The house maid episode 2

Chapter 2

We followed him sheepishly to our fate
but the sight of it and the accompanying
shock made me cry the more.
Our punishment was the L-shaped BQ
located behind the laboratory units and
which housed the student's toilets. The
building was old with the once beautiful
green painting crying for a retouch. Lines
of caked paintings thanks to the leaking
roof, ran from below the zinc down to the
small sized windows with visible cracks
evident all over the wall. Green algae had
made the base of the building it's abode
with the door almost falling off it's
hinges.
The teacher was standing a bit off from
the house, his right palm clenched over
his nose. He raised his cane strictly and
motioned at us to move to the toilets. I
did. Slowly.
Intuitively, I pushed my lips and nose
together to fight off the overwhelming
stench from the toilets, but it didn't work
much. Right at the door, I slowly pushed
my head in to peep but the gory sight I
beheld made me want to puke.
I pulled my head out. Fast.
"Now!" He screamed which had me
jumping into the poorly dimmed
miniature room with the poorest
ventilation I'd ever seen.
"I want them sparkling clean" I could hear
him scream from outside, followed by
subtle footsteps which faded away.
Staring at such stinky and dirty toilets
before me, I wished he had just flogged
me mercilessly, believe me that would
have been better.
I was still wallowing in self pity when I
remembered my test, the sudden thought
of missing it pushing tremendous
adrenaline into my system and forcing me
to immediately set to work.
Glancing down the floor beside the
already brown WC, my eyes fell on an old
toilet brush, it's brush almost ripped off
due to extremely long usage. I shook my
head in pity as I wondered how I was
going to hold the dilapidated handle, with
my bare hands.
No glove.
No nylon, at least to fake protection with.
I glanced up just above the spoilt water
reservoir where the small window stood,
an old water bottle sat on the edge with
an almost transparent green liquid shining
from within.
I smiled.
That was supposed to be the toilet wash
but thanks to the management or whoever
is in charge, for adding extra water to an
already watery toilet wash just to make it
last a lifetime. Or so maybe, he too can
get some cash off the planned budget.
The downside? This wash will never foam
no matter how much you pour in. And?
The students, now turned washers waste
an entire bottle or more trying to get it to
foam so they could wash the toilets clean.
And then? The management still refuse to
learn that adding extra water to an
already watery toilet wash doesn't make it
last longer, rather leads it to waste.
So? The cycle continues. Nothing is done.
Carefully stretching my hands towards the
window, I reached the bottle but took it
by wrapping my fingers on the almost
black cap. I shook the liquid which moved
quickly within the bottle space, showing
how watery it was.
I exhaled and uncapped it, pouring some
into the toilet. With one last long breath, I
shut my eyes not so firmly, peeking out a
little as I guided my hands to the toilet
brush. The immediate touch forcing me to
withdraw my hands.
I'm wasting a lot of time!
I tried again but held unto it this time
around, lifting and guiding it to the toilet
and watching as brown liquids left in it's
cup from previous washes trickled on the
toilet's brown surface.
With unguided tears I scrubbed, cussing at
such a cruel fate I'm always faced with. I
was washing as hard and fast as I could,
praying silently that I do not miss my test.
I was done maybe an hour later and raced
off to class.
The class was near empty with the
hallways extremely busy. It was filled with
group of students standing, gossiping and
running about. I instantly realised it was
break time and with a little enquiry, was
informed I'd missed the test.
Oh! I cried!!!
Most of my classmates couldn't wrap their
head around my constant lateness to
school. Some kept asking if I was getting
to class at that hour? Many bullied and
called me names while others laughed at
my unkempt looks.
My legs were so dry and rough even
though it wasn't yet harmattan. It was as
if I never had my bath or ever creamed
them. I was so ashamed of myself and lost
every atom of confidence in me.
I gradually became a loner.
My loss of self esteem forced me to
constant quietness, always wrapping
myself to a corner. I had no personal
school chair and locker and always had to
beg my classmates to squat with them.
Many would mock me scornfully while the
few who would agree would just let me sit
for a few days, and then throw me out. I
was the only one who constantly had to
stand by the window to write her exams.
I was the only one!
I've missed yet another test and I knew I
was doomed to perform poorly again at
the end of the term.
Deep in my heart I just kept thinking;
"How I just wish someone could just
help!!"
I needed that little help...

*****
I got home from school ten minutes late
and I knew in my heart, I was in a hot
soup. My school was a walking distance,
maybe fifteen to twenty minutes trek. It
was one of the respected schools around.
Walking home proved quite difficult today
because I was very hungry. I couldn't
bring myself to walk as fast as I used to. I
was literally dragging my legs along,
pushing up sands and dust which settled
happily on my legs and knees.
I walked into my guardian's presence.
Mama and aunt Oby was seated outside
apparently waiting for my return. Once
the duo are seated out like that, I would
just know that I've done something wrong.
I murmured a greeting while stepping
onto the brief stairs but my aunt's furious
eyeballs made me stop.
"I asked you to fill up my buckets and you
just filled three, why? " she asked
"I was running late aunty but I will fill
them all up once I change" I begged
"change what? " she barked
"drop your school bag" she ordered and
that I did in an instant.
"carry those buckets from my room and
fetch water for me right now, and you
must do that in your uniform" she
commanded.
I felt weak. I was sad. I felt empty and
helpless. I knew once I walk that distance
I would meet my school mates who would
bully me the more the next day in school.
My hungry stomach had quietly filled up
itself as it had realized I wouldn't have
any meal unless I was through with my
chores. I looked up at my aunt with a
pleading eyes but her eyeballs were as red
as a raging fire. I knew I had no option
than to obey.
I went upstairs to her room, brought out
her empty buckets and turned to leave.
"please let her just change her school
uniform" mama pleaded. I stopped
instantly in high hopes.
"No!" aunty refused. "next time she won't
defy my orders"
"Biko nwa m (please my child), please"
mama insisted.
Aunty stared at me for sometime, sprang
up and walked towards the staircase. She
went underneath it which was where I
kept my dirty clothes, and brought out a
very dirty stinking gown. The stench from
it forced her to cover her nostrils with
her left palm. She headed back and
handed it over to me.
"change into these and go fetch my water
right now" she was enraged like a bull.
Mama screamed as she perceived the
stench but surprisingly burst out laughing.
"dirty pig! " she cursed as I picked up the
gown.
Life has been very unfair to me that I
know. Love is something life has denied
me, which has left me craving for it like
my life depends on it. I wished mama and
her family would love me and treat me
like a human.

Today has been awkward. The constant
headache and my aching stomach has left
me speechless but I dare not complain.
My head was pounding like a mortar being
hit with a pestle. Aunt Oby and her fiance
were upstairs watching a movie.
Oh! did I forget to mention they were
cohabiting? My aunt's fiance lives with her
in the family home!
I guess mama noticed my pale face and
was pushed to ask me what was wrong,
but I simply answered "nothing". I
managed to carry out my chores to the
last despite the kind of twinging pain I felt
in my stomach. Once done, I had my bath
and tied my badly torn wrapper. I didn't
have much clothes so I always substitute
with this single wrapper especially when
I'm home. I laid down on the bare floor
and tried to stop the tears forming in my
eyes. I was in serious pain. Thankfully, I
didn't realize when I dozed off.
I awoke minutes later to begin
preparations for the night but my laps felt
so wet. I sprang up with fearful thoughts
that I had urinated unconsciously but a
touch on my laps proved me wrong,
rather than urine, my fingers were red....
Blood!!!!
I wanted to scream but I couldn't, all I
could think of was the beating I was going
to get, the abuse, the curses and the pain.
My pants were stained so was my
wrapper. I ran off with fears to have them
changed. I put on my spare pant as I had
only two. I kept wondering how I had hurt
myself especially as there was no physical
injury. I was still thinking of what to do
when I heard the door open downstairs
and mama walked right in. I knew right
away that I was in grave danger. Just as I
was pondering on what to say to her, I
felt another hot gush of blood. I was
transfixed and lost on what to do next.
But in a flash, I remembered I could hide,
at least until I think of what to say, and
that I just did.

To be continued