Chapter 20

We were at the Wouri bridge crossing it, I sat inside the car with Nicholas beside me. I directed the driver giving him apt descriptions on how to reach my house.

The water was very still as very few canoes could be seen with some men controlling it.

"When you are at Rail you let me know so I can give you the next instruction to follow," I said in a very light tone.

"Alright Ma," he replied gazing at me through the rear mirror.

Since we started the ride, I've barely heard a word from Nicholas. He acted like his presence was invalid as he did not offer a word to me.

We had been on the road for over thirty minutes now yet we have not arrived at the house.

"Is your house still far?" Nicholas asked, talking to me for the first time since we entered his car.

"Yes, the house is still far," I replied truthfully.

My house was still in Douala, just that it was in Bonaberi, in the suburbs where only people like me live. Those who wanted luxurious lifestyles lived in town in places like Bonanjo, Bonapriso, Bonamoussadi, People like me lived in Ndobo__ I thought sarcastically.

But there is no problem because we still live in the economic capital and carry out our activities as though we were one.

"How do you cope with transportation every day when you do to work?" I heard Nicholas inquire.

Although I felt embarrassed to talk about it, I still explained it though.

"Well, I always make sure I live the house early so I can catch the bus on time,"

Nicholas reflected on what I said earlier offering not a word to me.

His next question blew me out of my mind.

"Why don't you leave the job?"

I felt a rush of humiliation flush throw me. Though the driver was listening to our discussion, he paid prompt attention to the road given us little awareness.

I kept quietly feeling a surge of pain climb my head.

"Take a turn to your left and drive to the end of the road," I gave more instructions to the driver.

It was a sort of disrespect to allow Nicholas' question hanging especially as his driver was aware that a question had been posed.

I did not reply to his question anyway, not that I did not want to answer his question just that I did not have the appropriate answer to give him.

When the silence was too demeaning and my answer not forthcoming, I heard him say in his deep baritone,

"You owe me an answer,"

"Sorry Sir, but I have no reply to give you," I muttered tilting my head out of the window.

"You do owe me an explanation, and whenever I ask you a question always reply to save yourself from trouble," he fired.

What he said was absurd, he was just blabbing and I had nothing to do with someone like him.

It was with so much resentment that I did not spill out my evil poison all around the place. I wanted to curse him but just the presence of his staff made me swallow my tongue.

"The only reason is that have bills to pay," I uttered.

The answer was short and very concise but for Nicholas, it was not enough, he made it feel like I still owe him more to what I had said.

I was so damn done with him, so everything that concerned him had nothing to do with me. Talking to the driver I said;

"Please, can you alight where there is a blue drum before the house? " I inquired.

He gave me a slight nod and I smiled appreciating him for that.

It was early morning, so the other neighbors were already awake, we lived in a 'Face-me-a-face-you' compound where by the way the houses are structured you could jump from one tenant's house to the other.

Our house was slightly separated from the rest of them, also located at a very strategized position where everyone could easily trace.

Nicholas coming out of the car, he helped to step down too so carefully, yet my leg still hurt.

"Ahhh! it hurts," I admitted.

Nicholas said in a small but assuring tone,

"I know it hurts, but please you need to be as careful as always please," he begged.

The other tenants had now come out of their houses to see who had come with a Range Rover latest model to park at the center of the compound.

Their eyes widened when they saw no other man than Nicholas Larry.

They had to gossip amongst themselves wondering who was the lucky person the man was going to visit.

As many as the young ladies were; some were married and others were not, (still single and searching).

They were shocked as they saw me struggling to come down of the vehicle with a bloodstained bandaged leg.

Instead of them having compassion for me, they were rather cheering Nick who had brought me home.

He carried my bag alongside the packet of drugs in one hand and struggled to keep me standing with his hands around my waist while I tried advancing with the crutches well-positioned under my armpits.

"Thank you so much for your help," I appreciated as I walked barely putting my injured leg to the ground.

"No qualms at all," he explained.

Chloe was the first person to step out Of the house especially after hearing people shout the Nicholas Larry had come to visit them.

Upon seeing me, her next reaction was that of shouting, she screamed in shock and entered the house.

"Mommy, Mom! come, Megan is home. She has a very big band-aid on her lab and can barely walk.

I heard mom fidgeting inside the house, and before I could arrive halfway to the door, mom burst out of the house rushing to see things for herself.

"Oh My God, Megan, what happened to you my daughter," she cried causing more neighbors to rush to the scene, I was more than embarrassed.

"Mama, it is alright, I am fine," I replied.

My mom was now crying, drawing attention to the scene.