71 The Funeral 15

Now, there was silence in the hut. They looked at each other, searching for the answer to Emma's question. After a long silence, Jeremiah dare to speak, even though he was aware that his point will not make sense.

“How can you ask suck question, my fellow elder? Does he not have children? His children should settle his bills.”

“Which children?” One elder cut in.

“Is it your children who pay your bills?”

“Jeremiah, you are a crafty person. Did you place a fine on him for not training his children?”

At this point, Jeremiah was ashamed of himself. Then, another elder spoke, “Let us not forget that for Beck's age, his funeral would attract a cow, one thousand tubers of yam, one hundred kegs of …”

“Shut up. Who would provide all those items? Does he have a male child?”

“His daughters, of course.”

“If you are his daughters, will you provide?”

The elder was dumbfounded. Then, another elder requested, “Emma, tell us, when do you intend to bury your brother? Let us settle this and get out of h