Chapter 4 Chapter 4

They finally arrived at Britain. Sakira was mesmerized by everything she saw. It was like she was taken to a whole different world. It was nothing like her village. There were no trees, no huts; everything here was amazing to her. She looked at the moving carriages and a lot of busy people. The girls and she had been put inside the cage and transported to a place. She still wandered what happened to her family. As she watched the people of this strange land pass by, they looked at them and made curse words. At some other parts of the streets, some

black people were being whipped and abused brutally and no one seemed to do anything about it. Is this what she was coming to face? She thought.

Finally, they arrived at their destination and that was Mr Benson’s home. Sakira observed that there were more black people here. She was distressed and then comprehended they were not all as good looking and well taken care of like Mr Benson. She wondered why they were all like that. They came to a stop but they were still in the cage, she noticed three white persons coming out from the beautiful looking house, they approached Mr Benson and greeted him.

“Welcome Father” The girl curtsied.

Sakira admired the girl’s beauty. Her hair was golden and braided to one side. She wore a blue lace gown that had butterflies designs all round it. She looked like a princess. Her blue eyes made everything matching and complete.

“I see you’ve arrived with more of them” she said as she made eye contact with Sakira.

Mr Benson smiled lightly and walked into the house followed by his wife.

Stacy was never in support of her father having slaves. She saw no wrong having them and taking care of them. But when you have them just to torment them was what she didn’t like.

She had spoken to her father more than a few times and tried convincing him to stop the act but he on no occasion listens. One thing she knew to herself was that she would never participate in this wicked act her family is undertaking.

Mark, the first son came near the cage the girls where and studied them like someone deciding to buy something on a stall. He stopped abruptly when he looked at Sakira.

“This one’s a beauty” he said as he lifted her face and caressed her jaw.

Sakira did not like him immediately and was not comfortable with his act. Nobody had the right to touch her anyhow. She determines when to be touched. Stacy pulled his hand away.

“Let’s go” She said.

“I’ll see you later” he grinned

They left her and departed into the house. The cage was soon opened and the girls were taken to their various quarters. Sakira stood there looking around the house. Mary advanced to Sakira and smiled at her.

“You’re welcome” She greeted.

Silence. She did not wish to be welcomed to a place like this.

“Come, let me take you to where you would be staying” Mary said as she walked ahead.

Sakira trailed behind her until they got to their destination. Mary motioned to her and Sakira entered the small building. She could pick out the difference between this building and the one she just saw earlier. This building was dark and was not as neat as the other one. Why are the two buildings different? She wondered. Why are all the blacks looking tattered? She was curious and she needed answers.

“Why is this place different” She asked

“What do you mean?” Mary turned to face her

“What exactly are we here?” she asked

Mary smiled sadly.

“We’re all slaves” She replied

“Slaves?” she was confused

“Yes. We work every day. We follow rules, we do anything they tell us to do” she said

Sakira didn’t know what to do but one thing that was busy in her head was how to get out of this place

“So, I’m here to be a slave?” Sakira asked

“I’m afraid yes” Mary said.

There was a long silence between both and Mary finally broke it.

“The mattress at the far left is yours” she said as she pointed to the direction.

Slowly, Sakira walked to where it was. The mattress was a slightly different from what she slept on at home. The only difference was its smoothness. Nevertheless, she still slept on the floor. There was no difference. She had come here to suffer. She cried grasping the thought.

She detected a presence beside her and she looked up to see Mary.

“I will advise you not to cry. Just accept your fate and continue here till you age. Because, there’s no going back.” She said

“I won’t be able to go back home” Sakira asked and Mary shook her head.

No. she thought to herself. She won’t remain here. She had rights, and no one had the right to take it away from her.

“Master calls for you” Mary said as she left the building.

Sakira got up from her mattress and commenced to the other building. Following the directions given to her, she entered the house. Her mouth was left ajar by the beauty of the house. It was breath-taking. She had never seen anything this fine-looking. The chairs in the living room looked like what her King uses back at the village but just a restructured version.

The red rug in the middle of the room looked so fluffy, she resisted the urge to place her feet on it. The interior decorations were made of ceramics and were well arranged on top of the fire place. The house smelled like fresh vanilla. A large opening led to the feasting room and that was where she saw the delighted family. She strode towards the family and silence was what followed.

“Well, who gave the black thing an invitation” Mrs Benson insulted.

“You called sir” She said disregarding the woman’s insult.

“Yes. I want to properly introduce you to my family” He said.

“Oh, she’ll get to know me well enough... in bed” Mark spoke softly giving her a flirtatious look.

“This is my wife” he pointed. “My son and my beautiful daughter” he said.

“I’m pleased to know you all” She said with a disinterested face.

“I must assume Mary must have told you your purpose here”

“Yes, she did” she said.

“Good.” He said. “So, don’t think you’re here for any fun life” he said as they all burst into laughter.

Sakira was humiliated and she felt deficient.

“You can leave now” he said.

She left the house and tears fell from her eyes as she returned to the slave quarters. Does this mean she would never see her family again? She would never have to sell and eat fish with her family again. Still again, she had no idea about the whereabouts of her family. She couldn’t accept that hard truth. She wanted to go home. He just said it clearly; she was not here for fun.

Opening the door, the laughter she heard stopped. She noticed all of them looking so petrified but they relaxed when they saw it was her.

“You’re back. Did it go well?” Mary enquired

“Well, he confirmed what you said” She said as she sat on her mattress.

“Mary, do you mind doing some introductions” Chris asked

“Yes, I’m sorry. Everyone this is Sakira” then she faced Sakira “This is Chris. That’s Rita, Frank, Tammy, Esther and everyone else” she chuckled. “You’ll eventually get to know everybody soon enough.” She added

Sakira was less interested in knowing people. She was disquieted on how she would leave this place.

“How can I leave this place” she asked Mary.

“There’s no leaving” Chris answered instead.

“Why?” she asked keenly.

“There’s only one gate in this house and that is to enter. For us slaves, there’s no going out.

You go out, you die.” He emphasized.

The last statement sent a bolt to Sakira. She had no idea of how she would save herself from this. Would she really have to accept this fate?

As the day got darker, they all settled on their various mattresses. Mary noticed Sakira was yet to sleep; she gave a sad sigh and retreated to her mattress. After a while of intense thinking, she finally gave in to sleep.