JESSICA??
(My story of faith and pain)
Episode 1.
©Miriam Edem
My name is Jessica. I was once that vibr@nt and happy girl until suddenly – my honey comb turned bitter.
It happened when I fell sick in school. As the school girls perfect I took permission from a teacher to go home which I did and cu-mddled myself up in be-d. I always have this bad typhoid that do come at intervals despite my carefulness of what I drink and eat, and that afternoon my mother returned from work with my younger brother and saw me in be-d shivering.
I felt her tou-ched me and heaved saying nothing to me, but asked my brother to take off his uniform and she left the house again to get me drugs using the prescription the doctor gave to her to use whenever it comes knocking and there is no money to take me to the hospital.
She shortly returned and made me to sit up and gave me the drugs which I took.
“Let me get you something to eat, she said when I was done and I nodded.
That evening my father returned with his usual cold manner. The only person he smiles with is his son, and I sometimes wonder what my mother did to him that he suddenly changed and didn’t want her again. I can’t remember the last time my parents sat together and talked happily, whenever my mother tries that, it ends up in a fiercely heat. I was more close to my mother, probably that made him not care about me either because I always stand by her side.
He saw me lying sick but ignored and sat down carrying his son despite I greeted him, then my mother walked into the sitting room and greeted him also but he didn’t answer.
“Jessica is sick, I couldn’t get all the drugs for her because my money is not enough, my mother said to him and he looked at her.
“So what should I do? He asked.
“I nee-d money to get her drugs, you know I won’t ask you this but I have not been paid, she replied.
“Interesting, he said keeping my brother down and left for his room and my mother breathed out looking at me.
“Its okay mommy I’ll be fine, I said to her.
“Your drugs is not complete Jessica and now is the wrong time for you to be sick, she said.
“You should have told me you don’t have money, its okay I have my savings you can use it, I said.
“Your savings is for you just in case your time of your month comes, I don’t want you to be stranded. Don’t worry I’ll see what I can do, she said and went in to get his food ready but I heard him shouting in his room and stormed out,
“Who took my money from that room? He asked me and my mother quickly came out which he angrily looked at her.
“What kind of question is that? Who in this house do you think will take your money? My mother asked back and he went close to her as I sat down where I was watching.
“Who took the 5,000 naira that was in my pocket, I want it now! He shouted on her but my mother only hissed and turned her back to go but he held her back rou-ghly.
“Daddy please! I cried out knowing another fight will soon start..
“Look here I am not in the mood for this. How many times will I tell you not to ask me about your missing money, am I not working? You better don’t try this now because my daughter is sick, she sternly warned him and left and he breathed heavily looking at me and left the house.
I breathed out as that went cool because I didn’t have the strength to separate any fight that moment and a call came on my phone from my cl@$$mate which I picked up.
“Hey how are you feeling now? Sandra asked.
“Not bad though, I replied.
“Will you be in school tomorrow? Your voice doesn’t sound good, she said.
“I’m not sure, but if I can I’ll let you know, I replied.
“Take care of yourself, that’s more important okay, she said.
“I will, thanks babe, I said smiling.
“Ya welcome, bye, she said dropping the call and I was glad she did call at that moment.
At night my fever increa-sed that my mom had to call the school where she teach to give her just a day break to take care of her sick daughter but her request was declined. My mother was very mad with the authorities and everybo-dy but I weakly asked her to be calm.
“You’ll come with me to work okay so I can look after you, I can’t leave you at home alone, my mother said.
“No problem mommy, I accepted if that will make her not worry again.
The next day I got prepared and left with her to school while my father took his son to drop him off. My mother teaches the primary 4 cl@$$, and I had to help her with some cl@$$ stuff just to get myself busy.
After the break period I felt more better but noticed a pupil was slee-ping. The way he sle-pt with his mouth open was funny as my mother was busy with their books that she didn’t notice. I decided to let him sleep, but a pupil who sat at the next row stood up from his seat probably to get something from his friend but he sli-pped on something and fell.
I stood up immediately from where I sat to help him up but saw water on the floor,
“Whose bottle is leaking? I asked because obviously that made the boy sli-pped.
The slee-ping boy woke up and I saw his uniform we-t and his cl@$$mate saw it and quickly pointed at him laughing.
“You’ve peeped again! My mother shouted and I shook my head so surprised. Looks like its not the first time he has done that and the boy is far older than his cl@$$mates.
“You this papa you’ve peeped again? Common come out here! My mother angrily shouted at him but he was proving stubborn to leave his seat.
“Will you come out here now! Papa pee pee! My mother shouted taking her cane and everyone burst out laughing which I also did as he bounced out boldly to the front with his soiled uniform to face his punishment.
After my mother flogged him, he was swearing bad at her that she will see him and all that. I was surprised and wondered where he got the guts from in just primary 4 and before I knew it, he took his bag and left the cl@$$ and I shook my head.
The school was finally over and as my mother was tidying up her table, an elderly man stormed in raining abuses on my mother for always embarr@$$ing his grand son.
“Papa o, I am respecting your age. Your son is very stubborn and keeps on urinating in the cl@$$, should I not punish him for that? Just imagine his pee made my child fall, what if the boy broke his nose because of your grand son pee? My mother asked him.
“So if my son pee is it your business? Must you call him papa pee pee? Are you not to protect him as his teacher after paying for his fees? He asked and my mother shook her head smiling.
“I have been swallowing all his stubbornness and his constant slee-ping in cl@$$. For the fact that you pay his fees does not give him the right to turn my cl@$$ as a toilet. Besides, is he not papa pee pee? My mother asked back.
“Papa pee pee? Don’t worry, we shall see, the man said pointing at my mother.
“You will see yourself, you and your grand son will see yourself. What ru-bbish! My mother shouted very pissed with threatening words.
“Mommy its okay, I said holding her and the man looked at us and left ignoring the other teachers trying to calm him down.
“Be careful with that man o, I heard his dangerous just ignore his grand son, a teacher said to my mother and my mother hissed.
“Who cares? My mother asked taking her bag and dragged me along with her.
Hmmmm little did I know that my trouble has just begun!!!!
JESSICA??
(My story of faith and pain)
Episode 2.
©Miriam Edem
We left for my brother school and picked him up and my mother mood was brightened when my brother excitedly showed her his test scores.
“Oh my darling this is beautiful, my mother said giving him a ki-ss.
“I scored the highest in cl@$$ mommy, you’ll buy me an ice-cream right? Cyril asked..
“Sure anything for my boy, my mother replied smiling while I got his bag from him.
“Can you lend me some money please? My mother asked.
“Of course, I replied.
“I’ll give you back when I get paid okay, she added.
“No problem, I said and took out the money I had with me from my bag so we can go get an ice cream.
We happily returned home like nothing happened and my mother quickly reminded me of my drugs. I rolled my eyes tired with the way she religiously checks the time making sure I don’t skip a dose,
“I will mom I just came in nah, I said when she reminded me again from the kitchen.
“Take it now, like right now! Don’t stress me because you feel you’re getting better, you have to complete it, She shouted and i reluctantly left to get the drugs so I can have peace.
The next day I returned back to school and got the notes I missed. Our examination is just by the corner and every students became more serious. I have always been serious from the very beginning especially when I have an academician at home who monitors me every second.
I left to the libr@ry with Sandra during our free period despite my head was hurting, but then I have to read. Sandra noticed my watery eyes and knew I was not okay, and when I could not control myself anymore I had to leave the libr@ry to the cl@$$.
However I managed to stay in the cl@$$ with all the noises coming from the students surprised me, and with all joy I rushed back home when I heard the bell, had something to eat and quickly took my drugs and decided to rest my bo-dy on the couch.
Minutes later I heard Cyril voice laughing with my mother and the door opened which I sat up cleaning my sleepy eyes to welcome my mother but I didn’t un-derstand the look on her face.
“Jessica what’s this? My mother asked..
“What’s what? I asked confused.
“Cyril go to your room, my mom replied and Cyril ran in and that was when I looked down and my eyes bulged out.
I jumped up immediately so shocked to my bones,
“How on earth did I urinate on the couch????
My mom couldn’t believe her eyes and I quickly rushed in to get a rag to absorb some urine on it.
“Mommy I’m sorry its an accident, I said crying already as I struggled with the rag.
“Your father is on his way, he was talking with his friend and he can’t see this, My mom managed to say.
“Jesus! I screamed out and ran in again to bring more rags to dry the couch while my mother took the air fresher to quench the stench of My urine.
“Those rags won’t do, get a detergent and water…… I mean how did this happen Jessica? My mother asked and I heard my father coming. I shook my head looking at my mother scared,
“Go in, she said to me and I went in taking along the rags I brou-ght out and immediately the door opened and he walked in as I peeped at them.
As God will have it, he didn’t sit on the long couch as he used to. He just p@$$ed straight to his room and shortly came out with a brown envelope and Cyril ran out greeting him.
“Oh my boy, how was school today? He asked taking him to the single sofa and I breathed out relieved.
“Fine daddy, tomorrow is our sports day, Cyril replied.
“Is that so? Okay you know what when I return you’ll tell me more about it okay, He said.
“Okay daddy, Cyril replied and he quickly left the house.
“Cyril go in and have your shower, my mother said to him and I slowly came out still on my we-t short.
“You didn’t change up? You better go change up so you can clean up this mess, I can’t believe you can do this! My mother angrily shouted and went in while I weakly looked at the couch and wondered if this is really real life or some kind of bad dream.
That evening I locked myself up in the room so ashamed to come out after what happened and my mother didn’t call me either to talk about it.
I know my mother, she doesn’t talk to us when she’s angry but I could not still take this ugly fact away from my head that me Jessica, the se-nior girls prefect urinated on her bo-dy in broad day light!
It was more shocking to me when i woke up in the morning the next day to see my be-d we-t.
“Jesus Christ! I exclaimed and jumped up from the be-d to see I was soaked with my own urine mixed with blood. It was my time of the month and I just urinated on top of it and I was in a big mess.
I ran to the bathroom scru-b-bing my bo-dy violently crying ha-rd,
“What’s going on with me? Or is this a kind of reaction from the drugs am taking or what? I kept asking myself not until I heard my mother voice.
“Jessica you’re still slee-ping? She asked opening the door before I could reply.
“Mommy am bathing, I replied.
“Jesus! What’s smelling? Jessica! She screamed out this time around in my room, and with her inquisitive spirit she went to my be-d and saw the shock of her life. My crying gear already increa-sed as i remained in the bathroom not knowing how to come out until she met me there.
“What’s going on? She asked but I only bowed my head.
“I don’t know, I wake up with my own pee now, I tearfully replied.
“I’m seeing some stains of blood, my mother said.
“Its my menses, am I now mama pee pee? I asked my mother looking at her and she went backward with that question.
“Kayode! Yes Kayode! He was not in school yesterday, my mother said.
“Who is Kayode? I asked.
“The boy who urinated in cl@$$, wait a minute I hope its not what am thinking, my mother replied and I sniffed.
“I can’t take this anymore, what will daddy say? What will people say when they see me drying my mattress everyday? How long will this continue? I asked.
“I have to call them, no! If they have a problem with me they should face me and not my children, get your self out from the shower before you’ll catch cold, my mother replied and left.
I slowly left the shower and indeed my room was smelling. Only God knows the number of times I urinated on my bo-dy, and my white be-d sheet didn’t waste time to draw everything out to me just the way it was.
My mother returned to my room and met me tidying the place up.
“His guardian number is switched off, she sadly said to me leaning on the wall.
“What is going to happen now? Are you sure they have something to do with this? Remember we don’t believe in such superstitions and What concrete evidence do we have or is this some kind of reaction? I asked.
“Jessica are you asking me? What do you want me to tell you now when I am as confused as you are. You stopped urinating at a very early age and not even once have you urinated on your bo-dy even by mistake. Why now you’re 16 years? Who can explain this to me because I want to know! My mother shouted and I slowly raised the mattress up and was so ashamed to see lines already drawn on it indicating a job well done from me.
Seeing that my mother angrily left the room and I slowly took it out to air it outside.
Before I could wash my messed sheet and clothes and all the time I wasted in everything, I was already running late for school. I rushed in to get my uniform ready and that was when my father walked into the compound and was surprised to still see me at home by that time knowing I do leave the house very early.
That was when I remembered my father sle-pt out last night and I greeted him, but his eyes fell on my designed mattress outside…..
TBC