Susan ekerete - S02 E11

3 years ago

Susan ekerete - S02 E11

Read Story: SEASON 2 EPISODE 11

The security guard walked briskly towards the gates he was supposed to be watching, his back prickling as though he expected a stray bullet to slam into it when the police finally noticed him hurrying away. Sweat ran down his face and into his eyes. He blinked the salt away, only one goal on his mind.

Reach the house and tell his madam the police were coming.

Behind him, he could hear the commotion increasing at the spot where Mr Asuquo Udo diong had collapsed, but he fought the urge to turn around and look. He couldn’t afford to let curiousity turn him into a pillar of salt, or in this instance, a prisoner of the police. His fear of the Nigerian police made his feet move faster. He had been arrested once, years ago, after a fight with his landlord at that time. The experience had been unpleasant and he was left with an innate fear and suspicion for the uniformed men in black.

When he reached the gate, he heaved a huge sigh of relief and slipped in without looking back to see if the police were following him. He didn’t doubt for a second that they would trace the house, but at least he and his madam would be prepared for their arrival. He expected her to be grateful for the early warning.

However, her reaction was far from what he anticipated.

“And so?” she shrieked when he hurried into the house and told her the news in the living room, where he had found her sitting on a chair and shaking her legs pensively.

He stared on, mouth open in shock as the woman spewed a chain of lewd invectives after he informed her that her guest, Mr Asuquo Udodiong had collapsed on the sidewalk outside.

“Let him even die. Who cares? Rubbish! That thieving, cheating, lying son of a prostitute better pray he has had a fatal heart attack because what I will do to him will be worse!” she tossed the phone she had been holding on a sofa. “I wish I had gone through the idiot’s phone the first day he stepped into my house. I would have known what a liar and user he is.”

“Madam,” the security guard chipped in when she paused. “Two police cars stopped near him o, and I think they are coming to the house…”

Grace’s chest heaved in renewed anger. “Of course they are! How will a piece of scum like him not have the police on his back? Now I understand why he was hiding and being secretive.” The volume of her voice dropped and she raised her hands to the ceiling. “Oh God why? Can’t I ever find a good man to love? Why is my own case always like this? I finally thought I had found my Mr Right, but he saved my number as Shelter Afrique Mugu number five! As in, I am even number five! Heeey God!”

There was a smothered sound of shock from the direction of the kitchen and Grace dropped her hands and noticed a furtive movement as she turned around to find the source of the noise. The maid quickly retracted her head from where she had been eavesdropping and scurried back into the kitchen, choking on laughter. The security guard stood opposite his madam, trying to keep a straight face as his emotions ranged from disgust to amusement with the realization that his elderly madam had been sleeping with Mr Asuquo Udodiong, who was apparently only interested in her money and the comforts of her home.

He watched as the woman snapped a finger after the disappearing maid and then paced across the living room, biting her lower lip and beating her chest. After a long minute which he spent shuffling his feet and scratching his head, he decided to speak up again. “Em… madam, wetin we go do now? As the police dey come?” He asked hesitantly.

She glared at him for a moment, then hissed venomously and stalked past him, almost pushing him down with her ample backside. He followed her at a safe distance till she reached the gate and angrily flung the huge bolts on the metal sheets back.

When the gates opened, there was a squadron of uniformed and plainclothes policemen standing outside. They looked as startled as the security guard. Grace folded her arms and ran a contemptuous eye over the group of men, her gaze finally resting on the van they had driven to the gates of the house. She craned her neck, gratified to see Asuquo lying in the back of the vehicle, semi-conscious, and his eyelids fluttering as two policemen crouched over him. She glared at him, a part of her annoyed at the fact that he was still alive after the collapse her guard had reported.

“This is where that con-man Asuquo Udodiong has been hiding out, yes.” Grace informed Samson Udofia and his men without any prompting. “And I guess I am his latest gullible victim who inadvertently housed, fed, wifed, mothered and grand mothered him while he was in hiding. Can you people please do me a favour and get his car, belongings and spoilt brat out of my house? Thank you!”

When Michael’s Honda screeched to a stop in front of Mrs Grace Udeme Okon’s house a few minutes later, they found Cherish waiting in the police jeep, arms folded.

Susan pulled her daughter into her arms and hugged her tightly, tears sliding down her cheeks as she thanked God for the safe return of her child. Michael watched them both, his chest filled with deep emotion. He would make sure no one ever hurt them again, if Susan would let him.

When Susan pulled away, Cherish asked her mother a question which made every adult, with the exception of her father’s lover, gasp in shock and begin to laugh.

“Mummy, can we go home and eat your jollof rice now? Aunty Grace’s rice was even worse than Ghanaian jollof rice.”