This article was inspired by a lady whom I have come to know as my “grandmother’ despite the fact that we were not related. She was the lady I learnt to trust second from my mother. She spat truth like that irritating pastor that thinks spitting is part of the sermon! Yep that one that on a good day you find yourself using a bible as an umbrella if you are sitting on the front row. This was one lady who was never afraid to throw a ‘back klap’ if you were acting up! When my mother has had enough of me, ‘Magriza’ was one person I would run to and she would play mother peace-maker between me and my mom, BUT not before lashing out on me, even worse than my mom.
Even though years passed and she retired, she would often come and visit us and we would do the same; she was part of the family.
Coming back to the core of this article, after she left us, it was hard to find someone who was as truthful, hard worker, and overall great personality. I think after ‘magriza’ we changed helpers every second month. Either they were lazy, abusive or had stinking attitude. There was a test that my mom would use to test these helpers to see if they did their job, she would place papers under the couches and we would check them after a week or so to see if they have been removed. I remember with this other one helper who left the papers for the whole month! Obviously she didn’t see a day beyond another month!
Then there was ‘Ous Maria’; the lady was on a mission to clean us out! And the worst part her kids would come play at our house wearing the clothes she stole from the house. I remember this one time when my brother was fighting with Ous Maria’s kid for wearing his pants. You can imagine the awkward moment between my mom and Ous Maria. What amazed me the most was the fact that she would allow the kid to come to the house wearing the same clothes she stole. Am still puzzled even today.
The other ones that came through would either play a disappearing act with ‘spoons and difatuku’! my mom would even go to an extent where she would have to hide spoons and leave a few coz ne re fela!
What has been your experience with your helper? (good or bad)Do you trust them enough with your kids and possessions?