JESSICA??
(My story of faith and pain)
Episode 8
©Miriam Edem
I didn’t want to be surprise with what my father just said, honestly speaking I was expecting it and he didn’t disappoint.
I just sat down in my be-d and brou-ght out the biscuits I bought for myself as an appetizer when an alert dropped on my phone and my grandmother called immediately,
“Hello mama, good evening, I picked up..
“Evening Jessica, have you seen it? She asked.
“Yes mama it just entered, thank you so much, I replied.
“Its alright, has your father said something about your apa-rtment yet? She asked.
“Nothing, he has said nothing, I replied.
“What are you going to do now? That money won’t pay your rent or get you some stuff for school or foodstuff to carry you throu-ghout the semester, she said.
“Don’t worry mama I’ll find a way, thank you so much for this, I said.
“Its alright, anything just let me know okay, she said.
“Sure mama, I said and she dropped the call.
I happily la-id in be-d looking at the alert so happy that I’ll soon be out of the upcoming drama because the principal is already on to find an apa-rtment for me.
I la-id there tiredly and sle-pt with the biscuit I ate, and in the morning I almost got chocked with the smoke that was entering my room.
I stood up and quickly changed up and ran out to see what was burning but I saw my father new wife to be struggling with water to quench the fire that was burning in the kitchen.
I just stood by the door watching her as she was breathing ha-rd when the fire went off and my father ran in,
“What happened here? He asked as I shifted for him keeping my distance from them.
“Sorry babe the fire just came up as I was making breakfast, she shakily replied.
“So just breakfast you almost burned the house! What if its a pot of soup? He asked and saw the burnt pancakes she was trying to make and I felt like laughing ha-rd at the drama. The house will be so interesting but sadly I won’t stay too long to watch till the end.
“But I said am sorry, it was an accident and i don’t know how it happened, she said.
“Don’t tell me that! This just shows one thing that you can’t cook, you’re fu-cken lazy! He shouted hitting his hand on her forehead and I just heaved. So this man can’t change? Same thing he always do with my late mom is what he’s doing now and it baffles me.
“So what if I am? I said it was an accident can’t you let that slide? She angrily asked.
“Oh is that so? Go in there and take your things out of my house now! He shouted.
“What? She asked.
‘Are you deaf as well stupid? Get your lazy @$$ out of my house now! get out! He shouted pushing her and she ran out of the kitchen, then he turned and looked at me as I still stood by the door.
“And where were you? He asked me.
“slee-ping, i replied.
“Oh I forgot you were slee-ping in your water be-d and you couldn’t fix breakfast huh? He asked.
“The last I checked you hired a maid for that, I replied and was about leaving for my room.
“Will you stop there now you leaking drone! you better start getting yourself out of my house because I won’t condone this neither will I think twice to throw your smelling self outside. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, he said pointing his fin-gerat me and bashed out of the kitchen as I stood as a monument.
Did he just call me leaking drone? I don’t think I would have been hurt if I was told that outside, but coming from my own father made me feel very useless.
I dragged myself to my room and sat down looking at my soaked mat and smelled myself, then I thought of how I will live in a new environment. Will I embarr@$$ myself over there also? Will my ugly condition be exp-osed by my neighbors or colleagues as it happened here?
The more I thought about it I got scared and began to cry. If I was able to live with the shame and embarr@$$ment it gave to me both in the school and at home, I don’t think I will bear it over there when it will happen. I heard my father and the lady seriously quarreling as she dragged her bag outside and I sniffed cleaning my tears knowing I have some sales to do and I have to use the kitchen for my production.
I took my mat outside to air it and washed the messed clothes and got set to do the chores before making the production and took it out to sell. On the way the principal called and told me an apa-rtment has been found just very close to the school but the agent was asking if I will want a room mate so he can pair me with someone.
“Ahh no please no roommate, no one will stand the smell of me every night let me suffer it alone sir, I told him.
“The problem is the houses around the school is quite expensive but since you want it that way no problem. Though I was more concerned about the security of the place and I was @$$ured its good, if you want you can drop by the office and see the pictures yourself, he said.
‘Oh great I’ll be there sir, I said knowing I didn’t have an android phone.
“Okay I’ll be expecting you then, he said and dropped the call. When i arrived school with my bowl I used in selling the principal was shocked,
“Jess what are you doing? Don’t tell me you’re hawking, he said and I smiled.
“But I have to do it so I can help myself, I replied.
“But you…. You’re seriously hawking? No Jess you can’t do this, oh God! The principal said taking off his gl@$$es sadly but all I did was smile. I didn’t anyone to pity me anymore, the Jessica they used to know is already gone and I was getting used to it.
He showed me the apa-rtment, though small but manageable as long as it will give me peace of mind and my privacy. I had already told myself that it will be just me over there to avoid my @$$ open in public,
“Its okay sir I’ll go for it, I like the place, I told him.
“Do you have the money? he asked.
“My grandmother se-nt me some money yesterday and it will be okay for my transportation, I replied.
“Nice, then you’ll use your mother money to pay for the rent? He asked and i nodded.
“Will you be taking anything along with you? He asked again.
“Yes, my reading table and chair with my clothes. I won’t take my mattress because its of no use, I’ll sleep on the mat, I replied and he bowed his head and breathed out.
“Okay, I’ll speak to the landlord of the place personally and get everything arranged because of your distance so you won’t be stranded. When everything is settled, you can just go straight to your apa-rtment and have your key to go in without any issue, he said and I nodded.
“I appreciate sir, thank you so much. I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t here, I guess my mother left an angel for me behind, I said as tears streamed down my face.
“Jessica its okay, I don’t care how life has so squee-zed you, but I see you coming out of it strong and better, just keep fighting my dear, the principal said I sniffed smiling happy someone believes in me.
After a week everything was prepared and set and I told my father I’ll be leaving for school. He looked at me and shook his head,
“I thought we talked about this? I don’t have any money to give to you since there is no school you can attend here, he said.
“But am not asking for money, everything has been paid for am only telling you, I said.
“Oh that’s very good, at least I’ll be breathing some good fresh air when you’re gone. Safe journey and when are you leaving? He asked and I breathed in.
“In two days time, I replied.
“Nice, very nice Jessica. For the first time in this house you’re talking se-nse, he said and stood up from where he sat and entered his room. I just cleaned my face and looked at Cyril,
“You’ll be fine right? I asked him.
“Sister I’ll be fine, but you’ll visit right? He asked back.
“I’ll try only if I have money the to pay my way down here, I replied.
“Then we’ll be talking on phone, Cyril said..
“Sure I’ll be calling daddy so I can talk to you, just be a good boy, I said and he smiled which I gave a weak smile also.
2 days later very early in the morning my grandmother arrived so she can help accompany some stuff to the park especially the food stuffs she came with,
“Won’t you see your daughter off? At least relieve her off the load? She asked my father.
“I don’t have fuel, besides she can just chatter a taxi what’s the stress there? My father asked back.
“But you….. “Mama its okay the load isn’t that much right? Let me get a taxi, I interrupted her and left. Shortly after I returned with a taxi and hu-gged Cyril as he wanted crying after everything was loaded in the taxi,
“Remember big boys don’t cry and I’ll be calling alright, I said drawing his cheeks and waved my neighbors goodbye as they came out bidding me farewell but my father was just inside. I heaved and went in to tell him am leaving but he was on call which he just waved me off with his hand and I slowly left.
At the park, my grandmother made sure my things were well parked and my reading table was well tied on the top,
“Thank you mama, I really appreciate. Please put an eye on Cyril for me though I know my father cant hurt him, I told her.
“I’m more worried about something important, I pray he shouldn’t take after his father nasty attitude with the way he’s so close to him. But take care of yourself okay, I’ll be se-nding foodstuffs to you and if I can, I can give you a surprise visit, she said and I smiled.
“That will be great, I said and the principal call came on phone and I picked up,
“Taken off yet? he immediately asked.
“Not yet sir but soon, I replied.
“Okay my dear, safe journey, he said.
“Thank you sir, I said and the driver was done with the loading and I dropped the call.
“Good bye grandma, i said waving her.
“I’ll be calling okay, safe journey and take good Care of yourself my dear, she said waving at me and the bus took off……..
Tbc