The Sword Bearer

     Little Patricia had just lost her mum, just three months after losing her dad. She felt like the world was gradually melting away from her sight. The pain, feeling and reality of losing the two most dearest people in her life within a shot space of time was too much for her to bear. She would weep all night with no one to console her. Her biggest regret was that her mother had promised to enroll her in a secondary school but now that she has left the world, Patricia knows that the dream has become a nightmare. Patricia was not the only child of her parents, she had before her two sisters and two brothers but they have all left the village for greener pastures after their mother died. They of course tried to take Patricia along but the head of the family said they can't release to them Patricia because traditionally she should stay with them till she can be independent. They however had no choice than to leave her behind but promised to come back for her. Their father's family, Ordegha family, promised to take a very good care of her but opposite was the case as Patricia finds it hard to feed. Blessed with a unique beauty, Patricia would always have the advances of men, those that are age ranges and those old enough to be his father. Such was her beauty. Inspite all these proposals, she was very adamant that she doesn't need any man at this stage of her life and moreover she's still very young to be in a relationship. At age 22, Patricia started working as an attendant in a relaxation spot, there, she met a lady slightly older than she is. Anabel, tall, dark and beautiful introduced her into prostitution, Patricia was well trained and she imbibed these training, she would do anything to keep her virginity and she would only give it to the one she get married to. Anabel would try several times to change her mind but Patricia was so insistent.

      So agile in carrying out her duties, Patricia was loved and cherished by her female boss at where she works. Male customers liked her and would enquired about her from her boss. Madam Choplife, Patricia's boss on the other hand knew the calibre of people that do come to her shop, she wouldn't want to risk the safety of her beloved servant. She would call Patricia almost all the time and advise her about the men that visits the her relaxation spot. These gestures from Madam Choplife would always surprise Patricia because of the series of men that her boss do go out with, "why can this kind of person be advising me against such things" she soliloquyed. It was a lonely night at home, Patricia couldn't go to work, she was very ill and there was none to beckon to, her newly found friend had stopped being her friend because she turned down being a prostitute. Everyone seems to hate her, she was her only family, her own friend and consoler. The rain was pouring heavily and Patricia was shaking profusely, she wrapped herself around her late mother's favorite wrapper which she also loved as the last child of the family. Suddenly, there was breeze from nowhere, Patricia's hair stood on her skin, she wasn't sure of what was happening but she felt some presence in the only room given to her by her father's family. She slept off and it was the next day, waking up, Patricia wasn't feeling ill anymore. She wondered what happened, all she could remember was the strange breeze. Quickly she got up from the Mat and headed towards the River to fetch Water.

    On her way to the River, she saw an old woman carrying a log of wood. the woman hit her leg against a stump and fell, quickly Patricia ran towards her and helped her. The woman thanked her and gave her blessings. Patricia offered to carry the log of wood for the woman but the old woman told her she would be fine because she could see she's going to work and she's getting late already. Patricia wondered how the woman knew she was going to work but on a second thought she agreed within her that it's normal for her to know she's going to work. The old woman got up and left. Patricia got to the river, she dipped her pot into the water, the pot slipped from her hand. "My pot!" she exclaimed. She couldn't swim and there was none to help her, she turned in disappointment and started leaving for home, a sound popped behind her, she turned and saw her pot beside the river filled with water. Surprised and shocked, she moved near the pot, stood for some seconds because she wasn't sure of what could happen if she stretch forth her hands to the pot, " what if I disappear with the pot?" eventually, she summoned the courage to carry the pot. On her way, she was thinking about all what had happened in her life today, the woman, the pot. Getting home, she stormed into to her tattered bathroom and took her bath in a rush.

    Getting to work the same day, the shop was burnt down, Sympathisers gathered there to console her boss on the loss of properties and goods. Her boss appreciated people's gesture but she was more happy because Patricia whom normally resumes early at shop couldn't come early on the fateful day. She looked at Patricia and hugged her passionately with love beaming in her eyes, it was pure love from boss to her maid. Patricia thanked her boss and prayed for her that God will recover for her all lost possessions. Still in shock about this eventful day, Patricia wondered what would have happened if she hadn't met the old woman on her way to river, if her Pot hasn't been taken away by the water. Ah! Ipemi Shineegba o( in her language, I thank God o).

To be continued...