CHRONICLES OF THE HELPS 24
Lianater returned home to meet her children sleeping in the sitting room, while the television was on. Why did the new help allow them to sleep in here? He should have ushered them to their rooms once he noticed that they were dozing.
“Boma!”
No response. Where was he? She stood in the middle of the room, her brown office bag was still strapped to her aching shoulder. The children began to stir, probably because of the noise.
“Boma!”
She marched out of the room, searching for the new help. The sight in the kitchen caught her off guard. The sink was filled with dirty dishes and the gas cooker looked bare. Her frown deepened. She assumed he would have started supper by now.
“Boma!”
Silence. Where was he? Something caught her attention. From the corner of her eyes, she saw a thin line of soapy water flowing towards the kitchen doorway. What was that? Where was it coming from?
Lianater traced the source of the water and found a leaky washing machine. Her legs weakened. Who did she offend? Why does she keep having problems with domestic helps?
“Boma!” Her sad eyes darted left, then right. She reached in her bag for her smartphone and quickly dialed a number. It rang and rang, but no one picked the call. Why wasn't he answering his phone? Did he go out?
“Mummy is back!”
She heard the twins voices. The boys came running out of the sitting room. Ada and Ify included.
Lianater feigned a smile. “Hello my darlings.”
“Mummy…” Ify tugged at the hem of her mother's skirt.
She picked up the two year old.
“Mummy I am hungry,” Ada pulled at her mother's handbag.
“Me too,” the twins chorused.
The tired woman groaned inwardly. “Let me fix us a snack, then I will get dinner started.”
The children followed her into the kitchen.
She placed Ify on a high stool. “Nonso bring out the sliced bread from the refrigerator. Dozie get the butter and eggs.”
Ada climbed a stool next to her sister. “Are we making toast?” She eyed the toaster.
Lianater glanced at the girl. “Yes.”
The twins exchanged glances. “Fireworks!” Then they giggled.
The woman stared at them, lost.
“Yes! Fireworks!” Ada clapped her hands excitedly.
Even little Ify started to laugh.
“Fireworks? Where?”
The children pointed at the toaster and the microwave.
Her heartbeat accelerated. She took a deep breath, then examined both appliances and discovered that they were not working. Then it dawned on her that the new help might have fled after discovering that he had destroyed three appliances!
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“I want everything he spoilt replaced immediately!” Her furious stare held the older woman's pleading gaze.
Mrs. Shalewa adjusted her sitting posture and placed both hands on the mahogany table. “We will do everything we can to find him and make sure he replaces your kitchen appliances and the washing machine.”
Lianater eyed her. “How long will that take? I don't trust you people.”
The woman swallowed hard. “Be rest assured that we are on his trail.”
She hissed again and again. “I thought you people are professionals. Why can't you vet your helps effectively?”
The woman cleared her throat, dark eyes flickered to the opened doorway, then back at her angry client.
“I might as well elsewhere…”
“Mrs. Briggs, it hasn't gotten to that. And for the time being, we have a fine replacement…” She got up, headed out and returned with a tall, dark skinny girl.
Lianater stood where she was, scanning the girl from cropped hair to shoes, or rather, Dunlop bathroom slippers.
“This is Hauwa Aliu, she is eighteen and very hardworking,” Mrs. Shalewa smiled graciously, hoping to be able to convince the younger woman.
“Replacement?” Her gaze narrowed.
“Yes, yes… Hauwa has been in our service for many years. She does everything.”
Lianater looked straight at the girl. After Mmesoma’s saga, she wasn't ready to accommodate any female stranger in her home. Maybe in the near future, but not now. “Can you resumed at six and close at seven?
“Yes, ma,” she sounded like she was talking through her nose. “I have a cousin who lives a bus away from your estate.”
“Okay…” Why does the girl sound weird? Like her throat was patched or something?
She turned back to the older woman, “Mrs. Sha…”
“She does everything, Mrs. Briggs,” she said quickly, before the woman added more complaints.
Lianater swallowed the rest of her dissatisfaction. The truth was that she needed a new help. Boma fled more than a week ago and no-one has been able to find him.
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“Give me the remote!”
“No! It is my turn!”
“No, it isn't!”
“Yes! It is!”
The twins kept screaming at each other, while Ify started to sob.
Ada went in search of their new help. She wanted to watch her favourite program, but her brothers were fighting again. She ran to the kitchen, but it was empty. She headed for the stairway, maybe the help was doing the laundry. But, she wasn't there.
The four year old bit at her lower lip. Then she figured that Hauwa must be preparing to take her leave. It was almost seven and their mum would soon be home.
She ran to the guest room and knocked lightly on the door. No response. She knocked again and pushed the door open.
That same moment, Hauwa came out of the bathroom, humming a song and dripping wet.
“Nonso and Dozie are fighting.”
She froze when she heard the girl's voice.
“Please come and stop them.”
“What are you doing in here?! Get out this minute!” The help throw a shoe at the girl.
Ada dodged the incoming object and ran out.
The girl returned to the sitting room and unfortunately, her brothers were still fighting.
“I have a question.”
The twins ignored her.
“Do girls and boys have the same wee-wee?”
Her question got their attention. The twins stopped fighting.
“What is she blabbing about?” Nonso eyed her.
“Beats me,” Dozie shook his head from side to side.
Ada settled on her favourite chair, very close to the television. “Do boys and girls have the same wee-wee?”
The twins stared at each other and started to laugh.
“Your sister is at it again,” Nonso laughed harder.
“She is also your sister,” Dozie sat on the floor and continued to laugh.
“Boys and girls have different reproductive organs, silly,” Nonso informed her.
The girl remained quiet. If their new help was indeed a girl, why does she have a boy's wee-wee?
