CRY FOR ME: Part 11 – The End
Part 13
Franca Uwuigiaren
I was excited when Dad told me he had gotten a job for me. I was to work as a maid in sister Nneka’s house.
She attends the same church with us. Though I have never met her husband but I know she has three children – two boys and a girl.
The day I resumed work, dad took me there. Madam Nneka told us she works with a company owned by a white man. She holds an important position in the company but most times she returns home late. She said her husband though travelled will be returning the day I resumed.
She wants me to live with her Monday to Friday, then go home Saturday morning and return Sunday evening. We agreed with the arrangement.
My job was to prepare the kids for school, pick them up after school, see to their assignments, cook wash and do other domestic chores. She asked me if I can do the job.
“I can ma.” I replied.
“You will show my kids love”
“I trust my daughter for that” dad told her. “With time you will see I trained her well.”
Madam Nneka smiled.
“Don’t worry Susan. I know these responsibilities are not easy but try your best. The house must always be neat and smell nice. I will start with twenty five thousand naira and will do better when you impress me.”
I was impressed. My first salary #25? I looked at dad and he winked at me smiling. I know the money will go a long way.
Madam showed me my room and other things I needed to know. I was excited. The room reminded me of my former room I shared with my sisters. That was when Daddy was still doing well.
When Dad was leaving, she gave him lots of tin milk and a big loaf of bread and still counted six thousand in his hand. He prayed for her. I escorted my dad to the gate .
“I will see you on Saturday.” I told him.
“I know! The house will be empty without you.”
I hugged him tightly.
“I want you to always stay connected to God Susan. If you’re not connected to your source, you will die gradually. I taught you to pray and you must pray and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.”
“I will”
“May God be with you and may he watch over you”
“Amen.
I locked the gate and returned to the house. We later drove to pick her kids from school. She introduced me to the Head Teacher as her younger sister.
She told them henceforth, I will be the one bringing the kids to school and also picking them. If there’s anything, the school can let me know or call her through phone.
CRY FOR ME: Part 11 – The End
We returned home, her husband Chikamso had returned from travel. She introduced me to him. He looked at me from head to toe and smiled.
“Turn let me see you properly” he said. ” Slowly!
I did and he smiled, nodding his head approvingly.
“You’re a real beauty” he said
He hugged his wife in my presence and told her how much he missed her smile and the kids. He gave the kids what he bought for them and they were very happy.
Oga Chikamso kept licking his lips with his tongue and smiling unnecessarily at me. Oga is very handsome but far younger than madam.
What happened? I began to question myself. Why will a woman marry a man younger than her? I thought this happens only in home video until I witnessed it myself. Well if they love themselves who am I to question them.
I saw as oga pressed Madam’s buttocks when she was about entering the house. I quickly removed my eyes ooo.
It didn’t take me time to observe everything going on in the house. I saw there was no flicker of light in the house because madam and her family never pray.
No Christian music was allowed in the house. I have never seen even Bible in Madam’s room. I began to feel uncomfortable.
Madam usually returns late and oga was always home hours before she returns. I began to also feel uncomfortable when oga started entering my room without knocking. He will stand on the entrance of the room wearing only knicker without any shirt or singlet, smiling and asking if I slept well. I have told Dad. It’s not what I can hide from him.
“If he tries rubbish, I will deal with him. Maybe I should talk to sis Nneka” he said.
“No dad. Please!” I pleaded.
“Alright but you need to be careful. Always lock your door before you sleep.”
“Oga and madam told me my door must not be locked.”
“Hmmm!”
“Okay but when they have all gone to bed. Lock the door”
“Alright sir.”
The day I collected my first salary, I was elated. Madam paid me #27k instead of the original #25k. I hugged her and she laughed hilariously.
“27k is small money Susan. I know you are trying your best. Don’t fail me.”
“I won’t ma.”
I got home that Saturday and cooked vegetable soup and the balance I gave to him when he returned from his hustling.
“Why are you giving me your salary? You worked for it angel. Keep it.”
“I don’t know how to hold big money like this.”
He laughed. I splitted the money and gave him 10k to buy clothes for himself. I can’t remember the day dad wore good clothes. I just needed him to get something for himself. He counted 5k out of the 10k and returned to me.
“#5k is enough to buy clothes. I will get cheap ones that will last for sometime. Use the other #5k to buy garri and beans at home.”
“Ok sir!”
The other money I gave to him to hold for me.
CRY FOR ME: Part 11 – The End
Whenever I am home, I have peace. My dad will teach me God’s word and we would pray.
The day I was to return to my place of work, I caught dad looking at the picture we snapped at the eatery years ago.
“I have caught you.” I told him.
“I Know” he said smiling. “I missed them. My heart beat fast whenever I think of them.”
“Me too. I always dream of my sisters. They always ask me to save them.”
“We must always remember to pray for their well being” he said.
“Alright dad.”
CRY FOR ME: Part 11 – The End
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I heard madam crying in her room and I was confused. Was I supposed to go to her or pretend as if I didn’t hear, I asked myself.
“You’re very wicked Chikamso. What have I not done for you? I opened business for you and bought you cars over the years. I take care of all your needs.”
“And am I not still in this marriage. You promised me all the things you mentioned when you wanted me to marry you. Did I disappoint you? Nooo! I have fathered three healthy children for you.”
“Are they not your kids too? You have never paid their school fees. I own this house and I try to meet the needs of everyone.” She said crying.
“What do I get in return? You keep selling my properties. I worked so hard to get every property I showed you. ”
“Thank you” he said.
“You have no right to sell my property without my knowledge. You didn’t even give me a dime” she told him crying hysterically. It’s my sweat Chikamso”
Oga beat Madam in that room. I heard things breaking. Madam was screaming while oga was hitting and swearing.
“Infact, this marriage is over. You’re too old for me anyway and my family are again this marriage in the first place. There are women dying to have me and for you you’re ugly and old. I can’t manage you any longer. You’re controlling my life”
He stormed out of Madam’s room without noticing me. I ran into the children’s room to catch my breath.
Oga didn’t leave as he threatened because madam, even though she was injured and in a bad shape, rushed to his room. I heard her crying and begging oga to forgive her for her outburst.
“People will laugh at me when you leave. I don’t want my kids to be without their father. I love you Chikamso. Please don’t leave me. I promise to change your car December,” she told him.
I was very annoyed. Why will madam be begging him like this. Come to think of it, my madam is a beautiful woman. Not as old as oga make her to believe. With three children, she still looks pretty. Why beg him when he doesn’t support the family. Anyway, they settled and I disliked oga. I did everything to avoid him.
CRY FOR ME: Part 11 – The End
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There was a heavy knock on the gate and I was afraid. I looked at the wall clock on the wall and the time was 3:20am.
I rushed to wake madam. We thought someone was trying to break into the house. The heavy hitting on the gate persistent. Madam rushed to oga’s room to discover he wasn’t home.
“We all left to our rooms last night to sleep” madam said with puzzled expression on her face. She picked her phone and dialled his line.
“Open the gate you fool” I heard him say
“Use the key with you. Ain’t you the one that locked the gate when you left?”
“I misplaced my key idiot”
Madam looked at me and I rushed to open the gate. He didn’t use his car. He smelled of alcohol. He passed me with speed. I locked the gate and rushed inside to discover he was beating Madam.
Madam refused to cry out . He hit her and she fell. I tried to drag him from her but he pushed me and I fell. He removed his belt and started flogging her but she didn’t cry out. I stood helpless.
Who was I to call? He tore Madam’s clothes and raped her before my very eyes. He stood up with a smirk on his face and went to his room. I tried to raise madam up but she pushed me.
“You didn’t have to see this.” She said sobbing. “This is what I go through.”
“You will have to see the doctor as Soon as it’s morning. You’re bleeding from the nose.”
“No need! I will take care of myself.”
I helped her rise and she didn’t push me away this time. I boiled water for her to bath.
“You can’t go to work like this ma.”
“I can’t stay in the house either. I will manage. I will be fine Susan.” I left her and went to my room.
When it was morning, she went to work but returned earlier than her usual time. Without eating the food I dished for her, she went to her room. I was worried so I went to check on her. She was already lying on the bed. I sat beside her.
” I don’t want you to worry about me Susan.”
“I am worried already. I feel bad.”
“You don’t need to help me carry this cross” she said crying. I have been carrying it for eight years. Please Susan, whatever you see and here in this house, keep it to yourself. Promise me.”
How can she love this chain around her? Is she not a Christian? Maybe she’s a Christian who love her chain or cage.
“I promise ma.”
“Alright check on the kids and go to bed early.”
“Alright ma.”
As I entered the sitting room, oga called me to dish his food. I did and quickly left to my room……
CRY FOR ME: Part 11 – The End
Written by Franca Uwuigiaren
Inspired by the Holy Spirit
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