EPISODE 2
720 Words
The black car drove through the city. Amara sat quietly in the back seat, pressed against the door. Her eyes were red from crying, and her little legs shook a bit. She didn’t know where they were going, but she knew one thing she would not see her mother again for a long time.
Madam Stella sat beside her, looking out the window, her face strong and cold. The driver hummed a song as he drove fast through the busy road. Amara held her bag tightly on her lap. It was the only thing she had—inside it were her wrapper, her slippers, and a small photo of her and Mama.
After almost an hour, the car stopped in front of a big gate. A man in a red shirt came out quickly and opened it. The car drove inside.
Amara looked around. The house was big, very big. It had flowers in front and two big lion statues by the door. She had never seen a place like this before. Everything looked shiny and rich.
“Come down,” Madam Stella said sharply.
Amara stepped out of the car, still holding her bag. Her eyes moved around slowly. Her chest felt tight. She missed Mama already.
“So this is where you will stay,” Madam Stella said. “Do what you are told, and you will be fine.”
Amara nodded. She was too afraid to speak.
They walked inside. The house was like a dream. The floor was shiny like glass. Some lights looked like stars on the ceiling. On the walls, there were pictures of Madam Stella’s family. Amara saw a photo of a boy and a girl smiling. They looked like they had everything.
“This way,” Madam Stella said.
She led Amara into a large kitchen. Inside, a woman was peeling yam. She was older and looked a little tired.
“This is Aunty Rose. She’s the senior maid. You will work with her,” Madam Stella said.
Aunty Rose looked up and wiped her hands.
“She’s small,” Aunty Rose said.
“She’s eight,” Madam Stella replied. “But she has strong hands. I saw her pounding yam in the village.”
Amara looked at the floor. Her small fingers held the handle of her bag tightly.
“She will start tomorrow morning. Teach her the house rules. If she’s lazy or rude, send her back to me.”
With that, Madam Stella turned and walked away.
Aunty Rose looked at Amara again. Her eyes softened a little.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
“Amara.”
“How old are you again?”
“Eight.”
Aunty Rose sighed. “Come, let me show you your room.”
They walked to the back of the house. There was a small building beside the generator. It had two tiny rooms inside. One was already taken, so Aunty Rose opened the other.
“You’ll sleep here,” she said.
The room had one small mattress on the floor. There was no fan, and the air was hot.
“You will wake up by 4:30 every day,” Aunty Rose said. “Sweep the compound, clean the toilets, help in the kitchen, and wash plates. You will not eat unless Madam Stella says so. If you want to cry, cry here. Don’t let Madam see you crying. Do you understand?”
Amara nodded.
Aunty Rose looked at her one more time and said, “Rest now. Tomorrow is your first real day.”
When Aunty Rose left, Amara sat on the mattress. She opened her bag and brought out her mother’s photo. Her tears came back. She didn’t try to stop them. She held the photo close to her chest and whispered:
“Mama, I miss you. I will be strong.”
Her stomach made a small noise. She was hungry. But no one asked if she had eaten. No one gave her food.
She wiped her tears and looked up at the dark ceiling. Then she made a small promise:
“One day, I will leave here. One day, I will go to school. One day, I will make you proud, Mama.”
And with that small dream in her heart, Amara closed her eyes and tried to sleep.
- Writer
