The price for defilement
Edna had been living with her mother, Mama Grace, since the divorce of her mother to her father, Mr Frimpong. Even though after the divorce, her father, who lived in London, sent money for her upkeep, it was not regular.
Mama Grace had to spend a chunk of her money on Edna’s upkeep.
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Realising the struggles her mother had to go through to take care of her, she resolved to be a good girl, respect all and take her religious life seriously.
It was as a result of these that she made sure to attend most of the church programmes with her mother so that the good Lord would shape her life. It was at one of these church programmes that they became friends with Mr Hanson.
They got to know Mr Hanson was a rich businessman who was devoted to helping the needy.
Indeed, Edna and her mother could attest to his benevolence because ever since they got to know him, it had been one gift of money after the other and he was always so courteous to them and devoted to the work of God, none of them expected any ill of him.
Gradually, as the friendship with him grew stronger, Mr Hanson visited their home regularly and anytime he did, he had gifts for Edna.
These things made it easier for him to win the hearts of both mother and daughter. For that reason, he agreed to marry Mama Grace while Edna accepted him to be her new father.
So Edna started to address him as Papa, instead of the Mr Hanson she was used to calling him. Soon, the wedding came off and immediately after, Mr Hanson moved in with Mama Grace and Edna. That was when Edna’s woes started.
It all began one day when Edna was alone in the house with his step-father, Mr Hanson. She was busy washing bowls in the kitchen when he called out to her to come. By that time, Mr Hanson was in his room and Edna believed he was preparing to go to town but she was wrong. He asked Edna to come to his room and when she did, there stood Mr Hanson in the centre of the room stark naked.
Edna was so shocked by everything that she quickly turned to leave but Mr Hanson was fast, he moved quickly to block her way and lifted her head which was lowered with his fore finger.
He then instructed her to touch his manhood. When Edna began to shake her head vigorously that she won’t and made an attempt to scream, Mr Hanson slapped her hard in the face and ordered her to do it, else he would kill both her and her mother. Still, Edna was adamant.
Mr Hanson sensing stubbornness in her went ahead to pull her hand and touched his manhood with it making sure she fondled it.
After the act, he ordered her to leave the room and never to tell her mother about it.
With tears and shaking vigorously, she left the room. Her mother had always told her not to hide things from her so she resolved that despite the warning, she would tell her mother about the incident. Truly, when her mother came, she waited till she was alone and then told her about the despicable incident.
To her uttermost dismay, her mother did not believe her. In fact, she did not allow her to finish the story when she shouted on her to stop and then drove her out of her presence with the explanation that Mr Hanson was somebody they had known for a very long time to be religious and decent and so he wouldn’t do what she was saying.
From that time, anytime Mama Grace was not around, he would take advantage and abuse Edna in similar manner.
Edna was no longer the happy girl she used to be. It greatly affected her studies in school because she couldn’t learn nor concentrate in class.
The once lively Edna, jumping here and there now kept to herself. She lived in constant fear anytime her mother was going out and she would be left alone with Mr Hanson.
Her teachers noticed her drastic drop in academic work and change in mood, they did all they could to get her to talk but Edna didn’t open up to them. This was because, she felt once her mother did not believe her, no other person would.
One day, Mama Grace decided to travel to their hometown for a funeral. It was for three days and knowing what would happen to her, Edna did everything possible so her mother would take her along, but Mama Grace said no, funerals were for adults so she left Edna home.
Barely two hours after Mama Grace had left, Mr Hanson came to Edna’s room and this time around, he wanted to defile her. Edna struggled with him and was shouting for help. From no where, Mama Grace entered the room and holding a big stick hit it hard on Mr Hanson’s head.
He fell down instantly losing consciousness. Apparently, Mama Grace had left an envelope with money in the room and that was why she came back home for it.
The police were called in and with their help, Mr Hanson was arrested and later arraigned before court.
Edna was traumatised but after three months of professional counselling and therapy, she managed to live her normal life.
Children and parents, let us be wary of the people we entertain in our homes because not all of them come with a clean heart. Some come with an ulterior motive of abusing children.
Dillys Chrystal Afful,
Achimota SHS,
Accra.