Yellow Tales of a Nigerian Housemaid (completed)

Chapter Eleven

It's still vividly clear how happy I was to be home, even though I'd fearfully nursed the possibility of going back to Mama's house. As always I've pushed these unpleasant thoughts away from my heart in a bid to hide away from them. Right now, what I've always ran away from is right up on my face and I'm silly scared of facing it, of facing a reality staring right back at me. Of a truth,  I'm scared of going back there, I'm more scared now that the holiday has ended.

Outside our small home, the few remaining grandchildren were playing hide and seek. I've always been a great seeker and for a moment a beautiful smile plastered on my lips as I watched them run about in a bit to hide better. Once they'd all hidden, I was once again alone in my thought. I tried pushing it away and maybe join in the game but the thoughts of going back murdered my thirst of playing with them.

I sat quietly at a corner, head bent, counting and recounting my toes. Harsh scenes from my reality kept replaying in my head and tears were freely pouring down my cheeks.

"What is it? Why are you crying?" That was my sister's voice, breaking through my thoughts. I quietly raised my head and shook it slowly.

"And why are you crying?" she asked again.

"I don't want to go back" I cried the more.

"You know dad won't listen to you" She said rubbing my head. She then paused for a second. "But why this outburst?"

I calmly narrated my ordeal to her for the umpteenth time. I've been doing this narration for the past three years but it'd always been a futile process of getting them to let me stay. But however, something I said caught my sister's interest.

"Wait, he has been doing what?" she asked sitting beside me.

"Every time I pass by him he touches my breast, and the other time he said I should lift my skirt that he needed to run a test on me" I cried to her.

"What? He is mad! He is stupid! Dad must hear this! This time he must take you away from there. That's exactly what they did to me! Those abusers!!! " She was screaming in pain. She paced about a little and gently walked back to my spot. With a calm tone, she asked;

"Nne tell me, did he touch you" I nodded innocently. I could see her face turning red.

"Is he the only man that has touched you?" I shook my head.

"What?" She screamed, but then calmed down again. "Tell me who and who?"

"Uncle, brother and Mama's boyfriend" I replied innocently. She heaved a painful sigh.

Silence.

"Have you seen your first period?" She asked and I nodded.

"When was that?"

"November 12th". I still remembered because I had circled it on the calendar just like aunt Oby advised. She looked up scantily in the sky and counted the day, it was January 15th.

"Have you seen it again since then?" I quietly shook my head.

I saw her becoming jumpy. She was scared. She began pacing up and down the corner, then hurriedly sat beside me again.

" Tell me, how did they touch you?"

"Uncle and Mama's friend will always touch my breast whenever I pass by. But brother will grab me and pull me to the backyard and then order me to pull up my skirt"

"And?"

"I always refuse but most times he will try to forcefully pull it up"
I could feel my sister swallowing hard spits.

"But has he ever put his thing into your...." she asked pointing downwards. My face changed as I was confused. I looked up at her.

"Where?"

"Your vagina?"
I shook my head instantly.

"He only touches my breast, my body and down here"

"Have you ever felt sharp pain when he does that?" She asked again and I shook my head.

"I always live in fear and try as much as much as possible to avoid them. I Don't want him to beat me again. They lie against me and even tell Mama that I have gone out to see a boy or even stole their money. I just want to have peace" I cried.

My sister held me closely but I knew from her eyes, she was going to confront my dad again about my living in that strange home.
*******
Dad returned just as rumoured. He announced upon his arrival that we were to leave the next day as he was on a tight schedule. My sister wouldn't have any of that and therefore presented him with my sordid tale. Dad was perplexed and couldn't utter a word as I innocently narrated my ordeal. There were sarcastic comments from my uncle who insinuated maybe I had started having sex and may even be pregnant. To my surprise none actually took me really serious. If they did, they never showed it. It was disheartening. My sister was disappointed.

However dad promised to deal with the matter. He put a call across to Mama who apologised to him.
Dad called me aside to explain why I needed to go back. His job doesn't leave him enough free time to take care of me and he was managing with my step mum in a very little apartment.

"But dad, your brother gave you some money for my boarding registration?" I asked him. He nodded.

"My daughter, if we do that, that means your elder and younger ones might miss school. Things are so rough for me this period, so I believe God provided that money so you all can be in school" I could feel the pain in his voice. "Please my dear, it's remaining just one more year. You will be in SS3 now, why don't you manage please. Once you are through you will come home immediately. And most importantly even if we decide to change your school none will accept you since you are in an exam class, unless you want to repeat SS2!" He said but I shook my head immediately.

"No dad! "

"Then biko (please) manage" He begged. I nodded in agreement.

Even though I didn't like the idea of going back home, I loved my dad so much to let my ordeal put him through much pains. He was diabetic and hypertensive which meant that a little extra stress could cause a crisis. He is the only parent I had and I wanted him to live long for me. I smiled and promised to be good once I go back. He was relieved and assured me that he would be coming frequently to visit me. I was happy.

I was sent back again the next day but the welcome I got was so cold. There was obvious hostility and tension in the air. Sadly this time around, I got double of my punishment for reporting them. I was now two months shy of fifteen years and realized it was time I looked out for myself. I have to take laws into my own hands.