THE EVIL TEDDY Episode 4 – The Mystery Man
“Lilley drop that stuffed Toy and come into the bathroom for your bath .” Nanny Paula called out to Lilley . “Aunt Paula I want to bath myself ,I am eight years old why would you still be bathing me ? nobody baths my my cousin Zion and her brother Priest.” Lilley protested.
“Lilley so you think am joking with you ? if you don’t bring yourself to the Bathroom now I’ll come and slap you .” Nanny Paula called out to Lilley from the bathroom,she had filled the bath with warm water . Lilley ignored her completely.
Nanny Paula got angry and walked out of the bathroom, she snatched the oversized Teddy and flung it to the ground . She yanked Lilley from the bed , and dragged her to the bathroom.”Aunt Paula you didn’t have to do that to Eddie, he’s my friend.”Lilley cried , as nanny Paula forcefully dragged her pink sweater off her body .
“That Teddy is a stupid Teddy, your parents are spoiling you with those stupid expensive toys, you are becoming a brat.” Nanny Paula said angrily. “Eddie is not stupid , he’s my best friend .” She yelled back , the nanny scrubbed her face with the foamy sponge.
“Haaa why did you so that aunt Paula!”Lilley yelled , Paula didn’t respond to her,she continued brushing her so hard that her chocolate skin turned red . “Aunt you’re hurting me .” Lilley cried Paula ignored her , when she was done , she wrapped a big towel around Lilley and led her back into her room.
Eddie was still on the ground where she had thrown him , but while she was getting Lilley’s clothes ready, their backs turned to the teddy , Eddie got up from the ground and climbed to the bed ,where it liked to sit.
When Nanny Paula had finished with dressing Lilley , she asked her to go downstairs for her breakfast , Lilley quickly grabbed Bestie , Eddie turned his head and stared at her angrily , Lilley didn’t pay him any attention , she rushed down to the dinning table .
Nurse Paula began to arrange Lilley’s clothes , when she was done she wanted to pick Eddie and return it into , she couldn’t find him were she had dumped him , she tapped her head to be sure she wasn’t dreaming. The toy wasn’t there , she searched her toy cabinet, her little Teddies and Barbies were all in a place , except for the big Teddy .
She decided to go back to Lilley’s bed , she saw the Teddy lying on the bed , with a mischievous smirk on it’s face . “Are you looking for me ?” Eddie said with a deep masculine voice ,Paula jumped back in horror , she thought she was going mad, as she made her way out of Lilley’s room , she could hear the Teddy laughing. “I scared her bomshackshack!” Eddie said and laughed.
Nanny Paula ran down the stairs , and went Straight to the dinning table . “Lilley did you put that bear on the bed ?” Nanny Paula asked , Lilley shook her head , she was Carrying Bestie on her lap like a true companion . “So how did it get on your bed ?” she asked .
Lilley paused her meal of pap,with beans and fried plantain. “No aunt I came down for my breakfast.” Nanny Paula nodded and made her way back to her room. She began question her rationality,she was sure she’s going mad. “But I -I put the Teddy on the ground… it climbed the bed ? It spoke ? Jesus am I going crazy ?” Lilley asked herself.
Lilley went back upstairs , after chef Frances had cleared the plates , she ran up with her pad and Bestie.
The school had been under lock , by the federal ministry of education . Nanny Paula went up to her room, after washing and ironing Lilley’s clothes at the washing room,she was lying in bed sleeping when a heavy weight climbed over her body , a pillow was placed over her face , Eddie began to smolder her with the pillow ,trying to choke her to death .
she wriggled all over the bed ,squeezing the bed sheet,she refused to die without a fight , she stretched her hands widely looking for the face of the person trying to kill her .
She felt a cold dose of fear , stream down her spine , it wasn’t a human , it was the Teddy , she fought like crazy , trying to get Eddie off her face. “You filthy woman , how dare you throw me on the ground ? I’ll kill you haha.” Eddie laughed , while Paula trashed about looking for a way to get out of his grip .
“Nobody will save you , you rude human , you cannot talk rudely to my Lilley anymore .” The evil growling voice said .
Paula screamed with the last air in her lungs , before she started passing out ,
her screams had escaped to the kitchen , one of the chefs heard her , and began to run up the stairs, Lilley , he also ran into Lilley and Martha who were also running up to check on Nanny Paula .
Eddie sensed that people were coming to rescue the nanny , so he let go off her , and ran into his room with thudding steps . The three heard the sound of heavy retracting steps on the ground, but couldn’t tell what it was. They got into Nanny Paula’s room, she was sitting in bed , struggling to breath , Lilley rushed up the bed and embraced Paula.
“Aunt what happened to you ?” She asked her Nanny , who was cleaning tears from her eyes , The house cleaner and the chef stood watching , even chef Johnson, Lukas the security man had joined them inside Paula’s room .
Martha sat next to Paula . “What happened to you Paula ?” Martha asked , Paula was just sobbing . “Paula we heard your cry and all rushed here , try to tell us what happened.” Chef Frances said , Paula sat quietly for a long time , before sighing.
“Well it’s going yo sound crazy , but the truth is that I don’t think I can keep on working here .” Paula said , Lilley grabbed her tight .
“No aunt Paula you cannot leave me .” She began to sob . “Lilley shut up your mouth joor! let’s hear somebody.” Martha the house keeper said , she was wearing a navy blue flare gown with a white apron over it , glaring angrily at Lilley .
“While I went to bath Lilley this morning , she was not listening to me , I kept repeating myself , she was talking to the Teddy, so I flung it on the ground .” She paused , they kept waiting to hear her speak .
“The Teddy bear moved from where I had dropped it , back to the bed , I thought it was Lilley who moved it , but she said she didn’t touch it .” She paused to wipe tears from her face .
“I came up here to rest after finishing my work , I felt a pillow over my face , so I tried to get out of the bed , the strength was so much , I tried to feel the hand or face of the person , it was the Teddy , I won’t work here again.” She said with certainty , jumping off the bed , she went about gathering her stuffs .
“Aunt Lilley Please you cannot leave me here alone.” Lilley cried . “Paula you should wait for madam to come before you go .” Frances said , Paula listened to the advice of her colleagues . They all went to Lilley’s room to see the Teddy bear, because they found it hard to believe what nurse Paula was saying , Eddie was sitting on the bed ,lifeless , they wondered if Paula was not day dreaming. “Paula are you sure of what you said ?” Martha asked , after they returned to Paula’s room .”Do you think I am lying ?” Paula asked .
“Its not that , its just that a stuff toy trying to kill you ? that doesn’t make sense to anyone .” Martha said , the chefs and security men glared at her with suspiciously. She had nothing to prove to anyone , she just wanted to to leave the Abbey’s mansion.
Paula gathered all her luggage and was set to leave, but she had to wait till boss returned from work at about six P.M .
Lilley heard her mum’s car drive into the compound , she ran downstairs to her mother , not letting her get out of the car , she ran alongside the car , when her mother stepped out of the car , Lilley hugged her tight crying . Jessica caressed her daughter’s hair . ” What’s the issue baby ?” She asked.
”Mommy aunt Paula wants to leave . Please mommy don’t let her go .” Lilley said, Jessica dropped her bag .
“That’s not true Lilley , Paula didn’t tell me she’s leaving .” Jessica said consoling her weeping daughter , Paula had worked for them since Lilley was still a baby . “Mum please come and talk to her , she’s packed her bags , she’s waiting for you before she leaves.” Lilley said , Jessica held her daughter as they went into the house , she and Lilley went into Paula’s room .
”Good evening ma .” Paula said prostrating before Jessica . “sit down please, Lilley was telling me you said you want to leave is it true ?” she asked Paula nodded .
“But why Paula ? why do you want to leave ?” She asked . “Have we not been treating you well?” Jessica asked, the girl remained silent not looking at the Jessica’s face .
“Talk to me Paula why do you want to leave ? is anyone harassing you ?” Jessica asked , Paula shook her head . “Have I been harsh on you ?” Paula shook her head . “So why do you want to leave ?” She asked.
Paula looked at Lilley . “Ma I want to go and marry , my mother said I’ve stayed in Abuja for too long .” Paula lied . “But why are you just telling me now?” She asked Paula . “Am leaving now ma .” Paula said .
“Come to my room .” Jessica said as she got up from Paula’s bed . Paula followed Jessica to her room , Lilley kept crying , Jessica removed a brown envelop from her bag , and counted four hundred thousand naira from her safe , she put it in the envelop and handed it to Paula . She took the money and thanked her boss . Lilley hugged her and refused to let her go , until her mother asked her to let get go .
