TRAPPED- Episode 7
Mama Fejiro had helped us to pack our cloths from the clothing line when it was about to rain while we were still in church. She was not at home when we got back home; she returned later in the evening.
That evening, Papa was sleeping in the bedroom while he left his phone in the sitting room. Mama went to Mama Fejiroโs apartment to collect the cloths she had helped us to remove from the line. She spent more than the expected time and I was beginning to wonder what was keeping her. She came back in after 20 minutes. She dumped the cloths on the sofa and went straight for Papaโs phone which was quite strange.
I tried to make out meaning from her facial expression as she went through Papaโs phone but I couldnโt. I had never seen Mamaโs face that way; the expression gradually turned to tears. At that point, Papa came out of the bedroom and saw Mama going through his phone. He quickly snatched the phone away from her.
โOnome have you gone mad what are you doing with my phone?โ Papa yelled
โaaaaaโฆPapa David so it is trueโฆ..youโve been sleeping around with different girlsโ Mama lamented
โWhat do you mean Onome, did you catch me with any womanโ Papa said still yelling
โLook at your phoneโฆ. there are several text message conversations between you and your mistressesโ
โWill you keep quite Onomeโฆso what is wrong with thatโฆam I not a manโฆan African for that matterโฆI can even decide to bring in two more wives if I so wishโ
โYou dare not, Papa David, is it because Iโve been keeping quiet all this while?โ
โOnome I think you are high and you seem to have forgotten that Iโm the one you are talking toโฆyou should be happy I donโt even bring them to the houseโ
โPapa David you are a wicked man, despite the fact that I have been loyal to you, you still have the mind to cheat on meโฆso this is what youโve been doing with all your late nightsโ adventuresโฆ.eeeehhhโฆ.thank God for Mama Fejiro, I would have still been in the darkโ
โOhโฆnow I see where all this is coming fromโฆyou have started listening to gossipโ
โThe gossip that has evidence on your phone and you admitted toโ
โOnome you better keep quiet or do you want me to shut it up for youโ Papa threatened
โShut it up nahโฆcome and beat me againโฆthatโs all you know how to doโฆI must report you to pastor this time aroundโ Mama cried
โReport who?โฆhave you gone mad, are you crazyโฆinfact I am going to marry another wifeโ
โNot in this house Papa Davidโ Mama wept pointing her finger at him
โDid you just point your finger at me?โ Papa asked with so much anger
Within a twinkle of an eye Papa punched Mama in the face. He pushed her on the sofa punching her ribs. Mama wailed like a wounded lion as she received each punch.
โSo you have grown wings, challenging me in my houseโฆeeeeโฆ.I will teach you a lesson you will never forget todayโ
Papa said breathing heavily still punching her.
I could not bear it again; I tried to pull Papa away from her. My younger ones joined me too. We were all crying for Mama. I bit him on his hand and pinched him all over but all our effort to rescue Mama from our monstrous father proved abortive; we could not subdue the devil that had possessed him.
He dragged Mama to the kitchen, opened the drum of water in the kitchen and pushed her head in. As Mama grasped for breath, he pushed her head in the more. Slowly I watched in horror as Mama struggled for her life. Papa dropped her at the instant he noticed she had stopped struggling. Mama lay motionless on the floor. Quickly, I ran to her side and shook her vehemently calling on to her but there was no response.
I was still trying to wake her up when I heard Papa starting his car. I rushed outside to let him know Mama wasnโt moving but it was too late. He had driven off.
I ran to Mama Fejiroโs flat to call for help. With her help and that of her husbandโs, we were able to rush Mama to the hospital. My younger ones were left in the care of Mama Fejiroโs house help.
TO BE CONTINUEDโฆ
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Written by Evelyn Ivie Ojo
