VALLEY:The Trials Of A Girl Orphan

CHAPTER 4

Soon, we started preparing for the term’s examination. Easter holiday was fast
approaching. My exams were to start on Wednesday. I had borrowed some
textbooks from the library to read over the weekend. I had a lot to cover up.
Being occupied with taking care of Naade after getting back from school, I didn’t
have so much time to read as I pleased. I had to stay up late most times. This
affected me in school as I was caught sleeping during lessons most time. The
teachers just kept complaining. There was no doubt that I was the most brilliant
girl in the class. I had managed to rise to the top 3 in the class with two other boys
constantly competing with me. I would say they were better off. They had all the
textbooks and stationaries. All I replied upon were the textbooks I got from Fisayo
or the library. The teachers actually gave up on waking me up when I slept. They
always said, ‘we don’t care, at least she’ll still come out the best.’ Most of the
teachers had become my friend especially Miss Badmus, the pretty, nerdy English
Language teacher in her late twenties. She liked talking to me and always
supported me after hearing my story. Sometimes, she would buy me snacks and
even tutored me for free.
It was a Saturday morning. I woke up at 3:30am. I had to read the Physics
textbook I got from Fisayo. Afterwards, I had to read the Biology textbook I got
from the library. I washed my face in the only toilet in the boy’s quarter. I sat
down to read. I started flipping through the pages of the Physics textbook. I
yawned a couple of times. I walked around the room. I finished reading at 7am. It
was quite boring but I kept remembering Rose’s words. I missed that girl. She
visited me thrice after my parent’s death and afterwards, the only news I heard
about her from Bade, the busybody boy in my school, was that Rose already went
to continue her studies in a prestigious high school in Amsterdam. I felt happy for
her but sad for myself. That should have been my testimony too.
I rushed into the bathroom to take my bath. I knew Naade would wake up
at 7:30am. That was his usual practice. I had gotten so attached to the baby that I
already knew what each cry and sound implied. It felt like I was his mother or
elder sister. Naade wasn’t really attached to madam. He probably thought I washis mother. Madam never had time to create the mother-son bond. She was
always either busy with work or making my life a living hell. She didn’t really know
much about her son. I got dressed in a red blouse and blue pair of jean trousers. I
went into the main house hurriedly. Mr. Adeyemi and Mrs. Adeyemi were already
awake. Oga had a business meeting while madam had to go to work.
“Good morning, ma. Good morning, sir” I said as I knelt down.
“Good morning, Keyshia. How was your night?” Oga said
“Fine sir.” I said standing up.
“We’ll leave now. Make sure you take care of my son. Don’t let him go hungry I
noticed that the baby food will soon finish. Make sure you order more. Sweep his
room. Wash his dirty clothes. Make sure he takes his nap. Don’t let him get too
close to the kitchen.” Madam said.
“Yes ma. I have been doing this work for almost four months now. I know what to
do.” I said smiling.
Madam frowned at me.
“Take good care of yourself and prepare for your forthcoming examination” Oga
said picking his suitcase.
“Yes sir” I replied him.
Madam and Oga left the house. I went to Naade’s room. He was already
awake. His bubbly eyes were looking all around the room as he laid in his crib. He
smiled revealing his two lower teeth as he saw me. Naade had been my greatest
support in the house whenever Modadeola was not around. He always listened to
me whenever I talked about my problems and taking care of him had helped me a
lot in my studies. I had used some of his lullabies to memorize some topics.
“Good morning Mister” I said as I kissed his forehead. He giggled. I took him
downstairs to feed him. Modadeola and Farayola came downstairs as I sat down
at the dining table to feed him.
“Good morning, Keyshia. How was your night?” Modadeola said as she sat down
beside me.“Good morning. It was splendid. Good morning Farayola” I said
“Hmm. Good morning sha” She answered reluctantly as she sat on a sofa in the
sitting room. She picked up her phone and started chatting.
“Farayola, is that the right thing to do early in the morning? Have you washed
your school uniform?” Moadadeola said
“Adeola, please I already packed my dirty clothes to the laundry room. Clara will
sort them out.
“Can’t you be independent? Just to operate the washing machine is an issue?”
“Modadeola, please, don’t annoy me this morning. I am not in the mood for all
these. Mum and dad are paying these people to do all the house chores. If I
operate the washing machine, what else will be left for Clara to do? Don’t think I
am as nice as you are. You take care of Naade and Keyshia receives the money.
Only God knows when you will start thinking before acting.”
“Are you for real? Being the last child of the house for so long has gotten into
your head. I don’t have time to argue with you this morning.”
Farayola ignored her and continued with her phone.
“Farayola, you have exams on Monday oh.”
“Oh! What is it gan? Are you my mummy nih? What is your wahala?” Farayola
said angrily. Modadeloa decided to let her be. She started talking to me about my
examination. I told her about the textbooks I had borrowed. She got a phone call
and left. I also decided to drop Naade who was fast asleep in his room and go to
continue my reading. It was then I noticed that Farayola was not in the sitting
room anymore.
I walked to the boys’ quarter. I couldn’t believe my eyes. All the textbooks I
had borrowed were soiled with palm oil. Ha! How will I explain to Fisayo? Hers
was better. How will I deal with the strict librarian? I couldn’t cry. I rushed out of
the room into the kitchen and amazingly, I saw Farayola returning the bottle of
palm oil. She smirked immediately she saw me.
“Did you get your little present?“Why did you do that? What is your problem? What have I done to deserve all
these?” I said in between tears.
“I just felt like spicing your life up a bit. It’s been boring for a while you know?”
She said as she left the kitchen. I didn’t know what to do. Scream? Cry? Keep
quiet? Kill her? I went back to my room quietly. That issue placed me in huge
debt. I had to ask Aunty Clara and Aunty Jessica for help which they gladly
offered.
******
I stayed with the Adeyemi’s for a year. I had thought I had found a place
but I was wrong. Meanwhile, Modadeola got admission into The University of
Ibadan to study law. We just concluded the third term examination and we were
on holidays. I had cleared all the prizes for my class. Even though I didn’t have
family members to cheer me up, my classmates and teachers filled that space.
A tragic event happened during the holiday that brought an end to my stay
in the house. Oga had travelled to Ghana for a business meeting and Modadeola
was in school. I woke up early that morning. I went to Naade’s room to prepare
him for the day. Naade was crying profusely as I entered the room. I carried him
up trying to calm him down but he didn’t stop. I felt that his body was very hot. I
tried all I could to calm him down but he still didn’t calm down. When I couldn’t
figure out what to do, I went to wake madam up. She had the day off and was still
asleep.
“Good morning, ma” I said as I tapped her.
“What is going on? Who gave you the audacity to come into my room?” she said
sitting up on her bed.
“I am sorry, ma. I don’t know what is wrong with Naade. He’s crying so much and
he has a fever too.”
Madam didn’t answer me before she sprang up and made for the room. We
rushed Naade to the hospital and shockingly, he was diagnosed with food
poisoning. I was confused. I always fed Naade ever since Modadeola left the
house. I gave him jollof rice the previous night. Madam was furious. She didn’tlisten to all I had to say. I didn’t care about all her ranting anyway. All I wanted to
know was if Naade would be okay. Thankfully, Naade made it. It was a narrow
escape. He survived it but I didn’t survive madam’s punishment. I was sent
packing. Madam claimed that I wanted to kill her only son. I pleaded but it was to
no avail. I was thrown out of the house.