C5 CAGED

It had been four days since the gate man's incident. I sat on my bed with my legs crossed as I went through all that was taught during the week. It was Sunday and the marks on my body were beginning to clear. Grandma was so conscious of her beating that she made sure I never got marks on any exposed part of my body. All her strokes landed on my back and never at my arms.

It was Sunday and I had retired to my room immediately we got back from church to do my assignments and read my books. As I worked on my mathematics, I heard my name. I knew that tone very well. That was the tone grandma used whenever she was very angry with me. My heart began to thud violently; I could hear it loudly in my ear. What again? What did I do wrong now?

I racked my brain in search of any wrong I did but I couldn't find any.

"Beatrice!" Grandma screamed with her loud eerie voice.

I began to cry as I ran into the sitting room. She was on her usual stance; cane on her right hand and the left resting on her hip. It was a stance I had grown to hate. It traumatized me.

Immediately I came in, her eyes twitched and her nose flared. "What kind of child are you?"

I didn't respond. I couldn't respond. What had I done again?

"Musa just told me something disturbing right now."

Musa was our security guard. I wondered what he told grandma to make her this furious.

"Why don't you yield to correction? Who is Peter? Tell me, I want to know?"

My head seemed to contract and expand immediately I heard the name: Peter. Which Peter was she talking about? It couldn't be my classmate or could it? He said he'd find out? What had he done now?

"Tell me who Peter is. Start talking fast I don't have time to waste. "

"The only Peter I know is my classmate," I answered solemnly.

"Your classmate or your boyfriend? "

"No grandma! He's only my classmate. I don't even talk to him. " I protested.

Grandma threw her head back and roared into laughter. A loud scary laugh. "What does this girl take me for? Because you call me grandma, you think I am old and stupid? You forget that I was once a girl like you and I know all these tricks of yours. You better start talking now. Tell me who this Peter is. The boy that dared to come to this house."

I held my chest. I couldn't believe my ears. Peter came to my house! My God! Why? Why did this misfortune have to fall on me? What had I done to deserve this? Was this his way of finding out?

"Grandma, I swear to God. This boy is only my classmate. I don't even"

"Shut up!"

I felt it. The sharp stinging pain at my back. It hurt! It hurt really bad!

"Your classmate? You don't even talk to him? How then did he come to this house? How then did he know that I was not at home yesterday afternoon for him to come? Tell me! Why would someone you don't talk to come to your house? For what reason? Ma Suzanne, can you hear this little brat?"

Ma Suzanne maintained her regular stance: head bowed and eyes closed. I had seen this too many times.

"A boy walks to this house, knocks at the door and ask to see you and you have the guts to tell me that he's only a classmate and not our friend or even boyfriend. By the time I finish with you, you will never lie to me again. It seems you didn't learn last time. No wonder, you came late. You were talking with him. No wonder the gateman story seemed so absurd. I knew you had something under your sleeve. Thank God you have been exposed. I'll beat that Peter away from your head. Despite all my teachings and warnings, you still turned deaf ears. I can see you want to end up like your mother and I would not let that happen; not when I am alive."

She began to flog me with the cane till it broke into two. She threw the cane away and pounced on me, throwing heavy blows at me. I cried; I screamed; I pleaded to no avail. She left me rolling on the floor screaming in pain.

"No food for you today. Suzanne, hear me and hear me clear, make sure this disgusting thing doesn't taste anything today not even water. Lock the kitchen after you finish cooking and give me the keys. You will not taste anything today, not even water. Useless girl!

I rested my back on the wall as I thought of how Peter knew my house. I didn't know how long I sat there but I knew it was for a long time.

Just then, I sighted Ma Suzanne carrying a plate of food and a bottle of water. She dropped the plate in front of me and gestured for me to eat.

"Grandma is bathing. Eat this food quickly before she comes out." Ma Suzanne whispered to me.

"No, Ma Suzanne. You can't disobey Grandma's rule because of me. You might lose your job. Please, don't do this."

"Eat up, Beatrice. I can't stand you going hungry for a crime I know you didn't commit. I believe you my dear so please eat this food quickly. I know you're hungry. "

I was indeed very hungry. My belly had been rumbling since I sat on the floor. I looked at Ma Suzanne and she smiled reassuringly at me so I grabbed the plate and began to rush the food. As I ate, Ma Suzanne ran to get a broom and a parker to pick the crumbs that fell off from my plate.

"Drink some water so you don't choke."

I adhered to her advice as I took a huge drink from the bottle. I continued to rush the food and then, suddenly, I began to cough. Ma Suzanne rubbed my back gently but I didn't stop coughing. I coughed and coughed. I couldn't control myself. Ma Suzanne alarmed, picked up the plate with the Broom as she ran to the kitchen. She left the bottle of water with me but I continued to choke. Water began to flow down my eyes and nose as I coughed. I heard grandma's door open and I heard her footstep.

"What's going on here? Why are you coughing?" She bent low and began to hit my back gently

From the corner of my eyes, I could see Ma Suzanne standing by the kitchen door, looking at me with fear. Instantly I felt the urge to upchuck I tried to push it back but I couldn't. The vomit fell off my mouth and onto the floor. Grandma stood up agitated. I looked at the spill on the floor. The whole food I consumed some minutes ago was on the floor.

"Who gave you food to eat? Who dares give you food to eat?"

"I collected it myself. I was so hungry, I couldn't take it anymore. I had to go into the kitchen when Ma Suzanne was using the toilet." I tried to cover up.

"Rubbish! Suzanne! Suzanne!!"