Episode 5&6
1107 Words
Episode 5
A Small Place Called Home
Didi continued working at the provision shop every single day without complaining. The salary was small, but she learned how to manage every naira carefully. While other workers spent their money immediately, Didi saved most of hers secretly inside an old container beneath their mattress.
Every night, she counted the money with hope in her eyes.
One evening, while rainwater leaked into their room again, Didi looked around sadly. Their clothes were wet, the floor smelled damp, and mosquitoes filled every corner.
“Mama,” she called softly.
“Yes?”
“I want us to leave this place.”
Mama laughed weakly. “And go where?”
“I’ve been saving money.”
Mama looked at her in surprise.
“You what?”
Didi brought out the container carefully and opened it. Inside were squeezed notes she had been keeping for months.
Mama’s eyes widened immediately.
“You saved all this?”
Didi nodded proudly. “It’s not much, but I think we can rent a small room somewhere better.”
For the first time in a long while, Mama smiled happily.
“My daughter is growing fast.”
A few days later, they found a small apartment in another area. The room was tiny and the kitchen was almost the size of a bathroom, but to Didi, it felt like heaven.
At least the roof did not leak.
At least they could sleep peacefully.
The day they moved in, Didi arranged their few belongings carefully while Mama swept the floor excitedly.
“This place is beautiful,” Mama said.
Didi laughed. “Beautiful ke? Mama, this room is too small.”
“But it’s ours.”
Those words touched Didi deeply.
That night, they ate rice together happily, even though there was no meat inside the stew.
For the first time in years, Didi felt proud of herself.
Maybe life was finally changing slowly.
The next morning, she resumed work at the provision shop as usual. But immediately she entered, she noticed her boss staring at her strangely.
“Good morning, ma.”
The woman answered coldly. “Hmm.”
Didi became uncomfortable.
Throughout the day, the woman kept checking the cash drawer repeatedly and watching Didi closely.
Later that evening, one customer paid for goods and left. Didi dropped the money inside the drawer before continuing her work.
Suddenly, the woman shouted loudly.
“Where is the remaining money?”
Didi turned quickly. “What money?”
“The money inside this drawer!”
“I don’t understand.”
The woman hissed angrily. “Ever since you started working here, money has been missing.”
Didi’s heart skipped.
“Ma, I’ve never stolen from you.”
“Then where is the money disappearing to?”
“I don’t know.”
The woman folded her arms angrily. “You think because you look innocent, I won’t notice?”
Customers inside the shop started looking at Didi.
Her body shook with embarrassment.
“Ma, I swear, I didn’t take anything.”
But the woman refused to listen.
“You poor people always behave the same way,” she snapped.
Those words hurt more than anything else.
Didi felt tears gathering in her eyes, but she forced herself not to cry publicly.
“I’m not a thief,” she said quietly.
The woman pointed toward the entrance immediately.
“Get out of my shop.”
Didi froze.
“Ma…”
“You are fired!”
Silence filled the shop.
Didi slowly removed her apron with trembling hands. She wanted to defend herself again, but the way people stared at her made her lose confidence completely.
Without another word, she picked her bag and walked out quietly.
The moment she reached outside, tears rolled freely down her cheeks.
After everything she sacrificed…
After all her hard work…
This was how life rewarded her again.
Episode 6
Tears Behind Closed Doors
When Didi reached home that evening, Mama immediately noticed something was wrong.
“What happened?”
Didi dropped her bag quietly without answering.
“Didi?”
“They fired me.”
Mama stood up immediately. “What?”
Didi finally broke down crying.
“They said I stole money.”
Mama’s eyes widened in shock. “Steal?”
“I didn’t take anything, Mama. I swear!”
“I know my daughter,” Mama said quickly while hugging her tightly. “You can never steal.”
But Didi could not stop crying.
The accusation broke something inside her heart.
For days, she refused to leave the house. She stayed indoors staring at the ceiling while fear and sadness consumed her slowly.
What if nobody employed her again?
What if life continued getting worse?
One afternoon, Amaka called her again.
“Didi, you sound strange. Are you okay?”
“I lost my job.”
“What?”
Didi explained everything quietly.
“That woman is wicked,” Amaka said angrily. “She probably accused you because you’re poor.”
Didi sighed tiredly. “Maybe poverty itself is a crime.”
“Don’t say that.”
“But it feels true.”
After the call ended, Didi sat outside their apartment watching people pass by. Children laughed freely while women gossiped nearby.
Life continued moving normally for everyone else.
But her own life felt stuck.
Later that night, Mama entered the room holding a small nylon bag.
“What is that?” Didi asked.
Mama smiled softly. “I bought bread and tea.”
“With what money?”
Mama avoided her eyes.
Didi immediately understood.
“Mama… did you borrow money again?”
“It’s just small.”
Didi felt terrible.
Even after all her efforts, her mother was still suffering badly.
That night, she could not sleep.
She kept thinking about the insults from her former boss.
“You poor people always behave the same way.”
The words echoed painfully inside her head.
Suddenly, Didi sat up from the bed.
“No,” she whispered to herself.
She wiped her tears slowly.
“I won’t let this life defeat me.”
The next morning, Didi woke up earlier than usual. She dressed up quietly while Mama watched her curiously.
“Where are you going?”
“To search for another opportunity.”
Mama looked worried. “What if people reject you again?”
Didi forced a small smile.
“Then I’ll keep trying until somebody says yes.”
As she stepped outside that morning, she had no idea that one unexpected meeting was about to change everything.
And this time…
The change would come with secrets, temptation, and danger.
- Writer
