NYSC WITH ALICE EPISODE 8 (Not edited)

NYSC WITH ALICE

EPISODE 8 (Not edited)

Tola had just finished teaching the S.S. 3 students, she went back to the staff room to meet a letter on her table, 

"Who could have dropped this letter here?" she thought, 

She opened and read:

Dear Miss Tola,

I hope you are fine ma, if so glory be God, I just want to thank you for saving me from getting punished yesterday, senior Mary came to apologize, she said she is going to be my school mother and protect me from all other seniors.

Ma, there are times I feel like committing suicide yesterday because senior Mary would have told me to wash her cloth and her friends also fill 12 baskets with water. But you came to my rescue. Thanks for coming ma. I felt loved for the first in a long time. You remind me of my late mother, thank you ma, I love you 

                                            Your's sincerely 

                                                    Abigail 

Tola thought of what to do, she made up her mind to stop other senior students from bullying their juniors 

 After closing that day, she went home to meet Sam, Joseph, Kenny, Peter, and Sarah outside gisting, she went to join them immediately 

"Hi guys" she greeted 

"Welcome Tola"

"I want you guys to help me with something" She started "The level of bullying in the school I teach is high, you see seniors sending junior errands with #20 and tell them to buy something of #500 and still bring change, if they refuse they beat them or subject them to hard labour," Fehintola said feeling concerned 

"That's common in boarding schools," Peter said.

"But then it's not right, It has to stop. One of these students almost committed suicide" Tola said looking sad.

"I also went to a boarding school, senior students even collect our provisions, if you do not release it, you are in trouble, and when we became seniors, we did the same thing," Joseph said "Now that you are talking about a student committing suicide, I don't know if it's possible to stop this, but if you want to fight for this children, you will have to get the school authority to stop this because this has been happening for year's and it takes the grace of God to stop it in one generation," Joseph said 

"This a case of bully and it's a very serious case," Kenny said "Just like Joseph said, you need to involve the school authority, they should give strict rules and regulations for instance Senior students who are caught bullying their juniors should be suspended for few weeks and if repeated, they should be expelled. Students that are bullied should report to a teacher or the school principal, else such students should be punished severely" Kenny concluded 

"Hmmm... That's a very good idea, but it won't work" Sarah said.

"Why?" Kenny asked 

"The school is a private school, the proprietor won't buy that idea, they will end up expelling all their students and you know the proprietor will consider the school fees they will get from their parents especially when the students are from wealthy homes or when the family has about three to five children enrolled in that school. The school authorities won't want to lose. That idea can only work in a government school" Sarah said 

"You are right" Kenny agreed 

"Punishment isn't the best thing" Sam started "Don't try to punish them, there will be some stubborn ones among them who won't give up easily, and you can't be with them all the time so once they see that you or any other teacher is not around, they will take it out on the student and this time it will be worse, they will do it with so much resentment and remember your days are numbered on that school, you will leave there after your Youth service and they will go back to their old ways so my dear sister, pray to God for wisdom to go about it" Sam said.

"Hmmm..." Tola sighed 

"I think the only way to go about this is to call the students in a meeting, talk to them like brothers and sisters, make them see reasons why they should stop and you will see them all dropping it willingly and make sure you pray before meeting them," Joseph said, and everyone agreed with him 

"Good idea," Everyone said 

"Thank you! Thanks so much" Tola said happily.

 *******      *******      *******      *******      

Madam Pat had just returned home from her store, Adewale is not yet back from his office, and Fehintola who used to keep her company is not around, she had gotten used to her. She decided to go through her photo album.

"Fehintola, my baby," She said with passion, she missed her. Then she flashed back to how she came in contact with Fehintola's family.

            

           ***           ***           ***

Many Years ago, Rachel, Tola's grandmother had taken in after twelve years of waiting, Isaac, her husband wanted her to have enough rest for the nine months she would be carrying the pregnancy. 

Rachel traveled to her village to get a maid, she didn't want any of the city girls for fear of them snatching her husband. She came back three days later with Patricia.

Rachel treated Patricia like her own sister, she told her neighbours that she was her sister who stays with her mother in the village, she burnt all her old clothes and got her new ones, and then enrolled her in school. Patricia on the other hand was appreciative and she did everything to make her boss happy.

Nine months later, Rachel gave birth to a baby girl and named her Fehintola, and Patricia took good care of the baby.

A few months after Fehintola's birth, she started going out with big girls and became exposed, she started coming late from school, she started seeing men and her boss started having issues with her. After several complaints, her boss called her one day.

"Patricia" She started 

"Yes ma" Patricia answer

"Was there a time I ever treated you like a maid?" Rachel asked

"No ma"

"Is there something you need that I'm not giving you?" Rachel asked again 

"No ma" Patricia answered 

"So why have you suddenly started disobeying me?" Rachel asked " Patricia, I want the best for you, the same thing I wish for my daughter, Fehintola is what I wish for you. Why are you hurting yourself? All these things are for your good" Rachel advised her like a sister.

"I'm sorry ma," Patricia said looking down.

"You say that all the time," Rachel said, 

"I will change ma, I'm sorry," Patricia said looking remorseful 

"I hope you change this time, you can go," Patricia said waving her off.

"Thank you ma" Patricia left 

Then Patricia became worse, whenever she leaves home, she goes to Abubakar, her boyfriend's place, and leaves for her house when it's time to close" She came back from school one day.

"Patricia" Rachel called.

"Yes Aunty" She went to meet her. "Good afternoon ma"

"Hold your greetings!" Rachel fired at her, Patricia was surprised.

"Where are you coming from?"

"School" 

"What did you learn today at school?" Rachel asked again.

"Ehm ehm" She started scratching her hair.

"Let me see the note you wrote in school today," Rachel said stretching her hand to receive the note, She looked down.

"Patricia" Isaac called.

"Yes sir" 

"So we have been paying school fees and you have not been going to school?" Isaac said 

How did they know? Patricia thought.

"No uncle, I went to school" She denied it 

"Will you keep that lying tongue of yours!" Rachel shouted at her angrily.

"Honey, calm down," Isaac tried to calm his wife "Patricia, we came to your school today and were told you have not been to school for over a month now," Isaac said and Patricia looked down shamefully, she realized she has been caught red-handed.

"I can see you are okay with being a maid." He said "When my wife brought you here and told me she wants you to go to school, I was very happy with her. How many bosses treat their maid the way we treat you? Most bosses treat their maids like slaves and pay them stipends, you eat at the same table with us, we go to summer together. you dress the same way we dressed, what else do you want us to do?" Isaac asked. "Ok, you want to go back to your village the same way you left?" Isaac said again.

"No sir" She answered 

"You do not want to stand out among your siblings and friend?" He asked again.

"No sir, I'm sorry" She answered with tears in her voice.

"We just want the best for you, that's all" 

"I'm sorry"

The couple left her in the sitting room. Patricia thought about everything and decided to be serious about her life. She became serious for some months and then returned to her old ways, two months later, she missed her period. She became afraid. 

"Abubakar, I'm pregnant," She told her boyfriend the next day after school.

"Really?!" Abubakar said happily. "You are not happy?" He asked noticing her mood.

"What will Aunty say?" she said afraid.

"Does it matter? The most important thing is that I love you and I'm ready to take responsibility," Abubakar said. Patricia was not convinced 

"Ok. Let's elope together" Abubakar suggested.

"What?!" Patricia looked at him like she had just seen a ghost 

"What happened? Why are you looking at me like that? It's a normal thing" He tried to convince her.

"Where do we go to?" She asked 

"Somewhere far, anywhere" He answered.

Patricia wasn't happy, she thought of abortion but has heard stories of young girls dying through abortion. 

"Pat, you know I love you" He started whispering sweet words to her and cuddling her, Patricia started melting in his arms and before they both knew what was happening, they had had several rounds of sex, then Patricia slept off.

*******      *******      *******      *******

Isaac and Rachel had searched everywhere for Patricia, they went to her school, they went to some of her friends' places, then reported to the police and later returned home.

        ***           ***           ***

Patricia woke at 2 am, she was surprised to see her Abubakar sleeping and snoring beside her.

"Jesus!" She jumped up.

"Oh, my God! I slept off" Patricia cried with her hands on her head. She punched Abubakar angrily.

"What happened?" Abubakar stretched lazily

"Why didn't you wake me up?" She asked angrily.

"That's because I slept off too, why didn't you wake up too? You just slept off like that" Abubakar asked laughing. He had been begging her to sleep at his place, but she had always refused, because of her boss.

"What will I tell Uncle and Aunty now?" Patricia said with tears rolling down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry, if they send you out, just come to my place," Abubakar said and Patricia eyed him badly.

At exactly 6 am, Patricia dressed up and went home, she sat outside the gate till 7 am, thinking of what to say, but nothing dropped on her mind, then she went in to face them anyhow.

"Patricia, where are you coming from?" Rachel asked, "Where did you sleep last night?"

"I went to visit a friend, so I slept off" She answered.

"Ok. Come with me, I want to meet that friend of yours," Rachel said picking up her car key 

"Ehm, Ehm... Aun... Aunty... " She stuttered.

"Yes, is anything the problem?" Rachel asked

"He already left for work, I mean she already left for work," she said.

"Really?!" Rachel said moving towards her. "Patricia! You went to sleep in a man's house?" 

"Nooo, she's a lady," Patricia said and Rachel gave her a hot slap on the face. 

"Honey, calm down," Isaac said.

"Is something wrong with you? Are you out of your mind? How dare you lie to me? You think I'm a fool?" Rachel shouted again.

"Honey, calm down" Isaac came again.

"I'm sorry" Rachel exhaled "Patricia" She called 

"Yes ma" She answered sobbing and rubbing her cheek where the slap had landed.

"I want to ask you a question and I want you to tell me the truth," Rachel said 

"Ok ma"

"Patricia, are you pregnant?" Rachel asked looking straight into Patricia's eyes.

The question shocked Patricia and Rachel got her answer through Patricia's relation 

"Pregnant? How? I don't understand" Patricia said

"What part of my question do you not understand?" Rachel asked. "What are you doing with a pregnancy test strip?" She asked again. Rachel had searched her room the previous night to see if she would see something that will lead her to where she is when she found the strip in between her books.

"When does your friend close from work?" Rachel asked 

"In the afternoon" Patricia answered 

"It's either you take me to that your friend in the afternoon or you go into that room, pack your things and leave my house," Rachel said and went into her room.

"Honey, don't let this girl give you high blood pressure," Isaac said and then faced Patricia on the ground.

"Patricia, why are you doing this to yourself? A lady from a Christian home, sleeping in a man's house. It is a shameful thing for a lady to sleep with a man who is not yet married to her, it's a shameful thing to make him see your nakedness. Don't you feel irritated? How do you feel the first time he had sex with you? Aren't you ashamed of yourself? How will you teach your children sexual purity in the future? Look at my wife, I met her a virgin, and I will tell my children in the future to be like their mother." He paused. " Patricia, I advice you to change your ways, this path you have chosen is not the right one," Isaac said and stood up 

"I'm sorry sir, Thank you sir" she sobbed

"You're welcome," Isaac said and went inside to join his wife.

Patricia went into her room, she cried for a long time. Then she thought of the options Rachel gave her, she decided to choose the latter. She packed her belongings and left the house without saying goodbye.

Rachel had thought about the whole issue, she loves Patricia and wants to bring out the best in her, so she decided to go into her room and have a heart-to-heart talk with her, on getting to her room, she couldn't find any of her things in her room.

"Honey!" She screamed 

"What's happening?" Isaac came running.

"Oh! My God!" Rachel broke down in tears 

"I was too hard on her. I shouldn't have slapped her, I shouldn't have told her to leave" she cried, "I only tried to scare her, I didn't mean it, I should have..." She continued when her husband interrupted.

"Stop it, honey!" He shouted "Stop feeling guilty, you have done nothing wrong, you did your best, even if she was your daughter, you wouldn't have done more than that," Isaac said 

"But what will I tell her people?" She asked 

"Just calm down honey, God will help us, all we can do is pray. Ok?" 

"Ok dear" She wiped her tears

        ***           ***           ***

Abubakar was very happy to see Patricia. The next day, they relocated to a far place where Rachel and Isaac wouldn't find them.

To be continued...

Holy Spirit's inspiration 

# nyscwithalice 

©Tomisin E. Adebisi

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