Samuel tiptoed as he walked past his sleeping parents room to the kitchen. He opened the door slowly before flicking on the light, the fluorescent light buzzed.

The ash walls of the kitchen was flanked by a white ceiling that was browning in corners. The plates were neatly arranged in the kitchen stack. A pot was smeared with oil while a spoon dangled from the arm of the pot.

Samuel went to the pot and opened it. The aroma filled his nose and he was salivating. He quietly grabbed the spoon, opened the pot and scooped the smallest meat he could find. He shoved the meat into his mouth and covered the pot as quietly as possible. 

He went over to the kitchen sink filled with dirty plates and washed his hands as flies were teaming around the black cellophane bag that was left unwrapped beside the kitchen sink. He shook off the water and was about to head out of the kitchen when NEPA took the light. 

He struggled to see but his clumsiness sent the pot of stew spilling on the floor. He heard a yawn through the thin walls of the kitchen. Fear gripped him as struggled to lit a match and put on the candle. He could not find the candle. 

Beads of sweat flooded his eyebrows and back as he thought of a possible explanation for the occurrence. 

Samuel heard footsteps so he quickly hid behind the white refrigerator sitting atop a pair of wooden planks. He put off the match and prayed that God would save him.

A flashlight illuminated the kitchen and someone gasped. The light shone around the pot and it's spilled contents. Samuel tucked himself further into the corner between the refrigerator and dustbin. 

"Osaze? Philip? Who dey there?" An angry mother shouted at the top of her lungs, "Osaze? Samuel? Esosa? Nobody dey there? If I start now una go call me witch o. Osalobua…"

Mama Osaze wrapped the wrapper around her chest tightly as she walked out of the kitchen. 

Samuel who feared for his life waited a few more seconds before rushing out of the kitchen. Luckily, the room he shared with Philip was located at the farthest part of the spacious three bedroom apartment. 

All the children were already assembled in the parlour when Samuel joined them by taking the visitor's toilet route beside the balcony. 

"Who enter my kitchen this night?"

Osaze, who was already wide awake shook his head while Esosa fondled her wrist in the expectation of what was to come. Philip stared at Samuel who was pretending to clear his eyes of sleep. 

"For the last time, may I nor be like mad woman way na so so shout I go dey shout, who go my kitchen go throw-way my stew?"

Mama Osaze looked menacing as she demonstrated with each word she said. The fat cane in her hand looked like a knife ready to butcher. Epa sat on the chair in his white singlet and wrapper looking from one child to the other. Samuel could smell his doom.

"As una nor go talk so, Osaze, come here."

Osaze looked exasperated as he walked over to his mother whose menacing look made her appear mad. Samuel closed his eyes as the fat cane landed on Osaze's back. A sharp cry pierced the night. Samuel held back his tears, pepper from the stew still lined the walls of his mouth.

Nobody spoke and this further infuriated Mama Osaze. Another loud whip tore through Osaze's back. 

"Una know how much to buy tomatoes? Ehn? Be like una president give una money way una stack for one place way we nor know. Esosa lare."

Tears filled Esosa's eyes as she wobbled to her mother who was blinded with rage. The flogging continued.

Samuel was scared, it was his turn. He walked over to his mother whose hand seemed to be hurting already. He silently prayed that his own turn would not be too intense.

NEPA restored the power supply. Samuel's face was flowing with tears. His father took pity on him and was about to intervene when his mother noticed his mouth.

"Samuel, wetin dey your mouth so?"

Samuel instinctively touched his mouth and wiped a smear of oil he hadn't realized was on the side of his mouth. He began to wail. A slap from his father made him urinate on his pajamas. Tears gushed out of his eyes as he ran behind the brown sofa but he was no match for his mother. 

A few moments later, Samuel lay on the floor as his mother rammed her feet against his stomach and back. He felt canes whoosh down on all parts of his body. He managed to free himself from the beating and ran to the door, he opened it with the speed of light and ran outside. 

"Okay, I see wetin you dey do, no wahala. Pikin way say him mama nor go sleep, him self nor go sleep."

Samuel stood at the front of the house wailing as neighbors came out.

"My mummy won kill me oh, make una help me oh.. ehh… Chineke, Osaloboua, God!" Samuel cried dramatically.

Mama Beatrice, the nosy neighbor rushed out of her flat. She was joined by some neighbors to beg Mama Osaze to forgive Samuel. Samuel hid behind a male corper living in the compound as they begged his mother.

"He go dey thief. Nothing way I never do for that pikin. Imagine? You won make them burn you for Oba Market? You nor go embarass me."

Mama Beatrice turned to Samuel and dragged his ears, "Nor dey thief. See now, she won kill you? Instead of you to get good character like them Beatrice…"

"Ohh, so now you won dey insult my pikin, Mama Beatrice?" Mama Osaze shouted as she turned her attention to Mama Beatrice, "That your pikin way don sleep with all the male corpers way dey this compound? Wait, make I ask you, if not for the rubbish way this stupid Samuel do this night, you don hear another bad report for my gate?"

Mama Beatrice was taken aback in shock. She looked from Samuel to his mother. 

"Osalobua lahor. Wetin be this? Wetin my pikin name con dey do for that your dirty mouth?"

Samuel was surprised. The fight had turned from him and his mother to his mother and Mama Beatrice.

"You way nor get husband. Nor be Beatrice dey do ashawo work dey feed you?"

"Your husband sef nor get value, na everyday he dey go that bar go drink because of your bad character," at this point, Epa signaled Samuel inside the house and left his wife who had refused to listen outside, "Your husband nor get anything."

"Ah, see you. At least, he dey bring money for food and we fit pay rent. E nor get wetin you fit do. My own dey warm my bed…"

"Snake oh, snake oh!"

At the sound of snake, everybody started running hecter-skecter. The male corper jumped past the iron railing and his trouser tore, his balls -exposed- dangled as he ran. 

Beside the tree situated in the middle of the compound, a green snake skittered out of the compound.