BETHROTHED (3)

AMENA

“As you go to this new school, do not forget the daughter of whom you are,” her aunt’s voice rang loudly through the phone.

“Do not follow boys, yes, I said boys,” her uncle added firmly. “Because it is only boys that will distract you. A true man, a Godly man, will let you be excellent.”

“Amena, listen well in school,” her brother joined in.

 “We are doing our best to make sure you have what you need. Keep away from bad friends. Join a Bible-believing church when you settle in. And call us as soon as you reach your room. Do you hear me?”

All three voices blended into one steady stream as Amena dragged her two heavy luggage down the narrow hallway of the off-campus hostel. The one-room space she had paid for was just ahead, yet she still hadn’t seen the University of Tenja everyone in Gumba always talked about so proudly. That would come soon enough.

“Yes, Aunty… yes, Uncle… yes, Brother Taye… I’m at the door now. Let me freshen up first, then I’ll call you back.”

“Hallelujah! Good. Pray before anything,” Aunty Paulina insisted. “I’ll call your parents and tell them you have arrived safely. Keep your phone well, oh! You know how those places can be.”

“Yes, Aunty Paulina. I’ll be careful. Thank you, Uncle. Thank you, Brother Taye, for the foodstuffs. I love you all. Bye-bye!”

She barely managed to hit the end call button before the phone slipped from her ear and fell to the floor.

Amena opened the door… and immediately staggered back, coughing as a cloud of dust rushed out to greet her. The room was far worse than she had imagined, dust piled in corners, cobwebs hanging like abandoned decorations, and faded curtains on the two small windows, riddled with tiny holes from insects. Thank God she had listened to Aunty Paulina and packed her own curtains.

She remembered the agent’s voice, confident, reassuring. “This is the best off-campus building, Mama Paulina. All the other rooms are taken. I reserved this one specially for your girl. I no go cheat you, na.” Amena looked around again.

If this is the best off-campus, she sighed, I cannot imagine what the worst looks like.

She exhaled deeply and rolled up the sleeves of her black turtleneck, revealing a stretch of smooth mahogany skin. Then she tied the flowing ends of her blue adire skirt into a knot just above her knees.

From the luggage, she brought out the broom and packer she and her mother had bought together from Gumba. “It is well,” she whispered, gripping the broom like someone ready to conquer a battlefield.

And then she began to clean.