The Stolen Years

by I. Izegbuwa

  The men’s relay race kicked off. ‘Go on Michael, make me proud!’ Bibi called out, oblivious of Madam Ofilia’s scrutiny.

  The older woman watched her with heightened interest. She was amused at how Bibi couldn’t contain herself when the home team came in first. She observed that Bibi cheered loudest when the third runner took the baton and made a mental note that he must be a special friend. She turned her gaze back to the field and grinned. It would be the first time a recollection of the night of her escape from Uncle Joe’s house brought a smile to her lips.

  ~~~~

  It was a week of fierce competition, valiant victories and an exotic awards ceremony; but the sports fest finally came to an end. Adenizen had proved to be a good host to the thirty two competing schools that came from across the country. Michael popped into Room A16 to congratulate Bibi on her gallant performance as events returned to normal at the campus. As always, she was glad to see him and even more delighted when he told her how proud he was of her.

  ‘We both did great,’ she said, throwing her right hand up in the air for a hi-five. ‘Adenizen rules!’

  He hung her silver medal high on the wall and they stood for a while, admiring it as Bibi smiled proudly. This was her first medal ever. Next year she would aim for gold.

  Michael turned to her. ‘Are you free on Sunday evening?’ he asked.

  ‘Sure,’ she replied. ‘Why do you ask?’

  ‘There’s a dinner holding at The Hack Villa in our honor. The landlady will be hosting all medalists from Adenizen.’

  ‘Madam Ofilia?’

  Michael nodded. ‘She sent me a special invitation yesterday evening and asked me to come with you. We’re to be her special guests.’

  Bibi opened her eyes wide in disbelief. For a while, she had secretly nursed the hope that Michael would ask her out on a date; and it seemed her dream had finally come true. Of course she should say yes to his invitation, but a party at The Hack Villa? That was the last place she wanted to be. Michael wasn’t new in the school; he ought to know about the notoriety of The Hack.

  ‘Well?’ he urged. ‘Do we have a date?’

  She shifted uneasily. ‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea.’

  He looked surprised ‘Why not?’

  ‘I have my reservations about the Villa. Strange things go on there.’

  ‘Oh come on, I’ve heard some of the rumors myself, but I’ve also met one or two girls in my faculty who live there and they seem quite nice to me.’

  ‘Let’s go somewhere else,’ she suggested. ‘There are lots of other fun things we could do.’

  ‘But I’m really looking forward to this. Madam Ofilia is throwing the dinner for us. We’re to be the guests of honor. It’s a celebration of our victory at the Sports festival. Twelve medals in all for Adenizen, seven of them gold. I’d say that’s worth celebrating.’

  Bibi cleared her throat and hesitated, as though giving it some thought. Finally, she shook her head gently, ‘I’m sorry Michael, I just can’t go.’ Her mind told her she was crazy to turn him down. He might never ask her out again.

  Michael’s face fell. ‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ he said. ‘It means I’ll have to find another date.’

  ‘Well, maybe we could get together another day then?’ She asked hopefully.

  He shrugged, the disappointment written all over him. ‘Yeah maybe.’

  ~~~~

  Madam Ofilia was a bit taken aback when Bibi didn’t show up for her dinner. She had gone through the pains of inviting all the winning athletes to her lodge, but the evening had really been targeted at getting this young lady to have a feel of her lifestyle. She was convinced Bibi would make a fine protégée and wanted to lure her in as she had done so many others. The dinner spread was a rich assortment of fine delicacies, but the whole purpose was defeated if her star guest didn’t show up. Putting up an unruffled front, she smiled as Michael offered apologies on behalf of his absentee date, but deep down she was fuming. No one had turned down her invitation before. Did Bibi not know who she was?

  ‘I’m sorry your girlfriend couldn’t make it,’ she said sweetly. ‘Perhaps we should arrange something more personal for the two of you next time.’

  The idea sounded nice and Michael did not bother to clear the misconception about Bibi being his girlfriend. Madam Ofilia politely dismissed him, encouraging him to enjoy the evening. The table was spread with blue and white linen table cloths, adorned with white lacy napkins. The wildest music Michael had heard played from the background. It was loud and deafening, but everyone seemed to be enjoying it, so who was he to complain? He scanned the buffet spread, laid out in fine chinaware and crystal glasses. Madam Ofilia had certainly outdone herself with her high epicurean taste. It was no wonder the ladies in Adenizen trooped to her place regularly - well, except for one special lady he knew. One or two girls sauntered over to him to try and get his attention but his lack of enthusiasm quickly sent them on their way. They snorted and went in search of more interesting company while Michael kept his attention on his meal. As lively as the atmosphere at the Hack was that evening, the companionship he wanted was not within those four walls and he was sure he wouldn’t be missed if he left early. For some reason, his mind kept going back to Bibi; he wished she was there with him. Now that he thought about it, he would rather spend the evening with her. He took one last bite of his sausage roll, placed the saucer on the table and left quietly, making his way down to Noble Hall.

  Bibi was surprised to see him return so soon. ‘Is the dinner over already?’

  ‘For me it is.’ He paused and sat down. ‘I can’t believe you refused to come,’ he chided gently. ‘You were the only one who wasn’t there.’

  Bibi bit her lips and shrugged. ‘I hope your date enjoyed herself too.’

  Michael smiled, ‘I didn’t go with a date, but I had fun for the short time I stayed. The turn-out was great. Your room mate Tosan was there.’

  Bibi was surprised. ‘I thought the dinner was for athletes only.’

  ‘Oh, she wasn’t there as a guest. It was more like she was helping to put the dinner together. She and Madam Ofilia have a very good rapport. By the way, I gave our host your regrets. She said she hoped you would accept her next invitation. She suggested something quieter next time, maybe just the three of us.’

  ‘I have no regrets and no, I won’t accept her next invitation.’

  ‘Are you disappointed in me for going?’

  When Bibi didn’t reply, Michael sat down beside her. ‘I know why you didn’t come to the dinner.’

  ‘You do?’

  ‘It’s because of your faith, isn’t it? That’s okay. I have faith too. It’s obvious that you’re concerned about what goes on at the Villa, but you can’t distance yourself from the girls there just because their lifestyle is different from yours. How then would you reach them?’

  Bibi shrugged. ‘I just don’t want to get involved.’

  ‘You know, even Christ ate with the tax collectors and sinners, much to the disgust of the Pharisees. I wonder if he would have accepted Madam’s Ofilia’s invitation, if He were here today. I guess you would be disgusted with him too.’

  Bibi cringed at his stinging remark ‘Very funny Michael’

  ‘I wasn’t trying to be funny,’ he replied.

  ‘I pray for the girls at The Hack all the time,’ Bibi defended.

  ‘Good for you. Keep praying, and while you’re at it, try to get to know some of them. You’ll be surprised at what you would discover.’ He got up. ‘Now, did you mention that there were other fun places we could go?’

  CHAPTER THREE

  The dinner party was over and the girls were clearing out the banquet hall downstairs, while Madam Ofilia changed in her room. Peering into her vanity mirror, she let out a long sigh. She had been beautiful once and the object of interest to many men, but that was a very long time ago. It wasn’t the wrinkles on her face that bothered her; she knew she couldn’t stay young fore
ver. What disturbed her was the permanent look of pain etched in her eyes; the pain from her childhood and the separation from her sister.

  No one would have ever guessed that they were twins. Ofilia had been a healthy, bouncing baby but Akasi was weak and sickly; one of her legs was slightly deformed and she walked with a limp. Mama couldn’t afford to take care of them and Papa was always drunk, so they sent them both away.

  On that fateful night when the two strangers came, Ofilia had looked back helplessly at her parents. But Mama stood motionless; while Papa, with his eyes glazed, clutched the briefcase to his chest as though it would develop wings and fly away. As they went through the bush path, Ofilia thought she heard her mother crying, but she wasn’t sure. Till now, she still wondered if those quiet sobs were really her mother’s or just a figment of her imagination. Then again, maybe it was her own soul crying from within. She would never know, for she never saw her parents again.

  ‘Be a good girl,’ Papa called out to her, as the strangers led them away. ‘Take care of your sister.’

  For years, his words rang in her ears like a bell. The instruction seemed simple enough then, but it wasn’t till much later that Ofilia realized how ironic his command had been. How could she be a good girl when he had banished her into a world over which she had no control? She had no control over Koye when he came to her room, night after night and forced himself on her. She definitely had no control over Akasi’s disappearance.

  The girls had spent their first night with the two strangers. Auntie spread a mat on the floor as a makeshift bed. Ofilia put a protective arm over her sister, as they lay side by side and slept off. When she woke up the next morning, Akasi was gone. Auntie came in and asked her to get up and get ready.

  ‘Fetch water from the backyard and take your bath,’ she instructed.

  ‘Auntie, where is Akasi?’ Ofilia asked softly. ‘Papa said I should take care of her.’

  Auntie looked tenderly at her for a brief moment, then turned away. ‘Akasi went home. She’ll soon come back.’

  ‘Will I go home too?’

  ‘Only if you’re a good girl,’ Auntie replied with a shrug.

  Ofilia, scared but hopeful, put on her best behavior. She drank the bowl of pap which Auntie gave her for breakfast and then sat on the front stairs to watch out for Akasi’s return. But her sister never came. Ofilia waited until her eyes began to fail, and she dropped her head against the railings and dozed off. It wasn’t long before Auntie came and shook her awake.

  ‘We have to go,’ she said. She didn’t take Ofilia home as she had promised. Instead she took her to Uncle Joe’s house where her nightmares began.

  Madam sighed again. She pushed the morbid reflections of her childhood to the back of her mind and picked up her landline. There were arrangements to be made; a new girl was arriving at the Villa the following afternoon and she needed to put her to work immediately.

  ~~~~

  It was a great surprise to Aima and Bibi when they returned from class to find Tosan packing her things. Her suitcase lay open on the bed, half full as she folded her clothes into it.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Aima asked.

  ‘She’s quitting school,’ Ada quipped. ‘She has caved in under the pressure.’

  ‘Shut up!’ Tosan snapped. She turned to look at Bibi. ‘I’m moving out of Noble Hall, that’s what happening,’

  ‘But why? Where are you going?’

  ‘This place doesn’t suit me anymore, so I got accommodation elsewhere,’ she announced. ‘I’ve found a place that’s more to my taste.’

  ‘And where’s that?’ Bibi asked, half dreading the answer.

  ‘There’s a vacant space at The Hack and I’m moving in immediately before someone else takes it.’

  She dumped the remaining clothes into the suitcase hurriedly as if she couldn’t wait to get out of the room. ‘Aima, will you see me off to the gate?’

  ‘Sure.’ Aima replied, leaping to her feet.

  Tosan closed her suitcase and dragged it off her bed. ‘Bye Bibi. It’s been a pleasure living with you these few months.’ She turned to Ada who was watching her from her bunk. ‘I can’t say the same thing for you, my friend. You’ve always tussled with me over my closet space. Well, it’s all yours now. Enjoy!’

  Ada made a face at her as she exited the room. ‘I’m glad she’s gone,’ she said to Bibi. ‘She was such a pain in everyone’s neck, strutting around here like a vain peacock.’

  With a sigh, Bibi sat down on her bed, hoping that Aima was talking some sense into Tosan. She dozed off waiting for Aima to return. It wasn’t until much later in the evening that Aima finally got back to the room.

  ‘I was helping Tosan set up,’ she explained. ‘I followed her to the Villa because she needed help arranging her things.’

  ‘I thought you were going to talk her out of moving there.’ Bibi said.

  Aima shrugged. ‘There is no point,’ she replied. ‘Her mind is already made up.’ She paused and looked thoughtful. ‘And I can see why. Her new room at the Hack is really nice and spacious.’

  ‘Nicer than ours?’ Ada asked.

  ‘Much nicer,’ Aima replied. ‘It’s just two girls in a room, so it’s not as congested as this. I came to pick up a few things which Tosan left behind. I’m going back to help her finish unpacking.’

  She looked round till she found the items she was looking for. Shoving them into a back pack, she skipped out again.

  ~~~~

  The hall warden wasted no time in getting a replacement for Tosan in Room A16. The new occupant moved in just as the school was preparing for its first semester exams. Social activities had reduced to a minimum and the library attracted many students around this time. As soon as dawn broke, they crowded at the door, waiting to grab the few available seats. The clerk only had to turn the key in the lock and the crowd on the outside completed the job for him. They pushed the door open and surged in; the stampede so overpowering that the poor old man had to dive out of the way to avoid being knocked over.

  Within a few minutes, all four floors of the huge library were occupied. Michael caught up with Bibi as she attempted to find a seat.

  ‘I’ve been hoping to catch you alone,’ he said. ‘I haven’t seen you around in a while.’

  ‘Yeah, exams are fast approaching,’ she replied with a smile. ‘So I’ve been lying low.’

  Michael nodded. ‘I’m sure you will perform as well in your exams as you do on the sports field and when it’s all over, you owe me another date. You haven’t fully made up for turning down my invitation to Madam Ofilia’s dinner.’

  He introduced the quiet-looking girl who had accompanied him. ‘This is Joyce,’ he said. ‘She’s a final year student in my department. She is a first class student and even on the dean’s list. I am hoping some of her genius streak will rub off on me.’

  ‘Michael, stop exaggerating!’ Joyce scolded, clearly embarrassed, as Bibi eyed her in admiration. ‘I’ll leave you two love birds alone and try to find an empty table.’ She said goodbye and walked away.

  ‘Love birds?’ Bibi asked. ‘Does she know something that I don’t?’

  Michael nodded mysteriously. ‘Maybe, I gave her a sneak peek into my heart.’ He paused, suddenly looking pensive. ‘Joyce is the lady I said lived at The Hack. She’s an ex-resident; stayed there for three years. She needed to concentrate on her finals this year, so she moved out.’

  ‘Three solid years!’ Bibi exclaimed. ‘And she’s still coming out with a first class? How did she do that?’

  ‘Some of those girls aren’t the lay-abouts you think they are,’ Michael replied gently. ‘They are very gifted, however misguided they may be.’

  Bibi couldn’t deny that Joyce had made quite an impression on her in the first few minutes they met. ‘Well, I’m sorry if I have a mindset,’ she said. ‘Joyce seems like a really nice person.’

  Michael brushed it away with a wave of his hand. ‘Today, I don’t want to
talk about Madam Ofilia, Joyce or The Hack. I just want to focus on my books... and you.’

  She narrowed her eyes and peered at him. ‘Did that naughty sister of yours squeal?’

  ‘About your crush? She didn’t need to. I caught on quite easily.’

  ‘Am I that transparent?’ she questioned, putting up a mock frown.

  He laughed. ‘Let’s just say deep calls unto deep.’

  Bibi’s frown faded and she gave a shy smile to let him know she had caught his meaning.

  ~~~~

  The message from the warden was brief and to the point: Bibi was to report to her office immediately. Mrs. Osai never summoned anyone unless they were in some sort of trouble and Bibi was nervous. She knocked on the door and entered quietly, standing with her hands behind her back.

  Mrs. Osai looked up when she entered. ‘Miss Bibi, Room A16 right?’

  Bibi nodded nervously. ‘Yes Ma.’

  ‘I understand you’ve made arrangements to leave Noble Hall.’

  Bibi squinted, looking confused. What arrangements?

  ‘There are formalities for this,’ Mrs. Osai continued. ‘I need to confirm when exactly you will be vacating the premises.’

  Bibi was lost. ‘Vacating the premises? Ma, there must be a mistake, I’m not moving out, not until the end of the school year.’

  Mrs. Osai frowned. ‘It’s not a mistake. Madam Ofilia informed me you were signing up for a space at the Villa for the remainder of the year. She sent in this notice.’

  She handed the papers to Bibi, who read them in surprise. Her signature was boldly inscribed in black ink at the bottom of the second sheet.

  ‘Ma, I didn’t sign this letter.’

  ‘You mean that’s not your signature?’ the warden queried.

  ‘It’s my signature,’ she stuttered. ‘But... I didn’t sign it.’

  Mrs. Osai looked bewildered ‘Why would she send me a letter in your name? Look, sort this out and get back to me,’ she instructed. ‘I need to know if your bed space will be available. There are others on my wait-list who need accommodation.’