The evil man and I episode 2

THE EVIL MAN AND I
(A story full of lesson)

By: Pêrspy Snazzy Tonia ❣️

Chapter Two (2)

Rita POV
It was my twelfth birthday. As it was usual with the birthday celebration of any of the kids at the orphanage, we all gathered at the field. The table was set and chairs arranged to make us sit in a circle. I had been properly dressed up as the celebrant by Big Aunty whom we all regarded as our mother. On top of the well decorated table at the center was a fanciful well baked cake, which I later learnt was donated for my birthday by a wealthy society lady who was also a president of the Young Women Christian Association of a Catholic Parish in Nasarawa. The gorgeously dressed middle-aged lady was introduced to us as Pat. She was the special guest of honor at the occasion of my birthday. She was seated on the high table with Big Aunty and other guest who had come along with Auntie Pat to the occasion. Every inmate of the orphanage was well dressed up for the occasion. There was a CD player which was superbly manned by a Disc Jockey (DJ) who had happened to be one of the guests that came with Auntie Pat. There was also another person who covered the event with a video camera. It was a joyous day for all of us at the orphanage as we danced to the music oozing out from the sophisticated juke box. There was enough to eat and drink. Still photographs were taken while I was treated like a queen. It was really my day, a day that has remained indelible in my mind. No doubt, it was Auntie Pat who sponsored my birthday party. When we all had our fill, everyone retired to the hostel but I was asked by Big Aunty to stay behind. When the rest of the children had left the scene, Big Aunty beckoned on me to come over to where she sat with the other special guests. I was given a seat next to Big Aunty. Aunty Pat was seated on her right while there were two Reverend Sisters sitting beside Auntie Pat. “Rita, I want you to formally meet Auntie Pat,” Big Aunty said.
“Welcome Auntie,” I greeted with a humble bow, the way we were taught by Big Aunty to greet elders as girls.
” Hello Rita, Congratulations once again on your birthday,” said Aunty Pat with a warm friendly handshake. The two Reverend Sisters with Auntie Pat were later introduced to me as Sister Catherine and Sister Elizabeth. They both looked nice and friendly.
“Rita, today is your twelfth birthday. You are now a grown up. Your future is what matters most to us.” Big Aunty said, shifting her gaze intermittently from me to Aunty Pat, then to the Reverend Sisters and back to me. This party is also your sent off party. We feel it is time for you to move to the convent. You need to be prepared for the future. You have been a very nice girl here and I believe you will remain so at the convent, continued Big Aunty who was now battling silently within her to keep back her tears. But her love for me, the love which we have shared as mother and child for the past twelve years in the orphanage betrayed her emotions. She broke down weeping. She held me close to her chest and swung her two hands around my neck with one hand rubbing me gently on my back. She wanted to continue with her speech but could not. She was so devastated emotionally. I did not know when I also gave in. I became an emotional wreck. I started weeping like a baby, as we clung to each other. All that Big Aunty could mutter was ” It’s okay Rita Promise me you will remain a good girl at the convent.” Without knowing what the convent was, who I was going with and what I was going to do there, I responded in utmost innocence and ignorance, “I promise, Big Aunty,” if only that would soothe the mind and nerve of the mother I had grown up to know and love…..
Life at the convent was quite different from lif at the orphanage. Unlike the orphanage, visitors to the convent was restricted, visitors were only allowed on the last Saturday of the month. That was when Auntie Pat would always come with lots of gifts items. She never gave me cash. All money including my pocket money, was deposited with the convent authorities and was only disbursed as the need arose. Auntie Pat was my God-mother. She actually sponsored me to the convent under the watchful eyes and training from sister kate and sister Liz (as we all at the convent fondly called them).
For another six years, I was at the convent with other girls. At the end of six years, I had acquired enough knowledge- both on Catholic history and doctrines, and the basic education as well. I realized that by this time, I had been as close to sister Liz who was specifically assigned to me as I was to Big Aunty ay the orphanage. Auntie Liz taught me everything a young woman of my age need to know. Sister Liz was really a nice lady. She was very open and kind. She showed me true love, the type that a mother would give to her daughter. I made my ordinary level papers in the General Certificate of Education examinations at the convent and was preparing for my Joint Admission and Matriculation Examination that would lead me to the university. It was to take another year one year for me to enter the university so I was asked to proceed to a girl’s school in the South East of the country on Conventual attachment. I was seconded to the principal of the school as her Personal Assistant.

T.B.C

Special love from your authoress 😘
Tonia Onyinye Cyprian 🌈❣️