What's my sin?

Chapter 10: Shocker

"Hello Children" my class teacher came in then interrupting my childhood bliss. I resigned with the satisfaction that he was sitting with me at least. My mind was distracted severally and had to be called to attention by the teacher at intervals. My mind kept going back to the shame of this morning and also the prince sitting with me. How could I concentrate?

"Mummy don't make me do this again" I protested shaking my whole body with tears. I couldn't wait for service to finish and kept looking at the clock for 12pm when service was going to end.  Just then I saw my mum leave the service and hurried to her.  She had been shocked when I explained the situation this morning and was worried.  She drew me into her bosom and tried explaining why I had to go but I wasn't having it this time.

"I can't go back to that house". I sat on the cemented floor waiting for a response from her. A strange face peeped in at us and disappeared as quickly as it came. I ignored it and wiped my face.  I went closer to my mum who had leaned on the wall and looking at the sky in frustration. I tugged at her cloth. 

"Mummy I will be well behaved,  I won't disturb you I promise. I will clean and do anything you tell me to,  just don't make me go back ".

She looked at me and held my chin.  She was about to respond when the strange face that peeped previously appeared in full form. I glanced at her and returned my gaze to my mum, but she was looking at the woman with a pleading look in her eye.  I looked back at the woman. I recognized her as one of the members quite alright but she wasn't a frequent one. A faint memory of me playing with her flashed through my mind and I wondered who she could be.

She came closer and held my mum's hand. My mum spoke to her in her local dialect "She needs to know". I became more interested and perked my ears.  What do I need to know? 

The woman shook her head "Mummy,  it's not time.  You know I can't deal with it now"

What on earth is going on here?

My mum released my hand and faced the woman talking heatedly now.  "The older she gets, the more difficult it will be for you".

I couldn't take it anymore, curiosity got the better part of me. I came in between them and looked from my mum to the woman.  "Mummy who is she? ". My mum paused for some minutes still staring at the woman who kept shaking her head. "Your mother". She finally muttered.

My head began spinning. I must have heard wrongly. "Mummy what are you saying? ". She detached her eyes from her then and looked at me.  "Ruth, she is your mother". I looked at the woman who looked sullen now. She looked food starved and so sad to be my mother. I couldn't quite understand why my mum was playing with me when I was serious.

The woman looked at me a came closer. She brought out a parcel from her bag and stretched it to me. I just kept staring at her. "Happy birthday in advance dear". I knew my birthday is in two weeks time but now wasn't the time for it.  What was she thinking?  Bribe?.  My mum nudged me "Take it".  I reluctantly stretched my hands taking it in my hand while avoiding her like a plague.

I looked back at my mum "How is she my mum? ". She held my shoulder and looked straight into my eyes.  "I'm sorry about this Ruth but it will be best you hear it from her.   With that she went in leaving me with the queer woman she called my mother.  I clutched onto the parcel like my life depended on it and moved a step back. If this is truly my mum she should be ready to rescue me from my step mum at least.

She drew a bench closer to her and sat down before urging me closer. "come and sit here". I was nervous and shook my head instead.

"I presume you want to hear how I became your mum isn't it? ". I nodded.  She patted the bench once more "then come and have your seat.

She has me there and I reluctantly went to sit by her. "Why did you abandon me? "

She smiled as if she expected such a question from me.  "I didn't abandon you,  I have always been with you"

I raised my brow. How was that possible, I just realized she is my mother few minutes ago so what was she talking about?.  I could hear the benediction being chorused from the church signalling the end of the service. Time wasn't on my side anymore and I knew I had to do something. "Am I going home with you today? "

"I'm afraid not my dear". I got up angrily dropping the gift on the bench.

"Are you going to abandon me here again?!.   But you said you are my mother.  I don't think so,  Mummy Sade is my mother not you. You can never be my mother "

"Wait,  I never abandoned y---". I didn't wait to hear the rest of her sentence as I ran to the back of the church with tears dripping down from my eyes. I became confused and sad at the same time. I am in a false home, now I also have a false mother. I became at loss on how to escape anymore, my supposed mother doesn't want me,  what am I supposed to do now?

The Church began to disperse as people began to troop in to use the toilet. I had to act fast before my siblings started looking  for me.

"Ruth how are you?" an elderly member of the church noticed me and I hid my teary face instantly  and gave a muffled reply. "fine". She came closer. "What are you doing here?"

"Nothing" I got up and began walking towards the other end of the passage before looking back. When I saw she had entered the toilet, I slid into the storage room beside it and hid under a table hiding myself behind the bags.

Few minutes passed before I began hearing my name being called out. I recognized my siblings voice and stayed still in my hideout.  The time dragged on like forever before the whole place quieted down. After I had listened and was certain there was no on around,  I sighed and relaxed. They have gone without me.

Then it dawned on me how awkward my perfect plan was. I had no place to go,  no food to eat, nor clothes to wear. I sat down gloomy under the table trying to figure out my next step when the door to the storage opened. I squished myself back into the space I hid. I was certain of not being seen when the bag shielding me was drawn out and my mum's exclamation sliced through the air.  "Jesus!!! Ruth what are you doing here? "