OSUWAKE
Episode 9
I went straight to my dad and reported her to him. She had broken me.
“don’t worry! go and show your mum the result
Don’t mind her, i will talk to her” he pleaded.
I went to my big Aunty house to show my mum the result. It was the first time i had gone there since that incident which compelled me to run to my dad for help. I was very scared too.
I showed my mum the result and she was very happy; extremely happy. Her joy knew no bounds. We talked at length and she advised me to remain a good girl and avoid trouble.
I returned to business as usual from there and opened our market immediately. We were selling very close to the road. Those heavy duty trucks and tankers usually ply that road. It was a very busy road then.
That fateful day, one of the heavy duty trucks was struggling to manoeuver it’s way through and the wind had a field day too. So, the smoke excreting from the truck coupled with the flying wind combined together and fell my stew to the ground.
The stew splashed and littered all over the ground without pity. I started crying and screaming. All my customers and passer by’s came together and bought all my market without demanding for stew. They were present and looked on as the incident occured; they pitied me.
I sold everything, i only went across to the other side of the road to buy stew for some customers who pleaded with me to help them so that they can enjoy the ‘Bole'(roasted plaintain) and i obliged
My step mum came tearing down from her hide out and started singing and raining all manner of insults.
“so, this what your play has landed you into
You see what i have been telling you? Have you seen it? I will surely report it to your father!
She continued singing and praising insults on me as if she had been praying for such event to manifest so that she will utilize the opportunity.
There was a certain lady, she was my friend and close friend of my step mum; she was the one who had briefed me about my step mum and her friend(mistress to my brother-in-law; both of them deceased). They were hussling in Lagos earlier but upon loosing ground in their trade relocated to our home town and hooked up with my dad and late brother-in-law respectively.
she had asked me to say that, she was the one who threw the stew to the ground and so, when my step mum came and started creating her own scene of what had happened. I told her it was her friend who threw the stew to the ground and the aunty backed me up. She never listened to anyone but rather went straight to my dad and reported the issue.
My dad came tearing down from his comfort zone immediately and started his own version of insults and abuses towards me despite the fact that, i sold all the market. No one ever listened to me.
“where is the money”.
I handed all the money over to him and he left immediately.
As my dad left, the tension nerved down. I squared up the place and made my way home at once. As soon as i arrived home, i haven’t entered the house yet, i observed my dad from a distance with a cutlass threatening thunder and brimstorm. So, with the danger that portrayed i didn’t enter the house again, i took to my heels and found my way to an unknown destination. My dad even pursued me threatening to kill me in the process.
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I didn’t really know where to run to this time around as my big aunty house, where my mum lives wasn’t safe for me to go. I remembered one of my mum’s bossom friend and so, i went to her house to seek refuge.
the woman welcomed me with open arms after hearing my story and tales of woe.
fortunately for me, one of her sister was looking for a maid and was there present – she accepted to take me along with her to Port-harcourt where she lives.
they called my mum and informed her, the poor woman had no other option and even thanked them for rendering a helping hand. Everything was settled and i was basking in the euphoria of living outside the shores of my hometown.
travelling preparations were on top gear and all was set before one older woman came who happens to be their mother. She started shouting that i should not travel with them, she claimed i was trouble personified and that my dad has threatened to create trouble for anyone who dares harbours me in his/her house.
she was living in the same neighbourhood with my dad and overheard him fuming in anger and thundering those threats. She was scared for her daughter and she should me leave me to my woes.
That was how travelling to Port-harcourt ended for me and it was like a dream! I left there to meet my elder sister who was squattting with a male friend.
to be continued..
A life story saturated with intrigues, controversies and life struggles.
written by:©️Emeka Nwobu
stay tuned for more..
