My former female boss lost her mother when I was working for her. We were just five people in the house…madam, big boss (the husband) and two children at that time…one was 6 years and another one was 18 months.
Madam’s mother was to be buried at Kisii so she left earlier for the funeral, leaving us behind. Big boss, the children and I were to go a day before the burial.
The family of big boss confirmed that 15 people would attend the burial, so they were to assemble at our place and leave together as a family.
Among those people in attendance was big boss eldest sister who was very hardheaded. This woman came days earlier and her job was to frustrate me. Madam was organizing everything through me by phone calls including what to pack for the children because it was raining a lot in Kisii. I was also supposed to arrange how everyone was to sleep before the journey.
This sister became the new madam. She wanted me to run the house her way. Immediately madam would drop the call and I start doing exactly as she instructed, she’d be quick in correcting me.
When I started packing the exact clothes madam instructed, she was busy disturbing me by telling me that I’m choosing light and ugly clothes for the children. She would go to the wardrobe and remove whatever she found suitable and forced me to pack. We would argue and even call each other names but I forcefully packed what I was instructed. I’m known for sticking to what my boss says.
Meal times were worse. I developed a timetable because madam and I were always stuck at what to eat and would constantly find ourselves cooking ugali until it became monotonous. Sister would force us to have whatever she fancied citing that it was good for the children’s immunity. Big boss, me plus the big child hate githeri and that’s what aunt loved. She would force us to have githeri. We would argue for hours and end up cooking different foods.
The biggest fight came from organizing how people would sleep. Since I knew every extra space in the house, it was easy to arrange how they would sleep, but sister was still there dictating which bedroom was for whom. I would arrange, she would disarrange, and we would go in circles doing the same thing the whole day while shouting at each other.
Madam clearly instructed that if people turned out more than expected, nobody should sleep with her children. I was to share the bed with them…she emphasized this severally. She even stated that no one should sleep in her daughter’s room apart from me.
When night came and everyone was sorted, sister started drama. She was forcing to sleep in the daughter’s bedroom because she’s related to them, and she doesn’t trust strangers with her brother’s children…by strangers I mean Irene Matete.
We argued until everyone told her to stay away and stop making stupid commands in a house that wasn’t hers. I informed her that since she was fighting to have the bedroom, the children and I will sleep in the sitting room, and she can have the bed.
Big boss arrived when we were still arguing and calmly told his sister to sleep in another bedroom. Sister still threw words that big boss was being careless with his children.
The day of the burial, as is the norm, I was to share the car with big boss and the children. There’s no way he would ride with relatives and let us use other cars. So it was big boss, his father plus me and the kids. Sister came quickly and told me to alight from the car and let her sit with the children. I gave her a side eye and shut up because I would rather not throw words when big boss father was there. She was still insisting that she doesn’t trust strangers with children. Again, the big boss calmly asked her to go away because nothing can happen to the children when he was there.
In Kisii, it was drama times two. Madam shared with me that the only thing I was to do, was to ensure that the children were around me. No one else was to feed the children or take them away for walks. Sister got there and was fighting for full custody of the children. She was arguing over everything. She would start by complaining that I’m not feeding the children well, and I should hand them over to her to feed them, she would complain their sweaters were too light, and I did a shoddy job in packing their clothes, she would complain on how I’m not closely monitoring them and they might get a cold. Sister was just throwing complain after complain. Her mouth was just busy mentioning Irene’s name. Big boss kept receiving reports about me severally and he was just silent.
When we were back from the funeral, she reported me to the big boss about how rude I am, that I don’t listen to people and I don’t take good care of the children. She said it was just a matter of time before I start disrespecting them too. Big boss already had his fair share of her mouth, so he let her talk until she was through and then he responded.
“My sister, this is not your home. We can’t run it the way you want. Irene is doing everything as per my instructions or my wife’s. You can’t leave your house and dictate to her what she’s supposed to do. Our children are okay. When you’re in the village, who’s left with the children when we’re at work or travelling? Irene is fine, and we’re not firing her anytime soon, the next time you come over, just play by our rules.”
Sister left a disappointed woman.
Dear madams, when you visit relatives, leave authority in your homes. Instructions can only be taken from the home owners and not the extended family. Don’t bore us, or rather, msitusinye!