby; talk to me,” she drawled coaxingly. “Please now, talk to me.” The little girl of four ran wailing into her arms, looking up at her with panic-stricken eyes. Amnogu was shaking so much that she did not even notice her torn clothes. But the blood slowly dripping at the girl’s feet attracted her attention. “What happened to you Amnogu! God!! Tell me. Where is Anneki? Amnogu talk to me,” she screamed, pressing the shivering mass against her body. She slowly coaxed the story from the girl, trying to make sense of her babbles. ~ Amnogu had been walking home from the school shelter, speaking gently to her rag doll as she did. Today, the children at the camp had corn and water for lunch. As was their custom, they had sung ‘God is good, He has done me well, oh my soul rise up and praise the Lord’ in the morning. Amnogu had sung loudly; she liked that song. The teacher had smiled at her and said she was a good girl. As they sang, she had laughed and danced with the other girls. theMeadow 83
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