The Story Of Tejumola

Episode 18

I hesitated when I got to the string of wires surrounding the pond, I wasn’t really sure I wanted to die. The thought of hell was scary. I knew it was a sin to commit suicide.

I took a quick glance around, the whole place was empty except a Fulani man sipping his tea. I wondered how he enjoyed the tea, since the afternoon was hot.

The fulani man was staring at me, he got to his feet and sauntered towards me. I felt the urge to act fast, but each time I try, some unseen forces pulled me back. I started to wonder if the mammy waters don’t like me.

“Ke! Wetin I dey do for diya?”the fulani man asked.

I didn’t reply, I moved closer to the pond.

“Kai! I wan kill mysef koh?”he placed his palm on his mouth.

I was already squeezing through the wire when he pulled me back roughly.

“Leave me alone!”I glared at him.

“Wallahi I dey craze, I don’t have hankali ne?”he gesticulated angrily.

I got to the wires again, he pulled me this time before I could sq££ze through. I put up a struggle but he threw me down.

“Ke! Stop flaying fa!”he warned.

I sized his tiny framed figure, I thought I could break him into two parts.

“wallahi, zan beating you fa?”.

Beat who? Me? He should try stopping me again if I don’t pull him into the pond with me.

He took hold of my hands and pulled me away cursing loudly. I struggled with all my might to free my self, but I couldn’t overpower him.

A police van screeched to a halt beside us as we got to the end of the street.

David got out giving us a questioning look

“This girl I want to kill herself o”the fulani man told David.

“She wan pall inside zat water o”

David’s eyes grew larger

“Water? You wanted to drown yourself?”

I looked down, tears blurring my vision.

“Mummy!”I definitely heard that, but I thought It was my imagination

“Mummy mi”Eniola said again

I turned swiftly and saw her standing beside the van. Was I dreaming?

“Baby? Are you the one?”my voice was low.

“Uhm”Eniola nodded before running to give me a hug.

I held her tightly like it was my last.

“Mummy don’t cry you hear.”

I wept whilst examining my daughter, I missed her so much.

“I love you my princess”

“I love you too mummy”Eniola replied tears streaking down her cheeks.

What if I had drowned, I wouldn’t be sharing this joy.

“It’s alright, thank God we found her, and thank God you didn’t hurt yourself.”David hugged us both.

:::::::

“Will the nurse give me injections?”Eniola asked.

David was driving us to the hospital, he had insisted we took her for a check-up.

“Maybe.”David smiled at her.

She was sitting on his laps as he drove. I became a spectator.

“No! I don’t like injections”she wanted to cry

“Please, you hear? Its painful o, please uncle”Eniola pleaded.

“I’m not your uncle.”

“uhm?”Eniola blinked.

“I’m your father.”David stole a glance at me

“You are my daddy?”Eniola’s jaw dropped

“Yea sweet heart.”David replied stopping the car at the parkinglot.

I got out quitely, this guy is really looking for my trouble.

“Wow!”Eniola squealed hugging David.

“So I now have a daddy? My daddy has a car, my daddy likes me and my daddy looks fine.”she was very excited.

I watched them both as they rejoiced.

“Can we go in now?”I sounded impatient.

“sure”David gave me a winning smile.

Doctor Raymond examined her for a while.

“Was she sexually abused?”he directed his question at David, but Eniola answered first.

“Ehn now! They abuse me very well o, Akpan called me an , Lois called me naughty, You see?”Eniola quipped.

I rolled my eyes, this girl is a talkative.

“Baby, he meant, did they touch you?”David was looking for the best way to explain to her.

I smiled to myself, I knew she’d give a funny answer again.

“Yes o! All of them touch me o! Even madam Lina sef, she touch me too. All of them touch me plenty times sef!”she explained excitedly.

Doctor Raymond couldn’t help laughing.

“This your daughter is a case on its own.”He told David.

“Yea, a big one!”David laughed

“Why are you laughing na? Didn’t I answer the question?”Eniola frowned.

“Come baby.”I pulled her gently to my side.

“Did anyone of them do what Akpan tried to do that day?”I whispered into her ears.

“Oooh!”she giggled

“No, they did not! Maybe Akpan is still scared of your beatings o”she joined in the laughter.

“Well, Mr David..”Raymond tried to control his laughter.

“I think there’s nothing wrong with your daughter, no damages at all”

“Thank you Doctor, God bless you for the injection o”Eniola squealed at him before we left.