Auntie Nike, she has always been someone I trust so much. You can't help but admire and appreciate her. Aside from her beauty, she was the always cheerful, friendly, and lending-a-helping-hand type. She hardly gets angry; her smile is always genuine, and her words are very kind ones. Well, everyone, including me, believed she had a heart of gold. So, when she said I shouldn't bother and that she would help manage the support that was coming from a very close friend of my dad, I didn't even think about it. I don't mind; she can definitely be trusted.
My dad has been experiencing some little setbacks, and things haven't been the same. So, he took me to his sister's place; fortunately, it wasn't far from the hometown of my dad's friend. It was on one of his visits home around Christmas that he got to know what happened with my family. He reached out to my dad, and they talked. When he was going, he promised to be there for me and collected Aunty Nike's number. He promised to cater to all my needs through school and all.
One evening while we were both in the kitchen, she received an alert; she shouted because the amount was a little bit huge. She looked at me and smiled. "Toyo, see God answering our prayers? Don't worry, I will make sure to enroll you in the best school and do everything needed; just make sure to focus on your studies."
She has that soft and tender voice that I can't afford to dare doubt. I believed her; after all, she had taken me in herself without arguing, she had always been offering advice, and she was the closest relative to my dad. She usually helps me with things as well, so what reasons do I have to doubt her? Remember, she was the bridge between me and my benefactor (a family friend who had promised to sponsor my education).
She enrolled me in school, and for the first year, things went well. At the start of the next session, when I was to be promoted to another class, things changed.
"Uncle sent little o my dear," she said one afternoon after we returned from church. She dropped a few bills on the center table and sighed. "That was all he sent. I'm sorry, but you will need to change school."
"But you don't have to show me, Auntie; you've been doing well for me all this while. I can't start doubting you now, but changing schools would make me repeat the same class I graduated from." I said.
"I understand you, dear, but I just need to, as it is now, I would even need to add my own money to be able to get you the needed books and textbooks, as this money could only pay for your new school." She said.
"I'm grateful, Aunty; thanks a lot for everything." I said in an almost prostrating manner.
She was the best aunt ever, and I'm grateful for her. Even I am starting to feel like a burden to her, but she never showed it. She's always speaking calmly. But then, that little became constant; it turned out that the support didn't increase anymore, it was less than expected, and even less than needed. Now and then she would always tell me she was the one covering most of the bills, and then when the support started coming in, it was more than enough; she would even buy lots of foodstuffs and send some to my parents. But now, things have changed, and I have no reason whatsoever to doubt her. I was starting to feel indebted to her.
One day, I spoke to my benefactor on the phone because he does call in sometimes, maybe once in two or three months. He called in that day, and I picked up. My aunt was in the kitchen; immediately she heard the way I was greeted and responded to the person on the other end. She rushed over and sent me to complete the dishes she was washing.
"Auntie, you didn't allow me to greet him well and ask how his business was moving, and even pray for him so he could be able to do like he used to for me."
She looked at me differently. "I know what I'm doing, okay? Do you want to make it look as if he's not doing enough? After all, he's only doing it out of goodwill. You should be grateful."
I looked at her and nodded as small doubts began to add up together inside of me.
Months turned into years, and things weren't any better; my schoolbag had torn, and even my clothes weren't so good. My casual wear at home was bad too. But my auntie wouldn't do anything about it. After school each day, she would ask me to come help out at her ever growing drinks shop, one she claims she had borrowed a very huge amount of money to establish and that she's returning the money every month end. Well, I can't help but wonder why my benefactor has decided to cut down on his promise and his generosity is this minimal.
Well, the truth came out one evening: my benefactor had said he won't be around for the year's Christmas festival as well. He hasn't been around for the last few years as well, so we have no reason to think he will come or that he just wants to surprise us all. That evening, my aunt sent me to deliver some drinks to a hotel not too far from her shop. That was how I happened to run into my benefactor; he had just landed in the country and wanted to check into that hotel. He didn't see me, or maybe he didn't recognize me, so I hesitated. I was thinking if I should walk up to him or not. But then, I decided to give it a shot.
I walked up to him and greeted him; he looked at me and answered, then he made his way up the steps, and just as if he remembered something, he dropped his traveling bag and dashed down the steps. He came near and held me by the hand. "Toyo, is this you? What's wrong? What happened?"
I didn't even know what to say, "You, Auntie Nike...." That was all I could mutter.
"I don't understand. What did I do? I have been sending money for your upkeep every month's end. What's this you are wearing? What exactly is wrong?" He asked.
"My aunty," I said.
*Yes, what about her?" he said, frowning.
"She said you've not been sending much and that she's even the one covering most of my bills."
"But that's not true," he said, straightening up. "I have been sending much more than enough sometimes."
I can't seem to believe what I was hearing. So, I had been extorted and manipulated. So my aunty had been lying to me all this while; she had been twisting reality and making me feel as if my benefactor hadn't been doing anything. No wonder her children are in boarding schools while I am here, her reason being that she wants to have me by her side and take care of me well.* No wonder she doesn't want me to attend the same school as her children.
That night, I confronted her. I didn't really want to, but my benefactor asked me to, and if she denied it, I should tell her he's around.
"Auntie, but why? Why do this to me? Why lie to me?" I asked as my voice trembled. I didn't even know where the courage to ask that came from.
She paused and looked at me surprised, "And what are you talking about?"
"My benefactor is around; he saw me today."
"I was... I was just trying to help you manage things." She said.
"You help me? Aunty, you have been extorting me; you made me doubt every single thing. You took from me and made me feel small."
She wanted to talk, but then she kept quiet, and she looked away. And silence followed.
I left her in the sitting room and went to my room. I had secretly been harboring some sort of off feeling for my benefactor ever since things changed. Not only that, but I had been appreciating my aunt for everything. I never knew she'd been using the money to take care of her kids and also expand her shop. Well, I understood that perfectly, but then even if she's extorting me, she should at least be taking good care of me. Not this kind of care that raises questions and concerns from my benefactor.
I had trusted her blindly, believing everything she said. It's hard to comprehend how painful it is to know someone who's smiling and acting all good to you could be the one stabbing you without anyone, including you, knowing.
Some days later, I met my benefactor. I appreciated him and thanked him for everything. He hadn't done anything for me to get angry. The wolf has been in plain sight all along, clothed in warmth, care, and love. After about two weeks, my benefactor came by; he was set to travel back. He didn't even say a word to my aunt aside from her greeting that he returned. He helped me pack and took me back to my parents.
Up till now, I still see Auntie Nike at family functions, events, and such, or anytime I travel home. She's still the always smiling and pretending type. But then, even I have grown up and have changed; I now measure people by their actions and not their words. Not as if I don't feel the sting of her betrayal, but it has made me stronger. The fact that I had to repeat a class because of what she did is enough for me to not even want to associate with her anymore.
The truth is, some wolves will always put on a sheep's clothing; it is left to us to see them for who they really are or get fooled.
All pictures are mine.
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