The Blue House S04 E12

Ronke stared at Iya Ibeji as her customer left. She knew she was here for money again and she was determined not to give it. Her husband had said they should leave things as they were and wait for the baby to be born but he hadn’t said anything about giving Iya Ibeji money. Not that he needed to, she could see Iya Ibeji for what she was, a stubborn leech.

“What do you want?” she asked coolly.

“Peace needs money, she’s not eating well and we both know how important it is for a pregnant woman to eat well.”

“I don’t have any money to give you, you can come back and see my husband.”

Iya Ibeji laughed a cold laughter. “You just sold goods worth five hundred naira. I’ll take that.”

“The money belongs to my business, it’s not my personal money.”

“You and your business are one and the same. Don’t waste my time please, the day is almost over.”

“It is you who shouldn’t waste your time, I’ve already told you that I don’t have the money. Come back and see my husband.”

“You’re testing my patience, I may not be as rich as you are but I know my rights and I know what I can do to make your life miserable.”

Ronke’s eyes widened. “Are you threatening me? Iya Ibeji are you threatening me?”

“I gave you my daughter and you allowed your son to turn her into a plaything. Now she’s pregnant and you’re denying that the baby belongs to your son. Aren’t you the one who is threatening my peace and the peace of my family?”

“You’re the one who wants to give my son a child that isn’t his. Ask your daughter who else she’s been with!”

“I will be back soon and when I do I won’t come back alone. By the time I run down your business you will realize the stuff I’m made of.” Iya Ibeji flipped back her shawl and stomped off.

“If anything happens to my business the police will hear about it!” Ronke shouted after her. Rubbing her forehead, she cursed the day she accepted Peace into her home then she reached for her phone to call Dapo.

**********

Iya Ibeji climbed the platform in front of her house calling Peace’s name. More infuriated that the girl hadn’t responded she went into the house and found her asleep on a mattress in the other room where she and her siblings slept. Raising her two hands she brought them down heavily on the girl’s back as she jumped up terrified.

“So you’re here sleeping while your father and I are busy slaving ourselves because of your promiscuity!”

Peace wailed. “I’m sorry ma. I just slept off after I finished washing the clothes.”

“So because you washed clothes that is enough reason for you to sleep for the rest of the day right? Where are the yam slices I asked you to sun dry?”

“Ma?”

Iya Ibeji slapped her. ”Are you also deaf?”

“They’re outside…”

“Outside where?” Iya Ibeji asked afraid, the yam slices were to be sundried so that she could mill them to make amala. Her sister who came from their village had brought them. “Stand up and come and show them to me!”

Peace trembled as she stood. She was supposed to be watching the slices so that goats wouldn’t eat them. If her mother hadn’t seen them on her way in, the goats must have eaten them. She scratched her head nervously as she walked to the front of the house hastily. There were a few pieces of yam scattered all over the ground where she had put them.

“Where are they?” he mother asked.

Peace put her hands on her head and began to cry. “They were here ma. I put them here while I was washing and then…”

“You went inside to sleep and goats ate them right?”

“I’m sorry ma!”

“You’re sorry! The wicked people who allowed their son to use you have also refused to give us money to take care of you and that child you’re carrying and you allowed goats to eat up my yam? Where do I get the money to replace it, ehn? That boy’s mother insulted me all the way to my fourth generation and you’re here saying you’re sorry, by the time I’m through with you, you’ll be very sorry.” Before Peace could respond she slapped her and then again, she continued to beat her until the girl couldn’t take it anymore and she ran out into the street.

The biker saw the girl just in time to slam on the brakes but not quick enough not to hit her to the ground.

**********

Olayinka sat on the chair her mother offered her and took a deep breath in.

“What is it?” Her mother asked.

“You need to apologize to my husband.” Olayinka shook her head confused. “You wronged him and you need to apologize to him. I know that isn’t the way we do thing in our culture but you need to make peace with him. I can’t keep choosing between you and him. I love you both and this fight between you both has to stop.”

“Is that all?” her mother asked.

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

“You’ll apologize to him?”

“I have heard you Olayinka.”

***********

“Madam you have to learn to control your temper.” The biker said to Iya Ibeji as she led Peace inside. She was lucky not to have sustained any serious injury, her elbow was only slightly bruised. Iya Ibeji returned to thank the man again.

“Thank you sir, may you never be in trouble.”

“Amen, please take it easy on that girl. She’s even pregnant! What’s done is done, please stop beating her.”

“I have heard you, thank you.”

The biker rode off shaking his head in sympathy, the girl had been terrified. He also thanked his good fortune for saving from trouble, if he had not slammed on the brakes quickly enough, the girl would have been seriously injured or even dead.

Iya Ibeji’s neighbours surrounded her as soon as the biker left. They all had something to say.

“Iya Ibeji, we have told you to stop beating this girl. Has she done something that has never happened before?” one woman said.

“And beating her in that condition, do you want to kill her? What if she had been badly injured, what would you tell her father?” another woman said.

“You have to take it easy on her, the fact that she’s pregnant now doesn’t mean that she’ll not turn our right.” Someone else said.

“What even caused the argument, didn’t you just come in?” yet another woman said.

“Thank you everybody. I don’t know what came over me, I was just very angry. This is a very difficult situation that we find ourselves in.” she broke down crying.

“Don’t worry, God will see you through.” Someone said comforting her.

“Let’s go and check on her and clean up her bruises.” Someone suggested and they all went in.

Peace was lying down in the sitting room still crying, it was high time she told her parents the truth. She had meant to punish Ayodele for bragging about her to the barber but her intention had only increased her suffering. Brother Tunji would be bound by obligation to give her money, especially if he didn’t want to be reported to the police. She would tell her parents the truth and save herself from the misery that she suffered everytime her parents had an encounter with Ayodele’s parents.

“Peace?” Her mother called, in the company of the other women who really wanted to get a look at Peace’s bulging abdomen. They had all argued about how far gone she was, seeing her would clarify their speculations.

“Ma…” she got up wearily, swinging her feet to the ground.

“How are you feeling?” someone asked.

“Fine ma.” she replied with her head bowed.

**********

George came into the kitchen and closed the door. “What are you cooking?” he asked approaching Joy.

“I’m boiling rice sir.”

“Why is it taking so long?”

“It’s almost done sir.” She replied backing away.

“Where are you running to?” George asked sarcastically waving his hands at the closed door, his eyes were glazed.

“I want to go and see if Teni is awake sir.”

“Who asked you to? Come here.” He reached out his hand to her.

“Please sir, don’t do this.”

“Don’t do what? Aren’t you all the same? Even your boss is no different from you, you all want it.”

“Please sir!” Joy backed away, running to the other side of the kitchen.

“There’s nowhere for you to go and Banke is not coming home anytime soon.”

Joy began to cry, this was not the life she had planned for herself. Getting a university degree that would get her and her family out of poverty was her dream. What if she got pregnant like Peace did and got sent back home? What would become of her? Would she be subjected to a life of farming and hardship?

George began to laugh, he liked this look of defeat. The girl knew she had no place to go and he would have her, her fear added to his delight. He slowly unbuckled his belt as he advanced.

“You girls are nothing but trash, too gullible, too weak. You’re good for nothing but to satisfy the needs of us men, you need the touch of a man to make you whole. Especially you maids, you are nothing! I’ll have you whenever I want, however I want, wherever I want. You are nothing!”

“You’re so intelligent, you can be anything you want to be.” Ada had told her countless times. Suddenly she stopped crying and began to think.

George was slightly taken aback by this sudden change of behaviour. What had dissipated her fears? As if to remind her of her who was in charge, he grabbed her and slammed her against the cabinet pulling her blouse. Joy fought him in spite of her fear.

“Help!” she screamed until he slapped her.

“You are nothing!” he whispered in her ears ripping her skirt apart and invading her privacy.

In a split second the idea came to her and without thinking she reached for the pot of boiling rice and poured it on his back. George let out a strangled cry and let her go, trying to get the rice off his back. Joy dashed to the door, unlocked it hastily and ran out of the house in her torn clothes.

***********

Iya Ibeji slammed the tray on the table startling Peace. “If I beat you now they’ll say I’m being wicked. You’ve been sleeping since. Are you the first person that will get pregnant?”

“I’m sorry ma.” Peace replied wiping spittle off her face.

“Be sorry for yourself. Eat your food before people say I’m starving you.”

Peace looked at the plate of eba and okra sauce. “Thank you ma.” she replied as Iya Ibeji walked out mumbling under her breath. As soon as she was gone, Peace lay down again. Her stomach hurt badly. Iya Ibeji returned and found her lying down again.

“What is your problem? Are you deaf? I said stop this sleeping!”

“Yes ma.” Peace replied dragging herself up.

“Get up now and eat your food! In fact bring the food to the sitting room, it looks like this room is your undoing.” Peace got up slowly, weak in the knees. “Get up quickly!”

Peace took the first step and Iya Ibeji saw it, the bed was stained with blood. Quickly she turned her around and saw that her gown was stained too.

“This is blood, I’m in trouble. This is blood!” she said over and over again as they both began to cry.