The House maid episode 1

Chapter 1
I was lying on the hard concrete pavement
outside, waiting for Mama to come home.
I'd been engulfed by the thick darkness
and was therefore invisible to anyone
approaching the house.
It was the usual blackout days and I sadly,
had no torchlight with me. I would cringe
and shiver at the thought of a reptile
crawling and munching a chunk off me.
It's been a busy, hungry and sad day for
me, one of those days I was mandated to
fast as a punishment for being careless.
I'd gotten on my aunt Agnes' nerve after I
mistakenly broke her fancy ceramic plate,
which was actually her favorite plate.
She had there and then commanded me to
not taste any meal cooked in the house,
and had further instructed everyone else
not to feed me. That was the usual
punishment for my supposed carelessness.
From that morning I'd tasted nothing
except for water, even though I've been
working tirelessly in and outside the
house, trying to get every single chore
done. This was why I was panting heavily
when I finally laid in the darkness, waiting
and hoping Mama would come soon and
maybe override aunt Agnes' punishment.
I'd earlier overheard aunt Oby saying
Mama traveled to far away Abakaliki and
would be back very late. My stomach
churned and bubbled at the thought of
this, forcing me to twinge in pain in
response. I was now very hungry that I
could literally eat anything as food.
My aunts and uncle were already fast
asleep, enjoying the warm comforts of
their bed upstairs but I was forbidden to
retire for the night, unless Mama comes
home.

Mama I know hates knocking and waiting
for someone to open up for her. She
always loved the idea of someone waiting
up no matter how late it could be. That
someone was me!
The weather has changed and I was sure it
would soon bless the earth with its
showers, and drench my poor self. I
therefore intensified my prayers, not only
for Mama to come home soonest but for
it not to rain. If it rains, I'd have to stay
up and fill our empty drums, and my
heart skipped severally as I envisioned
how long that would take.
As if my prayers were going unanswered,
lightning began to cast it's presence in the
sky. I watched and prayed silently in my
heart, my mind uncertain of heaven's
plan.
Everywhere was pretty dark and quiet and
one could clearly hear the sound of the
cringing birds. I couldn't even see our
pawpaw tree as darkness had enveloped it
all. I was now very scared and wished I
could be called in, even if it is to lay on
the floor while waiting for Mama, but I
knew in my heart it was just pure
imagination.
I waited for over four hours until I heard
faint flapping steps coming towards me, I
became more afraid as I couldn't make
out who it was.
The steps were very closer now and the
sound they made more alarming.
I was dead with fear.
As if a strange voice whispered some
words in my ear, I jerked up and ran to a
corner for safety. I needed to confirm
who it was before making my presence
known. There had been recent reports of
robbery incidents within the estate and
none of the robbers has ever being caught
neither could anyone tell those involved.
As the being drew closer, I tried so hard
to make out the face but all I could see
were two huge white balls floating in the
darkness. I was now very much afraid.
"Don't tell me this girl has gone to bed! "
I heard her say.
That was Mama, my step aunt.
I wouldn't lie, that was actually the very
first time I've ever felt this huge and
genuine relieve hearing her voice.
"I'm here, good evening ma" I greeted
stepping out to carry her bag.
"And why were you there? " She asked.
"So you wanted to scare me, this little
brat! " She cursed.
"No ma" I tried defending my action. "I
was very scared when I heard your
footsteps so I hid. I didn't know it was
you" I cried.
"You see, that's why I keep saying you're
possessed! You're afraid? Of what if I may
ask? A little girl that's presumed to be
innocent? What are you afraid of? " She
barked!
I shook my head in plain defeat.
"If you ever try this nonsense again, you'll
sleep outside!" She warned.
Silent now, she roughly dumped the bags
on the floor and went inside.
I picked up the bags and turned to follow
her but a cold movement on my right leg
made me shiver. I shook my leg
vigorously and whatsoever it was fell off.
A blind closer look saw me staring at my
nightmare!
It was a snake!
I screamed and ran inside but my alarm
brought Mama out.
"And? What now? " She asked flashing her
torchlight angrily on my face.
I was practically shaking and kept pointing
towards the door.
"Snake! Snake! "
She turned her light sharply to the
direction I was motioning at but saw
nothing. She walked towards the door
flashing her light sideways but
again,.nothing!
After silently looking around for some
minutes without any sight of whatsoever I
was running from, she turned her lights
on me.
"What did I say earlier? You are
possessed! So your clique came to attack
me but got you instead eh? I have power
in Christ Jesus and I'm stronger than you,
both physically and spiritually!" She
screamed.
"No ma!" I pleaded. "There was a snake
there!" I cried.
"So you're still talking?" She barked, and
in a moment of rage, snatched her bags
from my hands while pushing me aside.
She turned abruptly and walked into the
door. I tried to follow her but rather felt
the door slammed in my face.
"I warned you, so you're sleeping outside
tonight! Idiot!!" She cursed.
And then I heard the same flapping steps
as they climbed the stairs. Knocking
wouldn't help as I know Mama would be
pissed. I was sure it was almost 11pm and
she wouldn't like me waking the sleeping
neighbours.
I've never felt this afraid in my entire life.
I snuggled by the door frame praying and
hoping my nightmare doesn't come back
for a bite, and most importantly for the
day to break earlier.

*****
I awoke the next day feeling rather great.
Last night's event actually made me
stronger since I couldn't believe I'd pull
through.
I started off my chores eagerly, apparently
hurrying so I could be in school early. I
had a test to write today.
I swept the compound, the kitchen, the
rooms and the staircase. I washed the
plates and ran my other usual morning
errands. I checked the clock, it was
already 7:46am and I knew I might be
late, yet again.
I hurried off to have my bath but aunt
Oby's call interrupted me. I ran upstairs,
to her room.
"I have no water in my convenience, fill
up the buckets" She ordered.
I was calm, awkwardly quiet but my heart
was exploding. I looked up at her with so
much pains in my eyes but she was too
busy with her phone to notice me.
"But aunty, I filled some of your buckets
yesterday, I am running late for school
and I have a test to write today " I cried.

I could see her hands pause suddenly, her
neck slowly turning and her head spinning
towards me. An angry frown decorated
her lips and a burning fire present in her
eyes.
"Did you say anything?" She asked.
I knew what that cue meant so I just
shook my head and walked out dejectedly.
I have lived with my step aunt for the
past five years. She has four children who
were already adults. They lived together in
the house except the eldest who lives in a
different area with his family.
With them, I have witnessed every
undescribable form of abuse, but denying
me the opportunity to be in school early
like my mates, hurts me so bad. My
younger aunt knows how much I loved
school and has always used that as a
weapon of punishment on me. I'm sure
she feels fulfilled watching me cry to
school on an empty stomach, everyday.
I walked to the kitchen and emptied two
of the 50 litre gallon in there. I carried
the two at once in the fairly good wheel
barrow as I was hoping it would make the
journey faster.
There has been scarcity of water lately and
the nearest borehole was miles away.
Thankfully it did work as by the next
hour, I was home amidst sweats. I
brought down her buckets and filled up
some. I hurriedly carried them to her and
then proceeded to quickly have my bath.
In a short time I was ready for school
though it was pretty late. I still believed
that if I could make it to school before
10:30am, I could actually partake in the
test.
Many that saw me race to school shook
their head in pity, while some motorists
who never knew me cursed me and called
me lazy.
I got to the school gate around 10:15am
and as expected it was locked. There were
three students leaning on it, pleading with
the security man to let them in. I joined
in their quest but it all proved futile. At a
point, I sat on the ground and began to
cry bitterly. Maybe my tears touched the
aged man as he reluctantly let us in.
Stepping into the school compound, our
eyes fell on a popular figure.
Boldly standing before us, stood one of
our teachers. He beckoned on us to come
closer. I was so afraid of being flogged
and therefore walked towards him like a
skeleton. I was shaking visibly and he
noticed my fears instantly.
"Don't worry, I have a better punishment"
He announced to me in particular, "Just
follow me

To be continued