“Ehh, Hajiya, them.”

“So, Dayammah, it’s because Khulud’s uniform is washed that you’re stopping me from checking on your child? Please, just go, isn’t the rest of her uniform already washed?”

“Ehh, Hajiya, it’s washed, but…”

“But what? Just get up and go. Didn’t you hear me say I’ll take care of the sick child?”

"I was stopping her, Mum. I said it was the neighbor," Khulud said as she entered the parlour with a bag in her hand, followed by Pa.

She didn’t say anything further and went straight to her bedroom.

Dayammah followed her until they reached the bedroom. Khulud didn’t stop until she got to the bed and sat at its edge. Dayammah entered, greeting her, but Khulud didn’t even lift her head to respond.

Dayammah stood quietly, keeping her eyes in one place because she knew any wrong move could anger Khulud.

She opened the bag she brought and took out Hollandia yogurt and pizza, and started eating. When she finished, she didn’t look at Dayammah nor expect her to speak.

Baby Taddy picked her up and played with her as if no one else was around.

“Hajiya Karama, I’m waiting. Please remove it and let me wash it for you.”

“Okay, leave it. Once I’m done playing, I’ll remove it and give it to you.”

“No, Hajiya Karama, I really need to go out. Let me know when you remove the uniform, then I’ll continue playing.”

“I told you I’m not ready. If you want to wait, then wait. If not, there’s the door.”

“You mean I have to wait until you finish playing before you give me my uniform to wash?”

“Mtswwww, so if you can't wait for me, then go and come back later.”

“Please, Hajiya Karama, don’t upset me like this. Just remove it and give it to me. I swear I’ll go out, and if I come back, I’ll be tired because it’s a long trip.”

She huffed and continued playing without saying anything.

Annoyed at what Khulud had done, she grabbed her necktie intending to remove the uniform, but Khulud held her hand.

Khulud screamed loudly, attracting Mum and Pa, who rushed into the room.

"What’s going on?" Pa asked sharply.

"Pa, Marina slapped me and tried to hurt me because I wore the uniform. She fought me," Khulud said, touching her lips and moving her tears aside.

“Dayammah, did you hit Khulud?”

“By God, I swear, Alhaji, I didn’t hit her, I didn’t do anything.”

“She’s lying; look how she’s crying.”

“Pa, I swear, she hit me twice; I didn’t even see it with my right eye.”

Mum quickly went around and held her, shaking her like a small child.

“By God, Pa, I didn’t see her hit me twice.”

"How dare you slap my daughter in our house? You’re a worker, and you come to hit my child in my house? You must leave immediately," Pa said angrily.

Mum quickly stood, ready to speak. “Don’t say anything, Hajiya Fanaya. I’ve already made my decision. Even if you weren’t a guest, this is why you’re supposed to protect her. I’ve decided Dayammah will not stay in this house anymore, since she dared to hit my child in my house.”

As Pa said, Mum didn’t utter another word. Dayammah cried as if her soul would leave her, begging Pa and Khulud to forgive her.

“Go, I’ve already spoken. Whether you like it or not, I’ll call for you to leave this house.”

Shaking, she left the room because Pa’s anger was intense. Seeing him like that scared her, so she hurried out, heading to the section of the house allocated for her. She brought everything she considered hers, leaving the house crying. Some staff felt pain seeing her leave, while others were happy about it.

---

Sitting in the parlour were Mum, Pa, and Khulud in the middle. Pa kept examining her face and eyes.

“Mamana, I told you to go to the hospital to check her eyes.”

“I’m not going, Pa. Since she already hit me, I’m not going to a hospital. Anyway, it’s nothing serious. If it were serious, I would go, but since it’s not, I won’t go anywhere.”

“Justice, my heart still cannot believe this. Dayammah is the one who raised her hand to slap Khulud. Honestly, I don’t agree. You should have investigated before making a judgment.”

"Hey, even if she didn’t, today she hit our child, she won’t lie to us. She’s not used to lying. See, she won’t lie because if you don’t believe what she says, just remain silent," Pa said calmly.

“Really, she hit you?”

“Ehh, Mum, I swear, she hit me twice. Sometimes she even threatens, saying that if I tell anyone she will beat me worse.”

"You see, she even threatens to hit her if she’s not in this house. I swear she won’t return here and won’t work in this house again," Pa said, leaving her section as if he had been hit too.

“I’m so sorry, Mamanah. After hitting you, what did she do?”

“She just slapped me, Mum.”

“What about your eyes now?”

“They just hurt a bit, Mum.”

“Sorry, okay.”

“Alright, Mum.”

“I’ve prepared something good for you; come to my room, I’ll give it to you.”

"Thank you, Mum," Khulud said, smiling widely.

"You're welcome, my baby," Mum said, hugging her tightly.