The Rejected Stone

"Ada! Chioma! Onyinye! Chy! Ify! Where have these children gone to?” Shouted Mama Ada as she just returned from market. She has a provision shop at the main market the biggest market in their Local Government Area. 

Mama Ada is a hard working woman; she lives with her husband Obidike and daughters in Udoani village, a town in Anambra state, in the eastern part of Nigeria." 

Mama Ada whose maiden name was Ngozi Ede married at an early age of 18. Her father died when she was seven years old leaving her and her younger brother, Ikem, who was five for her poor mother to raise. 

Ngozi's mother tried as much as she could to train her and younger brother up to secondary school level. Immediately she finished writing her Senior School Certificate Examination, started working as a sales girl, the job she took in order to assist her mother in running the home. It was on her way to work day that she met Obidike. 

Her marriage with Obidike’ was filled with terrible experiences. It all started when Ngozi had her second daughter, Chioma, two years after her first daughter, Ada. Immediately she returned  from the hospital with her baby, her husband approached her without waiting for her to settle down and shouted: “woman listen, “this should be the last time you will give birth to a baby girl in this house. My home is not a convent where the inmates must be females’. 

Ngozi broke down in tears. But she later consoled herself and prayed that her next child should be a boy. 

Two years later, Ngozi became pregnant again. This she prayed day and night, begging God to let it be a baby boy. But unfortunately, the baby turned out to be another girl which she named Onyinye. This time, her husband did not wait for her to return home. When he reached the hospital, he looked at her furiously and roared. 

“Ngozi, I don't want to see you in my house with that thing you gave birth to.” He turned back and left the hospital in such a hurry that you will wonder if something was pursuing him. 

Ngozi cried bitterly and questioned God. “God what have | done to deserve this?” 

But thank God for the nurses and hospital attendants who quickly surrounded her, consoling and calming her. They told her that children are gifts from God, so she should stop questioning God rather she should be thankful to Him for giving her such beautiful and wonderful children because there are thousands of women out there begging God to give them even if it is one child the gender notwithstanding. 

Ngozi stayed one whole week in the hospital waiting for her husband to come and settle the hospital bill and take them home, but he did not show his face. 

Some people were sent to her husband to plead on her behalf and to make him understand that it was not his wife's fault that it is God that gives children. They succeeded in convincing him to pay the bill and take his wife and baby home. 

At this time, things were never the same in their house. The man so hated her and the children that one will wonder if he is really their father. Ngozi couldn't believe that this was the same Obidike that she married some years back, who promised to love her all the days of his life. 

The children started noticing their father's negative attitudes towards them. He hardly buys anything for them. In fact he hardly answers their greetings; he beat and shouted at them over any little mistake. : 

One day, Ada, the eldest daughter asked their mother: “Mummy, why is daddy always shouting and beating us, does it ‘mean that he hates us?” 

Her mother not Knowing the best way to explain what was happening to the little girl for her to really understand, simply told her: “No, my daughter, daddy does not hate any of you, daddy is facing some difficulties at his working place.” She explained. 

Whether the children understood or not, she did not know.All she knew was that she succeeded in telling them something that resembled the truth. 

Things continued moving from bad to worse, with beating and shouting in the home all the time. Obidike stopped giving Ngozi money for the house up-keep, but Ngozi being the hardworking type did not bother. She continued working to take care of her children. 

Three years later, Ngozi became pregnant again. This time she never wanted it, she wished it never happened, butail the same, she started praying that it should be a boy. She believed that was the only thing that would make her husband happy. 

Just as before, things did not turn out the way she prayed. The worst even happened, because it turned out to be TWINS!!! Allgirls. But to everybody's surprise, she did not cry, instead, she was very happy, she quickly sent for her mother to come to the hospital and help her out. 

When the husband, who has already gone to work when the labour started, was informed that his wife has delivered twin paby girls, he did not bother going to the hospital to see them, rather he headed home with alacrity and straight into his wife's room, packed all her personal belongings including her children's own, and took them all to the hospital. 

On getting there, he met his mother-in-law, Mama Ngozi, who had earlier been informed about her daughter's delivery. She had prepared hot yam pepper soup, full of dry mangala fish and chicken, and rushed to the hospital to see her daughter. 

Obidike did not even bother to greet his mother-in-law or his wife Ngozi, neither did he look at the little babies that God just gave to them. But what did he do? What he did was more than shocking! 

As soon as he entered the room where they were, luckily the three children, Ada, Chioma and Onyinye were also there, because immediately they heard the news, they all ran to the hospital to see them with their own eyes. Obidike simply dropped the bags on the floor, turned to his wife and shouted at her in a very loud and angry voice. 

“Woman, for the last time, | don't ever want to see you nor your useless girls in my house again, these are you loads.” 

He turned to his mother-in-law, “It's a good thing, you are here, please pack ‘your girls' straight to your house. | don't need them again; | am going to marry another woman who will deliver boys for me.” 

After those comments, he left the ward and banged the door after him. Ngozi burst out in a loud hearty laughter that shook her whole body. As she laughed, her mother stood up, looked round the room and said “Foolish man, you will regret all this when you come back to your Senses.” 

The children ran to their grandmother crying, she held them together and said: “My children, don't worry, stop crying, | will take you all home, | will make sure you lack nothing in my house.” She looked upward and shook her head and said in a very low tone almost to herself: “By then, it will be too late for him because I won't allow him to touch any of you.” She looked down on the children hugged them with her eyes filled with tears, then she went back to her daughter who was just sitting on the bed watching her mother and her children, and said to her. “Ngozi my daughter, don't be afraid | will take good care of you and my grand children, God will surely see us through.” “Yes mother” Ngozi said. “The doctor said that he will discharge us tomorrow so | will go and make arrangement for the bus that will take us home.” Ngozi said. 

  Chapter Two of The Rejected Stone

 Meanwhile, Ngozi's younger brother, Ikem, who had followed a man from their town to the city to learn a trade immediately after his Senior School Certificate Examination four years earlier had just been sent home by his master for no just cause. Effectively making his four years service to his master in the city a waste. He has been in the village now for almost eight months just doing one menial job or the other while waiting for God's intervention.Ikem was at home the following day after his normal day's work when a bus pulled up in front of the house’ he was surprised to see his mother sister and his little nieces com ng down from the bus. He was all the more shocked when he saw that hs mo and his sister Ngozi were carrying the two days old twins and the driver who was busy bringing down boxes and bags out of the bus. He couldn't hold himself again; he rushed them and s them one question after another without wa n t answer. First he faced his mother and asked “Mother what happened? Then tohis sister s e s any problem in your home? Then to his mother again “Mother, are the children sick or something?” He rushed back to his sister, feeling the fore head of ea h of the twins with the back of his right hand as to know if their bode were hot. Then he turned back to his sister and asked her: “Sister how is Uncle Obidke? Is he okay?” 

Then seeing that nobody was ready to give him any answer, he shouted to no one in particular, 

“Can somebody please tell me what is going on here?” 

By this time, the driver had finished bringing their luggage out of his bus and was reversing his bus to go. His mother, seeing that he was so anxious to know what happened said to him: 

“My son, (she held him on the shoulder as they walked towards the entrance of their house) calm down, | will tell you everything when we get inside.” 

Ada and her younger sisters carried their bags inside the house. The house is a modern bungalow, made up of four bedrooms, a big sitting room, and a long corridor that leads to the back yard. At the backyard is a big kitchen, a packing store, toilet and bathroom. The house is well fenced with an iron gate at the front. 

This was the house that Ngozi’s father built during hs while he was working with the Nigerian rail way station Enugu 

Once inside the house, Mama Ngozi called her two children together and said to them: 

“My children listen to me, with God all things are possible God makes a way where there seems to be no way" She paused a bit, then turned to ikem and said: 

“My son, there is no much problem,” (she covered the baby she was carrying very well, then continued) 

“As I was saying, Ikem, there is no problem, your in-law Obidike said that because your sister is bearing only female children for him, he had decided to send her and her children out of his house” 

She stopped again, looked at the baby she was carrying who was just sleeping soundly on her laps, she then looked around the room and watched Ngozi who was trying to breast feed the other twin who was awake. She then looked at the other children, Ada, Chioma, and Onyinye as they surrounded their mother, each of them trying to touch either the babies' hair, finger or leg, all talking at the same time asking their mother many questions about the babies. 

While looking at them, her face brightened a bit, she smiled and turned back to |kem and continued. 

“My dear son” she called him in a gentle voice, 

“Your sister, Ngozi, is back to her father’s house with her children and | have vowed to take good care of them as much as | can.” 

She turned round, placed her right hand on his son's shoulder and said “ikem, please, | want you to help me in taking care of these children, remember, they are your sister's children 

She kept quiet for a second, now tears have st gathering again, she wiped it away with the back of herrg th as she continued. 

“If only your father were to be alive, Obidike wouldn't hav had the guts to do this.” 

She started crying, and calling Obidike all sorts of names This brought the attention of Ngozi and the children. She quickly joined them on the long chair where they were sitting, she and ikem started consoling their mother, promising her heaven and earth re-assuring her that they will join hands together in training the children. 

With those words, they succeeded in calming her down but then, it was already getting dark, she told Ikem who was already carrying one of the twins to go to sweep and arrange the two vacant rooms, so that Ngozi and the twins will share one, while Ada and her younger ones will take the other. 

She then turned to Ngozi and said, 

“Ngoo please take care of the baby on the chair, see how the children are surrounding her, before they w eyes, let me enter the kitchen and boil water for the and to prepare dinner. 

As soon as she eft Choma the s her mother: 

“Mummy” 

She called, leaning on her body. “Are we going to grandmother?” 

“Yes Chichi” 

Her mother answered She shouted and jumped up a down in happiness and said to her mother, 

“Mummy, it is good, | love it here, | will not go back to our house again, let only daddy stay there, he will not see anybody to beat and shout at again.” 

Chioma, at the age of six looks so much like her mother, she is fat with round face, pointed nose and fair in complexion. She escaped albino by luck. She talks too much and comments on everything she sees. But then, she is a very be intelligent girl. At primary one, she could read and write and she always came out the best in her class. 

Ada, who has been quiet all this while, turned to her mother and asked: 

“Mummy, why did daddy say we should not come to his house again?” 

Her mother was shocked to hear this from her because she never believed that the children will understand what happened at the hospital. 

“Mummy” Ada continued with her question, 

“| heard daddy say at the hospital that he will marry another woman who will bear him a baby boy. is it because we are all girls, is that why he hates us so much?" 

At this point, Ngozi could not hold herself any longer she drew her closer to herself and patted her on the head and satd to her, “Ada mara mma, Ada bekee, Ada ugom”, 

She called her all these pet names to make her ha then she said to her. 

“You and your sisters are wonderful children, I thank for blessing me with beautiful and intelligent children | lo all, your grandma and Uncle tkem love you all do you understand?” 

Chioma, who didn't seem to be paying attention to thew discussion, shouted “Yes mummy!” 

Her mummy started laughing. 

Ada said, 

“I understand you mummy but, how about our school? Are we going to stop schooling or...?” 

“Adaugo, you have asked your mother so many questions, No you cannot stop going to school, tomorrow your uncle, ikem, will take you to anew school, it's just across the road.” 

Just then, their grandmother came in to announce that hot water was ready for the twins to take their bath. 

Adaugo, at age of eight took after her father in stature, she is slim taller than her mates and always inquisitive wanting to know everything. She only took her mother's fairness and gentle manner. Very intelligent and smart, she reads meaning in every statement she hears. She is not a talkative like Chioma. At her age she helps her mother in the kitchen, she could cook food like, yam, white rice, beans and coco yam. She helps in washing plates and clothes. She is expert in cleaning, arranging and keeping the house clean, the work she started doing when she was five years old. 

In fact, anytime her mother went out, she always m sure that the house was in order before she got back. This a made her mother happy. Little wonder, whenever she coming back from market, she always bought so many thn them, especially for Ada. Things like biscuit, bread, bo groundnut, you name it. This was to encourage them Though Chioma was learning fast from her but she talked and played a lot that Adaugo, not minding her, carried on with the house alone. 

“Ikem!” grandma called, “Are you not through with arranging the rooms?” 

“Mother, I am about to finish” said Ikem. 

“Then, come and take the children, change their clothes and get them ready for dinner” said grandma as she carried one of the twins and toid Ngozi to carry the other and follow her to their room. 

Onyinye, the four years old girl that was older than the twins was already fast asleep on the chair by the time Ikem came to carry them. One cannot easily say who Onyinye resembles between their parents, she is plump, not too fair like Ada and Chioma and not too dark either, she has what people call chocolate color. This made her to look even more beautiful than the others. But she sucked her left thumb, the habit she adopted from birth. She was always quiet and seldom cried because her finger was always in her mouth. Her mother had tried different methods to stop her from sucking her finger includ ng rubbing pepper there, covering the finger with plaster, stockings a bitter leaf water, still no way. So she let her be hoping that she would stop it when she grows up. 

Onyinye, who is still in the nursery cla showing signs of intelligence like her older siblings. 

When Ikem woke her up from her sle p crying, but when he told her that it was time to eat, she stopped crying because she was already very hungry and she loved eating. 

Chapter Three of the Rejected Stone 

   The next day when they woke up from sleep, Ikem prepared them for school. After breakfast of porridge yam, Ikem took them to their new school, just across the road. He registered them and made sure that they were put in their respective classes before he left for his work Before going, he told Ada to wait for their grandmother after school, as she will be coming to pick them. Later, that afternoon, when their grandma came to pick them after school, the children were so happy about their new school that they started telling her ail that happened in their respect classes. Onyinye, who was quiet all this while suddenly asked her: “Grandmother, are the two babies with mummy at home?” This automatically changed their discussion; Ada and Chioma seem to just remember that there were babies at home. Ada asked without waiting for her to answer Onyinye's question, “Are the children sleeping?” Onyinye asked again, “Grandma, are the two babies crying?” Chioma asked “Grandmother, have the children eaten or is mummy feeding them?” Grandma not knowing the one to answer continued saying “yes my dear’ to any question. They talked all the way home. immediately they entered the compound they all ran into the house looking for the twins. They found them soundly sleeping on their mummy's bed. Before long, they woke them up with their touching talking and laughing. Immediately their mother, who was in the kitchen preparing lunch heard their voices, she left everything she was doing, ran into the room where the children were busy with the twins, she embraced them all together and asked them about their first day intheirnew school. Before she could finish her question, all of them started talking at the same time, each trying to explain her own part of the story. This made their mother very happy because she never knew that the children could adapt so easily. She said to them, “Children, go to your room, change your clothes and get ready to eat”. Happily, they ran to their rooms to change. Grandma was just watching them from where she was sitting smiling. Ngozi rushed to the kitchen and dished out the jellof rice, in a big flat plate, with three spoons round it. She had prepared the food with dry fish and fresh tomatoes. The children, on seeing the food rushed it and started eating without waiting to be told; the sight of food reminded them how hungry they were when they were at school. Three months later, when the twins became a bit strong, Ngozi told her mother that she would like to start a trade now that the twins were getting older, so as to help out in the family. Her mother agreed with her, they started thinking and suggesting the business to go into. Her mother told her that she should look for Something that will not take her out of the house for so long because of the babies. After a long discussion, they came up with garri processing business. The plan was that in the morning, Ngozi would go to the market, buy bags or baskets of raw cassava tubers, she will come back, peel, grind and fry it, then it will become garri (a local staple eaten in Nigeria). She will later pour it in sacks, then carry them to the market on the market day and se to the garri buyers, collect her money and go back home. With that, she will be able to take care of the twins and the indeed the test of the family. 

Being that the plan was okay, she started it without delay. The children, anytime they came back from school, joined her in peeling the cassava. They loved it and enjoyed doing it. 

Life gradually returned to normalcy in the family. One day, grandma called Ikem and told him that she has an important thing to discuss with him. Ikem followed her to her own room. Itwas on a Sunday evening. While they were seated on the big iron bed that has been in the room for over thirty years and still strong. His mother kept quiet for some time, thinking of how to start and the best way to present what she was about to tell her son so that he will accept it without disappointing her. 

Later, she sat up on the bed, shifted closer to Ikem who has already started feeling uncomfortable, not knowing what his mother wanted to discuss with him. His mother slowly took his hand, she coughed a bit to clear her throat, and then she called his name gently and said, 

“Ikem, my son, you know you are my only son...” She stopped again, looked straight into his eyes and said 

“Am I correct?” 

Ikem, without wasting time answered her 

“Yes mother, | know | am your only son, is there any problem?” 

He was now very anxious to know what happened because he knew he had done nothing wrong. 

In the village, Ikem was one of the best boys. He was very hard working. He went to work in the morning and came back in the evening before night fall. Since he returned from the city, nobody has brought any bad report about him to his mother. Anytime he did a big work that will fetch him a big amount of money he gave the money to his mother to save for him instead of 

spending it on girls or drinking in beer parlor like most of his mates. His mother loved him so much for that. 

His mother cleared her throat again and picked up the 

courage to tell her son what has been troubling her heart. So she continued: 

“You are now a mature man, being an only son, | will like you to start making your own family.” 

She stopped, waiting to hear what he would say, but he remained silent, so she continued; now going straight to the point. 

“l want you to get married and start having your own children.” She paused a bit, and then continued. 

“In case you don't have anybody in mind | know many girls in this village who come from responsible homes, they are well brought up, very respectful, beautiful, hardworking...” 

“It's okay mama’, |kem interrupted. 

“You talk as if you've lived with these girls or have you been monitoring their movement?” 

His mother laughed, still praying that her son will cooperate because she has never seen him with any girl in the 

name of relationship neither has he discussed any girl with her. So |kem surprised her by saying: 

“Mother, | have this in mind but | was thinking that it's too early since none of my mates in this village have gotten married.” 

His mother heaved a sigh of relief, she crossed her hand on his shoulder moved closer to him and said: 

“Ikem my beloved son, | know that you are still young for marriage, but remember, | told you that, as the only son, you have to be ahead of your mates in most things.” 

She waited for him again to say something, but he kept quiet, then she continued happily. 

“In case it's money problem, remember that you have given me some money to save for you, | can still support you financially if the need be” she said finally”. 

Ikem now took her hand and squeezed it a bit with both of his hands and said: 

“Mother, | heard all you said, money is not the problem, just as | told you, | have it in mind, but waiting for the right time, but since you said.| can go ahead and marry without waiting for my age mates, ok, | agree.” 

He faced his mother and said: “Mother, you have to choose the girl you believe is good for me, anybody you choose, | will marry.” 

On hearing this, his mother smiled, adjusted herself very well on the bed where they were sitting, this was the opportunity she has been waiting for. 

“There is this girl in the village; she is not only beautiful, but also good mannered, respectful and hard working. She is always seen going to the farm with her parents or going to the market with some farm produce on her head to help her parents sell. She is admired and praised by all the mothers, all wishing she could become their daughter-in-law.” Mama narrated. 

So now that her son asked her to choose for him, she did not waste time in introducing her to him. Her name is Amaka. He readily agreed because he also knew the girl, he loved her secretly but did not have the courage to approach her. 

Later in the night, when Ngozi who went out with the children to visit her friend came back, her mother told her all she discussed with Ikem. Ngozi was very happy to hear that. Already, she has asked her brother many times to introduce his girlfriend to her, but |kem's answer was always 

“I don't have any girlfriend.” 

So on hearing this news, she was filled with happiness and more so because it was Amaka the village beauty. So ecstatic as she was she took over the marriage plan from them. 

Two weeks later, the introduction was done and the bride price paid. The following week the traditional marriage was performed; this effectively made Amaka a full member of the family. Mama was so happy. Amaka immediately joined the family business of garri making. The business was moving well, and because of the extra hand, they were now producing more garri than before. Soon, they started taking the garri to their neighboring villages and towns to sell in their local markets. Ina short while, they became well known for that business because their garri was not only good, but also neat. 

Four years later, Ada at the age of twelve, took her Common Entrance Examination. After the exam, one of the richest men in the village, Chief Okoye told their head master that he was awarding, scholarship to the best two pupils that took the Common Entrance Examination, and the scholarship will last throughout the children's secondary school period. On hearing this, Mama and her children started praying for Ada to succeed. Luckily for them, when the Entrance Examination result came out, Ada emerged the best. Her result was excellent followed by one other boy in their class. 

There was so much happiness in the house. That was how Ada entered and completed her secondary school education without her family spending anything on her. 

Her good luck followed her up to her senior school level that after her Senior School Certificate Examination, another wealthy man from their village told their school principal that any student from their school with the best Senior School Certificate result will be sent to the United States to study medicine on his account. This time, all the teachers, even her fellow students already knew it was going to be Ada because throughout her junior and senior school exams, she was always taking the first position. 

Finally, when the WAEC result was released, Ada's was the best. In fact, Ada became the talk of the town. This earned her another scholarship throughout her university. This time, in the United States: In fact, God was really working. Mama and her children were so happy that they didn't know how best to start thanking God for his great help and faithfulness to them. 

  Chapter Four of The Rejected Stone

 The day that Ada was to leave for America was a special ay not only for Mama Ngozi's household but also for all ther friends and well wishers. The night to her departure, Mama called everybody together for prayers. After praying, she gave Ada a lot of words of encouragement and advice. Her mother Ngozi and her uncle Ikem also advised her on how to behave when she gets there. Ada promised them all that she would be a good girl and that she would never disappoint them. 

In the morning, when the driver that will take her to Lagos where she will meet the man that will take her to America came, their compound was filled with friends and well wishers who came to wish her safe journey. Ngozi her mother, Mama and her younger sisters were crying because they will miss her for good five years as they were told. Ada struggled to hold up tears. She embraced her sisters and held them together and they cried to their satisfaction before Mama disengaged them and told them that Ada was not going away forever. 

“She will come back after her studies” 

She said to all of them. Ikem's wife, Amaka who loved Ada like her own sister was standing near the car that came to pick Ada, carrying her seven months old baby, her second son. She was crying uncontrollably. If asked to speak her mind, she would say Ada should not travel, instead, let Chioma travel. Since she entered the family, she found the girl to be very sensible and obedient, always helping her in doing the house chores without waiting to be told. Cooking, fetching water and fire wood with her, till Ada finished her secondary school. Up till this moment that she is about to travel, they were always found in the company of each other. So this travel is just like a part of her is travelling. 

    Immediately she left her sisters, Ada went to her and embraced her together with her baby, they both cred on each other's shoulders. Her mother Ngozi whose tears of joy have been running freely down her cheeks joined them. After some minutes, Mama joined them and told them in a mild tone that the driver was still waiting and that they have a very long journey to make. Finally Ada entered the car beside the driver and promised to write to them once she arrive her destination in the US. Everybody that gathered there waved them good bye as the car drove out of the compound. They continued waving until the car was out of sight, before they dispersed to their respective homes. 

The absence of Ada was strongly felt in the whole house. The twins missed her more than anybody else. They kept on asking Chioma and Onyinye when Ada will come back. After two weeks, life returned normal again in the family, especially when they finished reading the letter that Ada sent to them from America, telling them about her journey and her first day in the university. Chioma, who was the one that read the letter, took her time to explain in detail everything that Ada wrote in the letter. They all burst into laughter when Chioma read to them the part that said: 

“The harmattan cold in the village is a child's play and is in no way to be compared with the winter cold over here”. 

With the address in the letter, they started exchanging letters. Chioma now in her tenth grade continued to come first in every term's exam while Onyinye in her seventh grade was always taking second or third position. There was this very intelligent boy in her class who refused to give them a chance in the first position, so she struggled with another boy in the second position. 

Ify and Chy, the twins in their primary one are doing fine too. They do not look alike at all. Ify is fair and look more like thew mother while Chy is dark and look more like their father. Their only resemblance is their stature; they are both slim and beautiful are of the same height.

Throughout her stay In her father’s house with her children Ngozi did not for once set her foot in her husband's house neither did her husband ask of her and their children's welfare. 

Three months after they left the house, Obidike called his kinsmen to accompany him to their neighboring village that he wanted to re

marry. His uncle's response to him was: “You are on your own, count me out.” 

All their kinsmen refused to go with him. Some telling him “shame on you,” 

Some told him simply to go and bring back his family. At last, he gathered his friends and set out with his plan. He came back with an elderly woman who looked older than him. It was later heard that she already had two sons in her father's house, both from different men. 

One year after their marriage, she gave birth to a male child. Obidike was so happy. Two years later, she had another baby boy. This time Obidike's happiness obviously was without bound. He started boasting all over the village, telling everybody that cared to listen to him how wonderful, brave and strong he was. He said he could have as many as ten male children in five years if he so wished. That it was his first wife, Ngozi who has been the source of his bad luck all those years. 

Five years into their marriage, trouble started. Obidike's hew wife brought out her true character. She talked back at Obidike with harsh voice, using strong and abusive words on him each time they had little misunderstanding. Obidike patiently endured all the insults because of the two sons she has for him. He was afraid of losing her and her two sons if he ever beat or shouted at her.