Househelp drama proves my foolishness

By Mami Kamami

My worry about my house-help’s health was soon replaced by a whole set of different emotions. I was angry that that I had to clean up after the mess she left in her bedroom, and even angrier that the next day was a working day and I had no one to leave my baby with.

I was getting tired of this house-help cycle. I’m sure my boss was too. I wasn’t prepared to call him again saying I could not go to work the next day because my house-help had run off. He would think I was the monster who could not keep a girl for a month. Just how many house-helps did an average woman have to go through before her children got old enough to get by themselves?

To dismiss the idea, I picked up my phone and dialed my sister Doreen’s number. Jamoh, her husband, picked on the other end.

"Hi Jamoh," I said. "Can I speak to Doreen?"

"She has gone to the supermarket. How can I help?"

I wasn’t sure he could. I wasn’t even sure Doreen could. Just that she was always the practical one in the family and I called her whenever I needed ideas.

Jamoh’s Disdain

"My house-help just left. I was calling to find out if she knows someone I can trust to watch over Kamami tomorrow while I find another," I explained.

"What is it with you and house-helps? I thought this one hasn’t been with you for two months!" I could sense Jamoh’s disdain.

"There is nothing about me and house-helps. And this one has been here four months now!" I retorted, bade him goodbye and ended the call.

Did he think it was so easy? Just wait until they got children — and it was taking them too long to have any. Doreen was still holding out on Jamoh until he got a stable job. Jamoh meanwhile said he was working on a business idea that would make him a millionaire in days. I supported Doreen’s reasoning. Children are a costly venture and you do not have them with a man who is not going to be there for the long haul.

My phone soon rang. It was Doreen’s number. "D, how are you doing?" I piped into the phone.

"It’s me," Jamoh answered. "I wanted to tell you that you can bring Kamami over for the day if you do not find another solution."

I was surprised at his offer. May be he wasn’t such a slacker after all.

Not convinced

"You, Jamoh? Have you ever babysat before? Or you want to experiment with mine?" I wasn’t convinced.

"I brought up two of my baby siblings — cooked for them, fed them, washed them and disciplined them. You can call and confirm."

For the moment, however, I did not care. So long as my baby was fed and changed and watched over, Jamoh would do just fine. Maybe this was the chance to build a relationship with my brother-in-law.

"I will drop her off at 8am. Thanks, Jamoh, you are a life saver." I gave a sigh of relief.