The Old Woman and the Red Hen

The Old Woman and the Red Hen

by Michaela Uwabor

Once upon a time, in the land of Okirika, there lived an old woman named Azuka. She was a great farmer who had a red hen as a pet named Kiwi.  Kiwi liked ploughing and planting of seeds. Azuka, the old woman, was the only farmer in her village, and that made her a famous farmer. The old woman had lots of cassavas, yams, fruits and vegetables and would take them to the market to sell. Azuka was the only one in the village who sells farm produce. The only issue Azuka had was that she never had any child of her own and that was why she got Kiwi, the red hen.

One day, Kiwi the red hen got missing and was nowhere to be found. Everyone in the land of Okrika searched for her pet everywhere, but they could not find her. Azuka, the old woman, lost interest in her farming because of her lost pet. People could not buy fruits and vegetables any more while some who enjoyed yam were unable to buy either. Hunger gradually set into the village, and the villagers were bothered about Azuka and her missing pet. Days passed by; Kiwi was never found.

The elders in the village had a meeting on how to get Azuka back to work and maybe make her forget about her pet. They got her many farm tools, more crops and sometimes sent some of their children to help her out, yet, Azuka never lightened up.

On Nkwo market day, Azuka sluggishly walked down the bush path, thinking and wishing she would see Kiwi.

“O Lord, please bring Kiwi back,” she prayed.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of an animal in pain and sprinted into the bush to rescue whatever it might be. It was Kiwi, her red hen. Kiwi was on the floor squeaking. It looked like she had broken her leg. Kiwi was almost dying because it had stayed in the bush for many days without food and water and a broken leg.

She grabbed her, rushed down-home and gave her some water.

Alas, Kiwi regained her strength. Azuka was very excited and glad she found her favourite pet. Everyone in the village was happy, and the old woman went back to her farming and started producing more farm produce. Kiwi and the Azuka lived happily ever after.

Michaela Uwabor is a five-year-old pupil of Lagoon Primary School. This piece is her submission for the Jordan Hill February 2020 Writing Challenge.