My mom send me to go check on her friend if she’s back from her daughter’s omugwo when I was still young, forgetting that she has two big dogs and how I hate dogs and so scared of them.

I went with my younger sister. My mom always behave like a soldier and she can’t send you to say no.

While we were walking down, we were still contemplating on how we’ll get inside and we were both praying in our minds for the woman not to be around or they chain their dogs.

As devil wanted to show us he’s the king of hell, we got to the gate, the gate was open probably the husband drove out.

We peep and our eyes were running around the compound like a camera trying to capture something.

We shouted, anybody home? From the gate and the house is still like two miles or more away from the gate.

Kids sis.. big sis, are you sure this people chained their lions or we should just go and tell mom she’s back or not around.

I responded maybe they’re all in their cage.
We moved a little close and we tiptoe inside the compound.

As we move  closer to the door, we heard the bark…. Wo wo wo..
My heart skipped and my sis held my hand so tight and retrieved back. I bone as a senior sis.

Will you come here?, why afraid you’re holding me. Don’t be afraid. My mind and heart jam together jumping.

Before we could say again, hello Mama ngozi and before the woman will answer, is that Mimi from the parlour. The dogs came out through the back.

Wo wo wo.. and I did a slow motion backwards.

Slowly back to the gate, before I would respond, it’s me oo mummy said, I didn’t finish the mummy said, the dog jumped almost to where we were.

Ikpat mmi oo, mme kpa ubok abasi. Itok oo.
I fling the hand of my sister, pick a race and that day I knew that Usain bolt can’t run more than me in distress race.

I didn’t even turn back to remember my younger sis.

I was running as fast as my legs could carry at that age. I could hear my younger sister crying and screaming my name.

Sis, please wait for me they’re coming.
I didn’t turn nor waited, the dogs didn’t even jumped out of the fence.

But the fear  that griped us feels like they were running after us.
When I turned, she was coming behind, I said to her.

Don’t worry we’ll meet there, see you later and we’ll meet on the other side.

I ate all the sands, running and falling. When I got home, I took a full glass of water and was panting and breathing like a goat who just escape from the mouth of a lion.

Mum asked, where is your sister.
Me.. hmmmm I don’t know yet, I think she’s coming.

When she got home, she cried and said, so you left me to die.

I responded, do you even asked me how I got home alive?

Since that day, if mum dare said we should take a message to mama ngozi house.

Mbanu, I’ll tell her she’s not always around or I fall sick. Before she’ll say, mama ngo..

before she add the zi, I’ve already fallen sick.
I cannot die before my time.

Nobody can put me in high jump and tension.

I am Mirach Amba the best of me and the best of my kind