DINING WITH MY ANCESTORS

Episode 5: Runz Babe

Waking up the following day, I was depressed, devastated, battered and by this time the whole house was quiet. I went downstairs only to meet Gabriel sitting with Miss Chioma, I was about returning upstairs when she called me
"Amaaa where are you going to? You just got down here why are you in a hurry to go up? "
"Just want to give you both privacy " I said
"Don't worry am taking my leave now, hope to go out with you for lunch one of this days " Gabriel quickly interrupted, he got up from the couch
"Let me see you off" Miss Chioma said and walked with him out of the house, I quickly sat down on the couch prpared to face Miss Chioma. After ten to fifteen minutes, Miss Chioma returned back to the house.
"You are not looking bright this morning, how was your night? " She asked sitting close to me
"It was not fine "
"Why? "
"Gabriel copulated with me " I said and she chuckled making me uncomfortable
"It could be a mistake because you both were drunk, anyway he his interested in you, so I don't think there is any problem with that.
I was flabbergasted and I widened my eyes
"Don't be surprised darling, you are a grown girl and Gabriel is a nice guy at that, he needs a serious relationship with you. He is sincere. So don't look so worked up as if something bad happened, just take it easy on yourself you will be fine.  "
She pulled me into a hug and I wept silently on her shoulder. I immediately wiped my eyes and gently pulled out of the hug.
"What of Anita? " she asked
"She should be in her room, she will come down when she is ready " I said as we got up from the couch. We were about entering the kitchen when Anita sang "Hallelujah eh" and coming down stairs.
"Good morning Sister Chioma and Sister Amanda. " Anita greeted and I waved
"Why are you so excited today because today is not your birthday or have you won lottery? " Miss Chioma asked
"No. Unilag just offered me admission and my screening is next week!!!! " she spake with so much excitement and I remembered she wrote jamb, but I refused to write because I made an agreement with Miss Chioma to stay and work so that I could also sponsor Anita's schooling.
"Congratulations " I and Miss Chioma said in unison
"That's splendid, I will give some money for transportation and all the requirements you need to get, I will also arrange for accommodation over there for you. So this weekend you are leaving, as you get to the park one of my female friends will pick you up. After the screening come back home let's celebrate " Miss Chioma said
"Awwwwwn. Thank you very much Ma. You are the best. May God bless you and reward "Anita said and gave Miss Chioma a hug.
"It's nothing. You both like my family now so therefore I should help as much as I can " Miss Chioma said releasing from the hug
"OK so now let's go and prepare breakfast am so famished " Miss Chioma said
    
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Anita resumed school a month after her screening. I was left alone with Miss Chioma. Gabriel started visiting more often and each time he comes around we must always have an affair.
Two months later, I lost my period. I started feeling sick. I treated malaria and typhoid as Miss Chioma advised me to do, but instead the sickness persisted.
One evening I strolled out to a nearby pharmacy and conducted a test. While waiting for the result, I was lost in thought.
"Congratulations Ma'am. You are pregnant " The Pharmacist interrupted my thought
Tears rolled down my eyes.
"Ma is everything ok? " The pharmacist asked
"Yes. Thank you very much " I said and got up slowly from the chair and left the place.
When I got back home, I was so moody that Miss Chioma noticed it, but she played along.
"Good after Sister " I greeted
"Afternoon where did you go to? " she asked ignoring my sad countenance
"I went for test in a pharmacy and I was told that am one month pregnant " I said feeling disappointed with myself
"So is there anything wrong with that? " she asked and I wasn't too surprised
"Yes " I responded
"What then is wrong? " she asked folding her hands
"How do I keep this pregnancy, because definitely Gabriel will not want to father a child now "I said and she giggled then she stopped and cleared her throat
"Do you want to keep the child? " she asked
"I _I _I _I _I _1_1" I stuttered
"You are confused, see let me tell you something " she unfolded her hands and walked close to me with a look I couldn't explain its meaning
"Gabriel is part of my team inasmuch as you are now, one of our rules is that we don't harbor pregnancy, that's why we are not married " she said and I was amazed
"I don't understand " I said cleaning my eyes with the back of my hands.
"Remember you once asked me where I work and the nature of the job, and I told you that you will get to know with time. I am a RUNZ BABE. We sleep with multi millionaires and get money for the ladies and we smuggle in marijuana as a team, so this house you are in wasn't built by my father or whosoever, I built it with my money I gathered through Runz. I am now established so I get in young ladies like you into the business. So you have to get rid of that thing inside there " she said pointing at my stomach
"I can't abort an innocent child, it is murder. Please let me just keep this one " I pleaded
"Never. First the child is not born yet so that is not murder. Second, you are to start Runz next month so you can't keep that thing. I will give you tonight to think and take your decision by tomorrow you are flushing out that thing " she said giving me a pat on the shoulder, then she walked away leaving me to face the situation at hand.
I ran to my room and locked myself inside and wept bitterly. I had never seen that other side of Miss Chioma. I cried all through the night till day break.
      The following day, as early as 5: 30am Miss Chioma knocked on my door and I opened with  sleepy eyes.
"Good morning Sister"I greeted
"Morning you slept well? "
"Yes I did " I lied
"Take your bath and dress up we are going to see a Doctor today " she said sounding so calm  and I nodded without a word.
When she left, I shut my room door and started crying again but no tears came out from my eyes.
By 8:30am we both were dressed up and ready to leave the house, but I needed to inform Gabriel, so I lied to Miss Chioma that I was pressed, then I ran into the toilet and called Gabriel.
"Good morning my Baby "
'"Good Morning Gabriel, sorry that am telling you this late. Am pregnant for you " I paused
"And what now happened? " he asked and I was surprised but I continued
"I am aborting the child today "
"Good for you. When you return let me know. Have a great day " That was all he said and hunged up, I suspected that Miss Chioma must have informed him the previous day. I pocket my phone then washed my hand before coming out with wet hands so that it will really seem as if I used the toilet for real, I met Miss Chioma smiling but she maintained immediately she glanced at me.
When we left the house it was past nine in the morning. We arrived one native clinic or hospital it was looking like a prison, so unkept, elephant grasses everywhere. We walked into the place and Miss Chioma exchanged pleasantries with the man as if they had each other for a long time. The Doctor took me into a room and instructed me to lay on the bed in which the bedsheet was dirty and I had no choice than to lie down. I was given some some drugs to take before I knew I was asleep.
By the time I woke up everything was done, I didn't feel anything. Miss Chioma gave the man some money and we left. When we got home, the cloud was getting dark and I checked the time it was 6pm, I almost shouted, that means we stayed there for a long time.
Miss Chioma prepared Dinner of porridge plantain and we ate in silence.
"Am going to bed " Miss Chioma said after washing the dishes
"Good night Sis" I said and sat on the couch
"Aren't you going to bed? " she asked
"No am not feeling sleepy "
"OK since you say so. Good night "
She left me in the sitting room. I stayed there and cried out my eyeballs. I was feeling the pains but not severe. I regretted ever being born and left to suffer. I wished I could talk to someone who will console me but to no avail. I was on a journey with my ancestors.