THE RAINMAKER...

The clouds gathered and across the skyline a flash of lightning

Warned everyone of an imminent downpour

I stood by my window,gazing at the sky

Only one person occupying my thoughts: Ugonnaya. 

We went to primary school together

She was plump and chubby so everyone called her 'Fatty'

I was the only person calling her 'Ugo' so we became friends

Her father was the village rainmaker

Before every event,he is approached to prevent the rains

And even if the clouds have gathered 

The event will be rain-free. 

One dry season,during break, a classmate rushed into the class

'Eze is beating up Fatty,'he told me

I ran out to the field and met Ugo with a bloody nose

I helped her up and led her into the class

We could hear Eze and the other bullies calling her 'Fatty-bom-bom' and

laughing 

Ugo became sad and immediately the atmosphere changed

A heavy wind blew and sent everyone screaming and running into their

classes

I looked intently at her face

A tear rolled down her cheek

The class became dark,there was a clap of thunder,followed by a heavy rain

Eze and the other boys ran into the class,soaked to their pants,shivering

Ugo tried to suppress a giggle. 

Another day,we went out to hunt 'ewi' or bushrat

It was mid-December and the yam harvest was being concluded

We've caught the first and were trying to smoke out the second when she

said

"Let's go. It's about to rain."

'No way,'I said.'Look the sky is still sunny' 'Is it?'she asked, walking away

I looked again. 

True,there were dark clouds gathering

I followed her,bushrat in one hand,'mbazu' in the other

'Run ahead of me,'she said

I ignored her

The rain started,I was getting soaked I ran. 

She was ahead of me,walking fast

Rain was not touching her

As I ran past her,the rain stopped beating me

If I dropped behind her,I got soaked

I ran straight to her house

As I sat, shivering by the kitchen fire 

She held me and whispered softly,'I make rain.' 

It has been fifteen years since I saw her

But we've been in touch through letters and calls

She couldn't go to the university

She now has a son,Chuchu, who she said is 'as plump as Fatty'

'When are you coming?' she asked

'Tomorrow,'I replied,'if it doesn't rain' 

I could hear the giggle in her voice.

'No rain,then,'she said

Early the next morning,I set out for my village

By midday,I was in their house

It was the rainy season, she was coming back from the farm

A small,chubby boy was with her,basket on the head

We embraced,laughed,joked for three hours 

Then the clouds began to gather

I went outside. 

Chuchu followed me

He looked up. 

I noticed he was smiling

I followed his gaze

Together we watched the gathering clouds disperse

And the sun came out.