Chapter 4

AMARACHI

I stepped outside the house with heavy sleepy eyes. Scanning the empty buckets in the backyard, I realised my workload this morning will be much.

  The atmosphere was so cold and  sky was still dark. Some stars could be spotted as the darkness covered the entire horizon. I rubbed my hands together trying to feel warm.

A deep sigh escaped my mouth as  I took a jerry-can and made my way out off the house.

"It was still dark, why couldn't aunty Lydia just let me rest?"

Stepping outside the iron gate of my house, I felt the cold breeze run through my body and I shivered.

There were just few people on the road, probably those of the working class as they went their way not even minding anybody else

I greeted some of them, most replied while some didn't.

Heaven knows I was still sleepy as I tried to keep awake whilst walking.

My eyes felt so heavy it felt like I should just collapse.

  I have been working since yesterday, Aunty Lydia made sure to give me a handful of work.

Aunty Lydia was a tailor and I worked in her shop, learning the trade since she and uncle Francis refused to further my education.

  Yesterday a customer returned a cloth because Aunty Lydia made a huge mistake in cutting out the pattern. I tried telling her before hand that I don't think the pattern she used is right but what did I get?

I got a slap on the face.

"Aunty I don't think you should use that pattern. The shape won't come out well" I said in a low tone.

Aunty Lydia stopped cutting the dress and stared at me.

Her stare sent shivers down my spine.

I knew I shouldn't have talked.

"What did you say!?" She asked me harshly.

My throat suddenly became dry as I lost my voice out of fear.

"Ogini ki ku!?(what did you say) Ina pu ala( are you mad?) Ibu onye ala(you are mad)!amosu(witch)" Aunty Lydia lashed at me in our Igbo dialect.

I was just trying to help her and this is what I got in return.

Insults upon insults.

She stood up and faced me, eying me with a wicked glare.

"Just because you are good in tailoring, just because the people praise you, Amarachi you now think you know better than me shey (is that so)?!"

I tried to speak but immediately she slapped me so hard.

"If you ever in your life act like you know better than me, Amarachi I'll show you why I'm a lioness. Useless girl"

All I could do was cry, I could only cry, I couldn't defend myself. I was only trying to help.

"I'm...so..so...sorry" I said whilst crying as I clutched on to the cheek she slapped still feeling the pain.

  I felt my eyes being watery as I recalled the event.

Now the customer brought back the cloth and she handed me the cloth to fix blaming her mistake on my carelessness. I came home around ten in the night yesterday and I kept on working on the cloth till three.

  I atleast expected aunty Lydia to thank me but I guess I expected too much from her.

She hated my mother and passed the hatred to me.

  "You no dey watch!"was the voice I heard which snapped me out off my thoughts.

  I was so lost in thought that I didn't realise a motorcycle was behind me.

"I'm..I'm.. sorry" I apologized and quickly moved away for him to pass.

"God help me" I said to myself in a low tone as I made my way to the community tap.

I approached the huge community tap. It was actually four taps to be precise to make it easier for as much people as possible to get water.

It was in the middle of a particular street. The street was deserted and the area was so quiet.

An eerie silence consumed the atmosphere.

It made me feel scared and I started wishing for atleast someone to show up with the aim of fetching water too.

  I wouldn't blame them anyways, who will come out by this time to fetch water from a tap that opens around seven?

Exactly nobody.

But aunty Lydia would always look for a way to make me work.

I climbed up the two little cemented steps that led to the first tap and sat on the second step resting my head on the tap.

The metallic opening of the tap was so cold. It made me flinch at first but I slowly rested my head on it and enjoyed the coldness.

Atleast I could sleep here if I couldn't sleep at home.

"I'll sleep just for a while. Let me just rest"

††††††††

"Hello dear"

I felt a light tap on my shoulder and I heard a feminine voice which echoed in my head.

"Hello young girl"

The voice echoed again in my head. It interrupted my sleep and I frowned inwardly.

I rubbed my eyes and yawned. Opening my eyes slowly, everything seemed blurry at first but then my sight slowly adjusted and met the gaze of an elderly woman who was smiling at me.

  "Good..good morning ma" I greeted as I stood up immediately dusting my skirt.

How long was I asleep?

I took a cursory look at the sky, it was still dark which made me realise that I hadn't been sleeping for long.

"Young girl what are you doing here by this time?"she asked, concerned written all over her face.

"Um..ma I came here to fetch water"I replied whilst nervously holding on to my skirt as the breeze was blowing it.

I accessed the woman's appearance, she looked rich and I spotted a car behind her with someone sitting on the driver seat, it probably was her driver.

"But my dear the tap doesn't open until seven. This is not even 6:30 yet. You are here alone. You are a prey for street urchins. You could get harassed" She told me as she caressed my cheek lightly.

This woman was so concerned for me. I couldn't help but stare at her. It felt like she was my mother.

I guess when you are just devoid of love and care, you tend to melt yourself into any body who shows you the littlest affection.

"Yes..yes. I know. But I have to come here early ma" I stammered.

  She looked at me puzzled, then smiled.

She stretched out her hand to me,"Come. You want to fetch water right? Come I'll take you to my house. You can fetch as much you want ok"

I gasped immediately. This woman was Godsent. She was really offering to help me with water.

"Ma..."my voice trailed off as she cut me short.

"I know you don't know me. I'm Mrs Justice. I'm Chief Justice wife"

Chief Justice, I've heard of him before. He is a wealthy and respected man. He is a philanthropist. I heard him, his wives and his children stayed abroad.

I wonder what brought his wife here?

I never believed I'll actually meet any of chief Justice's family.

"Follow me ok. I don't want you standing outside here, exposed to this cold weather and the danger of being harassed by street urchins. I was actually on my way to a meeting but I'll drop you at my house and you fetch as much as you want ok" she said jolting me out of my thoughts.

I then realised I had been standing at that particular spot and I hadn't taken her hand.

  I nodded my head and smiled at her.

Feeling shy a bit, I took hold of her hand and she led me to her car.

"God Thank you!"