SECOND CHANCE

1

                _*Rains of insults*_

“ Aunty nurse please help us, we have no where else to go, we can’t afford taking her to the teaching hospital as you have said. Please do….” The pleading girl was interrupted by the woman right in front of her saying;

“ You rat! I told you there’s nothing else we can do, I don’t think the place we referred you might be of help because the signs your mother is presenting is showing that witches are behind it and not a normal illness. Just take her home and wait for her death.” The woman ended walking away.

The girl left the hospital crying profusely not minding where she was going. She later reached a small pharmacy and greeted the man inside and said;

“ Malam Sallau I’ve gone back to the nurse and begged her but she insisted we head to the hospital they referred us to, she later said witches are behind my mother’s illness. Is there anything you can give me so that I can take to my mum?”

The man frowned a little then said; “ You this girl, have you forgotten you are still owing me yesterday’s money. Aunty nurse might be right about your mother being cursed by witches. Now run off home, I’ve other things to worry about”.

The little girl walked away quietly, she kept thinking of where to go next then an idea stroke her, she smiled and quickly ran off.

She reached a large compound with five large huts, she stopped at the door and watched as women of the house were busy with house chores. Two of the women were cooking a large pot of meat, while the other two were busy preparing Tuwo.

“ How I wish it were my home that’s this lucky” she thought to herself. She was engrossed in her thoughts that she didn’t hear footsteps behind her, it was a tap that brought her back to her senses.

“Why are you starring at those pots as though you are a witch? What even brought you here in the first place?” A firm masculine voice asked.

“ Good afternoon uncle, it’s my mother’s condition that worsened and the hospital...” the girl was silenced with an angry glare from her uncle.

He sat on a chair and motioned her to come closer to him which she obliged and sat in front of him on the bare floor.

“ I thought we were done with this discussion, you ungrateful child. The money your father left was not much and you two have chopped it few months after his death. I gave you an opportunity to work and earn money but you refused because of your stubbornness. I’ve a big family which I need to take care of, I can’t add the two of you to my burden. Am giving you a second chance if you want the job, the offer is still available.” Her uncle finished trying to read her facial expression.

The girl quickly nodded her head positively without hesitation and said; “ I will take the job no matter how bad it is, if the money can reach what I need for my mother’s treatment then am in”.

zainabmalaler@gmail.com