“Did you not hear me miss, I said my daughter is sick in the head.” He yelled in a thick accent that she almost did not understand. “I am here to take her and I don’t care what you say or do, but I will.” He yelled, and swore several times.
Ife resisted every urge to abandon her resolution of protecting the child. Even when the burly man made a move further into the toilet and she boldly stood in his way, fighting the strong desire to flee. The encouraging words of her adoptive parents rung in her head, pushing her to face her fears. This was an opportunity to do what she wanted, but never had the chance to, with her abusers. Although they were arrested, she never attempted to see them and never did stand up to them in any way. The man had died of a liver problem and her aunt had moved to Africa after serving her fifteen years term.
“Get out of my way you…” The man uttered a racist word to her and for a moment, she thought he would hit her, but he shoved her out of the way and began checking the toilets. He was opening the second toilet when Ife ran to the third where Hannah was locked. She stood in the way and the man looked fiercely at her, as though comprehending her actions.
“You stupid girl, are you trying to kidnap my daughter? Get out of my way before I knock you down.”
“No I won’t. I know that you are an abuser, and I will never let you harm Hannah another minute of her life.” Ife cried.
“What lies has that brat told you? I am her father and I have a report to show that she is sick in the head and hurts herself. You’d better mind your own business, before I call the police on you and tell them you’re a kidnapper.”
“Go ahead and make call then, I can prove that you’re a wicked abuser, that has no care for even his own daughter.” The man began to swear and threaten to kill Ife in all sorts of ways if she did not allow him to access his daughter.
“Did she tell you how hard I hit? Well, I will hit you even harder that you will die in one minute if you don’t get out of my way.” The woman stood her ground and resolved to keep the promise she made to Hannah even if she had to risk her life. The toilet was a long corridor away from the main shop, and even if she shouted for help, there was a slim chance anyone would hear, so she could only wish that a staff would come in to clean and somehow they would be saved. The toilet door was quite easy to break and there was no doubt that the man would if she let him. There was a murderous look in the man’s eyes as he continueld yell over her.
“Get out of the way! Get out!” He shouted.
“I won’t! I won’t let you harm her!”
“I will kill you and kill her and bury your bodies or sell your organs!” He yelled, then grabbed her by the shoulder and began shook her, while yelling all the murderous things he would do to her. He raised one hand to hit her and Ife shut her eyes ready to be struck, but the blow never came, instead she was freed from his hardened grip and heard him utter several vulgar words. She opened her eyes and saw in relief that her boss, David had come into the toilet and had pulled the man by the collar of his ragged leather jacket. He struck the man down with a hard blow causing him to fall heavily.
“Ife, are you okay?” David asked, walking to her and putting his arm around her as though she would fall if he let go. Although her head was throbbing from being shaken so violently, she nodded, relieved by his presence. She saw that he was not the only newcomer in the toilet. A blonde woman, who was corporately dressed in an expensive looking suit, stood watching the scene as though it was a movie. A staff had come in too and was looking bewildered and confused.
Slowly the man began to rise, blood dripping from his nose. He swore in more vulgar terms and began yelling for anyone to call the cops, claiming Ife was a kidnapper and David, her accomplice. He told the staff to check the toilet to see his daughter locked in. He was further infuriated when the staff explained that the doors could only be locked from the inside. Ife saw that David was about to launch another attack on the man, and quickly stepped forward.
“Don’t worry, the police will be here any minute now.” The man looked struck by this revelation, but went on yelling and asking for his child. David was forced to show the staff his identity card to prove that he was a social care worker and explained it was his duty to safeguard any child, especially one suspected to be a victim of abuse.
In a matter of minutes, the police arrived and the situation deescalated rather quickly. The woman, who had come in with David declared that she was a social worker, along with many other titles, and was capable of giving an educated advice on the situation. She asked Hannah to open the door to her but the little girl only did so when Ife spoke and assured her that she was safe.
All that was needed was for the little girl to show the scars on her hands and her father was immediately put in cuffs. The case was moved to the police station and the social services were called. The organisation Ife worked at was given permission to handle the case, hence quite easy for Ife to acquire fostering custody of Hannah. Since the police had been on the phone during the incident, there was enough proof to prosecute the abuser.
The little girl with a little coaxing was able to give full details of the gravity of abuse she had endured at the hands of her father, after her mother’s death. She had to be constantly reassured that she would never be given into her father’s custody again. She begged to remain with her saviour for the rest of her life.
The young girl was eager to learn the details of what Ife had gone through as a child and Ife was happy to disclose. She discovered that shared experiences and empathy slowly broke through Hannah’s walls of distrust. Some of her experiences were too horrifying for the child’s ears, so she ceased from giving those stories and focused on sharing how she allowed herself to emerge from the reclusion as a result of her experiences.
Ife easily became attached to the child. Despite the sleepless nights, consistent nightmares, poor hygiene, and outright refusal to go out or speak to people that could help her, the woman never gave up on the girl. It was obvious that Hannah’s experiences had caused her to develop some challenging behaviours, including lack of self care, withdrawal, and even self harming.
She decided to take time off work to focus on fostering the child, and in four weeks, she made an easy decision to adopt her. She realised that she had grown to care little for the promotion opportunity she had missed and felt fulfilment with the daily changes and improvements she saw in the scared little child. She put her in a counselling and rehabilitation program and Hannah went from resisting every help offered to accepting everything that could bring her healing.
Ife told her adoptive parents of the incident and all the decisions she had made following it. They were very pleased with her and commended her sacrifice. They expressed that they were even more proud of her then they could have been, had she been promoted. Her decision to adopt the child was hence received with great joy and encouragement. They often came visiting and helped with Hannah when Ife had work. Over time, the girl began to look forward to spending time with them.
On the fifth week of her fostering Hannah, Ife got an email from David, inviting her to the office for a brief meeting. She was quite surprised, as David had been the best of friends to her through the time of her fostering leave. He helped with Hannah in any way he could, visiting when he had the chance, buying the most helpful gifts and restoring the child’s opinion of the male gender. It was no surprise that the unexpected formal invitation to the office caused her heart to race, as she was quite certain he wanted to discuss her employment. Since prior to the event that brought Hannah into her custody, she had used up her holiday allowance for the year, she was quite certain she had gone beyond whatever allowance there was for unpaid leave. She, however, needed more time, as her foster child required the closest and most watchful attention. It would be another month before she could be allowed into school where she had before been excluded and Ife had hoped to prepare her to face the world with a positive mindset by that time.
Although she was fostering as a part of the organisation, it was very different from her social care manager role, which she still stood a chance of losing. That would mean, seven years of hard work, lost. Whilst with her experience, it would be possible to find a good job role, it would cost her some years before she would be able to get to the level she had attained.
By the morning of the meeting, she had resolved that she was willing to give it all up for the child. She repeated this sentiment to David as they sat in his office that late afternoon. She had left Hannah in her parents’ care and was able to sit in the meeting for as long as she wished, so she spent her time pouring out her heart on the matter.
David listened patiently to her ramblings and smiled when she expressed that she had said all she wanted to. When she asked what he found funny about her situation, he expressed that, although he had indeed invited her to discuss her employment, she was quite inaccurate in her conclusions. In fact, contrary to her thinking, he had invited her to break the wonderful news that the headquarters had decided to offer her the promotion after all.
Ife sat dazed and awestruck by his words, and was only able to utter words questioning how this came to be. David explained that the woman who had come with him to the toilet where the incident took place was in fact the head of the panel that was supposed to interview her. He had been able to briefly explain the situation to the woman before telling her he was heading to the coffee shop. She had insisted on following him there to see for herself.
Having witnessed a good part of the incident and even being an important part of it, the woman reported to the head office, and in two weeks a panel was held based on the woman’s recommendation to give Ife the position without any interview. It was unanimously agreed that she deserved the role. The only reason she was just hearing of it was because of the processes involved in creating the paperwork for the position, and since everything had been settled, it was hers, if she still wanted it.
It took Ife several moments before was able to grasp all she was hearing. She began to rejoice, but her joy was short lived, as a disappointing thought crossed her mind. She expressed regretfully that although she truly desired the position, she could not have it, owing to the fact that she had to look after Hannah till she was put in school.
David smiled at this and told her that he had settled this concern with the head office already. Since he knew her situation, and she had told him her plans for Hannah, he spoke on her behalf. He had received a favourable response that she could have as much time as she desired to foster and adopt the child, the position will be hers to claim for up to a year.
“So, what do you say? Will you take the job?” David asked at the end of his explanation.
“Of course! Of course I will. I can’t thank you enough.” She said, happily.
“But I didn’t do anything! Okay, I did the barest minimum.” He added when she gave him an incredulous look.
“If you hadn’t told the lady my situation, or explained my decision to the head office, I would definitely have lost this great opportunity.”
“I highly doubt that. Being the person you are, sooner or later any organisation would desire you as a part of their leadership.”
“You are too kind.” She said shyly and watched him rise.
“So, what do you say Ife, Shall we discuss the details of your contract over dinner?” He said, offering his hand with a smile.
“Is that a date, David?” She asked, putting her hand in his and offering a most heart-felt smile.
Clap as much as you want
THE WRITTEN FAITH 
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