The crow of the rooster came from different directions in the compound. One starting as the other was ending. Uzo was just getting up from his raffia mat on which he laid. He twisted his head which made sounds like the breaking of a pumpkin fruit. He searched for his chewing stick and when he found it cleaned it with his palm and continued chewing what was left if the white stem.
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Eke was already approaching the compound when Uzo came out of his small house swinging back a loosed wrapper on his shoulders. Eke didn't seem to increase in stature as he approached. He watched as Eke's footsteps showed how cock of the roost he was.
"Good morning Mazi Uzo" Eke said, his chewing stick still in his mouth preventing the full sounds from coming out.
"Good morning Mazi Eke" Uzo replied as he shifted a wooden stool for him to sit on. Eke only stared at the stool and continued.
"Mazi Uzo, you know very well that I have been appointed the new community representative for our village" Eke said then removed the chewing and spat what seemed to resemble a white mucor from his mouth to Uzo's disgust.
"Mazi Eke go ahead I am listening to you" Uzo said trying to hasten the conversation as he couldn't stand seeing some trails of saliva still hung on Eke's beards.
"Ok, so I have discussed with the chief and he has agreed that I collect some money from each compound in other to build a borehole water supply for our village." Eke said as he adjusted his wrapper.
" But we already have a borehole in my compound. " Uzo said looking intently at Eke.
"Since when do we need two boreholes in this small village, where will the next..." he said and paused as Eke had already started talking.
"Mazi Uzo your house is too far" Eke said, cutting him short.
"I've decided to build one at my house so people can easily come and fetch there."
He said and paused as Uzo was now staring at him. He observed the full eyebrows of Uzo which was now dented with spikes of silver due to his age.
"Mazi Eke I will not argue with you" Uzo said, his voice low and deep.
" But I don't have any money to give you" he added, as he fended off a fly that rested on his hairy legs.
Eke didn't say anything, he just mumbled something to himself as he turned around and left. He footsteps now a bit swift as he had been standing for long. Uzo watched him disappear into the tiny village path before he called his daughter Adaeze to bring him something to eat. The conversation had lasted for awhile and he was already hungry.
The town hall was filled the next morning as a meeting had been called by the chief following the complaints of some elders in the village.
"Who does he think he is" Nnuka spoke in a low voice to Ugonna who was now distracted, as he watched Uzo shaking hands with some men in the large town hall. His head shorn and oval, with sharp chins like an the head of an arrow. He bent occasionally to meet their hands and they rubbed it over their chests claiming some of the wealth bestowed on Uzo. Uzo was one of the richest man in the village.
Uzo stood next to Nnuka after bending to shake his hands. Nnuka kept looking up at him while they spoke, like a child awaiting a lump of meat from his mother's plate.
"I think Mazi Eke has taken his position too far" Nnuka said,
"Do you know he even collected money from widows?" He added, as Uzo shaked his head.
"He came to my house yesterday and refused to sit. He didn't even take Kola nut" Uzo said,
"Not that I offered him any, because of how he strode into my compounds like he owns it" he added and paused as every other person who was talking did.
The chief entered and after receiving the chorus greeting from everyone cleared his throat.
"I called you all here to announce that Mazi Eke will no longer be representing us in the city. " He said and waited a little as though he was enjoying the breeze from the huge hand fan from his servants moving up and down beside him.
"He not only let his pride get the best of him , he also put our widows into a second round of tears" he added.
"And so I have decided that Mazi Uzo would replace him" he said as he beckoned on Uzo, who walked forward to the chief, the men patting his back as he passed through.
Soon after, Uzo greeted everyone again.
"You all know me very well, I don't mix words. The first thing we shall do is to send our children to the university in the city."
Uzo said in his usual deep voice as cheers accompanied by nodding of heads filled the hall.