Story by Deborah Paul Mother why episode 1
growing up has always been the dream of every child, because they believe at that age they are allowed to do so many things with no restrictions, achieve so many things without fear. But it was a different ball game for Amelia, life has always been unfair to her, it was like she was born to suffer, and feel pain. Her father Mr Eze was her only companion, he un-derstood her perfectly and treated her better because she took after him, while Amara took after her mother’s wayward life. Amelia became lonely when her father died, he slept one day and didn’t wake up. Amelia knew her sorrow has come and henceforth joy has vanished from her life, but she hoped for the better, she hoped her mother and sister will treat her differently.
Mrs Chioma Amelia’s mother is a no nonsense person, she hate poverty and would not like to as-sociate herself with anyone who is broke. her late husband Eze use to be a very rich man but along the line he became broke after the birth of Amelia, one among the many reasons why she hates her. After the death of husband she became very happy because no one would monitor her anymore, or restrict her children from going out to get money from men for her. she love Amara so much because Amara didn’t just took her character alone, she is as beautiful as herself, and very smart too. Mrs Chioma moved from her husband’s village after his death, she took her girls to the city and rented a two bedroom flat where they stay now. AMARA (Looking around the house) mama, I’m very happy we came to the city ooh MRS CHIOMA my daughter I’m more excited, I thank God that your father who was a storming block to our progress has finally died.
AMELIA Mama!!!! MRS CHIOMA shut up your mouth and don’t mama me there….your father was a useless man, after his goods got burnt and he started falling down, he could have gone to look for job else where or even do money ritual but no he refused and took a beautiful woman like me to the village. AMARA Mama, don’t mind Amelia, she will always be a weakling like papa. AMELIA Jesus Christ, mama you wanted papa to do money ritual? what if they had demanded for your head instead? MRS CHIOMA it is your great great grandparents head they will demand for….see you are beginning to provoke me, get out of my sight. AMELIA mama!!!! MRS CHIOMA I said get out before I descend on you. (she said carrying her sli-pper from the ground to hit her) Amelia quickly excused herself, she knew what will follow if she decided to scg stubborn… she went to the room where she and her younger sister share and laid on the bed, some people things were bordering her. “papa, why do you have to die and leave me alone with this woman? oh death you should have taken me along side my father, because staying in this world would only bring pain and suffering, my mother hates me, Amara my younger sister hates me too, I’m just alone in this world.
God please if you don’t help me no one is can” (she said crying.) Later that night Mrs Chioma called her daughters for a meeting after dinner. Amelia sat alone on her own chair because she was too scared to seat beside her mother or sister. MRS CHIOMA It’s been a week since we moved to the city and after the death of your useless father, you both are no longer children so you know the situation at hand…. i have suffered for you both enough, it’s time for you to work for me to eat. AMELIA But mama how do you mean? my sister and I don’t even have a job yet so how are we going to take care of you? MRS CHIOMA You see why I told Eze to send just Amara to school but he insisted and sent you too, you are not smart at all…. Are you not a graduate? what is your certificate meant for? oh Eze may God punish you wherever you are, money you would have given me to take care of myself and look good you wasted it on this girl’s school fees yet she’s as stupid as you were.
AMELIA (Getting emotional) mama, must you always remind me how much you hate me and papa? MRS CHIOMA I hate you so much people you didn’t use anything to resemble me, you are not smart, you ain’t fair skin like myself and your sister, you are just a complete fool just like your father. AMARA Mama, is okay please, let’s hear the reason for this meeting. MRS CHIOMA (She inhale to calm down) thank you so much my beautiful daughter, Amelia just has a way of ruining my mood. AMARA it’s okay mama. MRS CHIOMA so as I was saying, you girls nee-d to go out there and look for rich men, men that their money will not finish like your father ooh, I will give you girls money to buy Se-xy clothes and shoes. AMARA yeee!!!! mum don’t worry this city will hear our name…. I promise to make you proud. MRS CHIOMA (Smiling) I trust my daughter, a goat will never give birth to a snake. AMELIA Mum, you just said we have certificate, we don’t nee-d certificate to sell our body since your are sending us out for prostitution. MRS CHIOMA The certificate is useless, it’s just for formalities, you want our neighbors to know that my children are into prostitution? All you girls have to do is use your certificate to look for jobs in this big big companies, your CEO will be your target, you will Se-duce them and make them fall in love with you. AMELIA Wow, mama the planner, very brilliant….I have heard you….we will do as you have just said… can we go to bed now? Mrs chioma was surprised, she didn’t know Amelia would accept just like that, she thought she would even have to beat some sense into her before she accepts but Amelia surprised them. MRS CHIOMA You can go to bed. AMELIA thank you ma… goodnight Amara looked at her mother, she had that same expression as her mother. AMARA mama, are you sure your daughter is okay? MRS CHIOMA I’m as surprised as you are my daughter. AMARA I doubt if she meant what she said mama, that your daughter can never change, she will always remind us that she’s Papa’s daughter. MRS CHIOMA she can’t fool me, let’s wait till the time she’s suppose to bring money home and she didn’t, then she will wish she had died with her useless Father. AMARA that girl, I don’t even know what her problem is….well, that’s not my concern I’m off to bed mama… goodnight. MRS CHIOMA goodnight my precious. Amara smiled and walked inside, while Mrs chioma stayed back watching TV. that night Amelia could not sleep, she know better than to argue with her mother, she had only accepted so she would save herself from beating. she pray to God for his intervention.
Story by Deborah Paul “Mother why” episode 2
Mr Patrick rushed to his office, he had 9am meeting and he was already running late for it. immediately he entered his office his PA ran after him to tell him his plans for the day. MARTHA good morning sir MR PATRICK morning Martha, i guess you slept well? MARTHA yes sir…. how’s your family? MR PATRICK good…. have the client arrived yet? MARTHA yes sir, they came in not too long ago MR PATRICK good, I will see them now. Martha went to the waiting room and inform their clients that her boss had arrived, thru finished their cu-p of coffee and joined Mr Patrick in his office. After a long time of deliberating they finally came to an agreement and the contract was sighned. Martha walked them to the door before she came back to meet her boss. MR PATRICK All these white men and their sense, they will leave their country and come to ours go show us sense. MARTHA (she smiled) they made a wrong move then, maybe they were not imform before chosing our company that we are the smartest, even our name implies it. MR PATRICK you are right my dear…. that’s remains me, you were telling me something yesterday but I was in a hurry. MARTHA Yes sir, I wanted to remind you that my wedding is just few weeks from now…i nee-d to travel home for preparation. MR PATRICK And you said something about not coming back to work? MARTHA (She suddenly look sad) sadly sir. MR PATRICK but why? getting married shouldn’t stop you from working, or you want to become a liability to your husband? MARTHA of course not sir, but my husband stays in Lagos, I can’t stay here after my wedding, I will have to move in with him. MR PATRICK oh I see…. okay I think we can work something out for you….. just get in touch after your wedding I will see what I can do. MARTHA (She smiled de-eply) thank you very much sir, I really appreciate. MR PATRICK it’s nothing, you have been a good girl these past years you have worked with me… you deserve whatever I’m going to do for you. MARTHA once again I’m grateful. MR PATRICK you are welcome…. so when will you like to travel? MARTHA since today is already Thursday, I will just around up the week, by Sunday I will go home. MR PATRICK alright, no problem just remind me tomorrow to give you my own little contribution for your wedding. MARTHA okay sir, thank you sir. MR PATRICK it’s nothing marth….. amd please tell the gate man to put out signpost for vacancy. MARTHA I will do that immediately sir. MR PATRICK please cancel my other appointment, I will be closing early today, I have a date with my wife. (he said smiling) MARTHA (She smiled too) I un-derstand sir…. I will like to be excused sir. MR PATRICK Sure, you can go. she opened the door and went out, she immediately went to the gate man and asked him to put out post for PA vacancy. GATE MAN anuty Martha, I don’t un-derstand why are you employing someone else for your own post? MARTHA (She smiled) sorry I didn’t tell you, my wedding is coming up and I won’t be returning to work after the wedding.
GATE MAN (He looked sad) chai I will really miss you ooh, but why not resume work after your wedding or your husband isn’t from here? MARTHA you are right, my husband to be isn’t from here, so I will have to move in with him. GATE MAN I wish I can come for your wedding, but anyhow Sha congratulations. MARTHA Thank you…. please don’t forget to put the post okay? GATE MAN I won’t forget, in fact I’m doing it now. Martha thanked him and went back into the office. Mrs choima expected her daughters to have gone out for job hunting but was surprised to meet them still sleeping in their room, she angrily hit Amelia to get up. Amelia jumped up from the bed, her scream work Amara up. AMELIA Good morning mama MRS CHIOMA mama kee you there, stupid girl…. why are you girls still sleeping? didn’t I tell you to start hunting for job? AMELIA men you mean? MRS CHIOMA whatever, you girls should get out and look for job else no food for you. AMARA mama me too? MRS CHIOMA of course, I see that you want to start following this stupid girl’s footstep. AMARA mama just overslept, beside we didn’t even know we are to start the job hunt this week since the week had already come to an end. MRS CHIOMA no time is too late or early to look for job, now move it girls. Amara got up quickly and headed for their bathroom to take her bath, Amelia went on her knees and prayed while her mum hissed and went outside. soon Amara was done bathing, she came out and went to her bag, she searched for a beautiful gown and wore, she was grateful that her mother always tried her best in making her look Se-xy unlike Amelia who always wear rags in the name of clothes. Amelia who wasn’t feeling like going out that day but had no choice went and took her bath, she came out and picked the dress her father bought for her on her graduation, she wore it and applied a little powder on her face before she took her certificate and went to the living room.
MRS CHIOMA where is your sister? AMELIA She’s still applying make-up MRS CHIOMA Amelia, as you are going out today, don’t come back to this house if you don’t have good news …. do I make myself clear? AMELIA mum you sound as if Job is that easy to find. AMARA (Coming out from the room) if job isn’t easy to find, try ha-rder you will find one. MRS CHIOMA Amelia I’m sure you heard your sister. AMELIA yeah I did. AMARA mum, is there breakfast? MRS CHIOMA of course, I made spaghetti…. go get some she dropped her hand bag and rushed to the kitchen, Amelia dropped her files on the couch and followed her sister. some minutes later the girls were out of the house, not without their mother giving them transport money. The day wasn’t favorable to Amelia at all, Amara too wasn’t lucky but just when she was about to give up, she saw the sigh-post at Mr Patrick’s company, she stood at a conner and applied another makeup on her face before she moved closer to the gate.
AMARA Good afternoon GATE MAN yes, afternoon AMARA I’m here in respect of this post (she said pointing to the post) GATE MAN I’m not the one employing people, just take your right, the first floor by your left you will a fair skin lady….she will tell you what to do. AMARA thank you she started to walk into the office, she smiled at what the gate man said “a fair skin lady” is she more beautiful than I am? she said entering the office
to be continue