Jane Chima

  I saw them When they came to look for children They’d turn to a man who lives next door for solutions to childbearing. My teenage eyes peeped at them killing the fowl which I later confirmed was sacrifice for children. I saw him I saw him blow white substance in the air They had a masquerade party and the clouds were forming. The clouds looked really angry So angry they didn’t seem to smell the powder one time and rain scattered the party. I saw them I saw them come collect rings and concoctions to make them rich. None of them asked why he lived in a one room Face-Me-I-Face-You, I’m sure. I saw them After church service, we’d rush home to eat and excuse them so they’d change and perform for the masquerade party. I saw them flog “reluctant givers” I saw them return to our compound and transform to humans who wear human clothing. I saw her Every morning She’d kneel at the grave by our window, speaking softly to the bones buried beneath. Sometimes he’d join her Together, they ...