Ruth:From Farm To Queen

Chapter 9: A Daughter Return's

The bus to Ugonoba left Sapele Road at seven in the morning.

Ruth sat near the front, wearing a simple blue gown and holding her small, faded bag on her lap. Inside were her notebook and the new power bank David had bought for her. She had checked the bag several times because her nerves would not let her sit still.

She was returning to her village, but not as the helpless farm girl people remembered. She was now a Field Manager, helping organise a scholarship outreach for girls who had little chance of continuing their education.

At the back of the bus, Tonia sat wearing dark sunglasses. She typed a message to Vanessa.

Vanessa: “Record Ruth when she speaks. If she makes a mistake, send it to me. I want people laughing at her. And make sure the projector doesn't work.”

Tonia: “Don't worry, Aunty. I'll handle it.”

Vanessa promised to pay her if the plan succeeded. Tonia put her phone away and watched Ruth. She could not understand why David trusted this village girl so much.

By nine o'clock, the bus entered Ugonoba. Word had spread that Ruth was coming home to organise a scholarship programme, and villagers gathered beneath the large Udara tree. Children ran beside the bus as it slowed.

When Ruth stepped down, excited voices rose around her.

“Na Ruth be that!”

“Ruth don come back!”

“See our Ruth! She don become big woman!”

Ruth smiled shyly as familiar faces came forward to greet her. Their welcome warmed her, but it brought back painful memories too. For a moment, she wished her parents were alive to see her. Both had died, and Ruth had grown up under the care of her stepmother, Mama Nosa. Life with Mama Nosa had been difficult, filled with hard work and cruel words.

Ruth blinked away her tears. She could not change the past, but she could help other girls find a better future.

The outreach began beneath the Udara tree. Benches had been arranged in front, and a projector stood beside a laptop. David arrived in his black Prado, greeted the organisers, and took a seat towards the back so Ruth could lead the event herself.

When her turn came, Ruth walked to the front and accepted the microphone. Her hands trembled. She had practised a speech, but when she looked at the girls, the big English words disappeared from her mind.

She took a breath and began in the language she knew best.

“My sisters, good morning. Una know me. I be Ruth. I grow up for this village, and I know how e be when person get dream but no get chance. I don work for farm. I don suffer. I know wetin e mean to see other people going to school and wonder whether your own turn go ever reach.”

The crowd became quiet.

“But today, I no come to pretend say my life don become perfect. I come because somebody gave me an opportunity, and I want una to know say opportunity fit reach you too. No shame to be farm girl. No shame to come from poor family. Where you start no mean say na there your story must end.”

The girls clapped. Ruth grew more confident and explained that the scholarship forms would give eligible girls a chance to apply for support with their education.

“If I fit learn and take responsibility, una too fit learn,” she said. “Farm girl fit become manager. One day, one of una fit become nurse, teacher, engineer, or anything wey una work hard for. Make nobody tell you say your future don finish.”

Tonia watched with growing irritation. She had expected Ruth to stumble, but the villagers were listening with respect. When Ruth announced that they would watch a presentation about the scholarship programme, Tonia slipped behind the projector table and tampered with the wire.

Emeka, the young IT assistant, tried to switch on the projector. The screen remained blank.

“Ah, technical problem,” Tonia said, pretending to be surprised.

Ruth looked worried. Before she could apologise, David stood and walked to the front.

“It's all right. We don't need a projector to explain why we're here. A machine can fail, but that should not stop us from sharing information these girls came to hear.”

He handed the microphone back to Ruth.

“Tell them what they need to know. You can do it.”

Ruth steadied herself and explained the application process, where to collect the forms, and whom to ask for help. Emeka promised to check the equipment after the programme.

A small girl raised her hand.

“Aunty Ruth, if person no get money for school, she fit still apply?”

“Yes, my dear. Na why we dey here. Collect the form and ask the organisers to explain anything wey you no understand. No give up before you try.”

Soon, girls crowded around the table for forms. By the end of the outreach, thirty girls had received forms and information about how to apply. The villagers thanked Ruth, and several young women said they now felt hopeful about returning to school.

As people began sharing food, Emeka approached David privately and showed him a video. It showed Tonia tampering with the projector wire. David also found messages showing that she had been reporting to Vanessa.

“Tonia, did you interfere with the projector?” he asked.

Her face lost its colour.

“Sir, I—”

David showed her the video. “I know Vanessa paid you to disrupt this event.”

Tonia admitted what she had done and begged for another chance. David told her that she was dismissed and instructed her to collect her belongings from the office. He would not change his decision.

Ruth arrived as Tonia wiped her face.

“What happened?”

After David explained, Ruth looked at Tonia sadly.

“Why you do am? I never do anything to you.”

Tonia turned away and left without answering.

On the drive back to Benin, Ruth watched the village disappear behind them. She was happy that thirty girls had a chance to apply for scholarships, but the memory of her parents made her quiet.

David noticed.

“You did well today, Ruth. You should be proud.”

“I am happy for the girls,” she replied. “I just wish my parents were alive to see this day.”

David's expression softened.

“I know you miss them. But what you did today matters. You gave those girls hope.”

Ruth nodded and held her bag close. For the first time that day, she allowed herself to smile.

Meanwhile, in Upper Sakponba, Vanessa was furious when she learnt that the outreach had succeeded and Tonia had been dismissed. She called Mama Nosa, Ruth's stepmother, and complained that every plan to embarrass Ruth had failed.

“Then stop trying to fight her at the mansion,” Mama Nosa replied coldly. “You know where she came from. We can find another way to make her listen.”

“What are you thinking?” Vanessa asked.

Mama Nosa lowered her voice.

“Ruth may have a new job and important people around her, but she hasn't forgotten who raised her. Let me handle it.”

The call ended, and Vanessa began planning their next move.

Ruth returned to Benin believing the outreach had succeeded and Tonia's interference was behind her. She did not know that Vanessa and Mama Nosa were preparing to use her past against her.

The scholarship forms had given thirty girls a new possibility. But for Ruth, another difficult chapter was about to begin.