Here's today's excerpt. It deals with the mother during an interview:
“Did you have the
scarification marking before your marriage to Pumbaa?”
“Yes and no,”
Yemaya said. At Amara’s surprised expression, she continued, “I suppose I should
explain. I did not have a need for it until we were married. As I became a
member of the family, I became included in the Bankole curse. Therefore, we
included the marking ritual at the beginning of our wedding ceremony.”
“Wow, that must be
unique,” Amara commented with a smile.
“Unique is a good
word to describe the Bankole family. I am proud to be included among them. I
will also add that I was never forced to do this or coerced by anyone. I chose
freely. Besides, where I lived as a child, such markings are common and
considered beautiful—particularly among women.”
She lifted the
sleeve of her shirt to reveal a well-healed scar shaped like a gazelle on her
right biceps. “See? This is one I had done on my fourteenth birthday. It only
stings for a couple of days but looks pretty for the rest of your life.”
“Please forgive me
if I get too personal next. I want to ask about how you are doing. I know the
stress of your children living with others has caused you to suffer.”
“Yes, it has. That
is why I was enrolled in the hospital. The doctors there are helping me to work
through the darkness on my heart.”
Yemaya leaned
closer and whispered, “I tell you truthfully—no healer, no medication, nothing
will help me until Taiwo and Abeni are protected. She has a marking but it is
not complete.”
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