Roses And Thorns – Episode 2

CHAPTER TWO

By Jennifer Godwin

The cab driver dropped Joel at his destination, took his money and left. Joel staggered to the door of the house and knocked fearfully, his friend (Ebube) opened the door and smiled.

“Aaahh, Mr lover lover, what are you doing here na? you should be with your fiance right now in her house, with the way you were talking about her a day to our departure? hehehehehe, am sure you have already gone for one round.” he said all at once without noticing the moody Joel.

“Ebube, please can i come in?” he asked swiftly. his body shook and the goose bumps had still not left his body.

“yea, sure bro, come in. I was too excited that i forgot to invite you in.” Ebube replied leaving the door way for him.

Joel went inside the house and collapsed heavily on the sofa, he sniffed which caught Ebube’s attention.

“what the Bleep bro, did you just sniff? can you kindly tell me what the problem is? is it about your fiance?” he asked going to sit beside Joel.

“Am just coming back from her house, infact i can not even explain what i saw there” he replied helplessly.

“Oh no don’t tell me you caught her with another man? because i wouldn’t mind beating her senses back into her head. The reason I hate women and love.” he sneered angrily.

“It would have been better if i had caught her with another man Ebube” Joel replied still staring into space.

“Wait a minute, you caught her with her fellow woman? mercy is a lesbian?” he asked in shock.

“It would have also been better if i had caught her with her fellow woman, at least there would have still been hope for us” he said yet again.

“So can you tell me what you saw already because am dying to know” Ebube asked anxiously.

“Mercy is dead bro, i saw her in her bedroom hanging freely from her ceiling fan, i think she committed suicide.” Joel finally said letting out a heart wrenching sob.

“Jesu christi !!! are you sure you know what you saw? how can she be dead na? you spoke with her on phone yesterday when we were still in Somalia”. Ebube said in shock.

“Am as shocked as you are, i don’t know why she would ki*ll herself, she should have talked to me if she had any problem.” He replied amidst sobs.

“I think we need to go back to her house and check very well, you know people that commit suicide normally leave a note behind, don’t you think so?” Ebube asked in wonder.

“Yea, we should go back there because i left my box in her sitting room.” Joel replied sadly.

_____

Melody walked down the area greeting as many people as she met on the way. That area was the poorest and dirtiest place in the city of Asaba, only the poorest of the poor lived in that dirty environment.

“Aunty Melody good morning” a little kid greeted.

“Morning Kola, how are you doing?” Melody asked.

“Am fine Aunty Melody” the boy replied all smiles.

“That’s my boy” Melody replied taking the next turn to her left.

She finally left the ghetto and trekked all the way down to Mama chidera’s house. she saw her outside probably waiting for her. Mama chidera’s house was fine and she lived in the next street which was finer than her (Melody’s) stinking area. she was saving up so that she could move to a better place.

“Melody what kept you na? i wanted to go and call another person to do the job for me”. The woman exclaimed.

“Abeg no vex Mama chidera, i been wake up very late and you know as that my side dey be now, but no worry i go do the job sharpally for you” Melody replied dropping her bag on the floor.

“I have told you not to be speaking that half baked English Language when ever you are with me, that you are living in a ghetto doesn’t mean you will speak like them.” she hissed.

“Mama Chidera, you know na, when you go to Rome you behave like a roman” she smiled.

“Okay, the clothes are at the backyard, after washing them, you arrange the house and then do the dishes then later in the day you will go to the market and get me somethings that i will cook soup with” The woman enormously explained.

“No problem ma, i will finish on time, just go about your business” Melody said going towards the back of the house.

That was her job, what she does for a living, she does domestic house chores for people to make ends meet. what was she going to do? what options did she have?