EPISODE 1
She went closer to Ndidi in an effort to slap her. Ndidi receded a bit, but she held the collar of Ndidi’s blouse forcing Ndidi to rattle out her explanation.
“No ma, I am not lying,” she said. “When…when I was hawking with Nkechi, an okada man knocked her down. I kept my bucket by the side of the road and went to help her gather her plantain chips scattered on the road and also to make sure she was not badly injured. When I went back later to carry my bucket, I noticed that my moi-moi had reduced in number. I counted them and discovered that five wraps of moi-moi had been stolen. I looked around in search of anyone holding moi-moi so I will know who took them but because the place was rowdy, I didn’t see the thief. That was what happened ma.”
“I knew you would tell a sweet story to cover up. You liar.”
“No ma…”
“Shut up,” her aunty said and hit her repeatedly. “Because of this, you won’t eat anything this night,” she said when she was satisfied with the beating and started storming out of the kitchen.
“Am sorry ma. Please forgive me ma,” Ndidi begged, crying, going after her. She stopped and looked back at Ndidi.
“If I close my eyes and open them and you are still here,” she said, “you will see what I will do to you.”
Ndidi knew better than to remain there, pleading. She left quickly, managing to dodge another blow from her aunty who was standing close to the door. She left and stood at the verandah sobbing. Whenever neighbours pass, she would either wipe her face or turn her head but they already knew her situation and didn’t bother asking her what the problem was.
“Ndidi!”
“Ndidi!” her aunty shouted again and came out to the verandah.
Ndidi who was called back to reality by the sight of her aunty moved backwards, wondering what else was coming.
“Did you or did you not hear your name?” her aunty asked her.
“N…n…no ma.”
“Come here you liar.” She went towards Ndidi to hit her.
Ndidi retreated but the wall was standing between her and any attempt at escape. She held the wall hoping it would swallow her. As her aunty wanted to hit her, a neighbour came into the compound. Her aunty pretended she was doing something else but the neighbour knew what was happening and passed them without saying a word.
“Will you go and buy bread for my children!” she said, dropped the money on the floor and went back inside.
Ndidi picked it up, wiped the tears from her eyes and left on the errand, trying as much as possible not to let people know she had cried.
_______________________________________________________________________
About The Book
“Against the Tide” is the story of a young girl named Ndidi; the third child of her parents, who up until the death of her father was living in affluence. The story follows her ordeals, hardship she passed through and what eventually happened to her.
“Against The Tide” is a well written fictional story that highlights certain issues concerning child labour and abuse as evident in household slavery, street hawking and sexual harassment. The book tries to pick up causes and effects and goes on to make little effort in proffering solution
for more info,
-- https://www.facebook.com/Against-The-Tide-178275012313259/?ref=bookmarks
-- https://www.facebook.com/Nedu-Isaac-148249582031777/?ref=ts&fref=ts
-- +234-813-289-8209
(c)2015.Chinedu Isaac
“No ma, I am not lying,” she said. “When…when I was hawking with Nkechi, an okada man knocked her down. I kept my bucket by the side of the road and went to help her gather her plantain chips scattered on the road and also to make sure she was not badly injured. When I went back later to carry my bucket, I noticed that my moi-moi had reduced in number. I counted them and discovered that five wraps of moi-moi had been stolen. I looked around in search of anyone holding moi-moi so I will know who took them but because the place was rowdy, I didn’t see the thief. That was what happened ma.”
“I knew you would tell a sweet story to cover up. You liar.”
“No ma…”
“Shut up,” her aunty said and hit her repeatedly. “Because of this, you won’t eat anything this night,” she said when she was satisfied with the beating and started storming out of the kitchen.
“Am sorry ma. Please forgive me ma,” Ndidi begged, crying, going after her. She stopped and looked back at Ndidi.
“If I close my eyes and open them and you are still here,” she said, “you will see what I will do to you.”
Ndidi knew better than to remain there, pleading. She left quickly, managing to dodge another blow from her aunty who was standing close to the door. She left and stood at the verandah sobbing. Whenever neighbours pass, she would either wipe her face or turn her head but they already knew her situation and didn’t bother asking her what the problem was.
“Ndidi!”
“Ndidi!” her aunty shouted again and came out to the verandah.
Ndidi who was called back to reality by the sight of her aunty moved backwards, wondering what else was coming.
“Did you or did you not hear your name?” her aunty asked her.
“N…n…no ma.”
“Come here you liar.” She went towards Ndidi to hit her.
Ndidi retreated but the wall was standing between her and any attempt at escape. She held the wall hoping it would swallow her. As her aunty wanted to hit her, a neighbour came into the compound. Her aunty pretended she was doing something else but the neighbour knew what was happening and passed them without saying a word.
“Will you go and buy bread for my children!” she said, dropped the money on the floor and went back inside.
Ndidi picked it up, wiped the tears from her eyes and left on the errand, trying as much as possible not to let people know she had cried.
_______________________________________________________________________
About The Book
“Against the Tide” is the story of a young girl named Ndidi; the third child of her parents, who up until the death of her father was living in affluence. The story follows her ordeals, hardship she passed through and what eventually happened to her.
“Against The Tide” is a well written fictional story that highlights certain issues concerning child labour and abuse as evident in household slavery, street hawking and sexual harassment. The book tries to pick up causes and effects and goes on to make little effort in proffering solution
for more info,
-- https://www.facebook.com/Against-The-Tide-178275012313259/?ref=bookmarks
-- https://www.facebook.com/Nedu-Isaac-148249582031777/?ref=ts&fref=ts
-- +234-813-289-8209
(c)2015.Chinedu Isaac
(c)2015.Chinedu Isaac
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