Continued from last Episode
👩🦰Lily's POV 🌺
I ignored the strange bird, got to the farm land and started weeding, until the sun started coming out. The weather was very cool and I could feel the dew on my body. When the sun came out, it made the weather more pleasant for me. But I knew that when the sun gets hotter during noon time, I might begin to feel uncomfortable and will need to take some rest under the mango tree, so I decided to use the favourable weather wisely and weed as much as possible. Most places actually needed the use of the matchet for clearing which I did. I cleared a very large portion and also used my hoe to weed more.
I did not notice if other people had come to the farm. I was just deep in thought while working hard. Our village was very far away from the city, one had to cross seven other villages and six rivers before one could get to the city. I heard of the city with my ears only but had never seen it before. It seemed our country was even very far behind time according to some people at Mama Efo’s palmwine sit-out, where I go to sell the bushmeats my trap caught. Because even our city, according to my friend, Alice, whose aunt lives there, said it was not like the big cities her aunty talked about in other countries.
Now I just remember that I had set two traps inside the thick bush and I will go to check them out when I am done at the farm. My stepmother does not know that I always set traps in the bush, my late father had taught me how to set traps so I could be making small monies for myself. He also gave me the traps as a gift before his death. My late father also gave me a room in our thatch house all for myself. He gave a warning to my stepmother that nobody should drag my room with me and nobody should take my room from me. This is one of the things that gives me peace, knowing that no matter how bad the day went, I will always have a room all to myself where I can sleep peacefully and freely.
Our thatch house was unlike the normal one room thatch house, my father built four rooms in the hut, he also built a separate farm store and separate kitchen outside. That is why I always feel comfortable when I get home except for my stepmother's constant rages.
🌷Alice POV
Lily, Lily, I called out to her on reaching their farm, she was busy weeding like no man's business. My friend is a very hard worker, I thought to myself and smiled. She did not hear me. I approached the farm and tickled her waist and she jerked up in fear. I wonder why she was lost and deep in thoughts. It seemed her stepmother had started her drama again. Lily was excited to see me. She dropped her hoe and hugged me. Her eyes were sagging. I asked her why she came to the farm so early and she told me her step mother was at it again. I guessed she had not gotten any good sleep and when I asked her, she affirmed and told me she slept on their pear tree. How could one ever sleep on the branches of a pear tree and feel very comfortable. I consoled her and thought she might be hungry too. I told her I had gone to their house earlier to look for her but was told she was not around so I decided to come check her at the farm. I took the hoe from her and started helping her to weed, after which I left her at the farm promising to bring roasted yam for her to eat.
To be continued….
Writing is mine.
Images used in this post were gotten HERE