MY JEWEL…chapter 3
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……I was so excited to get home, I just couldn’t wait to tell mama about all my uncle had said. .Getting home, I happily disclosed all uncle had said to mama, but she wasn’t as excited as I had thought she would,,
” mama didn’t you hear what I said, aren’t you happy that uncle has changed, I asked her out of curiosity
“oh no my child, of course I am very happy for you,she had said.
Then why aren’t you smiling,,,,
well I am only surprised at the sudden change of your uncle James. James promised to s£nd you to school,James
“yes mama,maybe God has heard our prayers,and has decided to change uncle for Good,,
“but why am I having this feeling that this isn’t good at all
mama, plea-se st©p been pessimistic, let’s hope uncle has changed for good…
okay then if you say so…
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It was 3 days alre-ady, in the afternoon, uncle c@m£ with elder Chibuzor,he was all smiles and seems to be in a very good mood, I welcomed them both cheerfully with a smile, mama also c@m£ to greet the two elders…..
Adaobi, Ada mama, Ada Ada, Adabeke,,,,, uncle continued singing my praises,,,come and seat besides me my beautiful daughter,,by now I was certain miracles happen, because only God would have changed my uncle into this amazing person he is now,I was rejoicing within…
My beautiful daughter, uncle started,I know you love education so much, and I know its your dream and that of your father’s that you should be educated,,, its just so unfortunate that I am not so financially stable to sponsor such a big project, but anyways,God works in miraculous ways,, thankfully elder Chibuzor here has decided to help us out, he has promised to sponsor you to the university to any level of your choice,,,
“thank you very much sir, mama and I said genuflecting in appreciation….
It’s okay Ada, uncle continued, the only thing is that,he wants you to marry him
“what!! marry who?? a man older than you and my late father, uncle plea-se tell me you are joking,,
How can I joke with something like that Ada, a man is never old” uncle said
my wife, I may be looking weak by appearance, but what makes me a man is still very strong, and can do the work of three men “elder chibuzor added
“hold it there you rotten old man ,mama had cut in, smelling he goat, you want my daughter to marry someone like you,how wicked can you be,trying to take advantage of a desperate little girl, and as for you James,I told my daughter three days ago that a Leopard can never change its sp©t, I knew you were up to no good when you gave Ada all those empty promises, as I am looking at the both of you now, get up and get out of my house you good for nothing animal…..
“You are asking me out of my brother’s, house?
yes mama shouted, get out….
Soon they left, I couldn’t believe my ears,
,James can never be that nice, because he is evil personified…I cried bitterly, because death has dealt me a big b!ow, if papa were to be alive,all these certainly wouldn’t have happened….
Uncle did all he could to make me marry my grandfather’s age mate, but he was wasting his time,,,apparently uncle had been collecting money and gifts from the old man,and it was time to pay back,, elder Chibuzor made sure uncle paid every penny given to him,he even got uncle James beaten by thvgs and made sure he begged for mercy…
Uncle transferred all the hate and anger upon mama and I, he hated just the fact that we breath, he dealt with us, took all papa’s lands and valuables, we were practically starving,,, since we couldn’t plant nor cultivate ,,,we were living by God’s grace…
One cool evening ,we heard a knock at the door, it was Chimamada my good friend from wayback in high school…she was working in a big company in Lagos, I cried again when she talked about work and her achievement so far,,I was so jealous and wished my life was as perfect as hers, I ,who was academically good, is wasting.
“I heard about what happened to papa,plea-se accept my condolence visit Ada.she has said…
Thank you very much Amada, I really appreciate your concern,and thanks for checking up on me…
Ada you can’t be wasting your time in this village, you were a very good student back then in school,,,,
my sister ,thank you,I would really have loved to further my education, but I am financially handicapped…
Well,if you don’t mind, my place of work, is in nee-d of a cleaner,the pay is very nice, you shall be working there and also get involved in p@rt time school programs that would help you get a better job…I was very plea-se,and told her I would discuss with mom and get back to her…
I told mama everything,,, at first she refused, saying I have no one in Lagos, but after much conviction, she agreed to allow me ….
Days later I was on my way to Lagos with Amanda..
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MY JEWEL….chapter 4
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.,…we finally arrived the big, busy and beautiful city of Lagos. It was amazing, and was worth every story I have heard….Though mama didn’t like the idea of my leaving the first time, I was able to convince her, and I could feel her pres£nce with me.
Amanda shares a well furnished ap@rtment with another girl by name Kate, she seems nice too. I decided I was going to do well in the company, that Amanda would not regret bringing me to Lagos,,,
But it’s been days we got back ,Amanda was yet to resume work,,,when I asked her, she told me her leave was still on, so I let her be for some time ,,after about a week or more, I asked her about her job, if she wasn’t going to resume,,, she maintained she was still on leave,,,I then asked her to take me to the company so that i can resume mine.
Relax Ada, you will soon see the company, calm down and relax….
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That evening Amanda and kate got dressed and were going out, at about 10/pm, I tried to know where they pas-sed the night. the next day they c@m£,,, but they weren’t re-ady to give me any explanation…..they went to their be-d feeling so tired and disorganized….
I was tired of staying at home,,, and I had to talk to Amanda.
“Amanda, I don’t un-derstand all these you are doing, you have not been going to any company, neither have you given me any job in any company,, I stay in this house everyday, washing ,cleaning and cooking, you have practically made me your house keeper…. I don’t un-derstand you, this wasn’t what you told me in the village….
Well I have been going to my company, you have only refused to go with me “,she said
what are you talking about Amanda” I had asked
well you see I and Kate leave this house every night, we go to our company, and work all throu-gh or most of the night she said,,,,
what kind of work is that,, must it be at night, where is the office located, and how do I apply?
One question at a time sweetie, you asked what kind of work, its b©dy corporative affairs, you asked about location, any exquisite h0tel, and you asked how to apply, just follow us when we go….
I still don’t un-derstand you Amanda, what do you mean any h0tel, b©dy corporative affairs, I don’t un-derstand, “I said
why are you this dumb Ada, well getting a job in Lagos is not a day’s job, life in Lagos is also not easy,,since we couldn’t get jobs, we decided to create our own jobs, we work at night, sleep with wealthy guys in order to care for b©dy and soul,,,,
Amanda so you are a proustite, and you deceived I and others back home
well I know you all will judge me, and castigate me if I had told you, see Ada, you have to take care of your mother, she is your responsibility “she said
I can’t believe this,I know my mother is my responsibility,oh yes i know, but selling my dignity and pride as a Lady that wont be what mama want for me,I shall look for a good job and start off….
Thank you very Amanda, but I can’t be a S-x worker….
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Its been 6 months i c@m£ to lagos. My mother was very sick, she nee-ded to be taken to the hospital, and I was yet to get something doing….
Indeed getting a job in the big and busy city of Lagos wasn’t easy….I didn’t know what to do,I begged Amanda for help but she bluntly refused, saying she didn’t have money, but she knows someone who can help me, its a man, if you know what i meean “she said…
I looked at her, I do not want my mother to die, I said to her
then keep mama alive” she added…
Amanda gave me a paper, which seems like an address, and a cab waiting for me outside..inside the cab i didn’t know what to do,think or expect, this isn’t what i planned my life to be, a proustite, I know papa will be weeping in his grave,, but then, I couldn’t watch mama die, she’s all I have. I was so lost in thoughts that I didn’t realise we had reached the h0tel,,,,
Madam na here, the driver’s voice brou-ght me back to consciousness,,,
oh okay, I alighted from the cab and paid him..I went to the room no I was given ,knocked and a young man in his 30ties opened the door,, you must be Ad “he said
Ad, no sir I am not “I replied
I mean Ada
yes sir
okay then you may come in “he said.
I went inside and sat down, I was very nervous and sacred, I was praying silently…
The man c@m£ and sat down, he was on his l@pt©p, after some minutes he asked me If i was hungry,so he could order for me food
no I am very fine thank you sir, I replied
what about drinks? he asked again
I am okay sir…
okay if you say so….
The man was still on his l@pt©p, while my heart was racing,,,I didn’t know what to do, what to say or any idea for that matter…. In as much as I didn’t like what I wanted to do,the silence was worse, it was ma-king everywhere so tensed…
You are new in this, the man broke the silence
in what sir? I asked,,
you are new in this whole thing,, he said
I was able to decode what he was saying, I looked at the ground, didn’t know what to answer,,,
You nee-d not say anything, it’s obvious you are new, he smiled and continue with whatever he was doing on his l@pt©p….
So why did you chose this path,,,,
I didn’t chose it Sir, i Was left with no choice,,,,, everyone has a choice, no matter what you are going throu-gh in life
you have at least 5min to think things over “he said.
my mother is sick, I do not want her dead, I alre-ady lost my father, she’s all I have….
I can imagine,I lost my mom years back, so I can say I un-derstand all you are going throng, but my dear there isn’t any reason justifiable to go into crime or immorality…. There was silence in the air again…
This time I had to break the silence,,,,
you too sir, what are you doing here, you should have a wife or a fiancée…what are you doing here?..
Well I am very single, and not re-ady to mingle,, I just want a company,, so tell me about you he said,,,I was surprised and wondered what kind of a man he is, nevertheless, I told him the unplea-sing story of my life…
So you would like to go to school?he asked
with all plea-sure
hmmmm okay then he said.
I was sure he didn’t like me, or because I didn’t have a fair and smooth skin, which ever way, I was glad he didn’t t©uçh me, although my fear was whether he would give me some money, so I can have something to visit mama with or not since nothing seems to be happening..I just relaxed and waited for the break of dawn,while engaging in dialogue with him …
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TBC🏃