by Maya Rossi
I dropped to my haunches to start a fire, keeping my arm pressed to my chest. But just as I lifted the first wood, Merrick walked in.
“What do you think you’re doing? Go inside, let me prepare water for your bath.”
I refused, cajoled, begged, and he wouldn’t let me work.
I stamped my foot, so angry I could scream. As he moved around the kitchen, I dogged his heels. “I better not hear from Madam, I didn’t care for you. I did everything, even if I hated it. You use firewood, your cupboard stinks, the toilet is disgusting. I had to weed the compound yesterday. Things I hate, things I’m not used to doing, I have done them. If Madam refuses to take me back because of this, or this gets to Madam Gold. I will--”
“Do what?” He took my good hand. “That’s the frustrating part, isn’t it? You can’t do anything. Go inside, lie down.”
My harsh breath gradually slowed. I cursed him and left for the bedroom. About five minutes later, he shook me awake.
“Come on.”
I turned for the kitchen, but he gently moved me to the bathroom. “Everything is in there.”
He served me. He served me. “You didn’t have to--”
“Shut up and bath.”
I didn’t, couldn’t move. “I did nothing wrong. Please don’t punish me for this tomorrow. Ask I.J, it wasn’t intentional. I didn’t want to give them the money and--”
He pushed me into the bathroom and pulled the curtains back.
Chapter fourteen
A week after my injury and Merrick still wouldn't let me lift a finger. It was the second time in my life, I would stay idle. I reached a hand towards my left cheek to trace the scar before forcefully putting my hand back in my lap. I had learned to care for the animals with I.J's help. Merrick did all the chores before leaving for the farm. But I.J let me help with the animals. We had just finished feeding them and I sat on a mat outside, waiting for Merrick's return.
"Congratulations," I.J said, wiping her hands on a tissue paper.
I tipped my head back to watch her descend the death stairs. "What?"
"Merrick plans to build a stall and repair these awful stairs. That's all you."
We had avoided talking about her odd reaction towards the robbery. But I wanted to talk now. I.J had never treated me like people treated maids so I figured we could talk freely. I played with the plaster on my arm. The street, the village, really everyone treated me normal. Why hadn't Merrick told them who I was?
"What's wrong?"
I shook my head. "Just thinking."
We sat in companionable silence while I debated whether to ask my questions. No matter how kind she was, we weren't mates. She wasn't a maid. Regardless of her natural kindness, I had to be careful. She talked, and I listened.
“That gang are a menace, they-- and the water are the only problem we have here."
"What of the guy I injured?"
"His parents paid up, and he's out," she said flatly.
I whipped my head around to stare at her in disbelief. "Without asking him questions?"
I.J looked uncomfortable. "Understand we don't have a police around here. Not yet, anyway. We have the landlords and the vigilante."
Not even a minute later, she got to her feet. "I have to go."
Long after she left, I sat back on the mat watching the clear blue sky. It wasn't a real mat. It was made from rice sack bags roughly sewn together. The surface scratched at my palms and bare legs, but I had never felt more comfortable.
The realization startled me. I truly had nothing to worry about because Merrick had me convinced I was safe with him.
The gate opened, and Merrick staggered in with a sack flung over his shoulder. Instinctively, I rose and walked over. If it was Madam or any other person, I would grab the back and carry it inside. But Merrick refused each time. So, I stood awkwardly as he lifted it off his shoulders to the ground.
After that day at the market, he stopped cleaning up before coming home. He was as dirty and grimy as it was possible for a human to be. The only light in his appearance came from his eyes.
"You didn't have to get up."
What to say to that? Something had changed between us since my injury. He even gave up the bed for me. "I want to help."
His eyes danced with laughter. "Are you up for going to the market again?"
I laughed. "Maybe."
Maybe he realized it too. That laughing wasn't something I did often because his eyes grew warm on my face. It got kind of weird. He pointed at the bag. "I still have more."
"OK."
I got food ready. On impulse, I brought it outside to the mat. When Merrick was done putting away the yams, he had a quick bath and joined me.
I waited until he had taken two bites out of the rice and beans the women left before I spoke. "They released that boy."
His eyes sharpened. "I know."
I cleared my throat. “Who’s that going to benefit?"
He barked a sharp laugh and drank from the bottle of water. I eyed the cup and looked away. With a wide smile, he said, "You can say it."
"It's disrespectful."
He rolled his eyes and muttered something in between mouthfuls. "I wasn't on board with the idea but there was nothing I could do."
"Who did it?"
"The security guys."
"And the boy's family paid?"
"The community needs the money. You've seen our roads. It's that kind of jungle justice here." At my look of amazement, he sighed. "It's how it is. The settlement is new. We're under the radar of the government."
We lapsed into silence. The silence wasn't awkward, just smooth like he was someone I had known for some time. A tiny bird flew past the poultry, and the birds suddenly stopped chattering. I was so used to their sounds, I never noticed.
"I need to build a fence to keep that damn bird away. I need to build so many things. I need cash, dammit," he muttered.
"What of the money from Oga?" I blurted.
I stiffened, cowering in fear for his reaction. He just gave me a level stare and returned to his food.
"I'm sor--"
"I'm trying to pay him back monthly, that's why everything is so… difficult."
That surprised me, and I didn't know why. "Then what was the beating for?"
"I'm his son," he said in a voice heavily laced with irony.
Despite the unfairness of Oga’s actions, I couldn’t say anything. My father was much worse.
"Those boys will return," I said in warning.
“They plan to post the vigilantes to the market on market days to protect the women." He gulped half the bottle. Again, I eyed the cup. "Are you afraid to go back?" he asked.
I shook my head.
“Afraid of me?”
“No, never. Why do you ask?”
"But you cower every time I raise my voice. Why?"
"You're Madam's son," I muttered.
“But faced an armed criminal. Let me see, he’s not so dangerous because he's not Madam’s son.”
He sat back, leaning with his hands behind him. Merrick ate each food like it was his last. It was odd because he grew up with money while I didn't. Now the rush hour was over, and he could relax. I checked the plate. He was halfway through.
"You won't eat?"
I hesitated. I had broken so many rules already. "No."
"I know you don't like your food, which is totally the best thing I've ever eaten. So why?"
"B-b-because…" I trailed off, unable to complete my reply.
"I am Madam's son," he finished knowingly. If he disapproved or approved of my diligence, he didn't say. He drank water straight from the bottle again and sighed in satisfaction. "It taste different… sweeter from the bottle."
Even I couldn't let that go. "It isn't true."
"It is true."
"Not true."
We went back and forth like children until he stopped. He sat up, pulling one knee back. "She called."
"Who?" I tipped my head back, m
y hair fell to my back, letting the slight breeze breathe through the strands. I needed to make it, but I didn't care to.
"Mom… Madam."
I shot up like a lightning bolt, eyes wide. "How's she?"
"You really like her?" His surprise made me shy.
"I love her."
"Huhuh."
"What does that mean?" I asked.
He shook his head. "That's not the question you want to ask and we both know it."
I turned away from his sparkling eyes and faced the animals. "What did you tell her?"
"The truth."
I stiffened. Hoarsely, I asked, "What truth?"
"You've been amazing, a big help. Do you want to talk to her yourself?"
I forced myself to meet his eyes, saw the confusion, exasperation and pity there. Madam or Oga or Benita would have slapped the senses out of my head at my insolence. "No." But I desperately wanted to say yes.
A corner of his mouth twitched. "You mean yes."
I dropped my eyes. Pointedly ignoring his laughter, I took the spoon and ate.
"Who is Madam Gold?"
The question threw me. The spoon clattered onto the plate as I dropped it. "What are you talking about?"
"You mentioned a Madam Gold."
I shook my head adamantly. While it was true she saved us, Madam Gold existed in the shadows. Her name didn't belong on the lips of people like Merrick or even Madam. "No, it must have been a mistake."
Merrick yawned. "Let me take the bed before you're ready, alright?"
When the night came, I locked the gate. I checked the animals for one last time and went inside. I marveled at his trust. Just a week and few days and he trusted me with his money and his gate? He was also nothing like his father. We shared a bedroom and a bathroom, and I had never felt uncomfortable. Far before daylight, before my waking time of four, he was out.
Since I had nothing to do, I would return to sleep. These days I slept long into the morning until seven when I fed the birds.
"I better not get used to it," I muttered.
After my bath, I checked the dressing of my injury. It was healing nicely. Merrick was stretched out on the bed. So I grabbed the mat and spread it some distance from bed. I slept immediately. Another surprise.
I rose before him and started breakfast going. By the time he woke and dressed for another day on the farm, I had breakfast packed.
Merrick glanced at the lunch park with a strange expression. "Where did you get that plate?"
"I.J."
“You woke before to prepare my food?”I cleaned off a bit of oil from the side of the bag. “It’s my job.”He made a sound like I hurt him.“What?”faceHe swallowed and ran a hand down the side of his . “Don't fucking do it again. I love your food but I swear I’ll throw it out if you deprive yourself of sleep for me because it's your fucking job.“I moved on automaton, shocked by the force of his attack. Why else would I wake before four in the fucking morning to cook? I poured water on the fire and went back to bed, punching the mattress angrily. When I woke the second time, I found the bag. More clothes, underwears, tights, and pads. Of the best quality.
"He shouldn't spend so much on me," I complained to I.J later.
It was my first time in her home. It was a simple two-bedroom flat. Small, cute and well cared for. I loved small buildings. It held a kind of charm and simplicity for me.
"Please, enjoy it." She moved the food around on her plate. "While we talk feminism, there's nothing as satisfying as spending a man's money."
My eyes darted to the living room and down the hall. "Is your son around?"
Her eyes went wide, and she turned pale. Her new hair, too tight braids I.J had been threatening to remove because life's too short to suffer over hair, stood out like big snakes. Her spoon dropped to her plate.
"What?"
I spread my hands. "You're jumpy, acting scared. What's going on?"
She closed her eyes, then her shoulders shook as sobs tore through her frame. I jumped from my seat and ran to her side of the dining room. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry."
She sniffed. "I know… it's just…. I can't talk about it."
"What then? You can talk to me."
She drew back quickly. "But you don't trust me enough to talk, it goes both ways."
I chewed my lip. "I'll try."
"I haven't been the same since… that day," she ended in a thick whisper.
I hugged her sideways. "It's over. They killed the boy, remember?"'
She nodded hastily. "I know here," she pointed at her head, "but deep inside, that's another story."
"Maybe you need a break, something to remind your life can be good?"
She nodded, wiping tears off her cheeks. "You're right. Not that there's anything to do here."
We talked about lighter matters, gossiping and giggling like little girls. She talked about the neighbors, a little about Merrick and herself. I learned there was a school, a school the size of my bedroom, I.J said. I learned Merrick had four farms of around one acre each. He started with one, then bought more.
I.J continued to push the food around her plate. From my estimation, she was still to take a full spoonful.
Towards the end of the meal, the front door opened and I.J jumped to her feet. A small, slender boy of sixteen, seventeen saw us and smiled widely. He walked over and bowed, greeting respectfully. With his dimples and very dark skin like Merrick’s, he was adorable. I smiled back.
I.J looked relieved. "This is Tom."
Tom gave his mom a mock scowl. He looked so disgruntled. "Short for Thompson."
"You hated Thompson when you were younger," she chided.
"But it's so coool." He laughed.
"How was football?" she asked. At his nod, she shook her head. "You need to tone down the football and tone up the reading."
He nodded. "I know. I will do that." He smiled at me. "Is this Uncle Merrick's girlfriend?"
I.J shooed him off to the hallway and what I guessed to be the bedrooms. "None of your business."
The warmth between mother and son was so beautiful to watch. It was a painful reminder mom could never be that way with To.
"I need to go prepare for the market. You didn't eat at all."
I.J squirmed. "I need to watch my weight. Besides, you could have eaten with me."
I ate with Merrick maybe I could try with I.J. "Some other time."
There were no surprises at the market that day. I sold every single thing I brought to the market and ran home to get the last sack. Since all the market women had become my friends, Ma Ebube insisted her son would help me carry the sack.
When I counted the profits, I wanted to pinch myself. Merrick would be so pleased. His eyes would dance and his shoulders would rise from the slouch they had been in lately from thinking about his debts.
Why I still wanted to make him happy, I had no idea. When he returned, I held out the bag of stuffs he got me. “Why did you buy me things?”
He propped his hands on his waist. “Because I wanted to, because you love new things, because you’ll like them, because it will make you happy. Not because it’s my fucking job.”
We stared at each other for a long minute. I dropped my eyes. His words lit a fire inside me and I didn’t know how to respond. "Thanks?”
He scoffed and made to leave.
“Merrick?”
“Yeah?” he returned, eyebrows raised impatiently.
“Did you throw my food away?”
A slow smile spread over his face. “No.”
A corner of his lips twitched. “How long did you stew and boil over this?”
“All day,” I grumbled.
“Good,” he intoned with deep satisfaction.
When I gave him the money, he pumped his fists and shouted in triumph. He caught my hand. "Come on, we must celebrate."
"No, no, we don't have to, I mean…"
As I trailed off, he arched an eyebrow. "What's stopping you? Come on, I mig
ht drag I.J along if that will make you more comfortable."
And that was how I began preparing for a date with Merrick. And I.J.
Chapter fifteen
The ’club’ was just a shack. Not that I had been to an actual club in the city, but the shack was just six wooden pillars, a sanded floor and a roof. Add the speakers and the music and Ipaja had themselves a club.