Chapter Nineteen

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Mama and aunt Oby came up to a teary me. I was squatting at a corner in mama's room crying my eyes out. My heart was bleeding and I kept asking myself over and over again if I was stupid to have kept quiet. Maybe if I had screamed, my dad would have seen me and then understood the type of pain and treatment I was enduring; but the bulging questions that remain unanswered in my heart even up to this moment are:

What is the greatest evil that would have happened if I had screamed?

Would there have been positive changes?

OR

Would it have opened doors to more sufferings?

Truthfully, I still do not know the answer to these questions, maybe you can tell me!

"You haven't had your bath yet?" Aunt Oby said as she stepped into the room. "I need to be there right now and I don't want to waste another minute waiting for you!" She added angrily.

Mama was quiet. She walked past me and reached out for her purse. She brought out the money my dad had given her, carefully counted it again and then handed it over to me.
"Here is your fees" She said as I took the money from her unwillingly. My eyes were still very wet, hot tears forming and pouring out without difficulty. I counted the money and recounted it again but then realised something was amiss.

"It's three thousand three hundred naira" I said lifting my chin to face her and obviously expecting an explanation.

"Ehe! What's the problem? Is that not the amount you pay? " She asked in a clearer voice

"It is" I replied nodding "but...

"But what?" Aunt Oby interrupted from behind. I kept mute and lowered my face in pain. My heart was pounding with anger.

Mama sighed in disgust.
"I guess you are expecting the extra he gave you for snacks?" She asked looking at me. Getting no response, She rolled her eyes and turned to pick out a cloth from the wardrobe.

"That money will remain with me for now. I wont take your money even though I've spent more than that feeding you and haven't asked you to pay me back, so it will be with me until you start school on Monday." She paused.
"He said it's for snacks and that's what it would be. Once you are ready to go to school, tell me and if I feel the need for you to have it, I will give you a part of it. That's how we are going to do it" She added.

I knew what that meant. That's exactly what she usually says each time my dad gives her my stipend. Once it gets to her, the money is gone and she would emotionally blackmail me to forget it. I wasn't having it this time around so I threw an unexpected tantrum. I stamped my legs thrice on the floor while crying silently. I was murmuring in between breaths and turned to the door but a painful slap, push and undescribable beatings from my aunt made me wail loudly.

"Why are you murmuring? Who are you swearing at? Answer me!" she said while giving me more beatings. Mama held and begged her to let me be but the anger was still fierce in her eyes.

"She is going with you to the village, do you want people to gossip you? To see her eyes all red and swollen? What do you think they will say?" Mama asked concerned.

"Who cares what people have to say? It's my life and not theirs. If any of them has something to say, let them say it to my face so I can show them who I am!" My aunt bragged. She pushed me lightly as she made her way out of Mama's room. I staggered and fell down while the Naira notes flew freely all over the room.

"Go have your bath, I'm sure you wouldn't like your aunt to meet you here like this. And by the way, why are you still crying? Is it because of this little thing she did to you? When did you become this stubborn? See, I will have to call your dad and send you home!  You can't be in my home and disrespect me! I didn't deal with you today just because I don't have strength for stress if not, you wouldn't have gone free with this little attitude of yours. Get out of my sight and don't waste more than a minute in that bathroom" Mama said. I struggled to sit up as I felt sharp ache in my waist line. I scrounged down and picked up the notes. I counted it again and was satisfied my fees was complete . Then I made for the door knob.

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