Henry was only twelve years old when
his mother died of cervical cancer. CC as
it is mostly called by Umunze
inhabitants; it is said to have been the
disease that killed most of the women
and girls in Umunze. Henry and his only
brother Gabriel were left to be trained
by their poor father. Their late mother
has been the bread winner of the family
before she died. Mr Njoku, Henry's
father lost his job six years ago and ever
since then he has been finding it difficult
to get another job.
Henry decided to stop schooling so he
can assist his father in putting food on
their table. He contemplated into
working as house help. After discussing it
with his father. His father agreed and so
Henry decided to give it a start
Henry got a job as a house help in the
subsequent week. He was working in the
house of Mr. Elias Nwafor, who happens
to be a good man, though he travelled
after employing him. Mrs. Elias happens
to be a wicked woman who find pleasure
in maltreating Henry. Henry still took
her as mother, no matter her hatred to
him. Less than a month she added many
scars and stripes on Henry's skin that
made his skin look like that of a zebra.