06

**** Judith Sena Sonon ****

I started school but it's really hard, especially at home, my uncle's wife kept her word, she doesn't give me food, I wake up every day at 5 a.m. to take advantage of my uncle and go to school, I finish at 5:30 p.m. and I do line 11 (pedestrian mode) to get home. So I often arrive at 7 p.m. and sometimes my uncle gives me a little money, sometimes nothing. But I do a small business in high school, I buy everything I find at the Dantôkpa market and I sell at school, especially deodorants. That's what basically saves me. I took 30,000 francs from my savings to trade, the remaining money I keep well even if I go to the bathroom, I go with it. I don't have a bedroom anymore, I now sleep in the living room, so I'm very careful.

One day while I was sleeping, Aunt Odette came to rummage through my belongings and she also wanted to rummage through me, luckily I woke up otherwise she was going to take everything from me. She makes me do the housework but doesn't give me anything to eat. I miss my mom a lot I hope whoever did this will rot in hell. I have no more news from there, I hope they are suffering and paying for it. Every day that I wake up I curse everyone involved in my mother's death, I want them to pay with their last breath. I am very resentful, I learned my lesson from my mother, she was goodness itself, but people walked on her nose. For me, it's an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, I won't let myself be walked on anymore. Fortunately this one stopped giving me slaps otherwise one day I was going to give it back to her. Tomorrow is Saturday so I'm going to the market to see what I can buy and sell at school. I arrive, I already find my uncle in the living room. Weird, he's never here at this hour.

Me: Good evening uncle.

His wife glares at me as if she wants to jump down my throat.

Uncle: Sena, I wanted to tell you that I will be moving tomorrow. My boss lost his mum so we're going to the village for the funeral.

Me: How long are you going uncle?

Uncle: For a week my daughter.

Me: Ok but have a good trip uncle.

I hope his wife doesn't get me in trouble, because the way she keeps me is like a predator. I took my bucket to fetch water. I arrive in front of the pump, there are many people. Ah, this very country of water is a luxury, in the village it's even better there's drinking water but here, you even see what comes out of the tap, you want to vomit, but we can't do anything about it, as the black says, is hard and above all strong. I see a young boy coming next to me.

Unknown: Hello miss. Are you new to the neighborhood?

Me: ...

Stranger: Don't worry I won't get you in trouble, if you want water my cans are in front, I can insert your bucket as if it's mine

Me: Why would you do that?

Unknown: Because I only want to help you, plus you only have a bucket so it doesn't cost me anything.

Me: I learned in this life, you don't do a service for free, even less to an unknown person.

Unknown: Ah well, I do it for free. Don't worry I won't ask you anything, my name is Eli and you?

Me: I'm Judith but my relatives call me Sena. How old are you ?

Eli: I'm 13 and I live with my grandmother. I'm an orphan, the whole neighborhood knows me here.

Me: Oh I'm sorry I'm an orphan too but I live with my uncle. But why do you have all his cans?

Eli: It's my job, I do this for people to pay me and buy me and my grandmother food.

I thought I was the only person who had all the problems in the world but I see that there are some people who suffer more than me. Oh God of the poor.

Me: How are you doing with school?

Eli: I don't go to school. My grandmother can't afford to pay for school. Well tell me, do you want?

Me: What do you want?

Eli: Hum but for the water right?

I had even forgotten the story of the water there.

Me: Ok thank you bro.

Eli: Little brother, did you say?

Me: Yes from today I'm your big sister and I'm going to start giving you French lessons. What do you think about it ? That would please you ?

Eli: And how am I going to find the money?

Me: We will surely find a solution to this.

He left to fetch me some water, I don't know why, but I already have affection for this little one, maybe because I never had a brother! He comes back with my bucket.

Eli: Here's your water.

Me: Where do you live?

Eli: At the corner of the alley, the back house that's in ruins there.

Me: Tomorrow I'll be at 12 noon. I hope you don't mind!

El: No. I will tell Grandma.

Me: Bye then little brother.

Eli: Goodbye beautiful angel.

I go home, I take my shower, I spread out my mat in the living room to sleep but sleep is not there. I only think of this little boy who is an orphan like me and who suffers like me. By the time I close my eyes, I jump because the bitch spilled some water on me. I look at her with rage but I'm not going to do anything. I know she's going to get me in trouble while my uncle is away, but I'm not going to answer her.

Odette (angry): You're going to give me all the money my husband gave you. You think I don't know he gives you money? Today you are going to give me everything you have, otherwise it will be hot here.

Me: ...

Odette (furious): Am I talking to you? Give me everything now otherwise you'll see what I'm talking about here.

I can already see that she wants to hit me, if I just make a move she will hit me and the house is closed so no one will come to help me so what do I do?

Me: I don't have the money, my uncle had given me 2000 francs since then, that's what I took out 200 a day. Since it's over, I eat mangoes at school.

Odette: Do you take me for a moron? Today all that money is gonna come out of where you hid it.

She left in their room with a determined step, the time that I arrive at the door I feel the pain in the back. She starts kicking me with her belt, I start screaming and crying at the same time.

Romain: Mom why are you hitting Sena?

This little sentence saved me. By the time she looks at her son and I don't know how hard, I turn the key and run out. I see the neighbors standing looking at me and the mad girl is chasing me, luckily I'm an athlete like her. Thank you that I always sleep with my silver pants otherwise I was going to be screwed. So I spend my day walking everywhere. At 12 o'clock, I show up at Eli's.

Me: Hello Eli, thing promised thing due, here I am guidjoooo!

Eli: Hello big girl. Grandma I present to you Sena Judith, she is my grandma Martine.

Me: Nice to meet you, Grandma Martine.

Mémé Martine: Ah my daughter, finally you are there but the other one is missing.

Me (surprised): Have we seen each other once? Who else are you talking about?

Granny Martine: Oh drop my daughter.

Eli: Do you have a phone?

Me: Yes I just bought it, I have to call my friend. Since I've been there, I haven't heard from him.

Eli: But do it now.

I dial the number Crédo had given me, it rings but no one answers.

Me: She doesn't pick up.

Eli: Maybe she's busy. Still insist to see.

I relaunch the call

Unknown: Hello?

Me: Hello ma'am, can I talk to Crédo?

Unknown: Who's on the phone?

Me: I'm his friend Judith.

I hear it called Credo.

Credo: Hello?

Me: Hello my dear.

I hear him scream over there.

Me: Believe calm down a bit, are you okay?

Credo: A little good and you?

Me: It's complicated, we'll talk later, that's my number.

Credo: I too have a phone that my brother-in-law bought me. I'll text you my number.

Me: Ok I'll call you back.....

I leave you.

I hang up, the neighborhood is hectic but what's going on?

Eli: I'll see what's going on and come back.

I stay with his grandmother who keeps staring at me.

Me: Granny Martine, is there a problem?

Mémé Martine: That's what my daughter called me.

I see Eli coming back.

Me: So?

Eli: There was an accident involving a gentleman who accompanied his boss north to bury his boss' mother. From what I heard, the gentleman and a few people died in the accident.

Me (shouting): Yéguéé jézou. What are you saying ?

I run out, I arrive at the house I find a crowd of people who are watching I don't know what. I push a little and find Aunt Odette rolling on the floor. As soon as she sees me, she gets up and tells me.

Aunt Odette (shouting loudly): Sorceress azétor kpêvi, you're the one who killed my husband. Wherever you go, there's always a misfortune, I don't want to see you again in my life. Disappear before I do something bad to you.

I am dazed, am I a bearer of misfortune? and now, what do I do? I have no more family, why my God? Even my uncle wasn't always present but I already loved him, I start to cry, where will I go?

**** Therese Tchedji *****

I don't sleep anymore, I don't eat anymore, the wedding date has even passed, but I don't care, I haven't heard from my darling son. It's been 3 months, no news, 3 fucking months without hearing my prince's voice. I went through all the marabouts I know but still no results. His father even went to the capital to inquire at the Congo embassy but no one wanted to help us, because it is no longer the fate of the Congo if my adult son left of his own free will, we don't know. Or. I even thought it was someone who sacrificed my son but no one. I don't understand anything anymore, I risk going crazy, I don't do anything in the house anymore, it's Emy who does everything. For once, she behaves like a big girl, I know she does this to boost my esteem.

Emy: Mom, I put the water in the shower, but you have to go while it's still hot huh.

Me: Thank you darling, where is your father?

Emy: He went to grandma's.

Me: Ok and your brothers?

Emy: They left with dad too.

Me: Ok fine.

Emy: And suddenly there will be no more marriage?

Me: Yes.

As soon as we hear from your brother, we will.

She looks at me weirdly like I've gone crazy.

Emy: What if he never comes back.

Me (shouting): My son is coming back. Solange is not going to defeat me, ever. If my son does not return by the end of the week, I will declare a very powerful war.

Emily: Mom? Solange is already dead.

Me (angry): Do you think I'm crazy? I know she's already dead, but her daughter, she's alive.

I went out. This evening I will first check the temperature next to this idiot, I take my shower, we eat as a family but I say nothing. Pierre also said nothing, I noticed that he became too distracted. I'll see to that after settling accounts with Solange's offspring until she returns my child to me. I sleep and during my sleep, I go out of my body. I arrive at Judith's uncle's, but there are a lot of mats and there are tears, but what's going on, she's dead? Because I don't see her.

Unknown: Old woman, what are you doing here? Get out of here if you don't want me to cut you to pieces.

Me: Yantché yantché.

Unknown: Get out, I tell you nanwé.

Me: I didn't come to make trouble, I am......

Unknown: Boudomi Bléoun.

I feel like my spirit entering my body, without my understanding anything.

Pierre (shouting): Since I woke you up, what kind of sleep is that?

I'm kinda stunned.

Me: What's the problem again? And why are you yelling at me? Can't see the time? While I'm looking for the solution to get our son back, are you yelling at me? What is the problem even Pierre?

Pierre: It's your friend Bety who is shouting outside.

What me? At this hour ?

It's 2 o'clock in the morning, I'm wearing my sandals, I go ahead of Pierre and there I see my daughter naked, and Bety who hit her with a chicote.

Me (furious): How's your head? Hands off my witch child.

Bety (in rage): Who is that witch? With your daughter who prostitutes herself like her mother, but you have to tell your prostitute daughter not to spread her buttocks everywhere and above all that she let go of my husband otherwise I'm going to cut off her atekouin (clitoris) there.

Pierre (stunned): What? What is this nonsense? My daughter is only 15 years old.

Betty: So what? 15 allows her to sleep with my husband who can be her father?

I start shaking from head to toe. My body no longer responds.

**** Agonkan Creed ****

Since I've been at my sister's, nothing is going right, her husband scares me sometimes when I wake up at night I see him staring at me with weird eyes. Now I lock my door, concerning my sister, she is spoiled rotten. All he cares about is his little person. On the one hand, it's not his fault because my parents have spoiled him well, they allow all his whims to pass. She has 3 months left before her delivery but she pisses me off as if I'm the author of this pregnancy, and yet she has a cleaning lady but to piss me off you hear it, hey Credo you can do the same again mop there, because Nelly, didn't do that well. Believe you can make me a wild broth like mum does, hey Believe you can cook me the kitchen of a mosquito every time it's always that and now I'm tired. I go home and find the housewife getting ready to go home.

Me: Hello, are you alone? Where are your bosses?

Nelly: Madame has gone to see one of her friends. Monsieur has not yet returned.

Me: Ok see you tomorrow.

Which is good, my bedroom has a bathroom, I take my shower, I feel someone touching my breasts from behind. I scream he puts his hand on my shower, he starts to caress me, I kick him but he's stronger than me. He presses me against the wall and penetrates me, I scream like a wounded animal. He starts to come and go, I've become like a statue, I'm paralyzed, I'm in very bad pain. The tears are just flowing, I hear him growl with pleasure, until he frees himself inside me. My brother-in-law just raped me. He looks at me with a smile on the corner, I can't walk. There's blood coming out of my vagina, I drag myself to the bedroom.

Brother-in-law: If you were gentle, you weren't going to hurt. Soon, it won't hurt you anymore my baby.

Voice: May I know what's going on here?