Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Imara’s attempt to seduce a police officer all in her efforts to avoid returning to the orphanage ended in a fiasco.. The next day Imara was brought back to Rock city by the police. At the station to meet her were her stepfather and the matron of the orphanage. When Imara was captured, the police in Rock city had been informed while they in turn had told the matron who had gone to call her stepfather to inform him. “What’s this rapist doing here?” Imara blurted out on seeing her stepfather. “Please l’m not going back with this crook”. You won’t my dear child,” Matron consoled. “I knew you were the problem”, Matron lashed out at her stepfather who was too shocked to speak. “Yes, Mr. man do you not have anything to say?” the ASP asked. “I can’t believe it but why do you hate me so much? You accused me falsely before your late mother –“ “it was true you wanted to have sex with me then,” Imara said cutting him off— “and now you come back with the same story, God knows l’ve tried my best. Matron please take this harlot with you, it’s a real good riddance to bad rubbish – wayward girls like you never have good ending – “ “Enough of the swearing thank your stars we’re not pressing charges, “Matron said. Alright madam you can all go, mister don’t ever go near her again the ASP warned. “Officer not even with a ten foot pole” Her step father replied as he made his exit from the police station. And so Imara returned to the SOS Orphanage again. I was right, going off to live with an ex-convict was a dangerous thing to do”, Matron said.” I thank God l ran away” Imara added. “Tell me something”, Matron began as the car sped on towards the Orphanage. Did he give you any money at any time? She asked. “Money?. Where did that randy he-goat get the money from?” Imara wondered out loud. “A man who came back from prison with nothing he didn’t give me any money”, she lied. But why did you agree to go with him?” Matron asked. Imara smiled as she took time to prepare an answer. “Imara why did you agree to go with him “Matron asked again. “Because l thought he had something to offer and also l could not stand the departure of my best friend,” Imara answered. “Poor thing”, Matron said as the car entered the iron gates of the orphanage. “Imara l will see you in my office tomorrow for now eat and rest, “Matron instructed. Imara moved on to the dining hall as she sat down it was at that moment that Klara appeared. Filled with self importance, she entered the hall pushing a baby in an old pram. She stopped directly in front of Imara. “Did you bring any edibles with you?” she asked. “If you mean chewing gum, no, l did not.” Imara replied harshly. “Moreover l was robbed”. “Okay take it easy”, Klara said. I was brought in yesterday while you were robbed and arrested too”, Klara added laughing. This funny remark suddenly made Imara relax. She joined Klara and they both laughed until tears ran down their faces. And so began the precious, life-long friendship between klara and Imara. A friendship that would be tried and tested in future, as the two friends grappled on with life in the orphanage and outside their home without the loving care of a father or mother. The following day, Imara was summoned into Matron’s office, she was not really surprised because matron had told her so. “Good morning Madam, “Imara greeted “good morning my dear child, sit down, “Matron said pointing to a chair. “How are you today and how does it feel to come back here?” Matron asked observing Imara closely. “It is better to be here than to be raped by that beast who calls himself my stepfather,” Imara replied. “I understand my dear child,” Matron said, “thank God he didn’t have his way” “Yes – o, l thank God too that he did not have his way in trying to rape me,” Imara added. “There’s something l want to tell you but just a minute”… Matron said, as she pressed the bell on her table an office attendant appeared. “Two glasses of juice,” Matron ordered. “Yes madam”, the attendant replied. Together they watched in silence as the attendant served each of them and made his exit. “Yes as l was saying, “Matron began sipping her juice, “come on Imara drink”. Imara picked the glass on the table and took a gulp. Matron smiled, “so how old are you?” She asked Imara, her asking was not because she didn’t know but it was more like acting on impulse. “Sixteen by next month,” Imara said after swallowing her drink hastily. “Good! You know in the orphanage, once you’re above fourteen the law stipulates that you be moved to another home for older children” Matron paused for a while Imara just stared at her. “You’re not alone; there are nine other girls that will be moving too. Imara just stared at matron while her thoughts drifted. “You are not saying anything,” Matron prodded. “ehn what? Imara blunted. She had been overtaken completely as she pondered the fate that was about to befall her. “You heard what l said? Matron asked. “Yes l did and where are we moving to” Imara asked. “Not too far from Rock city – Kondu town precisely” Matron said it and there you will be introduced to a lot of opportunities through the hand work you will learn.” What kind of hand works are you talking about? She asked. “Oh my dear you will have a variety to choose from – hairdressing, cookery, sewing etc,” Matron replied smiling. “What will it be for you?” “Oh l don’t know yet,” Imara replied casually, “guess when l get there things will fall in place.” So these fools are not tired of moving me around, no problem they will know Imara and this time my escape will be for good, Imara vowed within her. “So when are we leaving Rock city? She asked casually. “Before the week runs out” With nothing else to discuss Imara left Matron’s office to return to her room. I better see Klara to find out if she’s going too,” Imara said quietly as she walked along the corridor, Klara was reading an old magazine when Imara appeared. “What did you discuss with Matron? “Klara asked.” I’m leaving for Kondu town with nine other girls before the end of this week” Imara replied. Klara laughed, “What’s funny? She asked. “Your face any person that sees you will think the world is resting on your shoulders,” Klara replied. “I am one of the nine that will leave for Kondu town”. “And you’re not perturbed?” Imara asked. Why should I be? One day l shall leave this place never to come back again,” Klara said. Imara sat up as if stung by a bee, Klara had just said what was on her mind. “The same goes for me, she concluded. On Thursday evening Matron addressed the ten over aged girls that would be leaving Rock city for Kondu town the following day. “You girls are highly loved here, “Matron said but the law has to be obeyed and so l call on you girls to cooperate with the authorities and take your handwork seriously so that you can have a source of livelihood remember that you won’t remain in the home forever,’ Matron concluded. On Friday morning Imara and nine other girls including her friend Klara boarded the Toyota Hiace bus that had been hired to take them to Kondu city. Imara was quite a sight, when the bus came to pick them. The mild manners and gentle sweaty face of their escort Miss Onari did not have the slightest effect on Imara. Miss Onari relished the task of bringing the girls to Kondu City but it turned out to be a painful separation. Imara was wearing a beautiful adire gown and her bag lay at her feet. “Alright ladies time to hit the road”, Miss Onari announced. As the girls boarded, Miss Onari and Matron looked for signs of tears, but the dark inscrutable pair of eyes stared back at them with no display of emotion at all. On the balcony some of the children who knew what was happening wept at the departure of Imara. “Goodbye Imara”, they shouted “and goodbye girls remember l’m proud of you all,” Matron said with warmth in her voice. After exchanging peasantries with Matron, Miss Onari took the front seat as the driver guided the bus out of the SOS Orphanage home. The journey from Rock city to Kondu City lasted three hours and it was uneventful, besides the driver was cautious as he drove. Imara and the other girls slept for a better part of the journey and thus did not see the sights and sounds of the Midwestern part of their country. At half past one in the afternoon they arrived Kondu City. “Girls we’ve arrived,” Miss Onari announced waking them up from their sleep. “Ahhh” Klara exclaimed as she yawned. “Where are we?” Imara asked despite Miss Onari’s announcement. “We are in Kondu City and heading towards your new place of abode,” Miss Onari replied with a smile. From the moment Imara sighted their new home she felt a depression in her spirit, she had left the SOS Orphanage with all its sympathy and affection and the beautiful lawns and good food for this place no thanks to the law. She wondered how life would be at the Teenage girls reform centre, Imara’s heart missed a beat and she looked on helplessly as the iron gates closed with an ominous clang. Alighting from the bus each girl carried her bag and followed Miss Onari through long cold corridors, past pictures of Stations of the Cross and other landmarks. To Imara the pictures meant nothing. They entered the great dining hall as lunch was being eaten. Imara sat on a bench where she was given a glass of juice followed with a plate of yam porridge. While she ate, Imara surveyed the girls around her who were to be her companions for the period she would spend here pending when she would escape for good. The centre catered for teenage girls rescued from being sold into prostitution, they were also girls from war ravaged Rapid Falls and Sierra-republic, pushed out of their homes by a violent society. Finally, the centre also catered for orphan girls like Imara and her group. All the girls from the war ravaged countries were badly malnourished and were yet to recover. Imara stared at them as they stared back in return. Taking a look at the girls again Imara couldn’t help but recoil at this type of wastage of human lives. “Don’t worry they will be alright,” Miss Onari said patting Imara on the hand.” These girls are skillful,” She continued. Imara was sad, the only voice in her brain urged her to escape but she knew it would not just happen but she would have to plan it and watch out for the opportunity before taking the great dash to freedom. But for the time being she would observe every movement, activity in and outside the centre. Right now l need to unpack and rest,” she said leaving the dining hall.

Slowly but steadily, the girl’s reforms centre sharpened Imara into a disciplined child. while Imara conformed to the dictates of her new home she never forgot that only a future of her own would end all the insults facing her and that meant being in charge of her life by getting out of this hole. Imara’s life was transformed like never before unlike when she first came, it was hard for the staff to cope with her periodic moments of disobedience and stubbornness which they followed up with series of punishment. Most times Imara will be asked to touch her toes or do the agonizing forty-five degrees punishment; it consisted of leaning on the wall with your back with knees bent and your arms stretched out. With the Matron supervising each session it was not easy, for her but it paid off in many ways. First it toughened Imara and also instilled respect in her, as she now took orders and did her chores with diligence. Because she was still young and strong, Imara survived the various punishments without a scratch or scar on her perfect body. Further still the presence of her good friend Klara made it possible for Imara to go through the punishment on her, Klara was there to comfort and support her in sorrow and in joy – indeed Klara was a shoulder to lean on. To the staff and in mates of the centre it was clear that they had become a strong team working hand in hand in all the conspiracies that took place at the Reform Centre. While Klara had a knack for getting herself out of trouble it was the reverse with Imara who always walked carelessly into it. She remained the only girl who had succeeded in breaking all the rules in the tightly run establishment. They shared the same room with three other older girls, who added excitement to the nights by throwing tantrums, at times they exchanged blows while Imara and Klara would urge them to fight and then sit back to watch them struggling with each other stripped to the waist. The sisters would wrestle and fight, kicking each other scratching, until they had became so exhausted then Imara and Klara would throw their bigger bodies on them till they cooled down again. After a morning filled with prayer and learning handy work and an afternoon spent on different games with Klara who happened to be very good in judo, teaching the other girls some judo skills the weekend was spent in the steamy laundry washing clothes, this macabre fun provided relief for the girls. And so they managed to provide a fairly reasonable existence for themselves. Time rolled by and soon Imara was seventeen and had become well known to the staff of the centre as a very hardworking obedient and trustworthy girl.

Every morning at nine 0’clock, Imara led the group to church all dressed in blue check with white collar. On the first note of the keyboard their silver voices rose up in praise of the Lord and rang through the church. All who heard them were spellbound. The Teenage girl’s choir, as the congregation called it had become the most magnificent in the area. They received invitation to sing in other churches and even had the honour of Ministering at a vigil service. As leader of the choir, Imara enjoyed this notoriety and the extra luxuries it brought money, materials and an occasional invitation to sporting events. That Imara was very capable was not in doubt, and some staff were even misled by her apparently good behavior. “You can never tell”’ Mrs. Okoh remarked one day to Miss Biola. “Imara may even get a job to stay within the church before she is eighteen.” Slightly worldlier, Miss Biola only sniffed and ran her beads through her fingers as she muttered a prayer. “Yes, Imara has settled in nicely,” Mrs. Okoh continued. As her future was being discussed, Imara had other things in her mind. At the moment she was in the steamy laundry with her pal Klara sorting through a basket of old clothes the staff had collected. Everything in it had to be prepared, washed, and ironed for onward transmission to other homes. Without warning, Imara whispered to Klara behind her, “I’m going to get myself out of this place, get a lover and settled down with my own babies,” she said in a mysterious voice. Turning her head suddenly from the dress she was inspecting Klara whispered in return, “How on earth do you hope to achieve this?” Simple you know, Imara began, “When we go to honour the invitation to the sports meet next Saturday, from the stadium l shall sneak out as if going to the ladies and finalize my move.” She concluded. “Wow”’ Klara said looking slightly astonished but she kept her cool and continued inspecting the clothes in the basket. If Imara says she is going to achieve something there’s no point arguing with her because she would have completed her home work before telling you. Most Saturday afternoon Miss Onari escorted a small party of girls to the centre of the city where the stadium was situated. Imara was in charge of this favoured group and of course, it always included her best friend Klara and other well behaved girls who happened to be in her good books for that week. People especially men could not help but notice Imara as she basked in her ravishing beauty with her usual brown iris coming out of her white pupil and her well shaped light complexion body lightly covered in her short checked gown, and as she moved swaying her body causing her well shaped hips to vibrate, men could not help but turn their heads to behold this paragon of beauty with the bold ones calling her “Miss world”. In the heat of it all Imara would pass by them after giving them a long, seeking look from those compelling brown eyes that were reminiscent of the Mona Lisa. Klara on the other hand received no compliment because she had everything in excess long teeth, big nose and a masculine body. Klara looked more like a man than a woman. She behaved too like Imara’s body guard most of the time thus scaring away the guy’s from harassing her. “She seems to attract attention to herself,” Miss Onari commented to no one.” If not for matron l would not have taken her with me,” she sighed in envy