“It’s either you tell me how I have a hand I’m your daughter’s problem or this house will be too hot for me and you!” Daddy threatened.

I thought that it was a joke but daddy lived up to his word. First, he banned me from ever stepping out of our gate. Another was that he stopped eating food prepared by my mother. Our once peaceful and loving home became a war zone. My mother pleaded severally for forgiveness but my daddy did not heed.

The situation remained like that for months. I begged my father that I needed to attend extramural classes to prepare for SSCE examination but he warned me never to mention it again.

The first attempt I made to write the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) ended in F9 parallel. Second and third attempt were the same. While others were busy writing in the examination hall, my work was to be in the lookout for biro and pencil that will fall so I could steal them. After failing in the third attempt, my father gave up on me.

But I didn’t give up on myself. I planned to register for the examination by myself but problem between my father and mother became a stumbling block. The worst was that they refused to allow the extended families to know what was going on.

In the middle of the crises, my paternal grandmother visited. My parents tried to pretend that all was fine but I saw that as an opportunity to redeem myself because their activity was hurting me the most.

When I told her what was going on, she was surprised. But she tried her best to make Peace between my parents.
However, my father was not happy with me.

***********
I woke up in the morning of my 18th birthday with shouts of ‘happy birthday’ from everyone around.

Mummy urged me to have my bathe and dress up because they were taking me out. I did as I was instructed and we all set out on a journey. I kept on wondering what my parents had up their sleeves.

“Judy, this shop and everything inside is yours. You are now an adult, so I feel I need to set up a business for you. Don’t bother about the fact that you don’t know anything about cosmetics business. I have already employed someone that will work for you. She will teach you everything you need to know. She is a hardworking and honest young lady. I assure you that you will get on well with her.”

As daddy was talking, I could sense sadness in his voice. He had wished that his only daughter would be a lawyer. That had been my greatest desire too. As I stood, watching my daddy, I wished that I could turn back the hand of time and bring back the old good days. The days, when Judy was the pride of her parents. Those old good days, when other parents will use Judy to set positive examples for their children. I sincerely wished that I could erase all the shame and reproach I brought upon my parents. The starting point would have been to stop stealing. A wish, that had refused to materialize.

Daddy handed over the keys of the shop to me and I appreciated him. If I thought that was all, then I had prepared myself for a shocker. We boarded our car and my daddy drove us to a nearby house. I was surprised when Mummy brought out bunch of keys from her purse and opened the door. When we got inside, she informed me that my father rented and furnished the mini flat for me. That piece of news devastated me.

“Mummy, why? How could you and daddy rent a house for me without seeking for my consent? First, you established a business for me in a strange environment. You still rented a house for me here. How do you want me to cope without father, mother, brother or friends? Even the rooms we have in the house are not fully occupied,” I cried but was interrupted by my daddy.

“Enough of that nonsense; young lady,” Daddy barked

“This is the last chance I am giving you to redeem yourself. You should be grateful to God that I used my hard earned money to rent house and even establish business for you. If not for your mother, I would have disowned you and threw you out of my house. Your mind is telling you that I will continue to take the embarrassment you cause me each day. Ah! They truly said that blood is thicker than water. If not, would I have allowed you to spend even a night under my roof after disgracing me before my workers?”

Daddy’s voice tone changed from that of anger to command.

“Now listen to me. As soon as we get home, your mother will help you to pack all your belongings and bring you back to this place. The business I opened for you is worth millions of naira, handle it well. On the contrary, you can abandon it and continue stealing. I will be taking care of your rents; I believe that the proceeds from the business can take care of your personal needs. However, if you need any financial help, don’t hesitate to contact me on phone. Don’t bother to visit us. We will be coming to see you whenever we are chanced.”

“Mummy, are you in support of this?” I asked amidst sob.

Mummy gave me a look of helplessness. That was when I noticed that she was weeping. I knew that my mother would never give her consent to such decision. But when daddy had made up his mind concerning any issue; there was nothing anyone could do about it. When we got home, I packed my loads, ready to go but Ken would not allow me.

“If you step out of this house, don’t bother to come back,” Daddy warned Ken who insisted on leaving with me if I was forced to leave the house.

“My brother, please don’t risk your bright future because of me. Allow me to face the consequence of my actions alone. You have always shown me love. Standing by me even in the darkest hour, when every other person would turn their backs. Unfortunately, that love never produced a positive result. It only caused you pain and embarrassment. I knew how you felt the day I stole from your friend. Though you told me you were not angry, I saw you crying inside your room when I peeped from the window. The day that Bolu called you the brother of a thief, you proudly told him that you are better than him because he doesn’t have anyone to call sister. You laughed over it, but I knew you were hurt.
Because of me, you have turned to a fighter, just to instill fear into people so that they would allow me move around freely. You have always begged me to stop stealing.
But how could I, when I was controlled by unknown powers. I have accepted my fate. If it leads to my death, so be it. But if my creator says that there will be light at the end of this dark tunnel, we will have a happy reunion. You are now the only palm fruit in the fire that must not get lost. Face your studies and make us proud. I will surely miss you kid brother.”

Ken held me and was crying but Mummy removed his hands and led me to the car even as I proceeded to a journey unknown.

“Keep hope alive, big sis. It shall be well,” Ken told me as Mummy’s car was gathering momentum to zoom off.

Sudden loneliness sank into my heart which made me to weep all through the journey.

The only consolation was that I wished that change of environment would deliver me from my predicament. But did it happen?

Watch out for the next episode.