She was running through the rain that was pouring down like from a calabash, trying to reach home before the evening prayer time. Despite being only around fourteen or fifteen years old, she was often sent on errands far away, and this wasn't the first time she had been caught in the rain. She still hadn't gotten used to the beatings from the rain, and every time it touched her, she would fall ill. However, this didn't stop her from being sent out again whenever another storm was brewing. Near a shop, some older people who had taken shelter there told her to come and take cover, but she just looked at them and continued running through the rain. If she stopped, she would not only get beaten by the rain but also receive a real beating from Iya Lami, who always made her suffer whenever she beat her. Her back was covered with marks from the beatings, which made her very afraid of crossing paths with her. 

While running, her shoe broke, so she knelt down, took them off, and continued running barefoot. When she reached their house, she found Iya Lami stoking the fire. She gave her a look that made her insides tremble and quickly said, "I swear she stopped me, and they had to find change before I could leave, and by then it had already started raining." She said this while shivering, her teeth chattering. 

"Give it to me," Iya Lami said, extending her hand. With trembling hands, she handed it over while Iya Lami glared at her. "You witch, go and change your clothes and come back here. You're staring at me with those eyes like a hyena." 

She quickly went inside, took off her wet clothes, hung them on the door of the small room, and put on dry ones. Despite feeling extremely cold to her bones, she went back to the entrance and knelt down to start sifting flour while tending the fire. After finishing, she sat aside, resting her head on her knees as a fever began to set in. 

Suddenly, she felt a hard knock on her back and quickly looked up to see Iya Lami standing over her. "You insolent child, you think you can just sit there with your head on your knees, pretending not to notice the water dripping?" 

She quickly looked at the pot, stood up, and adjusted the fire. Iya Lami scoffed and left as the rain had subsided to a drizzle. She sat by the fire until she finished cooking the meal, then fetched water to soak her father's feet. 

After finishing, she took the dishes from the meal to Iya Lami's room, fetched a basin, and took it to her father's room, greeting him as she entered. He was lying on his small mat, worried since the rain started. Seeing her now, he sighed in relief. 

"Bongel..." 

"Yes, Father." 

"So you made it back. Did the rain get you?" 

She shook her head. "No, it was just a drizzle."