2 PLAYHIEGHT HOME

The night mares began again but she knew they were a reflection of the hard times she had been through in her life. Every night, her ordeals as a child tormented her but she knew she would pretend at dawn, for that is what is expected of her. She had simply learnt how to accept her fate in this world.

That night many years ago when she was just ten years old was one of the happiest days of her life. She watched her father tell Beatrice to take all the children from the sitting room as he locked himself inside the sitting room with his wife.

Beatrice took her to the dinning room and made sure she ate her favourite meal of Eba and their native Black soup with large chunks of meat as an added advantage for that evening. It felt as though she had never eaten since she was born. She offered her step sisters some food as they were near her but Treasure and Susan scowled at her, and yet she didn't mind.

Her father was shouting in the living room, while her step mother begged and cried. Special wondered what her father was doing to Hope but she didn't bother asking Beatrice who was smiling as she had been taught how to mind her own business.

After eating, Beatrice told her to go to bed as it was almost 6pm and she was yawning from exhaustion. Immediately, she went upstairs to take her bath, dressed up and went to the corridor to lie down. It was already used to her, so she forgot she was supposed to go there after her father had gone to bed.

Unfortunately for Hope, that night, Professor John called for his daughter Special, some few moments later. Special was already sleeping off, so he walked out of the sitting room to call her name louder for he had thought she had gone upstairs to sleep. He went to her room upstairs and couldn't find her.

"Special!!!" He yelled louder.

"Yes sir" She answered still lying down and sleepy.

"Where are you?"

"Am here Daddy"

"I didn't see you in your room. Dont you sleep in your room any more?" John asked as he descended the stairs to see a sight he never imagined exist in his house.

"What is a blanket and pillow doing here" Beatrice! Hope!"He screamed and Special got up at once trembling at her father's fury. Beatrice who was already retiring for the night to her home, happily returned before Hope could come downstairs. This maltreatment of Special, she had longed hoped would stop in the house one day and maybe today was that day.

"Sir, am here?" Beatrice answered sharply.

"What is Special doing here?" John asked already fuming in anger.

"Madam say she should be sleeping there that her room is too comfortable for her!" Beatrice said confidently knowing that tonight would mark the end of the constant oppression that Hope puts the child through.

Hope came rushing from the sitting room not knowing what had occured.

"My husband you called me?"

"Why is my first child sleeping under the stair case like a beggar in her own father's house?" Hope almost fainted on this new discovery of her husband. She wondered why the child did not go upstairs to sleep. This was one of those days that Special's magic worked in her home.

Her Pastor had told her that Special was a witch and she vowed in her coven that Hope and her daughter's would suffer. Ensuring this would never happen, Hope wanted to break her spirit till she confessed it all. But all her attempts have been fruitless so far. Her husband was already angry with her for changing his daughter's school and collecting the school fees at the same time. Now this! she lacked words to tender apologies as it is.

Another battle began that night and Hope could swear that she saw Beatrice the horrible maid smiling at her despair.

"Go upstairs and sleep Princess."

Beatrice kissed Special before going home.

"Hope! For how long has my daughter been treated like this in my own house?" Special heard her father yell and several shouts followed.

That night she slept peacefully on her bed. By 3am, she was up with no one waking her. She cleaned the kitchen, swept the house and the sounds woke Professor John who hurried out of the guest room where he slept the previous night after threatening for a divorce from his wicked wife, only to see his 10 year old daughter cleaning the house at 3:30am.

"Hope!!!" He screamed again!

"What is it?" Hope came running as she had been unable to sleep that night too.

"Special why are you not sleeping?" Hope immediately asked, wishing to remove some of the tension in her home. She pretended not to understand why Special was working that early in the morning as she blinked severally for the child to answer in her favour unknown to her, her husband was watching.

"Special go to bed now!" John ordered his child.

"Daddy am awake already. I want to just finish, take my birth and prepare for my interview" Special answered her father politely.

"Which interview?" Hope asked with concern spreading all over her face. She was scared that John was taking the child out of the country.

"I am taking her to Playhieght boarding school where they would care for her before you kill her for me." John responded in anger.

"My husband why would you say such a thing. I can never kill our child!" She spoke softly attempting to touch her husband.

"Please get out of my sight and don't touch me. For the record, Special is my child and not yours! You have treated her like a slave for only God knows how long.Wicked soul." With that John hissed and walked away from the living room.

Special pitied her as she cried but then again, Hope was a very manipulative person. She had seen her switch so many times from pity to anger and several personalities. So, Immediately her father walked away, Special hurriedly ran into her room, afraid of the switch that could happen in her father's absence. Unable to sleep, the young child began to read her books.

By 6:45am, her father walked into her room with a tray of breakfast. Toasted bread, fried egg, corned beef and hot chocolate tea. Special was full of smiles as she knelt on the floor to greet her father. John could tell his daughter had not had a good meal in a long while, as she wolfed down the food in minutes. This made him so sad but very resolute on his decision to get rid of Hope as she was not a good person to him in any regards or standard.He had always ensured his family feeds well as his monthly allowance for feeding alone was so enormous, yet his first child was not displaying such in her body.

By 7am, Mrs Lola was in their living room frowning at Hope who was trying to start a conversation but the woman refused to be engaged in it. Mrs Lola couldn't fathom how a person would be so inhumane to another human especially a little child whose mother was deceased. Apart from the salutations, she refused to speak to Hope who was acting all nervous.

Scowling deeply at Hope, Mrs Lola face light up in a smile as Special walked into the living room alongside her father. Special wore a black jean trouser and a white shirt.

"Good morning special" She greeted first, overwhelmed at how beautiful the child looked.

"Good morning ma" Special greeted on her knees. Mrs Lola raised the little girl up and hugged her. The beautiful scent of the girl lightened her mood. Special was indeed a special being in every way.

"We will be on our way sir. I will call you about the outcome of the interview and if successful which I hope she will be, I would like to enroll her immediately without bringing her home sir". Mrs Lola offered looking only at Professor John.

"Please do that. I would gladly prefer it."

Professor John replied almost instantly.

"My husband please calm down. I know you are still angry with me but Mrs Lola, please bring her home so I can at least take her to buy toiletries and provisions. Those are the essentials needed in the boarding school right?" Hope asked.

"Mrs Lola can get them, can you ma?" John asked the teacher, absolutely ignoring his wife.

"I will more than get anything she needs to get settled in."Came Lola's reply as she strokes special's hair.

"Please do. I will really appreciate it that my first child is in a place where she would be cared for. Money is no objection. Just call me, Tex your account details and I will make the necessary transactions. Please also put my name down on the school documents as I am the only parent she has now."

With that last statement, John scowled at his wife before walking out of the living room. "Goodbye ma'am" Mrs Lola said to Hope who was thoroughly embarrassed at the whole scene. Special left with her also without a saying a word to Hope.

On the drive to school, Mrs Lola discovered that Special was quiet, reserved and very intelligent. She asked her several questions and was amazed at how she answered.

The interview was simply a work over as she was asked to resume immediately. After calling her father, Mrs Lola received a transfer of every funds from Professor John as promised and she paid it. Taking a few minutes away, while Special sat in the principal's office munching her lunch of fried rice and croaker fish, Mrs Lola went shopping for all the school items that the young child needed.

The new principal Grace, being a woman also admired Special and her intelligence. She chatted with the child whilst mentioning all the subjects that Special would be taught. The school premises was beautiful and one could tell it's a school for the rich and Royals. Principal Grace asked one of the stewards to give Special a tour around the school premises after her lunch and she felt so honoured. When they returned from the tour that Grace sent them, Mrs Lola was back and her step daughter was by her side.

Mrs Lola introduced her step daughter Toju to Special and they hugged each other as though they had been friends all the while. This pleased Special so much as she immediately knelt down to greet Mrs Lola.

"Oh my child, please don't kneel. You deserve so much better and Mrs Grace said you would do so well here."

"Thank you ma. Thank you so much ma"

"Toju please look out for Special okay. She has been through alot and I want you to be a good friend to her "

"Yes Mummy Two I will. Please bring Chinese rice and Spanish beef on visiting day" Toju requested.

"Okay. I promise I will. what about you Special? What should I bring on visiting day".

She had never been asked what she wanted so she was very nervous and lacked appropriate response.

"I will speak for her, bring a bowl of ice cream, fried crunchy chicken and cookies"Toju answered and they all laughed.

"If you agree with Toju then, that's what I will bring for you on visiting day.

Toju whispered to Special immediately her mother went to the Principal.

"You will share in my fried rice and I will share in your ice cream".

They giggled and Mrs Lola turned to the sounds of the children's joy and she knew in her heart that she had done something amazing for Special. The school treated the children like royals hence a stewards moved with them assigning Special a space in the same room with Toju.

As they walked to their dormitory with Toju holding one of Special's new box, they chatted as She gave Special another tour.

"Why do you call her Mummy two" Special asked.

"Because I have Mummy One already."

"Wow you have two Mummies?"

"Yes I do.She is my daddy's wife and we love her alot. She is the best! Plus she is very caring!" Toju replied grinning.

"We?"

"My siblings and I. They are both in Standard field boarding school and I am glad I am here with you"

"Can I ask you for something?"

"Yes Special you can."

"Since you have two Mothers, can you share Mummy two with me?" Toju bursted into laughter.

"Of course I can. Now let's go and see your bed space."

The female steward walking with them carrying the rest of the belongings also smiled at the children.

True to their words, the rooms was almost like their rooms at home, spacious and grand. Three beds in one big room. An air conditioning unit, three big dressing mirrors for each girl, an inbuilt toilet and bathroom in the room. Three large wardrobes with locks.

Special marveled as this was different from what she expected. The steward showed her where to drop her laundry as the school has a laundry washing unit for each room. This felt like paradise to Special and she was very grateful in her heart to Mrs Lola her saviour.

The very next morning, Special woke up by 3am as she usually did at home. After saying her morning praying, while the other girls slept, she washed the bathroom and toilet, empty the laundry basket and washed all the clothes thoroughly. By 5am, she dressed on her uniform and located the large kitchen which looked like a big hall . She took the first broom she could find and started sweeping.

"Who is that?" Came a loud terrifying voice.

"My name is Special. I just enrolled yesterday. I came to clean the kitchen as I have finished with the bathroom and toilet in our room."

The kitchen staffs for the morning duty whose jobs was to prepare breakfast for the students and staffs of Playhieght boarding school was surprised to ever see a student in the kitchen working. It was an error as this school was personally built to train kings and Queens in education, behavior, conduct and character. Not one of them is expected to work in the kitchen.

"I work very fast ma'am" Special assured the chefs who were all looking at her in a strange manner.

"How old are you?" The head chef asked in pity.

"I am 10 ma, I will soon be eleven years old ma and I am very strong." Special quickly added.

"What is your name?"

"My name is Special ma'am"

The head caterer was amused on how a 10 year old defines and expresses herself.

"You should be sleeping my dear. What time did you get up?" Another staff asked.

"I usually wake by 3am ma."

"That is too early sweetie.From henceforth, you will wake up by 5:30am.

Join your mates at breakfast by 7am before heading to class. It's too early for a young child like you go be up." The head chef concluded.

The steward from the previous day strolled in to see Special in the kitchen.

"You" she motioned to Special.

"I just saw your sheets and clothes in the hanging line. I told you I would gather them to wash and iron."

"But I can wash properly and press too ma'am. I am sorry for not obeying your instructions." Special immediately apologized.

"Oh dear, is this the child of a wealthy man or a house help" the head steward blurted out in confusion. Looking at how embarrassed the young child was, the woman quickly apologized.

"Am so sorry for saying that."

"It's okay ma'am. I just work hard at home." The young child answered.

Another steward walked up to Special with a cup of hot chocolate beverage.

"Now drink up, pretty girl and off you go. Your breakfast will be ready in a few minutes." They ushered Special out of the kitchen with the hot cup in her hands.

She walked towards the dining area, blowing and sipping the hot cup in her hands. By breakfast time, Special saw how magnificent the dining room was. Painted with with and gold coloured artifacts were arranged every where depicting a palace. The tables were filled with omelettes, pancakes, toasts, waffles, sponge cake and several pies. The students took whatever they want, and sat down for prayers before eating. Each table sat 50 students, with 25 students sitting opposite each other.

Special sat besides Toju and their room mate Tina sat opposite them. Toju filled Special's plates with omelettes, toasted bread, sponge cakes and also filled her mug with chocolate tea. Special wondered if this was a school or a palace. She felt like she was in paradise.

By the time they resumed classes, Special was overwhelmed. She loved everything about Playhieght boarding school. Their teachers were friendly and the subjects was so easy to understand. Bullying was not allowed in the school as it was a place of care, love and training.

In one week of her schooling in Playhieght, she had put on a considerable amount of weight but that did not seem to decline her amount of study time. Every moment she gets alone, she was always reading. The teachers in class one C had began to notice that there was an exceptional child in their class.

The mathematics teacher had heard all about the new intelligent child who was put in class one C as other arms were already filled. He decided to test Special by giving her extra homework in her text book.

By the next day, Special submitted it all and it was correctly done. Even his best student did not achieve that in a week. This academic feat made Special more popular in the school. She regularly received presents from teachers, senior students and the chefs adore her as she would regularly go to the kitchen to appreciate them for a gool meal, whilst asking for the recipe at the same time.

By the end of the second periodic test in the school, it was obvious, Special's name was on every teacher's lips. Soon, visiting day came and as promised, Mrs Lola brought all they requested and more. The girls hugged her as soon as they met in the school halls. Mrs Lola was moved to tears seeing how chubby and fair skinned Special looked. There was no blemish on her and she looked very radiant. The girls giggled as they chatted with her, telling her all that had happened in school. Mrs Lola bought double of The ice cream, crunchy chicken and cookies, Toju requested. The atmosphere amongst them was a cheerful one, until professor John arrived with His wife Hope.

One could automatically guess that Special didn't want the woman there.

"Daddy good morning sir"

"Mummy good morning ma."

Speech greeted her parents kneeling down.

Professor John was so happy to see his daughter look so beautiful and healthy. He hugged her tightly whilst saluting Mrs Lola. He stretched out his arm for a handshake to express his gratitude as his heart was glad seeing his daughter looking so well kept. Hope watching her husband's emotional display was irritated.

"So it is food you came to eat in this school. See all your jaw. Do they even teach book here? Come here, let me touch you" Hope said sarcastically and suddenly the hall quieted down as her statement drew the attention of parents, pupils and teachers around who turned to look at her in anger.

"Am just joking o, you look okay. Thank you, Mrs Lola for bringing her to school. Now that I have known the place, I will be the one to drop her next term." Hope said scowling at the Young beautiful Mrs Lola who was scowling right back at her.

"It's my pleasure and it's not bother for me sir. I would love to bring her to school anytime as my daughter is also here." Mrs Lola directed the entire statement to Professor John behaving as though Hope was insignificant.

"Then it's settled, Special will always go to school with you and return with you ma'am." Professor John said totally ignoring his wife also.

The smile on Special face was from one end of her ears to the other.

"Now let's see your teacher's to hear what they have to say about you. Mrs Lola urged them walking towards the teacher's stand.

The principal of the school Mrs Grace was surprised to know that Professor John was Special's father. He was a renowned author lecturer and her lecturer back in school.

They were so happy to catch up on old times and this irritated Hope who was clinging to her husband arm as they walked.

"You have an intelligent daughter with exceptional abilities sir" the principal commented on Special.

"Every of her subject teachers had something beautiful to say about her. Infact we had to get her a new English textbook as she has answered all the questions inside."

"Oh I am so sorry about that. Her father quickly apologized.

"Please, It's nothing sir. It simply tells you that the child is nothing but serious about her book work. But I worry about her emotional state though."

"What is that supposed to mean? Is she going mad?" Hope jumped into the conversation hoping to hear her prayers are working.

"What is the meaning of that Hope?" John asked his wife.

"Emotional is different from mental state ma'am. Her mental state is very okay for the now.You do know that we mold this children to be as kings and Queens? Our Hallmark is to see young men and women stand out I'm society with finesse, grace and etiquette,"

"Yes I do Mrs Grace". John answered.

"Let's just say Special sees herself as a maid. Always working, cleaning, washing, scrubbing at this young age of 10. It is a responsible thing but it is very alarming for such a young age. She is respectful though but lacks confidence. She rarely plays with friends and spends most time trying to clean the kitchen."

Professor John scowled at his wife and he removed her hand from his arms.

"As a matter of fact, I am tempted to get a psychologist who can also prescribe sleeping pills as she wakes up every day by 3am. I have spoken with her and I hope it will get her to change. 3am is simply too early for a young child to get up in the morning. It may affect her growth.

"Please do all you can to make my Daughter a Queen as her name is, so she is. She is very Special to me"

Professor John pleaded with Mrs Grace.

"it's alright.We will certainly do our very best for her. This is just her first month here, let's see her adjustment in the coming terms. I will be off now, to speak with other parents.

"Thank you ma." Professor John appreciated.

"Thank you sir" Mrs Grace replied walking away to greet the other parents.

As soon as they were alone,John turned to his wife who was already looking at the sky, pretending to be oblivious to her husband's gaze.

"I hope the way you have treated Special, you would treat your three daughters the same way" John hissed and headed towards Special's direction who was licking a bowl of ice cream with Mrs Lola's daughter Toju. He heard Hope's footsteps behind him and he wished for once, he never got remarried.

That term went so swiftly for Special and she became nostalgic about going home. She came out the best in six subjects earning over a hundred percent in these subjects. Mrs Grace was so excited to share the news with Mrs Lola who came to pick them up for holiday. Special's influence over Toju moved her from the 15th position in the class to the 5th position.

"Oh Toju you did so well" Mrs Lola hugged her step daughter.

"Mummy it's because Special doesn't allow us sleep at night. Oh am so exhausted. As long as I am not failing in class, Mummy am okay. Bookwork is too hard" Toju said holding Special's hand.

Mrs Lola gazed at the child and realized how unhappy she looked to go home from school. Looking back to Mrs Grace, she watched the principal's expression and followed her gaze, excusing herself to talk to the principal alone. The two girls hopped into her Lexus at the parking lot, each with gifts in her hands.

"Mrs Grace, is everything alright? My girl is not too happy"

"Mrs Lola what can I say? the child begged the head steward to employ her yesterday, adding that she doesn't want to go home. She cried tirelessly, despite coming out as the best student in the whole junior secondary. I worry about her but thank God the holiday is only two weeks. They would be back in no time."

Special detested the holiday. She earnestly wished the academic session could carry on forever. Toju consoled her and reminded her that it was only for two weeks. One of the reasons she hated the holiday was because of what she perceived awaits her at home. She knew it would be a collage of unfortunate events. This would be her first holiday back home and she was sure a horrific situation would occur as long as Hope was in the house. She prayed for the two weeks to end swiftly and put her out of her misery.

When she arrived home that Saturday. Her siblings were seated in playground of their compound and none said hello. She waved at them but they scowled at her which only strengthened her discomfort. She rolled her boxes into the house and met Mrs Beatrice who was more than happy that she was back home.

"So the Queen has come home?" Hope said as soon as Special entered the living room.

"Good afternoon mummy" Special knelt down to greet her.

"Afternoon madam Special. Your father didn't let my children rest in the house because of the email he received that you came first in your class and 100% excellent in 6 subjects, including maths and English."

"Ha! madam is it a bad thing? Oga is happy that his child is brilliant".

"Will you shut up Beatrice, infact drop those bags and excuse me. She can carry her bags upstairs"

Beatrice scowled at her and walked out of the living room.

Motioning for Special to come closer, Mrs Hope dragged her ears as she was in her arms length.

"You better keep your brilliance inside your pocket this holiday. My children carrying 20th and 18th position will not play second fiddle to you in this house. Are you hearing me. Witch! One day your coven will catch fire".

The tears gathered and threatened to fall but Special held them back because crying before Hope could worsen the situation. Eventually Hope let the young child's ear free of her grasp.

"Carry your luggages upstairs. sleep in your room no matter what. I don't want to see you downstairs o". Hope instructed.

"Thank you ma" Special greeted Hope as she hurriedly carried her boxes upstairs to her room. Quickly trying to tidy her room, Special discovered how unkept the room was and the bed was wet. She wondered what had happened. Afraid of asking, She slept on the floor that night.