Aunt Margaret was standing with wobbly legs as she faced Edem's parents.
Her first words had reflected no reactions from them.
'' Edem is missing, she ran away from home" she repeated, now bursting into tears.
Mama started wailing and rolling on the floor.
Papa ran into his room and returned with his Rifle.
''You must produce my daughter immediately ! Where is she? Have you used her for rituals?'' He cocked the gun and pointed at her.
'' My hands are clean ...please sir.'' Aunt Margaret cried.
The younger children came out of their room and tried to calm their father down.
Mama wailed louder.
The noise attracted the neighbours and the house was full in a short while.
'' She must swear!'' Mama Eno was saying. '' I don't trust these Lagos people. They have killed that beautiful girl.''
'' I think she is innocent.'' The parish priest put in. '' She loved Edem like her own''.
'' I am innocent.'' Aunt Margaret pleaded. '' All i ever wanted was for this family to be happy. Edem got pregnant and ran away from home. Her cell phone has been switched off ever since.''
'' God forbid!' Mama exclaimed.''My daughter will never stray from the scriptures. She has been a virgin. Did you force her into prostitution? I thought we were sisters.''
The parish priest rose to his feet and prayed for the safe return of Edem.
Finally, the police was alerted and Aunt Margaret returned to Lagos.
Edem woke up with a start. She was having one of her frequent nightmares.
Aunt Margaret was chasing her with a long dagger and she was mumbling the same words : ''You slept with my husband.''
Five months had passed since she left home. She was heavy and could hardly do her chores.
The old woman had hired her as a maid. Her duty was to cook, clean and serve the numerous guests who came from time to time.
She terribly missed her parents but felt like a total failure. Her father would disown her, if he knew she was pregnant. Mama would go mad.
Someday, she would return with her baby.
Her first words had reflected no reactions from them.
'' Edem is missing, she ran away from home" she repeated, now bursting into tears.
Mama started wailing and rolling on the floor.
Papa ran into his room and returned with his Rifle.
''You must produce my daughter immediately ! Where is she? Have you used her for rituals?'' He cocked the gun and pointed at her.
'' My hands are clean ...please sir.'' Aunt Margaret cried.
The younger children came out of their room and tried to calm their father down.
Mama wailed louder.
The noise attracted the neighbours and the house was full in a short while.
'' She must swear!'' Mama Eno was saying. '' I don't trust these Lagos people. They have killed that beautiful girl.''
'' I think she is innocent.'' The parish priest put in. '' She loved Edem like her own''.
'' I am innocent.'' Aunt Margaret pleaded. '' All i ever wanted was for this family to be happy. Edem got pregnant and ran away from home. Her cell phone has been switched off ever since.''
'' God forbid!' Mama exclaimed.''My daughter will never stray from the scriptures. She has been a virgin. Did you force her into prostitution? I thought we were sisters.''
The parish priest rose to his feet and prayed for the safe return of Edem.
Finally, the police was alerted and Aunt Margaret returned to Lagos.
Edem woke up with a start. She was having one of her frequent nightmares.
Aunt Margaret was chasing her with a long dagger and she was mumbling the same words : ''You slept with my husband.''
Five months had passed since she left home. She was heavy and could hardly do her chores.
The old woman had hired her as a maid. Her duty was to cook, clean and serve the numerous guests who came from time to time.
She terribly missed her parents but felt like a total failure. Her father would disown her, if he knew she was pregnant. Mama would go mad.
Someday, she would return with her baby.
Comments
Post a Comment