We had traveled to our village for December, like we normally do, and before we knew it, it was already January. It was time to return to where we were based - Aba.
As the eldest among those who went to the village, I was asked to take a bike and go back to Aba first so I could tidy up the house a bit. I was also told to carry a few bags with me to ease the burden on my younger siblings. I'm not the type of child that rebels or says no in such situations, so I did as I was told.
On that fateful day, I dressed up, packed the bags, flagged down a bike, and told the rider where I was headed. We zoomed off. As we were about to cross the boundary between my village and the junction where I’d get a bus to Aba, we saw a masquerade.
Normally, they ask for money and even stop cars or bikes to collect it. This masquerade stood in the middle of the road so the bike man would stop and I’d give him money. But I had already told the bike man, “I no get shishi ooo,” and honestly, I really had nothing on me.
The bike man didn’t stop. He continued at full speed. VOOM!! That’s all I heard as we passed the masquerade. But suddenly, my head and neck started burning. I touched the side of my neck and realized it was swollen and it began itching like mad.
I kept shouting, “Jesus! Jesus!” The bike man stopped and asked me what the problem was. I got down from the bike, and before I knew it, tears were rolling down my cheeks. He looked at my neck and shouted in Igbo, “Gịnị mere gị?!”- meaning, What happened to you?
I couldn’t control my tears. I still can’t explain how I got flogged by the masquerade. It must have happened right as we zoomed past him. I couldn’t understand why I had to be the scapegoat that early morning.
The bike man just hissed and said, “Sorry.” But the more he said sorry, the more I cried. I wanted to be strong and continue the journey, but ahh, I no strong like that. “We for just give am money ooo,” the bike man added. I just stared at him with my teary red eyes.
After I was done crying, we continued. I got to the junction, boarded a bus to Aba, and sat quietly. The stares I was getting were awkward, but wetin I wan do? My eyes were swollen, my neck too, and I wasn’t in the mood to talk about anything.
We got to Aba after about an hour. By then, the swelling on my neck had reduced, but my eyes were still red. Because of what had happened earlier, I was moody and kept a straight face throughout the journey. I got down, took my luggage and the bags I traveled with, and entered a keke heading to my house.
I got to the house and found everywhere dark. I reached out to open my bag to get my phone for light but guess what?
I had forgotten my handbag in the bus.
Inside that bag were my phone and ATM card.
Omo!!! I just lost all strength. I didn’t know whether to shout or cry. How could I make such a silly mistake? This had never happened to me before. I don’t even keep my handbag beside me, it's always strapped across me. So how did this one happen?
My head was spinning. My heart was pounding. I wasn’t myself. I just wanted a quiet place to cry, but instead, what stood in front of me was a house I was supposed to clean up.
I dragged my luggage in, dusted the bed, and just lay there silently. I didn’t cry I just lay there blank. I knew my mom would soon start calling for updates, but wetin I go do?
I stayed there until afternoon. When I opened my eyes, I realized I had been sleeping. Then I started hearing loud banging from the front door. I came out and saw my mom and younger siblings.
My mom was fuming. “Where have you been?! I’ve been standing here calling for over an hour but no response! You’ve been sleeping?? Hmm... let it be that you have finished what you were supposed to do before sleeping ooo.”
I opened the door for them. My mom entered and saw the house untidy. Cobwebs and dust dancing and doing merriment. The bags I returned with were still unpacked.
She started again, “So you came back and started sleeping? Dirty pig! Where’s your phone? You’ve finally killed the phone and then went to sleep.”
“Mummy, you don’t even know what happened to me. I was flo....
GBAA!!!
She landed a thunderous slap on my face. I literally saw stars. I became furious. Hot tears flowed freely. I tried to speak but had no words. I just dragged myself to my room and stayed there, silent.
From the room, I could hear my mom and siblings tidying up the house while she kept ranting, complaining to nobody in particular.
That was how the day ended. I didn’t even eat that night. I cried until I couldn’t cry anymore.
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