Eye Adaba
Ayo gingerly sat on the jagged rock by the stream. Wondering if this was the last time she was going to see everyone who loved her again. “Ahem”, she cleared her throat as she tried to slow down her pounding heart, beating at the pace of the locomotive that passed through Ute town yesterday. Eye Adaba, the pink bird, who had come to her in her dreams, peacefully, bathing in the stream, while gazing at Ayo with knowing eyes. The bird didn’t say a word to her, but somehow, Ayo knew that it had something to tell her. But just like how humans are notorious for dismissing mystical knowing and feelings, in an effort of self-preservation, Ayo always dismissed these dreams.
~
Not until the day Ayo was at the marketplace picking out oranges, while haggling with a watermelon seller on Bishop Aboyade close, she caught the movement of pink feathers from her peripheral… [she saw two pink feathers on top of the pile of Sherri mangoes beside the seller she was haggling with]. Ayo asked the watermelon mallam, “Oga, you see those two pink feathers wey dey on top that mango?” as casually as she could, while trying very hard not to appear like she wasn’t about to make a run for it. The mallam stopped and looked as one would react when another utters something in public that is meant to be spoken about in private, or at worst, in whispers in public. He stopped and stared at her for at least 1 minute. He looked her dead in the eyes and said “e be like say Eye Adaba dey call you”.
~
At this point, Ayo was sure that her legs were about to give in under the weight of her body. As she held onto the mallam’s trolley in an attempt to control her shaking, she whispered “Wha…What is that biko?!” The mallam made a hush sign with his fingers and gestured for her to come closer. “The pink bird, Eye Adaba, who you see in your dreams, has a message for you.” He then pointed at the pink feathers on the Sherri mangoes. “SHE only gives you that sign when she has been trying to draw your attention but your subconscious ignores her.” Then he peered closer at Ayo. “Open up your mind. Go to Ife stream today before the sun goes down and find out what is so important.”… “Do it now! Go now!”
