TEARS OF A HELPLESS WOMAN
Episode 5
“Yes I am” he responded without hesitating.
“Yes I am looking for employment. Are you hiring? I asked patiently
“Well are you strong enough to work on a farm?” He said with a smile.
His smile could brighten many days.
“Yes I guess I can” i said.
“That’s great then, hop in” he replied.
I hesitated a little and my stomach turned.
Can I trust this man? I thought to myself.
“Are you having second thoughts?” He asked me.
“Sir what is your name?” I asked as if his name alone was enough to make me comfortable to go with him
“My name isn’t a problem but I am harmless. Very harmless” he said
“Is it your farm?” I asked.
As I asked all these questions, I was seated comfortably on my sack bag and did not care to move a muscle.
“Its not a farm actually, its a house and you could say its mine, a relative of mine is staying there” he said.
I was about to ask why on earth he thought I was looking for a job but I just ignored and stood up.
“Does that mean you will come with me?” The gentleman asked.
“Yes….. I will” I responded hesitantly.
He quickly came to lift my sack bag and I walked to the car.
“Lord I don’t know but I trust you” I muttered.
The road was so bumpy and dusty and the gentleman kept apologising each time we hit a pothole.
Finally the car stopped at a beautiful house. It wasn’t big like my uncle’s mansion but it was equally big and neatly built.
“This is where you will be working” The man said as he pulled over.
I looked at him without a word as my mind went wondering in thought.
He opened the door for me and I came out of the car.
A pregnant woman walked out of the house and she smiled.
“Is that her?” The woman asked with a lot of joy.
“Does she know me” I thought.
“Yes this is your new house help” the gentleman replied.
I was led into the beautiful house. Everything in the house looked great and you could tell everything had great sentimental value.
I quickly sat on the floor but the woman stopped me.
“Young Lady sit on the couch and tell me about yourself” the woman said.
“My name is Mwansa madam I am 21years of age..well I will be 21 in two days” I said.
“Wow that’s great.. But where do you stay?” She asked
“Well I used to stay with my aunty and uncle but they could no longer afford to take care of me so I decided to start looking for a job”. I responded.
Meanwhile the gentleman who took me there was somewhere in the house probably in their master bedroom.
” so how long ago was that? She asked me
“It’s just today mum and I thank God your husband met me and gave me a hand” I replied.
“My husband? Oh no no. He isn’t my husband. Did he not introduce himself at least?” She asked
“Oh no madam, I’m sorry I thought he is your husband” I responded.
“No not to worry dear” she said.
“Atu! Atusaye!” She called out.
“I’m coming” the gentleman replied.
“Atusaye is my youngest brother, he is the last born in my family” the woman said.
“Oh OK” I responded.
The gentleman or Atusaye like the woman called him finally came before us.
“Atusaye you couldn’t even introduce yourself, she thought you are my husband” the woman said.
Atusaye had an apple and took a big bite off it.
“Young lady my name is Atusaye and this my older sister” he said as he chewed.
“By the way I don’t introduce myself to beautiful women because I’m taken” he added.
His sister immediately burst into laughter.
“He is crazy don’t mind him, he is engaged and will be wedding soon. His fiancée will be coming for dinner tonight. Actually you came at the perfect time. Do you know how to cook?” The woman asked me.
“Yes I try mum” I responded.
“OK great then, let’s go to the kitchen” she said.
Atusaye sat and enjoyed watching TV while we started cooking.
“You can call me Mrs. Martins” she said.
“Is her husband white? It made sense because she had a fine taste of things in the house
” I thought.
“I’m not always alone I have two house helps but I need someone to work at night and I have two sisters. They are out for the weekend” she said.
I nodded my head with a slight grin to show I was listening.
She did all the cooking while I helped with chopping things up, like meet, onions, tomatoes, vegetables and some other things I did not even know existed. I also washed the dishes.
“My husband is in Scotland on a short visit. ” she added.
Now I was more positive that he is white.
” do you have siblings?” she asked me.
“No mum I’m an only child” I said.
“Oh OK.. Must be boring being an only child” she said.
“Yes.. It often is” I responded.
“We’ll discuss the terms of employment after a week meanwhile I want to see how you will do, if you impress me then I guess we’ll be together for long” she said
“OK mum” I responded calmly.
Dinner was ready and we set the table.
“My dear let’s go, I will show you your quarters” she said.
The small apartment had a nice bed a well tiled floor a nice built kitchen and my own shower and toilet.
I was so blown away. It was like a small Paradise.
“This is where you will be staying” she said.
I thanked God inside and I thanked her too.
“I won’t disappoint you mum” I said.
“My dear call me Mrs. Martins, mum sounds old” she said with a smile.
“OK Mrs. Martins” I responded.
“Take a shower and join us for dinner there’s no food here for now” she said.
I quickly showered and wore my other dress which was very old fashioned. As I sat combing my hair I heard a knock on the door. It was Mrs. Martins.
“I brought you some lotion, do you have some?” She asked.
“No I don’t… thank you”. I responded
” is that the dress you’re going to put on? She asked me.
“Yes…” I responded shyly.
“Claudine and her family can be rather impossible let me get you something different ” she said
I wondered who Claudine was but I figured it was Atusaye’s fiancée.
After a little while I heard a knock again.
“Come in please”. I said.
Atusaye quickly burged in with a big plastic bag.
” she said you can have these” he said before quickly walking out.
I offloaded the plastic on the bed and it had very good quality clothes. Clothes that I would never have imagined myself wearing.
As I excitedly searched the clothes I heard a loud bang on the door
“Don’t be long the guests will be here shortly”. Atusaye shouted .
” OK sir!” I responded.
I quickly picked a beautiful peach peplum dress. I loved my body in the dress. I never knew I could ever look that beautiful.
My natural hair was tied up in a pony and i wore pink slippers which were also in the plastic bag.
“You look very nice” Mrs. Martin’s said as I entered the house.
“Thank you” I responded shyly.
We went to sit at the dining table while we waited for the guests.
Shortly i heard the gate open as car drove in and a little while later the group of three walked in. Atusaye and Mrs. Martin’s stood up in what seemed like a sign of respect to welcome the visitors so I followed suit.
The guests sat down after exchanging greetings and we equally sat.
I was still feeling lost and wondering what God was doing. He brought me here and now I was going to be eating with total strangers.
As I studied the visitors faces I spotted a Lady who looked very familiar. The lady came with her mum and dad. My head went spinning wondering who she was when suddenly the words hit me.
“Have you lost your mind?? do you want to die!!! Why are you walking in the centre of the road and not moving when I hooted!”
The Lady i was looking at was the same lady that shouted at me on the road as I was walking from uncles house. Suddenly it hit me.. The voice of the man who I did not see.. The voice that shouted..
“Calm down!!” matched Atusayes voice exactly.
I was now wondering what was going on but clearly the lady could not recognise me.
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