Abeke landed in another country on the 27th of March 2003. In a strange country, which was apparently her birth home. Coming back as an adult after been taking away in the first place back to her parent's home town or should we say place of origin. Although it was strange and different, Abeke saw what seems giganti place, the airport with lots of people. Everything looks strange and she was just wandering around and looking at the place. She was stopped by a man, who would have been the immigration officer. He took her into a room. He and his lady colleague asked Abeke where she was coming from and searched her one and only luggage that she had with her, which barely weighs 15kg. After searching and asking ask the questions they wanted to ask, Abeke was released and she moved towards the follow of the people working in a particular direction, just following the crowd, which she believes would lead her to the exit.
Fortunately, for Abeke, she knew a neighbour who came month earlier into the country. The neighbour, a lady in her 40s came with another person, a guy probably in his late 30s (unknown to Abeke) to the airport. The lady took Abeke's luggage and they all headed somewhere. However, on their way out of the airport, the lady asked Abeke what she asked her to bring for her from the country she was coming from, before she left the country. But thank God for His lovely protection on Abeke, who used a friend to stop her from taking the item with her. Fortunately, for Abeke, the friend had advice her not to take the item/stuff with her and that it could be implicative. Especially that she might be checked at the airport and if she can't explain what it is then she would be in big soup. The friend, also made her to understand that why can't the lady take the stuff herself when she was going in the first place. That made Abeke to think twice.
Abeke, would have been in a big mess, had the officer saw something strange, the stuff, when he searched her bag. And moreover, if he had asked questions about the stuff, Abeke would not have have a sensible answer to give.
Since Abeke knew what happened to the stuff, she just told the lady that the immigration officer took it off her, as she was advice to say by her friend if asked.
You could see from the lady's face that she wasn't happy at all. And she could have left Abeke at the airport if it was possible to do so. But as luck was on Abeke's side, the gentleman took her to his place.
It was a long journey to his place. It tool hours, probably 6 hours travelling on the tube, by train and then on the buses before they finally reached their destination.
Abeke entered this small lovely flat, located on the first floor.Another guy came to welcome the guest, Abeke. they prepared food and Abeke finally had something to eat after a long journey from the airport.
Abeke later realised that the lady that came with the guy only offer to help her, to come and take her from the airport to take the stuff she wanted her to bring with her when she was coming.
Anyway, Abeke only came to the country with #20; not enough to live on in a day let alone for years humm...... But she survived her stay in the country. She started searching for jobs, went to a place, called the Job Centre. She was told to get herself an NI (national contribution) and that would help her with the job search.
One day, Abeke used part of the 20 pounds she had for her transport to the town centre in search of jobs. But when the guy where she was staying ask her where she got the money from and she explain to him that it was part of the 20 pounds she had that she had use. The guy was so mad and said " why couldn't you ask me for money for your bus ticket, I understand you still need to get your feet, instead of using the little money you have". He was really a lovely guy, who was willing to help with no string attached.
For few weeks, Abeke lived with these strange people, off course expect her neighbour, the lady who she knew briefly before; eating their food and living in a free accommodation. Until there was a problem between the lady and the guy, after been three for about three weeks or so. the lady told Abeke to look for another place to live, even though the place wasn't her flat. Where in the world would Abeke go to, when she does not know anyone in the strange land, expect two distant cousins she knew and have tried to get in touch with them while she was still in the previous country, where she was coming from. And these guys have been unresponsive and Abeke could not get in touch. She had to call one of them again because that was her only choice. When she called him, he said " he was not able to help". Abeke just had to continue calling him until he succumb to her request and offer to let her come over to his place for a while until she gets herself sorted. Phew, at least my accommodation is sorted, Abeke said to herself and signed a relief.
Although few days before Abeke could find a place to live, after the lady told her to look for another accommodation, the guys kicked the lady out of their flat and sent her packing, asking her to leave their flat. It was really bad, they threw her bag outside. Apparently, she had do something awful to have upset the guys to sent her packing. Abeke was even surprised, because she was like having an affair with one of the guys.
The guys told Abeke, when could stay with them. But Abeke thought to herself that it was through the lady that she got into the house, even if she was bad that does not give her the right to stay in the house as the lady have been ejected from the flat. She had to tell them that there was no way she could stay in the flat anymore since she was in the flat through the lady in the first place.
The day came for Abeke to live her current accommodation to a new one, which she and her cousin agreed she would go over to her cousin's place. The two lovely guys help Abeke with her luggage into the car and drove her all the way to her cousin's place, with pleasure but sadness that Abeke was leaving. They drove about 40miles to drop her off and went back their way without collecting anything from Abeke.
Abeke's cousin's wife (a fair lady, mixed race), greeted Abeke with open arms. And was ushered into a small house through the back door with garden. Abeke later realise that she would not have had any accommodation, had it been for the wife's intervention. Abeke also met their three lovely children and they welcome her into their three bedroom house. Living with them was both fun and challenging for Abeke. She goes to church with them. Joined the ushering team in the church and became a member of the church. She help the children with their homework. Help the small girl to style her hair.
Abeke's first night to be admitted to the hospital in the strange land. Just after about two months in the country, Abeke on this fateful day, helped with the housework and laundry as usual. Around the early hours of the evening, she went quitely into the room she sleeps because she started feeling some horrible pains down her back, which she normally experience.So, she knew what was coming. An excruciating pain that cannot be described. This is sometimes results from stress or cold and sometimes the pain comes suddenly unexplainable. This time the pain was in Abeke's lower back and she was short of breath and could not talk. She also know that this is one of the worst pain that could results in life threatening case.
When her sis in law notice that Abeke was no way to be found, she came into the room and found Abeke laying on the floor breathless and asked her what was the matter but Abeke could hardly talk. Her sis in law sis mo, called her husband, who came up the stairs, as the room was on the first floor of the house. He knew some how what that something was not right. Abeke was groaning and rolling on the floor. Sis mo and her husband ask Abeke if they should call the ambulance, but Abeke shook her head to refuse their offer even though she was in a critical state. As she was thing to herself that she would be costing them money and she do not want to be a burden to them. They both were adamant and had to call the ambulance, who came within minutes of the call. The paramedics asked questions to know what was going on, which Abeke cousin could answer a little as he knew about Abeke's health condition. The paramedics put Abeke on oxygen there and then as they continue to ask question. Abeke was only able to answer with a nod or a shake to her head. They put Abeke on a stretcher and recuhed her to the hospital that night, where she was attended to by the doctors, who took her blood and gave her morphine through her veins and intravenous fluids. And she stayed in the hospital for about a week before she recovered from the attack.
Her sis in law, was so frightened that day, since she has never witness such incident in her entire life. to be continued............
