ADELE
Adele walked into the house, trying to keep her face neutral but she was angry…. Very angry. Her mother was in the living room peeling egusi and watching a soap opera when she swiftly went into her room. She knew her mother would shout on her for days, when she realises that she had broken yet another bucket, but she didn’t care. That silly girl deserved it.
Adele had gone to fetch some water from her cousin’s house, which she did every evening. She was almost through with filling the kitchen drum when she met Diana one her way back. She had her bucket of water balanced on her head and was trying her best not to spill too much of the water.
“Ehen! Adele you have finally turned into a village girl Oh” Diana had said clapping her hands like all those girls that gossip in African movies.
Adele had wanted to reply her, but decided to ignore her. Diana was not alone. She was with Gabriel…. Gabriel who was in the university studying to be a lawyer. Gabriel who Adele really liked. Adele ignored her and walked towards them.
“Didn’t your father get money to bring you people back to the city? Ehya, poverty” Diana said.
“Stop that Diana…. Stop talking to her like that” Gabriel had said.
Adele was furious. She usually liked the Christmas period, because then they came from the city and had fun with their cousins and friends after which they went back to their lives.
All that changed two years ago, when her father retired and decided that he wanted to go into farming. Poultry and Fishery.
He came back with Adele and her mother. Her two elder brothers were already in the university, so they stayed back but Adele was in jss 3 then and they had brought her back to continue her schooling in the village. It had felt like her life was over.
Suddenly, she was one of the “village” children. She had told her friends from the city that it was a temporary arrangement last Christmas, but she didn’t know what excuse to give them this year.
“Please make sure one drop of that your water doesn’t spill on me Oh” Diana had said just as Adele passed by her on the narrow foot path. Adele simply turned, and emptied the bucket of water on her. Diana shrieked, and the fight that ensued was like a clash of titans.
Adele gave Diana the beating of her life, and even Gabriel couldn’t separate them. When Adele was satisfied, she stood up from Diana, picked up her broken bucket, and headed home. She had hit Diana on her head with the bucket.
As she walked home panting, she felt satisfied. Obviously Gabriel would not come near her to ask her out, but Diana deserved the beating she had received. She remembered how close she and Gabriel had been years before, he was three years older than her, and a friend to her second brother. He had grown so tall, and so had she.
She wondered if he also thought she is now a village girl, because she wasn't or was she? She tried to keep her social media accounts up to date. Facebook, instagram, bbm, twitter. Even though the network in the village was terrible, she did her best
.
“Adele!” her mother called in that tone that said “run for your life”.
“Yes mum” Adele responded going into the living room. Diana was there, as was her mother. Both women were seated, but Diana was standing as she was still dripping wet.
The frown on her face, told that she was here unwillingly.
“Adele why did you pour a bucket of water on Diana?” her mother asked. Adele was silent. She didn’t like this. She knew exactly what was going to happen, and she didn’t like it one bit. She tried to calm herself.
“Can’t you hear me?” Her mother continued.
“Mother you should ask Diana, she should know why I poured her water” Adele responded.
“If I slap you ehn, you would answer me”
“I was coming back with my bucket of water, when she started insulting me”
“How did she insult you?” Diana’s mother asked.
“She called me a village girl, and said that my father is too poor to take us back to the city” Adele said, as tears rolled down her face. She really hated making such explanations.
WHACK…. Her thoughts were cut short by the slap Diana received from her mother. Adele felt better instantly. Much better.
“That is why you didn’t want us to come here stupid girl. Adele I am very sorry. Mama Adele please forgive this stupid child” Diana’s mother said, getting up to leave. No doubt another round of beating awaited Diana at home.
Two days later, Adele was fetching some water as usual, when she heard a voice.
“My little Adele is now a fire fighter”
She didn’t need to turn to know who it was. She smiled, and continued on her way. But wait….. Did he call her little? Well he did say “MY”. Adele smiled. There was hope for her after all. But she still couldn’t wait to get into the university, and escape the village.
Happy sunday to guys :)
