Forsaken episode 5

FORSAKEN
Chapter 5

Mr Peter bought me gifts same way he bought for his wife and children. He was very nice. Unfortunately for me, his wife was not comfortable with the closeness between us.

One Sunday, the Peters were all going on a family outing, and Mr. Peter asked that I joined them. This didn’t go down well with the wife. She wasn’t comfortable that her husband regarded me as family.

When we returned, she came to my room and asked what was going on between her husband and I, that he showers me with much love and care. I was surprised at the question but managed to answer “Nothing Ma”.

It was my eighteenth birthday and Mr. Peter bought me a phone, two shoes, a pair of jean and a top to go with it. I was very happy but on seeing Mrs. Peter’s countenance I knew I was in for trouble, though she managed to fake a smile in the presence of her husband. I went to my room, expecting Mrs. Peter any moment. But luckily for me, she didn’t show up.

Early the next morning, Mrs. Peter woke everyone up, she was looking for her fifty thousand naira and some jewelries. :Where did you keep them” asked Mr. Peter “ where else if not in my box”? good morning ma, I greeted. What are you looking for I asked? My jewelries and the sum of fifty thousand naira. Did you see them she asked back. No ma, I replied. If that is the case, let me check your room. She said. there isn’t any need for that, you and I know Jennifer does not steal, Mr. Peter said. Mrs. Peter replied in anger I must search her room to be sure. Okay ma, there is no problem at all, I said.

After much search, the money and some jewelries were found under my wardrobe. I was as confused as Mr. Peter; I didn’t know how those things got there. Mrs. Peter threw my things out and sent me away. My pleads and that of her husband fell on deaf ears. It then dawned on me that she wanted me out of her house for fear of losing her husband to a mere housemaid. I picked my things, with uncontrollable tears falling from my eyes and left the Peter’s home.

I brought out my diary, trying to find where I had written the number of a friend Mirabel. She was a friend I made during my WAEC examination. I called her only to find out she was now based in Lagos. I explained my situation and she didn’t mind my coming over. I thought about the ideal of leaving Benin to Lagos where I knew nobody, but again, I concluded there wasn’t any need staying in Benin when my family or anybody for that matter do not want me around. So I set out for the journey to Lagos.

I arrived Lagos at about 10:30pm, Mirabel looked classics and beautiful compared to when I saw her over a year ago. After the pleasantries, we took a cab to her house. Mirabel lived in a four bedroom flat with three other girls. I couldn’t eat anything that evening , because it was already late. I had my bath and went to bed.

At the break of dawn, I narrated vividly my ordeal to Mimi as she was often called, she felt sorry for me and promised to help me the best way she could. After I had rested for about four days, I started looking for a job. I hate being a burden to anyone, I wanted to help in my own little way.

Getting a job in the big and busy city of Lagos was not easy at all. I walked the city for days trying to get a good paying job, but all to no avail. Meanwhile, I had come to observe that Mimi and the other girls worked only at night. When I tried to know the kind of job they were into that would deny them their sleep, they asked me not to worry that I would soon find out and understand.