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CHRONICLES OF THE HELPS

CHAPTER 25

Lianater and Ike lay in bed. The couple was intent on sleeping in that Saturday. They planned to have breakfast in bed, and may play with their kids by lunch time. Or preferably take them out. It had been a very long and busy week for the couple.

The knocks on the door made Ike groan. “Who is that? Who has decided to disturb my peace?”

The door made a squeak sound as it slid open, revealing a fair round face. “It is your Princess, Adanne.”

Lianater couldn’t hold the laughter that exploded from her throat. She turned on her side, watching the girl at the door.

“I want to sleep, Ada. Go and play with your sister,” he pulled a blanket over his head.

Ada sauntered into the room. “I will leave one you have answered my question.”

Her mother rolled her eyes. She suspected the girl might bombard them with thousands of questions that morning. Sometimes she wondered how the little girl’s brain worked.

“One question, Ada. And no more.”

She climbed the bed and sat right in the middle. “Yes, daddy. It is just one question this time around.”

Ike peeped through the blanket. “I am listening.”

The girl cleared her throat. Lianater started to laugh again. Her husband eyed her, then direction his attention back to his first daughter.

“Are boys’ wee-wee different from girls’ wee-wee?”

“Wee-wee?” he glanced at his wife. His gaze seemed to say ‘Help me out here’

Lianater smiled at Ada. “Yes, it is different,” then made a hand-sign, so her husband could understand what the girl was asking.

“Oh! Oh… I get it now,” he released the blanket and sat up straight. “Your brothers have the same wee-wee, while you, Ify and mummy has the same wee-wee.”
Ada fell silent for a millisecond. “Okay. Then why does Aunty Hauwa have a boy’s wee-wee?”

Ike chuckled. “That’s impossible.”

Ada frowned. “It isn’t. I saw her. She doesn’t have a girl’s wee-wee.”

The couple stared at each other, alarmed.

Lianater cleared her throat. “Erm… when and how did you discover this?”

She looked up at her mother, “Yesterday. I was in her room when she came out of the bathroom. She chased me out.”

His brows came together in an angry frown. “What else happened?”

Ada shook her head. “I ran out when she threw something at me.”

He sighed in relief and turned to see the fear in his wife’s eyes. If what Ada had seen was indeed true, then they might have employed a male help who disguised as a female!

“Make sure that she-he doesn’t leave this house. I am going to Mr. Kola’s place,” he flew out of bed, changed into a jean and a tee-shirt and dashed out.

xxxxxx

Hauwa followed her employer outside the building. Her husband and their neighbour were seated on the front porch, eating from a bowl of boiled corn.

“Good afternoon, sir,” she greeted Mr. Kola.

The man eyed her and poked Ike. “Even the voice sounds strange.”

“That was what we thought at first, but we assumed that she probably has a masculine voice.”

Mr. Kola nodded. “Some women do.”

“Exactly.”

The maid stood there watching them. Did they want to send her out on an errand? She hoped it was somewhere close by. She had a lot of chores to do that weekend. She didn’t have the time to chat while time flies.
“What is your real name?” Mr. Kola’s stern gaze bored into her confused stare.

She blinked twice and stuttered. “My… my… my name is Hauwa.”

Both men chuckled. The maid threw a glance at Lianater. The woman stood at the door; her face was expressionless.

“Okay, okay, fine. Hauwa, are you a man or a woman?”

She stared back at Mr. Kola. Was the man having mental issues?

“I asked you a question,” his tone increased a notch.

Hauwa looked from her employer to her husband, then back at the angry neighbour. “I am confused, sir.”

Mr. Kola slapped his friend on the shoulder, “She is confused,” then he started to laugh in a mocking way.

Ike dropped the corn he was eating into the empty bowl and eyed the maid. “Please answer the question.”

Was her employer’s husband having mental issues too? Hauwa cleared her throat. “I am a lady, sir.”

“Are you? Really?” his gaze swept over her from head to feet.

She turned to Lianater. “Have I done anything wrong, ma?”

The woman ignored her and folded her arms across her bosom.

“Hauwa!”

The girl stared hard at the neighbour. He was beginning to piss her off. He wasn’t her employer. He had no right to speak to her in such a manner.

“If we decide to strip every item of clothing on you right now, what are we going to find?”

Her heart missed a beat. “Why?” she took several steps backward. “What did I do?” she looked him up and down like he was some kind of monstrous insect. “Why will you want to strip me when I am not a thief?” her eyes darted left, then right, obviously seeking out an escape route.

Ike and Mr. Kola got up.

“You might not have stolen anything in this house, but we need to ascertain if you are truly male or female,” Lianater spoke for the first time.

Her jaw dropped, as she stared at her boss. “Erm… erm… ma, I am a lady.”

“Are you?” her gaze pinned the girl to a spot.

“Ye… yes, ma.”

“Then, let’s prove it.”

The maid bolted.

“Samson! Samson lock that gate!” Ike yelled at the security guard.

The guard left his post and manned the gate, ready to catch the fleeing culprit.

fattprince:
Seriously, didn't even know I didn't finish reading it years ago. I just reread it because I remembered I enjoyed it. That's good though .
If I may ask what made you change your mind

My laptop crashed.

I have one I can use to finish posting the story now.

Happy New Year my beautiful people 🤗

The Chronicles of the Helps will resume this Valentine season.

Have a beautiful week ahead.

Happy New Month everyone,

Currently, my laptop is faulty.

Give me a little time.

Updates will resume shortly.

Love yah all 🤗

aprilwise:
Many women lost their children of busy with work can’t see resign from her job to take care of the children

Hmmmmm...

I sincerely apologize...
Not my intention to leave this story hanging...

The concluding chapters (about eight or so) will be uploaded on https://selar.com/m/serahiyare in the coming weeks.

I apologize once again. Have a great week. 🫂 🤗

A lot of authors have moved on to selar.com and other publishing websites since okadabooks crashed.

Rejoiceluv:
okadabooks no longer exists. Please where can we buy books

True.
All my books are now on https://selar.com/m/serahiyare

CHRONICLES OF THE HELPS 24


Lianater returned home to meet her children sleeping in the sitting room, while the television was on. Why did the new help allow them to sleep in here? He should have ushered them to their rooms once he noticed that they were dozing.

“Boma!”

No response. Where was he? She stood in the middle of the room, her brown office bag was still strapped to her aching shoulder. The children began to stir, probably because of the noise.

“Boma!” 

She marched out of the room, searching for the new help. The sight in the kitchen caught her off guard. The sink was filled with dirty dishes and the gas cooker looked bare. Her frown deepened. She assumed he would have started supper by now.

“Boma!”

Silence. Where was he? Something caught her attention. From the corner of her eyes, she saw a thin line of soapy water flowing towards the kitchen doorway. What was that? Where was it coming from? 

Lianater traced the source of the water and found a leaky washing machine. Her legs weakened. Who did she offend? Why does she keep having problems with domestic helps?

“Boma!” Her sad eyes darted left, then right. She reached in her bag for her smartphone and quickly dialed a number. It rang and rang, but no one picked the call. Why wasn't he answering his phone? Did he go out?

“Mummy is back!”

She heard the twins voices. The boys came running out of the sitting room. Ada and Ify included.

Lianater feigned a smile. “Hello my darlings.”

“Mummy…” Ify tugged at the hem of her mother's skirt.

She picked up the two year old. 

“Mummy I am hungry,” Ada pulled at her mother's handbag.

“Me too,” the twins chorused.

The tired woman groaned inwardly. “Let me fix us a snack, then I will get dinner started.”

The children followed her into the kitchen.

She placed Ify on a high stool. “Nonso bring out the sliced bread from the refrigerator. Dozie get the butter and eggs.”

Ada climbed a stool next to her sister. “Are we making toast?” She eyed the toaster.

Lianater glanced at the girl. “Yes.”

The twins exchanged glances. “Fireworks!” Then they giggled.

The woman stared at them, lost.

“Yes! Fireworks!” Ada clapped her hands excitedly.

Even little Ify started to laugh.

“Fireworks? Where?”

The children pointed at the toaster and the microwave.

Her heartbeat accelerated. She took a deep breath, then examined both appliances and discovered that they were not working. Then it dawned on her that the new help might have fled after discovering that he had destroyed three appliances! 


XXXXXX 


“I want everything he spoilt replaced immediately!” Her furious stare held the older woman's pleading gaze.

Mrs. Shalewa adjusted her sitting posture and placed both hands on the mahogany table. “We will do everything we can to find him and make sure he replaces your kitchen appliances and the washing machine.”

Lianater eyed her. “How long will that take? I don't trust you people.”

The woman swallowed hard. “Be rest assured that we are on his trail.”

She hissed again and again. “I thought you people are professionals. Why can't you vet your helps effectively?”

The woman cleared her throat, dark eyes flickered to the opened doorway, then back at her angry client.

“I might as well elsewhere…”

“Mrs. Briggs, it hasn't gotten to that. And for the time being, we have a fine replacement…” She got up, headed out and returned with a tall, dark skinny girl.

Lianater stood where she was, scanning the girl from cropped hair to shoes, or rather, Dunlop bathroom slippers.

“This is Hauwa Aliu, she is eighteen and very hardworking,” Mrs. Shalewa smiled graciously, hoping to be able to convince the younger woman.

“Replacement?” Her gaze narrowed. 

“Yes, yes… Hauwa has been in our service for many years. She does everything.”

Lianater looked straight at the girl. After Mmesoma’s saga, she wasn't ready to accommodate any female stranger in her home. Maybe in the near future, but not now. “Can you resumed at six and close at seven?

“Yes, ma,” she sounded like she was talking through her nose. “I have a cousin who lives a bus away from your estate.”

“Okay…” Why does the girl sound weird? Like her throat was patched or something? 

She turned back to the older woman, “Mrs. Sha…”

“She does everything, Mrs. Briggs,” she said quickly, before the woman added more complaints. 

Lianater swallowed the rest of her dissatisfaction. The truth was that she needed a new help. Boma fled more than a week ago and no-one has been able to find him.


XXXXXX 


“Give me the remote!”

“No! It is my turn!”

“No, it isn't!”

“Yes! It is!”

The twins kept screaming at each other, while Ify started to sob.

Ada went in search of their new help. She wanted to watch her favourite program, but her brothers were fighting again. She ran to the kitchen, but it was empty. She headed for the stairway, maybe the help was doing the laundry. But, she wasn't there.

The four year old bit at her lower lip. Then she figured that Hauwa must be preparing to take her leave. It was almost seven and their mum would soon be home.

She ran to the guest room and knocked lightly on the door. No response. She knocked again and pushed the door open. 

That same moment, Hauwa came out of the bathroom, humming a song and dripping wet.

“Nonso and Dozie are fighting.”

She froze when she heard the girl's voice.

“Please come and stop them.”

“What are you doing in here?! Get out this minute!” The help throw a shoe at the girl.

Ada dodged the incoming object and ran out.

The girl returned to the sitting room and unfortunately, her brothers were still fighting. 

“I have a question.”

The twins ignored her.

“Do girls and boys have the same wee-wee?”

Her question got their attention. The twins stopped fighting. 

“What is she blabbing about?” Nonso eyed her.

“Beats me,” Dozie shook his head from side to side.

Ada settled on her favourite chair, very close to the television. “Do boys and girls have the same wee-wee?”

The twins stared at each other and started to laugh.

“Your sister is at it again,” Nonso laughed harder.

“She is also your sister,” Dozie sat on the floor and continued to laugh.

“Boys and girls have different reproductive organs, silly,” Nonso informed her.

The girl remained quiet. If their new help was indeed a girl, why does she have a boy's wee-wee?

The story continues this new week.

Happy weekend!

CHRONICLES OF THE HELPS 23


Lianater was impressed when Boma resumed at exactly 6:30 a.m the next morning. She bade her children farewell and made them promise to behave before leaving for work. Ike drove out minutes later. He was happy because his wife would no longer be too stressed up each day. The situation had greatly affected their sex life. Now, he was going to enjoy the wife of his youth as much as he wanted. Hopefully, the new help wouldn’t misbehave.

Boma was happy that his new boss bathed the children and got them dressed up before his arrival. All he needed to do was feed them, take Ify to the day care center within the estate and make sure that the twins and Ada were ready by the time their school bus arrived.

“What do you think about toast and chocolate tea?” he helped the children to sit on the high stools placed by the kitchen counter.

“Yummy!” the twins yelled and rubbed their tummies.

“Toast! Toast! Toast!” Ada screamed, joined in by her sister who was mumbling something incoherent.

He raised a hand, “Fine, fine. Toast it is.”

The new help found the toaster and everything he needed to make the sandwich. He made the chocolate tea first, served the children, before proceeding to make the toast bread. But for some weird reason, the machine refused to turn on. He checked the plug, the wiring, then opened the toaster. The bread slices were slightly warm. He frowned, closed the lid and switched it one again. This time around, it came on. He sighed in relief, but moments later, sparks flew!

“Fireworks!” the twins screamed in excitement.

“Colourful sparks!” Ada clapped her hands, while her younger sister watched in awe.

The confused young man acted quickly. He looked around for something made of wood and dry. He found the spatula and used it to disconnect the toaster plug from the socket. The sparks disappeared but smoke began to emit from the machine. His heart sank. This was his first day at work! What happened to the toaster? What did he do wrong? Maybe the last persont hat used it didn’t connect it properly. He wasn’t a novice. He had operator dozens of toasters in the past. But this particular one decided to humiliate him. What was he going to do now?

He feigned a smile and turned to the children. “Let’s give the toasting machine a break. It needs rest.”

The children stared back at him, smiling sheepishly.

He wished the children were not in the kitchen when the incident happened. They would surely tell their parents about it. What will Mrs. Briggs do? She might remove the cost of the toaster from his salary. Heavens no! He made a mental note to call one of his friends later in the day. The guy was a wizard when it came to electrical appliances. He could fix anything.

“I can also make toast with a fry pan, your sandwich will be ready in no time,” he mimicked a funny voice, in order to distract the children.

Once he was done, he served them and fed Ify, while the rest ate by themselves.

“Please don’t spill your beverage,” he eyed the twins. The way they were playing with their half-filled mugs, puddles of chocolate tea was spreading all over counter. It would be disastrous if it got on their school uniforms.

The twins giggled and whispered to themselves.

Unexpectedly, the honk of the children’s school bus rent the air. “Phew! It is time!”

“The school bus is here,” Nonso jumped down from the high stool, followed by his brother.

“Pick up your school bags and head out, I will bring your lunch packs.”

Ada climbed down from the stool and ran after her brothers.

“Give me a moment baby girl,” Boma winked at Ify. He hurriedly placed each child’s food warmer into their lunch bags. 

The honk of the bus echoed through the walls.

“We are coming!” the help yelled and ran out with the lunch bags. He found the twins and Ada running in circles outside the house. “Hey! Get inside the bus!”

The children obeyed and ran towards the opened gate.

“These are their lunch bags,” he placed the bags on the empty seat by the door. 

The bus driver gave him a stern look.

Boma eyed him and stepped away from the vehicle. He remained at the gate until the bus was out of site. “Three children gone, one more to go,” he backed into the compound and headed into the house.

The security guard shut the gate and returned to his seat.

It took him about fifteen minutes to finish up feeding Ify. He packed her lunch box and carried her out of the house. “Girl, you are heavy,” he made his way to the day care center and met other parents at the center’s gate.

“Ifunanya Briggs,” a woman waved at him.

Boma weaved his way through the crowd. “Here is her lunch box.”

The woman collected the child, along with her school bag and lunch box. “Please don’t be late. Once we close, come and pick her up.”

“Roger that, ma’am,” he tried to smile and exited. He started to think of everything he needed to get done that day. It was of upmost importance that he made a first good impression on that day. Nothing else must go wrong.

Xxxxxx

The ringing of his phone woke him up. Boma took a look at his wrist-watch and he cursed under his breath. It was already past one. How long has he been sleeping? He took a nap after breakfast and here he was, four hours later! He cursed again and got to his feet. He went into the kitchen, cleaned up the place then proceeded to other rooms in the house. 

The school bus returned at exactly two o’clock. Boma was barely done with the chores. He cursed again and ran outside. The security guard locked the gate the moment the children raced into the compound. The new help called one of the women he met at the day care center that morning and begged her to bring Ify over.

Once the children were indoors, he instructed them to take their bags to their rooms, while the help carried their lunch bags to the kitchen. Just as he was about making lunch, the doorbell rang. Boma wiped his wet hands with a napkin and headed out.

The doorbell rang again and again.

“Coming!” the new help yelled. He got to the door in three long steps and yanked it open. He sighed in relief when he saw Ify in the guard’s arms.

“One of the day care center staff brought her,” the Security guard handed the girl over.

“Great, thank you,” Boma collected her bags, used his leg to shut the door and headed up the stairs, to the room the todder shared with her sister.

He found Ada still in her uniform, jumping on the large bed.

“Madam, it is time to take your bath,” he eyed the girl.

Ada continued jumping. “What’s for lunch?”

Boma shrugged. He had the intention of stuffing the children with food, so they wouldn’t bother him for the rest of the day.

“Can I get pizza?” Ada moved closer to the new help.

“No, pizza,” he pointed towards the bathroom. “Get in there, now!”

“Fine, fine…” Ada climbed down from the bed.

Boma looked heavenwards. Fifteen minutes later, he ushered the girls down the stairway. “Wait for me in the kitchen, let me check on your brothers.”

The girls ran down the stairs, laughing and screaming for no just reason.

The new help placed both hands on his head the second he stepped into the twins’ room. The boys were lying on their beds, thankfully bathed and clothed, but, there were heaps of clothes at every corner of the room, toys scattered here and there and a mini pond flowing from the bathroom to only-God-knows-where. His day was turning into a nightmare per hour.

“You two! Get to the kitchen.”

The boys raised their heads and looked at him.

“It’s lunch time.”

“Hurrah!” they chorused, jumped down from the bed and ran out.

Boma took another look at the room, shook his head and shut the door. Maybe once he was done feeding the children, he will clean their rooms.

Back in the kitchen, he brought out everythign he needed to set up lunch. “What do you think of Semovita and Melon soup?” he looked from one child to the other.

“Yummy!” the children shouted.

“Beautiful…” Boma opened the microwave and placed a plate of soup inside. But the machine refused to come on. His brows creased in a frown. He flipped the switch again, but this time around, sparks flew. “What the hell?!” he jumped backwards.

“Fireworks!” the children yelled.

Boma watched in shock as smoke rose from the microwave. What was happeneing? He quickly brought out the plate of soup. “Let’s give the microwave time to rest,” he feigned a smile at the children. “I will use the gas cooker to warm the soup.”

The children ignored him and continued to watch the fading smoke coming out of the microwave.

The new help made the lunch quickly and served the children. His thoughts were centered around the toaster and the microwave. Those were two electronic appliances that refused to work that day. What was he going to do?

While the other children ate by themselves, he fed little Ify.

“Can we watch some TV programs once we are done?” Dozie asked.

Boma nodded. “As long as you three will share the remote without any arguments and fights.”

“Roger that,”Nonso saluted the new help.

“I am done!” Ada jumped down from the stool and ran out.

Her brothers watched her in surprise.

“The last person to finish his food is a rotten egg,” Nonso grinned and started to eat very fast.

Dozie swallowed the rest of his food and headed out. “You are the rotten egg!”

“No way!” Nonso emptied his plate and ran after his brother.

“I don’t want any noise or infighting!” Boma screamed after them.

About thirty minutes later, the new help loaded the washing machine under the stairway with dirty clothes. But, the moment he turned it on, it began to make weird noises. Soon, soapy foams flowed out of the machine and covered the whole area with water bubbles.

Boma switched off the machine and ran out of the house.

Happy Holidays everyone 🤗

The story continues...

CHAPTER 23....

CHRONICLES OF THE HELPS 22


“What is the meaning of this?!” Lianater screamed at the children.

The twins stopped running around. Noticing their mother’s anger, they settled in the nearest chair. Ada and one year old Ify sat on the tiled floor, amidst a heap of toys. Their gaze was fixed on their mother’s flushed face.

The woman felt like smacking each child. Maybe some senses will settle in their brains. That might do some good, but it would also result in endless non-stop crying till she ran mad.

“I have cleaned this room twice today!” hands akimbo. “Look at everywhere! This is not a pig’s sty for heaven’s sake!” her forhead began to throb.

The children remained quiet.

“Before I count one to ten, get all these toys back to where they belong!”

They scrabbled to their feet and collected as much toys as their hands could hold. Even little Ify participated, thinking they were playing a game.

“When you are done, put all the throw-pillows where it’s supposed to be…” from the corner of her eye, she sighted a puddle of water under the dining. Her dark brown eyes turned red. She took in long deep breaths and backed out of the sitting room. Once she was safe in the confines of the kitchen, she let out a shriek. “If they don’t kill me first, I will end up killing my own children,” she started to bang her head on the refrigerator.

Her wrist-watch came into view the moment she opened her eyes. It was a quarter past two. She needed to return to work. None of her colleagues knew she wasn’t in the permises. Their might assume she was in the storeroom or Audio Visual cubicle, gathering the resources they needed to air the evening news. She came home everyday in time to usher the children into the house once the school bus drops them off. Then she picks up Ifunanya at the daycare center with the estate. Once she was done with feeding them and doing a few chores, she returns to work the moment her mother arrives. Then return at seven to cater for four children and prepare dinner. And maybe continue with the house chores. The stress of it all was killing her.

Her mother has been coming around to look after the children for the past few weeks. If not, she doesn’t know how she would have coped. Maybe she would have broken down by now. Yet, she barely concentrates at work. Her mind was always wrapped up with all the things she hasn’t been able to do at home.

“I cannot go on like this. I just can’t…”

Against her better judgement, she had called the agency, asking for specifically a male help, who would come in the morning and leave in the evening. She was in no shape to deal with another female househelp just yet. Mrs. Shalewa promised to send in someone at the end of the week. But, she could hardly wait. She needed help now.

Suddenly, she felt like she was been watched. She turned her head slightly and saw Ada and Ifunanya standing by the doorway. “What?”

“Are you talking to yourself?” Ada asked her mother.

The woman blinked several times. Was she? “Can I help you? Are you donepicking all your toys? That sitting room better be spick and span by the time I check it out.”

The girls shared a glance.

“Can I help you?” she stood straight and placed a hand on her hip.

“Grandma is at the door,” Ada responded.

Relief washed over her. She threw a glance at the gas cooker and eyed the pot emitting steam. Lunch was almost ready. The sooner she got back to work, the better. “Tell Dozie or Nonso to open the front door for her.”

The girls remained where they were.

Lianater raised an eyebrow. “Why are you just standing there?”

“You haven’t answered my question,” Ada held her mother’s pissed gaze.

The woman placed a hand on her throbbing forehead. “Lord Jesus help me…”

The girls exchanged glances.

“You are doing it again!”

She closed her eyes. “Adanne, for the love of God, leave your mother in peace.”

The girl looked her up and down and led her sister out of the kitchen.

Lianater looked towards the ceiling. “She is just three years old!”

The ringtone of her smartphone filled the air. The woman dropped her head and grimaced. She hoped it wasn’t her boss that was calling.


Xxxxxx


“My name is Boma Pepper, I am twenty-two years and I can cook, clean, take of children and do almost everything.”

The couple sized up the average height, brown skin young man sent to them by the agency.

“I will resume by sixty-thirty in the morning and close by seven in the evening. I don’t work on Sundays…” he watched his new employers.

Lianater cleared her throat and crossed her legs.

“Mrs. Shalewa told me what you normally pay your employees, but I want double,” he held their surprised gazes.

She opened her mouth and turned to look at her husband who was trying hard not to laugh.

He straightened the collar of his tee-shirt. “And one more thing…”

She glanced back at her new male help.

“I work with the latest gadget. Any gadget you don’t have, you will have to buy.”

She eyed him. “Excuse me.”

Ike enveloped his wife’s hand with his. He could feel her building irritation. Her wide eyes seemed to say, ‘What effontery?’

“For example, madam, you ask me to roasted yam and pepper sauce for lunch…”

She thought of the last time she had roasted yam. The woman that used to stay by the junction close to her work place had moved. The woman’s pepper sauce was the talk of the town.

“Without an airfryer, you don’t expect me to start a fire at the back of your house. Where will I even get firewood from?”

Ike nodded with understanding.

Boma looked from one to the other. “And I don’t do laundry with my hands. I need a washing machine to…”

“I have an airfryer and a washing machine and a host of other gadgets,” her voice sounded forced.

The young man smiled. “Good to know.”

She eyed him again. “I cannot double your pay.”

The smile disappeared. “Madam…”

She raised a hand. He stopped talking and swallowed the remains of his protest. “I will add something to the usual pay, if you are worth it by the end of this month.”

Boma grinned from ear to ear. “Okay, madam. I will be here at sixty-thirty on the dot tomorrow morning. Goodnight.”

“Okay then. Goodnight,” Ike responded.

The woman leaned against the chair and watched him leave.

Ike burst out laughing.

“Can you imagine?” she hissed thrice.

He pulled his wife closeer. “It is his confidence for me.”

She hissed again. “Do these people think that we pluck money from trees?”

Ike started to nibble at the nape of her neck. “I can actually pluck some honey from your delicious body…”

She tried to push him away. “What are you doing?”

“Plucking some honey…”

“Leave me, biko,” she started to laugh. “We are discussing something important, you are here doing something else.”

“This is more important…” He closed the gap between them and sealed her lips with a passionate kiss.

New update begins today... enjoy 💃

Double0h7:
All caught up and joining the waiting for an update crew. Very well written and riveting. I would never expect anything less from shewrites. Thank you 🙏

🤗

The story continues this week...

Stay tuned 💃

metalgear11:
Before I read let me thank you for the update @SheWrites. I will tell the "boys" to chill out .

CHRONICLES OF THE HELPS 21


Ike drove towards the estate gate, lost in thoughts. By the mercies of the Almighty God, his wife and children were recovering at a fast pace. The doctor in charge of their case promised that they would be discharged in two, three days. He couldn’t wait.

Mmesoma’s mother called a night before, claiming that his wife’s witchcraft had resulted into the loss of her daughter’s pregnancy. The timely miscarriage brought him great relief. The initial news about the girl’s pregnancy had brought him torment and sleepless nights. But now, he needed not worry anymore. He believed that God was indeed fighting his battles behind the scene.

He warned the woman, advising her to delete his numbers. He threatened to arrest and sue her daughter for attempted murder if she ever come close to his family again. He would have arrested her already, but her sudden miscarriage was enough punishment for now. He was happy to be finally rid of any responsibility he would have incurred if the baby had been born.

“Ike! Ike!”

The sound of his name brought him out of his reverie. He blinked thrice, then looked right and left. On seeing his neighbour, he smiled and stopped the car by the roadside.

“Mr. Kola,” he climbed out of the vehicle. “Good evening,” he shook hands with his friend.

“What’s up man? How is madam and the children?”

The younger man sighed heavily, “They are getting better.”

Kola patted him on the shoulder, “This too shall pass.”

“Amen.”

They leaned against the vehicle, each man quiet for the next few seconds.

“That reminds me…”

His neigbour glanced at him.

“I saw Mallam Danjuma moving things out of his duplex yesterday.”

Kola smiled. “He is relocating to Europe.”

His light brown eyes grew wild. “Oh! Wow.”

The dark skinned man scratched a spot on his bald head. “He has completely sold all his properties.”

Ike nodded as the information sunk in.

“Once he sells the duplex, he will disappear,” he chuckled.

Suddenly, it dawned on him that his family needed a new home. Their present house was filled with too many bad memories. He longed for a fresh start with his wife. A new environment would surely give his marriage the rekindling it desperately required.

He cleared his throat, “How much is the duplex going for?”

Kola started to laugh. “What do you want to do with two houses in the same estate?”

“I will sell one and live in the other.”

The older man realized that his friend was serious. “Oh, okay.”

Ike looked towards the other side of the estate. “Is Danjuma home?”

Kola used his tongue to try to extract a strand of protein stuck in between his teeth. “Hmmm… not so sure.”

“Let’s go meet the Mallam,” Ike climbed back into the vehicle.

His friend hopped into the passenger seat and shut the door.


Xxxxxx


Vero noticed the sad look on her daughter’s face. The girl had been through a whole lot. She prayed within, that God will settle all that concerned her. “How are you feeling?”

Lianater lifted her dark brown eyes, upon seeing her mother’s worried look, she feigned a smile. “I am okay,” she cleared her throat twice. It felt very dry and a bit painful. “Where did my husband go to?” She realized that it had been over an hour since he left her room.

Her mother turned towards the doorway. “I think he is at the nurses’ station. He said he needed to fill the discharge papers.”

“Oh…” she adjusted the pillow behind her neck.

The older woman clasped her hands together. “I am so happy that you will be going home with the children today.”

“Hmm…”

Vero watched the girl closely. “You don’t sound excited.”

Lianater tried to smile again. But it was more difficult.

She didn’t like the way the girl looked. Her daughter’s countenance resembled that of someone in distress. “Don’t you want to go home?” She had a feeling that the girl was still struggling with her marital issues.

The younger woman opened her mouth, but no words came out. Tears gathered in her eyes. How was she going to explain to her mother that she hated her house and didn’t want to go back there?

“Lily…” the woman moved closer to the hospital bed.

Lianater met her mother’s gaze.

“Trust in the lord with all your heart,” Vero reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

She pressed her lips together, forcing back the sobs that threathened to breakforth from her vocal cords. Trust in the lord? What else has she been doing all this while? She was simply exhausted and tired of fighting.

“Are we set and ready?”

Both women turned their heads. Ike stepped into the room, the baby in one hand, a few bags in the other, followed by the twins and Ada.

“I will come home with you and stay for a few days,” Vero patted her daughter on the shoulder and took the baby from Ike.

Ike sighed with relief. He had been wondering how he was going to cope. His wife wasn’t strong enough to care for the children just yet. Maybe in a week, she would be able to resume her motherly duties.

The twins and Ada got on the hospital bed.

“I don’t like these hospital beds,” Dozie frowned.

“They are hard,” Nonso added.

“Mummy get down, let’s go home,” Ada wrapped her arms around her mother.

Lianater held the girl close. “All right my darling, we are going home,” she kissed her on the cheek.


Xxxxxx

Ike smiled when he saw the puzzled look on his wife’s face. He had just driven past their house. That house was no longer their home. He sold it two days ago and bought Mallam Danjuma’s four bedroom duplex. Mr. Kola and some of the youths in the estate helped him to move his properties from the old house to the new house yesterday. His family were in for a pleasant surprise.

He stopped the car in front of the duplex and honked. A security guard stepped out, greeted them and opened the gate. The way everyone in the vehicle was staring at him, it was hard not to laugh. He composed himself and drove into the posh compound.

“Welcome to our new home…” Ike parked the car and turned off the engine.

The children stared back at him, wide-eyed.

“Daddy, what happened to our house?” Ada asked.

Ike grinned from ear to ear. “I sold it. And bought this one.”

“We have a new house!” the twins jumped down from the vehicle and started to run around the whole place.

“Do I have my own room?” Ada looked straight at her father.

“Yes, Princess. You and your little sister have a room.”

Ada dashed out of the car screaming, “I have my own room!”

Vero started to laugh. She came down from the vehicle with the baby. The new house was indeed magnificent.

Ike turned to his wife, “What do you think?”

Lianater could barely utter a word. She started to cry. While she was worrying, God was busy answering her prayers.

“Hey baby…” he drew her close.

Minutes later, her sobs subsided.

“How are you feeling now?” he placed her head on his chest.

She managed to speak. “I am happy…”

In that very moment, he knew that everything was going to be all right. He was happy that she was happy.

metalgear11:
April 9th na ihn you update last madam SheWrites. E be like say you wan make we arrange boys come carry you before you update ba?

Abeg oooo

I will update today.

Was tied down with some side hustles.

Today today, update go show.

Make those boys wait first.

Damilgodwin:
Update update up a date 🙏🙏🙏🥰🥰

On the way
On the way
On the way
🙏

Happy Easter and Happy Holidays everyone 🤗 The story continues shortly...

Damilgodwin:
Shewrite help me ooo, I need you update. That's what my doctor recommend for me

*Hands-on-my-head*
Chai
I dey come oooo

metalgear11:
@SheWrites, how far na? Anything for the boys?

I dey come oooo

metalgear11:
Madam shewrites, please don't give person stroke na. You need to feel how my heart was beating when I read this update. Lianater and her kids do not deserve to suffer for Ike's foolishness.

My heart was also jumping up and down too oooo 😂

bigbauer:
Do you have the complete book anywhere for sale?

The complete book is not edited... and it isn't ready for online sales yet.

But in the coming weeks, it will be.

I will announce once I upload it on https://selar.co/m/serahiyare

CHRONICLES OF THE HELPS 20


The security guard opened the gate and hissed when he saw Mmesoma. Why was the girl loitering around the house? He didn’t know how long she had been standing around and he didn’t care. She and her relatives had caused enough trouble. “What are you doing here?”

The girl fidgeted, eyes darting left, then right. “Erm… erm, I forgot my certificate in the wardrobe.”

The man eyed her. “Forgot what? Since when? Look here, I don’t have time for your rubbish,” he bolted the gate and headed out.

Mmesoma held him by the elbow. “Please sir,” she went on her knees.

“Get your dirty hands off me!” he pulled away and hissed again. “No one is home at the moment. You can wait for them to come back from church.”

She remained on her knees. “I cannot wait sir. I am travelling this morning. I need my Senior Secondary School Certificate. And it is the original I left in the house.”

The guard halted and glared at her.

“Please sir, I won’t waste your time.”

He groaned inwardly. “Fine, you need to be fast and sharp…”

She jumped to her feet. “Thank you so much sir, thank you.”


Xxxxx

Mmesoma hurried into the guest room and bolted the door. She sighed in relief and smiled. She needed to act very fast. The guard gave her ten minutes to get her certificate. He was waiting in the sitting room. Her certificate wasn’t in the house. She lied so she could gain access into the Briggs’ home. She needed to bypass him and get to the kitchen without his awareness.

She came up with a Plan B after Ike chased her and her family out of the house. She reasoned that if Lianater and her children died, her own child would be the sole heir to Ike’s wealth and properties. And maybe when he has finished mourning, he would find her as a good alternative and marry her. Her dreams were not dead yet. They would surely come true!

Xxxxxx

“You have two minutes more!”

“I haven’t seen it yet!”
“I don’t care!”

Mmesoma tiptoed out of the guest room and sneaked into the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and brought out the glass jar of Hibiscus drink. Lianater and the kids always take this after church service. Ike preferred Tiger nut drink on Sundays. She opened the cold jar and poured a powdery substance into it. She stirred the drink with a spoon and placed it back.

“Where is this girl?!”

She heard footsteps. She panicked and ran out of the kitchen.

Xxxxxx

Mmesoma stood outside the Brigg’s home and laughed hysterically. Her plans were working perfectly. Her mother would be so proud of her. She had been unhappy when Ike chased them away. But now, everything was going to change. Soon, she was going to be the inlaw of a wealthy and established young man.

The girl started towards the estate gate. She couldn’t wait to get home and tell her mother the goodness. All their problems were finally solved. Nothing was going to stop them from living like kings and queens. They were going to be the talk of the town soon.

Lost in thoughts, she didn’t see or notice the opened drainage a few feet away from her. After her next five steps, Mmesoma fell into the drainage! Luckily, it was dry. But her elbows and knee were badly bruised.

“Oh God…” she began to sob.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, she started to feel wet underneath. When she looked down, she noticed that her skirt was soaked in blood! Fear gripped her. What if the baby was injured? Nothing must happen to her precious baby! She needed to get to an hospital fast.

Her sobs became louder. “Somebody help me! Help me!!!”


Xxxxxx

Ike and his family walked out of the church’s auditorium. The twins and Ada ran headed for the car park, while Lianater and the baby walked behind them.

“No running!” she called out to them. But of course, they turned deaf ears.

Ike chuckled. Then he sighted a gathering of people beside the gate. “Baby, I think you might have to go home without me.”

Lianater gave him a puzzled stare.

“I think my department have an impromptu meeting…”

She followed his gaze and saw the group of people under a small canopy beside the gate. She shrugged and quickened her steps.

“Tell the kids I will take them to the ice-cream shop later in the evening,” he called out to her.

She waved a hand in response and walked on.

Ike stared at her for a while. Things has not really being the same since Mmesoma and her family stormed their home. Even though he would never think of taking her as a second wife, the fact that he had another child on the way was like salt on the already opened wound of his marriage. He longed for the day things would start to get better. He missed the bliss he used to enjoy in his marriage.

“God please help us,” he looked heavenwards.

Xxxxxx

“Zobo! Zobo!”

“I want Zobo!”

“Zobo now! Zobo now!”

The children screamed and danced around Lianater in the kitchen. “Please, stop the noise…” She opened the refrigerator and brought out the glass jar.

“We want Zobo!” the noise got louder.

“Keep that up and say goodbye to the Zobo,” she eyed the twins and Ada.

The children kept quiet in an instant.

“Parrots…” She hissed and poured the drink into little cups, then handed it over to them.

The baby pulled at her blouse and started to cry.

“Wait, mummy will give you a little sip,” she brought the cup to Ify’s lips.

The baby gulped down some of the drink and it spilled all over her blouse.

“Calm down, Ify!”


Xxxxxx


Ike walked into the house, hungry and very tired. He pulled off his shoes, dropped his bible in the sitting room and strode into the kitchen.

“Honey, I am home…”

Like a scene from an horrific movie, he found his wife and children lying on the kitchen floor. A foamy substance covered their mouths and it seemed like they were jerking every ten, thirteen seconds.

“Jesus!!!”


Xxxxxx


Vero sat in the waiting room, praying and watching her son-in-law. The young man looked no different from a mad man on the street, except that he was better clothed. Worry, fear and despair filled his blood shot eyes. He could hardly sit still and had been pacing the entire hall for the past two hours.

Her concerned stare drifted to the emergency room glass doors. No one has brought them any news since her daughter and grandchildren had been wheeled in.

Thank God Ike brought some of the poisoned zobo drink. At least the medical team will be able to diagnose the poison, then find or create an effective antidote.

“What is going on in there?”

Her gaze drifted back to him.

Ike stood by the glass doors, tempted to start hitting it. “What are they doing in there?”

Vero breathed out loudly. How did that miserable girl from the pit of hell get into the kitchen in the first place? The security guard was already in serious trouble for letting her into the house in the first place.

“God please have mercy….” she closed her eyes, trembling hands clasped.

The glass doors swung open.

Ike stood where he was. Hoping that the doctor had goodnews for them.

Vero lifted her head. She recognized the doctor.

“Mr. Briggs…”

Ike held his breath.

Vero got up slowly.

“Your wife and your children… the antidote is flushing all the toxins in their systems as we speak.”

“Are they…”

“Yes, they are alive and well,” the doctor patted him on the shoulder.

The young man broke down crying.

Vero closed her eyes and sat back on the long chair. “Thank you, Jesus, thank you my King, my Priest…”