As usual, I stumbled into our flat, where Maria—my step mother—sat cross-legged in the parlor.
“Ekun le oo,” I remarked, trying to be upbeat.
“Good evening, Maami.” I welcomed her once more, but she did not respond, her gaze fixed on the screen.
I shrugged and proceeded towards my room, saying, "That's your problem."
“Devil!” Oshi. When I heard what she said, I swiftly turned to face her.
“Aje- witch!” she added once more.
There was a sense of unease in the air, and I got nervous.
She clapped and said, "Go tell your fellow witches that my head is too strong for them."
Is this lady all right? I pondered this as I made my way towards my room, only to come to a halt when something struck me in the back of the head.
I let out an ear-deafening scream as the intense pain shot through my body—
“Let me warn you, if you tell your father anything, I'll murder you!” she said firmly.
I remained motionless, my gaze fixed on her.
“Take your squinty eyes off me! Go get some water for me, Oya.”
“All right, I'll take off my uniform.” Tears streamed down my cheeks as I walked towards my chamber.
“Which outfit are you wearing?” Go for it, jor!” She slapped me across the face.
To avoid more beatings and taunts, I ran to the kitchen, grabbed a bucket, and dashed to the bore-hole.
I filled my bucket and headed back to our flat, which was about 20 streets away from the borehole. I wanted my father to just return from his so-called "business trips." I wouldn't have gone fetching water if he hadn't made sure we bought it from water vendors.
Tejumola Benson, Tejumola Benson, Tejumola Benson, Tejumola Benson, Tejumola Benson, Teju...
I abruptly turned around to see Bisi, a student, sprinting towards me.
Here comes the sabi-sabi overkill. I sighed and rolled my eyes.
“So you get water as well?” she enquired. I did not respond.
She went on to say, "You should have changed out of your uniform first."
I wanted to tell her that sabi-sabi was over and that she should mind her own business now.
“I appreciate your concern.” I responded with a sarcastic remark.
She flashed me a donkey smile and said, "It's all right." Eeewww!
“Let me assist you; I'm on my way down the road.” We walked home after she collected the pail of water and balanced it on her head.
“That day in French class, Teju, you were amusing, hmm,” she added.
I just grunted.
As we passed past a massive estate, she asked, "Did you notice this house?"
“Yes”
“Hey, you know David right?” The house belongs to his father, and they all live inside,” says the assistant head boy. Bisi clarified.
“Ehhn! “Please say something.” I said it in a gossipy tone.
“Hmm, you mean you have no idea?” David is the only son of his father's three wives, and he has roughly 15 sisters. Each of them, my dear, has a well-furnished room. Bisi continued, "You know their father is a senator."
“Thank you for the information.” I was being sarcastic once more. It's a good thing she didn't notice/
“Not at all, just phone me if you need a story, I know virtually everything.” She remarked this as she threw my bucket of water in front of my house.
“Thank you,” I said, a false smile on my face.
I wanted to tell Amebo number one something.
“Hmmn, bye,”
I waited for her to leave before entering the house with my bucket of water.
“Did it take you hours to bring only a bucket of water?” Maria snarled angrily.
I built a drum out of the water and walked passed her. I slumped over after she shoved me, hitting my head on the floor and shrieking in pain.
“I'm going to make this place a living hell for you since you and your witches won't allow me have a child.”
“I didn't hold your womb; ask the doctor who assisted you in aborting so many babies while you were a love peddler in town.” I was startled at myself when I blurted out.
Wow! She used to molest me when I was a tiny girl, but now I'm an adult. I'm not called Tejumola for nothing, I'm 14 years old.
She looked at me, astonished, with a look of hatred and rage on her face.
“Who did you call a love-peddler?” She marched right up to me.
I took a hesitant step back, far too slow for her to grab me. My cornrows were beaten, scraped, and pulled by her. I pleaded and pleaded, but to no avail. I stopped begging because I was afraid she would murder me. I clutched her hard, pressed my mouth against her ear, and shouted hysterically. She swiftly let off of me because my scream was piercing and annoying, and it threatened to deafen her. I dashed from the kitchen to my room. I bolted it and locked it with keys as quickly as I could.
She knocked on my door.
She cried, "Teju, open the door, I'll kill you today."
“Ashewo kobo kobo kobo kobo kobo kobo kobo kobo she screamed back at me, and I screamed back.
I could hear her sob as she fell silent, winchy-wincho! I made a hissing sound.
I was examining my injuries when I realized I was hungry. Maami was not going to feed me today, so I'll wait until she's asleep and steal several indomie packs.
Man, I'm in pain! After downing three cups of water, I told myself.