MY ORDEAL✊✊
Episode 10.
Story by Miriam Edem (Miriam Eyen Efik)
My entire day in school was ruined, but Chinwe tried her best to get me out of that mood.
“What are you going to do? Will you take up your mom business now? Chinwe asked.
“I’m left with that Chinwe, I have to work ha-rd now and make sure I don’t lose it, I replied her..
“What will you do about your uncle now? Is it that he wants the house or what? Chinwe asked.
“What for? He has his house right and he’s not even married, why will he want to s£nd us out whether the house belongs to his father or not, that will be so cruel of him, I said and Chinwe nodded.
“Don’t word friend, I’ll help you in anyway I can. I can even help you over there in the market when I’m free, or help take care of your brothers, Chinwe said and I looked at her.
“Are you serious? I asked and she nodded and I heaved.
“Thank you, but I’m more concerned about my brothers, I love them so much and I’m now a mother to them and I……… “Dora I know, but this burden will be too much for you that’s why I want to help you. Okay your brothers are still young, and you’re schooling same time doing business and taking care of them, common Dorothy you won’t be able to do this on your own. Okay if you don’t trust me in the business area let me take care of your brothers, when you’ll be in the market I can come stay with them, or better still take them to my place so you’ll concentrate and won’t worry about them, Chinwe c@m£ in and I felt like carrying her up in joy.
I just hvgged her not knowing what to say while she just patted my back and asked me to be strong.
When it was time to pick my brothers up from school, I took permission and left the school to pick them up and took them home.
I hurriedly gave them something to eat and tried doing their as-signment before i heard a knock on the door.
‘Who’s there? I asked.
“Dorothy, I heard Benson voice and I nodded at Samuel which he got up and opened up for him.
“Come in plea-se, I said and Benson slowly walked in.
“Hey welcome, I said to him.
“Thank you, he said and carried Samuel on his l@ps while I concentrated on Edward homework.
“Where’s yours? He asked Samuel.
“In my bag, he replied.
“I’ll do yours for you okay, he said and Samuel nodded and stood up to carry his bag and I smiled looking at him.
“Thank you, I said.
“What for? Aren’t you suppose to be in the market? He asked.
“I know but then my brothers…….. “Don’t worry I’ll take care of them, he cut in.
“Till I come back? I asked.
“I can bring them to the market later so you’ll come home with them when you’re done for the day. Don’t waste time go make money they will be fine, Benson said collecting the pencil from me.
“Alright thank you so much, and I’m expecting my friend, she wanted staying with them, I said.
“That’s no problem, Benson said and took over the as-signment while I went in to change up to leave for the market.
Going out I saw Chinwe walked in and she quic-kly apologized for staying too long to come as she said she will.
“St©p that nau, there’s someone in the house alre-ady with them, he’s a friend who just dropped by you can stay with him, I said st©pping her from the apology which wasn’t necessary.
“Alright nau hurry up, Chinwe said tapping me and I left quic-kly to the market.
I arrived and ignored the unnecessary dissucion from the women there and brou-ght out my sales and when I was done, the owner of the shop just surfaced out of the moon.
“Aunty good afternoon, I greeted.
“Eh afternoon, are you still in the shop? She asked.
“Yes aunty, I replied.
“But the owner is dead na and she didn’t pay my money o, I nee-d to put someone else here quic-kly, she said.
“But I have the money to give to you now, she left the money with me before she died so You won’t worry about your shop rent, I said.
“I just nee-d my money o that’s all, so do you have it here? She asked.
‘No I didn’t know you’ll come today, and besides I’m just opening. I’ll bring it tomorrow as I’m coming to the shop, I replied.
“Don’t let me ask of it o, anyway sorry for your loss, she said and I only nodded and waited for her to leave my sight so I’ll get the chance to sell.
Customers c@m£ as usual to buy, and most of them gave me the balance just to console with me, and before Benson and Chinwe could meet me in the market with my brothers, I made double gain and my face was just beaming with smiles.
“Hiannn this one you are smiling as if you just won a bet, what’s the secret? Chinwe asked taking me off from the bench i sat to sit down.
“Today is good isn’t it? I asked her back.
“Indeed indeed, she said looking at me and I smiled and thanked Benson for his time.
“St©p thanking me Dora, what are friends for? I’ll be going now so take care, Benson said.
“Bye Uncle, my brothers said and he pla-yfully gave them a hi five and waved at Chinwe before leaving while I noticed the Chinwe looked at him.
“Hey! I shouted at her and she looked at me and hissed.
“Do you want to chew him with your eyes? I asked and she ignored me and stood up.
“Okay we have dropped your babies for you, let me hurry back before my aunt will return, Chinwe said.
“Okay o thank you and I hope you didn’t beat my babies o, I said.
“Only beating? I bite them o ask them, Chinwe said and I laughed.
“Tell aunty bye nau, I said to my brothers and they waved at her and she t©uçhed their cheeks and left the shop.
Minutes later after I was left with my brothers, Edward c@m£ close to me,
“Sister is mommy not coming back again? He asked and I looked at him.
“Yes sister, she suppose to be the one selling right? Samuel added and I remembered I haven’t seen my mom today and it was alre-ady past 5pm.
I swallowed and looked at them for a while which they looked too waiting for a reply,
“Will you eat rice and stew again today? I asked shifting their question aside but they shook their head as if they agreed on it before I asked.
“Noodles, they replied.
“Okay, I’ll get it on the road, let’s start parking, I said getting up and began to park while they helped with the little they could and we got back home.
I prepared the noodles for them and told them I want to go see uncle,
“Can we come? They asked.
“No just stay back okay I’ll be back soon, I replied and closed the door behind and left to see my mother.
Dusk was closing on me as I arrived there and I breathed in to gather every courage I could because I have to do it.
But then when I approached I heard footsteps and I st©pped to listen carefully.
“Who’s there! I shouted when I was very sure someone was around there.
“Who’s there! I shouted again and drew closer but saw a young girl of about my age looking at me scared,
“Who are you? I asked as I saw she was tattered looking dirty with torn clothes.
“Dorathy you can’t recognize me? She asked and i went near when I heard my name from her, that we when I saw her face and I was shocked.
“Mabel, what are you doing here? I mean you were banished right? I asked and she nodded.
“Mama is dead, I decided to sneak in and stay here since this place was abandoned. That was when I saw your mom dumped here, so I decided to stay around here because she was a good woman. I hope I can keep her company before her burial, I’m sorry for your loss, Mabel replied and I held her to a place where we can sit and discuss better.
“What happened? I just heard you and your grandma was banished now she’s dead? What are you going to do now? I asked and she bowed her head.
“Dorothy, this world is not a good place especially for the poor, she replied sadly and I gently t©uçhed her shoulder……….
TBc