Rejoice (Triumphant’s Mother)
Triumphant (Rejoice Daughter)
Principal (MASGRAM)
Trinity is seen sitting at the dining room trying to put something down in her notebook; her food is left open and untouched. She comes in to see her food open and untouched. She walked closer and called her attention to know why she didn’t eat her food.
Rejoice: My child, why have you not eaten your food?
Triumphant: Good afternoon, mom. I am trying to do the assignment given to me at school.
Rejoice: (sitting beside her) What is the assignment all about?
Triumphant: Mum, it’s about GBV.
Rejoice: (looking lost), and what is GBV?
Triumphant: It is gender-based violence. We were asked to give a write-up on it.
Rejoice: Hummm!!! So, how far have you gone?
Triumphant: That’s the problem, mom. This topic is something that needs experience (holding her mom’s hand and looking into her eye), but I don’t have any experience with it.
Rejoice: (looking at her daughter with pity) Triumphant!
Triumphant: Yes! Mum.
Rejoice: Triumphant! I … (pause) There is something you need to know
Triumphant: What is it, mom?
Rejoice: (sighing) I have been keeping this away from you for a very long time, for good fifteen years. I kept it away from you.
Triumphant: Mum! You are getting me more confused. What happened fifteen years ago? And what did you keep away from me?
Rejoice: I kept it away from you because I love you so much and I know you will make me proud one day. (Tears roll down her eye.)
Triumphant: Mum! You are scaring me. Is it about me or what? Please tell me.
Rejoice: (cleansing her tears) I guess it’s time I let the cat out of the bag. Whatever I am going to tell you now will help you with your assignment. Please listen to me carefully, and don’t let go of any word.
Triumphant: Okay, Mum. (She draws her chair closer to her mom as her mom starts narrating her story.)
Rejoice: (clears her throat) On a very bright and fair Monday morning, I came across some students while I was going to the pharmacy to get some drugs for my father, and they started telling me that I was of age and not in school. They called me all sorts of names. I was so ashamed of myself that I ran home crying and decided to discuss going to school with my parents. I was shocked when my father kicked against it. His reason was that we are not financially stable. He turned to my mom, who was not happy with all he was saying, and said, “Trust me, I have a better plan for her”.
Triumphant: And what was the plan he had for you? Was your mom in support of this and his plan?
Rejoice: Hum! My unhappy mom did all she could, but all she got from my dad was a serious beating, and each time he beats my mom, I try to stop him, but he turns to make me the next punching bag. (cries) That night, he rapped me and threatened to kill me if I ever said anything to anybody.
Triumphant: (covering her mouth with her hands with tears rolling down her eyes) Mom!
Rejoice: (stammers) I was just ten when he did all this. It continued till one day, when he came and announced to my mom that he had finally agreed to register me in one of the schools in the next town and that she should prepare my things. I was so happy. Little did I know that my father had sold me to a prostitution agent.
Triumphant: what!!!
Rejoice: Yes! That was the school and plan my father had for me. I was silent during his constant sex with me, and seeing myself in the prostitution house was another beginning of silence, sorrow, and pain. In there I had no rest, every day, morning, afternoon, and evening, with different men on me in turns and paying to my madam. For fifteen years, I was in there. One night, I had a fight with one of my customers, who beat me to a coma. and I was dumped out, and a good Samaritan picked me up and took me to the hospital. When I woke up, I was told...
Triumphant: Please don’t tell me I am...
Rejoice: (cuts in) Please stop! It’s not what you think. I was not infected with HIV, ok? (sigh) Anyway, I was told I was pregnant with you. This brought more sadness to my heart.
Triumphant: (in tears) why?
Rejoice, because I don’t even know who your father is. (cries out). I narrated my ordeal to the doctor who was on my case, who did not waste his time calling the security agent and the office of the child maltreatment, and they were the ones who brought in the gender-based violence officers who sprung into action immediately.
Triumphant: What has now happened to your father and the prostitution agent he sold you to?
Rejoice: They were arrested and persecuted by the law. Thereafter, I was taken to a rehabilitated home, where my mental health, especially my silence, is being worked on. I was told that silence promotes GENDER BASED VIOLENCE. Truly, it was. In all, I gave birth to you and named you Triumphant, meaning victory at last.
(Light Fades)
(Triumphant is seen on the stage at school presenting her script.)
Triumphant: That is the end of my story. Others stood to applaud her; some were seen crying, while others were in a moody state. The principal stood, cleaning his eyes. I walked to meet her and hugged her.
Principal: All the contestants did well. But you will agree with me that, based on the criteria of this contest, only one entry was able to meet its requirement. Without wasting your time, the winner of this contest is ADEMUYIWA, who will represent the school at the festival.
Triumphant (her mother comes on stage to hug her and take pictures with her and the principal).
Light out.
The End.
