CHARLES AND HIS TWIN SISTER(9)
It’s it’s blood..” she said.
Blood how? You injured?
No it’s… It’s… It came from my.. My.. Rachael stuttered, crying and using both hands to cover the front of her pãnts.
Blood was already dripping down from her panties as she rushed to wake Madam up from bed. Charles remained puzzled about the situation. Annie grabbed a bucket of water and led her to the bathroom to address the issue. She assured Rachel that once she had some cash, she would buy pads for her as she was currently experiencing her monthly flow. That was how Annie often assisted her by taking her to the bathroom. Additionally, Annie brought some leaves and wood scraps from her farm, soaked them in a pot, and boiled them to giving her the water to drink every morning and evening. According to her, it was a traditional medicine she learnt from her dad. There’s one particular fruit that madam usually send Charles to pick alongside with some children on Fridays. The tree was not that far from the house.
Mr. Iyke had been searching for his children, but without success. The house had become dirty, with no one attending to the household chores. Mr. Iyke would eat and then go to work, often not returning. There were times when he wouldn’t even bathe for a whole week because the house’s pumping machine and most of its pipes were damaged. Even though everyone contributed to repair the machine, Mr. Iyke didn’t contribute a dime. Fortunately, a few tenants eventually donated to fix the machine, but Mr. Iyke still couldn’t repair his own damaged pipes that connected to his bathroom. As a result, he had to rely on fetching water from Joyce.
Sister Joyce was aware that the children must have run away, but she had no idea where they had fled to. She knew that, as young and vulnerable kids, anyone could easily brainwash them for their own selfish interest.
You see yourself. All those your children that you use to bêat where are they?…. Joyce told him one evening that Mr Iyke came to fetch water at the small tap mounted at the front of her house.
I dey try warn you but you no dey hear word. See the result.. even church sef you no dey allow them to go..
Joyce ehhn ehhn ehhn don’t start this nõnsense again. You are not the one to tell me how to train my children so just Allow me let me fetch my water and leave. Don’t make me to start doing things that I don’t want to do. Biko!…
Okay o. Mr adviser. You always claim you know everything that’s why you’re like this. Stagnant! You can pretend for yourself o. But I know that deep down you’re missing those children. Treating your own children like ãnimals. I know you have human conscience. If you like continue to do all this your mumu mumu things for my front mtcheeeeewww… Joyce stated and walked away..
Oh oh Joyce it has got to the point where you’ll yell at me, hiss and walk away baaa? Oh because I’m fetching water from you!!… Mr Iyke shouted.
And so! Is it not my water? For my own thing again. I have every right to stop you from fetching.. Are you not even ashamed of yourself? Look at the smell coming from your room. How sure am I that you’ve even bathed…. Joyce yelled at him, clapping her hands few distance away.
Mr. Iyke groaned, cleared his throat, and angrily threw away the full bucket of water he had fetched. He stormed off, carrying the empty bucket with him..
That was how Joyce and Mr. Iyke’s arguments frequently played out. Sometimes, Mr. Iyke would chase her and she would have to run for her safety, often resulting in them being separated by other tenants. The other tenants had already given them the nickname “Cat and Rat” due to their constant quarrels. However, Joyce was still using her own tactics to search for the children.
One day, Joyce went to one of the bookshops to buy a particular book before someone tapped her from behind.
You never pay me o?… The woman selling said.
I dey come abeg just give me five minutes… She assured her and followed the man that held her alongside with the book.
