Adaeze The Housemaid (episode 6)

Episode 6

I didn’t know when I slept off in the course of resting till a very heavy lash of wire landed on my back and sent me to my feet in agony.

I rose to my feet immediately and soon saw where the lash of wire was coming from.

My madam stood infront of me looking very mean and angry.

The time was around 4pm in the evening and I was supposed to have cleared the dustbin by then.

“Who are you waiting for to clear the bin?” My madam asked raising her hand very high to unleash another lash on me.

Just then the doorbell rang and my madam held her hand in check.

“Go and see who’s at the door,” she commanded.

I ran to the door and swung it open.

An old man and woman stood infront of the door.

“Are your people around?” The old man asked.

I kept silent a bit confused of what to answer.

I remembered that there were times when my madam didn’t like seeing visitors and often instructed me to tell whom-ever it was that she wasn’t around.

I was battling with my confusion when madam entered.

“Ah daddy,” my madam gasped as soon as she saw them. “Daddy good afternoon, mummy good afternoon,” she greeted immediately.

“Ah my daughter,” the old man replied. “Good afternoon nwam.” He added.

“Please come inside,” my madam invited.

I gave way immediately and the old man and woman entered the house.

“What of your husband?” The woman asked.

“He’s gone to work,” my madam replied.

“And the children?” The woman continued.

“They’re sleeping inside,” my madam replied. “Adaeze!” She called.

“Yes aunty,” I replied and ran to answer her.

“Go and buy drinks,” she instructed handing some money to me.

I ran to a nearby shop and bought the drinks without wasting time.

Then I served it before the guest and went back into the kitchen.

I then carried the dustbin inside a polythene bag and went to dispose it.

I went over to my friend’s compound to call her.

Chidimma was a househelp in the neighbouring compound and we always went together to dispose our refuse.

We gisted on the way as we went.

Chidimma narrated to me of how ruthless her madam was. Of how her madam uses the sole of her high-heel shoe to hit her on the head when she makes a mistake.

She even revealed to me of how her madam’s husband sneaks into her room at night to have carnal knowledge of her without her madam knowing.

All these weighed down on her and she wanted to let it off by confiding in me.

I consoled and encouraged her not to lose hope that things would one day change for the better.

She thanked me profusely for my words of encouragement without knowing that my own madam at home was as ruthless as hers if not more; only that her husband doesn’t sneak into my room.

Nonetheless I acknowledged her gratitude and encouraged her not to lose hope.

Then we disposed our refuse and headed home…