One Wrong Turn

Episode 5

My house was a 5 minute drive from the church, We arrived in no time. The catechist jumped off the bike, with like a professional high jumper.

The look on his face was one of excitement
rather than anger, i couldn’t understand why.
He b@nged repeatedly on the gate with so much vigor, as if he was trying to drive a nail through it with his bare palm.

“Yes? Coming” , an obviously irritated voice replied from the compound.

The gate flew open, and i was surprise to see Osas. How did he get home before me? I wondered. He too was bewildered to see me soaked in tears, with the catechist maintaining a firm grip on my hand, as if I was a criminal.

“Goodevening sir” he muttered.

“is your father at home?” The catechist queried…..

yes but……

He interupted before Osas could finish the statement. He pushed him out of the way, and dragged me along, i was already sobbing uncontrollably. Osas locked the gate quickly,
and ran after us.

The sitting room door flew open, there was my father. He was lying on the sofa with a copy of the “awake” magazine covering his face. His glasses Hung on his nose. He was so engrossed to notice who just entered the sitting room.

” Epa dormon” the catechist greeted in Benin language.

My father recognized the voice, and quickly sat up on the sofa. He turned around, and immediately saw me cringing behind the catechist, sobbing loudly. He sprang up from his seat, and rushed towards me.

“Ella, are you ok? Where have you been, what happened to you?.

The catechist jumped in.

“Epa, you won’t believe were i saw your daughter just now. This small girl is now a LovePeddler”

my father was startled, a look of confusion enveloped his face.

” what is he talking about?” He quized, directing a stern gaze at me.

The catechist continued. ” you know that house we are building for reverend father, the one at the other end of our compound. I have been going there to inspect the place for more than one month now, each time i go there every Saturday morning, i always pick up condom sachets, and even used condoms. So today i said i must go and see what is hapening there every Friday. Epa as i got there, behold! i saw your daughter, with that useless boy, eh eh Ehiagwina’s son. He was enjoying himself ontop of your daughter. Chai, see the way your daughter was shouting like a female dog. Even when i wanted to correct them, the boy started fighting me”………

“Enough!” Thundered my father. He turned towards me with blood shut eyes,

“Ella, so you have decided to disgrace me? After all my discipline?”……

No daddy i did not….

A slap landed on my cheeks before i could finish. I had barely recovered from the shock of the slap, before my father took off his slippers and began to give me the beating of my life. I tryed to run away, but daddy grabbed hold of me, threw me to the floor and kicked me.

” you want to bring shame to my name? You want to make me a laughing stock? So this is why you wanted to go to practice alone eh? So that you can sleep with that . You refused to come home with your brother. I will kill you before you disgrace me. Foolish “.

I was on the floor, writhing and screaming in pain.

My immediate elder brother Ighalo rushed out from his room. My agonizing screams must have alerted him. He rushed straight at me on the floor, and shielded me from my father’s wrath and slippers.

“Ighalo get out of my sight, let me kill this LovePeddler” dad roared.

“No, daddy, It’s enough, she is the only sister i have, maybe you should kill two of us.”
Ighalo fired back.

Dad struck him in the head with the slippers, before putting it back on.

“your mother will continue from where i stoped when she returns from work” he said,
As he made his way towards his room.

Ighalo helped me up to my feet, the catechist
and Osas were nowhere in sight. as he carried me off to my bedroom.

I la!d motionless on my bed, staring at the ceiling with tears falling freely from my eyes.
my whole body ached. A lot of thoughts rushed through my mind.

I was guilty, but the catechist exaggerated the story. Daddy did not even listen to me. He now thinks i am a LovePeddler. Well maybe mummy will listen to me, she will understand that i am not a bad girl….so I thought, but little did I know that another surprise awaited me!