CHARLES AND HIS TWIN SISTER(2)
Chãaai. And I don’t have any other money with me. How I wish you told on time I’d have reserved some change from the market. Rachael please hold on I’m coming…. Sister Joyce consoled Rachael and went inside her house and came back with a small carton of cabin biscuits that was already half way. Joyce handed it to Rachael and told her to eat.
Joyce helped rejoice to clean her running nose with her wrapper and told Charles to join his sister to eat. Charles ate just two of the biscuits and left the remaining few for his sister. Sister Joyce later went to adjust the firewood to increase the fire, ensuring that the beans would be cooked on time. She also reassured them to be patient, as the beans would soon be ready. Meanwhile, the three of them sat on the verandah in front of her door.
Their father did not return home throughout that day. Mr. Iyke would frequently spend the night at his friend’s place without considering the well-being of the children. Throughout those three days, Joyce and Madam Rice were the ones the children had to beg for food, as they were their only hope.
Mr Iyke works at a block industry, assisting his colleagues in molding blocks. Sometimes, he also goes to construction sites to perform manual labor, commonly referred to as ‘Ogwadja’. However, on days when his bike is operational, he hustles by giving rides to passengers to earn some extra cash. He was ranting a small flat in the compound where he stays with his two children although the houses in that area were quite affordable, allowing him to easily meet up with the rent
Mr. Iyke was a man who never backed down from his words, and he detested receiving advice from others. This meant that countless times, his neighbors, including Madam Rice and Sister Joyce, attempted to offer their guidance, but their words fell on deaf ears. Instead, he warned them to stay away from his children, asserting that they had no right to tell him what to do. It had even resulted to fight several times.
Later that week on Sunday, Samuel, one of their late mother’s friends, arrived to take the children to church. However, their father angrily shouted at him, demanding that he should stay away from his children. He later left.
There was one morning that My Iyke came to the house and saw that the two children were still sleeping. He retrieved one of his thick belts, lifted their shirts, and flôgged them on their backs twice jolting them from sleep screaming and wailing on the tiles. The pain inflicted by the belts was excruciating, leaving visible marks on their bácks.
Both of you should wake up and sweep the house fast! Your mates are out there working hard to support their families, and here you are sleeping like goats! I’m talking to you people and you’re crying abi! Mr. Iyke bellowed at them, chasing them and resorting to using his belt on them until they finally fled to Sister Joyce’s room. Overwhelmed by pain and fear, they cried and pleaded for her assistance.
Daddy is bèating us!
Sister daddy is bèating us!
My back. Sister my back. It’s pàining me.
Daddy is bèating us. Sister please help us.
Oh you people don’t want to come outside!
Mr Iyke thundered waiting for them outside and hitting the door.
Seeing the children’s predicaments made sister Joyce to shed tears. She knew that if the mother of the innocent kids are alive none of the maltreatments would betide. Madam rice had already gone to her shop and the remaining three rooms, two were locked while one was opened
She opened the door, locked the keys and stepped outside observing the thick long belt he was holding. Madam rice had already left for work and few of their neighbors had went to work except for few of children that were playing outside and washing their clothes. Sister Joyce already knew that there were little hope in trying to reason with him. She approached him, her heart heavy with desperation and sympathy.
Daddy please.
Daddy abeg. Just for my sake.
Daddy abeg. Daddy in still begging you.
Please. The childrèn are too young for this please for my sake abeg.
How can they be sleeping by this time. It’s almost 8:30am. Later when they go to places and be misbehaving they’ll blame us(the parents) for failing to properly train our children..Mr Iyke lamented at Joyce.. This children will not learn… Mr Iyke exclaimed, with a tinge of frustration hitting the door for the children to come out.
Sister Joyce quickly knelt before him, embracing his legs tightly as she earnestly begged for his forgiveness on behalf of the children.
Written by 👉 Nicholas Stephen.
To be continued.
