Like the proverb goes, 'a child that is sent by his father uses his foot to kick the door open'. It was with that same authority and audacity that Caro marched into the general kitchen to the shock and annoyance of Wife three. But before the woman could open her mouth to say anything, Caro delivered her shot. 

"Chief wants his food. He said I should bring it now." 

Though she was not literate, Wife three got the message loud and clear. Abandoning her earlier intention to attack the new wife, she immediately intensified efforts to get the food ready, grumbling inaudibly all the while. Night had fallen and Chief was not one to be patient concerning food or sex. If he had sent a messenger, then trouble was not very far away. As she hurried to serve up the food, she cursed and kicked at the children assisting her since she was unable to direct her annoyance at who it was really meant for: the new wife. 

It was with a severe frown that Wife Three handed Caro the tray containing the food meant for Chief. Caro snatched it out of her hands and hurried away, followed closely by loads of curses from the older woman. That was the most she could do: curse at her back. It would be both physical and marital suicide if she were to do it to her face because Caro, who was Wife Six, might just report her to Chief (which, by the way, was not a formal title but a self-given one). But it wouldn't take long, just a few years and she would have her revenge, when the girl would come to join the ranks of worn-out wives. 

Treading lightly on tiptoes, Caro hurried down the passageway, careful not to attract undue attention to her presence. After checking the length and breadth of the passageway to see that she was alone, she lowered the food tray to the ground and reached for her frock pocket. This was the moment she had been planning for! Now it was here and her heart was pounding heavily. 

She searched around in her frock pocket for the little nylon, but she could not find it. She was now beginning to have a sinking feeling in the left part of her chest. The miserable future awaiting her as a result of failure flashed before her eyes as she intensified her search for... oh there it was! It had been hiding in the far corner of her pocket. With trembling hands, she untied it and sprinkled a more than necessary quantity on the food. She was all for getting the maximum result. By the way, if Tina's lanky father required very little, then her bulky, muscular and pot-bellied husband would require much more. It was dark so there was no need for careful mixing to hide the alien particles and by the way, she would be there to distract him. 

"Caro, Caro," he praised as she set the tray down before him. "Come and sit down with me let us eat together." 

She obeyed and sat down beside him, dutifully caressing his arms and back as he opened the plates to see the mountainous food that had been made for him. 

"Ogbolor, my favourite soup," he said, smiling toothily at her, and she responded in kind. 

Without praying and barely washing his hands, to the infinite disgust of Caro, he took a large lump of eba, dabbled it in the soup, attached a piece of meat to it and sent it into his mouth. 

"Hmmm," he murmured as he chewed. "Who cook this food?", he asked with his mouth full. 

"Wife th... errr... that tall black emm... woman," Caro stuttered. 

"The one with big head and wide nose?", he asked as he prepared the next lump for dabbling. 

"No. This one is very black, with small nose and big ears a..." 

"That one is Mama Michael... or is it she that born Aaron? Anyway, forget that expired cargo. Aaah, open your mouth." 

Having no choice, Caro opened her mouth as wide as possible and he deposited a small lump which he had properly dabbled in the soup. 

"Hmmmm," he eyed her with a smile which she quickly returned as they... he reveled in the love play. 

But little did he know that when he wasn't looking, the lump of eba in her mouth was spat into a ready cloth contrived for that purpose. 

As he hauled lump after lump into his own mouth, she watched him with hate-filled eyes. So, such an ugly, crude beast was the kind of man that her father wanted her to spend her life with? And her mother, knowing this, could not for once, since she had known her, raise an objection to her father's decision. Well, they would all see. 

"Hmm... this... food... gr... grooo..." Chief was falling into a trance-like state. Yes, the substance Caro had added to his food was beginning take effect. His eyes were half closed, his hands hanging limp by his sides, his mouth slightly open and his body rocking slowly back and forth like a reed. In fact, he was gradually but surely falling into a deep sleep. 

Holding him by the shoulders, she gently lowered him to the bed and then gave him a sound slap as a parting gift. He moaned, but did not stir. His eyes were fully closed and he was beginning to snore. He would wake up the next day, perhaps late in the afternoon, if those who were after his property did not take him for dead and bury him as quickly as possible. 

Mission Completed! Caro sighed in relief. Now, there would be no one to stop her or come after her. Opening the large window in his room, she climbed up onto the ledge with little difficulty and jumped out of the building. Gathering the hem of her frock at her knees, she fled into the dark night.