The Turned-Table || Episode One

I gladly welcome you to my blog. May the thrill drive you as you read through.

"Who is there!", Oriaku yelled as she cleaned her hands on her dirty wrapper and stood up from the stool she was sitting on. She left the piles of clothes to answer the door. She had expected to finish washing the clothes by now but with the incessant cry of her baby, she couldn't achieve much.

Ada jolted from her thoughts as she heard Oriaku's voice answering from inside the apartment. She hadn't met Oriaku before but was told by her uncle that she is a nice woman and would send her to school while she (Ada) helped her with house chores and taking care of her children. She dusted her clothes as her expectant mind wondered what was in store for her in the city. She dropped her small bag which contained all her belongings on the floor. Being the first child of her mother, she had passed through thick and thin after the death of her father. There was no means of sending her to school hence the agreement to stay with Oriaku and her family. Oriaku is a distant relation of her father and had opted to take care of the girl after the demise of her father. At first, her mother hesitated but when she had no hope of catering for Ada and her siblings, she gave in to the arrangement.

The door knob turned and the door flew open. Oriaku stood at the door, her hair unkempt, her eyes shining and a part of her disorderly wrapper showing her undies.
"Ewoo, Chinedu", she exclaimed. She was expecting them but in the midst of the day's hassles, she didn't know how far spent the day was.
"Good afternoon, please come inside", she said as she opened the door wide and stepped aside so they could enter inside the sitting room.

"Good afternoon, Oriaku", Chinedu replied as he led Ada into the sitting room.

"Good afternoon, ma", Ada greeted in a timid and tiny voice.

"Welcome my child", Oriaku replied.

They sat down while Oriaku went inside and came out with two bottles of soft drinks.

"Accept this 'kola nut' from me", she said as she dropped the drinks on the center table.

"Thank you. How is the family?", Chinedu asked.

"Everybody is fine o", she replied smiling sheepishly.

They discussed at length about some family members and then to the purpose of their visit. Ada was to stay with Oriaku as arranged in order for her to further her education. Soon, the uncle stood to leave and bade them farewell after promising to call them from time to time. As he left a tiny tear dropped from Ada's eyes. She didn't know anybody in the city apart from Oriaku, her aunt, whom she is just meeting for the second time; the first time was during her father's burial. She waved at her uncle while still seated on the chair.

Few minutes later, Oriaku walked in after seeing Chinedu off. She looked at the girl and though she was happy that she now had somebody to help her with the house chores, she didn't show it.

"Go to the bathroom with your belongings, soak everything in water and remain there until you finish washing every single item you came with. I don't want you infesting my house with bed-bugs or whatever tiny demons you have brought with you from the village", she told Ada in a harsh tone.

Ada moved in the direction pointed to her but was halted again by Oriaku.

"Hey! Wait there, put this 'holy water' in the water to wash away every bad luck you came with", Oriaku said as she handed a bottle to Ada before going to resume her washing. Her neighbour had told her before Ada came that some house-helps can be devils in human form and she didn't want to leave any stone unturned.

Ada wept as she entered the bathroom. She didn't know what to expect. Everyone in the village was happy for her as she left and with hopes that she would be treated well she had come to the city. She only wished she was dreaming. But this was not a dream. This is just the beginning of her sorrowful story.

Watch out for the next episode of The Turned-Table.

See you when I write again and I'm glad you read through.

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