INTRODUCTION
This is the story of a beautiful young African girl Ebele and her journey through childhood and poverty. We shall see how she deals with the cards life has played her….
This story is set in Nigeria and primarily draws attention to the twin plagues of child abuse and child trafficking, with the objective of identifying the root causes of these hydra headed monsters in our society. Poverty has been opined to be a primary factor. Like the protagonist in the story (Ebele), a lot of children especially young girls are sent away from their homes at very tender ages, to serve as maids to wealthy families. Many of these girls end up becoming sex toys to their masters and sometimes the young sons in the family. This problem is quite common but rarely gets reported. The victims have no one to turn to, they are scared. Some of them run away and usually end up in the streets, a case of jumping from frying pan to fire; many end up as prostitutes, drug addicts, and criminals; most end up dead.
One deadly form of child trafficking is the alleged running of baby farms as exemplified by madam Dorcas; where babies are bred for sale to the highest bidder; usually to desperate childless couples or ritualists.
Lastly this story touches on the issue of childlessness in marriages; the desperation and societal pressure that will and usually pushes a woman into acts nobody can conceive of.
I sincerely hope this story will touch someone, especially those in authority to rise up and face the challenge. Let this be a call to battle, lets save our girl child; for she is the mother of the nation!
Oma Didi
SCENE I
Village setting. Mama Ebele is busy cooking with firewood in her backyard. Her children Uloma (14 yrs), Oduche (10 yrs) and Amaka (8 yrs) are gathered in one corner, breaking and eating palm kennels. The kids are all raggedly dressed. From the surroundings, it is obvious that this family is living in abject poverty.
Mama Ebele (tastes the soup from the candle and nods in satisfaction): Uloma!
Uloma (chewing palm kennel): ma?
Mama Ebele: this soup is almost done; go and fill the other pot with water and bring it here for garri.
Uloma: yes ma (she leaves and returns with a pot of water which she places near her mother and goes back to her siblings.
(Mama Ebele lifts the pot of soup from the fire and puts the water for garri on the fire).
Mama Ebele: Uloma go and bring the garri.
(Uloma goes into the house once more and returns with a small quantity of garri in a basin. The garri is obviously too small).
Mama Ebele’s that the only garri in the house?
Uloma: yes ma
Mama Ebele (sighing): well we have to manage it, tomorrow morning I must harvest my cassava and fry garri.i just hope there will be enough to sell as well feed us.
Oduche: but mama why must you sell the garri? We don’t even have enough to eat!
Mama Ebele (sadly): my son, if I don’t sell my garri, how will I get money for your school fees? And other things we need?
Oduche: ask God for money mama, our teacher said that God can give us anything we pray for.
Mama Ebele: that’s true my son, but sometimes not immediately.
FADE OUT
SCENE 2
Front of mama Ebele’s home; Monica is at the front door knocking and trying to attract the attention of the residents.
Monica: kpom kpom kpom, is anybody at home?
(Ebele is seen coming home with a big bucket of water on her head. She reaches the verandah just as Monica is knocking again).
Ebele: good evening ma.
Monica: good evening dear, where is your mother? (Helps ebele to lift the bucket of water from her head and place on the floor)
Ebele: thank you ma, mother must be at the backyard cooking.wait, let me go and tell her that you are here. (She goes inside) mama! mama!
Camera cuts to the backyard where mama ebele and the children are now eating. The three kids are sitting on a raffia mat, eating from the same plate, while their mother is sitted on a bench near them; eating alone. The soup is watery egusi and while the children’s’ soup contains one tiny piece of fish; mama Ebele’s soup contains neither meat nor fish. The eba in both plates is tiny.ebele comes out to the backyard from the back door.
Ebele: mama! You have a visitor
Mama Ebele: who?
Ebele: one aunty like that, she looks like someone from the township.
Mama Ebele: really? Why didn’t you bring her in? Oya, go and bring her!
Ebele runs off and returns. Meanwhile her mother washes her hand and is wiping them on her wrapper as ebele returns with Monica.
Monica: mama ebele! Is this you? (The two women embrace)
Mama Ebele: Monica my old friend! Long time no see, look at you. You are quite prosperous indeed! Please sit down (indicating the bench)
Monica: why don’t we go to the front verandah? It’s quite breezy there.
Mama Ebele: ok (turns to ebele) ebele your food is in the cupboard. You Oduche, you can have the rest of my food.
Oduche: thank ma (rushes to grab the food)
Mama ebele carries the bench she was sitting on and followed by Monica, walks back through the house to the frontyard.camera pans the sitting room after they pass; it is a poor man’s sitting room…shabby and sparsely furnished.
FADE OUT
SCENE 3
The two ladies are sitting on the bench in the front verandah. Mama Ebele is dressed in threadbare blouse and wrapper; with her hair made in the local style. Madam Monica is well dressed in smartly sewn Ankara skirt and blouse with nice shoes, handbag and bold costume jewellery.
Mama Ebele: mmm, Monica my old friend, life has indeed been good to you. Look at you….a big city lady!
Monica: I thank god o, if I hadn’t left for the city to live with my aunt; who knows what would have happened? Probably I would still be in the village now shelling melon from morning till night and aging beyond my years!
Mama Ebele: look at me now, my sister; married off to the village carpenter at 16 yrs, widowed after 16 yrs of marriage and alone now with four children to raise. Anyway let’s talk about you, how is life in the city? I heard you married a business man from Nnewi?
Monica: yes, you remember how my aunt who lives in Lagos came to take me to Lagos?
Mama Ebele: yes
Monica: I became housemaid to her family, they sent me to learn typing and eventually I left them to work in a business centre. It was there I met and married Obinna my husband. We have two kids and things are moving fine.infact I met mazi Okolo your cousin the other day when he came to buy roofing sheets from my husband’s shop.
Mama Ebele: eh? Mazi Okolo from the next compound? (Pointing)
Monica: yes.it was him that told me your husband died and that things are hard for you and your children.
Mama Ebele (voice breaking): my sister, I don’t know what I have done to deserve this kind of life, why god has chosen to ….
Monica :( interrupting) hush! Don’t blame God, he has his reasons, and that brings me to the reason for my visit. I want to take your daughter ebele to the city with me. A friend of mine needs a housemaid to take care of her home.
Mama Ebele: mmm? Who is this friend of yours?
Monica: her name is Clara Johnson, she is married to Chief Raymond Johnson; a big construction contractor and they have 3 children; a boy and 2 girls. Clara is into Dubai runs.
Mama Ebele: Dubai runs? Which one is that?
Monica :( laughs) village bumpkin! It means she travels to Dubai, London, Italy, you know? Big oyibo cities; to buy goods which she sells in Nigeria. So she is very busy and needs a maid.
Mama Ebele: but ebele is my eldest surviving daughter, if she goes who will take care of her younger ones when I go to the farm? My other girl is just 12 and not as level headed as ebele.
Monica :( firmly) those your children are big enough to go to the farm with you and help. I am just trying to ease your burden o! But if you don’t want, no problem (rises) am going o!
Mama Ebele :( hurriedly) please sit, let’s discuss this further… (Monica sits)
FADE OUT
SCENE 4
The Udede’s sitting room on a Saturday morning. The whole family is gathered including Ebele’s siblings. Madam Monica is also there. She has come to take ebele, who is silently crying.
Mama Ebele (in a sad voice):don’t cry ebele, don’t you want to go to the city?
Ebele (sniffling) no I don’t want to go, mama! Please don’t send me away please!
Douche and Amaka (crying) mama don’t send ebele away!
Mama Ebele: children, children! Stop crying.ebele is going to the big city to attend school and become a big city girl. Don’t you want her to become a city lady and buy you nice clothes when she comes back?
Amaka: will she buy bread for us?
Monica (laughing) of course!
Oduche: will she buy motorcar for me?
Monica: yes dear, she will buy everything you want
The two little kids are cheered by this and their crying stops.
Mama Ebele (turning to Monica): you said they’ll send her to school, didn’t you?
Monica: of course, the Johnsons will enroll her in a nice school in the city.
Mama Ebele: in that case, come my daughter let me pray for you.
(Ebele goes and kneels in front of her mother).
Mama Ebele: almighty God, you are the alpha and omega. You are the omniscient and you know that I have no choice but to send my innocent daughter into the city. Father protect her and guide her. Keep the devourer away from her, and when she is coming back home, let her come back with a testimony and thanksgiving. In Jesus name I pray.
All: amen!
Mama Ebele (to ebele): nne get up and bring your luggage.
Ebele goes into the room and returns with a pitiful looking Bagco cement bag. As she is about to leave with Monica, her mother stops them.
Mama Ebele: wait (she goes into the room and returns with a small paper wrapped package which she gives to ebele.
Mama Ebele: this is akara, in case you get hungry on the way.
Ebele:thank you mama, bye bye(she goes and hugs her siblings starting from the biggest to the smallest one. when she gets to Amaka,the little girl clings to her, crying and refusing to let go. mama ebele has to firmly take her from Ebele’s arm and hold her to herself, with Amaka crying pitifully all the while.
Monica: we must leave now; the city is a long way.
Mama Ebele: God be with you, journey mercies.
Monica takes Ebele’s hand and leads her out the front door .all Ebele’s siblings start crying loudly at the same time. Camera zooms in on mama Ebele’s face as she looks profoundly sad, though dry eyed.
FADE OUT
SCENE 5
(LAGOS; THE JOHNSONS’ HOME)
In a plush sitting room in a highbrow part of Lagos, Monica is sitting on a sofa with ebele sitting beside her, clutching a Tattered Bagco cement bag,. She is obviously dazed by her surroundings and is gazing around wide eyed at the expansive furnishings. camera following her gaze, zooms in on one piece of furniture after another.mrs Clara Johnson walks in. she is dressed in very expensive looking boubou,jewellery and slippers(talking as she walks towards Monica)
Clara: Monica my dear! Sorry for keeping you waiting was having my bath.
Monica: its ok dear (standing up and embracing her) this is the girl I told you about, her name is ebele (hearing her name ebele stands up and curtsies to Clara and remains standing)
Clara: mmm, I thought you said she was fifteen? This one looks quite mature to me.
Monica: she’s fifteen, just well developed for her age but she’s a good girl, very hardworking.
Clara: that’s good, you have saved me my dear friend(to ebele who is still standing)sit down my dear(she sits)so what can I get you?drink?food?
Monica: nothing, I must run, I have to go the market (turning to ebele) ebele, and this is your new madam from now on. Take her like your mother. Obey and respect her, do you hear?
Ebele: yes aunty
Monica (to Clara) I am going Clara, take care of Ebele, she is my relative’s daughter please o!
Clara :( laughing) of course, I’ll take care of her. Let me walk you to the door.
(They both leave, leaving Ebele looking bemused and still clutching her luggage)
FADE OUT
SCENE 6
The Johnson’s at dinner.mr Raymond Johnson is sitting at the head of the table. he is a dark beef with pot belly, Clara Johnson is sitting at the tail of the table with their 2 daughters Lillian and Sarah sitting one side and the son randy sitting opposte.the girls are typical spoilt brats in their late teens, Randy is slightly older about 22 yrs and in his third year in the university, lilian is in year 2 while Sarah is still taking JAMB. They are all eating rice and chicken.
Clara: how is the food honey?
Raymond: delicious darling
Sarah: is there no salad mum?
Clara :( tapping her forehead in exasperation) oh my God, I was so busy thinking about my debtors that I completely forgot! Ebele! Ebele!
(From the kitchen)
Ebele: madam!
Clara: bring the salad from thefridge, will you?
Ebele: yes madam!
She carries the salad bowl in, as she places it on the table, camera captures Raymond and randy Johnson’s’ faces as they ogle her chest ,camera zooms in on her boobs.as she turns and walks back to the kitchen, camera captures her backside, then pans to the males with lascivious expressions on their faces. Randy resumes eating with a thoughtful expression. Raymond comes back to himself with a jerk. The girls and Clara are oblivious and are busy with their food.
FADE OUT
SCENE 7
Raymond Johnson is in his office doing some work with his laptop. His secretary Sophie enters with some documents for him to sign. She’s a pretty girl dressed in a long sleeved shirt which is tucked into a tight black skirt, emphasizing her shapely backside.
Sophie: sir, the engineer’s invoice is here, accountant needs your signature before he can pay.
Raymond: drop it; I’ll look at it later.
Sophie drops the invoice, turns and starts walking out. Raymond looks up from his laptop, focuss on her ass and licks his lips
Raymon: em, come come Sophie (she comes back and stands in front of his table)
Sophie: sir?
Raymond: ehe, you say this invoice is from the engineer eh? Come this way pls (gestures for her to come around the table, she does so reluctantly)
Sophie: yes sir, it’s from the engineer
Raymond (fondling her ass, she pushes his hands away) mmm.m I see, very nice ass….I mean invoice. So do you think it’s in order?
Sophie: the accountant thinks so, that’s why he sent it up for your signature(pushing away his hands which have crawled back to her ass,she moves away from him and stands in front of his table)will that be all sir?
Raymond: em, yes, yes
Sophie walks away with an angry look on her face, Raymond gazes after her with lust, licking his lips…
(FADE OUT)
SCENE 8
Ebele is asleep in her room at night, Raymond comes in and starts fondling her, she tries to screams but he covers her mouth with his hands threatens to kill her,she calms down out of fear and he has his way, then leaves. As she is crying, Randy comes in asks her why she is crying, she refuses to talk. He holds her, comforts her, and then rapes her.
Next morning at breakfast at ebele is dull and red eyed as she serves them; moving sluggishly because she is in pains.
Sarah: are you all right ebele? You look sick
Ebele: am fine aunty Sarah
Lilian: go and get me vanilla yoghurt from the fridge and move sharp!
Ebele goes, brings the yoghurt and serves Lillian
Lilian: why are your eyes red and swollen like that? I hope you don’t have Apollo?(in an aggressive tone )don’t bring Apollo to this house o!
Ebele don’t have Apollo aunty Lillian
Lilian: then why are your eyes red?
Raymond: leave the girl alone! If she says she is fine then she is fine. Can I eat my breakfast in peace? Please!
Clara: you can go back to the kitchen and have your breakfast ebele.
Ebele goes back to the kitchen where she eats her breakfast while sitting on a small kitchen stool.
Randy: I’m going back to campus this morning dad, remember?
Sarah: I don’t even see why you still go back to the hostel, it’s like you are always home.
Lilian: yes it’s true Randy. Nowadays you spend so much time at home; you might as well be going to class from here like me. No need wasting daddy’s money on hostel fee.
Randy: busybodies, mind your business please!
Raymond: don’t mind them son. It’s always good to have you around.anyway I don’t have much cash at home, so on your way to campus, and stop at the office so I can give you your pocket money.
Randy: ok, dad
FADE OUT
SCENE 9
Raymond Johnson’s office. Sophie is sitting on her desk; making notes on a folder. A young of about sixteen comes in. she’s dressed indecently; short tight mini skirt with a skimpy top showing her belly. She stops in front of Sophie.
Sophie: goodmorning, how may I help you?
Jumoke want to see Raymond
Sophie: sorry, which Raymond would that be?
Jumoke (saucily) Raymond Johnson, how many Raymonds do you have in this office?
Sophie (calmly): do you have an appointment pls?
Instead of responding, jumoke whips out her mobile phone and dials Raymond’s number.
Jumoke: hi Raymond, I’m your reception, your secretary is giving me stress
She listens a bit then hands over the phone to Sophie
Jumoke: he wants to talk to you
Sophie (listening): yes sir (gives the phone back to Jumoke) you can go in
Cut to Raymond’s office, he’s sitting at his desk with a grin on his face as Jumoke walks in. she goes straight to him and sits on his lap. He starts to fondle her breasts through the blouse.
Raymond: how are you my darling?
Jumoke: I’m fine; I decided to skip extra mural class today to see you. Raymond (grinning lasciviously) good decision, my darling. Good decision. I will personally handle your extra mural class myself today, in this office (winks at her)
Jumoke (winking back) ok Mr. Lecturer, what will you be teaching me? Physics or chemistry?
Raymond: no my dear, today you’ll be learning biology, very important subject I tell you!
Jumoke: really? And what is today’s topic?
Raymond: today’s topic is reproduction, but first… (Lays a finger across his lips, then lifts the intercom)
Raymond: Sophie, I don’t want to be disturbed for the next I hour, absolutely no disturbance; is that understood? Good! (Drops the receiver)
Jumoke (gets up from his lap and stands facing him, arms akimbo. in a sexy voice she asks) so lecturer, where do will you start?
Raymond (goes to the door and turns the key, removing his belt as he walks back to Jumoke) today I’m going to show you a very special part of the male anatomy, and its uses! (As he unzips and pulls down his trousers)
FADE OUT
SCENE 10
Lillian Johnson’s bedroom. She’s sitting up in bed browsing on her laptop. There’s a knock on the door.
Lilian: come in Ebele comes in carrying a tray containing a plate of Jollof rice and chicken, with a bottle of water and a glass. She places this on the side stool besides Lillian’s bed.
Ebele: aunty lilian, I’ve brought the food from ‘Mr. Crunches’.s
Lillian (scornfully) it took you long enough, almost 1 hour to buy food from an eatery down the road!
Ebele: sorry aunty, there was a lot of people, I had to wait my turn
Lillian puts the laptop aside and swings her feet unto the rug, preparatory to eating.ebele is standing to one side awaiting further instructions.
Lillian (uncovering the food) what the hell is this? Where is my salad?
Ebele: they didn’t have salad aunty
Lilian: oh they didn’t have salad eh? And what do you call this? (Poking at the rice with the fork), does this look like fried rice to you? Eh ebele?
Ebele: they didn’t have fried rice aunty so I bought Jollof.
Lilian: why didn’t you go to another eatery? You stupid idiot, come on carry this rubbish away (she lifts the plate of food and flings it at ebele, then leaves the room in anger.ebele starts clearing the mess)
FADE OUT
SCENE 11
12.45pm, whole house is asleep camera moves from Lillian’s room to Sarah’s room upstairs to ebele’s room downtairs.they are all asleep. Clara Johnson is in a romantic mood, she puts on a sexy nightgown, waiting for her husband, finally she walks down to the living room where Raymond is ‘busy’ at the dining table with lots of folders open in front of him, he is apparently neck deep in work.
Clara: darling, why don’t you come to bed, it’s almost 1.00am
Raymond: so sorry dear, but I need these documents for an important meeting tomorrow, so no sleep for me till I’m through with them.
Clara :( seductively) why don’t you come up and send me to sleep, then you can come down and finish your paperwork? (She starts to caress him)
Raymond :( pushing her away) woman are you deaf? I said I’m busy. Now go to bed and let me work!
Clara :( rebuffed) ok, goodnight (leaves angrily)
Raymond continues ‘working’ for a few more minutes, then tiptoes upstairs to the masterbedroom,looks in on his wife; confirms that she is asleep then climbs downstairs again and goes to ebele’s room. He starts fondling her, she wakes and starts’ pleading with him to leave her alone.he sharply rebukes her.
Ebele: please sir, no sir, and stop this sir.i begs you in God’s name, stop….
Raymond: shut up! Stupid girl (slaps her) you should feel honored that someone like me wants to taste your ‘oranges’, stead of crying and resisting (he tears her clothes and forcefully mounts her)….
FADE OUT
SCENE 12
The Johnsons’ gate. The gateman Jonathan is standing in front of the security house with a chewing stick in mouth.ekaete opens the pedestrian gate and enters. As soon as he sees her, Jonathan adjusts his clothes and strikes a better pose, with love shining in his eyes.
Ekaete: good afternoon Jonathan, ebele dey house?
Jonathan: Ekaete my love, psychedelic Ekaete! How are you?
Ekaete dey fine
Jonathan: Ekaete why you dey do me so na? Eh my love, wetin I do you?
Ekaete: who be your rove? Wetin dat wan come mean na?
Jonathan: you know say I love you Ekaete, make you gree my own na?
Ekaete (laughing derisively): you? Wetin I wan take you do?
Jonathan: you dey underrate me abi? No mind this gateman work wey I dey do o.na just becos I wan get civil service experience. I get big shade for aria aria market, in case you no know!
Ekaete: Na so? How man wey get shop for ariaria go sidon here dey do gateman work?
Jonathan: Na my papa bin get the shop before e die. As he don die since two months ago, na me wey suppose inherit the shop; sake of say I be first son. My brother just dey manage the business for now.
Ekaete (softening) so you be bigman to be, eh Jonathan?
Jonathan: yes now, a whole big man in waiting, aka temporary civil servant wan marry you; you dey do shakara!
Ekaete (in a softer voice) I neva know say you dey serious na, no vex you hear?
Jonathan: why I no go vex, the oda dey I see you for junction with Okafor the okadaman.na becos of okada you dey follow am, abi? Very soon I go buy big motor.
Ekaeta: No be like dat, dat day I just de beg am make him carry me go jegede junction.
Jonathan: carry you go Jegede junction, nah in you just dey laugh wit am, dey rub am bodi anyhow.
Ekaete: no be so Jonathan!
Jonathan: anyway, shebi you go gree my own? I love you well well o
Ekaete: no worry yaself, give me small time to consider. I wan go see Ekaete abeg, shebi she dey?
Jonathan: she dey, no only her dey house
Ekaete: mek I go, we go see after (she walks away with Jonathan gazing after her in admiration.
FADE OUT
SCENE 13
Same afternoon.Ebele is at the backyard washing a big heap of clothes. Her friend Ekaete is helping her.
Ebele: thank you for your help Ekaete don’t know how I would have washed all these clothes alone.
Ekaette: no wahala, Na who get all dese clothes self?
Ebele; Na aunty Lillian and Aunty Sarah
Ekaette: why they no fit wash dem own clothes self? Dem be pikins? No be Sarah wey I see for junction dey do love in Tokyo with dat useless boy wey im papa dey drive pathfinder?
(As Ekaete was talking, Randy drives in and parks his car, then walks up to them)
Ebele: welcome brother randy
Ekaette: welcome bros
Randy: how are you? Are you not the maid from the next block?
Ekaette: yessir, I be sir
(Randy walks into the house and comes out again after a few minutes)
Randy; where is everybody ebele? The house is so empty and quiet.
Ebele: oga and madam went for a wedding, aunty Lillian went to do her hair and Aunty Sarah said she was going to her friend’s house.
Randy: mmmmm I see (to Ekaete) you! Don’t you have anything to do? Why are you distracting ebele from her work? Oya, run along and let her concentrate.
Ekaette: yes sir (she leaves)
Randy: men, I was bored on campus and decided to come spend some days at home. Go to the car and take my suitcase to my bedroom, change the bed sheets too (tosses his keys to ebele and goes back into the house)
(ebele sighs heavily and drops her head on her hands for some seconds, then gets up and goes to Randy’s car. she picks up his suitcase and books and takes them to his room; when she gets to his door she knocks)
Randy: come right in!
As she opens the door and steps in, he appears suddenly behind her with a towel tied round his waist and locks the door.
Ebele: no, bros randy, no please!
Randy: shut up before I slap you (still holding her, he drags her to his bedside drawer and pulls out a small pistol (she freezes)
Randy: what is this? I asked what this is.
Ebele :( in a scared whisper) a gun
Randy: do you remember what I told you? (Ebele nods in fear), just to remind you; if you ever open your mouth, I’ll kill you (menacingly) do you understand?
Ebele: yes, bros randy
Randy: good girl (puts the gun back and shuts the drawer. He climbs into the bed) now remove your clothes and come give me some sugar.
(Ebele slowly begins to undress, looking very miserable)
FADE OUT
SCENE 14
(1 YR LATER)
Clara Johnson is driving home from the tailor’s.lilian is beside her in the passenger’s seat.
Clara: I hope that tailor finishes in time, morenike will be mad if I show up for her daughter’s wedding not wearing the aso-ebi.
Lilian: but mum, why didn’t you give it to the tailor in time? It’s just five days to the wedding.
Clara: have you forgotten I just returned from London? You know I’ve been away for the past three weeks.
Lilian: it’s true mum, anyway there’s something I’ve wanted to discuss with you.
Clara: what is it dear? Do you have a suitor? Should we start planning your own wedding?
Lillian :( laughs) oh stop it mum! Em have you taken a close look at ebele recently?
Clara: what do you mean? What are you trying to say?
Lillian’s think she is pregnant.
Clara: what?
Cut to Johnson’s living room, ebele is standing in front of Clara and lilian, crying…
Clara: I say who is responsible?
Ebele don’t know
Clara: what do you mean you don’t know? Ewo! So you turned my house into a brothel, eh? How many men did you bring in here to sleep with? Eh, ebele? (Lillian hisses with disgust)
Ebele: em em em (Clara gets up and slaps her)
Clara :( raising her voice) I say who got you pregnant you ebele? (At this point Raymond comes in through the front door; carrying his jacket and briefcase on his arms. obviously he’s just back from work, Sarah and randy also c