Chapter 10

AMARACHI

  After my friends left, I went back to my work. It really wasn't easy. Time moved really slow and it frustrated me.

I was cutting, sewing and mending customers cloth. More and more customers kept on trooping inside aunty Lydia's shop, bringing materials for sewing.

I took measurements endlessly. I liked the fact that aunty Lydia's business was booming but the effect was taking a toll on me seriously. I was working round the clock here and I didn't even get a 'thank you' from aunty Lydia.

I kept on working until aunty Lydia came in during noon.

She was on a yellow lace top and she tied a wrapper matching the lace coupled with her handbag and her heavy jewellery.

I immediately stood up and cleaned her particular seat for her even though I had cleaned it before.

"Aunty good afternoon" I greeted her with a courtesy bow.

She eyed me and hissed, going over to her seat.

I sighed and went back to my work.

Aunty Lydia and I worked in silence, which I was grateful for.

Apart from the occasional errands I had to attend for her, we worked in absolute silence.

I enjoyed it that way and made sure to obey her whenever she called me.

"Madam the madam"was the familiar voice I heard coming from the doorway.

I looked up to see Mrs Johnson. She was here for her dress.

I quickly stood up to offer her a chair.

"Amara my dear thank you"she said whilst patting my shoulder.

"My favourite person, my personal person"aunty Lydia praised her.

"After spoiling my dress Lydia"Mrs Johnson said teasingly.

"It's not my fault. We all make mistakes. After all your dress is fixed now. Amara bring it"

I went over to my seat and took a polythene bag from underneath the sewing machine.

I handed the polythene bag to Mrs Johnson. She brought out her cloth from the bag and her jaws dropped.

  She was grinning from ear to ear like a little child. She turned over the cloth and scrutinized it in and out. She kept on admiring the cloth with her mouth agape.

  "Go and test the cloth now"Aunty Lydia urged her.

She nodded her head and walked towards the dressing room with the dress. I was so pleased on seeing the way she admired the dress. If she hadn't reacted this way, aunty Lydia would have dealt with me severely.

"And why are you smiling?"aunty Lydia asked interrupting my thoughts.

I looked at her and suddenly lost my voice.

"I..I...was..I.."I stuttered as I tried to figure out what to say.

"Come on go and sit down osisor (fast fast). See her nose."

I quickly went over to my seat and continued my work.

"Oh God please let Mrs Johnson like the dress"

Mrs Johnson came out immediately I made that silent prayer.

She strutted and stood in front of the mirror admiring her dress.

A smile made its way to my lips as I gazed at Mrs Johnson who was admiring her outfit.

I was really proud of myself at this point. The dress really brought out her curves.

  "Omaka(it's too beautiful)!"aunty Lydia complimented her.

"I know. Amara you are so talented. God bless you my daughter. See how beautiful I look on this dress. This sewing talent runs in your family o! Your mother really passed it to you"

"Thank you ma!"I said ecstatically. I was beaming with joy. She praised my late mother which doubled my happiness.

I turned over to look at aunty Lydia, hoping to see her smiling but she suddenly wore a frown on her face and she glared at me. I froze in place and smile immediately disappeared.

Why is she frowning at me?

Isn't she suppose to be happy?

I couldn't fathom why aunty Lydia was glaring at me.

  "Ehm..I'm the one who taught her how to sew now. I taught her this tailoring thing not her late mother. It's me you should commend"Aunty Lydia said with a hint of jealousy in her tone.

  Now I knew it!

She could never stand my mother. Somebody praising my mother obviously irked her. She wanted the spot light all to herself.

Why did she hate my late mother this much?!

Even in death?

She still hated her.

"Ah my dear you are talented. It's true. You really did well in training Amarachi"Mrs Johnson said turning to face Aunty Lydia.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. Aunty Lydia had gotten what she wanted.

Mrs Johnson went to the dressing room to change and came out in her former clothes.

  She dipped her hand into her hand bag and brought out four thousand naira, handing it to aunty Lydia.

"Thank you my dear"aunty Lydia said immediately as she snatched the money from her hands, folding it and stuffing it into her wrapper.

"Amara wait I have something for you. You deserve a treat"Mrs Johnson said as she searched her handbag.

A treat? Really? For me?

Wow!

She brought out some five hundred naira notes and counted it. She then handed it over to me with a smile.

"That's three thousand naira"she said with a wink.

Surprise washed over my face as I stared at the currency notes in my hand.

Three thousand!

First Nonso gave me three thousand now Mrs Johnson gave me too!

I opened my mouth to object but Mrs Johnson immediately cut me off.

"You deserve it my dear. Keep it"

"Madam Lydia, I'm going now. Take care o"She added as she walked away.

"Oh bye bye"aunty Lydia replied.

I stared at the money in my hands with surprise.

She was right. I deserved it

"Ehen give me that money"aunty Lydia said once Mrs Johnson left jolting me out of my thoughts.

"But.."I tried to protest but she slapped me immediately.

"Come on shut that gutter you call a mouth! She gave you money and you accepted. You didn't tell her to give me the money instead! Useless girl. Hand it over now!" She commanded.

I couldn't do anything but cry.

I deserved this money. I was the one who worked till ten o'clock yesterday night. I deserved this reward. But I had no say in the matter. I reluctantly handed her the money with tears in my eye.

"Wipe that tears off now osisor(fast fast). You want people to pity you. Fool"

I quickly obeyed her and cleaned my eyes. She put the money in her purse,eying me.

She then took her purse and headed outside.

"Lock the shop by six!"

"Yes a..aunty"I replied in a rather low tone.

God!

What did I ever do to deserve this kind of treatment!?

I continued my work and kept on sewing clothes to clear my head from the harsh treatment aunty Lydia melted onto me.

After some hours, Ogechi entered the shop. She hardly came to the shop. She only did when she needed money.

She was dressed in a short mini skirt and crop top. She was probably going to see one of her boyfriends.

I ignored her presence the way she ignored mine. She went straight to her mother's private office.

Only God knows what she is doing there.

After some minutes, she came out holding some currency notes in her hands.

"Why are you taking that money?" I asked once I caught a glimpse of what she held in her hand.

"Is it your money!?"

"Mind your business Amara!"she cautioned me harshly and she left.

I couldn't help but stare at Ogechi as she walked away.

She was just a rude and unmannered girl.

I sighed heavily and continued my work.

I occasionally glanced at the clock. I couldn't wait for six, I felt suffocated in here.

Around five, aunty Lydia stepped inside the shop. I greeted her but she ignored my greetings and headed straight to her private office.

After some minutes I heard aunty Lydia's loud scream echo round the shop. She came out of the shop with her hands on her head screaming.

"Amarachi o! Amarachi e bu onyo shin(Amarachi you are thief)!"

She kept on repeating that statement as she wailed.

I was so confused.

Me? A thief?

I stood up from my seat to try and calm her down but she pushed me away.

What did I do?

"You this girl! You are thief! A big thief! Just like your mother! You take other people's belongings!"

"Aunty...what did I do?"I asked with my swollen eyes. I was tired of crying every time. I was tired of being accused always.

"What did you do?! Did you just ask that!? Amara where is my money!?"

I became dumbfounded. I didn't take anything so why was she accusing me?

"I kept eight thousand naira in there. I saw only five thousand naira!"she yelled at me.

"Aunty.. aunty..I promise I didn't take anything. Ogechi came in here and took some money with her. I didn't do anything"I pleaded.

  She immediately slapped me.

The impact was so strong that I almost lost my balance.

She pushed me out of the way and went towards my bag.

I quickly remembered Nonso gave three thousand naira too!

If she sees that money then I'm dead.

"Come and see thief o!"Aunty Lydia shouted.

My heart sank as I saw aunty Lydia holding the three thousand naira Nonso gave me.

Now I'm dead!