Chapter Thirteen

Stella could see the fear in Joy's eyes. She knew it was because of worrying about what the society would say. She wasn't confident about the possibility that it would not affect her. She knew at this point, a slight comment would wake up something bad in her daughter. She prayed to the heavens to watch over her, guide her and give her the strength to endure what was coming.

Joy went to her room and locked herself up. She wasn't ready to face the villagers who had started trooping in her mother's compound wanting to see her and see how their children's role model was doing. She lay on her bed, her mind wandering around while her ears listened to what was being said outside.

Soon her mother called her. She had tried to keep her away from the people but they wouldn't leave before seeing her. On normal days, Joy would happily exchange greetings and fill the people in about what was happening in school. At other times people brought cases for her to help solve as a professional. The chief at times would delegate such duties as disputes and family issues for her to solve. Even though she wasn't a graduate she had already practiced her field of study at home and was busy helping about.

She slowly sat up from her bed as she wiped her face to remove any signs of sleep. Standing up, she came face to face with her wall mirror. She looked at her reflection. There was nothing great in her anymore. The glimmer of hope she had embraced in yester years was gone. She was gone. Just a vessel that carried breath looked back at her in mockery.

She lifted up her shirt to look at her tummy. Was it already visible? She wondered. She had a flat tummy and was the envy of other girls. But right now she wasn't sure there was anything to show or brag about. Her tummy was still flat though to the not so keen observers. She decided to change to an oversized dress to hide from any prying eyes. She forced a smile and failed terribly. Everyone will know. She thought. It was like it was written on her forehead.

When she stepped out the village women became all excited at the sight of her. Hugs and ullulations rendered the air causing panic to Joy. Her mother watched her keenly as she also faked smiles knowing her daughter was having a hard time controlling herself.

Amidst overwhelming welcome, Joy felt nauseated and ran off to throw up. The women were left confused as they exchanged confused glances. This made the sleeping observers to swing into action.

After a while, the women began to whisper to each other. Knowing looks were exchanged and soon the happy ullulations stopped as everyone began to walk away and out of the compound slowly in disappointment.

Stella knew that it was over. They already knew what was happening to her daughter.

Her fears had been confirmed.

In a matter of minutes, the compound became quite. The silence was almost too much.

Joy walked back into the house. She could feel her mother's eyes following her. She felt guilty and helpless but couldn't do anything about it. She went up to her room and once again locked the door behind her. As she sat there contemplating on what to do, she overheard her mother speaking to someone.

"Look, you don't have the right to talk about my daughter like that. So just leave us alone" came Stella's voice.

"Are you denying the fact that your daughter has been busy selling her body instead of studying?" mocked the other voice.

"Face it. Your daughter is nothing but a stupid slut," a third voice declared.

By this time, Joy was already alert. She clenched her fist and stormed out of her room and out of the house. She came face to face with two women. Pointing accusing fingers at her mother for harbouring a tramp in her house in the name of a daughter. On seeing her they stopped addressing Stella and turned to her.

"Look at you! The self proclaimed barista of all times. The supposed heroin of our village and a ridiculous role model to our daughters. Now carrying a baby from school instead of carrying degrees and certificates." she mocked.

Her name was Anna. She was a mother of three girls who had all dropped out of school to get married or to have babies.

"Who would have thought, the woman we held so high in the society would disappoint us like this. Don't you have respect to your mother?" sneered the second woman.

Her name was Jane. She was well known for ruining other people's marriages since she was old and barren.

"Funny how one points an accusing finger on the other and forgets that the other three are pointing at them," Joy retorted.

She'd had enough of the bullshit that the two women were spewing at her mother and her. She became fierce as the two women retreated to their homes. She knew that was just the beginning. The tip of the iceberg. Something big was coming and whether she liked it or not, she had to be ready and to toughen up before the people trodden her emotions.

Her mother smiled at her. The confidence she possessed was admirable and the way she tackled the two women, was something to write or rather take to the bank. All was not really lost.