MY ORDEAL✊✊ Episode 8. The next morning I woke up with hearing the sound of my brother in the room, then I saw I sle-pt off on the sofa without knowing. I rushed in and saw Edward awake looking at Samuel who was talking in his sleep and wiggling his b©dy on the be-d. “Samuel, Samuel wake up its morning, I shouted shaking him and he woke up afraid. “What happened? What did you dream? I asked holding him. “I saw Daddy and mommy, I wanted following them but they were st©pping me. I wanted going with them but they promised they will come back, sister why didn’t they carry me along? Samuel asked and I weakly looked at Edward. “I saw mommy in the market in the dream, she was selling then she asked me to go call you to come quic-kly to the market, Edward said and my mouth flew open with shock. “She said that? I asked and he nodded. “That was when I woke up and saw Samuel this way, he replied and I nodded and cleaned Samuel face. “Its okay alright, didn’t mommy said she will come back? She will come back with daddy okay, I said. “But is mommy still sick? I saw her very okay why have they not returned her back yet? Edward asked and I heaved knowing I am just in the midst of lawyers b!owing me questions from every angle. “Let’s pray, today is Sunday and I don’t think we will go to church. Let’s pray God should grant Mommy and daddy eternal rest, I said closing my eyes and they did same with no clue of what I just said. I briefly opened my eyes looking at them as they prayed silently the way they could while I controlled myself knowing my parents showed themselves but left me behind. When I left their room telling them to rest, I thought about Edward dream, “Mommy asked me to come to the market? I asked myself after sweeping the outside and I shook my head. “That’s more than a message, I said going in telling them I’ll be back soon. “Don’t go outside plea-se, I want to go take some cu-ps of rice and tin tomatoes for rice and stew okay, I said and they jumped up happily. “Good and if I see any of you outside I won’t cook it again. Edward come lock the door as I leave, I said and they followed me out of their room to lock the door. “Don’t open it for anyb©dy till I return, I said outside after confirming the door was locked. “Okay sister, bye, they said shouting inside and I left. “Mommy what do you have for me in the market? I asked myself as I was going. I got a lot of condolences on the way that I almost cried, little wonder my mom death spre-ad like wildfire and I wondered if they really felt my mom death or they are just pretending to be nice. I arrived at the shop and breathed in before opening it. I opened the windows for ventilation, but as the light pas-sed throu-gh the window, my eyes went straight to a corner where I saw a black nylon on the ground. I wanted ignoring it thinking its one of the empty nylon i used in selling, but then I decided to check it out, as I t©uçhed it I noticed there was something inside. I picked it up and behold the 50,000 naira I thought was missing. I let go of the nylon with my hand shivering, yes I and Benson turned the whole shop looking for it, but was it really here all this while? was what I couldn’t explain. I sat on the ground crying to myself, “If I had found this Money earlier, would my mother have died? After all she never wanted to use the money neither for her treatment but to see her children doesn’t go hungry, mommy did you drop this for us? I asked not knowing what to think anymore as I remembered Edward telling me he saw Mommy selling. I cleaned my eyes ma-king sure I held the money firm in my hand so it won’t fly again, I took what I nee-ded from the shop and I locked it properly and rushed back home. The sadness in me quenched as I cooked happily knowing the money I just found with the 6,000naira that was in the house will carry us a long way if I’m smart enough to manage it. I thanked God for my mom before she died was able to pay all our fees, though I know that’s my responsibility now but before the fees expires I should be able to gather money enough to pay again so we won’t be driven home. After feeding my brothers and watched them pla-ying games, I took the money counting it all over again and separated 15,000 naira for the shop rent, which I know very soon the woman will appear for her money. I drafted down the things finished in the market and I saw truly my late mom budgeted that money very well, and it would have been a big disaster if that money was truly missing. “Dorothy, I heard my name outside and recognized the voice. I quic-kly packaged the money very well and kept it in a safe place, after all my mom asked me not to trust anyb©dy before she pas-sed away, though she didn’t pointed out her enemies to me nor explain why i shouldn’t. Even if Benson is a good guy, I still don’t know him too well so i think it will be stupid of me to bring him that close to me even if I know right now I nee-d a close friend i can trust. I c@m£ out and met him outside, “Hey sorry i couldn’t check on you, but you look good to me, he said immediately I c@m£ out and I smiled going in to bring him a chair. “Its okay, its only past 1pm anyway. But I’m Looking good how? I asked when he sat down while i sat at the pavement there. “You look happy to me and i love that, he replied and i nodded. “Life nee-d to go on you know, I said and he cl@pped his hands. “That’s the spirit, he said giving me a hi five and i bur-st out laughing. “So about that guy have you seen him anywhere around?He asked. “You mean the hvge guy i thought stole the money? I asked. “You thought? He asked when he noticed the tone of my voice. “Oh I don’t nee-d him anymore, I found it, I replied. “Are you serious? That’s good news, but where? He asked. “In the shop, just in one corner like that, I replied and he shook his head looking at me. “But we searched everywhere how come? He asked. “I don’t know, if i saw it outside then I would have thought someone had a conscience to return it back, but i saw it right inside with the doors well locked, I replied. “Oops is a good thing you didn’t ask him that, he said. “Yea who knows if his 5 f!ngerswould have s£nt Me mad by now, I said and he bur-st out laughing. “But I’m happy for you, i think the money will go a long way for you and your brothers, he said. “Yea it will really do, I replied him. “Alright, i only dropped by to say hello, he said getting up. “Thank you so much, I said and i saw my uncle entered. “Okay I think I have to go now, Benson whispered and i nodded while he left and my uncle was approaching. I kept a straight face and greeted him but he ignored, “Have you seen your mom b©dy today? He asked. “Was i to see her everyday? What’s wrong with her? I asked and he shook his head. “Who do you think should be checking on her huh? Is it still me? He asked. “But uncle I…..”will Yuh shut up and run down there to see how you will clean the room and check her b©dy especially her legs. Who do you think will carry it all on the head as if i was the one enjoying her, nons-en-se! He blurted out and i went in to wear my sli-ppers while my brothers hearing the noise c@m£ out. “That is how you will just be here doing nothing while your mother b©dy stays there to rotten, my uncle said and my brothers looked at me. “With all respect uncle is it not enough? The b©dy was taken and i didn’t know where they took her to,why blaming it all on me? I asked controlling my anger and he looked at me from my head down and gave a loud hiss and walked away. “Sister what is uncle saying? What happened to mommy? Edward asked me. “Don’t worry, lock the door I’ll be back, I said wearing another shi-t to the one i was wearing alre-ady and left too………
.. Tbc