One Wrong Turn

Episode 11

My heart almost came to a stop as my mum approached the car. I was quite uneasy. Ehis put his index finger across my lips, telling me to be quiet.

My mum walked up to the house of Mary, and began to look around. She went inside the building and came out. She came around the back, towards the car.

She headed straight for Ruth, who was leaning on the car. I bent down quickly, to avoid her eagle eyes. Ehis assured me again that my
mum couldn’t see us from outside.

“where is Ella”, she asked, looking around suspiciously.
” I don’t know ma, i haven’t seen her today” Ruth replied.

“young lady, don’t tell me lies, are you not the one she is planning to meet here?”

” me? No ma , i don’t know were she is o”

” who wrote her this note?” My mum asked as she handed the note over to Ruth.

“Oh, ma its me, but i gave it to her last week. We were suppose to have a rehearsal here
during service. You know she is in the legion of
Mary,”

“so what are you doing here now”? My mum probed further.

” we just finished another rehearsal here just now, i’m about to leave now.”

“so were are the others then?”

“they have all gone, i was just checking myself in the mirror, that’s why you met me ma” she said, pointing at the car’s side mirror.
My mum looked at Ruth, with an expression of disgust on her face. Frisking her from head to toe with her eyes.

Ruth was heavily made up, she owned every single make up accessory a woman can have, and she had no restraint about using them. My mum hated make up.

“oya, get inside the church, mass has started” my mum ordered.

My mum stood, as Ruth began to walk away slowly. Ruth was a talented liar. Weather her lies were premeditated, or spontaneous, it was hard to tell the difference.

When Ruth was out of sight, my mum took a walk around the car, perhaps admiring It’s beauty. I could see her through the tinted windows. My heart sank when she bent down, and adjusted her headtie, using the side mirror. Perhaps she would have seen me if she turned.

As my mum walked towards the church hall, i knew it was time for me to leave. I have been gone for nearly 15minutes. The longer i stay here, the closer I am to getting caught.

As soon as my mum was out of sight, i told Ehis I had to go.

“But common, she is gone now, we can spend
a little time together, i really miss you Ella.”
Ehis said, in his usual gentle and pleasing voice.
As tempting as those words sounded, i knew i really had to go. If i take long, i don’t know which excuse to give my mum. I have never been good at lying.

“Ehis, I’m sorry, i have to go, my mum will come looking for me again.”

“but when can i see you again? I ll like to hang out with you” He asked, with a sad look on his face.