Chapter 26: Turning Point
Learning to sew with Mr. Tumba marked the beginning of Mary's transformation—from surviving to building.
She started with small things. First, just watching. Then practicing stitches on leftover scraps. Her fingers, used to scrubbing and cutting, learned to guide the needle gently. Mr. Tumba was patient. He didn't scold her when she made mistakes. Instead, he corrected her with calm words, showing her how to move with care, how to treat the fabric like something valuable—just like he treated her.
Week by week, Mary's confidence grew.
She would finish her chores, sell food at the roadside, then sneak in a few minutes at the tailor's shop before racing home. Her aunt never noticed where she'd been. Mary knew better than to explain. This was her secret, her sacred space.
One afternoon, a woman came to pick up a wrapper Mr. Tumba had sewn. Mary had done the final stitching—neat and strong. When the customer smiled and admired the work, Mr. Tumba nodded toward Mary and said, "She helped."
The woman's eyes widened. "This small girl?"
"She's sharp," he replied with pride.
Mary didn't speak, but inside, something shifted. For the first time in her life, someone had credited her for doing something well. Not for being obedient. Not for enduring pain. But for creating something good.
That moment became the turning point.
Not just in skill, but in belief.
Mary began to walk differently. Sit differently. She started imagining her future not only as a teacher, but maybe as a seamstress too—someone who could build a life with her own hands.
And then, one evening, Mr. Tumba handed her a small envelope. Inside was ₦200.
"For the wrapper you stitched," he said.
Mary's hands trembled. She had never held that much money for herself before.
She whispered, "Thank you," but it felt too small for what he had just given her—not just money, but proof that she was capable of earning, of standing on her own.
That day, Mary didn't just walk home—she walked taller.
Because now, for the first time, she wasn't only dreaming of freedom. She was working for it.