MY ORDEAL✊✊
Episode 59.
Story by Miriam Edem (Miriam Eyen Efik)
By 7pm I decided to shut down everything,
“plea-se we nee-d to go home so we will come back here early for the main stuff. I’m glad the turkey and pommo are done, we still have a lot to do tomorrow, the goat, plantain….. In fact many things and we nee-d strength to do all of it, I said when I was feeling more uncomfortable and they all looked at me.
“I agree With her, tomorrow I won’t be here though but I can manage to get hold of a vehicle to transport you girls down there, agreed? Uche asked.
“Yes yes that will be cool, Treasure shouted.
“So we tidy up and leave, thanks Uche, I said.
“You’re welcome, I have to go now, hope you girls can manage? Uche asked.
“Yes sure, thank you so much, the girls said and he waved at us and left. I was kind of relieved he left and I noticed someone was looking at me, which I looked up and saw Chinwe eyes on my b©dy.
I just took my eyes away from her and helped to carry the things we did outside and tidied up the area.
“Alright girls, see you tomorrow, plea-se be early, I said to them when we were done.
“Ma can I still bring my sister to as-sist? Blessed asked.
“No problem, alright goodnight, I said holding Treasure hand and we left them first before they did.
We got home and I hurried into the shower to cool down my b©dy, the heat was beginning to get too much and i couldn’t think I will hold it any longer again, perhaps the water will quench the fire burning in me.
Minutes later I c@m£ out from the shower and saw Chinwe standing looking at me,
“What is it? I asked not looking at her face.
“What is wrong with you? Are you still angry about what happened to you or is this the new character you want to adapt? She asked.
“What exactly are you talking about? What character? I asked.
“Are you asking Me that? Look yourself In the mirror and tell Me what you see, she replied and I just kept quiet wearing my night go-wn, I didn’t want her to see I was scared looking at the mirror myself.
“So are you going to tell me what’s wrong with you now? She asked when I sat down on the be-d and I looked at her.
“I don’t know, I’m not sure yet. Everything easily piss me off, I feel heat and I’m so uncomfortable I can’t explain. And the scariest p@rt of it all is I’ve missed my period, you know mine always come on time right? I don’t know what to do anymore and I think all of this is affecting me, I said and her eyes bulged out.
“You missed your what? Chinwe asked and went to the calendar,
“What is your ink again? She asked Me.
“Blue, I replied and she looked back at me when she saw it.
“I thought you said he didn’t re-lease on you, or did he? She asked.
“How I’m I suppose to know? Besides it was just once, can I get pregnant with that? I asked.
“Just once you mean? Are you talking about in rounds or it was just a one day thing? Chinwe asked.
“Twice….. “2 rounds at a stretch for a first time, and you really think pregnancy will respect you because your name is Dorothy huh! Chinwe shouted and fear gr!pp£dme.
“Chinwe we cant be sure, it has not been confirmed first that I am Pregnant, plea-se don’t do this, I said crying alre-ady.
“I can’t be pregnant, plea-se I don’t want it I won’t stand the mess and the trouble it will bring, I continued and Chinwe held me while I cried on her.
That night I was constantly urinating, while i had serious itching around my pri-vate p@rts that I was f0rç£d to scratch, but I couldn’t hurt myself because of my nails.
I prayed silently for the day to break, even if I haven’t closed my eyes, I felt I will be better in the day.
I didn’t know when i sle-pt off, but Chinwe woke me up and i wished the daybreak didn’t come so quic-k even if i was praying for it.
“What’s the time? I asked cleaning my eyes.
“6:30, let’s hurry up there’s still a lot to be done, Chinwe replied and i nodded and went into the bathroom to clean up.
But then i saw discharge on my p@n-ties I couldn’t explain.
Ahhhnnn I have never experience all of this, and to un-derstand or know what is really going on bec@m£ more difficult.
” I nee-d to see a doctor tomorrow, I said in my heart………
We got to the restaurant and saw Blessed and a strange teenage girl outside waiting which she introduced to us as her sister….. I took the keys myself yesterday, with all that was stuck up in the restaurant I could only trust myself.
“Where are the other girls? I asked opening up.
“They are on their way, I just called them, Blessed replied and we got in.
“plea-se help me sweep the outside, I heard Blessed told her sister while I sat down in the main hall ru-bbing my forehead.
“s£nior you didn’t sleep last night? Treasure asked.
“Yea I didn’t, but don’t worry I’ll be fine, go help Sister, I replied and she slowly left me where i sat while i covered my head on the table until I heard the voices of the rest of the girls.
“Okay Time up Dorathy, I said to myself and got up to start work.
We were done with everything and took time to eat to our satisfaction before we head off to the venue.
“Its 2:30 alre-ady, Uche isn’t here and his number is not reachable. Are we still going to wait? Chinwe asked.
‘I was thinking about the same thing though, plea-se get us a taxi, I said and Treasure and Blessed got up but a Hilux parked immediately before they could go out and it was Uche.
Treasure was the one who went to him while we stayed back happy he arrived just in time.
“I hope I’m not too late? He asked.
“Nop not at all, but come and eat as we will stuck the hilux up, she replied.
“You kept food for me?Hmmmm this my caring wife eh, Uche said and walked in and we greeted him.
“Sorry i kept you waiting, and yes I’m charging my phone in the car it went off, he said.
“No problem, you’re welcome, i said.
“Okay Come and sit down, Treasure said dragging him to a chair and served him with swallow.
“Okay ladies, let’s take over from here, i said and we got up from our resting Positions to see what we can do before he comes to arrange it well.
Minutes later he drove us down to the venue and the daughter seeing us g@sped, looks like she was surprised when she saw us.
“Oh my Goodness! Can you imagine i totally forgot about you girls, I didn’t even remember, she said and we looked confused.
“Are you saying you got another chef after paying us? I asked.
“No not that, there’s a lot on my mind girls you won’t un-derstand. I should have given you girls a reminder call at least, but I’m glad you saved me the stress,she replied.
“Oh no problem i un-derstand, I said.
“You’re all welcome once again, you got the buffet? She asked and i nodded.
“Okay this will be the stand for you girls, I’m so happy you girls are here, she said and we only smiled at her as she Rushed to attend to other things.
“She really loves her dad, Chinwe said.
“Its very obvious, okay let’s get back to business, I said and asked Treasure to direct Uche to where we are standing, so the things will be offloaded.
Cars and jeeps of all clas-ses, sizes and colours drove in their numbers one by one when it was approaching evening.
The commissioner daughter c@m£ to us,
“Dora plea-se a maid will bring some expensive plates for you, that will be for my dad friends, you know they can’t come to the buffet stand, she said.
“No problem, I said and she went off immediately.
2 ladies approached us with a tray with heavy plates on it, one I can swear even the clothes on my b©dy won’t afford one if it breaks. I saw the fear in my girls eyes, and i knew it will be me and Chinwe to serve them, while they will keep their position.
“But why didn’t you take it over there to their table? I mean we have the cooler of porridge specially prepared for them and we will take it over there, Chinwe smartly said which i knew she is trying to avoid their temptation.
“But she asked us to bring it here, one of them said.
“No i think you didn’t hear that correctly sorry, i c@m£ in and they heaved and slowly left, which we gave a cross sign and left with the porridge cooler.
We began to serve them, careful not to hit the expensive drinks and wine scattered on the table, that’s another temptation on its own. But just when I wanted dropping a plate of Isiewu to the one who wanted eating that first, the man who was sitting beside him beat me on my bu-tt and began to laugh stupidly l!çk!ng hisl-ips. I wanted to react, but Chinwe immediately pinched me and win-ked at me to be cool,
“Hey where is your madam? A man who started eating asked.
“Us, we replied.
“Like he meant your madam, another person c@m£ in.
“Its our business, we do it together, I replied and there was this surprise look on their faces.
“You mean to say you both cooked this? A woman there with a strong voice asked and we nodded.
‘Impressive i must say, sorry I beat your bu-m I was thinking you’re a helper or something to your madam, The man who did that to me said and some men laughed at him calling him bad man when he said that.
We just kept quiet and finished serving them, and the commissioner daughter hurriedly c@m£ to where we are.
“Any complain sirs? Satisfied or do you nee-d more? She asked.
“No no this is delicious, where on this planet did you get this girls from? Another woman who was with them asked and we just smiled praying silently to God for favour.
“here in our planet, plea-se isi ewu will be delivered soon after this, welcome to the p@rty once again and my dad will arrive soon, she said and they happily cheered among themselves while we just stood looking and knew among human, there are levels and clas-s……..
tbc