My First Ever Sexual Harassment by Amaka Obasi

    The very first time I was sexually harassed was when I was ten years old, I'd just entered into JSS 1 then. We lived in a compound with a vast land and I adored the house. I had a habit of bathing in the yard and I preferred this to bathing in the bathroom. I guess it was the "airy feeling" I got from bathing outside.

     Now, if you have met me (or at least seen my pictures clearly) you'd know I'm what you call "packing at the front" lol. My breasts were already growing but I was too innocent to really take notice. I remember how my mom would scream down the earth whenever she saw me (I always did this when I felt she wasn't looking). Naturally, I felt secure and safe doing this because I thought no one was even looking at me, I mean I was only Ten for pete's sake! Apparently I was very wrong with a capital "W".

     We had a neighbor who had just moved in. He was Igbo and naturally, my mom and dad got close to him. We found out that he had four children from a previous marriage. His second wife at that time didn't give him any children (not that he needed them though). She had a restaurant and so was never around during the day. My dear mother (God love her), felt badly about him running errands by himself when she had two children that could do that for him.

     At the time it was just me and my little sister Ogechi. Our cousin, Jerry was with his mom then, Jerry grew up with us you see, and many people didn't even know he wasn't our sibling and we didn't even show it. Anyways, I did as mother dearest asked and ran errands for him. Gradually, he started calling me "my small wife" and it repulsed me A LOT!! I told my mom about it and my unsuspecting mother told me "it's just a saying nwa'm, he doesn't mean it". This went on for a while then one noon, he was sitting under our mango tree enjoying the cool breeze. I was on top of the tree (as usual). We could all climb, my sister and cousin that is, he called for me and I grudgingly came down.

     Guess what this repulsive man said to me, a ten year old?! "Amaka, you know I have been watching you for a long time now", I stood motionless and took about three steps away from him. It was just he and little ol me in the house on that day you see, so I couldn't take the risk of being harmed. Small as I was, I had an uncanny intelligence and somehow I knew this man was trying to take advantage of me. He continued when he saw I said nothing "I will be giving you N500 daily so you can buy whatever you want at school" that really got me angry and I retorted "my daddy gives me all I need sir, I don't need your money". If looks could kill, I'm pretty sure he'd have been more than dead.

To be continued...

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