I didn't tell my mother of this development for how could I tell her? My only friend at that time, Blessing became my refuge. She started coming over more often to be with me. Pretty soon the shameless man started to hit on my friend too!!. I became scared of running errands for him because when I went into his house, he would try to grab me. He never caught me of course for I was wiry and would quickly make a dive for the door. (I'm actually smiling thinking of this scene, it felt like I was playing ping pong) I formed the habit of tossing whatever it was he sent me to buy on his couch and dashing out the door.
One day, Blessing and I didn't go to school, (no we weren't sick or anything, thank you very much), we 'skipped' school, oh and mother dearest didn't know because she went to work, she always left home before we did. Our dear neighbor (the devil take him) called us both into his house, I didn't wanna go but Blessing wanted to find out how far the idiot wanted to go. We went in and he told us to sit and we did. He asked why we didn't go to school and I quickly responded that I fell ill and Blessing didn't want to leave me. Next thing, he stood up and I made as if to dash for the door but he ignored me and went straight for Blessing who sat motionless on that couch.
My friend was a dare devil you see, and she was confident he couldn't win should he try to attack her, not if she could help it anyway. What he did next shocked me beyond words, I remember both what he said and how his hand made for my friend's just growing breasts. "I want to know which one of you is the sweetest" he said. I could feel vomit coming up my throat. Blessing knocked his hands off and pushed him out of the way and we both left. I remember how sick to the stomach I felt, then and there I resolved to tell my mother, let the heavens, earth and nine planet fall down for all I care. Blessing didn't want me to for in her opinion, how would my mother even understand let alone believe? Yet she didn't try to dissuade me.
It was on a Saturday, I remember sitting at my mother's feet in our kitchen while I watched her pound something (I can't remember what it was) I chose that day because no one was home not even the said neighbour. I was fighting within myself on how to broach the subject (hardest thing ever I tell you) "Mommy" I said, "mmmm" mother replied still pounding away on her mortar with her pestle. Silence..., my mother looked up at me and saw me shift uncomfortably on the floor, this was really strange to my mother as I was always a chatter box who was never uncomfortable. "Amaka, owu gini?" my mom asked. I drew courage and spoke again "promise me you won't tell my daddy what I want to tell you" "ooo, I promise" my mother casually responded but I wasn't convinced so I said "I'm serious mom, promise me!" calmly my mother said "I promise". Of course she never expected what I was going to tell her so she kept calm and pounded away still.
To be continued...
To be continued...
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