|
|
Chichi's eyes widened at the sight of the money Pa Williams pushed into her hands. She could not believe she was making so much money. She looked up at him in awe, all she had done was play with him and he was giving her so much. “He really does love me" she thought to herself. Her heart warmed up to him. He always gave her gifts and money whenever she came to play with him. He was so nice to her and always willing to listen to her problems. Even though he was not her father, she trusted him just like a father.
"He is not like my Uncle" she said in her heart. He treats me nicely. I hope I never do anything to upset him." She smiled up at him with bright and grateful eyes and he smiled back. His white beard reminded her of her uncle, but that was the only thing they had in common. Her uncle and his wife always beat her up. They would tell her how much of a loser she was and how she would never amount to anything.
"Will you come back tomorrow?" he asked her smiling broadly and baring tobacco brown teeth. Chichi nodded shyly looking at the floor, not daring to raise her head again to look at this kind old man who valued her so much. "Good girl." He praised her pulling her cheek. "When you come tomorrow, I will have a surprise waiting for you". She smiled and nodded shyly as he helped her balance her tray of oranges on her head. She hummed happily to herself as she walked home with her almost empty tray. She had not sold a lot, but Pa Williams always took half and gave her the money for it. He always saved her from the long trek around Lagos under the scorching sun. Her aunt was always happy when she came home with her tray almost empty and money in her pocket. Gone were those days when she would come home with her tray almost full and little or no money in her pocket. No longer would she have to go to bed beaten up badly and starved for not selling all her oranges. She did not even have to trek for miles anymore, as Pa Williams lived just two blocks away. Even when he aunt decided to starve her, she did not mind because Pa Williams always made sure she was full.
Her mind went back to how she had met him. She was sitting in a shade in Orile market crying her heart out in agony. Somehow, she had lost her returns from the sale of oranges for that day. Her crying became louder when she thought about the strokes of cane that awaited her backside and the slaps and blows her face would receive when she got home. Then all of a sudden he was beside her, her angel. "Why are you crying?” he asked with a worried look on his face.
She looked up at him, he did not scare her. He was old and looked kind, like a father. "I lost my money. My aunt will kill me" she sobbed. "Sorry. Sorry." he had repeated. She was disconsolate. There was nothing sorry could do, she knew it was better to die than to go home and face her aunt.
"I will give you the money" he added. Chichi stopped crying so she could listen to him, she thought her ears were deceiving her, but he said it again. "I will give you the money if you will follow me to my house and get it." She wiped her eyes and nodded still sobbing. He smiled at her again and patted her on the head. "Pretty girls like you are not supposed to cry" he had told her as they walked to his house. That shocked her. Pretty? She had never seen her self that way. No one had ever said that to her and that was the nicest thing she had heard for so long. She smiled shyly and looked away.
"How old are you?" he asked.
"Seven" she replied not looking up at him.
"You are such a big girl" he exclaimed.
By the time they got to his house, she had started feeling relaxed and safe. She did not like what he did to her that day, it was painful and very unpleasant. It was a long painful walk home, but it was made bearable by the fact that she was going home with even more money than she had lost. For once she knew that she would not get beaten at home. Her aunt had not noticed the way she walked; she was too busy counting the money Chichi had brought home.
Ever since then her life had been better just as Pa William had promised it would, be if she continued coming over to play with him and kept it a secret. She had met him last December and he had given her a doll for Christmas. No one asked where it came from, but it was quickly snatched from her and given to her aunt's daughter. In a few days, it would be Christmas again. “Who knows what Pa Williams wants to give to me tormorrow?” she thought to herself, "Maybe another doll, and this time, I will hide it very well and play with it when everyone is asleep."
|
1
Tags
You must be logged in to add tags.
|
Writer Profile
Petra Okeke
Writer
|
Comments
Chrispetra, You Are A Writer, I Must Agree, Gene Winston Owens, Sr. | Jul 15th, 2004
I don't know why but when I started reading I just knew that I was going to find this Hidden, "She did not like what he did to her that day, it was painful and very unpleasant. It was a long painful walk home," to No Father, who she does not have or did I MisRead,. me
You must be a TakingITGlobal member to post a comment. Sign up for free or login.
|
|
