BETRAYER IN DISGUISE??
Story by Miriam Edem
Episode 3.
I got home and shakily opened the door to see my mom, but what got me more scared was my dad whose face was so fearful.
His a business man and has just returned, how did I forget he will be back today?
Just his sight made me almost urinate as our eyes met.
“Where are you coming back from? My mom thun-dered coming to me when I lost myself looking at my dad.
“Mom I was….. “At where! She shouted and my dad started to laugh.
I and my mom was confused as we looked at him wondering what’s funny,
“Let her be, she’s a grown up right? At least she managed to come home, my dad said and I g@sped.
My mom face turned red as she left me approaching him,
“What do you mean by that? What is that suppose to mean! She shouted.
“Keep your voice low woman, you can’t chain a lady indoors forever. Let her have a breathing space at least, give her a chance to experience things so she will learn without us shouting too much, my dad said and I blinked my eyes to confirm if this is real life.
“I can’t believe you’re saying this, at least can’t I know where she’s coming back from? My mom asked.
“Dear let her be, I believe we grew up a s-en-sible daughter, let’s hope so, my dad replied and my mom angrily looked at me and went in.
I was still glued to where I stood with my brother folding his hands looking at me. I know he was not satisfied with my dad interruption, but then I didn’t know whether to go in or sit, I was just blank.
My dad gently stood up and went in without saying a word leaving me with my brother whose eyes if possible would have str!pped me n-ked.
“So it has come to the stage you don’t pick calls anymore huh? Do you know how mom almost went mad worrying about you? My brother asked.
“Well maybe dad was right. I nee-d breathing space, if I’ve been going out she would have been used to this I know, I replied without thinking twice and ran for my room.
“Joan! My brother shouted following me behind but I quic-kly locked the door of my room.
I sat on my be-d breathing ha-rd scared of what I can’t explain.
The man at the p@rty kept appearing to me and I prayed he should be okay.
I couldn’t think of food knowing I drank enough jui-ce to keep me going at least, I simply sle-pt off hoping the next morning I’ll be relieved.
The next morning I got up and slowly met my mom in the kitchen and hvgged her from behind,
“Take your hands off me Joan, my mom angrily said.
“I’m sorry mom, I wanted to tell you but you had a job so I didn’t want to bother you, I calmly said.
“Really? Picking your calls too was a problem right? She asked.
‘I’m sorry, its past now but I promise it won’t happen again, I said holding her but she hissed.
“Were you with Favour? My mom asked and i heaved.
“Yes mom, I was helping her out in something, I replied and my mom li-cked herl-ips and nodded.
“I see, but what can I say? Your dad finalised it all yesterday, I hope you don’t get hurt, my mom said.
“Mom common don’t say something like that, remember you always tell me to be positive but you’re doing the opposite, I said.
“Joan, you’re a big girl now and I think I have to allow you enjoy this chance. I’m just scared okay, because I was once in this stage like you. I was stubborn also and wanted my own life, but then sometimes we just have to learn from people experiences than have it yourself. Not all experiences are good teachers, just be careful and plea-se tell me where you are from now on, my mom said and I smiled hvgging her.
“Thanks mom, and I promise you nothing will go wrong. I’ll keep up my best behavior, cross my heart, I said and she smiled.
“I trust you will, help me out with this, my mom said giving me the carrots she was chopping.
“okay, fried rice? I asked.
“Yea for weekend, I picked things from the market yesterday when I knew your dad was coming home, my mom replied.
“Awwnn so sweet, I happily said and my brother walked in.
“Good morning bro, I greeted but he ignored and took my mom phone of course to make use of her data.
“Had a problem with him? My mom asked when he left the kitchen and I nodded.
“I’ll apologize when I’m done, I replied and she shook her head…………
I settled in my room to relax after breakfast and decided to call Favour to know what happened next after I left.
She didn’t pick up after two rings and i sighed and decided to do a little laundry.
In the process she called and I picked up,
“Hey n@ûghty girl where did you keep your phone? I asked.
“Joan there is a problem, she replied and I quic-kly cleaned my soapy hands.
“What happened? I asked very serious.
“The man is dead Joan, there’s a case, she replied.
“Its a lie! What killed him? I asked.
“Food poisoning, but don’t worry it will be taken care of. The police are still investigating, she replied and I was shaking.
“Food poisoning? Will that implicate us? Will the police come after us? Oh Christ! I fearfully exclaimed pacing around.
“Just calm down okay, in fact I’ll call you back, she said and dropped the call.
My heart was beating fast, without being told that wont be an easy case and to think I’ll be involved in it got me almost running mad.
My day was automatically ruined as I was su-cking around. I didn’t find the courage to tell anyone and Favour didn’t call back either.
The next day I was still on be-d when I heard a knock on the door. Though i was awake but I didn’t bother because I knew my brother will be there watching the television.
I heard strange voices and then my parent voices.
I stood up to see who it was but surprised to see police men.
My eyes bulged out in shock as I saw them which they did also,
“Is she the one? One of the police men asked pointing at me.
“plea-se it wasn’t me, I swear I’m innocent, plea-se I didn’t poisoned him, rushed out from my mouth as I stood trembling.
“Joan what are you talking about? Who did you poison? My mom asked.
“You’re un-der arrest, one of the men said handcuffing me.
“Wait you can’t do that to my daughter, Joan say something! My dad Shouted st©pping them.
“She has nothing to say until she arrive the station, besides were you in the p@rty on Friday or not? The men asked and I nodded shedding tears.
“Did you serve in the p@rty or not? They asked again and I looked at my mom whose mouth was opened and nodded.
“Sir, you’ll meet us in the station, the men said and dragged me away…………..
BETRAYER IN DISGUISE??
Episode 4.
My parents did all they could to st©p the policemen, but all their effort was nothing as they drove me off with them.
In the car I was only crying and shivering,
“How did I involved myself in this? I kept asking myself wishing Friday never existed.
We got to the station and I saw 2 other girls that served on that evening, but Favour was not among us.
“Where’s Favour? I mean the girl you saw me with that evening? I asked one of the girls there.
“It wasn’t long they re-leased her, she was here with us all throu-gh yesterday, the girl replied.
“Yesterday? Why are you still here then? I asked.
“Just waiting to be bailed, she replied.
“Okay its only about the bailing right? For i know i didn’t do anything, I said.
“That’s left for them to decide, the girl said and stood up from where she sat when a man walked in.
I cleaned my face and bent my head still not un-derstanding what’s going on.
“Just calm down Joan, after all you’re innocent you’ll be bailed out too, I as-sured myself and a police man took me to a room.
I was questioned and threatened, and that made me more scared.
“You don’t want to say the truth right? Do You want me to destroy your face now! A man shouted and I was so confused.
“plea-se I’ve said all I know, I innocently helped my friend out that day, I didn’t do anything, I said.
“Innocently helped out huh? You sneaked in dressing as one of them to do such an important task, then you quic-kly let when your deal was done huh? A man asked.
“That’s not true, ask my friend Favour, she brou-ght me in, I replied.
“Who paid you? Another man asked keeping a stern face.
“No one, no one plea-se believe me, I replied and he smiled keeping a l@pt©p in front of me then I knew I was in de-ep $h!t.
From the video they saw me putting my index f!nger in a glas-s and I was the one who served the late Man.
“We got this from the CCTV c@m£ra but before then someone confessed she saw you putting in something in a drink, and we confirmed it with this. Are you going to say the truth now! One of the men shouted hitting the table and I instantly urinated crying ha-rd .
“plea-se plea-se I did nothing. Yes I remember putting my f!nger in the glas-s because my friend told me to have a look in the glas-s if it’s clean. I held no substance right? I asked.
“Oh you’re still asking? A man asked back.
“plea-se I’m innocent, I did nothing I beg you, I replied shivering.
“You’re not re-ady to talk huh? Looks like you don’t know what you’re into now, you won’t get away with this, take her away! A man commanded and I was dragged out.
I stayed in the cell praying all kind of prayers and wished to see my parents but I saw none.
Life was so miserable in there and a woman walked into the place.
I stood up with all hopes, thinking she is here to help me out,
“So you killed my husband? Was what I heard from her and my heart skipped and I shook my head.
“No ma, no ma plea-se I didn’t do anything. I only served ma, I replied holding the gate ti-ght and she smiled.
“You’re so young baby girl, don’t do this to yourself. Just make this easy and tell us who s£nt you to poison him, and i promise you I’ll let you go, the woman said and myl-ips were shaking.
“No one, no one ma plea-se believe me! I cried out and she stretched out her hand and held me on my shi-t.
“Your tears won’t safe you. If no one s£nt you, then you did it all alone. I’m sure you must be one of my husband jealous side chicks, is this your revenge or something! She shouted and I shook my head fearfully.
“I promise you, you will pay for this! She shouted letting me go and walked away.
I slowly squ-atted with tears streaming down my face. I didn’t know what to do and everything was becoming scary every moment that pas-ses.
I didn’t know when I sle-pt off but heard the Gate opened and I woke up.
“Get up! A man shouted and I stood up following him out, there i saw my family with a man i know as a lawyer.
Their sight broke my heart as i stood so ashamed of myself.
I’ve failed them, and seeing my mom so hurt made me more miserable.
“Sweetheart what are they doing to you? My mom asked tou-ching my face as fresh tears rushed down and she hvgged me crying profusely.
“We will get you out of here okay, my dad said tou-ching me.
“Dad I didn’t do anything I swear, I said.
“I know dear, I know my daughter, he said.
“But plea-se what happened that day? This is a very serious case and they are taking it to court. There is also a witness against you and a video where you served the man yourself, plea-se tell Me all you know so I can help you out, the lawyer said and I sniffed.
“Favour asked for my help in school that her cousin who c@m£ down from c@m£roon is attending a p@rty and she put in Favour to help serve. I accepted to help…… “Sorry, who is Favour to you? The lawyer cut in.
“My friend, we are in the same clas-s, I replied.
“Okay, go on, the lawyer said.
“When I got home I saw my mom going out for her job, so I used that as an opportunity to attend the p@rty. I arrived there and Favour took me in to where the drinks and everything were. I only served drinks, p@rticularly wine……. “What did your friend served? My mom cut in.
“Favour only handed trays to me to serve, I replied.
“You mean she was the one who pours in the wine for you? The lawyer asked.
“Yes, I replied.
“How is she then the one who poisoned him? My mom asked.
“Calm down Ma, right now there’s a video saying otherwise, the lawyer replied.
“The video only saw her putting her index f!nger not her poisoning him, my brother c@m£ in.
“And the video showed her serving him, why him and only him? The lawyer asked and they looked at me.
“Beside is that the only video they found from the CCTV? My brother asked.
“Good question, that video is so improper, I’ll ask for the full tape tomorrow, the lawyer replied and I bowed my head.
“And again i nee-d to see this your friend, the lawyer continued.
“I’ll take you to her, my brother said.
“Yes, she nee-ds to answer some questions, the lawyer said nodding and my mom t©uçhed me.
“Be strong okay, you will get throu-gh this, my mom said.
“Mom I’m scared, why me? I asked raising my head.
“I don’t know, maybe this is your own experience for you to learn, my mom replied and an officer approached us.
“Okay we have to go now. We managed to pu-ll few strings to see you, my dad said and I shook my head fearfully. I didn’t want them to go and i held my mom hand ti-ght crying,
“Mommy plea-se don’t go, I said but my dad was holding my mom as the officer dragged me away.
“I’ll come back for you, plea-se be strong! I heard my mom shouting………….
The next day I woke up feeling cold and sick. Seeing myself still in the cell made it worst, i thought it was a bad dream but it was so real.
I was suppose to go to school but here I am in de-ep $h!t.
A lot of thought c@m£ to my head. I thought about my family, school and how I’ll be declared innocent in such a serious case.
My head felt like cracking open with all of it and an officer was seen coming holding something.
He opened the gate and pushed in a plate that contained bre-ad and watery beans with sachet water and locked the gate and left.
I closed my eyes and opened to be sure if that was kept for me Joan or a homeless dog on the street – for my dog at home eats well.
I was feeling hungry alre-ady but the sight of the food made me bur-st out in tears and i stood up hitting the gate shouting.
Two officers c@m£ running to see what’s going on,
“What’s wrong with you? One asked.
“I’m hungry plea-se and my b©dy stinks, I replied and the other bur-st out laughing.
“Shebi na your papa house be this abi you see house boy here? The other asked.
“plea-se na my stomach is empty and i can’t eat this, I replied weakly leaning on the wall and I saw one of the men who questioned me yesterday approached.
“What happened? He asked the officers.
“She just started shouting o that she’s hungry when there is food inside, one replied him.
“Open the gate, the man said and they quic-kly did.
He walked in looking at me as i weakly weighed on the wall,
“Let’s make a deal, I’ll give you a good meal and change you up for a price, he said.
“What’s that plea-se? I asked.
“The truth, he replied and i nodded.
“Good girl, come with me, he said going out and i followed him behind.
I took my bath and changed up and had something better to eat. I felt alive though not happy and the man walked into the room i was,
“So are you okay now? He asked and i nodded.
“Good, so our deal. Is there anything i nee-d to know now? He asked.
“But i told you all yesterday, I didn’t poison anyb©dy and that’s the only truth i know, I replied and he angrily looked at me and stood up holding my jaws ti-ght.
“St©p trying my patience little girl, don’t let me show you the other me! he shouted.
“The case is being taken to court right? Just imagine if I’m proved innocent what will you do? I am innocent and that’s all i know! I boldly said and he quietly looked at me.
“Take her away, he said and the officers c@m£ dragging me out back to the cell…………
Tbc
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