The Accidental Night

Another Experience

"Did I tell you I was looking for a maid? I have Ruth and she is okay. Do I also look like your mother?"

"Get yourself out of my house, you can't stay here as a reminder of my pains as a woman. I am even trying to help you, to take away the burden and give you a better life, and this is all I get? You are wicked and selfish, now I know why your parents disowned you, you don't have a future, Get your useless self out of my house." She stands up "I am going out, by the time I come back and you are here, you shall find yourself behind bars, rubbish." She said and walked away.

I went inside and Ruth held me, she probably had been eavesdropping on our discussion. I cried bitterly, I had nowhere in mind, no one in Canada, and no money on me, I am indeed finished.

Ruth consoled me that Mrs. Roland is not my God and that things will get better.

"Don't cry much ok, everything will be ok" she said.

"I am doomed, I don't have anywhere to go to"I lamented.

Ruth had no one in Canada too, she is a young girl trying to make ends meet.

"Celina, before I got this job, I used to live in an uncompleted building, though it is safe, it has doors and the area is well gilded, I pay one 2 dollar weekly to the agent in charge of the building because he was aware that I was living there." Ruth said, "The house was abandoned by the owner's son when his father died, I shall take you there.

Ruth took Me there, though, uncompleted but was quite safe, the agent was called and he told me I can not be seen in the building during the day wandering about, because the owner's son may come anytime. I am only to be sleeping there at night. Did Ruth pay three tho? 3 dollars, that will be for three weeks, she gave me the sum of 4 dollars.

"That's all I have," Ahe said.

"You have done well Ruth," I replied.

"You are truly a friend turned sister." She had to hurry back before Mrs. Roland gets back home. I went inside the building, it was so unkept. I did some sweeping and maintenance, with the little broom we brought. Ruth had given me a mat, two blankets, and some clothes. I looked for what to eat and rested for the remaining hours of the day, it was more thinking than resting.

I lay on the mat, thinking about my life, how pathetic I had become, and how hopeless my case was. I thought God abandoned me, or he was punishing me over something, but what could that be I didn't know.

Oh! how had the mighty fallen...

I was the best among my peers...

The star of my team...

The pride of my parents.

I Celina Henchard cooker, Reduced to nothing".

Indeed this life nothing last forever,

The night I was r***d gave my life a negative direction. I was in deep thought when I slept off. I woke up late the next morning, I hurriedly used some sachets of water to wash my face, breast, and my private parts. I head out, with no destination in mind. The agent had warned me that I shouldn't be seen during the day wandering around the compound. I had spent 50 cents, out of the 4 dollars Ruth had given me the previous day I had 3 and a half dollars left, but I knew I needed to get a job, I couldn't rely on Ruth. She's also a young lady like me, trying to survive in this unfriendly world, and 3 and a half dollars can not sustain me for long. I went in search of a job, but couldn't go too far, because I was yet to know my way around Canada, and I couldn't afford to get lost.

Nobody would look for me, should anything happen, who cares anyways?

I walked around the area but couldn't find a job.

I had eaten tea and dried bread for breakfast, I had nothing for lunch, and it was 5:30 pm, I got something for dinner and was heading back to the uncompleted building.

I arrived at about 6:30 pm, I was tired and weak, so I bought a bucket and looked for a place to get water. I had my bath, ate, and slept off.

Four days on I had no money on me, I had bought a bucket, a cup, toothpaste, a toothbrush, and some sachets of water, I had also been feeding, all on the money Ruth gave me. I used the last 5 cents, to get bread and coke-cola that I had for breakfast, I didn't have lunch, I was at home with no dinner, no one to help, and no hope of getting food, I was very weak, my stomach hurt so bad, I could feel life living me, I thought I was going to die in my sleep when I heard a voice.

"Celina opened the door," it was Ruth, the voice sounded like Ruth's, so I opened the door, lo and behold she was standing before me.

"Won't you allow me inside,?" She asked laughing.

"Come in, come in, what are you doing here at this time?" I asked.

"I know the money I gave you would have been exhausted, so I lied to madam that my mum is sick and I needed to travel to the slum for one week." She said.

"I want to spend some time with you and help you find a job at least. I also bought a small phone for you, so that you can reach me any time. I brought a specially made jollof rice for you, it's your favorite." She teased me, "and juice to cool off, she added smiling.

By now I had tears of joy in my eyes and lots of thoughts in my mind...here I was thinking I would die in my sleep out of hunger, but God in his mercies, was making wonderful plans for my favorite dish, God is faithful after all, and he still loves me, I thought within me.

How can a person be this nice?

"You are a sister, a mother, and a friend to me," I manage to speak.

"Come on sweetie, what are friends for if not for the inconvenience," she said again smiling. "Okay, enough of your drama madam Celi, eat so you don't starve my Godchild inside of you."

I smiled and said, "He or she would be very happy and lucky to have you as a Godmother. indeed you are God-sent, a blessed sister."