₦airaland Forum

Very early that Saturday morning, I knocked on the gate and the gateman ushered me in. I went straight to where Lizzy told me she'd keep the clothes. Right before my very eyes were heap of clothes that looked like a mountain. By mere staring at it, I could see seven cocktail gowns, three crazy jean trousers, five braziers and two pants stained with blood. Oh poo! So this is what I'll be washing every day for ten thousand naira monthly. Hmm. I took a paint bucket and started washing, I was mindful of the parts stained with blood so I could wash them out. Towards afternoon, when I was almost done, Lizzy came outside with a glass of wine in her hand. "This boy! You're good at the job. I think I'll have to increase your pay." "Thank you ma." I bowed. "Good. Now prepare and start going home." I packed the buckets and arranged my things to leave. On my way going, I noticed my muscles were weak due to too much scrubbing, my palms were itching also and I was tired. I reached my house and went straight inside the room. The whole energy in me was gone and I fell asleep in seconds. This continued for two weeks. During the period of these two weeks, I didn't see Freda. She must have been feeling lonely I guess. But it didn't matter to me. I needed the money and so I need to work hard for it. I arrived work one Friday of the third week, just few days remaining for Lizzy to pay my salary. But things turned out different. "The g-string pants I asked you to wash yesterday, I can't find the pink one. Hope it's not what I'm thinking because I'll just strangle you." Lizzy barked. "What do you mean please? You know I can't take your pants outside." "I don't trust you. Where's my pant?" "You're just concluding. Have you checked on the hanging line?" We went to the hanging line together and saw the pant looking like a catapult. Wind had pushed it to the other end. "You see yourself?" I spoke unconsciously. "What??! This calabar boy! Did you just say that to me?" She fired back. "But there's nothing wrong in what I said na. "What?!! How dare you?!" A heavy slap landed on my ear and I saw stars. I stood still for some minutes before I finally managed to speak up. "I've worked for twenty-eight days, that's equivalent to a month. Can you please give me my one month salary? I'm not working again." "Go to hell." She replied and pointed her middle finger at me. Looking at her walking away killed my spirit and I could feel my heart was bleeding. I came outside the compound and began trekking home. I was looking so weak and tired. This was making it the third time I've been used since I came to port harcourt. Opening my gate, I saw Freda coming out with a nylon bag in her hands. Her faced changed when she saw me, but I didn't care. I walked past her. I can't talk to her in this condition. Not now. "Ephraim didn't you see me?" I kept on walking and ignored her question. I could here her footstep approaching from my back. Reaching my door, I entered and fell on the bed. "Ephraim why?" She had entered too. I still kept mute. "After all the promises, you broke them and allowed that girl to be using you as sex slave. I knew it would come to this right from the very first day I took you there. See how thin and frail you've become. She has made you to be sleeping with her and I've suddenly turned to a stranger in your eyes" I was still silent. "Ephraim I know we're not dating, and you're not a child that I'll be deciding who you should be sleeping with. But please, for the fact that you're my friend that I care for, should be an enough reason for me to have a say in your life. Don't hurt me." She started sobbing and I was touched. I didn't know when I joined her to cry. I explained everything in details to her, before I could finish, her sobbing had turned to terrible anger and vengeance. she was already boiling in the ocean of anger. I could see fire in her eyes. "Ephraim! You mean Lizzy has been doing all these to you and you haven't been telling me. She even slapped you? Oh my god! Okay, where's your salary?" "She didn't give me a dime." I bent my head. "This is the height of wickedness! Ephraim we're going to burn down that house tomorrow if that money does not come out." She was fully ready for war. "Let's just take it easy." "How many times am I going to warn you about this calm attitude? See I hate rubbish o" "Nobody likes rubbish, let's just go easy." "She didn't go easy. We're going to tear her into pieces if she doesn't cooperate tomorrow." She stood up and slapped my tummy. "Come and eat. I cooked beans" "Babe I'm relieved now. Thank you for always being there for me. But I can't come to that your house this night oh. I no get strength for that thing today." "Hehehe no wahala. We won't do anything." She left the house and I removed my clothes to rest. Few minutes later I was done with the food. "Ephraim harden your heart. Don't fear her oh.. It's even two against against one." She chuckled. "No wahala, tomorrow we go do her something." I slept that night with one eye opened. I couldn't wait for day to break.