14 years old and Pregnant.
Part 5
Later that evening my mother came back from wherever she came from asking of my father but I ignored and went to my father’s room he was busy with his laptop, “I would stalk him later”, I said to myself.
I went back to my room to read for my forthcoming WAEC, father wants me to take the exams since am in SS2 and I saw his point. Exam is in one week time and I have to cover up all the pass questions, my head was full but I had to read in other to my father proud.
Few hours after my revision, I heard my father’s voice talking to my mother. I went close to my door to hear what they where saying, since my room was across theirs it wasn’t heard to hear every conversation they where having.
“Baby I don’t know why you hate me so much even after we got married”, my mother said.
“Loving you back won’t change anything, the love I had for Sandra my one and only love can never be passed down to you. I can only show Lisa that love, don’t forget the reason why you are here In the first place”, my father replied, sound furious.
“What? So you still can’t forget about her? Even knowing the fact that she abandoned you and her daughter Lisa for only you to take care of the burden. I was there for you and helped you out with everything and this is how you pay me back?”, My mother shouted back.
“You even beat me with every chance you get because of Lisa”, my mother added.
“Don’t talk about Sandra like that, she was you friend too. I know something is not right for Sandra to disappear like that, Sandra and I were so inlove nothing could separate us. Yes you were taking care of Lisa from when she was a baby and up to this point, my family was helping out before you volunteer that you want to take over the responsibility since you where Sandra’s friend.
The neat thing you and your crazy sister started pressing my neck and focusing me to get married to you. Now your my wife all you ever wanted is that not enough for you?”, He said as tears rolled down his eyes.
I have never seen my father cry before, maybe he does behind close doors but this was my first time seeing him cry. I could how much pain my father was going through even with all the bright smile he gave to me, how I wish he is happy.
The only way to make him happy is to find Sandra my biological mother, I quickly arranged myself. I took the paper where I wrote down the address that was behind Sandra’s picture.
I quickly wore a short and I hoodie with a pair of sneakers, I rushed downstairs no even bothered about greeting my father.
“Taylor I need you to take me somewhere”, I said with a sad face.
“Is everything okay?”, He asked looking concerned.
“Taylor, Taylor who am I ?”, I asked.
“You are Lisa my bosses daughter”, he replied.
“Good that equally you answer to me, drive me out of here this minute”, I said as I occupied the front seat.
I knew he could sense something wasn’t right with me, he kept driving in fear with sweating dripping all over his body. I looked at him, I could hear his heart beating so fast, I quickly placed my palm on his hands.
He was stunned at first but he looked at me warmly and exhaled showing a sign of relief.
“Taylor how old are you?”, I puzzled.
“Am 32 years old, why do you ask?”, He replied.
“Am asking because I can’t stop admiring you or keep my eyes off you, but still am on a mission to find my answers I will not tell you what it is till I get to my destination, just follow the map”, I said giving him a warm smile.
“You have no idea how long I have waited for this statement you just made”, he replied with a smile.
“What?”, I asked.
“I mean I have admired you from afar, I just didn’t want to let you know how I feel, honestly you definitely look down on me “, he replied.
“Look down on you because your a driver?”, I asked.
“Yes, I mean why will a girl from a rich family love someone like me?”, Taylor said.
“You have no idea of how I feel, it doesn’t matter if your a driver or your a gate man. My feelings for you won’t change”, I assured him.
“But you have a boyfriend, I bet his from a wealthy home”, he said.
“Me? Boyfriend?”, I puzzled.
“Yes I saw him the other day at your sleepover party”, he said looking at me with stern look.
“Well if your talking about Felix then your mistaking, his my boyfriend”, I said.
“Well I didn’t think I stand then chance to be in your life”, Taylor said as he took a sharp turn and stopped at a quiet street, looking a bit deserted.
“Just that I never dated an older guy,Felix is my first boyfriend”, I said.
“Lucky Felix, well were here”, he said.
I could feel Taylors disappointment, I quickly walked down from the car. Took a look at the address on the paper and smiled knowing it was the right address, I knocked on the gate for a while and there was not response.
It was getting dark, I needed to get home on time. It was up 30 minutes I stood there knocking and knocking but no response. Taylor equally stood with me, in other to garrantee my safety, shortly an old woman opened the gate.
“Good evening ma’am”, I greeted, taking a closer look at the woman.
“Good evening”, Taylor greeted too.
“Who are you?”, She asked curiously.
“Sorry to disturb you, am here to make an enquiry about a lady named Sandra. I wanted to know if she is here or came by this way”, I said showing her the picture of Sandra. Taylor at the other hand was shocked to see Sandra’s picture in my possession.
“I don’t know her, please you must have the wrong address”, she said trying to close the gate.
I could see the fear in the old woman’s eyes and through her body language. This means she definitely knows something and was scared to talk about it, it felt like her life was at risk.
“Ma’am please I need your help, I need to find her”, I pleaded.
“I said I don’t know her, it’s a wrong address”, she said about closing the gate.
“Ma’am Sandra is my mother, and she has been hunting me in my dreams”, I said not even minding if she heard me or not, Taylor was shocked, I could see his facial expression when heard my confession. Suddenly the gate was opened, the old woman looked at me in shock.
“Come in, it’s not safe to talk about this outside”, he said, as we went into her house.
Walking into the compound was a total desterted place of it’s own. It wasn’t much just a very big compound with lots of flowers and a small apartment, it felt like a paradise of flowers but a bit soothing.
Taylor and I got into her apartment, lots of frames of her when she was young, she had just 2 kids, I admire their photo then she interrupted calm and cracking voice.
“She told me long time ago you would come searching for her but I didn’t believe until today. You really have all the features of your mother”, she said, offering Taylor and I a seat.
“But you said you didn’t know her”, Taylor said.
“Yes I did, I had to pretend. I didn’t know if Chioma put you two to this and wanted to make me go down for being nice”, she said.
“What? You know Chioma?”, Taylor asked.
“Yes, who would know a walking devil?”, She puzzled.
“Is she here?”, I asked.
“She was here some years ago”, she said.
“I thought she went missing?”, Taylor puzzled.
“Your not the first person coming here looking for her, I just wonder how you people got the address”, she said.
“Well I got it from this picture”, I turned the picture showing her the written address behind the picture.
“Now I see, that picture was taken in my garden, when she came visiting”, she said looking at the photo with a smile.
“Really?” I curiously asked.
“So where is she now? I asked, curiously waiting for a answer.
The old woman stayed quiet for a long time looking at our faces like an artist trying to paint a perfect portrait of us. She cleared her throat shortly breaking the silence.
“Your mother Sandra, sweet Sandra. She is very kind, loving and she was different from many girls have seen. Sandra use to take care of me, and other oler women like me who need medical attention. She help some children out from the streets to help them further their education. She bought this place for me, knowing I love flowers. She made sure I got plenty of them in this compound, I could help but fall inlove with her kind heart”, the woman said.
“Sandra comes from the lineage of king and queens , she is a princess. In her clan she is worshipped like a goddess, it’s like a tradition in their clan. The daughters of the king gets to be treated extra, luckily Sandra is the only daughter of the king. With all the wealthy Sandra had she choose to be humble and kind to everyone including those who do her harm”, the woman revealed.
“How Chioma came in contact with Sandra was a mystery to me”, the woman confessed.
“How do you mean?”, I asked.
“Chioma came to seek Sandra’s help hearing how she helped people in need. Chioma was a street girl who did anything to survive, Sandra took pity on her and decided to help Chioma further her education and got her a decent job. Little did Sandra know she was training a python that will eventually sallow her someday”, the woman said.
“Oh my God”, Taylor muttered.
“Chioma became obsessed with Sandra and how she lives her life, the main viper was Chioma’s sister Pere. Pere was the viper who made Chioma make a very dangerous move against Sandra. I warmed Sandra about Chioma but she didn’t listen, I sensed something bad was going to happen. Shortly after your mother Sandra got married to Mike your father, she invited Chioma who automatically became her bestie to her matrimonial home and the evil plot against sandra started”, the woman said clearing her throat for anothe bitter truth.
“Chioma became bitter towards Sandra, because Sandra had everything and was enjoying life with Mike. Sandra became so obsessed with Mike, I overheard her on phone with her sister Pere on how to eliminate Sandra and take over her position as a wife in Mike’s life. I quickly warned Sandra but Sandra trusted Chioma so much and ended up not listening to me. After your mother gave birth to you, you mother went insane. Her sanity wasn’t intact, you mother acted strange. Chioma took you in and started living with Mike, Chioma dumped Sandra her and warned me never to let her out of my sight or letting her see Mike of not she will end my life”, the woman said as tears rolled from her eyes.
“Why would she do this her friend?” Taylor asked.
“This is pure wickedness, why would she make my mother mad?”, I asked as I equally cried out, Taylor gave me his handkerchief to dry my eyes, giving me his shoulder to lean on.
“I am old, I couldn’t do everything on my own. I took Sandra to a psychiatric hospital, the more they treated her, the more she got worse. Most times Sandra will get herself and behave normal, the next minute she has gone back to Begin mad. It felt like her life will cut short if she is cured, we left her to God for healing. Chioma did something really bad to her, and we couldn’t cure her. There was a time you mother gain her sanity back and decided to go to Mike’s house to find you but Mike had gone to work, that was the last time I saw your mother sandra. I know Chioma did something bad to her, I tried looking for Sandra but Chioma sent people to kill me”, the woman said crying out loud.
“What?”, I screamed.
“This is unbelievable, how being good to someone can end you”, Taylor said with anger.
“I was lucky, where they dispose my body was close to a street that leads to one small hospital. They treated me and I got on my feet in no time, I never showed my face at Mike’s house again… I didn’t want to die for thw second time”, she said.
“Oh my God am so sorry, you went through alot for my mother’s sake”, I said robbing her hands.
“Am really for all you went through, I was so shocked when Sandra disappeared after giving birth I didn’t know the baby she give birth to was you Lisa, am so sorry you have to go through all this”, Taylor said while he hugged me tightly.
“So how do I find her? She has been hunting me in my dreams”, I cried out.
“Then She must be alive, she might be somewhere”, the woman said.
“How do i find her?”, I asked.
“You have to head down to her clan, there is place called the white peace… have heard Sandra telling me stories about it all the time and how to find it”, the woman said.
“So how do I find it”, I asked swiftly.
“She use to say a riddle before she could be able to enter, only the daughters of kings and queens are allowed to visit, since you are the complete blood a d flesh from Sandra that means you are a princess and you can equally visit “THE WHITE PEACE”. the woman said.
“Okay, so what’s the riddle?”, I asked.
“It goes like this, “You may have eyes but can not see, you have to look harder and then you will see”. That’s how Sandra use to tell me but please you have to be careful, THE WHITE PEACE is not so peaceful”, she replied.
“Thank you so much, so I didn’t catch your name”, I said.
“Your welcome, my name is mercy”, she said with a smile.
“Thank you so much Mrs mercy, this moment meant the world to me. I have to take my leave now”, I said while standing up, Taylor followed.
“Thank you so much ma’am “, Taylor said.
“And one more thing”, she muttered. We stopped to hear what she has to say.
“You can’t tell anyone we had this conversation, you can’t even tell your own father about all this, till you find your mother. Chioma is mysterious she can get rid of anyone to get what she wants”, the woman said and I nodded my head agreeing to what she adviced.
It was so late, we where already on our way home. I and Taylor where so quiet in that car, we didn’t say a word I the car. We where just trying to comprehend all the old lady told us, this is quite frustrating knowing you have been lied to all your life.
“Taylor please don’t mention this to my father or Chioma, I beg you”, I pleaded.
“Do you think am 5 years old, I won’t dare to say this to anyone”. He assured me.
“Thank you”, I said.
We arrived home, I saw my father and Chioma stand in the compound. It looks like they have been looking for me, I quickly checked my phone which was on slient. I had like 10 missed calls from my father, Taylor quickly parked the car and humord Down rushing to hug my father, then Chioma held me back and started scolding me.
“Where have you been?”, She scolded.
“How does that concern you? Get your hands off me this minute or else I will say thing you wished no one should hear”, I threatened, quickly she let go of my hands and began to look scared.
“Where have you been my angel? I was worries about you”, he asked hugging me.
“I went for a stroll, I had Taylor drive me round to clear my head. Am so sorry if I got you worried”, I said releasing myself from his embrace.
“Okay, at least try to pick your call each time I call you”, my father warned.
“I will, am sorry”, I pleaded again, he smiled at me and we went inside the house.
The anger on Chioma’s face got me happy, she gets so angry each time am close to my father. She gets really pissed knowing that I have the control button of my father but she as his wife doesn’t.
This brings me to a stop, I believe you all will be calling me names like spoilt brat, shameless child, cursed child, you will regret you action, and all that negative vibe. The truth is I know all am doing is really bad but choose to do them, this nasty habit began some years ago when my father usually travel for business trips.
Chioma will constantly maltreat me in the house, she will knock the kitchen door just to starve me. Most times she will cease my phone so I wouldn’t report her evil act to my father.
The last business trip my father embarked on that lasted for one week was the worse week of my entire life. Chioma starved me, locked me in and never let me go outside, I didn’t even attend school to tell you how bad it was. She hated me so much, I didn’t even know why she did. During those times I loved her as a daughter who loved her mother but her intentions towards me was the opposite.
I would cry myself to sleep, I became pale and looked sick. My father came back and was mad at how I looked, she started pretending to care for me and started acting as a good wife towards me but my father later found out her evil act. Since then my father refused to go on business trips just to keep close watch on me.
Yes I have bad friends who adviced me wrongly, they also knew what I was going through mostly when they came home to check up on me, Chioma would pour them water or set some men to beat them up because they wouldn’t give up on looking for me.
My father was called by the school authorities to report Chioma’s bad act, my father was ashamed. He begged their parents on behalf of chioma, but from that day my father’s attitude towards Chioma changed. He became furious towards her, he use to be good to her and give her anything she wanted but stopped after finding out what she did to me and my friends when he was away.
That didn’t end there, each time my father got designer things for me or buy me my favorite skincare products, she will snatch them from me and use them for herself or rather through them away leaving my skin to crack. My father caught her one-day when she was doing it to me and that was the first day he laid his hands on her and that became a tradition as we know it.
She always pretends each time my father is around, she love to pretend alot and my father knows. I decided to torment her by going to parties and other social activities late at night in other to get her attention and treat her like trash the way she treated me.
I went into my room to plot how I was going to get to my mother’s clan. A 14 year old girl taking a huge responsibility that some people feared to take. I quickly draftedy plan, prepared my bag, I knelt down to pray. This journey it’s not going to be easy but am sure it will be worth it finding my mother and dad will be happy to see the love of his life back.
Claire and Mitchell had dropped so many messages on Instagram and WhatsApp for me but I didn’t reply to any. They are worried about me, and I can’t bring myself in telling anything. At this I can’t trust them on this, it’s quite dangerous to.
Watch out for part 5
© Tishania Ginikachi
Lisa i love your ginger ride on