SOMEWHERE IN AFRICA

chapter 6

I was praying within as I got close to the house, I was hoping that nobody would be home.

I started wondering why so much fear has come to settle in me, why I'm always scared of the house. I wish I can live a normal life without fear, I wish I can be free from Mrs. Ortega’s verbal and mental abuse, free from all the troubles of this life, from so much hatred, so much sadness and so much abuse, I wish for freedom, a life without worries and pain.

I still wonder why God watch her get away with everything she's doing to me. Why haven't God strike her down yet? Sometimes I still wonder if God is really there, why do evil people exist?.

No matter how strong I try to be, there are some days strength fails me and I break down, I wonder what it will feels like to be loved by my aunty .

Of course, Boss lady Delilah was already home with her family, I wish she will just allow me do my chores in peace, I don't want this everyday trouble for me. I'm so tired of everything, but even with all my wish and silent prayer there was trouble awaiting me.

I was first welcomed with a slap and a hard push to the wall, then she ripped off my cloth, she tore the cloth on my body and I was almost naked, as I clunked the remaining pieces to cover my chest

“Where are you coming from? Where did you get money to buy this fine clothes and sandals? Are you now stealing my money? One of my friend saw you at a restaurant the other day eating...”

“No…” I said firmly.

Immediately she mentioned that a woman saw me eating, I quickly remembered the woman that was looking at me as I ate at a restaurant but I didn't pay her attention.

“Give me all my money you stole and used to buy clothes and food…” she commanded.

“I didn't steal from you . please believe me  …” I know my plea is falling on deaf ears but i cant allow myself to die today in the hands of this woman .

I tried to explain, I tried telling her I have never stolen from her but she hit me the more, her husband's comment was not even helping matters in any shape or form .

“ why did you steal? Lauretta you are the one making your aunt to beat you all the time, I have tried to stop her from beating you and giving you all these body mark but you are not just helping yourself, you are still causing more trouble for yourself ''

"Uncle - sir please believe me I didn't steal from her I swear it "

"We are really trying to make you turn out better unlike your mother but it seems your mind is made up on being a useless girl, I fight my wife most times because of you but I can see you are all she's been complaining off, you don't want to be useful.

"I didnt steal  your money please believe me "oh God I can't die today

"We have patently tried for you Lauretta, now the next thing you learnt is to steal from us, going out to buy food, if not for the woman that saw you we wouldn't have known, why will you be buying food outside…? Are you not eating...? Are we not feeding you well…? Sometimes when your aunt refuses to give you food it’s just to discipline you for misbehaving, which is normal, why will you go against her rules by stealing money to buy food without serving your punishment fully…? Do you understand what that means…? it means being disrespectful, it means stubbornness, you are indirectly telling her that she can go to hell with her food, because you think you can feed yourself... yes that's what you are saying in your mind, you even have guts to buy new clothes and sandals, so the clothes my wife and daughter gives to you are not good enough for you…? You are beginning to show how ungrateful you…Haven't we been good to you…? Do you know how many people are looking for this opportunity, to live in a good house and to be cared for…, I'm sick and tired of all these problems you are causing in my home Lauretta..."

"Honey, she's leaving my house... I don't want her again... I have really tried for her but she's an ungrateful bastard who wants to destroy my home…she's a thief and a liar, I'm tired of seeing her ugly face here. We will get another housekeeper, someone that will serve us well because Serena is going to university next year and we need somebody to do the chores..."

“Please…” that was all my mouth could say but my mind was screaming ‘let me go…’

I was already bleeding from the wound she inflicted on me.

“Kneel down and beg so that she will allow you to stay” her husband said.
With my clothes torn, with pains and tears in my eyes I knelt down, because I don't have anywhere to go or who to turn to, I pleaded for their forgiveness even though I know I did nothing wrong.

After about five minutes, they walked away from me leaving me on my knees, I later handed all the money that I got from Ekim to her who insisted I give her every Penny with me or she will kick me out of the house if she finds money with me. She doesn't care where the money comes from, I gave her the money and watch her pieces the sandals and new clothes that Ekim got for me.

After 30 minutes of kneeling down, I stood up and went to meet her to tell her nothing but the truth.

“Ma, I have never stolen from you…I got the money and clothes from a new male friend who…” and she cut me short with accusations again. “So, you now have a boyfriend…? You really want to end up like your harlot mother…?” She warned me never to step out except to an errand.

I went to my corner and cried my eyes out.

The following day I wasn't given food, Emily later sneaked out some of her snacks to me and I ate. The second day Mr. Ortega was out as usual and I was woken up with a horrible statement from her… “Your punishment will end by 5pm, that's the time you will also eat.”
I worked all through the day, I was already weak from chores and having little to eat, my patients ran out, around 1pm when I couldn't bear it I went to the pot of food and took food. I knew I will be caught but I needed to eat because I was already feeling dizzy, it was Tobias, that caught me and told his mum who rushed to the kitchen and poured the food on my head, she attacked me and hit me with anything she lays her hands on.

I was already feeling sick from the previous day and no one bothers if I die or live. I had to attack her back with every strength left in me and surprisingly strength from nowhere descended on me as I fought back like a fierce lion.

I picked up a wooden spoon and hit her right in her arm, she was shocked and tried hitting me with what she had. I held on to it as we struggled.
Boss Lady was taller and very big in seize but I attacked with the strength of ten people, I pushed her and she fell, the glass plates in the kitchen went down with her, everything shattered on her body. I saw her bleeding from a cut she sustained, I had my own share of the fight and got wounded but my anger was far bigger than my fears, she was looking at me like a beast.

I left her there as she tries to get up again to deal with me, I felt like taking one of those kitchen knives she used in slashing my face to kill her right where I pushed her.

I wish I can put the knife to her stomach and dig it into her intestine and watch her wrath in pain and die, I wish for many things right now…I shouted inside my head but all I did was to quietly walk out.

“Tobias! Serena! Block her from walking out of the door…” she shouted, but I pushed both of them to the floor and gave them one flexible blow each as they cry in terror. I saw Emily in tears as she watched the drama.

Immediately I stepped outside Emily ran after me “take me with you wherever you are going” she cried out

“Go back inside my baby, please dear…” I was able to convince her to go back, she squeezed something into my palm, and I didn't bother opening it as I ran out.

The truth is, I don't even know where I’m going to, but I was determined to get out of this hell called house.

I don't know if I'm doing the right thing but I have been pushed to the wall for too long, I don't want to die yet.

Enough of Mrs. Ortega or Boss Lady or whatever she calls herself battering me. It was time to live for tomorrow, so I left.