3.

It had been two weeks since I was whipped with the baton, but I was still in pain and had scars on my body.

I had to hide them so my parents wouldn't find out. If they knew what I had done, they would have punished me!

Luckily, the governor's son didn't have the sense to knock on the door and tell them.

Besides, why had I brought her to my house instead of asking her to park in front of another house? But then, I hadn't thought about it.

 

    Jessy and Patrick went on vacation the next day after the report cards were handed in.

I stayed with my parents to help them with everything. I didn't tell my friends anything about what happened except that it was a misunderstanding and that the governor's son had mistaken me for someone else.

I was a little ashamed to tell them that I had been beaten up when they knew I was a strong girl.

 

    Sometimes I thought about Ariel, the governor's son. I would think about what I had done to his sister and honestly, I didn't care! I was thinking about what he did to me and I wanted to get back at him, but how?

The fact that I had been a weak girl in front of him was unbearable for me! No, it wasn't me. I was a lioness, a girl who imposed her rules and whom people were afraid of.

 

    One night while I was on the porch thinking about this situation, my parents asked me to join them in the living room to talk about what I was going to do during the vacations besides helping them out around the house.

 

- My daughter?

 

- Yes, Daddy!

 

- What are you going to do during this vacation?

 

- Help mom take care of my brothers and sisters and do other chores! Anyway, it's my duty as a child to do the housework so...

 

- You are right my daughter. You are really respectful and I like that! You look like a woman but you are still a 16 year old girl!

 

- Haha thanks mom! And soon I will be 17!

 

- Haha Okay! Your father and I have decided to open a small business for you that can bring in some extra money. You're taking the probationary exam next year and we'll have to pay the application fees...

 

- What business?

 

- Tell us!

 

- Okay, give me tonight to think about it okay?

 

    They agreed and I went to bed to think about it and to sleep too because I was sleepy.

 

    The next morning, I told them that I wanted to sell "okok", a local dish because it sold quickly and made a lot of money.

It's true that the idea of taking things from people was in my head, but it was a bit risky to do it outside of school. At school, the students couldn't denounce me easily!

In Cameroon, if you steal just one peanut, they burn you alive!

What the governor's son did to me calmed me down a bit because he said he would do worse than that if I continued.

So I decided to sell the "okok".

 

    I went to the market the same day to do the shopping and the next morning I prepared everything and went out early with food, plates, cups, a stool and an umbrella to settle down. I put everything in a rickshaw for easy transportation.

I may have been like a boy, but I could cook very well. My mother had taught me everything from a young age and I was proud of it.

Whenever I served food to a customer, he would advertise my food to his relatives because it was really good.

That's how I sold the "okok" several times a week and still made some money.

 

    There were two weeks left before school started and I went to the market around 12:00 to buy my school supplies and when I finished, I bought the okok sheets and other things and went home.

I had decided to work harder to earn more money because my little brother, who was following me, had already reached school age and I wanted to surprise him by buying him some supplies and shoes.

I prepared two big pots of "okok" in the evening with lots of cassava and went to the market.

The woman who used to sell the beans near me did not come. So I decided to set up shop in her place.

    It was a Saturday and there were a lot of customers and I, being serious, served them with a smile, kindness and respect.

 

    The night started to fall and I quickly served my last customers to go home.

I put everything in my rickshaw and started pushing it to go home.

My house was not far from the market. I had about 30 minutes to get home.

It was cold even though I had put on a heavy sweater. The sky had become darker and it was a little scary but I was a pretty brave girl.

    At one point, I started to sing to avoid getting bored. I didn't have a great voice, I admit it.

As I was really into what I was doing, I felt a hand touch my shoulder from behind. I jumped and turned around to see what or rather who it was...

 

- You again? I promise you that I have changed!

     In fact, it was Ariel, the governor's son!

 

    He kept his cool and looked at me for a while before saying...

 

- ARIEL: It's good that you've changed! You can earn your money with dignity, without hurting anyone...

 

- Okay, big guy! What are you doing here?

 

- ARIEL: Uh...nothing! I was just passing by and bumped into you.

 

    He had parked his car on the side of the road.

 

- You want to punish me for your sister again? I think I've already paid my debt and I swear I won't let it happen again!

 

- ARIEL: I see pots in the rickshaw! I guess you're selling food. That's great! Please serve me a plate and come give it to me in my car!

He wasn't one for idle chatter. Everything he said had a meaning and a purpose. That's why he used to talk about his own topics rather than what I had started.

    After he said those words, he turned around and walked to his car.

I had a very small "okok" and four last pieces of cassava because I always came home with a little bit to eat.

I went to give it to him and went back to wait in front of my rickshaw.

I watched him from time to time and I saw him eating with appetite.

    When he finished, he came to me.

 

- Thank you, it was very good, even if it was a bit cold, but that's normal! Say, how much do I owe you?

 

    I didn't really know what to say.

 

- Well, actually...

 

    He took out five 10.000 fcfa bills and gave them to me.

 

- Here you are!

 

    I was really happy. 50.000 fcfa? Wow!

I thanked him and almost got down on my knees.

 

- No, no, you don't need to kneel down! You are very young and it is dangerous for you to walk alone at this hour. Either you get into the car and leave your rickshaw and pots here, or I'll go with you with all your stuff and get back in the car to continue my journey.

 

    I chose the second option and thanked him.

I must admit that he made me feel like a woman, because I was becoming very small in front of him. I didn't dare to speak badly to him or disobey him. I was rather submissive.

We started to walk and each one remained silent. I decided to break the silence.

 

- Say, how is your girlfriend?

 

- Fine, thanks. And your boyfriend?

 

- I don't have one!

 

- All right, then! You're still a little girl, so focus on your studies... Say, how old are you?

 

- 17 years old.

 

- That's it!

 

- What about you?

 

    He did not answer.

 

- I hope you've really changed and won't hurt anyone else.

 

- Uh yes yes.

 

    There we were, side by side walking and he was pushing my rickshaw. I wasn't sure how to describe him. Sometimes he was nice, sometimes not. Sometimes he spoke, sometimes he didn't, and when he did, it was to say what he wanted to say, not what I necessarily wanted to hear.

     We were almost to my house when he got a call and as I was near him, I heard the conversation.

 

- ARIEL: Hello?

 

- Yes honey, where are you?

 

- Hmmm I'll be there in less than an hour.

 

- But you were supposed to be here by now! It's still my mother's birthday !!!! Everyone is already here, except you!

 

- I'm so sorry. Something came up. I will be there soon.

 

- Okay, honey.

 

    Instead of arriving at his mother-in-law's birthday party on time, he had decided to stop and talk to me, eat the food and help me. I started to get ideas...

 

- But you were supposed to go to your mother-in-law's birthday, weren't you? Why did you stop?

 

    He stood in front of me...

 

- ARIEL: Thank you for the meal! Goodbye and welcome back!

 

    Once again, he ignored the questions.

     Several weeks passed and it was back to school.