The Queens Vengance

Chapter 4

It was a Friday evening I sat under the mango tree while Zara weaved my hair  Mariam was with us using a stick to draw whatever it was she was drawing on the sand. I stirred as Zara weaved my hair

" this girl stay in one place let me finish weaving your hair Nah" Zara said bemused

" sorry I just find it difficult to sit for hours weaving my hair" I apologize Mariam chuckled

" its fine girl you wan do Nah" she said.  A woman passed by us giggling to herself.

" who is tickling this one's fancy? Mariam whispered I gave her an amused look

" shush don't you know she can hear you" Zara cautioned Mariam however didn't look like she cared if the woman heard or not she lifted her nose disapproving what Zara had just said.

" Mariam, did she do anything to you?" I ask Mariam trying to figure out why she wanted to get under the woman's skin.

" oh she didn't do anything to me oh" she says lifting her hands slightly as though to prove the woman's innocence,

" but I heard something sha" she adds almost in a whisper,

" la ! oya gist us na?" Zara adds in whisper jesting Mariam, I laugh at that Mariam's eyes her.

 Mariam looks around for anyone who might be listening in, but they all look engrossed in what they were doing a few women were plaiting some children's hair not too far from us some men sat around a stone gisting about God knows what, children played at a distance. When she was sure no one was listening to she leaned forward and said

" I heard Tolu that useless girl that just passed us" I chuckle

" Haba " I exclaim, " wait now abbhi I should not gist you again?" she asks  Zara and I beg her for another five minutes

" I heard that that useless girl Tolu has been sleeping around with the soldiers," she says in a hushed exaggerated tone, Zara opens her mouth in shock, and I sigh in disbelief

" I'm serious and she's not even that fine sef " she adds jealously, Tolu was average height black skinned but beautiful beyond description  she was what you'd call black beauty I wanted to point that out to Maria but with her tone, I doubt  she would appreciate my contribution much so I kept quiet

" are you serious?" Zara asks Mariam her face looked like she was still in shock,

" yes na I heard that she even slept with that my soldier crush " Mariam adds in a bitter tone and realization dawns on me that's why she didn't like the girl and was trying to get under her skin.

" hmm! nawa oh" Zara adds as though she had something else in mind.

  It wasn't long after that the gist went round soldiers were sleeping with girls on the camp and some girls slept with the camp officials in order to gain favours extra food, extra clothes, supplies. And no one did anything about it. I remmeber passing by one of the chubby camp officials the man had the nerve to grab my buttocks I gave him a dirty slap

" ah you slapped me!" he shouted caressing his cheek

"yes, and I will do it again if you try that nonsense with me" I tell him eyeing him and pointing a finger at him in a warning. He snaps his fingers

"it's me and you in this camp let me see how you will survive stupid girl," he says

" try your worst look at your sorry excuse for a man " I taunt clapping my hands at him

" shame, shame shame, shaame!" I say eyeing him and hissing before walking away. Later that same day I want to get pads from the store officials mine had finished any something as important as pads were not something you could just borrow from the women on camp especially with the heavy flow I had I needed as many pads as I could get. The storekeeper a woman would usually give me extra when I explained my plight to her.

Monday night I was walking back to my tent after helping the women wash the plates that had been used to serve dinner we finished late that night while rounding up the corner that was poorly lit I heard sounds, moaning my heart skipped a beat as I walked hurriedly to find out who was being attacked walking closer I saw two bodies clinging together almost as if they were rubbing each other walking closer it became more clear with the dim light I could make out Tolu whose breasts were out on display and was being caressed by a man he had his back towards me.

I wanted to walk away but I have never so much as experienced a kiss before while my head told me to walk away my feet remained planted. I watched as he lifted her skirt up and caressed her in the diamond between her thighs and I noticed how she moaned loudly at that was it that pleasurable? I asked myself I watched them have s*x that day and I wasn't the same afterwards.