I Enslaved Myself

I was playing with some kids in our backyard some years ago and in a bid to finish my biscuit without sharing, I ran away from them while they pursued me. I was running and eating and it was all fun until I stepped on one of the chicks that just hatched few days back. Of course the running ended immediately and I stood there with tears in my eyes as I came to the realization that it was dead. What would I tell mum?

I and my friends quickly dug a hole and buried it but my cousin saw it before we could finish. He asked me to buy him ice cream so he wouldn't report me and I told him I would when I had money, begging him not to tell. The next day, mum told him to sweep the surrounding while I washed the plates and he said I had agreed to do both chores. He came to me and whispered "Better do it or I will tell mum" Without arguing, I went about doing both chores.

Another time, after our food was dished out; he came and took out a piece of meat from my plate. When I tried to object he whispered the same threat and I just closed my mouth. Throughout that time I had to do whatever chores or deal with him taking my food or drinks or snacks because I was afraid he would tell.

A week or so later. We had a visitor and she came with peanuts, I had a thing for peanuts then so you cannot begin to imagine my excitement when she gave it to us. My cousin demanded for my share; I could not take it anymore. I walked to my mum's room after the visitor left and went on my knees with tears in my eyes and told her about the chick and how it happened...

She laughed. My mum had been watching us play through the window that day and had seen what happened. "Your cousin made you his slave just because you refused to come to me".

I thought about all the things my cousin had taken from me and all the extra chores I had done just because I refused to be honest.