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Mother-in-Law Palava
Chapter 8 – The Necklace, The Chalk, and The Secrets
You see this house? E get why Nollywood hasn't bought the rights yet. Just when I thought things were finally quiet, the devil opened another group chat.
Three days after the infamous family meeting, the doorbell rang again. I peeked through the curtain.
Investigator Thomas.
Again.
He entered with the same energy he came with the first time—dark shades, leather file, and the air of someone who doesn't eat pepper because his job already provides enough heat.
"I'm back," he said, "because the client hasn't received her necklace. And my tech still says it's in this house."
I turned to Femi. "Wait, so Tope admitted, but the thing never surfaced?"
Tope, who had been hiding like expired yam in the back of the pantry, peeked out. "I didn't remember where I dropped it, na! That night was a blur!"
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Thirty minutes later, Investigator Thomas began sweeping the house again, this time with a small beeping device that looked like a mix between a pregnancy test and a remote control.
Beep. Beep. Beep-beep-beep—
The sound led us to Mama Dorcas' room.
Everyone paused.
The beeping grew louder near her spiritual basket—an old calabash covered with white cloth, tied with red thread, and guarded like the gates of heaven.
"Mama," I said carefully, "can we open it?"
She blinked. "You people want to die young?"
The tension in the room reached 'season finale' level.
But Femi stepped in. "Mama, abeg. Let's just check."
She sighed deeply and pulled the cloth off… and there it was:
The necklace.
Shining like it hadn't caused three weeks of war, tears, and minor hypertension.
Everyone gasped.
© 2025 TenWrites
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"Mama," Femi said slowly, "how did this necklace end up in your spiritual calabash?"
She scratched her head. "I don't know o. I just know that night I had a dream that a strange object was causing division in this house. So I prayed and prayed, and Spirit said, 'bind the source.' I saw the necklace under the shelf and took it."
I blinked. "So you... spiritually arrested the necklace."
She nodded, proud. "Yes. I've been pouring salt and drawing circles around it every night."
Aunty Sade shouted, "You're the one drawing chalk like you're auditioning for 'African Magic Rituals'?!"
Mama Dorcas looked offended. "It was for protection! The Spirit warned me. You people should thank me sef!"
Investigator Thomas coughed. "Well… mystery solved. I'll deliver the necklace back to my client."
Tope raised a hand. "Erm, can you not mention my name?"
"Too late," I muttered.
© 2025 TenWrites
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That evening, after everyone had scattered like cockroaches during NEPA reconnection, I sat with Femi on the balcony.
He was sipping zobo. I was sipping sense.
"So, to recap," I said, "the necklace belonged to Tope's side chick, who never knew it was missing. You people accused me of cheating. Mama arrested the necklace spiritually and was drawing chalk like a prophet. The investigator found it. And now peace has returned."
Femi sighed. "That's our family."
I shook my head. "You people are the reason therapists can never retire."
He smiled. "But you're still here."
I looked at him. "Only because I've secretly started writing a script. This house needs a Netflix deal."
Just then, Mama walked past muttering, "Next time I see strange jewellery, I'll burn it with holy fire."
Tope whispered, "Please don't. That necklace was 85k."
I sipped my zobo again. "This family? Na series we dey act."
To be continued…
© 2025 TenWrites
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