TITLE: The Village Girl EPISODE: 12 AUTHOR: D C Nkado * The only transport line she knew and trusted was The Young and because itd taken quite a time for her to get the direction to the park yesterday, shed missed the last bus. She was informed the last bus just loaded and left only some minutes ago. All attempts made by the desperate bus-loaders to get her to enter another bus went futile. Mma would not listen. She had come with The Young, the same bus will take her back. She finally spread her wrapper beside a silent vehicle when it was night and slept. When she gets to the village, she would tell any ear that cared to listen all about the city that never sleeps. On her way to the The Youngs station, she saw a food seller by the corner of the road. She was very hungry so she stopped. About four coolers, each of various size and color, were on the table. The ones with stew or soup had oil stains on them. Behind, two benches lay facing each other. They were occupied by loud hungry customers. The food seller, a fair, fat lady in an oil- stained dark-blue apron was spooning rice, beans, spaghetti, kpomo into plates, as the customers directed. Often, a customer dropped an empty plate, picked a sachet of cold water or toothpick and then paid the woman before walking away. Another would take the space. The food seller handed the newest customer a plate of rice, beans and stew. Madam, I said kpomo twenty-naira. Twenty-naira kpomo don finish. So? Who go come pay for this one? The woman jerked the plate from him and transfered the kpomo into a plate. Mma greeted her. Morning. I wanting to buy rice. How much rice? Putting one plate for me. One plate, how much? Mma was confused. Madam Fuji, give me seventy-naira rice, thirty-naira spaghetti and fifty- naira beans with one strong kpomo, a new customer that has just sat said. When Madam Fuji finished with him, Mma quickly said, Ok, putting seventy-naira rice and fifty-naira beans for me. The woman scooped some beans onto the rice. What else? Putting meat for me. Kpomo or beef? No, I not wanting canda. Putting meat. Anything else? Everything how much now? One-seventy. Ok. Putting plantain thirty-naira to completing it two-hundred. A customer shifted for her and she sat. She had finished her food and drank some water before she opened the zipper of her bag to bring out money to pay. She saw nothing. Lets go back, Richard, Vanessa said. The girl has obviously gone. Lets check at the Akassons too as the guy said. She probably would have used any of the bigger names. Oh well, we wouldnt know for sure, would we? Richards eyes didnt leave the road. They passed a small crowd of noisy people and Richard slowed the car. Now what? Whats going on there? Vanessa rolled her eyes. How would I know? Richard stopped the car and pulled the shifter to R. The car started to reverse. Now what? Let me check out whats happening there. Vanessa let out a small groan of impatience. Richard parked and stepped down. Vanessa reluctantly joined him. A large fair lady held a younger lady in a long flowing dress by the neck. Most of the people gathered round were asking what the matter was, some pleading to the woman to leave the girl or at least tell them what the problem was. Finally the woman released the young girl. Her forehead was reddened in fury, beads of sweat steadily condensing on the surface. Thats how you people come here to eat free food every day because una don hear say Father Christmas dey sell food for bus park. Madam, I having money before, I swearing with my life. I not knowing what-- You are mad. So you no check your bag before you begin order like person wey dey work for Central Bank. You think say I no know you? Hey, Madam, I not knowing you o. I never coming here before, in fact-- The woman made to slap her and she dodged. Thief, today na ur last. Just dont pay me my money and youll see what I -- Madam, how much is the money? Mma screamed and threw her arms around Richard. Richard hugged her back. Vanessa stood at the back glaring. Madam, how much does she owe? Two-hundred naira, the woman threw out. Richard brought out his wallet and gave her two clean N1000 naira notes. The womans features straightened out suddenly as she collected the notes. Her smile of glee hadnt fully formed when Mma reached and jerked the notes from her hand. She gave her one of the notes. Giving me change fast fast. The woman stared at Mma, all her cavities open. Richard was smiling. Vanessa entered the car and slammed the car door shut. No. I not going back to the house. Richard glanced up at the rear-view mirror. Why? Madam asking me to leave. She seeing me again and I not knowing what she will doing to me. Richard parted his lips to say something but didnt, couldnt. Richy, Vanessa called. If I may suggest, I dont think its a good idea taking her back to the house. How? I mean its not such a good thing to do. What is the better thing? Let her sleep in a hotel near the park tonight so that shed be on her way early the next morning. What? Yes. Or you can drive to the airport straightaway and get her a ticket. Please, I not entering alo-plane o. Mma folded her arms below her bosoms. Vanessa looked at her and took her eyes back with vivid unconcern. Any of the two options is the better way out. She is not going anywhere. Richard? Yes. You have a fiance. A wife almost. And she just left your house. And she will be back sooner than you think. Vanessas bafflement drove her to silence. What you people talking about? Mma asked. Nothing of particular relevance, Mma. Richard turned into the road thatd take them up the bridge. He glanced at Vanessa. Tell me where to drop you. Vanessas lips became tightly pursed. Drop me at the estate gate, she murmured. Ok. Vanessa got down at the estate gate but two days after she was back, with a different plan. The lady pursuing her was short and ugly. She had the feeling theyd met somewhere before but now she couldnt remember where. And in the weird manner of dreams, the lady wore a long black gown with hair that stood up in long thread- covered spikes. She concentrated more on surviving. She ran fast but her pursuer ran like she was on rollers. Ghostly quite. The narrow bush-fringed track seemed endless. Now the evil woman appeared in her front. She jolted to a halt. The woman threw her lips open in a wicked laugh. Black-stained teeth flashed at her. She trembled. The woman held out two hands to strangle her. She knew of nothing else to do. Her body felt too heavy for a fight, as if under a numbing spell. She closed her eyes, surrendering herself to death. WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 13
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 12:24:02 +0000
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