Jenny
It's past midnight and mama is still not back from work. First she went without telling me, now she's getting me worried and her number is not going through.
what should I do?
I was so looking forward to telling her that i will be going to college. I know she will be very happy. That's what she always wanted after all. For me to get the highest level of education we could afford and we've been saving up for it. Mama didn't finish highschool because she got pregnant with me and my sperm donor disappeared. I never knew who he was, but frankly, i don't care. There's no point thinking of someone who doesn't care about you anyway.
"Where could you be, mama?" I ask myself while sitting my ass on the couch in our sitting area to on the TV.
Maybe I should go to the police ?
Lol, the police system in Africa is a sad case, particularly in this country. It's a waste of time and money going to them.
What should i do? Should i call her again for the gazillion times?
Ugh!!!
Am going out of my damn mind.
"Your correspondent is not available for the mom…?" I cut the call.
Ughhhh!!
Still the same shit, for Christ sake.
This is why you must have your mother's coworkers numbers or addresses, so you could call and ask, when she doesn't come home. I have nothing, so pathetic and foolish, Jenny! _You just know how to go in that fast food on her shift days to eat instead of taking her coworkers phone numbers for cases like this_
This is new though, mama has never been out past 10 pm. Is this a kidnapping case and am uselessly sitted down here? No, it can't be. Who would want to kidnap her? No…no way. I shouldn't be thinking about such a possibility.
My mind is still all over the place when I here it… The back door Of our apartment opening with a slight 'thud' and someone entering the house on light steps.
Is that mama? But why would she enter through the back door?
"Mama! Is that you?" No answer
" Who is there?" I whisper ask, Still no answer.
I stand from the couch slowly not making a noise. In case it's not her and someone broke into our home. I should be very careful not get caught. God knows what could happen.
I spot the baseball bat mama got as a gift for her forty-fifth birthday from our neighbor 'Mr ndjoku', an eighty years old man living alone with his baby 'poly,'' a big fat ass golden cat. I remember asking mom what she was going to do with it. Guess that's my cue. So I grab it and march slowly to the back entrance but I don't see anybody there. I thought I heard someone coming in or was it my imagination playing tricks on me? No, I definitely heard this door opening so where is the person that entered? Perhaps they entered the room to steal our savings.
No way.
Not on my watch.
Making my way to my mother's room. which is the first one coming from the back entrance. Our home is a small two bedroom apartment with a little kitchenette and shared bathroom that costs us fifty thousand francs a month, that's around $99 USD.
As I approach mom's room, the door is ajar and in the dark. I Peer inside for movements or any semblance of movement.
I can't see anything, damn it.
Holding the bat firmly in my hands, I push the door open with a resounding 'thud,'' my right leg still on it. Am ready to bash the skull of the fool who thought he could steal in our home.
That's not who I see though.
"mama, wh.. what's going on? Where have you been? I've been calling you but you weren't picking up." I rush out but she isn't looking at me, she is busy putting stuff in a traveling bag.
What?
" Why are you fucking packing a bag? Where are you going?" I demand.
"Language! young lady, I don't know where you think you are but some respect when you talk to me okay?" She yells.
"Okay, it's just that, you got me worried and you are packing up to top it up. how should i take it" I cry.
"I'm sorry, baby. But i can't explain this to you right now. Just go pack a bag reel quick, we must get out of here before morning." She says.
"Wh…"
"Stop it! don't be stubborn and go pack a bag, we don't have time. I will explain everything to you on our way, go now"
What the hell happened for us to run like thieves in the middle of the night? No idea. It could be something dangerous. Who knows?
Hum.
In my room, I load some t-shirts, pants, leggings, crop top and underwear in my school bag. The thing is small but it will do. Not like i have a bigger one. I don't own dresses, not my style. I mean, I like feeling comfortable in what i wear, dresses don't just do the job.
Done packing, I pull on some white undies, pink crop top, black leggings, a cardigan and the only sneakers i own. It's a present from mom for my 21st birthday. She really hustled her ass off to be able to get it for me and i appreciate it very much. That's why she's the best mama in the universe and I love her so much.
"Am done" I say, entering her room gracefully this time.
" Okay, let's go." She's practically dragging me out of the house by the hand. Then she suddenly stops outside the back door entrance."I forgot something in my room, let me get it real quick. Wait here?" she says takeing back off in the house towards her room.
"Okay?" I reply. Wondering what it could be.
Mom reappears about five minutes later muttering to herself. I take a moment look at her outfit, she has on a button down shirt, faded jeans and rain boots on her feet. Quite weird since it's still summer. Why would she be having on rain boots?
Wonder why?
I asked her if everything was good, she said yes and that she found what she went looking for.
Okay.
"Why are you wearing rain boots, mama?"
She stiffens, looks at her feet then answers while rounding the corner to the front door and taking off in the direction of the central park. "I worked at my boss's farm today, that's why. Come on."
Understandable, she has been working in that woman's farm for some time now. Even though she doesn't pay her much for the extra activities. That's how it is here, when you agree to work for someone in a specific matter, you end up doing other things for the person and you better do it if you want to keep your initial job.
Mama works as a cook in 'madam's hot hot' restaurant but she ends up cleaning her home, working in her farm and also running errands for her. And guess what? She pays no extra just the agreed upon salary_60000 francs per month_ that's like a $110 USD.
Pathetic right?
That's life for the poor, being exploited.
As if that's not enough. Now, we have to run from our little home.
"Jenny, walk faster. We have to be in next bus as soon as possible'' she is running at this point. So, I put some speed in my steps. Juggling along behind.
The central park is ten minutes from the house. It doesn't take us long to make it there. It's two in the morning already and the park is loaded with people coming and going to god knows where.
Dragging me to the post to purchase tickets, mama is scanning the place for something she isn't telling me. Is she looking for someone? Are we going on the run with another person? So many questions with no answers.
"Two tickets for the next bus to Yaounde, please?" She demands.
"That's 10000 francs, ma'am." the tickets vendor says. Mama hands him a 10000 francs bill and waits for the tickets to be ready. When they are ready, the tickets vendor hands them over and we take off to the next bus going to Yaounde.