Facade (Romola 1)

69: Matcheted

"All this thing wey una dey talk. Me I no believe am. Romola no fit do this kain this." The gossips in the crowd began.

*I can't believe all these things you people are saying. Romola can't do these kind of thing.*

"See her here. Ask her." Her mother put her hands into her pocket and withdrew a dirty little red purse. She threw it at Romola's feet. "Take your money wey I been dey keep for you. E no complete but I go give you the rest when I get am. Useless fowl."

*Take your money that I was keeping for you. It is not complete but I will give you the rest when I have it.*

Jide's father found his way to the purse "Why are you giving her the money? Do you want to encourage her to continue?"

"What's my own with her? She should leave this house."

Jide's father picked the purse and tucked it in his breast pocket. Romola reached for his hand but he shoved her away. "Wait, you want to collect the money from me. Shameless."

"Please, just help me beg her."

He turned to his wife, grunting, but she sent him a malicious look and he bestowed the same on Romola. "See, me too I am tired of your waka waka. I told your mother not to send you to university. See how you are an unnecessary waste of money. Your mama no go school yet she dey feed this family. You'll be forming strong head. Selfish rat."

*Your mother did not go to school, yet she feeds this family.*

Romola's head tinged with heat and frustration. The sweat running down her face had little to do with the sun. She stared at her step father's back as he bounced into the house. Why did she expect any help from him? He was the greatest antagonist who had pushed her into searching for an extra source of income and keeping it a secret.

"I am not an ashewo. But na im fault wey I do the thing I no suppose do. Really mommy? How much as he made you life better? All the money I give you, doesn't he collect it from you. You think I don't know."

*Prostitute. It is his fault that I do what I am not supposed to do.*

"Shut up Romola."

"Mummy no. Since you don't want me to explain, I'll sha talk my own for everybody else. You see this man, the only thing he knows how to do is to take money from my mother. If he is not beating her, he is drinking. Many times, It's the money that I make we use to eat and repair things in the house. He would be claiming electrician, electrician. Work he doesn't have. Light bulb, he can't fix."

She spoke from an embittered heart filled with grief, frustration and anger. She related the cause of her pain until a slap on her face cut her short.

"Shut up." It was Jide's father who held her up and dragged through the crowd. He pulled a struggling Romola out of the open space and threw her against the one of the houses marking the entrance to the open space. She fell head first to the concrete floor.

"I never want to see an ingrate like you in my house again."

&&&

She remained on the floor, sobbing into the earth and unmoving though she heard people walk past her. Some of then hurled insults but she remained where she was. Her mother had not even blinked while Baba Jide had pulled her out of the house. Her own mother had choose that cruel man's side instead of hers. Her mother had tried to cover up his sins instead.

She didn't rise up until she felt a hand on her shoulder. She raised her tear streaked face and turned saying. "I'm sorry mummy."

"It's okay Romola but you can't stay here." Mrs. Nelson said.

Romola's face fell. Looking beyond Mrs. Nelson frame, he saw that the sky had donned a coat of purple and the crowd had dispersed.

Mrs Nelson helped her get to her feet and led her towards the house. She limped in her effort to keep up with the woman as she felt pain building up on her left thigh. Something trickled down her leg and plastered the dress to her skin but her only thought was on how to get into the house.

Mrs. Nelson helped her to the door and left with a warning. "Moromola, apologise to your parents and don't let this nonsense repeat itself again."

Romola nodded. Her lips quivered. She felt the sticky liquid trickle past her knee and she bent down to watch the blood trail on her leg.

"Tha...Thank you, ma." She sobbed, walking into the house. Her last glimpse of the outside world was at her belonging heaped in a corner of the compound.

"Romola." It was Sunbo's voice that caught her attention.

Her half sister put the tray of beans aside and ran towards her. She pulled her into a tight hug before stepping away and whispering in conspirational tones. "You have to leave. Daddy says you're a disgrace. I was able to steal your money back."

Sunbo reached under her dress and produced the small purse.

Romola wrapped her hand over her sister's. "No, you keep it."

"Take it." Sunbo thrust it into her hands. "It's yours."

Romola would have passed it back to Sunbo if her sister did not stumble aside. Romola's eyes lit on Baba Jide. He glared at Sunbo with a Matchete raised above his head and he swung it down at Romola. 

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