Chapter 6
Some minutes later, she came and apologized as usual for coming late.
I shook my head as I left home to my car and drove out in silence on my way to my workplace.
All through my drive to work, my mind was troubled, I kept wondering why Angie was so against Oge coming today.
Negative thoughts kept flooding my mind as I kept driving, wondering if my daughter is actually in safe hands because Angie doesn’t just disapprove of someone without a valid reason.
When I couldn’t help the thoughts anymore, I reversed my car and changed direction towards my house
I knew I really needed to have an heart to heart talk with Angie to be able to put my mind at ease while at work
On reaching the street my house is located, I packed few distance away from my gate and came down from my car
I walked the few distance to my house, opened the gate and used my key to get into the sitting room but neither Oge or Angie was there.
I decided to go meet Angie at her bedroom but I halted when I heard yelling voices in the kitchen followed by my Angie’s crying voice
” Will you wash those plates fast and sparkling clean!.. idiot! you only know how to eat food but to wash plate is a problem” I heard Oge’s voice loudly as I quietly drew closer to the kitchen
” .. I know it’s your daddy that is spoiling you and giving you such liberty, blind bat!” She continued unperturbed
On reaching the kitchen door I met it open with Oge’s back facing the door, making it impossible for her to see when someone is at the door
I stare in shock at the scenario before me
Angie, my blind daughter was over the sink washing dirty dishes despite her delicate condition, whilst Oge was with a cane behind her issuing instructions not minding Angie’s tears and strugglesNôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
” Angie or whatever your name is! Finish that plate fast before your dad returns from work so that you will continue from where you stopped yesterday in washing your dirty clothes and my clothes which I brought from the house, let the washing machine rest small abeg!” Oge concluded and turned to move out of the kitchen but halted in shock on seeing me standing there staring intensely at the scenario
” S.. si.. sir, yo.. you are back so ear.. early” Oge stammered while I left the kitchen door and angrily moved into the kitchen directly towards her
” Oge! Are you out of your mind! what do you think you are doing to my daughter! ” I shouted and before she could regain her composure, I gave her two resounding slaps
” I’m sorry sir.. it is the handwork of the devil” she begged and it fueled my anger even more
” Devil you say! Okay I will show that those phrases doesn’t work where my daughter is involved!”
” daddy is that you? Let me come and meet you!” Angie sulked from the sink where she stood. She made an attempt to move towards me but I stopped her movement with my next words
” No Angie don’t come, wait where you are so you won’t fall.. let me first sort out this issue!” I said holding Oge on the arm before bringing out my phone to place a call to a police officer who is a close friend.
After the call ended, I went to the kitchen door and securely locked it to ensure Oge doesn’t escape before the arrival of the police.
I stood beside the door with my eyes fixed intensely at Oge to be sure she doesn’t try anything stupid, as I know ladies like her are unpredictable both in words and actions, I won’t want to risk it with Oge after what I have seen today.
” Please sir, I am sorry, please forgive me sir.. it will never happen again, I swear! Angie please help me beg your daddy!” Oge begged kneeling but all her pleas fell on deaf ears, no one messes with my daughter and goes scot free
” Daddy.. please let her go, I don’t want her to flog me with her cane” Angie said but I ignored her, I rather became angrier after hearing the flogging part
Soon my phone rang and when I picked I was informed by my friend that his policemen were outside
Perfect!
I turned to Oge and told her
” Move gently outside or I will be forced to move you outside myself!” I said with no iota of sympathy for her
When she made no attempt to leave the kitchen, I walked towards her, yanked her up by pulling her on the hair.
I opened the kitchen door and led her out of the house to the gate area where the policemen were standing, and eagerly waiting for the unfortunate culprit of child abuse
I handed Oge to them as I promised to come over to the station later in the day to make a statement, and also file a case against her for mistreating my daughter which is against our work terms
After the policemen arrested Oge and took her away, I went into the house to properly attend to Angie, my daughter
I met her still standing beside the kitchen sink, crying heavily
Oh! how I hate seeing tears in my daughter’s eyes but that daughter of Jezebel had made my daughter shed painful tears
” I’m so sorry Angie.. forgive daddy for employing such a wicked aunty for you Angie” I said as I moved into the kitchen and led her to the kitchen stool
” Daddy I think she must be the wicked aunty I saw in my dream the other night” Angie said still crying as she sat down
” I think so too Angie, but tell me when did all this ill treatment start and why did you not tell me about it?” I asked kneeling before Angie who is sitting on the kitchen stool
” It started two days earlier, daddy she makes me wash the dishes and also her dirty clothes, sometimes she keeps me hungry until few minutes to when she knows you will be back home..” Angie explained and paused before she continued inaudibly
“.. she always threatened to beat me with her cane if I dared talk on what she does to me, that’s why I was so scared to tell you.. daddy do you believe aunty Oge uses hurtful words on me? she is always calling me a spoilt brat and a blind bat!” Angie concluded and bursted into heavy tears.
I looked at my fragile daughter and did not know when I began shedding tears too
I hugged Angie while soothing her with words
” Daddy is so sorry Angie.. I promise this will never happen again and I will also make sure Oge never comes close to you ever again, rather someone better will take her place” I promised while rubbing her back to calm her down
” Please daddy I don’t need another nurse again.. if it is not my mom then I don’t want any other woman!” Angie said firmly