Monday, January 5, 2015

BRAMBLE HEADACHE- By Dandy Ahuruonye © 2000 - 2015

BRAMBLE-HEADACHE

Marita had itchy scalp which made her to go to see the hairdresser to have her hair washed. When she arrived in the salon everyone looked at her. The ladies were all looking at her hair, but the hairdresser gave her a seat and told her she will see her in a minute. She sat down and relaxed but soon noticed that everyone were still looking at her and wondered why.

"Can I help you Madam"? No Thanks, replied one of the ladies as she looked away. Soon the hairdresser asked Marita to come to the washroom so she can do her hair. "Oh my goodness, what happened to your hair"? The hairdresser asked Marita. Oh Mrs Lanson - what is wrong? "There are spikes in your hair" replied Mrs Lanson with her eyes wide open. You mean there are spikes or thorns on my hair? Asked Marita. Yes, there are so many thorns in your hair, here look, you can see my finger - it is bleeding a bit because the spike pricked me.

Marita stood up and walked to the mirror on the wall - There is nothing on my hair - I can't see a thing. When she turned she noticed that the other ladies were still looking at her. Some of them had a surprised look in their faces. One of the ladies came near to Marita and told her she might have an illness known as Bramble-Headache. What is Bramble-Headache? Oh my dear, it is an illness that turns a woman's hair into bramble bush unless she sees a doctor at once.

Madam - do you know any doctor that can help me? "Yes, my brother is an expert doctor; he will make you better if you pay him some money". Oh, thank you. Please - where does your brother live? "He lives at No. 39 Potomaka Street in Dublin. When you get there, just tell him his sister Limoryn sent you". Marita went home that evening very worried about her hair. When she got home, she realised that her friends had come to see her. When Marita's friends saw her, they were frightened because there were spikes in her hair.

Did you do that to your hair? One of them asked her? No I did not. What happened? I don't know what happened. Why is everyone talking about my hair? No one wants to know about me.
Marita told her mum she was going to see a doctor in Potomaka Street. How did you know there was a doctor on that street? Asked her mother. Well, his sister Limoryn told me last night when I met her at the hairdresser’s, she said her brother can make me better. I am going there now to see him. "Can I come with you"? Yes Mum, please come with me.

It was difficult for the Taxi to find No. 39 Potomaka Street, therefore they paid the driver and he left. Marita then asked a little boy she saw on the street for No 39. He pointed out to her a small house in the corner of the street.

Dr Fitzgibbonson was a very tall man who studied medicine in space. He used all the times when he was on Aeroplanes to study how to treat this illness. "I will make your hair get back to normal". He told Marita. You will pay me lots of money before I can touch your hair. Please doctor - how much money would you like me to pay you? Well, you must pay me five Euro in one cent coins. You mean i should find one cent coins up to five Euro? Yes, that is exactly what I mean. Please come back to me when you have this amount of money.

Marita and her Mum left the doctor and returned home. They started to collect all the one cent coins they could find. They also asked their friends to look out for the small coins until they collected a large number of coins. Her Mum began to count the coins. She collected the coins in tens, and then in hundreds, and finally she counted five hundred one cent coins. Oh well, I think we have enough money now, let us go back and see Dr Fitzgibbonson at No. 39 Potomaka Street in Dublin.

Did you bring the correct amount of coins? The doctor asked Marita and her mother. Yes sir, please count the money. He counted five hundred coins before nodding his head. Well, I guess we should go into my surgery then. He gave Marita an injection, and also put some cream on her spiky hair. He was very careful to avoid having his fingers pricked by the sharp tips of the bramble thorns.

Thank you doctor, Marita's Mum said as they left in the Taxi and returned home. The next morning when Marita woke up she went straight to the mirror to look at her hair. She was very surprised to see that all the spikes were gone and her hair was back to normal. Mummy, mummy, my hair is fine now. Her Mum rushed to the bathroom to see - Waoh! This doctor at No. 39 Potomaka Street is a very good doctor.
If you ever see anyone who has a Bramble-Headache you must take her to Dr Fitzgibbonson at No. 39 Potomaka Street in Dublin.
From that day onward, Marita and her family put all their one cent coins in a coin box – you never know – one day they might need those coins..

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