Episode 1 My mother's scars

There is not much to remember growing up with my 5 siblings. I was the first child, then my younger sister and 3 younger brothers. My dad said he named me Lola because i reminded him of his late mother. He loved me so much like i was her. But my mum.. Hmmmm.. The case was different with my mum.

Things were a bit difficult for us then. My dad was a hardworking construction worker

but he wasn't making enough to cater for us all and my mum just had a small shop in front of the house so I had to hawk after school around the area as a child right from when i was 10. I started going long distances to help with the financial situation at home. My mum was tough and hard on me. She called it home trainning but It was almost as if i disgusted her. She quickly embraced every chance she she got to beat me. My second name to her was "fat useless idiot". Yes I was really fat; as round as a basket ball. lol. And i loved to eat too but i hardly ever got enough food except at night when my dad was home. I had no play time. If I was ever caught playing I got the beating of my life. I would stay and watch other kids playing and wished I was with them. I got slapped repeatedly at the slightest provocation. Getting kicked in the back and knocked on the head was a normal everyday routine. It was so bad that I summoned courage one day to ask my Dad if she was really my Mom. If not I wanted to know who my mom was. He replied with a smile “You’re just a child. She is your mom so obey her”. He had no idea how badly I was being treated since he worked till late at night and I was too afraid to tell him the details because I feared she might kill me.

I went for my usual hawking of tomatoes one faithful evening. I heard someone call me "Mai tomato come". I turned and saw a man wearing a long black robe. He beckoned to me to come. I was scared but I needed to sell these tomatoes or else I would sleep with body pains so I went. The man asked how much and I told him. He smiled mischievously and said “innocent girl, come inside come collect your money joor”. I followed him inside the gate and the next thing I knew, I was in his room. He was looking at me still with that mischievous smile as he started loosening his belt to take his trouser off. I was terrified. I could not shout because all my childish mind could think of was “mama will kill me today”. She said I should never enter someone’s house and here I was standing in a man’s room. Fear and confusion led to tears and as he grabbed my trembling body. “Sir abeg.. Abeg” Those were the only words I could utter as he tried to force me to the bed. That was when I realized that I feared rape more than being beaten.

To be continued..