Morning in Umuaka village did not begin with sunlight. It began with Oluchi’s voice.
“Grandma, emergency!”
That single scream landed on the village like thunder.
A small mud house with a leaking roof that had survived more arguments than wars. Grandma slowly blinked. She didn’t move. She didn’t panic. She simply asked very calmly, “Did your herb run away again? Or did you finally propose to your chickens?”
Oluchi burst into the room, hair slightly messy, her curly bun fighting for its life.
“Grandma, this is serious.”
Grandma sighed. “Everything you say is serious. Last week, you said a chicken had malaria.”
“It was shaking.”
“It was dancing.”
Oluchi ignored her. “I have discovered something.”
Grandma narrowed her eyes. “If it is another new medicine made from bitter leaf and emotion, I’m not interested.”
Oluchi grabbed her basket dramatically. “This time, it’s a goat with back pain.”
Grandma froze. “A goat with back pain?”
“Yes. It refused to stand properly this morning. I think it has emotional stress.”
Grandma stared at her, then slowly said, “Oluchi, even goats in this village are tired of you. Oluchi, village doctor of chaos.”
Oluchi was not like other girls in Umuaka. While others fetched water, she was interviewing ants. While others cooked, she was experimenting with leaves like a scientist who never attended school but had confidence from heaven.
She believed every problem had a herbal solution.
Headache? Leaf.
Stomach pain? Root.
Broken heart? Extra leaf.
Confused goat? Prayer and leaf combination.
She tied her curly hair into a bun that never stayed in place for more than five minutes. And she walked like someone always late for saving a life.
As Oluchi rushed out of the compound, she tripped slightly. She didn’t fall. She simply corrected the air and continued walking as if nothing had happened.
“Grandma, I will be back!”
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