Ella! Emmanuella! Is this girl still sleeping? I could hear my mum's voice from a distant place, still need more sleep I thought. ,"Wake up you this lazy girl, is this how you would be sleeping in your husband's house"
But mum it's still too early to start my chores besides it Friday and we won't do much in school today
"It doesn't matter what day of the week it is young woman get the hell out of that bed "
Yes mum I grugingly got myself out of the bed not wanting to be whipped this early in the morning and not wanting to be flooded with a bowl of water either
Migwor ma I greeted in our local dialect
"Vrendo, go wash your face and sweep the house and join me in the kitchen after"
Ok ma
"If you like sleep back you go see wetin you dey find she said.
"Do make you come join me for kitchen "
I hear. I replied as I made my way to the bucket of water a cup in hand. I collected the water and went to get my tooth brush and paste from the room.
The house dimly lit by the illumination from the "aboki light" still wondering how they constructed that thing though.
I went outside praying not to see mama Egima the fish seller. She always smells like the fish she sells, as if the heavens heard my prayer she was not outside.
I brushed and went inside to sweep as I snuck out the tablets I had lied about swallowing hoping mum or sis doesn't see me, I swept the house as quickly as I could and went to the kitchen by the side of the building.
Living in a face me I face you house is the norm for the lower class who strive to get to the top hoping the government would make living a bit better for us.
If you at least have a roof over your head nothing can go wrong at least it's better than those living under the bridges in Lagos I thought.
Mum was preparing to go to the community market and so I have to fend for myself today as big sis still has to go to her shop early too.
Mummy can I come to the shop?
"If you close from school you come shop follow express oh no pass inside town, make you dey careful for road o I no wan hear tori o"
Ok ma
"Make akamu bread dey inside house no be around 2 Una dey close? If you come shop I go buy banga rice for you"
Ok
She left the kitchen with hot water in her hand to mix and bath since the line is so long in the bathroom she's probably going to the back of the lime tree to bath if she's fast enough be bitten by at least six to seven mosquito's before leaving for the market
I prepared my breakfast not forgetting to use my regular six cube of sugar and lot of milk enough to give me diarrea but I'm just a girl and the last child the privileges I can enjoy is my breakfast and less chores.
I dressed up and locked the door behind me keeping the key under the door mat and turned to run to school as I am almost late for school when I came face to face with mama Ejima
I groaned internally "good morning ma'am " I greeted
"I think say you no dey see me since where your mama " she asked
She don go market I said holding my breath trying not to puke
"Ok ..."
Not waiting to know what she said next I ran to school. Feeling the gentle air as it caressed my skin and the feel of the early sun I made my way to the class room where I sat waiting to see my friends.