Chapter Seven: Bala In Trouble (2)

The policeman who came with her was the same one who arrested Agbiara in front of their house. He suspected that the theft must have taken place when so many people were gathered near their house. He decided to go home with her to begin his investigation.

By the time Oghogho returned with the policeman, Uzondu had left home. He took their baby to Azu's wife before he left. He refused to talk about the money, telling them rudely to forget about it. Azu's wife stayed outside so she could sight Oghogho when she returned.

As Oghogho and the policeman passed by their compound, Azu's wife called to her husband inside and they went to meet Oghogho and her escort.

That morning, Azu remembered he noticed a boy coming from behind Uzondu's house. When he saw the policeman, he decided to inform him even though Uzondu had refused to listen to any talk about the money, stating that they forget the matter.

Azu hoped he would be able to get the two hundred and fifty naira he loaned to Uzondu some days ago if they recovered the stolen money. So he told the policeman about the boy he noticed. The description matched that of Chizoba, the nurse's son that just came to the village. The policemen knew almost everyone in that area. Moreover, he saw Bala, the day before, when he came to arrest Agbiara in front of Uzondu's house. So, still leaving her baby with Azu's wife, Oghogho came with the two men.

The policeman was still asking Bala questions. 'Where were you when you saw Uzondu?'

'I was on top of a tree.'

'So, what did you do afterwards?'

'He came to our house to steal the money, of course,' cut in Oghogho.

'Better be careful, this woman,' Bala's mother warned.

'Yes, he did,' Azu joined in. I saw him yesterday morning coming from the back of my neighbours' house when we were all gathered at the front of their house. That was during the time Agbiara was assaulting this one,' Azu pointed to Chidi.

'Oh!' Chidi, Ijeoma and their mother chorused in surprise.

'But that does not mean my brother is a thief,' Chidi retorted, springing to Bala's defence.

'Did you go to their backyard yesterday,' asked the police officer. Everyone became silent, their eyes focused on Bala.

Bala thought of lying. But in the few weeks since he came to live with his mother, he had come to realise that lying did not pay. His mother and church ministers always did say that truth would eventually win out.

'Yes, I went to their backyard but not to steal money. I did not steal the money.'

'But the money is missing,' said the policeman with mocked emphasis. 'And you are the only one who knew Uzondu had that much money with him.'

'Yes,' agreed Uzondu's wife. She lifted her hands as a sign of her innocence. 'It was after the money got lost that Uzondu told me he had that much with him.' She was feeling very ashamed at the stigma her husband's act would put on her.

'My son is not a thief,' Chizoba said lamely. She was deeply disturbed. Bala was living with his father's brother, Alhaji Danladi and his polygamous family in the North. When she went to bring him about six weeks ago, Alhaji Danladi and his wives had loaded her with stories of Bala's bad behaviour. They told her he was a thief, a liar and a trickster. She brought him here, determined to change all that by showering him with love and admonishing him with God's words.

To her delight, she discovered he was not doing badly as they claimed. He never stole as he always had enough to eat here and was free to ask her if he had any need unlike the deprivation he always experienced when he was with his uncle's family.

However, this issue was shaking her confidence in him. Bala's mother was jolted back to the present when the police officer said, 'Your son will have to come with us to the station.'

'Oh no!' wailed Ije. Chidi had been closer to Bala than his mother and sister. He knew with certainty that Bala was not a thief and could not have done such a thing.

Bala's mother and Chidi went with him and the three people to the police station. Ije was told to stay at home and afterwards go to church.

Baji, the dog from its position at the extreme end of the yard began to whimper. It knew there was trouble. It dabbed its eyes with its paw like the sons of men wipe tears off their faces when they are crying.

Bala was put behind the counter. Chidi remained at the front of the police station while their mother went to church.

(To be continued)