"Ashawo! Olori buruku ! Idiot! you wan snatch my customer abi?!..with that your bow leg! Ode ni e" .
My madam (if I could call her that) screamed at me like a retarded animal.
Nancy A.k.a "Chikito" was always trying to create a scene. At 42 (if that was her real age), she had been in this prostitution business longer than anyone else in the block. She knew the do's and dont's, she practically knew how all the men in lagos were in bed. She picked at everyone and started fights at the slightest chance. Everybody avoided her like a plague, not wanting to get into trouble at all.
*****
My name is omotola, I used to live with my parents and my younger sister on the outskirts of Abikehin village in Oyo state. My family wasn't exactly the happy one, my mother and father used to fight all the time, arguing and quarreling..barking at each other like mad dogs.
But even with all the problems, my life was still a little bit bearable. Until One day....
My mum ran out of the house shouting and nagging, raining curse on unseen beings, screaming and lamenting about someone stealing the money she kept in her saving pot. She looked like she was on fire,she was sweating profusely and her frown was so stern that both her eyebrows seemed liked they had merged into one. She walked up to my father where he sat reading his newspaper, and held him by his shorts, she started accusing him of being the culprit. My father being the rather quiet kind, hardly spoke even when my mum went into her usual frenzy.
"woman, dont you have respect for your husband?" my father asked gently
"idiot! foolish idiot! you're not man enough to be my husband, so shut your dirty mouth!" my mother replied
"i have tried my best not to hold all your stupid actions against you, but now you are taking it too far"
"MAD MAN!mad man! that's what you are! shut your mouth and give me back the money you stole!" she said still holding his shorts tightly.
i just stood there by the pavement, and watched as the drama unfolded.there was nothing i could do, as my mum was very ruthless.
A huge arguement sufficed, and in the heat of it, my dad slapped her... She was stunned at first, then she started fuming.
"You slapped me? you incompetent fool!..i've had it with you! i've had enough!"
before i realized what she was about to do, she ran to one end of the compound, picked up a stone and threw it at my father aiming for his head. she hit her mark accurately and my dad fell.
i stared in horror as he lay on the ground, a huge pool of blood oozing around him. My mum ran to him and shook him severally, but he didn't move. He was dead.
That was the moment my life took a turn for the worst, living became an unpleasant ordeal. Confused and dazed , i ran into the house, called my little sister and we both took off. i have no idea why i ran, but i just felt the need to. there was no way i was going to remain in that house with that evil woman i called my mother, so i ran. aimlessly and with nowhere to go, i just kept running...
*******
I came to lagos three years ago, and a lot has happened since i came. the first week i arrived, my sister and i were taken in by a good samaritan, or as at then i thought he was good. he tried to sleep with me, but when i refused, he raped me. afterwards, he threw my sister and i out. and we were back to begging on the streets. Life was hard, and living was even harder. finding a job was difficult and almost impossible,and considering i had no certificate, it was even worse for me. Everyday, we would look for an uncompleted building where we could sleep. Even as i closed my eyes, sleep was nowhere to be found. i would think of my father and how different things would be if he was still alive. i would think of daybreak and how we would survive. i would think of my mother, and i would curse her for putting us in this predicament. Several times, i was made to have sex forcefully due to the scandalous places we slept, but there was nothing i could do. Each night, i would get on my knees and pour my heart out to God. i would pray for a better tomorrow, and then i'd cry myself to sleep.
Three months later, my sister fell ill with malaria due to excessive mosquitoes caused by sleeping on the road sides. i was devastated. i tried my best to help her, but no hospital was willing to treat her without me depositing at least half of the money first. She died seven days afterwards, and i was left alone in this uncaring world. i mourned her for a while, but then i knew crying would not bring her back.
I began my search for a job, walking aimlessly, from shop to store, from market to boutique. i knew people were always looking for sales girls, so i hoped i would find a vacancy in that aspect. After days and hours of searching , i stumbled across a sign outside a restaurant commonly known as 'mama put'. ""Sales girl needed. Apply inside"". Extremely happy for the first time in weeks, i dragged my worn out feet along as i stepped into the building. The insides were dim, and quite empty except for tables and chairs, seeing that it was still early. A fat woman sat on a plastic chair at the corner of the room, her eyes closed.
'Goo.. good morning ma." i said lightly
she didnt budge. i tried again, this time louder
"Good morning ma"
she opened her eyes slightly. "yes, can i help you."
"i'm here to apply for the sales girl job" i told her, my voice shaking a little.
"oh, okay! you should have said so na."
err..i just did! i said to myself. this wasn't the time to be rude, i needed the job. She took me to the back of the building, showing me where everything was kept.
"i hope you're a nice girl o?, i don't want anyone that would come and drive my customers away"
"yes ma. i'm nice, very nice" i replied smiling foolishly
my new boss Iyabo then tapped my shoulder, not returning the smile "Good."
The days after that went pleasantly. i got a sleeping spot at the boys quarters in her house. Every morning i would get up at 5am, sweep and clean the house and compound. I would wash the dishes and make breakfast. then i would go to work. After a while, i noticed she had developed a fondness for me. she always added extra money to my daily pay, and she let me move into the main house.
One evening, just as we were packing up for the day, she called me into the kitchen and asked me to sit down.
"Omotola,"
"Ma?"
"You are a beautiful girl you know?, and you know you cannot stay under my roof forever.."
"ahh..excuse me ma, have i done anything wrong? do you want to drive me away?" i asked, getting scared
"My dear, don't be afraid, i like having you here. but you must learn to fend for yourself."
"okay ma, i understand"
"Good. tomorrow morning, i will take you to my friend's place. you would work for her from then on"
i was sad. i had come to like Iyabo so much, she had been nice to me, in fact she was the nicest person i met since i came to Lagos. i wondered what kind of work it could be. i was a little excited because she also told me that if i worked hard, i would be able to get my own apartment in no time.
The next morning, i packed my things, and we took a bus to another side of town. As we approached the gate of the building, i noticed that the place looked dirty and un kept, like no one cared how the surrounding looked. I switched my bag to my other hand as we stepped into the compound. the building was very large. It was a three story building block of flats. The compound was a little bit more tidy than the outside. We walked towards a different building which stood apart from the flats. It was a small duplex with walls that looked like it hadn't been painted for decades. Iyabo overtook me and knocked on the wooden door. after knocking severally, a deep female voice answered from inside.
"Who is that? who is that person that wants to break my door ehn?!"
"Chikito chikito! its Iyabo nah, abi you have forgotten my voice?" iyabo replied
the woman who iyabo referred to as chikito had arrived at the door and was opening it
"ahh! Iyabo what do i owe this august visit?"
"hmmmph, cant you see the beautiful girl beside me ehn? Of course you know i brought her for you"
the woman eyed me from head to toe, an unpleasant look on her face. "Yes, she's indeed pretty."
'chikito', whose real name was Nancy asked me to take my bags and wait in the sitting room for her. i said a quick goodbye to iyabo, and the went into the house. as i waited in the living room, my mind went back to what i was thinking before... 'what had i gotten myself into?'. If it was three years ago, at the time when i first came to Lagos, when i was still innocent and naive, i might not have known what my job here was. but with what i had seen and experienced, there was no two ways about it. I was about to become an official prostitute.
As evening drew near, the once quite compound became lively again, i could hear female voices chattering, and talking loudly. Nancy came into the room, "Oya, come out. its time for you to start work."
i stood up and straightened my skirt, she led the way out of the duplex and into the large compound. Girls were everywhere. girls of different shapes and sizes. they were all dressed in short outfits, their body exposed to the world. we went into the story building, she took me to a flat and said that i would be staying. she tossed a short dress on the bed and asked me to put it on. i quickly did, and then we went back outside. It was then that i noticed there was a large bar at one end of the compound. Male guests were seated around, and i guessed that was where i would get customers. i played along and followed the steps of the other girls. That night, i made 5,000 naira. i was pleased. at least i could fend for myself. If this went well, i would have enough money to stat my education and i would leave this god forsaken place.
So each and everyday, the routine was the same. sometimes the men preferred to sleep with us in our rooms, or sometimes they would take us to hotels. i hardly crossed paths with Nancy, as i realized, she didn't deal with small customers. There was this particular man who always came by her place every night, and i figured that was her man.
it has been seven months since i got into this business, and occassionaly i've had to visit the hospital to have several abortions carried out. The first time i had to do it, i was quite reluctant but later on i figured i needed to do to remain in business.
One particular night, one i wouldn't forget. i was seated on a stool at the bar when a voice said behind me
"Hello beautiful,"
i turned around, and saw Nancy's man standing behind me, he was smiling at me.
"hi, you're looking for Nancy right?"
"no honey, its you i'm looking for."
i was quite surprised, but i chatted with him anyways. Tho he was quite old, he was a very interesting person, no wonder Nancy liked him so much. As i sat with him laughing and chatting away, little did i know that Nancy had spotted me and was now watching me.
As soon as he left, she pounced on me.
"Ashawo! Olori buruku ! Idiot! you wan snatch my customer abi?!..with that your bow leg! Ode ni e"
"Nancy what is your problem? didn't you see that he was the one who came to meet me?"
"Close your smelling mouth! you this dirty pig!" she yelled back
i didn't want to argue, cause i knew whee it was going to end. she still kept shouting at the top of her voice. I stood there looking stunned like what in heavens name was this crazy woman making a big deal of, still I didn't want to provoke her so I just stood silently and let her rant her fill, beside I thought I'd probably find out why she was mad before she got done, still I was listening with half an ear until,
"Olosho, you think you can take Chief K away from me you are joking..."
I was laughing inwardly,'that dirty old man, what would I want him for...
I decided to let her run her steam off before....*slaps* I go, I guess my silence was more infuriating...oh well I simply said,
"I'm sorry ma,"
I'm generally a very peaceful person and I knew only too well how my madam was so I didn't want to push it. Plus I still needed the job my savings were on the way towards sky high...if only my sister were alive *sigh* the sadness of that thought hadn't totally drifted away when I was suddenly blasted out of my reverie with another hot slap and an
"are u deaf can't you reply my questions"
I had suddenly had enough so I go,
"what is it gan, if you slap me again ehn, hmm that your useless old ma Chief K will not recognise you again, call me ashawo, no be wetin all of us they do here??? Abeg abeg dey one side....mscheeew"
she stood stock still I had never addressed her that way I'd always been polite and all with her, but at that moment I was too angry to care I just turned and walked out mouthing,
'stupid old expired pussy...' *hiss*
suddenly I had this wild impulse to bend and I did and that's how a big stone flew passed my head, I turned round, Chikito was screaming bloody mary!!! I had this abnormal urge to laugh, her wig was nearly off, her lipstick smeared her dress shorter than was decent for someone her age...she probably would have hit me again but I was saved by the most unlikely person, 'Baba K,' her change of demeanour was hilarious I sha walked away....
She didn't say anything for the next few weeks I figured she had probably forgotten, my most foolish move, that night a totally new client asked for me, normally new people were given to older girls and I'd just been here for a year, I sha went with him not knowing that would be my last job, we got to his hotel room, we finished the deed, I was now dressing up ready to leave when he came up behind me he held me real tight I thought he wanted more I said,
"the session is already over o!! This would cost you..."
That was as far as I got when I felt the cold steel of a blade on my neck I froze my tone immediately turned pleading, 'ahan not like that now, didn't I show you a good time haba now...
' He goes,"shut the hell up that was just window dressing this was always the plan" he stopped there,
I wanted to know more so I kept quiet I wanted to know more at least I'd know what strategy, and what do you know he continued,
"I went to Madam N, a name some clients called her 'and asked for a girl I cud use for something that may not end well, well she gave me you and pretty though you are well..."
So this was it..."Isn't there.." I started
he said, 'you'd best keep quiet so this can be fast' and before I knew it...
...The cold blade went through my side, I felt warm blood trickle down my body. He let go off me, and I stumbled and fell onto the bed. I gasped for air, fighting the strong force that wanted to draw me into oblivion... My mind raced, my pulse beat slower. How could this happen? Haven't I suffered enough to have my life end this way?. I struggled to stay alive. I thought of all the sacrifices I gave to survive all along, and hot tears stung my eyes. I lost everything, I gave up all that made me just to survive. My sister, my pride, my integrity, all was lost. I gasped again, I was slowly slipping into unconsciousness. I was done, this was the end... With the last breath of air left in me, I said quietly "Forgive me lord for I have sinned"...as a final prayer, i started mouthing a song i used to sing when i was little.., 'as I lay my head to sleep I pray the lord my soul to keep. if I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take....' darkness.
Author's note : He will forgive you but don't make Him your last surrogate...Prostitution never pays, neither is it the last resort. Don't use poverty as an excuse to indulge in illegal or immoral acts. Remember, the wages of sin is death. :|
