Yellow Tales of a Nigerian Housemaid (completed)

Chapter Thirty One

"You would have killed her! All of you! What were you waiting for?" Mama screamed in anger.

Mama had earlier returned to meet a totally bruised me. My face, hands and legs were filled with painful sores. On inquiry, she realised that I'd done nothing punishable to warrant the kind of treatment I'd received. Mama didn't waste time to call out her kids.

She paced round the compound, swearing angrily at no one in particular. Her voice filled with bitterness and resentment. She was pissed, sad and hurt at the ill treatment her kids, especially Oby meted out on me.

What pained her the more was uncle Ugonna's silence throughout his sister's actions. The thought of him being part of it all and did nothing, crushed her spirit. Prior to this day,  she'd always believed that with her son around, my life was a bit safe.

"That's what happens when you allow a very bad woman into your life!" She blurted out uncontrollably, a pang of pain evident in her tone.

Aunt Oby was the first to come out. Her countenance wasn't great and I knew it was going to be another round of curses.

I still sat quietly on a sofa in the common room, gently nursing my pain. I was ready to hear the next round of word war which of course was already brewing quietly.

"Mama!" She shouted. "I really need to rest biko (please), stop all these rants" She said in anger.

"Let that rest slaughter you!" Mama cursed, turning to her fiercely. "Let it twist that mouth you're speaking to me with" She continued pointing at her angrily.

"You're cursing me Mama and I don't like it!" Aunt Oby retaliated.

"May God punish you ten times, in fact a hundred folds!" Mama said walking over to her.

"What is it nah Mama? Nneogo is proving stubborn in this house!" She screamed, flying her hands up in the air. "Now I understand why brother Magnus said she must be shipped to his ministry for total deliverance! This girl is doing more harm than good in this family! Now you're cursing your own blood because of this silly idiot!" She was still screaming, her eyes shooting up at me.

I blinked and lowered my face to the floor. I didn't want to make an eye contact lest she accuses me of eyeing her.

"Three adults! Where are your consciences?" Mama asked in pain. "You want to kill her? Are you all weaklings? Crippled? That you need and totally depend on someone else to run your lives daily?"

"She should have made a wiser choice" Aunty Agnes chipped in. She'd appeared from a corner in the house and was walking briskly towards us. In her right hand was a medium sized blue bucket, with a bowl dancing inside it as she swayed her hands from side to side.

"Ohh..." Aunt Oby muttered in support.

Mama turned to aunt Agnes. "Tell me Agnes, please educate me. What wiser choice?"

"Common sense should have helped her!" She replied walking past Mama. She turned to the backyard and towards the open drum. She scooped several bowls of water into the bucket until it was full. She carried the water and headed towards us again.

"Don't Ugonna's whore have legs? Is she the first to get preg..

"Don't you have legs too Oby?" Mama shot back. "Or are they broken? Can't you buy water yourself and leave this girl in peace?"

"I live here Mama. She must obey me first before anyone...

"Because you're who Oby?" Aunt Agnes asked, calmly dropping the bucket to the floor. "What do you do for Nneogo that would make her ignore everyone else when you call?"