CHRONICLES OF THE HELPS: PART 13

Ike sat in the living room, watching one of the movies he downloaded on the internet. He had over a hundred movies and wasn’t sure when he would watch them all. His wife, the children and the new maid were fast asleep. The house was quiet and it felt like he was on vacation. Although he just had a couple of hours to himself. 

His eyes flickered to the wall clock, then back at the television screen. It was past one. If he returned to bed at four, he would have less than three hours to catch up on sleep and prepare for work. That sounded good enough for his relaxed mind.

xxxxxx

Mmesoma woke up with a very parched throat. She got out of bed, tied a wrapper around her waist and headed out. On her way to the kitchen, she saw streams of light coming from the living room. Although the main lighting system was turned off, she could tell that the room was illuminated by the television screen.

She tiptoed to the entrance and peeped. She saw her employer’s husband seated in front of the television, laughing and talking to himself. It wasn’t the first time she had seen him watching movies late in the night. It was almost a daily occurrence, especially during the weekends.

Her eager eyes roamed free. The man was bare chested and the only piece of clothing on him was a pair of boxers. Her gaze lingered on his broad shoulders, chest area, and dropped to his firm muscled thighs. She swallowed hard, wishing she could touch him and feel every inch of his body against hers.

She held herself and groaned. Day by day, her infatuation for him had skyrocketed. It wasn’t just because he was an handsome man, or that he had a good job and a house and an expensive vehicle. The man was also gentle and nice. She loved the way he treated his wife and children. And she often dreamt of being in Lianater’s shoes. She was beginning to nurse a blossoming envy for her boss. She began to wonder if it was possible to gain his attention and seduce him, knowing fully well how much he loved his wife. 

Unexpectedly, the man turned his head. Mmesoma froze. She had been caught!

Ike narrowed his gaze when he saw the dark figure at the door. “Mmesoma?”

She cleared her throat. “Sir…”

“What are you doing there?”

Several thoughts ran through her mind. What was she going to tell him? “Erm… I… I was going to the kitchen to get some water. Erm… can I get a drink for you, sir?”

All of a sudden, he realized that he was a bit thirsty. “Okay. Get me a glass of apple juice,” he returned his attention to the television screen.

“All right, sir.” She fled.

Once she got into the kitchen, she pulled a tray out of the rack on the sink, then a clean glass cup. While trying to open the bottle of apple juice, a crazy thought took over her mind. She set the bottle down and pulled off her tee-shirt. Then adjusted her wrapper, making sure that it was loosely tied around her chest.

xxxxxx

Ike heard the girl’s footsteps. He pulled the center table closer, so she could set the tray on it.

“Thank you.”

The girl blushed. “You are welcome, sir.”

He reached for the cold drink and took a long sip. Then he noticed that she was grinning at him sheepishly. He raised an eyebrow and set the glass cup back on the tray.

“Erm… erm… oops!” Mmesoma fidgeted with the wrapper and allowed it to drop on the tiled floor, revealing her naked frame.

Shock paralyzed Ike for the next twenty seconds.

She saw the way his eyes slowly roamed her young body and a triumphant smile lit up her face. “Oops… I didn’t tie the wrapper properly.” She picked the clothing up, tied it loosely around her body and sauntered out of the room.

Ike got up immediately. He felt as if he had just been bathed with a pot of hot coals. He was burning all over! What just happened? Was it an honest mistake or a deliberate act of seduction? Should he tell his wife? Should he keep quiet and watch the girl, hoping there wouldn’t be a repeated occurrence?

But, if the girl was truly trying to gain his attention and seduce him, she was on an impossible mission. He loved his wife to death. And he had never looked at another woman since he got married. And he wasn’t going to start now.

What’s wrong with little girls of these days? Ike fumed, his appetite for watching movies had evaporated. 

He marched out of the room, thinking of waking his wife and eating her all up.

CHRONICLES OF THE HELPS: PART 12

Mmesoma was in awe when she arrived at her new employer’s home. It was a three bedroom duplex, beautifully furnished and equipped with the latest electronics and gadgets. She could tell she was going to have a swell time. She suffered in the hands of her former employer. But God was rewarding her with a better one.

The children, a set of twin boys and a pretty baby girl, hovered around her at first sight. She liked them immediately. She never had problems taking care of children. They always seemed to like her and do her every bidding.

"What’s your name?” the twins seemed eager to know her.  

She smiled at them, “I am Mmesoma Obi, what are your names?”  

“I am Chinonso Briggs, you can call me Nonso,” the twin with a dark brown birth mark on his right ear said confidently.  

Mmesoma nodded in affirmation. “Pleased to meet you, Nonso.” 

The boy grinned from ear to ear.  

“Mine is Chidozie Briggs, everyone calls me Dozie,” the other twin said.   

She turned to him, noting how difficult it was to tell him apart from his brother. But the fact that he was the only one with a cropped curly hair, she would be able to tell them apart.  

“You both have good names. What’s your sister’s name?” her gaze drifted to the pretty fair baby girl. 

 “Adanne!” the boys choroused.  

At the sound of her name, the girl looked in their direction, then she twirl and started to laugh.  

Lianater returned to the sitting room. She noticed the way the new maid was talking to the children. They seemed to like her. 

“Once you have met my husband, you can freshen up in your room, change and join us for dinner.”  

Mmesoma adjusted when she heard the woman’s voice. She didn’t know when she re-entered the room. 

“Thank you, ma.” From the corner of her left eye, she sighted someone walking down the stairway.  

“You must be Mmesoma,” his baritone voice filled the room.  

Her shy gaze scanned him from hair to toes. She noted his cropped curly hair, just like one of the twins. “Yes, I am, sir.”  

“Welcome to our humble home,” he came to stand beside his wife.  

“Thank you, sir,” she lowered her eyes and stared at her sandals. She should have guessed that the man would turn out to be an handsome person. The children were easy on the eyes. And Lianater was a pretty woman.  

“Do you believe in God?”  

The girl nodded and added without raising her head, “Yes, sir. I am a born again Christian.”  

The couple exchanged glances.  

“You can go to your room now. Dinner will be ready in the next thirty minutes,” Lianater leaned against her husband. 

"Okay, ma,” Mmesoma picked up her luggage. 

 “Come with us, we know your room,” the twins leaped towards the exit.  

The girl chuckled and followed them. 

Lianater looked at her husband. “What do you think?”  

He shrugged. “Time will tell.”  

She bit at her lower lip. “True. I hope she is as hardworking as Amina.”

"What’s for dinner? I am farmished.”  

A mischievous grin enveloped her face. “Guess…”  

Ike groaned. “I am too hungry to take a guess ma’am.”  

Lianater pulled him by the hand, “I cooked one of your favourite meals.” 

"Really?” his mouth began to water.  

“Yep. I took my time to prepare oha soup with goat meat and I made some garri too. It has a lot of starch in it. You will enjoy it.”  

He placed one hand on his head. “Hey, my tummy is rumbling already.”   

She laughed. “I can hear the volcanic eruptions.”  

He laughed too when his tummy made more sounds. 

 xxxxxx  

Mmesoma lay on her bed, her phone was firmly placed on one ear. “Mama, I am so lucky this time around. My new bosses are very rich! The woman is working with NTA and the husband is an Engineer, working with Julius Berger.”  

“Thank God! At least, they will be able to pay your salary without spinning stories,” her mother’s voice was filled with joy.  

“Mama, they are even paying me double. That’s my former salary times two!”  

“Jesus! Chineke!”  

“God is so, so good, mama.” 

 “Yes, indeed, he is. I am so, so happy for you. Your salary will sort out a lot of things.”  

“Mama, they said I can go back to school if I want to and I can also learn a trade or a skill if I want to.”  

“Chi mo! This people are truly God sent. My God will bless them for me.” 

"I don’t even know what to choose, mama. All of a sudden, I am confused.” 

"You will do everything. They want to assist you. This is the opportunity you have been praying for. You will enroll for GCE and retake your examinations. That way, you can have your certificate. God willing, they might sponsor your university education.”  

The girl sat up. “That is so true, mama. This couple are kind.” 

 “Then, you can enrol for tailoring or make up or hair styling in a good center. That way, you are prepared for life, be it white collar opportunities or running your own business.”  

She thought of what she would choose between tailoring and hair styling. “That is true, mama.” 

"I want you to work very hard for this people. That way, they will always be ready to assist you.”

"Trust me, mama.”  

“Don’t allow this your coconut head to get you in trouble.”  

Mmesoma hissed. “Haba, mama.”  

“Am I lying?”  

She felt a bit offended. Why was her mother spoiling her good mood? “Mama, goodnight. I have a lot to do in the morning."

"Wait first. See, you said you are in an estate. That means all these layabout boys will be there. Please don’t get distracted over there.”  

"I won’t,” she lay back on the bed.  

“I know my daughter is a beautiful girl. And you will always get the attention of men, both young and old, but be careful.”  

She remembered how men used to flock around her in the neighbourhood she grew up, both young and old, single and married. 

"I am always careful.”  

"Goodnight, my daughter.”  

“Goodnight, mama."

She threw the phone on the bed and sighed heavily. Her mother was always full of worries. She turned on her side and closed her eyes. Images of Ike filled her mind’s eye. The man was so handsome and fit. Her employer was so lucky to have dragged such a man to the altar. She hoped in the near future, she would also be able to get someone like Ike. It would really be a dream come true!  

CHRONICLES OF THE HELPS: PART 11

Lianate was super happy when the agency called to inform her that they had vetted a lot of girls. And she could come and select one of them and employ as her maid.

She left work early, drove to the agency office and met with the office manager, Mrs. Shalewa Adams.

“We have about a dozen girls. They are from different parts of the country,” the dark skinned woman led her into a larger room.

Lianate nodded her head, eyes darting left, then right, she spotted the girls seated across the room. They were dark, fair, brown skinned girls. Some tall, others short and a few average in height. One or two were fat, while the rest were slim and some were quiet skinny. 

“They have been vetted. They can cook, clean and run errands. They are also very good with children. They have all been taken to the clinic for proper check-ups. None of them is pregnant or sick,” the woman watched her.

Lianate remained silent, looking from one girl to the other, till her scrutinizing gaze fell on a slim, fair skinned girl. She had an innocent face and seemed like she had not been eating well for a long time.

Mrs. Shalewa followed her client’s stare and smiled. “That’s Mmesoma. She is twenty years.”

The girl sat up straight and bowed her head when she heard her name. She was beyond happy that the client noticed her. Many had come in that day, but they picked other girls. She really needed the job badly. She had four younger ones to support. Her father was late and her mother sold vegetables in the market. Her daily gains were barely enough to feed six mouths. With a good salary, they would have a better life.

She met the woman’s glance. “What’s her expectations?”

The office manager blinked. “Expectations?”

“Aside from the basic salary?”

The woman’s dark eyes brightened, having caught on, on what her client was insinuating. “Oh! Oh wow! It all depends on your generousity.”

Her gaze returned to the girls. She wondered how long they have all been waiting to be employed. “My husband and I would love to fill in the gaps, educationally, if she wants to go back to school. Or if she wants to learn a handwork, we are ready to support.”

Mrs. Shalewa clapped her hands in excitement. “That will be wonderful!” 

The girls began to murmur among themselves. And many cast jealous glances at Mmesoma.

The girl’s heart beat wildly. Everything she heard the woman say was too good to be true. She felt like she had just won a lottery that had multiple benefits.

“I wish we have more clients like you and your husband,” the woman sounded grateful.

“These girls cannot work as maids forever.”

Mrs. Shalewa sighed heavily. “Truly… they can’t,” she didn’t like seeing girls on the streets, jobless and aimless with no future to look forward to.

Her concerned stare returned to the girls. “We are doing our bit, hoping to change one life at a time.”

“Yes, yes, in this way, by the time they stop working as maids, they will be equipped enough to start their own lives.”

“Exactly.”

“God will bless you both.”

“Amen!”

“Please come with me, there are some paper work you need to fill.”

“All right then,” Lianate followed the woman out of the room.

Mmesoma could hardly contain her joy. She would be working for a young couple who will not only pay her salary, but also sponsor her education or pay for her to learn a trade. Her mother would be ecstatic at the news. Her last employer was a shrewd. She paid her a paltry some and was unconcerned about her welfare. She prayed inwardly for the woman that introduced her to the agency. Things were definitely going to change for her and her family.

The girl heard the others whispering. They were obviously gossiping about her and probably insinuating that she didn’t deserve to be employed by the nice client. She was unbothered about the ones who were looking at her with envy. It was her luck and their loss. Her lips spread in a crooked smile.