OH RAIN PLEASE WASH AWAY MY PAIN

Thunderclaps and furious flashing of lightning could be seen. It was 2 o clock at dawn on a Friday, a heavy downpour curtained the village of Gatoo in a dark shade of misty gray as the heavy rain drops falls ceaselessly on the many thatched roofs and the sparsly doted corrugated iron roofing sheets. All was tranquil and almost deathly silent.

It was indeed the ideal time for couples both young and old to hold each other in the warmest of embraces, as the rain falls and the sweet caress of sleep washes of them to bring them bliss as they wisper loving nothings to their spouses; in their love cuddle, as their warm bodies rubbed against each other.

It was indeed a perfect dawn for that last stretch of sleep where the young ones knowing they could just sleep curled up in the cover cloths as they don't have to wake up at dawn to go fetching water or wake up early to sweep: because the rain has taken it upon itself to do their chores on their behalf. It should have been a blissful dawn indeed for all and sundry in the village of Gatoo on this faithful day.

Alas, this was not meant to be ; atleast not on that very Friday dawn. Because of the blood cuddling screams of a young lady in the labour of child birth. As she screams, all mothers hold their children tighter and closer to themselves.

The newly wed hold each other together and the pregnant wives couldn't help but to shiver as their loving husband draw them closer to wisper consoling words to them.

This painful and anguish filled screams were coming from the middle of Gatoo village.

In the largest cluster of buildings where only the chief of the village is allowed to build his compound women were seen running up and down, whilst the men of the household sat degectedly in the main hal,l as the the head of the family keeps pouring libation and invoking the gods to temper justice with mercy.

" O gods of the land , we pleaded, we prayed and we have appeased, the ram you requested we have offered. Mother earth, *Adzinor the deity that over sees childbirth." He pours the drink on the floor as he pauses to look into the air, not minding the drenching drenching downpour in the least. " we call again for you to intervene, we promise to hold our end of the bargain. But for now intervene and show mercy". He paused and poured the liquid concoction on the floor.

"We await your merciful intervention as she gives birth peacefully" . Dumegah Kpor (Tiger) finished and goes back inside , he sat down in a broody mood not minding his drenched state. His younger brother Torgbui DATA (Lion) the father of the young girl in labour came over and patted him on the back as a form of silent encouragement that all shall end well.

Meanwhile in a courtyard a few metres away from the main hall ; a young lady was supported at the back by her mother as she half sat and half leaned on her and is been encouraged to push her unborn baby into the world. She was drenched in sweat and her face contorted in severe pain as she does her best to push the baby out. Unfortunately, after so much exertion and the long hours of labouring, not even the crown of the baby's head has shown to prove her effort of painful exersion over a period of.

Both the midwives and the other women around were perplexed and in bewilderment, even though they knew what must be causing it; the gods were angry.

The midwife said, "Nana,(Queenmother)please set the poor girl down as she is exhausted and doesn't have much strengt,come out with me. We need to go see the Elders". The weeping mother laid her exhausted daughter down as she consoled her. " rest my child for abit, we would be back, mhmm? ", her daughter lifts her head weakly and clutched her mother's hands and said "*Maame(Mum), please I don't want anything to happen to both me and my child; tell *Papa to do everything to save us ,please". She then fell back unto the mat.

Both ladies went out and gave instructions to the other waiting ladies as they gently shut the door and run towards the hall through the downpour.

As they entered the main hall, all the men sitting around jumped to their feet in anticipation of a good news. But were disappointed by the grave expression on the faces of the women who had just entered. They all sat back down dispirited.

The women half knelt as a form of respectful greeting to the chief and his elders."Torgbu(His Majesty), in all my years of being the midwife of this village, I have not once encountered this type of situation, that a mother would be in labour for seven days and when the time is right for her to push the baby out nothing happens. We must urgently do something ; if not the unspeakable might happen." The midwife told them as she stood to the side.

The elders and the chief nodded their head in agreement to what she said. They have no reason to thought her , after all throughout her illustrious career as the village midwife she has delivered thousands of babies with not a single still birth.

All parties were lost in their own thoughts. Just then the youth leader runs into the hall drenched thoroughly , bowed to the chief and elders and said," the chief priest,Hunor has given a message to be delivered to the chief and elders".