"Follow me Ikenna,we need to talk"
I was flabbergasted.
Why will she ask me to follow her? And to where?
I had my doubts but I still stood up and followed her,my uncle's wife name is Aunty Anurika
I followed her as she walks to the sitting room,she adjusted her wrapper before she sat down
I didn't bother sitting down because my mom will always tell me that if I go to people's house,if they didn't say "sit down" Just remain standing,so I stood before her
"Mmmmhhhh"Aunty Anurika cleared her throat
"Ikenna,I called you out this morning to have a few words that will determine your stay in this house"
"....firstly I want to let you know that this is a village and not a City,and for the fact that it is a village,we are very industrious people,we are not lazy,therefore i will not tolerate you sleeping like an owl in my house,I expect you to wake up as early as 4:30 am,latest 5:00 you are up"
"I expect you to sweep the house,wash the plates,make fire in the charcoal stand and boil water which everyone will use and bath,I know you don't know the way to the stream,but don't worry,once Tobe wakes up,he will show you around the village" i hope I've made myself clear?"
"Yes ma'am,but ma'am,I've never made fire on the charcoal stand and I don't know how to do it" Ikenna said
"I said it that you are lazy,there is no big deal in making fire, infact come with me let me show you how to do it, because I expect that by Today you will start carrying out some chores already in the house,all this swag of city boy lifestyles, you really have to keep it one side oh" Aunty Anurika added as she picked up the little torch light she has in her hands
She commanded me I should follow her outside so that she will teach me how to make fire in a charcoal stand
I followed swiftly and I watched her fix it in a twinkle of an eye
The rest was history,this is how my journey has been ever since I started living in the village
I will wake up and fix everywhere and as time goes on,I started even cooking and going to the farm before I went to school
Least I forgot my uncle registered me in a government school that my aunty suggested for him,she said there was no money to put me in the same schools with his children, when I went to the school with my uncle, for my entry examination, I was posted to SS1A, because I made all the exams, all the teachers kept telling my uncle that I was very brilliant,my uncle was so happy,but when he came back home and told my aunty the outcome of everything
Aunty Anurika was so wrought,her anger was that,Her first child Nnamdi who was my age mate was still in JSS 2,that why will I be in SS1A,She insisted my uncle should put me back to JSS1 Or better still JSS 2, and my uncle promised to look into the matter.
I still continued with my house chores never the less,The only thing my uncle's children did every morning was just to wake up,take their bath and brush their teeth and then go to school
The preferential treatment Aunty Anurika exhibited was not hidden to anyone, even when people talk to her about it,she will scold them to mind their business
After three months of staying in my uncle's house,One morning I woke up and was praying to God to give me strength to push through everything I was going through in my uncle's house,but I was shocked to hear someone saying Amen to my prayers,I opened my eyes after my prayers to see Chidi ;my uncles last child sitting next to me
"What are you doing here Chidi,You should still be sleeping,Oya go back to bed,is still very early" I commanded him
"But I don't want to sleep again,I want to help you out with your morning chores,I feel so bad that you alone do all the house chores in this house,and there is no one trying to even make an attempt to help you" Tobe freely expressed himself
"But I'm not complaining Chidi, it's my duty, now go back to sleep" I said sternly to change his mind
But Chidi insisted
"It's not only your duty,they taught us division of labour in school, and is good I help out,labour in the house shouldn't be passed down to just one person, Bro Ikenna please allow me to help you" Chidi said softly
I didn't know what to do,I decided to tell my Aunty first,but she was still fast asleep
Before I could step out,I almost froze to see that Chidi has cleared all the plates and has already started washing it
Just then I heard my name from behind
"Ikenna how can you be so cruel to bring out my son in this cold weather to be washing the dishes?"
I frozed instantly
To be continued....
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