AMARACHI
I stepped outside the door of the house, putting on an okrika(fairly used) blue floral gown. I didn't have much fancy clothes like Ogechi, aunty Lydia hardly bought me any nice cloth so the ones I had, I made sure to keep them in good shape.
My afro virgin hair was combed and packed to a bun and I carried a little handbag which contained some sowing equipments.I was already through with the house chores and I had already freshened up but I had not eaten.The heat of the sun had already begun, it was probably ten o'clock by now.I spotted aunty Lydia and her husband, my uncle Francis, sitting under the umbrella mango tree discussing.
'Uncle Francis', that tittle 'uncle', was he really my uncle?He accompanied his wife in maltreating me, he hates me the way aunty Lydia hates me.Is this man really my late's father's younger brother?I doubt it.
If he was truly my blood, he will never maltreat me nor allow his wife maltreat me.A deep sigh escaped my mouth as I walked towards them, bracing myself up for any insult."Aunty, Uncle, I'm through with the house work"I said meekly with my face down.
"Ehen so?"aunty Lydia replied harshly.
My uncle didn't even look at me, his gaze was on his phone."Do you want us to clap for you?"uncle Francis finally asked looking up at me.
"No, I just.."I was suddenly interrupted by aunty Lydia.
"You just what!?you finished the house work, so? Ibu onye gbu?(are you the first)"
Great!I had annoyed her before I even made my request. Aunty Lydia was a throbbing volcano which could erupt at the slightest provocation.
"Aunty e wey nih wey biko gbaram (aunty please don't be angry sorry forgive me)"I pleaded in my traditional dialect.
Uncle Francis then cleared his throat and stood up"Bia(come) aren't you suppose to go to the shop today?"
Aunty Lydia hissed at me and folded her arms.
"Do I know for the stupid girl?""Aunty Lydia,uncle Francis,I'm hungry. I haven't eaten"I finally voiced out my request.
God I have to even beg them before I can eat.When will this torture end?This people aren't even strangers, they are my family."Amara if I slap you eehn. m maga akanti(if I slap you). All you know is food food food. Will you get out of here and go to the shop osisor!"aunty Lydia roared at me.
She was ready to pounce me noticing the look on her face.My eyes had already started to get welled up with tears. I cleaned my face with the back of my right palm and nodded my head, quickly heading towards the gate."Amarachi" uncle Francis called out which stopped me in my tracks.
I turned and walked towards him.
He put his hand into his pocket and brought out a hundred and fifty naira. He stretched out his hand and I collected it much to the dismay of Lydia.I know if it was up to Lydia, she will make sure I starve to death.
"Use that money for your breakfast, before you go about and start spreading rumours that your uncle is a wicked person"
I was so happy on getting the money. My face beamed with joy.
"Uncle thank you so much!""Aunty thank you too!"A huge grin appeared on my face, half bread they say is better than none.
Atleast I know I will have breakfast today.I quickly turned away and headed towards the gate before any of them changed their minds.†††††††
I approached aunty Lydia's shop which was located in the centre of a busy street in the town. It was a good idea, the many passer-by's who passed that street coupled with the cars, motorcycles and tricycles will have the chance of seeing her shop, thereby attracting more customers.Aunty Lydia was very fortunate to have so many customers.
I brought out the shop key from my bag and opened the burglary gate. I then opened the second door after the burglary and stepped inside.I really admire the way aunty Lydia's shop is. It's very huge, the inside is painted cream whilst the outside is pink.There are about five sewing machines in the tailoring room, which was where most of the sewing was carried out.One machine belongs to aunty Lydia, one belongs to me and the other three belonged to the girls who worked under aunty Lydia. They were part time workers, they only came on Tuesday and Thursday. I was the one who worked round the clock here.There was a dressing room,a toilet and aunty Lydia's personal office room. I'm pretty sure she mostly goes there to sleep.I proceeded to open the windows for ventilation noticing how everywhere was stuffy. I took out some mannequins with beautiful clothes on them outside for display to attract people.
I grabbed a broom from behind the door and started sweeping the shop."Amara you are here today"I turned around and met the smiling face of one of our regular customers, Mrs Johnson.She was the one whose cloth aunty Lydia spoilt and had me fix it. I spent the entire night yesterday fixing her dress."Good morning ma"I greeted with a smile standing up.
"I didn't think you will come today o. You worked here till around ten o'clock yesterday, aren't you tired?"she asked concerned.
I was definitely tired, I wish I could tell her the truth.
Even now,my entire body aches me. My entire body is crying for relief."Ma work is in my blood o. I can't stop working. Besides this is what I love doing"I replied cheerfully.
"Amarachi take it easy o, don't over work yourself"she cautioned.
She should be telling that to aunty Lydia not me. Aunty Lydia was the one in charge of my body."I'm coming later today for my cloth, hope it's ready o?"she added as she stepped outside the shop.
I followed her outside and nodded my head smiling."Good I'll bring the balance too ok. Take care of yourself my dear"she added finally before walking away.
Aunty Lydia was really fortunate to have this kind of customers. They came to her because she was good in tailoring. Nne told me my mum was the one who taught aunty Lydia everything about sewing.
It was really ironical. My late mother taught her about sewing, her success in the tailoring business was all because of my late mother and yet look at the way she maltreated me."It's really a good way to pay my late mother back for all her good deeds aunty Lydia"A faint smile appeared on my lips and I immediately continued my sweeping.AMARACHI After I finished sweeping, I proceeded with cleaning the sewing machines, tables and chairs. I had to make sure everything was neat and orderly if not I'll attract the wrath of Aunty Lydia.Something which I definitely didn't want. I had already gotten enough of her anger this morning, I didn't want more.Once finished, I sat down on my own personal sewing machine. It was actually my late mother's own. The only material things I had in remembrance of my late mother was the locket she gave me when I was still little and this sowing machine.The locket had a small space for storing a photograph and her picture was in it. I wore it everytime, it became my skin. I never took it off because I was so use to it. I took some materials from a polythene bag next to me. Gosh customers cloth! They were so many and they needed to be sewed. I really worked all round th
AMARACHI After my friends left, I went back to my work. It really wasn't easy. Time moved really slow and it frustrated me.I was cutting, sewing and mending customers cloth. More and more customers kept on trooping inside aunty Lydia's shop, bringing materials for sewing.I took measurements endlessly. I liked the fact that aunty Lydia's business was booming but the effect was taking a toll on me seriously. I was working round the clock here and I didn't even get a 'thank you' from aunty Lydia.I kept on working until aunty Lydia came in during noon.She was on a yellow lace top and she tied a wrapper matching the lace coupled with her handbag and her heavy jewellery.I immediately stood up and cleaned her particular seat for her even though I had cleaned it before."Aunty good afternoon" I greeted her with a courtesy bow.She eyed me and hiss
AMARACHI God I'm so dead!Aunty Lydia kept on screaming, calling me a thief. I didn't steal anything. I was innocent.I knew she wouldn't listen to my side of the story. My heart was beating so fast as if it was threatening to break out of my rib cages."God please help me""Aunty wait... it's..."I began but I was quickly interrupted by her."It's what?! It's what Amarachi!? After that old hag called your grandmother will see you as an angel not knowing you are a thief! Nothing but a thief! Just like your mother!"Really? My mother? Why does she always add my mother in her insults! Why can't she let my mother rest?My mother isn't a thief and I'm not one either."Aunty Lydia my mother isn't a thief"I said immediately surprised by my own bravery."What did you say?"Aunty Lydia asked
AMARACHI"You don't have to worry, everything is sorted out"the young handsome stranger said jolting me out of my thoughts and back to reality.I nodded slowly at him. I then turned to look at my aunty. Immediately our eyes met, she put on a fake smile and stretched my bag over to me."Go home my dear"she said rather too friendly.What a facade!I knew once I arrived home, I'll receive the full punishment. All this was just an act to cover up her inhuman behaviour.I nodded my head and took my bag from her, turning to leave but then the young man grabbed my arm, as if telling me to stop."Hold on. How much got missing?"he asked as he brought out his wallet.My aunty eyes widened immediately. I really hope she doesn't collect any money from him.After all the lady took the three thousand naira I had!"Eehm it w
AMARACHI I trudged back home in pains, trying to cover my bruises whenever I spotted someone staring at me. Today had been such a tough day for me. I just wanted to go home and rest--which I knew I would never get.Rest.I can never get rest as long as am staying in that house. It was already evening and I needed to quickly prepare dinner.Even in this condition, I knew better than to rest. Lydia will still make me work.I had suffered enough today, I don't want to suffer again.A deep sigh escaped my lips as I approached my gate. Stepping inside, I spotted Nne sitting under the mango tree sleeping. I quietly closed the gate and stealthily walked inside. I didn't want her to see me because of my injuries. If she did, she will surely ask questions and hell will break loose once she finds out aunty Lydia did this to me. I just wanted to walk past
AMARACHI"Amara!!! Thief!!!where are you? Do you want to starve me!"That was aunty Lydia calling me. I heaved a sigh and hurriedly carried the tray containing a plate of egusi(melon soup) and a plate of pounded yam to the dining table where aunty Lydia , Ogechi and Uncle Francis were seated.I dropped the tray in front of Uncle Francis and quickly entered inside to bring aunty Lydia's and Ogechi's own.I could hear hissing as I walked towards the kitchen.What did I ever do to aunty Lydia and Ogechi?I returned with their own plates and set it in front of them. I caught a glimpse of aunty Lydia giving me a baleful look."It's ok abeg(please)Get out"Ogechi spat at me.I took a cursory stare at aunty Lydia and Uncle Francis to check their facial expressions before leaving.I turned to leave but aunty Lydia called me back immediately.
AMARACHI I woke up so early before anyone else. Yesterday was such a terrible day for me and i didnt want it to repeat itself. I know how difficult it is to please aunty Lydia. She will never be satisfied with whatever i do but atleast if i do my work early she won't have anything to complain about. With that thought in my mind, I stood on my wobbly feet and opened Nne's door quietly so as not to wake her up. I went to brush my teeth and wash my face before taking a bucket, heading outside my compound to fetch water. It was too early for the community tap to be opened but atleast Mrs Justice would let me fetch in her house."I just hope I'm not disturbing her" I thought to myself as i stepped outside my compound. The cold air caressed my cheeks, making me shiver as i inhaled deeply.*************** The rin
AMARACHI"God I'm so tired"I thought to myself as i stretched my arms. Little darkness still covered the horizon as i dropped my last bucket of water. It really isn't easy for me. My whole body was aching me after that countless trips to Mrs Justice house. I proceeded to sweeping the entire compound. After that i washed the plates and washed any dirty clothes available. It was already 7 once i had finished my entire housechores. I quickly made way to the kitchen to prepare breakfast of plantain porridge. I heard footsteps approaching behind me as i peeled the plantain. I turned around and saw Aunty Lydia."Aunty good morning" I immediately greeted. I didn't want yesterday's event to repeat itself. I just wanted to be on my best behaviour today. She totally ignored my greeting and scrutinized the surrounding, pacing to and fro. I could tell she was surpr