VOICES UNHEARD

     CHAPTER TEN!

  Rachel was in her mother's food store attending to some clients who had come to patronize them. She needed to do more to raise money to complete her school fees or she wouldn't be able to join her class mates in writing the final exams.

       "Do you have the can milk in cartons? One of the customers asked.

       "No ma'am, we don't. But I can add up the ones remaining to half a carton if you don't mind." Rachel suggested. 

The woman shrugged lightly. "Just add them then, I'll get the rest later on, I'm in a hurry."

Rachel quickly packaged the good she had bought and proceeded to receive payment using the woman's payment card. 

        "It's a Monday morning, what's the problem? The woman asked her, staring at her suspiciously.

Rachel couldn't grasp the question so asked confusingly. "I don't understand your question ma. What happened to Monday? She asked, still working on the payment.

        "Your mates are in school, but you are..." She paused, gesturing at the whole place, "... You are here, working as a sales girl. Are you not a secondary school student? The woman asked, sounding concerned.

Rachel was about to lie that she had graduated from secondary school and was helping her mother's business, but on another thought, she felt there was no need, not like she owed anyone a serious explanation.

        "Actually, I haven't completed my school fees payment, so I had to pause school till I'm able to. Your payment was successful ma, do have a nice day." She finalized, handing over the card.

Unfortunately, the lady wasn't about to back down from what seemed like a fight. "Your parents should be able to pay your school fees with a shop as this. Why are they being unreasonable? 

         Rachel faked a smile, "ma'am, my mother is trying her best, so please refrain from using that statement, I'd appreciate." She answered and left her to attend to other customers.

That got the woman quite pissed off. "I know you're pregnant, that's the reason you're running away from school. What can I say, improper child upbringing." She said lastly, then left the store.

That statement caught the attention of everyone in the store, that some of them started murmuring within themselves. Rachel stood transfixed, as she stared at the woman, who drove off in her car. 

         She became destabilized, shocked that someone could think something of that nature against her, especially to the extent of accusing her to her face in public. Just then, her mother returned from the market where she had gone to get more goods. 

Rachel took that as an opportunity, excused herself and went back home. Her mother was confused at the sudden mood change but decided not to bother her till she got home, especially not in the presence of some customers.

     It took Rachel over half an hour to get home as she couldn't find a vehicle on time. As soon as she got home, she laid on the bed and burst into tears. 

It felt like her world was crumbling and she hadn't even started life yet as people would say. She thought about succumbing to the requests of her step father, perhaps since he had the money but refused to assist her freely.

But on the other hand, she didn't know how her mother would take it. The first time her step father made advances at her, she complained to her mother, who rebuked her and made her swear not to say a word about it to any soul. At that moment, she knew she had to make a drastic decision and act fast about it.

         She went to the kitchen to prepare noodles since she was hungry, only to bump into her step father coming into the house. She froze for a couple of seconds, before coming back to her senses.

       "Good morning sir. You, you returned too early today. I mean, I wasn't expecting to see you at home." She stammered briefly.

Anthony stared at her for a second then walked out of the sitting room hurriedly. Rachel assumed he forgot something at home and was glad he was in a hurry, hoping he would leave as hurriedly as he came in.

       As she got to her room, she quickly found two pairs of bum shorts and wore both, then placed wrapper round her waist, just to prepare for a war that might come. 

      She wished she was only hallucinating because of her reactions, but she didn't want to be caught unaware. After a while, she heard the front door open and close. She sighed loudly with relief.

        She was about to loosen the wrapper when her door came open. Unfortunately, the door knob had been spoilt for a while, so she never locked her door.

       "Sir, I thought you left already." She said, her heart now beginning to race so fast.

Anthony laughed mischievously. "I would have if I hadn't met you at home. Each time I stare at your body, I gives me goosebumps, I'd like to explore." He said, coming closer to her. 

She was close to the wall, so she had no where to run to. "Please, don't come so close or I'll scream out loud." She threatened him.

        "This isn't a busy area where people will hear you. The neighbors are all out, so no one will come to your rescue." He announced. "When was the last time you menstruated? He asked her.

Rachel was thrown off balance by that question. She became so disgusted standing in the same room with him. "Anthony, you are a married man. Married to my mother, why would you want to sleep with a teenager, are you not ashamed of yourself? 

        Anthony stared at her short of words for a while. "You called me by my name, seems you're ready to fend for yourself." He rushed towards her and threw her on the bed. 

Rachel screamed, but since he was stronger and bigger than her, he shut her mouth. Anthony loosened the wrapper she had tied on her waist only to find out that she was on bum shorts. Trying to unbutton it, he realized there still was another underneath, so he lost grip.

That gave her an opportunity to escape from him. She ran out of the house as fast as she could without looking back.