Living In The Ghetto - Episode 15

 

Adanne's friendship with Ngozi and Shola didn't last long after they entered secondary school before Adanne. While they were in primary school, they were not so close but only walked home with Adanne on rare occasions. Sometimes, while at home they would stay outside and yell Adanne's name to ask her if she would fetch water with them. Adanne would still agree when they had enough water in the bucket . Adanne loved walking with them as they all strolled to the tap and chatted amongst themselves. It was always a boring walk if she walked with Chimaobim. Only in some slightest instances that Chimaobim would talk to her and they keep each others busy. Sometimes, he would try to make her scared by pointing at the little bush for her to see the grasses move slowly; it was always little animals like squirrel or insects in between grasses. She would screech and move towards him, clinging to him in a fear, while he would laugh and tease her on how a scared little cat she was.

"Eh... Leave me," Adanne would say and shrug his hand off her shoulder.

She would keep silent and wouldn't talk to chimaobim again. Not uttering any word, she would place the little bucket on her head after she had placed a cloth to support it, and then walk home.

***
At twelve, Adanne had grown to a young woman who would be able to make her decisions. The first day she noticed blood gushed out of her private part, she cried so hard and was overwhelmed by fear

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. She thought that would be her end as she reminisced on people she had seen died in movies.

It was a Saturday and Mama had gone to her normal business. Papa had also gone but he doesn't stay long for him to return home, due to his health. He had reduced the number of works he did. By 4:00PM, he was already at home while Adanne helped him to carry the long wooden stool outside the house as he sat there and exchanged pleasantries with passersby. Some neighbors would join him at a point while they chitchatted and laughed till it was dusk. Mr. Okoro, another Igbo neighbour that lived upstair was always his companion. They would speak Igbo and Adanne would sit on the slab and watch them whiling away their time. Her father would send her on an errand to get an alcoholic drink for them at the heart of the ghetto.

"Ada'm," he would call her while Adanne walks towards him, collects the money and scurries to one of the shops.

He had preferred to call her Ada'm the short form of Adanne with an extra 'm' sound indicating my daughter.

Adanne's eye would raise up and fixed towards her father's location whenever he did. 

"Ngwanu, come and get the hot drink for us," he would say. He spoke in Igbo except the word 'hot drink.' He loved to call it a hot drink.

"So, your daughter dey hear Igbo? That's nice," Mr. Okoro said in a pidgin.

"They are quite good when it comes to understanding but I believe they would become perfect one day, in speaking," he replied in Igbo and laughed.

Mr. Okoro concurred and nodded his head. Some minutes after, Adanne arrived and handed the drink to his father and returned the change. They would be there most of the evenings and sometimes, other neighbours would join them.

That evening, Adanne didn't join his father outside the house which wasn't usual. She laid in the bed while Chimaobim sat on the bed and his eyes fixed at the television. He had finished with his assignments as he arranged the books into his bag, walked towards the television and clicked on the power button and it came on. He walked back to the bed and sat down while Adanne laid at his back.

Adanne wriggled and grumbled in pains. Becoming excruciating, she gasped and screeched inhaling air loudly. Chimaobim turned immediately and gazed at her. Tears trickled down slowly from Adanne's eyes, like a river scared to run so quick.

"What?" Chimaobim asked scarily.

"Blood," Adanne yelled and spits splashed out from her mouth.

Chimaobim eyes scampered all around her body. Her eyes rotated like a moon turning round to make a complete orbit. She breathed heavily and Chimaobim feared she will die. His mouth stood still and agape for some minutes.

"Papa," he yelled.

"What?!" His voice echoed resoundingly.

He dragged the door open and ran out. "Come, Papa," he shouted with a teary eyes as he peered through the little door of the passageway.

His father stood up immediately he saw panick written all over Chimaobim's face. Adjusting the wrapper around his waist to cover the brief he wore, he staggered to the room to where Adanne laid on the bed.

Adanne had pulled away her clothes laying on the bed with her legs wide apart. 

"She is bleeding," Chimaobim gasped. "I think she is menstruating. We have been taught that in biology class," he said and gestured his hands, finally placing it on his mouth.

"Ada, it's normal," Papa said and walked towards the bed, patting her slowly.

Read " The Odds Are Against Me " by the same author ( Obinna Tony )

. "You are now a full grown woman at thirteen," he said.

"She is twelve," Chimaobim replied.

Papa smiled and gazed at Chimaobim, then shook his head. "I'm always forgetting her age. It's not my fault. It's an old age."

Chimaobim giggled and walked away. He returned with a bucket of water and rag as his father requested and they cleaned the bed. Adanne looked all around in a scared away. He never knew he will get to this stage. She was walked to the bathroom after, and she freshened up. She walked back to the room with her legs stretched wide.

"It's not that serious," Chimaobim said.

"It is," Papa cautioned and they walked into the room.

Three children dressed in a tattered cloth gawked at them as they held biscuits on their hands. They stood in the passageway while one sucked his finger. Chimaobim shooed them with his hands as he locked the door.