THE HOUSEMAID

(At the cool of day, when the hostile breeze blew, a bell rang summoning all the maids to the living room on the first floor. It took a while before they started trooping out of their rooms because they were observing their evening siesta)

Housekeeper: Good evening girls, sorry to disturb your sleep. Just in now, the master asked me to introduce this girl (points to the lady beside her) to you guys but I've done too much talking for today so she'd be doing the talking herself.

Ida: I'm Ida and i hope you guys accept me wholeheartedly.

Housekeeper: That's nice

Edith: (speaks from nowhere) Is it true that you were forced to work with master, beaten per say.

Housekeeper: (murmurs aroused almost immediately) oh, ehm... that's enough (silence prevails).

Ida: (bows her head)

Housekeeper: Edith, why do you have to say that?, has anyone ever talked about your past in such manner.

Edith:(scoffs) They dare not.

Housekeeper: Well you guys are just meeting for the first time and what can you say?, she might be crazier than anyone here.

Edith: Is that a threat?

Housekeeper: Quiet

Edith:( rolls her eyeballs) she sulks anyway (turns to leave)

Ida:(giggles) I sulk?

Edith: (taken aback, she turns to face Ida) 

Ida:(looks up at Edith) Let's be guided, I won't take trash on my first day here baby girl 😑

Housekeeper: show her around Idetta.

Edith: stop stressing the poor girl, will you?, it's past nap time already all because of one filthy bag of trash you brought here

Nell: Edith stop it!!, this woman is older than any one here even the young master 😒

Edith: Are you cautioning me?

Nell: I'm afraid yes.

Housekeeper: And because of what you just did Edith, we're all going to stand here till Idetta's done showing her around.

(The maids start to grumble but the housekeeper had spoken, Idetta summons Ida to follow her and first, she shows her the gallery)

Idetta: This' where all the pictures from master's childhood till today stays, we are to clean it every morning, noon and night.

Ida: Why is that?, is it more than a picture?

Idetta: Actually, when master treasures something or someone, he treasures it real good.

Ida: When did you get here?.

Idetta: Last year's August, why?

Ida: You look too young to be in this hell hole

Idetta:(smiles) No one gets old enough to be here, don't you think so?, (turns and continue to the kitchen, from there they moved round till they got to the last place, the secret room) Finally, the last place, obviously not the last buh this' where our work ends so here we aren't allowed to go in.

Ida: Why?

Idetta:(smirks) like some heavenly treasure or something is stored in there

Ida: Really?

Idetta: NO!!

Ida: oh!

Idetta: No one has ever gone in or come out of there alive but it's rumored that he kept some of his life secrets there.

Ida: Who?, oh Alfred, nice.

Idetta: (surprised) How did you know his name? I mean it took me months to finally eavesdrop some of the letter, so how come 'a day old' you know his name?

Ida: You heard...well...you heard what Edith said right?, she's actually right, I used to work for his mum before I got forced here.

Idetta: Oh I'm sorry I pokenosed into your life's affair.

Ida: it's fine, I normally don't tell people things but I guess we're connected somehow.

Idetta:(smiles) let's go back to meet others

(They both walked back gisting and laughing till they got to others. Edith looked disdainfully at Ida who was smiling broadly)

Housekeeper: This' why you deserve more acknowledgement and credit Idetta, I mean, you tour people so well, I'm proud.

Edith: Did you have fun making us wait and stand here like fools?.

Ida: Are you that jealous?

Edith: Of what actually?, I despise you so much if you must know.

Ida: Hmmm, though that was deep but at least I'd know how to classify you in my mind.

Another housemaid: The master's coming...

(They all bowed their heads to show respect)

             LIGHTS OUT