Echoes of Loneliness
Part 9 – True Colors Two
I saved my sister just in time. I got her out of the swimming pool. She was still okay.
Rita was laughing. She enjoyed what she did. I’ve never met someone cruel like her. She’s just beyond cruel.
Me: It’s not funny
Rita: It is, believe me
Me: You are very crazy
Rita: Is that another insult?
I kept quiet.
She looked at Warona. Warona got scared and ran off to aunt Nina.
Me: Look Rita, I am really sorry about everything
Rita: Will you insult me again?
Me: No, not at all
Rita: Do you promise?
Me: Yes
Rita: I know that you’ll always save your sister. I threw her into the swimming pool knowing that you will rescue her. You are really amazing
Me: What do you want from me?
Rita: What else can I want from you? I want money
Me: But I don’t have any money
Rita: You do, believe me
Me: Where?
Rita: On you
Me: How?
Rita: Don’t be too foolish, I get irritated easily. With you I am going to make money, that’s what I meant
Me: I don’t want to do prostitution
Rita: (Smiles) Wow, she’s so smart. She already knows what’s happening. Mhmm, not bad Wayme
She just called my name in English and put ‘y’ to it, just imagine. She’s so dramatic. What the hell is W-A-Y-M-E?
Me: My name is W-A-M-E not W-A-Y-M-E
Rita: Whatever. Can everybody go back inside, please?
They all left.
Warona did not even want to be around me because of Rita. She went away with aunt Nina.
Believe me when I say that I’ve come to trust aunt Nina even with my sister’s life. I hope that she won’t break my trust one day.
Everyone left, leaving me with Rita. But where’s Rita’s husband? He’s not here, he wasn’t even here when Rita threw my sister into the swimming pool.
Me: Rita, where’s your husband?
Rita: Child, what do you want with my husband?
Me: Nothing, I am just asking
Rita: He’s sleeping
Me: What a fool
Rita: Why are you calling my husband a fool?
Me: Sorry, I didn’t mean to
Rita: I see that you are not ready to listen to me
Me: Rita, please let my sister and I go. I won’t tell the cops about this place
Rita: The cops? Does that mean you are even thinking of telling the cops about my orphanage?
Me: No, I am not
Rita: You are lying
Me: I am not
Rita: Let me tell you something, you won’t get any chance to tell the cops about my orphanage. I won’t let you
Me: I said that I won’t say anything but please let my sister and I go
Rita: No, I will not
Me: But why?
Rita: You’ve seen a lot and you know a lot
Me: So what? I won’t say anything
Rita: Didn’t they tell you that this is a place of no return?
Me: Please trust me
Rita: (Laughs) Trust you? How?
Me: What do you mean by how?
Rita: I don’t trust you. Did you even see how my husband looks at you?
Me: Your husband?
She kept quiet.
Me: How does he look at me?
She still kept quiet.
I see, I am a threat. She is worried about her husband. She thinks that I will crack on with her husband. At least now I know her weakness. She knows that my weakness is Warona and today I got to find out that her weakness is Joseph, her husband.
Me: Won’t you say something?
Rita: You are soaking wet, go change your clothes
Me: Do you care?
Rita: I don’t care but if you catch flu, who is going to pay for your medication? Is it you or me?
Me: I don’t know
Rita: You never know anything. Just go inside
Me: Fine, I am going
Rita: And please keep your distance from my husband
Me: Do you think that I am interested in your husband? That ugly man?
Rita: What did you say?
Oh Wame, you talk too much. You’ll get punished or Warona will pay for your big mouth.
Me: I am just kidding with you, your husband is not ugly
Rita: I know, that’s why he’s my husband
Me: You are blinded by love. Your husband is ugly. His ears are very big and his nose is also big. His nose is even disgusting, it looks like number two from the toilet. My goodness, how do you kiss him? I mean his lips looks unhealthy, it’s like he doesn’t smell nice
Rita: (Screams) Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh… I am going to deal with you
She went back inside the mansion. She is such a drama queen. Did she have to scream at me? Did she also have to walk like she’s modelling? She’s really dramatic.
I went back inside and changed my clothes. I then went to the kitchen.
I found aunt Nina feeding Warona. It looks like she also changed Warona’s clothes. Once again, Warona looks happy. It’s quite clear that Warona loves aunt Nina so much. Truly speaking, I am happy when my sister is happy.
I sat down and looked at aunt Nina.
Me: Aunt, did you eat?
Nina: I’ll eat, don’t worry
Me: If I am not mistaken, you haven’t eaten since yesterday, right?
Nina: I’ll eat, let me feed Waro first
Me: I’ll feed her, don’t worry
Nina: Okay then but did you eat?
Me: I am not hungry
Nina: Are you sure?
Me: Yes, I am
Nina: Okay then. Let me prepare something to eat for myself
Me: No, I’ll prepare food for you, just sit down
Nina: Can you cook?
Me: Yes, I can
Nina: (Smiles) Really?
Me: Yeah, my mom taught me how to cook when I was still very young. I think that I was thirteen years old
Nina: Wow, that’s amazing. Your mother was a good woman, wasn’t she?
Me: Yeah, she was
Nina: She loves you so much, it’s obvious
Me: (Smiles) loved not loves
Nina: She still loves you wherever she is
Me: Do you think so?
Nina: Yes, I do
Me: Thanks
I started cooking. After cooking, I dished up for aunt Nina.
Nina: Mhmm, very delicious
Me: (Smiles) Thank you
Kate walked in. She is such a happy child.
Me: Warona, are you full?
Warona: Yes
Me: Kate baby, would you like something to eat?
Kate: No, I am fine
Me: Are you sure?
Kate: Yes. I am here to get Waro
Me: Really?
Kate: Yes
Me: Please go with Kate, Warona
Warona: Where?
Kate: We are going to my sister’s room
Warona: Okay
Nina: Bye girls
Warona: Bye mommy
Oh my goodness, did she just call aunt Nina mommy?
Me: Warona, aunt Nina is not your mother but your aunt
Nina: Hey Wame, it’s nothing serious, I mean Waro is just a child
Me: So you don’t mind being called mommy by my sister?
Nina: No, not at all
Me: (Smiles) Thanks
Kate: Waro, let’s go
Warona: Okay
Me: Bye girls
Kate: Bye, sister
Me: (Smiles) You are so sweet
They left.
Nina: They are so beautiful
Me: Very beautiful
Nina: Thanks for the food honey, you can really cook
Me: You are welcome and thanks a lot
Nina: Who served breakfast in the morning?
Me: Those other ladies
Nina: Okay, I am happy that everyone ate
Me: When is Alicia coming?
Nina: I don’t know, why?
Me: I am just curious
Nina: Well I don’t know
Me: Okay, I’ll wash the dishes now
Nina: No, leave them. The people who wash the dishes will wash them
Me: Okay. Please go to bed after eating. You must be very tired
Nina: Yes, mom
Me: (Laughs) Yes, child
I kissed her cheek and left the kitchen.
As I was passing by Rita’s office, Joseph called me in.
Me: Yes?
Joseph: Am I really ugly?
Me: What are you talking about?
Joseph: My wife told me that you said that I am ugly
Me: Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping?
Joseph: Well I was sleeping but now I am awake
Me: And where’s your wife?
Joseph: She left
Me: Where to?
Joseph: She went to our house
Me: I see
Joseph: Yes, I’ll be sleeping here tonight so don’t you want to have fun with me?
Jesus, what is wrong with the Samuels? Who bewitched them?
Me: Have fun with you?
Joseph: Yes
Me: Can I ask you something?
Joseph: Sure
Me: Do you have children?
Joseph: I don’t want to talk about that
Me: Why? What’s going on?
Joseph: Wame, please
Me: What is wrong with everyone? Did you kill your own children?
Joseph: Wame, keep quiet
Me: I am sorry. Listen, I’ll have fun with you but you’ll have to buy me a phone first
Joseph: (Smiles) Will you really have fun with me?
Me: After getting a new phone from you
Joseph: Okay fine, I’ll get you a new phone but it’s just between you and I
Me: No problem
Joseph: I’ll buy it tomorrow
Me: Then we’ll have fun tomorrow
Joseph: (Smiles) Perfect
Get me a phone, the first thing I’ll do is call the cops. I’ll never have fun with you, you are crazy.
Me: (Smiles) Joseph?
Joseph: Yes?
Me: You are really handsome, I was just lying to your wife
Joseph: (Smiles) Thank you
Me: I need another thing from you
Joseph: What is it?
Me: Please always side with me when your wife decides to be mean to me. Do you know that she threw my sister into the swimming pool today?
Joseph: She did?
Me: Yes, she did. I needed you to be there for me but you were sleeping
Joseph: I am sorry, it won’t happen again. I’ll always side with you
Me: Really?
Joseph: Yes, as long as you promise to also satisfy me
Me: (Fake Smile) I promise
Joseph: Team?
Me: Team. Let’s shake hands on that
Joseph: No, I want a hug from you
What is he now saying? Why would I want to hug him? I am feeling very uncomfortable right now but I’ll have to hug him. I think he’s the person I’ll use to take down Rita. When Rita goes down, Joseph and everyone else will also go down. This is a great opportunity, I’ll just have to grab it and never let go. Joseph won’t see what hit him.
Part 10 – All Gone Wrong
[The Next Day]
Joseph got me a phone like he said he would. Thank God, Rita arrived before Joseph could “have fun” with me. I got the phone and he got nothing in return.
I was outside with Michaela when I saw Joseph leaving in a hurry.
Me: Michaela, look. That’s Joseph
Michaela: Who died? Why is he rushing like that?
Me: I wish I knew
Michaela: Let’s go ask Rita
Me: As if she’ll tell us
Michaela: Let’s just try
Me: No, it’s fine, I’ll call him
Michaela: Call who?
Me: Joseph
Michaela: With which phone?
Me: That fool bought me a phone
Michaela: Rita?
Me: Joseph
Michaela: But how?
Me: Do you want the truth?
Michaela: Sure
Me: Okay, listen
I started telling her everything.
Michaela: (Laughs) Wow, you are so clever
Me: Do not tell anyone about the phone, please
Michaela: I won’t, I promise
Me: Let’s go inside, I want to make a call
Michaela: Sure
We went inside and bumped into Rita by the stairs.
Rita: Where are the two of you coming from?
Me: Outside
Rita: I’ve been looking for you everywhere
Me: You didn’t look for us everywhere
Michaela: That’s why you didn’t find us
Rita: Just keep quiet
Me: Why were you looking for us?
Rita: Joseph is going to be out of the country very soon so I need all of you to help me with everything I need
Michaela: Out of the country? Where is he going?
Me: Yes, where is he going?
Rita: USA
Me: For what?
Rita: It’s not your business
Me: So why did you tell us if it’s not our business?
Michaela: Exactly
Rita: Because you will have to help me with everything
Me: What is everything?
Rita: Everything is everything
Me: (Whispers) She’s so foolish
Michaela: (Whispers) You can say that again
Rita: Are the two of you saying something?
Me: No
Michaela: No
Rita: Will you help me or not?
Michaela: Do we have a choice?
Rita: No, you don’t
Michaela: Then we are going to help you
Me: Yeah, we will
Rita: Good. I am now going to my office. Michaela, you have a client in two hours time. Got that?
Michaela: Yes
Rita: Good. I don’t want to be looking for you in two hours time. The client should not wait for you, you should wait for the client in room R250
She walked away.
Me: Why did you agree to such?
Michaela: I don’t have a choice. I’d also do anything for Kate
Me: I understand so what’s room R250?
Michaela: Oh, before the client arrives, Rita always puts the price the client should pay on the door so if she tells me to go to room R250 it means that the client is going to pay R250 in return. If she asks me to go to room R300 then the client is going to pay R300. The prices goes up and up all the time, it just depends on the clients
Me: I see so how many rounds do you give them?
Michaela: It depends on the money
Me: Do they use protection?
Michaela: Yes, they do plus there’s a pill we get from Rita all the time after sleeping with the clients
Me: What’s the pill for?
Michaela: Prevention of pregnancy and diseases
Me: Is there a pill you take to prevent diseases? Is there something like that?
Michaela: Yeah. It’s an illegal pill. I don’t know where Rita gets it but she’s also selling it and out of selling it, she gets a lot of money
Me: Why does she love money so much?
Michaela: She says that money makes her powerful
Me: One day she is going to be broke
Michaela: Let’s go to your bedroom
Me: Sure
We went to my bedroom. Kate and Warona were playing in my bedroom so we asked them to go play outside.
I closed the door and sat down. Michaela sat down next to me.
Michaela: I guess you don’t have to call Joseph then
Me: Yeah but I’ll call the cops
Michaela: Sure
Me: Should I do it?
Michaela: Yes, please do so
Me: Fine
I called the cops.
Michaela: Loudspeaker please
Me: Sure
Finally someone answered the call. I said everything but I didn’t say my name.
Michaela: (Smiles) You did good
Me: Thank you
Michaela: Now switch off that phone
Me: Cool
I switched off the phone and hid it.
We went to everyone else.
Michaela: The clients will soon be here so I am leaving
Me: Where are you going? There’s still 45 minutes left
Michaela: I need to go take a shower
Me: Again?
Michaela: Yeah, the client is coming so I need to be fresh
Me: I see. Go then
Michaela: I’ll see you later
Me: No problem. Good luck
Michaela: Thanks, I need it
She left.
[One Hour Later]
Rita called all of us outside except for Michaela. She was fuming.
Rita: Who tried to ruin my life?
Nina: What happened, Rita?
Rita: (Shouts) SOMEONE CALLED THE COPS TO REPORT ME AND MY ORPHANAGE, LUCKILY THE MAN WHO ANSWERED THE PHONE HAPPENED TO BE MY FRIEND. WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IF THAT PERSON WAS NOT MY FRIEND? I COULD HAVE WENT DOWN. WHO’S GOT A PHONE?
We all kept quiet.
Rita: FINE THEN, YOU CAN ALL KEEP QUIET BUT I AM GOING TO FIND OUT. GUARDS, GO SEARCH ALL THE ROOMS AND BRING THAT PHONE TO ME. I WILL SEARCH EVERYONE
The security guards went inside and Rita started searching us one by one.
This is bad, everything is wrong now.
So Rita is also eating with the cops? How bad is this? What’s going to happen to us?
And the phone? What if they’ll find it? This is really bad. I am worried.
To be continued…