Are you guilty of misusing and abusing the single most important asset you will ever have? Are you investing enough time, effort and money into developing this powerful asset? Or are you, like most people, letting it decay and atrophy due to disuse until it totally becomes useless not only to you but to the rest of humanity? It is the most important asset you will ever possess. Like most things in life, it is something everyone has, yet few utilize it well. While we all
look to the outside to find the secrets to success, wealth and happiness, we neglect and disregard the power within ourselves: our own minds.
MIND ABUSE
The mind can be defined as “the human consciousness that originates in the brain and is manifested especially in thought, perception, emotion, will, memory and imagination.” If you need a simpler and more practical definition, it is “the faculty of thinking, reasoning, and applying knowledge.” Why, then, is it the most
abused and misused asset man possesses?
One of the most enlightening and inspiring books I have ever read is “As a man thinketh” by James Allen. In this book he compares the mind to a garden. He says: “A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated
or neglected, it must and will bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.”
Whatever is planted in that garden is what will be reaped. Just as you cannot plant corn and reap oranges, so you cannot plant destructive thoughts and reap a happy and successful life. If you plant positive thoughts you will reap positive results. Plant negative thoughts and you will reap negative results. Neglect to plant anything at all and the weeds will inevitably take over. The law of attraction is a powerful principle that you need to understand and utilise to improve your health and wealth.
Motivation and positive thinking - it's all in your control
There is a reason why a lot of people don’t believe in positive thinking and that kind of thing. It is simply that they do not want to face the fact that their lives are totally in their own hands and they are afraid
of the immense potential/results if they do so. Believing in positive thinking would mean that they cannot blame their lack of education, their parents, teacher or spouse for their failures. It is much easier to think there is some force out there called “destiny” that is just against you and takes pleasure in seeing you suffer. If only
this didn’t happen or that had happened, you would be so much better
off.
CHOOSE YOUR RESPONSE
I am not saying that bad things don’t happen in life. Sometimes they do happen. However, your response to what happens to you, whether good or bad, is your choice. To quote James Allen once more: “Man is the
master of thought, the moulder of character, and the maker and shaper
of condition, environment and destiny.
FEED YOUR MIND RIGHT
Your mind will work just as hard to make you fail as it will to make you succeed. It does not discriminate between good seed and bad seed. That should be great news. The amount of effort it takes to fail is the same amount of effort it takes to succeed as far as the mind is concerned. It is your responsibility to provide it with the right seeds of thought. How do you change your negative thoughts into positive thoughts? It has taken years, if not decades for you to develop the negative thought patterns you may have. So it would be absolutely impractical to expect to change these thought patterns overnight.
Like the gardener who takes tender care of his garden, slowly weeding out the unwanted plants and giving care and nurturing to the desired plants, you must get rid of the negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones.
You cannot simply decide that you will stop thinking negatively. The mind cannot be a vacuum. Something has to be there. It should be a process of replacement
of the negative with the positive.
RECOGNIZE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
The first step, then, is to be able to recognize the negative thoughts. Any thinking that emphasizes lack,
failure, sickness and so on is negative. If you do not want it, don’t think it.
To give a practical example, have you ever seen someone driving a very expensive car and thought to yourself that you would never be able to own such a car? Replace it
with the thought that it is totally possible for you to own that car. Go out to the car dealer and check it out. Touch it. Feel it. If you can, get inside it. Do everything you can to bring it within reach of your mind. You will be amazed at the power such simple exercises can have.
THE POWER OF ASSOCIATION
By far the best way to change your mind set is to associate with other great minds. The saying “show me your friends and I will show you your future” is right on the spot! The company you keep says a lot about who
you are and how you think.
If you do not have company worth keeping do not lose heart. This is, after all, the information age. Through books, music, movies and the internet you can have access to the greatest minds that ever lived.
Reading in particular has great potential to break the chains on your mind and expand it to greater dimensions. Take every opportunity you have to read inspiring, uplifting and motivational books that will slowly but surely help you to create a
beautiful garden in your mind and weed out the suffocating thoughts that so easily control our lives.
Guard your mind jealously. Would you leave your now newly acquired car
unlocked and without any form of protection in Cairo Road? Then why
would you leave the greatest asset you possess, your mind, without
defense?
Stay away from any form of negativity. This includes “good” friends that
are a danger to your thinking. You don’t have to read everything in the
paper about murder, death and suffering! Don’t join the pity party about
how “the economy is tough and you are just barely managing.” Stay
positive in all circumstances.
Mahatma Gandhi is a man that is greatly admired and who left an
indelible footprint on this earth. Could it be because he realized the
power that he possessed in his mind when he said: “You can chain me,
you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never
imprison my mind.”
You are all you can be. Go on and be it.
Motivational. . . Inspirational. . . Success. . . Information
Tuesday, 5 April 2016
UNFORGIVABLE SIN 2
“Mama!!!” Kemi went down quickly. She couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Mama!” She cried while the crowd shook their heads in pity, and
most of them were talking quietly.
“Eyaah.’
“That’s her daughter i quess.”
“Maybe.”
Kemi cried. “W..what happened to her?” She asked absently.
“She was hit by a car when crossing the road.” A young woman
quickly said.
“The car didn’t wait.” Another said.
“It was her fault.”
“She didn’t look when crossing.”
“Is she your mother?”
With so much tears, Kemi dialed Olu’s number with shaking hands.
There was no answer from the other end of the cell phone. She
dialed again, again, and again, still there was no response. Kemi
stared at the crowd and back to the old dead woman, and sob some
few sobs before dialing 112. She explained into the phone, and few
minutes later an ambulance came to take the body of Olu’s mother,
to the mortuary.
Kemi went home weeping. As she opened the front door into the
sitting room, Olu was there relaxing with a bottle of beer. “See
What you have caused.” Kemi said and dropped into the chair. “Olu
you’ve killed your mother.” The tears she knew earlier came back,
and slipped down her cheeks.
“Look woman,” Olu said, “you better stop that nonsense and go to
your room.”
Kemi couldn’t hold her tears. “Olu mama is dead.”
Olu raised up from the chair at once. “What do you mean? Who is
dead?” His eyes widened. “Kemi.”
“Mama is dead.” Kemi cried bitterly. “She was hit by a car.”
Olu stood staring at his crying wife for a very long moment. He let
out an explosive breath and smacked his arm against the wall. “Shit.”
He sat down slowly and leaned his head against the chair. What’s
my business anyway, he thought. If that’s what she got from
the evil she had done, it’s for my own good. Now that the
witch is dead, it’s time for me to raise again. Olu smiled to
himself and pulled himself up from the chair, heading for his
bedroom.
Few days had gone by, Olu had refused to bury his mother. Kemi
tried her best to convince him, instead, he gets drunk everyday.
Kemi couldn’t bear it. She couldn’t ignore her mother-in-law’s body
in the mortuary. Then, she decided to call her husband’s relatives.
The following morning, two elderly men came from the village. “What
is this that I’m hearing?” Olu’s uncle said while Olu pulled his gaze
away, staring at the ceiling. “You accused your mother of witch
craft and sent her out of your house. Olu? And she was hit by a
runaway car, dead and you sat down here drinking.” His voice was
harsh
“What you’ve done is very bad.” The other man said. “You’ve killed
your own mother.”
“I didn’t kill anybody.” Olu said. “She reaped what she had sowed.”
“Keep your mouth shut.” His uncle said angrily. “You’re a bastard. You
sent your mother out of your house to be killed and you’re here
telling us she reaped what she had sowed?” The old man got to his
feet. “You’re a disappointment to the whole family.”
“Enough uncle.” Olu said. “How could my own mother be doing evil
against me. Tell me uncle? And you expect me to sit down here and
be watching? living with a witch?”
“How did you know she’s a witch?” His uncle asked. “Olu?”
“I’m not a baby.” Olu said. “I know what i know and that’s what
she is.” He pulled his gaze toward the wall. “I’d lost everything. My
business had crumbled, and now I’m into debt.” He met his uncle’s
gaze. “You want me to fold my arms and be watching?” He shook his
head. “No way.”
The two elderly men shook their heads. “I’m really disappointed.” His
uncle said. “Even if there is such, you should have called the family
and let us talk it out, instead of sending her out of your house.”
The old man paused for few seconds, gathering his thought. “I
don’t have much to say right now, until you bring you mother home
for burial.”
Olu got to his feet. “No way uncle. “If you want your sister to be
buried, go to the mortuary and take her body with you to the
village.”
“Olu.”
“Uncle I mean it, and nothing can change my mind.” Olu said, walking
out of the sitting.
His uncle got to his feet. “Olu? Olu come back here.”
“Mama!” She cried while the crowd shook their heads in pity, and
most of them were talking quietly.
“Eyaah.’
“That’s her daughter i quess.”
“Maybe.”
Kemi cried. “W..what happened to her?” She asked absently.
“She was hit by a car when crossing the road.” A young woman
quickly said.
“The car didn’t wait.” Another said.
“It was her fault.”
“She didn’t look when crossing.”
“Is she your mother?”
With so much tears, Kemi dialed Olu’s number with shaking hands.
There was no answer from the other end of the cell phone. She
dialed again, again, and again, still there was no response. Kemi
stared at the crowd and back to the old dead woman, and sob some
few sobs before dialing 112. She explained into the phone, and few
minutes later an ambulance came to take the body of Olu’s mother,
to the mortuary.
Kemi went home weeping. As she opened the front door into the
sitting room, Olu was there relaxing with a bottle of beer. “See
What you have caused.” Kemi said and dropped into the chair. “Olu
you’ve killed your mother.” The tears she knew earlier came back,
and slipped down her cheeks.
“Look woman,” Olu said, “you better stop that nonsense and go to
your room.”
Kemi couldn’t hold her tears. “Olu mama is dead.”
Olu raised up from the chair at once. “What do you mean? Who is
dead?” His eyes widened. “Kemi.”
“Mama is dead.” Kemi cried bitterly. “She was hit by a car.”
Olu stood staring at his crying wife for a very long moment. He let
out an explosive breath and smacked his arm against the wall. “Shit.”
He sat down slowly and leaned his head against the chair. What’s
my business anyway, he thought. If that’s what she got from
the evil she had done, it’s for my own good. Now that the
witch is dead, it’s time for me to raise again. Olu smiled to
himself and pulled himself up from the chair, heading for his
bedroom.
Few days had gone by, Olu had refused to bury his mother. Kemi
tried her best to convince him, instead, he gets drunk everyday.
Kemi couldn’t bear it. She couldn’t ignore her mother-in-law’s body
in the mortuary. Then, she decided to call her husband’s relatives.
The following morning, two elderly men came from the village. “What
is this that I’m hearing?” Olu’s uncle said while Olu pulled his gaze
away, staring at the ceiling. “You accused your mother of witch
craft and sent her out of your house. Olu? And she was hit by a
runaway car, dead and you sat down here drinking.” His voice was
harsh
“What you’ve done is very bad.” The other man said. “You’ve killed
your own mother.”
“I didn’t kill anybody.” Olu said. “She reaped what she had sowed.”
“Keep your mouth shut.” His uncle said angrily. “You’re a bastard. You
sent your mother out of your house to be killed and you’re here
telling us she reaped what she had sowed?” The old man got to his
feet. “You’re a disappointment to the whole family.”
“Enough uncle.” Olu said. “How could my own mother be doing evil
against me. Tell me uncle? And you expect me to sit down here and
be watching? living with a witch?”
“How did you know she’s a witch?” His uncle asked. “Olu?”
“I’m not a baby.” Olu said. “I know what i know and that’s what
she is.” He pulled his gaze toward the wall. “I’d lost everything. My
business had crumbled, and now I’m into debt.” He met his uncle’s
gaze. “You want me to fold my arms and be watching?” He shook his
head. “No way.”
The two elderly men shook their heads. “I’m really disappointed.” His
uncle said. “Even if there is such, you should have called the family
and let us talk it out, instead of sending her out of your house.”
The old man paused for few seconds, gathering his thought. “I
don’t have much to say right now, until you bring you mother home
for burial.”
Olu got to his feet. “No way uncle. “If you want your sister to be
buried, go to the mortuary and take her body with you to the
village.”
“Olu.”
“Uncle I mean it, and nothing can change my mind.” Olu said, walking
out of the sitting.
His uncle got to his feet. “Olu? Olu come back here.”
UNFORGIVABLE SIN 1
Olu drove into his compound as the gate was opened by a young
security guard. It took him more than ten minutes before getting
out of his black Toyota Corola and walked toward the front door of
the main building, ignoring the greetings of the security man.
Olu’s wife turned her gaze from the Tv set to him as he opened
the front door into the sitting room. “Welcome honey.” Kemi said
with a soft smile.
“Where is mama?” Olu asked with unpleasant voice.
“Mama.” Kemi said. “She’s inside her room, what’s the matter?”
Olu ignored her and called her mother. “Mama!”
The old woman hurried out of her room. “My son you’re back.
how…”
“Mama,” he pounced on his mother’s word, “i want you to go into
your room, pack your things and leave my house.”
The old woman widened her eyes in disbelief. “Me, leave your
house?”
“Yes mama.’ Olu said. “You cannot continue living here with me.”
Kemi couldn’t believe her ears. “Honey what’s all this? What has got
into you?”
Olu met his wife’s gaze. “Stay out of this.” He yelled. “Do you hear
me?”
“What have i done?” The old woman asked. “My son?”
“I’m not your son.” Olu raised his voice. “Don’t ever call me your
son.”
“Honey?”
“Shut up.” Olu yelled at his wife, and met his mother gaze. “I’m not
your son, now go and pack your loads and leave my house now, or i
would drag you out by force.”
“Me, Olu.” The old woman said. “Drag me out with force? Why?”
“Because you’re a witch.” Olu said at once, his eyes were cold.
His words hits his mother and his wife like an unseen blow. How
could he called his mother a witch? Tears slipped down his mother
cheeks. “Me? Olu me your mother, a witch.” She said slowly.
“Yes, you’re a witch and you cannot continue living in this house.”
Olu said, his voice was strong. “Please leave my house for good.” He
turned and walked into his mother room and back with a big
traveling bag and threw it on the floor. “If you don’t leave now, i
would do something silly.”
“Honey what has got into you? why are you doing this to mama?”
His wife said angrily.
“I warned you for the last time.” Olu said to his wife. “If you don’t
stay out of this, i would send you out with her.” He was serious. He
put his hand into his trouser pocket, he brought out some money and
threw them on the center table. “Take that money and go back to
the village, that’s where you belong.”
All is mother could do was cry. She carried her bag with tears,
ignoring the money and left his son’s house.
Kemi met Olu’s gaze. “This is very bad of you.” her voice rose. “How
dare you accused that innocent old woman of witch craft? What is
going with you?”
Olu ignored her words and watched her walked into her room silently.
All he wanted was the old woman to leave his house, and thank God
the devil has gone. He settled down in a chair, trying to keep his
breath slow and steady. He leaned his back against the chair and let
the memories flow. He had loved his mother and brought her from
the village to stay with him, and they were living happily. Slowly, his
business fell. He took a loan from the bank to raise his business but
he fell into the hands of wrong men, and he was duped.
Life became hard for Olu and he needed to turn his failures around,
so he consulted a spiritualist that told him his mother was behind his
down fall. He felt bad about it. How could it be his mother. He
thought so much about it for many days and came into conclusion
that truly, his mother has hand in his down fall. Since his mother
came from the village, things had not been going well with him. He
could remembered how he lost a contract worthy millions the very
week his mother came from the village. Olu was sad, very sad about
it.
Kemi couldn’t bear it, she walked out of her room into the sitting
room and stared at her husband for a very long moment. This can’t
be true. Her mother-in-law is not a witch. “I would not let mama
go.” She said and hurried out of the sitting room.
“Just go with her.” Olu said. “Don’t ever back bark to this house.”
Kemi hurried along the street to stop her mother-in-law, but the old
woman had gone far. By time she got to the main road, no sight of
her mother-in-law. She walked toward a crowd that gathered, but
she could not find her. “Where had she gone to?” she asked herself
and crossed to the other side of the road. She was sad as she
couldn’t find the old woman. There’s nothing she could now. Maybe
if she had a chance she would to go to the village and apologize to
her.
By the time she crossed the road back, the crowd had doubled.
Many of them wore a sad expression and thy were shaking their
heads in pity. “What is going there?” Kemi said. She managed herself
through the crowd to see what is happening there. Her eyes widened
in disbelief. Right there, her mother-in-law was laying dead by the
road side.
“No!!!!”
security guard. It took him more than ten minutes before getting
out of his black Toyota Corola and walked toward the front door of
the main building, ignoring the greetings of the security man.
Olu’s wife turned her gaze from the Tv set to him as he opened
the front door into the sitting room. “Welcome honey.” Kemi said
with a soft smile.
“Where is mama?” Olu asked with unpleasant voice.
“Mama.” Kemi said. “She’s inside her room, what’s the matter?”
Olu ignored her and called her mother. “Mama!”
The old woman hurried out of her room. “My son you’re back.
how…”
“Mama,” he pounced on his mother’s word, “i want you to go into
your room, pack your things and leave my house.”
The old woman widened her eyes in disbelief. “Me, leave your
house?”
“Yes mama.’ Olu said. “You cannot continue living here with me.”
Kemi couldn’t believe her ears. “Honey what’s all this? What has got
into you?”
Olu met his wife’s gaze. “Stay out of this.” He yelled. “Do you hear
me?”
“What have i done?” The old woman asked. “My son?”
“I’m not your son.” Olu raised his voice. “Don’t ever call me your
son.”
“Honey?”
“Shut up.” Olu yelled at his wife, and met his mother gaze. “I’m not
your son, now go and pack your loads and leave my house now, or i
would drag you out by force.”
“Me, Olu.” The old woman said. “Drag me out with force? Why?”
“Because you’re a witch.” Olu said at once, his eyes were cold.
His words hits his mother and his wife like an unseen blow. How
could he called his mother a witch? Tears slipped down his mother
cheeks. “Me? Olu me your mother, a witch.” She said slowly.
“Yes, you’re a witch and you cannot continue living in this house.”
Olu said, his voice was strong. “Please leave my house for good.” He
turned and walked into his mother room and back with a big
traveling bag and threw it on the floor. “If you don’t leave now, i
would do something silly.”
“Honey what has got into you? why are you doing this to mama?”
His wife said angrily.
“I warned you for the last time.” Olu said to his wife. “If you don’t
stay out of this, i would send you out with her.” He was serious. He
put his hand into his trouser pocket, he brought out some money and
threw them on the center table. “Take that money and go back to
the village, that’s where you belong.”
All is mother could do was cry. She carried her bag with tears,
ignoring the money and left his son’s house.
Kemi met Olu’s gaze. “This is very bad of you.” her voice rose. “How
dare you accused that innocent old woman of witch craft? What is
going with you?”
Olu ignored her words and watched her walked into her room silently.
All he wanted was the old woman to leave his house, and thank God
the devil has gone. He settled down in a chair, trying to keep his
breath slow and steady. He leaned his back against the chair and let
the memories flow. He had loved his mother and brought her from
the village to stay with him, and they were living happily. Slowly, his
business fell. He took a loan from the bank to raise his business but
he fell into the hands of wrong men, and he was duped.
Life became hard for Olu and he needed to turn his failures around,
so he consulted a spiritualist that told him his mother was behind his
down fall. He felt bad about it. How could it be his mother. He
thought so much about it for many days and came into conclusion
that truly, his mother has hand in his down fall. Since his mother
came from the village, things had not been going well with him. He
could remembered how he lost a contract worthy millions the very
week his mother came from the village. Olu was sad, very sad about
it.
Kemi couldn’t bear it, she walked out of her room into the sitting
room and stared at her husband for a very long moment. This can’t
be true. Her mother-in-law is not a witch. “I would not let mama
go.” She said and hurried out of the sitting room.
“Just go with her.” Olu said. “Don’t ever back bark to this house.”
Kemi hurried along the street to stop her mother-in-law, but the old
woman had gone far. By time she got to the main road, no sight of
her mother-in-law. She walked toward a crowd that gathered, but
she could not find her. “Where had she gone to?” she asked herself
and crossed to the other side of the road. She was sad as she
couldn’t find the old woman. There’s nothing she could now. Maybe
if she had a chance she would to go to the village and apologize to
her.
By the time she crossed the road back, the crowd had doubled.
Many of them wore a sad expression and thy were shaking their
heads in pity. “What is going there?” Kemi said. She managed herself
through the crowd to see what is happening there. Her eyes widened
in disbelief. Right there, her mother-in-law was laying dead by the
road side.
“No!!!!”
THE LIFE OF THE REPENTANT SLUT 14
Sometimes, unnecessary stress makes someone add unnecessary
weight. . . such was the dilemma I found myself in. Everything
about me had changed. It was like I have lost the two most
important persons to me. . . No sex in three weeks; so very unusual.
I seemed to have already lost interest in life; couldn’t find savour in
anything. . . I became unexplainably depressed since that encounter
with Jide at the hospital. I have grown to love him but we just
kept dripping apart. Amaka on the other hand is where she is and
they were like all I ever have left.
I decided to take a break from my pity party situation. Haven’t
stepped out in two days, all I had been doing was running hot bath;
my favourite hobby in the world, feeding on anything calories, lying
on the bed, listening to Dido’s “Life for rent” on repeat. . . Crazy
things women do.
It was as if the PHCN had known I was gonna be like this for two
days; the light was unbelievable stable but I was tired of being
unnecessarily miserable when the life around me was going on. I
haven’t even visited Amaka in two days and I’m sure it’s either
she is terribly mad at me or crazily worried for me. Jide didn’t even
buzz my phone at all in two days. How would I even know if he did;
this one that I have switched off my phone for two days. . . I am
sure he never tried.
I was so mad at myself for falling for Jide which was so unlike me
and really, I need to stop beating myself over it. Shutting myself
out of the world, not worrying about Amaka and becoming
unexplainably depressed wasn’t a good way to go about it. I should
learn to move on. I encouraged myself to rise up from the bed. . .
brushed my teeth, splashed water on my beautiful face which never
tasted water in two days, ran my hands through my soft hair, tied
it into a bun, take two glasses of water, changed from my night
wear which I’m sure must be having a foul smell by now; I put on
a black tank top and a black silk stretchy leggings, with my headset
on my head, I opened the door, shut the house and left for April
Government College.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Running through the lawns of April Government College had become
an habit whenever I needed to get in shape. I do a little running,
walking and then jogging. Most times, I don’t do it just for the
weight but also, it’s my way of shedding off weighty thoughts. Let’s
just say, the school lawn was my quiet room. It has a seat that can
accommodate at least three people at a time. The seat also swings
up and down; the kind of seat you find at an amusement park or
lovers’ lawn.
April Government College was a 15km walk down from our house.
The school is very beautiful; the track field was open to the street;
people can see it from afar even while in the taxi. You appreciate
the beauty of the school more from a far view. Eliza also attended
that school. The students are brilliant and sometimes you find it so
hard to believe that’s a school funded by the government. It’s a one
of its kind.
I sat on the seat for like 30minutes. The seat gives comfort and
succour. It’s so sweet and relaxing; the swinging makes it feel as if
I was in a totally different world and nothing around me was falling
apart. I slammed on my headset with Sia’s “Chandelier” playing and
I was humming to it. I remembered the past; both the beautiful
and the ugly but the ugly reminisce carried the 90% of my
thoughts. Life hasn’t been fair but there were sweet moments. I
remembered running through the streets of Mafoluku with my
panties on amidst my peers. The memory brought smiles on my face. .
. I remembered St. Anne Catholic Church; there I had once served
as an altar assistant; they called it servers. I remembered selling
‘dankwa’ which fed and pay for my fees through primaries one to
five. . . When ‘dankwa’ failed, I resorted to selling ‘moi-moi’ and
‘koko’ (a not-too-watery version of pap) to see myself through
Secondary school. I resorted to prostitution when I didn’t make my
WAEC and I have to do external exams like NECO and WAEC GCE.
. . Ever since then, I never stopped.
Sex to me was like shielding oneself from taking the cucumber fruit
all because some people don’t like it and then you don’t like it and
all of a sudden, you tasted an iced cucumber; an experience you
never want to stop having. It might not have a definite taste but it
has its benefits. I was 20 when I wrote JAMB; I graduated at
the age of 25, went to Law School. . . Approximately, I have been
having consistent sex for 7 years now. . .
I was tired of reminiscing things I wasn’t proud of but hardly do I
regret any of those things. . . I wish I had other choices but I
didn’t. I want to be more than the situation around me could dictate
but the question was ‘did I really achieve the way I wanted?’
I ran through the track field of April G. C. over and over for six
times consecutively with my headset replaying Common ft. John
Legend’s “Glory” with so much heaviness and heaves of sadness all
over me. . . the song kinda gives me hope.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Two hours was all I needed to make the house look so pleasant to
the eyes. Somewhere within me, I felt lively, everything seems back
to normal and the aura of hope flushed through my petite face. . .
I had a cool bath and it was so refreshing that I was like ‘what
the hell have I been doing to myself for two days?’
Not knowing what to wear, I slipped into a black jumpsuit. Black is
my favourite colour. I slipped my legs into a flat black Noble Igwe-
like sandal; with a rolex wristwatch and my stud earrings as
ensembles. I sprayed a little perfume, carried my LV petite bag,
combed my hair into an all back situation, use my favourite lipgloss,
no powder and I dashed out of the house to go check Amaka at
the Police Station. I was really hoping I won’t meet her there or
something or even if I did I hope Sola would have carried out my
orders and make everything easy.
I flagged down a taxi and in less than 15minutes, we were there.
The taxi man was extremely speedy that all I was doing throughout
the ride was a silent prayer. He wasn’t smelling alcohol or looking
depressive but he really doesn’t look alright with the manner with
which he drove the car. I can only hope his issues are resolved
before e go crash passengers for inside canal.
I stepped down and I can see that same Corporal I met the other
day staring deeply at me with his eyes focusing on my boobs like a
boobs-starved man and he just can’t wait to tear my clothes if
possible and start over-flooding his face with it.
“Hello. Good afternoon Officer.” I greeted him.
“Madam, it’s still morning. . .” He said growling at me.
“Officer, take it easy na. I haven’t come here to fight you o abi. . .
Anyways, it’s past twelve already. You should check your wristwatch
*that’s even if it’s working* I murmured to myself.”
“Okay, no vex. . . How you dey now? E don tey wey you come here
o! Your friend don dey worry no be small.”
“Eh ya. How is she? I thought you people would have released her
na.”
“Release kwa? Who we go release? Na here she go rot. That bad-
mouth scatter rubbish type of girl.” He said with so much Igbotic
accent.
“Officer abeg na! That one too much. Which one be she go rot
here? Abeg o!”
“Wetin dey worry you too? You better behave o! You are talking to
a Sergeant. I go just lock you up too.”
“Lol! Officer abeg. No dey overhype yourself. Your wetin dem dey call
am wey dey your fifty shoulder pad reads “Corporal”
“Wetin dey my shoulder? Two red ‘V’ s. . . E no mean anything.
“Exactly my point. You don’t have a rank yet so stop hyping yourself.
. . Can I see my friend now?”
The D. P. O. stepped out. He was a cute handsome young man. I love
a man in uniform but I’m so scared of ending up with one. Biko, I
love myself, e too early to dey alone either by death or by transfer
or by travelling about.
“Corporal!” He screamed!
“Yes Sir!” he replied making their gestural greetings.
“Release that young lady you held hostage. . . Amaka Coker or
what’s her name; she’s available for bail.”
“Oga! Bail?”
“Yes! You heard me and make it as snappy as possible. She mustn’t
spend another night here! Do I make myself clear?” he said with so
much authority.
“Yes, yes sir!” he said stuttering.
I couldn’t contain my laughter.
“Why you dey laugh? You this girl, I go lock you up.”
“Oga, bone! Wetin dey do you sef. . . You no see as you wan pee for
body because of that young man wey come here cos you know say
e fit sack you! Young hot boy o! DPO! No pride but ordinary corporal
like you ehn! . . . Make I just shut up.”
“Sergeant! Come and lock this woman up!”
“Hahahahahahahahaha! Corporal you no go kill me o! Ordinary Corporal
like you wan give Sergeant order. Abeg, speed up the bail before I
scream now o and your DPO will just come out and your own don
done be that!”
He left the counter and went in to return with Amaka! The stupid
girl was just smiling but looking tired; all beaten up by mosquitoes. . .
weight. . . such was the dilemma I found myself in. Everything
about me had changed. It was like I have lost the two most
important persons to me. . . No sex in three weeks; so very unusual.
I seemed to have already lost interest in life; couldn’t find savour in
anything. . . I became unexplainably depressed since that encounter
with Jide at the hospital. I have grown to love him but we just
kept dripping apart. Amaka on the other hand is where she is and
they were like all I ever have left.
I decided to take a break from my pity party situation. Haven’t
stepped out in two days, all I had been doing was running hot bath;
my favourite hobby in the world, feeding on anything calories, lying
on the bed, listening to Dido’s “Life for rent” on repeat. . . Crazy
things women do.
It was as if the PHCN had known I was gonna be like this for two
days; the light was unbelievable stable but I was tired of being
unnecessarily miserable when the life around me was going on. I
haven’t even visited Amaka in two days and I’m sure it’s either
she is terribly mad at me or crazily worried for me. Jide didn’t even
buzz my phone at all in two days. How would I even know if he did;
this one that I have switched off my phone for two days. . . I am
sure he never tried.
I was so mad at myself for falling for Jide which was so unlike me
and really, I need to stop beating myself over it. Shutting myself
out of the world, not worrying about Amaka and becoming
unexplainably depressed wasn’t a good way to go about it. I should
learn to move on. I encouraged myself to rise up from the bed. . .
brushed my teeth, splashed water on my beautiful face which never
tasted water in two days, ran my hands through my soft hair, tied
it into a bun, take two glasses of water, changed from my night
wear which I’m sure must be having a foul smell by now; I put on
a black tank top and a black silk stretchy leggings, with my headset
on my head, I opened the door, shut the house and left for April
Government College.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Running through the lawns of April Government College had become
an habit whenever I needed to get in shape. I do a little running,
walking and then jogging. Most times, I don’t do it just for the
weight but also, it’s my way of shedding off weighty thoughts. Let’s
just say, the school lawn was my quiet room. It has a seat that can
accommodate at least three people at a time. The seat also swings
up and down; the kind of seat you find at an amusement park or
lovers’ lawn.
April Government College was a 15km walk down from our house.
The school is very beautiful; the track field was open to the street;
people can see it from afar even while in the taxi. You appreciate
the beauty of the school more from a far view. Eliza also attended
that school. The students are brilliant and sometimes you find it so
hard to believe that’s a school funded by the government. It’s a one
of its kind.
I sat on the seat for like 30minutes. The seat gives comfort and
succour. It’s so sweet and relaxing; the swinging makes it feel as if
I was in a totally different world and nothing around me was falling
apart. I slammed on my headset with Sia’s “Chandelier” playing and
I was humming to it. I remembered the past; both the beautiful
and the ugly but the ugly reminisce carried the 90% of my
thoughts. Life hasn’t been fair but there were sweet moments. I
remembered running through the streets of Mafoluku with my
panties on amidst my peers. The memory brought smiles on my face. .
. I remembered St. Anne Catholic Church; there I had once served
as an altar assistant; they called it servers. I remembered selling
‘dankwa’ which fed and pay for my fees through primaries one to
five. . . When ‘dankwa’ failed, I resorted to selling ‘moi-moi’ and
‘koko’ (a not-too-watery version of pap) to see myself through
Secondary school. I resorted to prostitution when I didn’t make my
WAEC and I have to do external exams like NECO and WAEC GCE.
. . Ever since then, I never stopped.
Sex to me was like shielding oneself from taking the cucumber fruit
all because some people don’t like it and then you don’t like it and
all of a sudden, you tasted an iced cucumber; an experience you
never want to stop having. It might not have a definite taste but it
has its benefits. I was 20 when I wrote JAMB; I graduated at
the age of 25, went to Law School. . . Approximately, I have been
having consistent sex for 7 years now. . .
I was tired of reminiscing things I wasn’t proud of but hardly do I
regret any of those things. . . I wish I had other choices but I
didn’t. I want to be more than the situation around me could dictate
but the question was ‘did I really achieve the way I wanted?’
I ran through the track field of April G. C. over and over for six
times consecutively with my headset replaying Common ft. John
Legend’s “Glory” with so much heaviness and heaves of sadness all
over me. . . the song kinda gives me hope.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Two hours was all I needed to make the house look so pleasant to
the eyes. Somewhere within me, I felt lively, everything seems back
to normal and the aura of hope flushed through my petite face. . .
I had a cool bath and it was so refreshing that I was like ‘what
the hell have I been doing to myself for two days?’
Not knowing what to wear, I slipped into a black jumpsuit. Black is
my favourite colour. I slipped my legs into a flat black Noble Igwe-
like sandal; with a rolex wristwatch and my stud earrings as
ensembles. I sprayed a little perfume, carried my LV petite bag,
combed my hair into an all back situation, use my favourite lipgloss,
no powder and I dashed out of the house to go check Amaka at
the Police Station. I was really hoping I won’t meet her there or
something or even if I did I hope Sola would have carried out my
orders and make everything easy.
I flagged down a taxi and in less than 15minutes, we were there.
The taxi man was extremely speedy that all I was doing throughout
the ride was a silent prayer. He wasn’t smelling alcohol or looking
depressive but he really doesn’t look alright with the manner with
which he drove the car. I can only hope his issues are resolved
before e go crash passengers for inside canal.
I stepped down and I can see that same Corporal I met the other
day staring deeply at me with his eyes focusing on my boobs like a
boobs-starved man and he just can’t wait to tear my clothes if
possible and start over-flooding his face with it.
“Hello. Good afternoon Officer.” I greeted him.
“Madam, it’s still morning. . .” He said growling at me.
“Officer, take it easy na. I haven’t come here to fight you o abi. . .
Anyways, it’s past twelve already. You should check your wristwatch
*that’s even if it’s working* I murmured to myself.”
“Okay, no vex. . . How you dey now? E don tey wey you come here
o! Your friend don dey worry no be small.”
“Eh ya. How is she? I thought you people would have released her
na.”
“Release kwa? Who we go release? Na here she go rot. That bad-
mouth scatter rubbish type of girl.” He said with so much Igbotic
accent.
“Officer abeg na! That one too much. Which one be she go rot
here? Abeg o!”
“Wetin dey worry you too? You better behave o! You are talking to
a Sergeant. I go just lock you up too.”
“Lol! Officer abeg. No dey overhype yourself. Your wetin dem dey call
am wey dey your fifty shoulder pad reads “Corporal”
“Wetin dey my shoulder? Two red ‘V’ s. . . E no mean anything.
“Exactly my point. You don’t have a rank yet so stop hyping yourself.
. . Can I see my friend now?”
The D. P. O. stepped out. He was a cute handsome young man. I love
a man in uniform but I’m so scared of ending up with one. Biko, I
love myself, e too early to dey alone either by death or by transfer
or by travelling about.
“Corporal!” He screamed!
“Yes Sir!” he replied making their gestural greetings.
“Release that young lady you held hostage. . . Amaka Coker or
what’s her name; she’s available for bail.”
“Oga! Bail?”
“Yes! You heard me and make it as snappy as possible. She mustn’t
spend another night here! Do I make myself clear?” he said with so
much authority.
“Yes, yes sir!” he said stuttering.
I couldn’t contain my laughter.
“Why you dey laugh? You this girl, I go lock you up.”
“Oga, bone! Wetin dey do you sef. . . You no see as you wan pee for
body because of that young man wey come here cos you know say
e fit sack you! Young hot boy o! DPO! No pride but ordinary corporal
like you ehn! . . . Make I just shut up.”
“Sergeant! Come and lock this woman up!”
“Hahahahahahahahaha! Corporal you no go kill me o! Ordinary Corporal
like you wan give Sergeant order. Abeg, speed up the bail before I
scream now o and your DPO will just come out and your own don
done be that!”
He left the counter and went in to return with Amaka! The stupid
girl was just smiling but looking tired; all beaten up by mosquitoes. . .
Monday, 4 April 2016
THE LIFE OF THE REPENTANT SLUT 13
“Hi. Good morning.”
“Good morning. How can I help you ma’am?”
“Thanks. I am looking for someone who was admitted at this hospital.
His name is Adewale Olusola.”
“Who are you to him? And is he expecting you?”
“I am. . .”
I wanted to say I am a friend which would definitely mean he is a
friend but hell no he is not a friend. I am not angry. I would just
love it to be that way but I definitely need to say something to get
a bypass with the Nurse.
“Madam!”
“Oh sorry. I am an old friend of his *that sounds better at least. He
was an old friend.*”
“Okay. You go straight then make a first turning by the right; the
third room is where you’d find him.”
“Thank you.”
I had set out of the house early to find Sola even if it was the last
thing I wanted to do but I actually have to know what’s going on.
I had took a quick shower, dress up in a short sleeveless top, a jean,
a flat sandal and a black face cap as a shield against the sun as it
turns out the sun sets out so early today. The fact that I haven’t
received any call or a single text from Jide kept on bothering me
even though I try to hide it. I like him but I have never been in a
relationship before and a guy-drama is the last thing I have patience
for.
“He’d call. . . He needs some time.” I keep telling myself.
I didn’t want to call Sola to find out where he was or to tell him I
wanted to see him or something and Jide wasn’t on talking terms
with him ever since that incident. It was like their friendship ended
that day at the restaurant. I decided to call one of his friends who
had told me where I could find him. . . Staring at him on the bed
with heavy bandage to his head and the surreal that radiates all
over him while asleep makes me wanna hit him with that bournvita
can next to his bed but I thought I wasn’t angry. Maybe not at
him, maybe at myself for allowing him do that to me. . . I decided
to leave as he was asleep hoping he would be awake by the time I
check back in the evening.
“Hi” he said holding my hand firmly like a resuscitated corpse who
grabs the first thing he sees.
“So you pretend to be asleep too? Guess you pretend over almost
everything in your life. Like you pretended to yourself that you did
nothing wrong to me. Like you lie to yourself ‘Sola forget about it,
life goes on. . . this babe doesn’t matter. She can’t do ‘nada’. It’s a
past you would never need to face again. . .” You want me to go
on?”
“Why are you here and how do you know where I was?”
“Seriously? You disgust me. I hate men like you who have ego over
nothing. You are wrong and you still wanna wear that 50 shoulder
pads of yours? You still wanna pretend like you are the boss, you’ve
got it all working, you’ve got it all together. . . You know, I don’t
care about what you did, I am just sorry if you have to wait till you
are in your 50s and you have to be responsible to your kids and be
protective of your girl-child till you grow up and be responsible for
once in your life. . . You know what, it doesn’t even matter. Here, is
the last place I wanna be so I would just go straight to the point.
What do you know about Amaka’s arrest?”
“You know you are so unnecessarily assuming. . .”
“It’s okay Sola, seriously, I have so much I want to say to you but
right now, it doesn’t matter. I’d appreciate if you would just
answer my questions.” I said with so much disgust.
“Fine. . . You see this bandage on my head, Amaka did this to me. I
have been having severe and terrible headaches for like four days
now non-stop.”
I sank my butts on the next available bed to me. Not that I was
surprised and not like Amaka is violent but why she did I don’t
understand.
“Amaka did this to you?”
“Yes, she did.”
“And you got her arrested?”
“Yes. . . So?”
“Are you kidding me? You got Amaka arrested? I am so wowed!
That’s so interesting you know. You couldn’t have done anything
other that. If I were in your shoes, I would have done the same
thing you know.”
“Exactly. I like the fact that you are being real.”
“You are a fool Sola. Oh! For whatever reason Amaka broke a bottle
on your head I would find out but I am not sorry for you and for
crying out loud, this happened in my house, my apartment. You had
the gut to show your face in my house and you blamed Amaka for
breaking a bottle on your head?”
I picked my bag to leave. I walked to the door and stopped to face
him.
“I’m gonna make sure she’s available for bail. She’s not gonna spend
another night in that horrible place and you better make sure it’s
easy. That same button you pressed to get her arrested, you better
start pressing them now to get her released. . . I pray you don’t
get better.”
I jammed the door at him only to bump into Jide by the door.
“And what are you doing here?”
“Jide, please, let me be. Let’s talk some other time.” Very crazy of
me to say right? I know but he was sounding so possessive and I
wouldn’t have any of that. I was patiently expecting to see him,
hear from him and now I am trying to spoil it.
“You think I wanna talk to you or you think I wanna sit down and
discuss that night with you? You must be kidding me. It’s not about
then, it’s about now.”
“I don’t understand.” I replied actually feeling lost.
“Okay. I will make you understand. I presume this is where Sola is
admitted right?”
“Yes. So?”
“I thought you guys were not talking; like you are not talking to
him, you don’t wanna see him. . .”
“And I thought you guys were no longer friends. . .”
“It doesn’t matter if he is no longer my friend or if he is. It’s not
like I hate him to the point of death. He didn’t offend him, he
offended you and I was just disappointed he did that and that
couldn’t man up to it.”
“Okay. You should go see him then. I have somewhere important to
be.”
He drew me back with his hands firmly gripping my hand.
“Jide, you are hurting me. Stop! For crying out loud we are in a
hospital.”
“You will answer my questions young woman. . .”
“Jide, coming to see Sola is not what you think it is. It’s something
much more important than that.”
“Really? Is that all you have to say?”
“Yea, for now!”
“Okay then. First, my dad has hooked you up before; now, you came
to Sola! I don’t even know what to believe anymore. Even if I
wanna sit down to discuss that dinner with you; with this, I don’t
think I want to anymore. . . You and Sola are both dead to me.”
He left angrily and I was obviously running after him.
“Jide, it’s not what you think. Why can’t you just be patient for
once!”
He entered his car, wind up and zoomed off!
“Jide!” I kept on screaming his name till I couldn’t see him again.
“Very matured!” I screamed into the air.
“Good morning. How can I help you ma’am?”
“Thanks. I am looking for someone who was admitted at this hospital.
His name is Adewale Olusola.”
“Who are you to him? And is he expecting you?”
“I am. . .”
I wanted to say I am a friend which would definitely mean he is a
friend but hell no he is not a friend. I am not angry. I would just
love it to be that way but I definitely need to say something to get
a bypass with the Nurse.
“Madam!”
“Oh sorry. I am an old friend of his *that sounds better at least. He
was an old friend.*”
“Okay. You go straight then make a first turning by the right; the
third room is where you’d find him.”
“Thank you.”
I had set out of the house early to find Sola even if it was the last
thing I wanted to do but I actually have to know what’s going on.
I had took a quick shower, dress up in a short sleeveless top, a jean,
a flat sandal and a black face cap as a shield against the sun as it
turns out the sun sets out so early today. The fact that I haven’t
received any call or a single text from Jide kept on bothering me
even though I try to hide it. I like him but I have never been in a
relationship before and a guy-drama is the last thing I have patience
for.
“He’d call. . . He needs some time.” I keep telling myself.
I didn’t want to call Sola to find out where he was or to tell him I
wanted to see him or something and Jide wasn’t on talking terms
with him ever since that incident. It was like their friendship ended
that day at the restaurant. I decided to call one of his friends who
had told me where I could find him. . . Staring at him on the bed
with heavy bandage to his head and the surreal that radiates all
over him while asleep makes me wanna hit him with that bournvita
can next to his bed but I thought I wasn’t angry. Maybe not at
him, maybe at myself for allowing him do that to me. . . I decided
to leave as he was asleep hoping he would be awake by the time I
check back in the evening.
“Hi” he said holding my hand firmly like a resuscitated corpse who
grabs the first thing he sees.
“So you pretend to be asleep too? Guess you pretend over almost
everything in your life. Like you pretended to yourself that you did
nothing wrong to me. Like you lie to yourself ‘Sola forget about it,
life goes on. . . this babe doesn’t matter. She can’t do ‘nada’. It’s a
past you would never need to face again. . .” You want me to go
on?”
“Why are you here and how do you know where I was?”
“Seriously? You disgust me. I hate men like you who have ego over
nothing. You are wrong and you still wanna wear that 50 shoulder
pads of yours? You still wanna pretend like you are the boss, you’ve
got it all working, you’ve got it all together. . . You know, I don’t
care about what you did, I am just sorry if you have to wait till you
are in your 50s and you have to be responsible to your kids and be
protective of your girl-child till you grow up and be responsible for
once in your life. . . You know what, it doesn’t even matter. Here, is
the last place I wanna be so I would just go straight to the point.
What do you know about Amaka’s arrest?”
“You know you are so unnecessarily assuming. . .”
“It’s okay Sola, seriously, I have so much I want to say to you but
right now, it doesn’t matter. I’d appreciate if you would just
answer my questions.” I said with so much disgust.
“Fine. . . You see this bandage on my head, Amaka did this to me. I
have been having severe and terrible headaches for like four days
now non-stop.”
I sank my butts on the next available bed to me. Not that I was
surprised and not like Amaka is violent but why she did I don’t
understand.
“Amaka did this to you?”
“Yes, she did.”
“And you got her arrested?”
“Yes. . . So?”
“Are you kidding me? You got Amaka arrested? I am so wowed!
That’s so interesting you know. You couldn’t have done anything
other that. If I were in your shoes, I would have done the same
thing you know.”
“Exactly. I like the fact that you are being real.”
“You are a fool Sola. Oh! For whatever reason Amaka broke a bottle
on your head I would find out but I am not sorry for you and for
crying out loud, this happened in my house, my apartment. You had
the gut to show your face in my house and you blamed Amaka for
breaking a bottle on your head?”
I picked my bag to leave. I walked to the door and stopped to face
him.
“I’m gonna make sure she’s available for bail. She’s not gonna spend
another night in that horrible place and you better make sure it’s
easy. That same button you pressed to get her arrested, you better
start pressing them now to get her released. . . I pray you don’t
get better.”
I jammed the door at him only to bump into Jide by the door.
“And what are you doing here?”
“Jide, please, let me be. Let’s talk some other time.” Very crazy of
me to say right? I know but he was sounding so possessive and I
wouldn’t have any of that. I was patiently expecting to see him,
hear from him and now I am trying to spoil it.
“You think I wanna talk to you or you think I wanna sit down and
discuss that night with you? You must be kidding me. It’s not about
then, it’s about now.”
“I don’t understand.” I replied actually feeling lost.
“Okay. I will make you understand. I presume this is where Sola is
admitted right?”
“Yes. So?”
“I thought you guys were not talking; like you are not talking to
him, you don’t wanna see him. . .”
“And I thought you guys were no longer friends. . .”
“It doesn’t matter if he is no longer my friend or if he is. It’s not
like I hate him to the point of death. He didn’t offend him, he
offended you and I was just disappointed he did that and that
couldn’t man up to it.”
“Okay. You should go see him then. I have somewhere important to
be.”
He drew me back with his hands firmly gripping my hand.
“Jide, you are hurting me. Stop! For crying out loud we are in a
hospital.”
“You will answer my questions young woman. . .”
“Jide, coming to see Sola is not what you think it is. It’s something
much more important than that.”
“Really? Is that all you have to say?”
“Yea, for now!”
“Okay then. First, my dad has hooked you up before; now, you came
to Sola! I don’t even know what to believe anymore. Even if I
wanna sit down to discuss that dinner with you; with this, I don’t
think I want to anymore. . . You and Sola are both dead to me.”
He left angrily and I was obviously running after him.
“Jide, it’s not what you think. Why can’t you just be patient for
once!”
He entered his car, wind up and zoomed off!
“Jide!” I kept on screaming his name till I couldn’t see him again.
“Very matured!” I screamed into the air.
THE LIFE OF THE REPENTANT SLUT 12
“Hi. Good evening Officer.”
“Evening madam.”
“Please, I am looking for a friend of mine. . .”‘
“Her name?”
“Amaka Coker.”
“Amaka?” he said disdainfully
“Wetin happen oga?”
“Who she be to you?”
“Na my friend.” I fired back.
“You be friend with that kind girl? That girl wey no get respect
ehn! She don dey frustrate everybody for here since morning. That
girl na murderer! If no be say she get powerful people behind her, I
go don torture her so tey, you no go even recognize am; especially
that her heavy backside! Chai, the girl carry!”
“Gbam! Gaps are on their way to being filled” I murmured to myself
and I shook my head for the officer.
“Why you dey shake your head? Wetin happen?”
“Nothing officer. Can I still see her?”
“Sure why not! As per say you sef carry. I can see why una be
friends”
The officer looked like Mr. Ibu in Police Uniform; crazy people are in
the police force these days.
Amaka was lying down on a flat slab in a room not necessarily locked
up. But seriously this girl is a fool. Who lies down to sleep in a police
station?
“Hey! You, you get visitor o!” the Police Officer screamed.
Amaka rose to sit and face the Police Officer who refused to leave.
“Can you leave us alone now at least I’m not charged yet. I don’t
know why una never lock me up sef cos you’re already treating me
like one.”
“No worry opeke, we go lock you up soon!” he said hissing and
leaving.
“Sola told me you were here and I don’t seem to understand, Sola,
you! What’s up?”
“Wo o, forget! How was your date na? And don’t tell me you left
your date to come here o!”
“You don craze shey you know? Which is more important? A date or
you? My date was over almost 2 hours ago. . . Even though the
date sucks; I swear, you don’t wanna know what happened.”
“Hey, look at me. It’s gonna be fine. Whatever happened, I’m gonna
hear it at home.” She said holding my hand like a fairy godmother.
“Awwww! Hey look at me too! You gonna rot here if you don’t start
talking and leave my date alone.”
“You are a fool!” she said looking for something to throw.
“Eh ya! You see what I am saying. There is no pillow here to throw
and I wish I’m sorry about that. . . You wanna start telling me
what happened?” I said with so much fun bullying her.
“Okay. . . ”
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The taxi I boarded home was exactly the kind I needed. The driver
had dropped off all other passengers and I was the only one left at
the back seat of the car. My knees were too weak to walk that I
had no option but to opt for a taxi. I would have ‘flied’ a motorbike
but I wasn’t ready for the jagging movements due to potholes. . .
You know, there is really a difference between the potholes effect
of a car and that of a motorbike. Amaka would always say “it’s a
lie. It depends on the rider and the driver.” I quite agree with her;
at times though.
Amaka couldn’t tell me what really went wrong before a Police
Officer bumped in to tell me my time with her was over. I never
even spent 15 minutes. Police Station is a ridiculous place to go. The
thought of her spending another night in that cell turns my stomach
and she doesn’t even care. Even the response I got from the Police
Officer about Amaka’s bail wasn’t even encouraging. Hmmmm. It is
well.
The driver increased the volume of the music player and somehow
somewhere, my mind found solace and strength in the Jim Reeves
“This World is not my Home” blasting from the stereo. It felt so
warm and enchanting that all I wanted to do was spend the whole
night in that car with the song on a repeat but unfortunately, I’m
soon to drop off from the car.
The walk down my house felt so short and sweet, all thanks to the
breeze and the silence of the street and the chattering of the moi-
moi, eko and akara sellers. I wasn’t sure whether to buy some as I
really can’t figure out what to have for dinner. Maybe it was me,
my appetite or both at work. What if I buy and it go to waste?
“I’ll pass” I said.
Unfortunately for me, the compound was silent but a shinning image
of someone a little plump, sitting on a wooden stool and reflecting so
much oil even in darkness was staring at me from afar. That
definitely could be no one other than Mama Seun. She’s white in the
morning and like a shining light for the children of Israelites in the
evening; all thanks to ‘ori’ and ‘adi-agbon’. She’s a sorry case. How
would someone leave her home in the morning without moisturizing
her body only to return in the evening to a moisturizing effect of
shea butter and coconut oil without even taking a shower. I wonder
how her husband has managed to stay with her for that long; 15
years or something. Maybe it’s because she’s the breadwinner and
the husband is the bread-eater.
Their marriage is like ‘one’s demise is the end of the other’. If
Mama Seun dies today, Papa Seun is doomed and if Papa Seun
suddenly woke up one day to a non-coordinating brain waves of his
telling him Mama Seun isn’t really good for him again or he wants to
try something else; pauper like him, Mama Seun go just collapse. . .
because in her case, there are two things involved in Basketmouth’s
voice. It’s either she bully him to stay because she’s never gonna
find a man who is gonna ‘just the way you are’ like Bruno Mars or
who’s gonna give her great sex considering her lassitude towards her
body.
Sitting in darkness at odd hours when almost everybody is in their
room chasing away mosquitoes, watching a movie, patiently waiting
for sleep, gisting, gossiping, ‘straffing’ or strategizing for the next
day has become a sort of daily rituals for her. Her boys quarters
couldn’t contain her anymore. God knows say I no get time for her
wahala this night not even a pinch of ‘gbeborun.’
“Hey, welcome o! You look so tired, se ko si? (hope no problem)”
“I’m fine Mama Seun. Just a little bit worn out from today’s
stress.”
“Eh ya. Pele o. Try take a bath before you sleep o and take
paracetamol if you have headache.”
You go fear adviser. She can’t even remember the last day she had
a morning bath not to talk of a night bath. If only people can take
the advice they give others. . .
“I will Mama Seun. Thanks.”
“O o ti e bere awon aburo e? (you no even ask of your siblings)”
“No vex. How dem dey o?” *like say na my mama born dem, she sha
no wan sound like say na aproko she wan do.*
“Ehn ehn. Dem dey fine. Thank you.”
“Alright na.”
I made for my door; that’s the only thing I wanna do now. Open it
and crash wherever I found fit.
“Abeg, e don tey o wey I see Amaka for house. Hope say she dey
alright? Abi she travel ni or she dey sick?”
Bad belle human being. No be only sick, na die she die. Some people
no get good thoughts for mind. Even some wey get, na one good
thought, two terrible thoughts. I think Mama Seun fits that
category.
“She dey alright o.”
“Okay. As I no see her na why I talk say make I just ask as per
Jesus talk say, love your neighbours as yourself na. . . But you never
tell me where she dey.”
“Mama Seun, you know say I don tire. All that matters is that
Amaka is fine. That info sef suppose do you now. I’d see you in
that morning. Good night.”
“Okay o.”
I didn’t even bother looking at her face while I talked. It is said
that ‘he who looks at the bride’s face will know she’s crying.’ I
knew what I said would have hurt her aproko body small but who
cares. I have bigger problems right now than considering who is
hurting over ‘gbeborun.’
I knew I was never gonna enjoy the night’s sleep. It was not
because I would have to sleep all alone in the house but because I
would have to sleep in the house with Amaka passing the night
elsewhere in an uncomfortable environment and situation. I threw
my bag to the nearest place it could find, I didn’t even bother
removing my makeup, offing my clothes not to talk of taking a
shower. I made for the couch, laid face down waiting for sleep to
come shut my eyes but I was determined to find out what really
happened the next day even if I had to make an appearance at the
last place I couldnt imagine myself.
“Evening madam.”
“Please, I am looking for a friend of mine. . .”‘
“Her name?”
“Amaka Coker.”
“Amaka?” he said disdainfully
“Wetin happen oga?”
“Who she be to you?”
“Na my friend.” I fired back.
“You be friend with that kind girl? That girl wey no get respect
ehn! She don dey frustrate everybody for here since morning. That
girl na murderer! If no be say she get powerful people behind her, I
go don torture her so tey, you no go even recognize am; especially
that her heavy backside! Chai, the girl carry!”
“Gbam! Gaps are on their way to being filled” I murmured to myself
and I shook my head for the officer.
“Why you dey shake your head? Wetin happen?”
“Nothing officer. Can I still see her?”
“Sure why not! As per say you sef carry. I can see why una be
friends”
The officer looked like Mr. Ibu in Police Uniform; crazy people are in
the police force these days.
Amaka was lying down on a flat slab in a room not necessarily locked
up. But seriously this girl is a fool. Who lies down to sleep in a police
station?
“Hey! You, you get visitor o!” the Police Officer screamed.
Amaka rose to sit and face the Police Officer who refused to leave.
“Can you leave us alone now at least I’m not charged yet. I don’t
know why una never lock me up sef cos you’re already treating me
like one.”
“No worry opeke, we go lock you up soon!” he said hissing and
leaving.
“Sola told me you were here and I don’t seem to understand, Sola,
you! What’s up?”
“Wo o, forget! How was your date na? And don’t tell me you left
your date to come here o!”
“You don craze shey you know? Which is more important? A date or
you? My date was over almost 2 hours ago. . . Even though the
date sucks; I swear, you don’t wanna know what happened.”
“Hey, look at me. It’s gonna be fine. Whatever happened, I’m gonna
hear it at home.” She said holding my hand like a fairy godmother.
“Awwww! Hey look at me too! You gonna rot here if you don’t start
talking and leave my date alone.”
“You are a fool!” she said looking for something to throw.
“Eh ya! You see what I am saying. There is no pillow here to throw
and I wish I’m sorry about that. . . You wanna start telling me
what happened?” I said with so much fun bullying her.
“Okay. . . ”
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The taxi I boarded home was exactly the kind I needed. The driver
had dropped off all other passengers and I was the only one left at
the back seat of the car. My knees were too weak to walk that I
had no option but to opt for a taxi. I would have ‘flied’ a motorbike
but I wasn’t ready for the jagging movements due to potholes. . .
You know, there is really a difference between the potholes effect
of a car and that of a motorbike. Amaka would always say “it’s a
lie. It depends on the rider and the driver.” I quite agree with her;
at times though.
Amaka couldn’t tell me what really went wrong before a Police
Officer bumped in to tell me my time with her was over. I never
even spent 15 minutes. Police Station is a ridiculous place to go. The
thought of her spending another night in that cell turns my stomach
and she doesn’t even care. Even the response I got from the Police
Officer about Amaka’s bail wasn’t even encouraging. Hmmmm. It is
well.
The driver increased the volume of the music player and somehow
somewhere, my mind found solace and strength in the Jim Reeves
“This World is not my Home” blasting from the stereo. It felt so
warm and enchanting that all I wanted to do was spend the whole
night in that car with the song on a repeat but unfortunately, I’m
soon to drop off from the car.
The walk down my house felt so short and sweet, all thanks to the
breeze and the silence of the street and the chattering of the moi-
moi, eko and akara sellers. I wasn’t sure whether to buy some as I
really can’t figure out what to have for dinner. Maybe it was me,
my appetite or both at work. What if I buy and it go to waste?
“I’ll pass” I said.
Unfortunately for me, the compound was silent but a shinning image
of someone a little plump, sitting on a wooden stool and reflecting so
much oil even in darkness was staring at me from afar. That
definitely could be no one other than Mama Seun. She’s white in the
morning and like a shining light for the children of Israelites in the
evening; all thanks to ‘ori’ and ‘adi-agbon’. She’s a sorry case. How
would someone leave her home in the morning without moisturizing
her body only to return in the evening to a moisturizing effect of
shea butter and coconut oil without even taking a shower. I wonder
how her husband has managed to stay with her for that long; 15
years or something. Maybe it’s because she’s the breadwinner and
the husband is the bread-eater.
Their marriage is like ‘one’s demise is the end of the other’. If
Mama Seun dies today, Papa Seun is doomed and if Papa Seun
suddenly woke up one day to a non-coordinating brain waves of his
telling him Mama Seun isn’t really good for him again or he wants to
try something else; pauper like him, Mama Seun go just collapse. . .
because in her case, there are two things involved in Basketmouth’s
voice. It’s either she bully him to stay because she’s never gonna
find a man who is gonna ‘just the way you are’ like Bruno Mars or
who’s gonna give her great sex considering her lassitude towards her
body.
Sitting in darkness at odd hours when almost everybody is in their
room chasing away mosquitoes, watching a movie, patiently waiting
for sleep, gisting, gossiping, ‘straffing’ or strategizing for the next
day has become a sort of daily rituals for her. Her boys quarters
couldn’t contain her anymore. God knows say I no get time for her
wahala this night not even a pinch of ‘gbeborun.’
“Hey, welcome o! You look so tired, se ko si? (hope no problem)”
“I’m fine Mama Seun. Just a little bit worn out from today’s
stress.”
“Eh ya. Pele o. Try take a bath before you sleep o and take
paracetamol if you have headache.”
You go fear adviser. She can’t even remember the last day she had
a morning bath not to talk of a night bath. If only people can take
the advice they give others. . .
“I will Mama Seun. Thanks.”
“O o ti e bere awon aburo e? (you no even ask of your siblings)”
“No vex. How dem dey o?” *like say na my mama born dem, she sha
no wan sound like say na aproko she wan do.*
“Ehn ehn. Dem dey fine. Thank you.”
“Alright na.”
I made for my door; that’s the only thing I wanna do now. Open it
and crash wherever I found fit.
“Abeg, e don tey o wey I see Amaka for house. Hope say she dey
alright? Abi she travel ni or she dey sick?”
Bad belle human being. No be only sick, na die she die. Some people
no get good thoughts for mind. Even some wey get, na one good
thought, two terrible thoughts. I think Mama Seun fits that
category.
“She dey alright o.”
“Okay. As I no see her na why I talk say make I just ask as per
Jesus talk say, love your neighbours as yourself na. . . But you never
tell me where she dey.”
“Mama Seun, you know say I don tire. All that matters is that
Amaka is fine. That info sef suppose do you now. I’d see you in
that morning. Good night.”
“Okay o.”
I didn’t even bother looking at her face while I talked. It is said
that ‘he who looks at the bride’s face will know she’s crying.’ I
knew what I said would have hurt her aproko body small but who
cares. I have bigger problems right now than considering who is
hurting over ‘gbeborun.’
I knew I was never gonna enjoy the night’s sleep. It was not
because I would have to sleep all alone in the house but because I
would have to sleep in the house with Amaka passing the night
elsewhere in an uncomfortable environment and situation. I threw
my bag to the nearest place it could find, I didn’t even bother
removing my makeup, offing my clothes not to talk of taking a
shower. I made for the couch, laid face down waiting for sleep to
come shut my eyes but I was determined to find out what really
happened the next day even if I had to make an appearance at the
last place I couldnt imagine myself.
FORBIDDEN LOVE 16
Three weeks later…..
Life went on as usual, assignments to do, tests to read for, calls
from home and even uncle Sam. Trust me, I took life like nothing
serious had happened before. I let go of the past, not that I forgot
or wasn’t still hurt but it wasn’t as hurtful as I imagined it would
be. As long as I wasn’t pregnant or ill and no one knew about it, It
didn’t bother me. I was just fine, so my young mind made me
believe anyway. I still got to see senior Daniel at our usual spot who
just always made me happy. At least, he still had one more year to
spend before leaving secondary school. I would really miss him and all
his caring and loving features, I kept telling myself. I was even
closer to him than I was to my school mother.
Speaking of my school mother, senior Onome. She called me one
evening after prep and told me to come arrange some things in her
room. As much as I hated going to seniors room, I obeyed. When I
got to her room, she pointed at a heap clothes on her bed and asked
me to fold them neatly and put in her locker. I really hated her
that moment as I was doing an assignment with Anabelle. Anyway,
I started folding the clothes and I noticed they weren’t the normal
type of clothes you would expect students to have with them in the
hostel. They were fancy and actually pretty. I saw some dresses
that got me looking for the hand and some I thought were smaller
than her size. While I was arranging, I slowly chipped into senior
Onome’s conversation with her other friends.
They were talking about parties and boys and what not, not that I
really wanted to hear it but their voices weren’t as low either. I
heard one of the seniors say something about ‘doing it’. Although I
didn’t understand at first, I knew what she meant when she said
some other things. She was talking about how much she enjoyed her
first time with a married man and this time, my eyes opened with
shock. But as shocked as I was, I made sure it wasn’t obvious that
I heard. She mentioned some other things about how she gets money
from them just by having sex with them, calling it ‘a small thing’.
Not only did she say married men, but our school teachers. I could
remember her mentioning Mr. Pete, one of the science teachers. The
man had always been a pervert anyway. They went on and on with
topics like this and I could see them jumping up and being all excited.
Senior Onome and the other senior wanted to try all the things the
other girl had been saying so they were too engrossed in their topic
to notice that I was done with the clothes. As I was about to
leave, senior Onome finally noticed and called me back.
“Ehen Mesonma! Did I tell you to leave? Am I done with you?”
senior Onome spoke out.
I shook my head not saying a word.
“I hope you didn’t hear anything. If you open this your mouth to
say anything about us ehn. You’ll know how far. Get out.”
I ran out of the room not looking back. I couldn’t believe my ears.
I always knew things like this occurred in school but it was just my
first time hearing it from the executors themselves. I didn’t forget
it instantly as I thought about all they were saying. They made
everything seem so right. I mean my mates were already having
boyfriends with boys even their seniors and doing things that you
wouldn’t imagine them do. The seniors even did worse and some
teachers were even involved. I just came to think that it wasn’t
bad after all. I thought it was a normal thing and so I didn’t see it
as something wrong even though Anabelle still saw it as something
not right.
The next Saturday, my uncle with Esther came to see me. He had
said Esther really wanted to see me. And since my parents weren’t
able to bring her, he had offered to bring her as he also missed me.
Remember I made mention that I was no longer angry with my
uncle. I was actually happy to see him. I talked and played with
Esther until it was time for them to go home which got both of us
really sad. Uncle Sam told Esther to wait for him in the car while
he spoke to me for a while.
“Can I sit at the front now uncle Sam?” Esther asked.
“For now, just sit there but you know when I come, you’ll have to
sit at the back”
“Okay…,” Esther replied with a sad face. She always wanted to sit
at the front but they never allowed because she wasn’t always
behaved. And she could be a distraction to the person driving even
though children under twelve weren’t adviced to sit at the front.
Anyway, in order not to digress, I spoke to uncle Sam for a while
and he asked about school and everything in general. Saying he
couldn’t wait for me to come home for the break. He mentioned
how much he loved me and I told him I loved him too. Despite the
fact that he did what he did to me in the past, I still thought he
was very loving and caring. He fed me with a lot of things that I
enjoyed hearing. Things that I didn’t hear often. This was my uncle
but it started to feel like he wasn’t. It felt different, more like a
boyfriend. Yes, very stupid of a thought especially because I was
still so young and he was my uncle but it felt that way. Maybe
because I wanted to feel what my other mates said they felt with
their boyfriends or maybe it was just because of the situation and
the way my uncle was. I really couldn’t tell. I hugged him when we
were done talking and went back to my hostel.
Now this was when things got…..
After the term’s exams, we were usually supposed to stay in school
a week before going on our holiday. I guess it was because they
wanted to finish compiling our results for us to have them before
going home. Some people lived in other states and very far from
school so it was more convenient.
On a very calm night, Just two days before school was to close for
the break. I was returning from where I went to meet senior
Daniel when I saw some other senior boys at the extreme end of
the uncompleted admin building calling out to me. Initially I thought
they were saying something else or calling someone else but I
noticed it was me when I saw that there was no one else around. I
did like I didn’t hear because they didn’t look like they were in
their right senses and I knew that corner wasn’t safe either. I
kept walking hoping that they wouldn’t call out again but I was
wrong. They all walked up to me and grabbed me scolding me for not
answering but it didn’t end there. They dragged me to the
uncompleted building even when I was shouting for them to let me
go. I struggled and struggled and hoped it wasn’t what I thought
they wanted to do to me. These boys didn’t even look like high
school boys even though they were. They were big boys who looked
drunk of some sort.
I kept struggling and started screaming when I saw one of them
fumbling with his belts and trouser. I screamed and screamed
thinking this would be another case of rape. I couldn’t and wasn’t
ready to go through it again. I almost bit the one pressing me to
the ground but he realized on time and removed his hands. The two
boys kept on telling the one pressing me down to be fast. At that
point, I was ready to give up but I kept screaming and not long
after senior Daniel came to my rescue. I guess he had just been
leaving our spot when he heard me scream. Immediately senior Daniel
got to where we were, two of the boys ran away. The other one
who was pressing me to the ground was too slow as senior Daniel
punched him in the face. He kept punching him and I could see the
anger in his eyes. That was the first time I saw him very serious
and angry. I began to get scared for the boy so I started pleading
for him. I told senior Daniel to let him go as I was okay now but
he didn’t even listen to me. He kept beating him up even as I kept
pleading. I could see blood on his face and how weak the boy was
getting until he was too weak to even move.
To be continued….
Life went on as usual, assignments to do, tests to read for, calls
from home and even uncle Sam. Trust me, I took life like nothing
serious had happened before. I let go of the past, not that I forgot
or wasn’t still hurt but it wasn’t as hurtful as I imagined it would
be. As long as I wasn’t pregnant or ill and no one knew about it, It
didn’t bother me. I was just fine, so my young mind made me
believe anyway. I still got to see senior Daniel at our usual spot who
just always made me happy. At least, he still had one more year to
spend before leaving secondary school. I would really miss him and all
his caring and loving features, I kept telling myself. I was even
closer to him than I was to my school mother.
Speaking of my school mother, senior Onome. She called me one
evening after prep and told me to come arrange some things in her
room. As much as I hated going to seniors room, I obeyed. When I
got to her room, she pointed at a heap clothes on her bed and asked
me to fold them neatly and put in her locker. I really hated her
that moment as I was doing an assignment with Anabelle. Anyway,
I started folding the clothes and I noticed they weren’t the normal
type of clothes you would expect students to have with them in the
hostel. They were fancy and actually pretty. I saw some dresses
that got me looking for the hand and some I thought were smaller
than her size. While I was arranging, I slowly chipped into senior
Onome’s conversation with her other friends.
They were talking about parties and boys and what not, not that I
really wanted to hear it but their voices weren’t as low either. I
heard one of the seniors say something about ‘doing it’. Although I
didn’t understand at first, I knew what she meant when she said
some other things. She was talking about how much she enjoyed her
first time with a married man and this time, my eyes opened with
shock. But as shocked as I was, I made sure it wasn’t obvious that
I heard. She mentioned some other things about how she gets money
from them just by having sex with them, calling it ‘a small thing’.
Not only did she say married men, but our school teachers. I could
remember her mentioning Mr. Pete, one of the science teachers. The
man had always been a pervert anyway. They went on and on with
topics like this and I could see them jumping up and being all excited.
Senior Onome and the other senior wanted to try all the things the
other girl had been saying so they were too engrossed in their topic
to notice that I was done with the clothes. As I was about to
leave, senior Onome finally noticed and called me back.
“Ehen Mesonma! Did I tell you to leave? Am I done with you?”
senior Onome spoke out.
I shook my head not saying a word.
“I hope you didn’t hear anything. If you open this your mouth to
say anything about us ehn. You’ll know how far. Get out.”
I ran out of the room not looking back. I couldn’t believe my ears.
I always knew things like this occurred in school but it was just my
first time hearing it from the executors themselves. I didn’t forget
it instantly as I thought about all they were saying. They made
everything seem so right. I mean my mates were already having
boyfriends with boys even their seniors and doing things that you
wouldn’t imagine them do. The seniors even did worse and some
teachers were even involved. I just came to think that it wasn’t
bad after all. I thought it was a normal thing and so I didn’t see it
as something wrong even though Anabelle still saw it as something
not right.
The next Saturday, my uncle with Esther came to see me. He had
said Esther really wanted to see me. And since my parents weren’t
able to bring her, he had offered to bring her as he also missed me.
Remember I made mention that I was no longer angry with my
uncle. I was actually happy to see him. I talked and played with
Esther until it was time for them to go home which got both of us
really sad. Uncle Sam told Esther to wait for him in the car while
he spoke to me for a while.
“Can I sit at the front now uncle Sam?” Esther asked.
“For now, just sit there but you know when I come, you’ll have to
sit at the back”
“Okay…,” Esther replied with a sad face. She always wanted to sit
at the front but they never allowed because she wasn’t always
behaved. And she could be a distraction to the person driving even
though children under twelve weren’t adviced to sit at the front.
Anyway, in order not to digress, I spoke to uncle Sam for a while
and he asked about school and everything in general. Saying he
couldn’t wait for me to come home for the break. He mentioned
how much he loved me and I told him I loved him too. Despite the
fact that he did what he did to me in the past, I still thought he
was very loving and caring. He fed me with a lot of things that I
enjoyed hearing. Things that I didn’t hear often. This was my uncle
but it started to feel like he wasn’t. It felt different, more like a
boyfriend. Yes, very stupid of a thought especially because I was
still so young and he was my uncle but it felt that way. Maybe
because I wanted to feel what my other mates said they felt with
their boyfriends or maybe it was just because of the situation and
the way my uncle was. I really couldn’t tell. I hugged him when we
were done talking and went back to my hostel.
Now this was when things got…..
After the term’s exams, we were usually supposed to stay in school
a week before going on our holiday. I guess it was because they
wanted to finish compiling our results for us to have them before
going home. Some people lived in other states and very far from
school so it was more convenient.
On a very calm night, Just two days before school was to close for
the break. I was returning from where I went to meet senior
Daniel when I saw some other senior boys at the extreme end of
the uncompleted admin building calling out to me. Initially I thought
they were saying something else or calling someone else but I
noticed it was me when I saw that there was no one else around. I
did like I didn’t hear because they didn’t look like they were in
their right senses and I knew that corner wasn’t safe either. I
kept walking hoping that they wouldn’t call out again but I was
wrong. They all walked up to me and grabbed me scolding me for not
answering but it didn’t end there. They dragged me to the
uncompleted building even when I was shouting for them to let me
go. I struggled and struggled and hoped it wasn’t what I thought
they wanted to do to me. These boys didn’t even look like high
school boys even though they were. They were big boys who looked
drunk of some sort.
I kept struggling and started screaming when I saw one of them
fumbling with his belts and trouser. I screamed and screamed
thinking this would be another case of rape. I couldn’t and wasn’t
ready to go through it again. I almost bit the one pressing me to
the ground but he realized on time and removed his hands. The two
boys kept on telling the one pressing me down to be fast. At that
point, I was ready to give up but I kept screaming and not long
after senior Daniel came to my rescue. I guess he had just been
leaving our spot when he heard me scream. Immediately senior Daniel
got to where we were, two of the boys ran away. The other one
who was pressing me to the ground was too slow as senior Daniel
punched him in the face. He kept punching him and I could see the
anger in his eyes. That was the first time I saw him very serious
and angry. I began to get scared for the boy so I started pleading
for him. I told senior Daniel to let him go as I was okay now but
he didn’t even listen to me. He kept beating him up even as I kept
pleading. I could see blood on his face and how weak the boy was
getting until he was too weak to even move.
To be continued….
FORBIDDEN LOVE 15
As the doctor said I wasn’t pregnant, I opened my eyes in shock
and then sighed in relief. I wanted to express how happy I was but
not in front of the men with me. I looked at uncle Sam who looked
like he had just managed to escape death. I was so happy I didn’t
know what to say. I finally muttered a “thank you Jesus” before
turning to the doctor and saying a ‘thank you’. He just smiled at me
and told me it was all the result. He explained to us that I had
something called Pseudocyesis, the belief that I was expecting a child
when really I wasn’t. He also said this belief caused me to have
symptoms of pregnancy as It was a psychological effect. Because I
knew the signs and symptoms of pregnancy and assumed I was
pregnant, I began to have actual symptoms of pregnancy. He
mentioned a lot more that got uncle Sam and I overwhelmed but
relief at the same time.
After a while, uncle Sam thanked the doctor and exchanged a few
more words before we left the office. As we got into the car,
Uncle Sam looked at me as I was seated beside him. He smiled at
me, saying how happy he was and apologized for everything over
again. I smiled, nodding at him. He said I hadn’t said much since I
got back from school and asked if I was hungry. Without even
giving me a chance to reply he said;
“I’m sure you’ll be so hungry, let’s go and get something okay?”
I just nodded as he drove off to a restaurant where we got a
takeaway package and headed for his house. As we got home, I
went straight into the room after saying a thank you which when I
look back, I ask myself why I did so. I thought of home and
wondered if they had tried to reach me. I knew that if my parents
eventually found out I was with uncle Sam, he would cook up
something to say. All I needed was to think of the whole lie I was
going to tell Anabelle.
That Saturday evening, uncle Sam asked If I was ready to go back
to school and I said yes. We were supposed to leave the next day
but I had told him that I wanted to go back to school and catch up
with a lot of things. We left the house and got to school in no time
but just before I got down from the car, he brought out some 500
naira notes from his wallet. He stretched his hands towards me,
gesturing . I didn’t want to collect it but he insisted I collected it,
so taking it and putting it inside my school bag, I thanked him and
headed for the hostel gate.
As soon I as got in, I signed in and went up to my room. The first
person I saw was Anabelle who screamed and ran to hug me. I was
so happy to see her even though it wasn’t up to a day since I last
saw her. My other mates also ran to hug me, welcoming me and
asking a lot of questions. I just gave them one excuse and they
didn’t ask further. Anabelle hugged me one more time and asked if
I was okay. I told her I was fine and mentioned the same excuse I
gave the rest. I really made up my mind not to tell anyone even
Anabelle, my very close friend. We talked and later that night, did
our assignments together during prep. She even mentioned that
senior Daniel had been looking for me. I actually couldn’t wait to see
him.
The next day, we all got up as we heard the morning bell to prepare
for church as all the declared Christians were to meet up at the
school’s chapel by 9:45am. We usually had breakfast early on
Sundays so I and Anabelle finished our meal on time and headed for
the school’s chapel. When we got there, we decided to sit down
while we waited for the service to begin. There were a few
students in the chapel as well and I thought I saw senior Daniel
but it turned out it wasn’t him. I was looking around to see if I
would sight him but he was nowhere to be found so I turned to
face Anabelle who had been ranting over and over about random
things. When the service was over, I was walking with Anabelle
back to the hostel when I heard someone call my name. I looked
back and saw that it was the errand boy, the same junior boy
senior Daniel sent to me whenever he wanted to pass a message. He
told me I was called by senior Daniel who was at his usual spot
waiting for me. I looked at Anabelle when he said this and she gave
me the gesture that I could leave and so she said to meet her at
the hostel. The junior boy went his way while I went to look for
senior Daniel. As I got towards the quiet place I usually met with
him, I could see him leaning on the tree as usual and just playing
with a stick or so.
As he looked up and saw me, he smiled at me warmly but then
squeezed his face. I was trying to figure out what he would say
this time. I got closer and we hugged before he asked;
“what took you so long?”
“I came immediately now,” I said to him smiling.
“Why can’t I just get mad at you. You’ll be deceiving someone with
your charms.” he replied rolling his eyes jokingly.
“I’m sorry now”
“Don’t mind me. I was just pulling your legs.”
“I hope you’re fine, this one that you’re always looking
skinny. Ehen! when I asked Anabelle to call you for me when I
wanted to speak with you. She told me you weren’t around. Where
did you go?”
“Oh! I went home.”
“Home? Why? Was something wrong?….I know, I’m asking too
many questions.”
I gave him the same excuse and he believed me. We talked for a
while and then he said he had to go. He handed me a nylon that was
quite heavy and when I opened it to check what was inside, they
were filled with cookies and Lucozade. I asked why he had fetched
all of this and he said;
“You that if they should touch, you’ll just break. I know you
complained that you were feeling weak the night I spoke to you so
I went to get this to give you strength like mine, I got them from
the tuck shop so don’t worry,” he said, winking at me.
I just smiled and thanked him before saying our goodbyes as I
headed to my hostel.
To be continued…..
and then sighed in relief. I wanted to express how happy I was but
not in front of the men with me. I looked at uncle Sam who looked
like he had just managed to escape death. I was so happy I didn’t
know what to say. I finally muttered a “thank you Jesus” before
turning to the doctor and saying a ‘thank you’. He just smiled at me
and told me it was all the result. He explained to us that I had
something called Pseudocyesis, the belief that I was expecting a child
when really I wasn’t. He also said this belief caused me to have
symptoms of pregnancy as It was a psychological effect. Because I
knew the signs and symptoms of pregnancy and assumed I was
pregnant, I began to have actual symptoms of pregnancy. He
mentioned a lot more that got uncle Sam and I overwhelmed but
relief at the same time.
After a while, uncle Sam thanked the doctor and exchanged a few
more words before we left the office. As we got into the car,
Uncle Sam looked at me as I was seated beside him. He smiled at
me, saying how happy he was and apologized for everything over
again. I smiled, nodding at him. He said I hadn’t said much since I
got back from school and asked if I was hungry. Without even
giving me a chance to reply he said;
“I’m sure you’ll be so hungry, let’s go and get something okay?”
I just nodded as he drove off to a restaurant where we got a
takeaway package and headed for his house. As we got home, I
went straight into the room after saying a thank you which when I
look back, I ask myself why I did so. I thought of home and
wondered if they had tried to reach me. I knew that if my parents
eventually found out I was with uncle Sam, he would cook up
something to say. All I needed was to think of the whole lie I was
going to tell Anabelle.
That Saturday evening, uncle Sam asked If I was ready to go back
to school and I said yes. We were supposed to leave the next day
but I had told him that I wanted to go back to school and catch up
with a lot of things. We left the house and got to school in no time
but just before I got down from the car, he brought out some 500
naira notes from his wallet. He stretched his hands towards me,
gesturing . I didn’t want to collect it but he insisted I collected it,
so taking it and putting it inside my school bag, I thanked him and
headed for the hostel gate.
As soon I as got in, I signed in and went up to my room. The first
person I saw was Anabelle who screamed and ran to hug me. I was
so happy to see her even though it wasn’t up to a day since I last
saw her. My other mates also ran to hug me, welcoming me and
asking a lot of questions. I just gave them one excuse and they
didn’t ask further. Anabelle hugged me one more time and asked if
I was okay. I told her I was fine and mentioned the same excuse I
gave the rest. I really made up my mind not to tell anyone even
Anabelle, my very close friend. We talked and later that night, did
our assignments together during prep. She even mentioned that
senior Daniel had been looking for me. I actually couldn’t wait to see
him.
The next day, we all got up as we heard the morning bell to prepare
for church as all the declared Christians were to meet up at the
school’s chapel by 9:45am. We usually had breakfast early on
Sundays so I and Anabelle finished our meal on time and headed for
the school’s chapel. When we got there, we decided to sit down
while we waited for the service to begin. There were a few
students in the chapel as well and I thought I saw senior Daniel
but it turned out it wasn’t him. I was looking around to see if I
would sight him but he was nowhere to be found so I turned to
face Anabelle who had been ranting over and over about random
things. When the service was over, I was walking with Anabelle
back to the hostel when I heard someone call my name. I looked
back and saw that it was the errand boy, the same junior boy
senior Daniel sent to me whenever he wanted to pass a message. He
told me I was called by senior Daniel who was at his usual spot
waiting for me. I looked at Anabelle when he said this and she gave
me the gesture that I could leave and so she said to meet her at
the hostel. The junior boy went his way while I went to look for
senior Daniel. As I got towards the quiet place I usually met with
him, I could see him leaning on the tree as usual and just playing
with a stick or so.
As he looked up and saw me, he smiled at me warmly but then
squeezed his face. I was trying to figure out what he would say
this time. I got closer and we hugged before he asked;
“what took you so long?”
“I came immediately now,” I said to him smiling.
“Why can’t I just get mad at you. You’ll be deceiving someone with
your charms.” he replied rolling his eyes jokingly.
“I’m sorry now”
“Don’t mind me. I was just pulling your legs.”
“I hope you’re fine, this one that you’re always looking
skinny. Ehen! when I asked Anabelle to call you for me when I
wanted to speak with you. She told me you weren’t around. Where
did you go?”
“Oh! I went home.”
“Home? Why? Was something wrong?….I know, I’m asking too
many questions.”
I gave him the same excuse and he believed me. We talked for a
while and then he said he had to go. He handed me a nylon that was
quite heavy and when I opened it to check what was inside, they
were filled with cookies and Lucozade. I asked why he had fetched
all of this and he said;
“You that if they should touch, you’ll just break. I know you
complained that you were feeling weak the night I spoke to you so
I went to get this to give you strength like mine, I got them from
the tuck shop so don’t worry,” he said, winking at me.
I just smiled and thanked him before saying our goodbyes as I
headed to my hostel.
To be continued…..
Monday, 21 March 2016
FORBIDDEN LOVE 14
Continuation…..
The next morning, I woke up in the arms of uncle Sam. I hadn’t
realized we had cuddled up while sleeping. I slowly moved away from
him but as soon as I got up, he woke up. He looked at the wall
clock just opposite him and jumped up. I knew we were already
running late for the appointment. He told me to quickly take a
shower while he also gets ready and so I left to other room where I
was supposed to have stayed for the night. I only had the shorts
and shirt I had brought with me, which I wore on Saturday
mornings in school for our morning exercise.
Anyway, I took a shower and got dressed. In no time, we were
done and ready to leave the house, so he locked the doors behind
and we drove off to the hospital. When we got to the hosptal, I
looked around lost, knowing that it wasn’t the same hospital my
parents usually brought I or Meso to whenever we needed to see
the doctor. We got into the reception and uncle Sam told the nurse
about our appointment before she asked us to take a seat in the
waiting room. I looked around really nervous and I guess uncle Sam
noticed it because he looked at me, and held my right hand. I
swallowed and tried to hide the fact that I was as scared, nervous
and whatever you could call a state that was just scary and
unexplainable. I was scared that I was going to have an abortion
which I hadn’t really heard pleasant things about. Something I had
never thought I would ever do. I was pretty young to understand
a lot about what was going on, what to do or say so I went with
the flow hoping that I would be leaving the hospital without being
pregnant. My heart was pounding because nobody knew any of this
except uncle Sam and I…………and maybe the doctor and nurses
soon.
At that point, I didn’t even care what the doctor or any of the
nurses would think of me. I was so embarrassed with the whole
situation, I just wanted it to be over. I wanted to burst out and
cry like the baby I was. I saw the sadness in uncle Sam’s face. I
saw the anger in his eyes. He was definitely angry with himself but
it didn’t look like it, only I could tell, so I thought to myself. After
about five more minutes, a nurse came up with a file in her hands
and called uncle Sam’s name so we both stood up and followed the
nurse behind as she led us to the doctor’s office. She knocked,
opened the door and let us go in before shutting the door and
leaving us to the doctor.
“Good day Sam Sam, how are you?” he said as he stood up to shake
uncle Sam.
“Samo! Doctor, Mr. Samuel Adekunle! Nice to see you again. You
know ever since you became a doctor, I haven’t called your
nickname in ages. Ahh Samo! Nice to see you. Nice to see you.”
uncle Sam replied.
The way they talked, laughed and exchanged words got me thinking
that they were long time friends.
“This is my niece, Mesonma and Meso this is Samuel, my long time
friend.” uncle Sam said introducing us to each other.
I fake smiled at him and greeted him before he asked us to take
our seats.
“Mesonma, your uncle here already told me about everything so I’ll
just ask you a few questions before you take the pregnancy test.
Don’t worry, I know you’re nervous but it will be okay.” the doctor
said with a warm but professional look.
I looked at uncle Sam before I nodded, I can’t remember why. The
doctor started with his questionnaire, from when last did I see my
period to how I had been feeling lately. I answered him as
accurately as I could before he asked if I was ready to take the
test. And when I told him I was ready, he took up the landline on
his desk and phoned someone who was probably the nurse that was
to help me with taking the test. In like a minute or two, we heard
a knock on the door and a nurse came in. Then the doctor asked me
to follow her to take the pregnancy test.
Uncle Sam’s Pov
As I watch Mesonma leave the office, I looked at Samuel who
looked at me with a not so pleasing eyes. I knew what he was going
to say next.
“Twelve years old Sam, ahn ahn, You no even try oo. Your niece
again.”
“It’s okay now Samuel, I didn’t say you should start making me
feel worse than I already feel. I know I was very wrong and I
shouldn’t have done what I did but it has already happened. Trust
me, I still feel very horrible about it. Thanks man for this though. I
appreciate.”
“Honestly, don’t thank me because I’m really disappointed oo. Look
at the kind of risk you’re putting me into. If not because of our
friendship, I would never have agreed to such. Do you know what
all these mean. Getting a small girl that is also your niece pregnant
and asking me to help you with an abortion. Common Sam, you’re
better than this. You need to change your ways oo.”
“Boss, I don hear you.”
We didn’t converse for too long before Meso came in with the same
nurse she left with. And as Meso took her seat beside me again,
the nurse gave Samuel, the doctor a file she had been holding.
Meso’s pov
As the nurse handed the file to the doctor, I sat down in suspense
waiting to hear the results of my test. My eyes were fixed on the
doctor and the file. The doctor waved for the nurse to leave and so
as she left, he opened the file and after about a minute, he looked
at me and said;
“Mesonma, you’re not pregnant.”
*******************************************
To be continued…..
The next morning, I woke up in the arms of uncle Sam. I hadn’t
realized we had cuddled up while sleeping. I slowly moved away from
him but as soon as I got up, he woke up. He looked at the wall
clock just opposite him and jumped up. I knew we were already
running late for the appointment. He told me to quickly take a
shower while he also gets ready and so I left to other room where I
was supposed to have stayed for the night. I only had the shorts
and shirt I had brought with me, which I wore on Saturday
mornings in school for our morning exercise.
Anyway, I took a shower and got dressed. In no time, we were
done and ready to leave the house, so he locked the doors behind
and we drove off to the hospital. When we got to the hosptal, I
looked around lost, knowing that it wasn’t the same hospital my
parents usually brought I or Meso to whenever we needed to see
the doctor. We got into the reception and uncle Sam told the nurse
about our appointment before she asked us to take a seat in the
waiting room. I looked around really nervous and I guess uncle Sam
noticed it because he looked at me, and held my right hand. I
swallowed and tried to hide the fact that I was as scared, nervous
and whatever you could call a state that was just scary and
unexplainable. I was scared that I was going to have an abortion
which I hadn’t really heard pleasant things about. Something I had
never thought I would ever do. I was pretty young to understand
a lot about what was going on, what to do or say so I went with
the flow hoping that I would be leaving the hospital without being
pregnant. My heart was pounding because nobody knew any of this
except uncle Sam and I…………and maybe the doctor and nurses
soon.
At that point, I didn’t even care what the doctor or any of the
nurses would think of me. I was so embarrassed with the whole
situation, I just wanted it to be over. I wanted to burst out and
cry like the baby I was. I saw the sadness in uncle Sam’s face. I
saw the anger in his eyes. He was definitely angry with himself but
it didn’t look like it, only I could tell, so I thought to myself. After
about five more minutes, a nurse came up with a file in her hands
and called uncle Sam’s name so we both stood up and followed the
nurse behind as she led us to the doctor’s office. She knocked,
opened the door and let us go in before shutting the door and
leaving us to the doctor.
“Good day Sam Sam, how are you?” he said as he stood up to shake
uncle Sam.
“Samo! Doctor, Mr. Samuel Adekunle! Nice to see you again. You
know ever since you became a doctor, I haven’t called your
nickname in ages. Ahh Samo! Nice to see you. Nice to see you.”
uncle Sam replied.
The way they talked, laughed and exchanged words got me thinking
that they were long time friends.
“This is my niece, Mesonma and Meso this is Samuel, my long time
friend.” uncle Sam said introducing us to each other.
I fake smiled at him and greeted him before he asked us to take
our seats.
“Mesonma, your uncle here already told me about everything so I’ll
just ask you a few questions before you take the pregnancy test.
Don’t worry, I know you’re nervous but it will be okay.” the doctor
said with a warm but professional look.
I looked at uncle Sam before I nodded, I can’t remember why. The
doctor started with his questionnaire, from when last did I see my
period to how I had been feeling lately. I answered him as
accurately as I could before he asked if I was ready to take the
test. And when I told him I was ready, he took up the landline on
his desk and phoned someone who was probably the nurse that was
to help me with taking the test. In like a minute or two, we heard
a knock on the door and a nurse came in. Then the doctor asked me
to follow her to take the pregnancy test.
Uncle Sam’s Pov
As I watch Mesonma leave the office, I looked at Samuel who
looked at me with a not so pleasing eyes. I knew what he was going
to say next.
“Twelve years old Sam, ahn ahn, You no even try oo. Your niece
again.”
“It’s okay now Samuel, I didn’t say you should start making me
feel worse than I already feel. I know I was very wrong and I
shouldn’t have done what I did but it has already happened. Trust
me, I still feel very horrible about it. Thanks man for this though. I
appreciate.”
“Honestly, don’t thank me because I’m really disappointed oo. Look
at the kind of risk you’re putting me into. If not because of our
friendship, I would never have agreed to such. Do you know what
all these mean. Getting a small girl that is also your niece pregnant
and asking me to help you with an abortion. Common Sam, you’re
better than this. You need to change your ways oo.”
“Boss, I don hear you.”
We didn’t converse for too long before Meso came in with the same
nurse she left with. And as Meso took her seat beside me again,
the nurse gave Samuel, the doctor a file she had been holding.
Meso’s pov
As the nurse handed the file to the doctor, I sat down in suspense
waiting to hear the results of my test. My eyes were fixed on the
doctor and the file. The doctor waved for the nurse to leave and so
as she left, he opened the file and after about a minute, he looked
at me and said;
“Mesonma, you’re not pregnant.”
*******************************************
To be continued…..
Thursday, 3 March 2016
FORBIDDEN LOVE 13
Continuation.……
The same house mother later came in and uncle Sam asked her if I
could be taken home. The house mother told him that students
weren’t just allowed to leave the hostel but immediately she said
that, uncle Sam told her that I wasn’t feeling fine and needed to
see our doctor and made up an excuse that he hoped would work.
When he said this, the young house mother looked at me and asked
why I didn’t go to the sick bay and I lied. I told her I had been
going to the sick bay but still hadn’t felt better. I was beginning to
get scared that she wasn’t going to allow me leave with uncle Sam
until she said;
“It’s okay, let me just write your exeat and get big mummy
(referring to the eldest house mother) to sign for you so you can
show the security officers at the gate. I’ll be back sir.” before
leaving the office.
I glanced at uncle Sam who was probably staring at me all along. He
was definitely not happy with the whole situation but I was the
damaged one, the victim, which meant it was worse for me. In less
than five minutes, the house mother came in and handed
the exeat to uncle Sam, telling me to go pack my things before
leaving with my uncle. I went up to pack the books and assignments
I would be needing for that weekend. There wasn’t much to pack
and so I locked my locker and gave Annabelle the keys, letting her
know that I wasn’t going to be around for the weekend. As
expected, she started asking questions and asking if I was okay. I
didn’t want to explain anything just yet so I let her know that we
would talk when I got back and hugged her before exiting the room
to join my uncle at the hostel office.
When I got into the office again, my unlce looked up and saw me so
he stood up, thanked the house mother and we both left the office.
When we got to the gates, my uncle handed them the exeat and so
we were allowed to pass the gates. But before we left, he reached
into the pockets of his trouser and handed them some change. They
were very happy and so they thanked him until we were out of
sight. I got into uncle Sam’s car as he started the engine before
driving off. In the car, it was as silent as a graveyard until uncle
Sam broke the silence.
“Meso, I’m sorry for what I’m putting you through….I still regret
all that I did. I promise it won’t happen again. I know that you
didn’t mention it to anybody that’s why I’m so grateful. I sincerely
love you. Don’t worry, I’ll fix this”
When he stopped talking, I didn’t even mutter a sound. I just kept
mute because honestly I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t hate
him, as much I thought this situation would cause me to.
“Am I forgiven?” he said facing me and trying to smile.
I nodded my head, still not finding any reason to reciprocate his
crooked smile. When he saw this, he focused back on the wheels and
road. I saw his hands shaking as he steered the wheel. I was a bit
scared that my parents would call the hostel and possibly find out
that I had left with uncle Sam because my curious mum would want
to know why they weren’t informed.
In no time, we were at his house and immediately we got in, he
asked if I was hungry. I nodded and he went straight to the
kitchen to fetch something for me. I was truly hungry as I hadn’t
eaten properly for the past days due to my loss of appetite at the
sight or smell or the hostel food. I managed to eat the rice and
stew he had warmed up for me. While eating, I watched him from
the dinning table talking to someone on the phone and walking
around. He seemed to be on the phone for a while before he ended
the call, then came up to me and said;
“Meso, I just spoke to the doctor, we will be leaving the house first
thing in the morning so that we can be at the hospital on time for
our appointment, okay?”
I just nodded. I don’t remember saying more than three sentences
that night before heading to the room to rest. As I sat on the bed,
I thought about so many things, from the child in my womb to the
man(my uncle) in the other room, to my family back at home. I
became so scared of what I would have to face if I had to raise a
child at that age. That night, I tried sleeping but I couldn’t. I kept
on rolling on the bed and feeling very uncomfortable. It was also hot
because there was no light and so the fans and air conditioners
weren’t switched on. And I guessed uncle Sam had forgotten to
switch on the generator.
I finally stood up and decided to get water from the kitchen as I
was very thirsty. I managed to find my way even with the
darkness, through the moonlight reflection coming from the windows.
As I got to the kitchen, I took a pure water bag from the fridge
and made my way out when I suddenly ran into uncle Sam. He said
he had come to check up on me and apologized for the darkness and
heat as he had forgotten to get fuel earlier that day. I told him I
couldn’t sleep and was thirsty, that was why I was up and out of
my bed, and so he offered me to come to his room as his wasn’t as
hot. I showed a little hesitation and he looked at me and said he
promised he wouldn’t do anything in which I believed and so I
followed him back to his room. Funny enough, as I laid on the bed
for about five minutes, I found myself falling into a deep sleep that
I hadn’t been able to in days. I remember uncle Sam who laid
beside me, watching me until my eyes were closed.
To be continued…..
The same house mother later came in and uncle Sam asked her if I
could be taken home. The house mother told him that students
weren’t just allowed to leave the hostel but immediately she said
that, uncle Sam told her that I wasn’t feeling fine and needed to
see our doctor and made up an excuse that he hoped would work.
When he said this, the young house mother looked at me and asked
why I didn’t go to the sick bay and I lied. I told her I had been
going to the sick bay but still hadn’t felt better. I was beginning to
get scared that she wasn’t going to allow me leave with uncle Sam
until she said;
“It’s okay, let me just write your exeat and get big mummy
(referring to the eldest house mother) to sign for you so you can
show the security officers at the gate. I’ll be back sir.” before
leaving the office.
I glanced at uncle Sam who was probably staring at me all along. He
was definitely not happy with the whole situation but I was the
damaged one, the victim, which meant it was worse for me. In less
than five minutes, the house mother came in and handed
the exeat to uncle Sam, telling me to go pack my things before
leaving with my uncle. I went up to pack the books and assignments
I would be needing for that weekend. There wasn’t much to pack
and so I locked my locker and gave Annabelle the keys, letting her
know that I wasn’t going to be around for the weekend. As
expected, she started asking questions and asking if I was okay. I
didn’t want to explain anything just yet so I let her know that we
would talk when I got back and hugged her before exiting the room
to join my uncle at the hostel office.
When I got into the office again, my unlce looked up and saw me so
he stood up, thanked the house mother and we both left the office.
When we got to the gates, my uncle handed them the exeat and so
we were allowed to pass the gates. But before we left, he reached
into the pockets of his trouser and handed them some change. They
were very happy and so they thanked him until we were out of
sight. I got into uncle Sam’s car as he started the engine before
driving off. In the car, it was as silent as a graveyard until uncle
Sam broke the silence.
“Meso, I’m sorry for what I’m putting you through….I still regret
all that I did. I promise it won’t happen again. I know that you
didn’t mention it to anybody that’s why I’m so grateful. I sincerely
love you. Don’t worry, I’ll fix this”
When he stopped talking, I didn’t even mutter a sound. I just kept
mute because honestly I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t hate
him, as much I thought this situation would cause me to.
“Am I forgiven?” he said facing me and trying to smile.
I nodded my head, still not finding any reason to reciprocate his
crooked smile. When he saw this, he focused back on the wheels and
road. I saw his hands shaking as he steered the wheel. I was a bit
scared that my parents would call the hostel and possibly find out
that I had left with uncle Sam because my curious mum would want
to know why they weren’t informed.
In no time, we were at his house and immediately we got in, he
asked if I was hungry. I nodded and he went straight to the
kitchen to fetch something for me. I was truly hungry as I hadn’t
eaten properly for the past days due to my loss of appetite at the
sight or smell or the hostel food. I managed to eat the rice and
stew he had warmed up for me. While eating, I watched him from
the dinning table talking to someone on the phone and walking
around. He seemed to be on the phone for a while before he ended
the call, then came up to me and said;
“Meso, I just spoke to the doctor, we will be leaving the house first
thing in the morning so that we can be at the hospital on time for
our appointment, okay?”
I just nodded. I don’t remember saying more than three sentences
that night before heading to the room to rest. As I sat on the bed,
I thought about so many things, from the child in my womb to the
man(my uncle) in the other room, to my family back at home. I
became so scared of what I would have to face if I had to raise a
child at that age. That night, I tried sleeping but I couldn’t. I kept
on rolling on the bed and feeling very uncomfortable. It was also hot
because there was no light and so the fans and air conditioners
weren’t switched on. And I guessed uncle Sam had forgotten to
switch on the generator.
I finally stood up and decided to get water from the kitchen as I
was very thirsty. I managed to find my way even with the
darkness, through the moonlight reflection coming from the windows.
As I got to the kitchen, I took a pure water bag from the fridge
and made my way out when I suddenly ran into uncle Sam. He said
he had come to check up on me and apologized for the darkness and
heat as he had forgotten to get fuel earlier that day. I told him I
couldn’t sleep and was thirsty, that was why I was up and out of
my bed, and so he offered me to come to his room as his wasn’t as
hot. I showed a little hesitation and he looked at me and said he
promised he wouldn’t do anything in which I believed and so I
followed him back to his room. Funny enough, as I laid on the bed
for about five minutes, I found myself falling into a deep sleep that
I hadn’t been able to in days. I remember uncle Sam who laid
beside me, watching me until my eyes were closed.
To be continued…..
Sunday, 21 February 2016
FORBIDDEN LOVE 12
Continuation…….
I kept on crying in silence until I could cry no more. I just sat
there on the toilet seat and stared into space for as long as five
minutes until I heard the sound of the siren which indicated long
break was over. I heard two other girls come into the washroom so
I wiped my face with my uniform, stood up from the seat, flushed
the toilet and came out pretending like I had just used the toilet. I
found out that the girls were jss2 girls and not my set mates. I
went over to the sink, washed my hands and headed for my class.
When I got to the class, I found Anabelle sitting on her chair and
reading a book so I went over and took my seat beside her. When I
sat down, she looked at me and gave a puzzled look. I looked at her
hoping she wouldn’t start with her questionnaires, then I asked why
she was staring that way.
“What took you so long?” she asked
I told her that I had a running stomach and she believed without
asking further questions. We had Introductory Technology and so Mr.
Alabi walked in, which shut everyone’s mouth. All through class, I
was just thinking and thinking, I didn’t know what I would do next.
If there was anyone I was going to speak to about the child in my
womb, it would be uncle Sam since he caused it all. I needed to act
fast and prevent my tummy from growing bigger so people wouldn’t
suspect. I had heard when other seniors talked about how some
students had been expelled for getting pregnant. I didn’t want my
case to be that way. I am so sure that throughout that day, I
panicked a lot. My heart was pounding and I didn’t think it would
reduce. School ended and the boarders left school for the hostel
while the day students went to their various homes.
When I got to the hostel, I went straight to the room, took off
my shoes, put my school bag aside and layed on my bed without
taking my uniform off. On a normal day, I would have taken it off,
washed it and possibly taken a shower but I was in no mood to do
all that. In fact, I was very weak. I felt sick thinking about
everything all over again. In my mind, I was hoping I wasn’t
pregnant and that I was getting it all wrong. I forced myself to
sleep until I heard the bell ring for dinner. When I got to
the dining hall, I almost felt like throwing up because of the strong
smell the yam and egg possessed which was supposed to be our
dinner. I thought the egg smelled rotten and so I instantly lost my
appetite. I decided to go back to the hostel and prepare for prep
since it was immediately after dinner. We usually had prep in school
and so I got my things ready and without waiting for anything or
anyone, I left the hostel for school. I got into my class, went
straight to the back and sat on one of the chairs. A few minutes
later, senior Daniel walked in. I was surprised because I didn’t think
anyone would guess I was already in school.
“What are you doing here all alone? Waiting for your boyfriend abi”
he said as he walked up to me and took the seat in front of me.
I’m pretty sure he was trying to make me laugh or smile but I just
shook my head and told him I decided to come early for prep. He
said he had asked after me at the girls hostel and was told that
they hadn’t seen me until he found someone who told him she had
seen me going towards school with my school bag. I didn’t mention
not having dinner because he would be upset with me and try to get
me to eat something. He was a nice senior but I just wasn’t in the
mood to talk to him. He saw that I gave him straight answers when
he asked questions and didn’t smile at his joke so he asked if I was
okay. I told him I was fine, just tired and again he believed me so
he came closer and hugged me. I already got used to hugging senior
Daniel and so I hugged him back. I actually felt good hugging him.
It reduced all of the tension and pain I was feeling at that
moment. I actually felt loved but he was another person I wasn’t
willing to share my secret with.
“I love you, my baby!” he finally said and let go of me. He told me
to try to balance school and get enough rest so I wouldn’t feel
tired and weak all the time. I nodded and held back the tears that
were already forming in my eyes. Why couldn’t I tell anyone about
the real pain that I was going through. I wanted to scream and tell
someone that I was being abused by uncle but I just couldn’t. He
stood up when we heard other students voices and told me he would
see me after prep.
During prep, I was asked to jump by my school mother,
senior Onome, who caught me putting my head on the table to sleep
several times. She always tried to make sure I wasn’t wasting my
time during prep and so whenever I was caught doing something
else other than studying, she made sure she punished me for it. I
was really feeling sleepy and tired but she wouldn’t understand any
of that and so I kept jumping until I was able to stay awake a
few minutes before prep was over. When we got to the hostel, I
went straight into the bathroom, washed my uniforms, took a
shower and went straight to sleep. I didn’t even talk to any of
mates throughout that night, including Anabelle.
**********************************************************
******
Uncle Sam’s pov
It was a Friday morning and I was too tired to stand up and
prepare for work. I had slept late thinking of what to say when I
eventually call the girls hostel to speak with Meso. I had collected
the hostel information from my brother’s wife so I could contact
my Meso. I needed to talk to her because since the night of
my misbehaviour, I hadn’t felt peace. I needed to hear her voice. I
needed her sincere forgiveness. I was quite shocked that she hadn’t
said a word to anybody because I thought that would be the case
but I already had a feeling she wasn’t going to spill.
Later that Friday afternoon, I got home early and the first thing I
did was dial the hostel number. It started ringing and before I
knew it, a woman answered;
“Hello? Riverdale girls hostel, how may I help you” the lady on the
other end of the line said.
“Good afternoon, my name is Sam, Meso’s…I mean Mesonma’s uncle.
Please, I would like to speak with her”
“Do you mean Mesonma Okojie?”
“Yes please”
“Okay, please hold on. Let me get her”
“Alright thank you”
After about three minutes waiting, I heard my Meso’s voice;
“Hello?” she said.
“Hello, Meso. It is Sam. How are you?”
“I’m fine, uncle Sam”
“How’s school?”
“fine”
“And the hostel? Hope you’re coping?”
“Uncle Sam, there’s something you need to know,” when she said
this, I suddenly became anxious to know what was up.
“Meso, what is it?” I asked.
“uncle Sam, I can’t tell you on the phone.”
“You can’t tell me on the phone? why?” I asked squeezing my face.
“Did anyone hurt you? Because I’ll come over to your school right
now and give them a warning”
“No, uncle Sam. It’s worse than that. Please just come to school
right now.”
“Meso, are you okay? what’s wrong? I’ll be there in a few minutes
okay? Please just be okay for me. I’m coming,” I said as she replied
with an okay before dropping the call.
What could be wrong with Meso? I thought. I didn’t understand
because it was Meso who barely wanted to see my face and now
she insisted I drive down to her school. Has she told someone about
what happened between us? Is this some sort of plan? Something
doesn’t seem right. I finally told myself that it wouldn’t get up to
that extent. I called her and not the other way round so there was
no possibility of her snitching on me. I took up courage and decided
to drive down to her hostel.
When I got there, I greeted the security officers that were at
the gates and told them I was there to see Meso. One of the went
inside and came out in about two minutes with a woman. I was still
standing at the gate because they said they weren’t allowed to let
unexpected visitors walk in. I greeted the lady and told her I was
there to see Meso so she took me to her office and told me to have
a seat.
**********************************************************
****
Meso’s pov
That Friday morning, I had decided to call uncle Sam and tell him
about my situation. I didn’t want to keep shut and allow my tummy
grow bigger while I was still in the hostel. After school that Friday,
I decided to call him after our afternoon siesta, an hour of the day
when every student was to be in bed, sleeping and just resting. I
was going to tell him about my pregnancy but not long into our
siesta, one of the young house mothers called for me. I went into
her office and she pointed at the landline phone that was on the
table, saying my uncle was on the line. It was at the corner of the
room, the spot where one was to answer calls from home so I
approached the table and picked it up.
“Hello?” I had said before uncle Sam revealed himself. He asked
about my well-being and school and all in which I replied but I
decided to bring up what I had planned on telling him but I couldn’t
talk freely because one of the house mothers was still in the office
with me. So I told him he needed to come to school. I made it
known to him that it was urgent and so he said he would be in
school soon before responding and dropping the phone. I stood up
from the chair I had been sitting on, greeted the house mother
with a thank you before leaving. Not long after, she came to call
me again and this time as I got into the office. I saw uncle Sam in
his corporate clothes sitting on the chair in front of the house
mother’s desk. I falsely smiled at him while he stood up to hug me.
The house mother then said I was excused to talk to him since I
knew him while she left the office to give us some privacy.
Immediately, without beating about the bush, I told uncle Sam that
I was pregnant. I told him that I hadn’t seen my period for the
past two weeks and I wasn’t feeling normal. I told him I got
irritated easily and didn’t have the appetite for the meal we were
being served at the hostel.
When he heard this, I could tell from his eyes that he was shocked.
He put his palm on his mouth and shook his head. He was
disappointed. I even almost burst into tears because I knew this
wasn’t a small issue. Despite it all, I still saw my uncle Sam as the
man I loved like my father but more like an elder brother, that was
why I didn’t want to tell anybody because I knew he would be in
so much trouble. He told me it was going to be okay and that we
would try to get rid of the baby. At first, I objected and didn’t
hesitate to show how scared I was but he calmed me down and
kept on saying it would be okay. He hugged me and I hugged him
back, the man who had hurt me and gotten me pregnant at this
stage of my life.
To be continued………
I kept on crying in silence until I could cry no more. I just sat
there on the toilet seat and stared into space for as long as five
minutes until I heard the sound of the siren which indicated long
break was over. I heard two other girls come into the washroom so
I wiped my face with my uniform, stood up from the seat, flushed
the toilet and came out pretending like I had just used the toilet. I
found out that the girls were jss2 girls and not my set mates. I
went over to the sink, washed my hands and headed for my class.
When I got to the class, I found Anabelle sitting on her chair and
reading a book so I went over and took my seat beside her. When I
sat down, she looked at me and gave a puzzled look. I looked at her
hoping she wouldn’t start with her questionnaires, then I asked why
she was staring that way.
“What took you so long?” she asked
I told her that I had a running stomach and she believed without
asking further questions. We had Introductory Technology and so Mr.
Alabi walked in, which shut everyone’s mouth. All through class, I
was just thinking and thinking, I didn’t know what I would do next.
If there was anyone I was going to speak to about the child in my
womb, it would be uncle Sam since he caused it all. I needed to act
fast and prevent my tummy from growing bigger so people wouldn’t
suspect. I had heard when other seniors talked about how some
students had been expelled for getting pregnant. I didn’t want my
case to be that way. I am so sure that throughout that day, I
panicked a lot. My heart was pounding and I didn’t think it would
reduce. School ended and the boarders left school for the hostel
while the day students went to their various homes.
When I got to the hostel, I went straight to the room, took off
my shoes, put my school bag aside and layed on my bed without
taking my uniform off. On a normal day, I would have taken it off,
washed it and possibly taken a shower but I was in no mood to do
all that. In fact, I was very weak. I felt sick thinking about
everything all over again. In my mind, I was hoping I wasn’t
pregnant and that I was getting it all wrong. I forced myself to
sleep until I heard the bell ring for dinner. When I got to
the dining hall, I almost felt like throwing up because of the strong
smell the yam and egg possessed which was supposed to be our
dinner. I thought the egg smelled rotten and so I instantly lost my
appetite. I decided to go back to the hostel and prepare for prep
since it was immediately after dinner. We usually had prep in school
and so I got my things ready and without waiting for anything or
anyone, I left the hostel for school. I got into my class, went
straight to the back and sat on one of the chairs. A few minutes
later, senior Daniel walked in. I was surprised because I didn’t think
anyone would guess I was already in school.
“What are you doing here all alone? Waiting for your boyfriend abi”
he said as he walked up to me and took the seat in front of me.
I’m pretty sure he was trying to make me laugh or smile but I just
shook my head and told him I decided to come early for prep. He
said he had asked after me at the girls hostel and was told that
they hadn’t seen me until he found someone who told him she had
seen me going towards school with my school bag. I didn’t mention
not having dinner because he would be upset with me and try to get
me to eat something. He was a nice senior but I just wasn’t in the
mood to talk to him. He saw that I gave him straight answers when
he asked questions and didn’t smile at his joke so he asked if I was
okay. I told him I was fine, just tired and again he believed me so
he came closer and hugged me. I already got used to hugging senior
Daniel and so I hugged him back. I actually felt good hugging him.
It reduced all of the tension and pain I was feeling at that
moment. I actually felt loved but he was another person I wasn’t
willing to share my secret with.
“I love you, my baby!” he finally said and let go of me. He told me
to try to balance school and get enough rest so I wouldn’t feel
tired and weak all the time. I nodded and held back the tears that
were already forming in my eyes. Why couldn’t I tell anyone about
the real pain that I was going through. I wanted to scream and tell
someone that I was being abused by uncle but I just couldn’t. He
stood up when we heard other students voices and told me he would
see me after prep.
During prep, I was asked to jump by my school mother,
senior Onome, who caught me putting my head on the table to sleep
several times. She always tried to make sure I wasn’t wasting my
time during prep and so whenever I was caught doing something
else other than studying, she made sure she punished me for it. I
was really feeling sleepy and tired but she wouldn’t understand any
of that and so I kept jumping until I was able to stay awake a
few minutes before prep was over. When we got to the hostel, I
went straight into the bathroom, washed my uniforms, took a
shower and went straight to sleep. I didn’t even talk to any of
mates throughout that night, including Anabelle.
**********************************************************
******
Uncle Sam’s pov
It was a Friday morning and I was too tired to stand up and
prepare for work. I had slept late thinking of what to say when I
eventually call the girls hostel to speak with Meso. I had collected
the hostel information from my brother’s wife so I could contact
my Meso. I needed to talk to her because since the night of
my misbehaviour, I hadn’t felt peace. I needed to hear her voice. I
needed her sincere forgiveness. I was quite shocked that she hadn’t
said a word to anybody because I thought that would be the case
but I already had a feeling she wasn’t going to spill.
Later that Friday afternoon, I got home early and the first thing I
did was dial the hostel number. It started ringing and before I
knew it, a woman answered;
“Hello? Riverdale girls hostel, how may I help you” the lady on the
other end of the line said.
“Good afternoon, my name is Sam, Meso’s…I mean Mesonma’s uncle.
Please, I would like to speak with her”
“Do you mean Mesonma Okojie?”
“Yes please”
“Okay, please hold on. Let me get her”
“Alright thank you”
After about three minutes waiting, I heard my Meso’s voice;
“Hello?” she said.
“Hello, Meso. It is Sam. How are you?”
“I’m fine, uncle Sam”
“How’s school?”
“fine”
“And the hostel? Hope you’re coping?”
“Uncle Sam, there’s something you need to know,” when she said
this, I suddenly became anxious to know what was up.
“Meso, what is it?” I asked.
“uncle Sam, I can’t tell you on the phone.”
“You can’t tell me on the phone? why?” I asked squeezing my face.
“Did anyone hurt you? Because I’ll come over to your school right
now and give them a warning”
“No, uncle Sam. It’s worse than that. Please just come to school
right now.”
“Meso, are you okay? what’s wrong? I’ll be there in a few minutes
okay? Please just be okay for me. I’m coming,” I said as she replied
with an okay before dropping the call.
What could be wrong with Meso? I thought. I didn’t understand
because it was Meso who barely wanted to see my face and now
she insisted I drive down to her school. Has she told someone about
what happened between us? Is this some sort of plan? Something
doesn’t seem right. I finally told myself that it wouldn’t get up to
that extent. I called her and not the other way round so there was
no possibility of her snitching on me. I took up courage and decided
to drive down to her hostel.
When I got there, I greeted the security officers that were at
the gates and told them I was there to see Meso. One of the went
inside and came out in about two minutes with a woman. I was still
standing at the gate because they said they weren’t allowed to let
unexpected visitors walk in. I greeted the lady and told her I was
there to see Meso so she took me to her office and told me to have
a seat.
**********************************************************
****
Meso’s pov
That Friday morning, I had decided to call uncle Sam and tell him
about my situation. I didn’t want to keep shut and allow my tummy
grow bigger while I was still in the hostel. After school that Friday,
I decided to call him after our afternoon siesta, an hour of the day
when every student was to be in bed, sleeping and just resting. I
was going to tell him about my pregnancy but not long into our
siesta, one of the young house mothers called for me. I went into
her office and she pointed at the landline phone that was on the
table, saying my uncle was on the line. It was at the corner of the
room, the spot where one was to answer calls from home so I
approached the table and picked it up.
“Hello?” I had said before uncle Sam revealed himself. He asked
about my well-being and school and all in which I replied but I
decided to bring up what I had planned on telling him but I couldn’t
talk freely because one of the house mothers was still in the office
with me. So I told him he needed to come to school. I made it
known to him that it was urgent and so he said he would be in
school soon before responding and dropping the phone. I stood up
from the chair I had been sitting on, greeted the house mother
with a thank you before leaving. Not long after, she came to call
me again and this time as I got into the office. I saw uncle Sam in
his corporate clothes sitting on the chair in front of the house
mother’s desk. I falsely smiled at him while he stood up to hug me.
The house mother then said I was excused to talk to him since I
knew him while she left the office to give us some privacy.
Immediately, without beating about the bush, I told uncle Sam that
I was pregnant. I told him that I hadn’t seen my period for the
past two weeks and I wasn’t feeling normal. I told him I got
irritated easily and didn’t have the appetite for the meal we were
being served at the hostel.
When he heard this, I could tell from his eyes that he was shocked.
He put his palm on his mouth and shook his head. He was
disappointed. I even almost burst into tears because I knew this
wasn’t a small issue. Despite it all, I still saw my uncle Sam as the
man I loved like my father but more like an elder brother, that was
why I didn’t want to tell anybody because I knew he would be in
so much trouble. He told me it was going to be okay and that we
would try to get rid of the baby. At first, I objected and didn’t
hesitate to show how scared I was but he calmed me down and
kept on saying it would be okay. He hugged me and I hugged him
back, the man who had hurt me and gotten me pregnant at this
stage of my life.
To be continued………
Friday, 19 February 2016
THE LIFE OF THE REPENTANT SLUT 11!!!
Staring at the blood-stricken rug, reminiscing my first moment and
moments with Amaka, I can’t help but pray earnestly in my mind
that she’s hale and hearty. I love the fun she gives me; to hell with
the stress that comes with it.
Even though a part of me wants to think it’s all a prank, life
doesn’t pull pranks so doesn’t Amaka and even if she’s up to
something, it’s never gonna be something threatening as this but
woe-betide her if this is all for nothing cos I can swear I have
already lost a pound in the process of worrying about her but
seriously, I need to find her first.
The compound was still very much silent, nobody around still; don’t
know who to call or whose opinion to seek. Jide would have been my
first go-to counseling centre if things hadn’t gone sour and dramatic
earlier on and I know he would have taken Amaka’s issue so
seriously than I would have but now, I don’t even have a 1 percent
gut to call or text him even though I know I’m still gonna face him
later to explain myself whether he’s interested or not.
Amaka and I had decided to get a place together after my 5th year
of my law course and I was preparing for Law School and Amaka
was about going for her service year. She studied Creative Writing
and I was borrowing two courses from her department in my 2nd
year when we met. We had become inseparable and compatible and
she thought why not? And we got the house which she virtually
paid for. I was gonna pick up a job at a law firm in three months
time and she was gonna launch her design line and publish her
supposedly secret novel she has been working on. . . I really can’t
wait to read it.
The almighty sexy voice of “Korede Bello in Godwin” broke the
solitary silence in the room. I picked my phone to check who the hell
was calling me at this unpleasant hour except if it’s Jide but
unfortunately it was Sola.
“What does he want again?” I screamed as if Amaka was in front
of me telling me Sola is at the door to see me. It’s already almost 7
months after the issue na. . . him pepper suppose don rest! Shoo!
I have already made up my mind that I wasn’t gonna pick even if
he calls ten times. Whatever business I have with him ended the
day Amaka pulled that restaurant stunt. He continued calling that
even my ringtone was becoming annoying.
I stood up, got off my heels, went to bathroom, took a cloth-mop
soaked in a soapy water, headed back to the living room and I began
to clean up the blood. My brain wasn’t coordinating, even though
the soapy water was cleaning it; it still wasn’t a wise idea to clean
up the rug with water. My phone vibrated and screamed “Message”,
I knew it was Sola and I was definitely not wrong about that.
“I presumed you won’t pick my call, so I decided to send you a
text. Although, I regret almost everyday what I did to you, I was
out of line, I can only hope you’d forgive and don’t break up our
long term ties, stashing knowing me and everything because of my
mistake. I am really sorry but I can’t be dwelling on this matter
everyday. . . That I wanted to tell you and I also wanted to tell you
that Amaka was arrested earlier today and she is at the police
station opposite the school gate. You should go see her. . . ”
I hurriedly stood up. The first part of the message never mattered
like the last part. How come Sola knew Amaka was arrested? And
for what reason was she arrested? What’s going on here?
I really wanted to call Sola back and asked him some necessary
questions but I was so filled with anger and pride; “I will never be
caught calling Sola, texting him or talking to him at that.” At least,
I know Amaka is alright. If she was injured, she is supposed to be
at the hospital and not locked up.
Sola already helped with providing the police station in which Amaka
was being held, I would fill in the missing gaps myself but I still
can’t help but wonder whose blood was lying on my rug. I was really
confused.
moments with Amaka, I can’t help but pray earnestly in my mind
that she’s hale and hearty. I love the fun she gives me; to hell with
the stress that comes with it.
Even though a part of me wants to think it’s all a prank, life
doesn’t pull pranks so doesn’t Amaka and even if she’s up to
something, it’s never gonna be something threatening as this but
woe-betide her if this is all for nothing cos I can swear I have
already lost a pound in the process of worrying about her but
seriously, I need to find her first.
The compound was still very much silent, nobody around still; don’t
know who to call or whose opinion to seek. Jide would have been my
first go-to counseling centre if things hadn’t gone sour and dramatic
earlier on and I know he would have taken Amaka’s issue so
seriously than I would have but now, I don’t even have a 1 percent
gut to call or text him even though I know I’m still gonna face him
later to explain myself whether he’s interested or not.
Amaka and I had decided to get a place together after my 5th year
of my law course and I was preparing for Law School and Amaka
was about going for her service year. She studied Creative Writing
and I was borrowing two courses from her department in my 2nd
year when we met. We had become inseparable and compatible and
she thought why not? And we got the house which she virtually
paid for. I was gonna pick up a job at a law firm in three months
time and she was gonna launch her design line and publish her
supposedly secret novel she has been working on. . . I really can’t
wait to read it.
The almighty sexy voice of “Korede Bello in Godwin” broke the
solitary silence in the room. I picked my phone to check who the hell
was calling me at this unpleasant hour except if it’s Jide but
unfortunately it was Sola.
“What does he want again?” I screamed as if Amaka was in front
of me telling me Sola is at the door to see me. It’s already almost 7
months after the issue na. . . him pepper suppose don rest! Shoo!
I have already made up my mind that I wasn’t gonna pick even if
he calls ten times. Whatever business I have with him ended the
day Amaka pulled that restaurant stunt. He continued calling that
even my ringtone was becoming annoying.
I stood up, got off my heels, went to bathroom, took a cloth-mop
soaked in a soapy water, headed back to the living room and I began
to clean up the blood. My brain wasn’t coordinating, even though
the soapy water was cleaning it; it still wasn’t a wise idea to clean
up the rug with water. My phone vibrated and screamed “Message”,
I knew it was Sola and I was definitely not wrong about that.
“I presumed you won’t pick my call, so I decided to send you a
text. Although, I regret almost everyday what I did to you, I was
out of line, I can only hope you’d forgive and don’t break up our
long term ties, stashing knowing me and everything because of my
mistake. I am really sorry but I can’t be dwelling on this matter
everyday. . . That I wanted to tell you and I also wanted to tell you
that Amaka was arrested earlier today and she is at the police
station opposite the school gate. You should go see her. . . ”
I hurriedly stood up. The first part of the message never mattered
like the last part. How come Sola knew Amaka was arrested? And
for what reason was she arrested? What’s going on here?
I really wanted to call Sola back and asked him some necessary
questions but I was so filled with anger and pride; “I will never be
caught calling Sola, texting him or talking to him at that.” At least,
I know Amaka is alright. If she was injured, she is supposed to be
at the hospital and not locked up.
Sola already helped with providing the police station in which Amaka
was being held, I would fill in the missing gaps myself but I still
can’t help but wonder whose blood was lying on my rug. I was really
confused.
THE LIFE OF THE REPENTANT SLUT 10
Amaka Coker was one out of the few great things that happened
to my life. I remembered the first time we met; it was like we had
known each other for ages. She has and always had an alluring and
magnetic personality; she’s more real than life, ‘couthly’-blunt and
highly hyper-active. She has this laughter and smile that makes you
wanna believe life is problem-free and everything is perfect with
her. Her voice and words speaks Bob Marley’s “Every little thing is
gonna be alright. . . Don’t worry be happy, even if your landlord says
your rent is late.”
We met in one of the awkward places most men don’t wanna meet
their future wife; where most ladies beef each other just for the
night. Where ladies who covet each other’s body shape during the
day, bad-mouths the so-called perfect body to sell market. There you
see the realest of all boobs and the fakes; those 3 inches padded
boobs where customers discover say na bobo juice after e don pay
finish.
Ours is a meeting point where different dialects of pidgin is being
spoken; where figure one during the day becomes figure 8 at night;
where people who no sabi each other for day become enemies with
abusive words hurling at each other.
Amaka was the hot type; with the Joselyn Dumas kind of shape and
a Mercy Johnson type of height. She was of high demand and has a
high class taste of customers. She has a zero tolerance for low self
esteem and even though the girls talk bad about her when she’s not
around, they dare not the moment she arrives. My babe get respect
for body. Most times, customers drive off without hooking up with
anyone if she is not available.
Amaka never does multiple per night. She always says, “my body no
be deliverance centre where I attend to many situations per day”
lol. The girl is a piece of work; a human comic relief when everything
turns boring and sour.
Sitting on the couch, staring at the clock; watching the short hand
of the clock on 7 and the long hand on 12; it was as if darkness
was over the face of my earth and the only person to proclaim
‘tada! Let there be light’ has suddenly gone missing.
The house felt so empty without her and I can’t help but feel
something terrible has happened to her. She tells me always, “no
matter what happened to me, I’m a big girl, and I can always
handle the situation”.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Hey, you are not going home tonight?”
“And you are?” I fired back
“Hey, chill! You don’t have to be hard with everyone just because
life is hard on you. Life is hard on everyone girlie, you just have to
handle it pretty well and stop throwing tantrums at everyone that
comes your way. . . Anyway, I was just showing some care, that’s
all.”
She sounded so bitchy as she sounded so cool in one stretch of
sentence.
“I’m sorry I replied you that way.”
“Well, forget it! I don’t take things too seriously. . .
“Well, I am. . .”
“Never mind, I know who you are. I mean beyond the walls of the
streets. I know you don’t remember my face but I do. You are the
girl with the incredible brain. . . Remember that response you gave
Dr. Freeze at LEM 201 class? You made a lot of sense. Anyways,
I’m your course mate.” She said in a long-stretch of utterance
without a pause.
“Ow! Okay. So sorry I couldn’t recognize you, I’m not too good with
faces.”
“No problem.”
I just lied though. I am very much good with faces. Maybe faces
that has hurt me are quite unforgettable to me but I really never
noticed her like I really never noticed any of my course mates
because I love my solitariness.
“So, why are you here?” we both asked each other at the same
time.
“You first!” I responded.
“Why are you working here? You don’t care if anybody who knows
you like our course mates find you here? Even though you don’t
know them, they know you!”
“Do you care?” I asked her.
“Who gives a damn?. . . But why do you work here?”
“Cos I need the money.”
“Really?”
I almost gave her a disdain look.
“What do you mean really?” I asked with so much disgust
“Never mind. So, won’t you go home tonight? After all, the show is
over”
“Well, I have nowhere to stay for tonight and the little money I
have with me is not even enough for my plans.”
That was so unlike me; I just blurted out to a total stranger
without holding back.
“Anyways, this is N50,000; you can add it to whatever you have in
your purse if it’s enough to get you a place to sleep for the night
and maybe solve your problems.”
I collected the money that it felt like a dream holding it between
my hands. I spent almost 15mins caressing the money, as I looked up
to thank her or ask her why she gave it to me, she was almost far
gone.
“Why did you give me the money?” I screamed on top of my voice
hoping she would hear or reply me and sure she did.
“Because I don’t do this for the money. You need it; I don’t.”
“Thanks. . . But who are you? Your name? You didn’t tell me.”
“Amaka Coker” she screamed back.
to my life. I remembered the first time we met; it was like we had
known each other for ages. She has and always had an alluring and
magnetic personality; she’s more real than life, ‘couthly’-blunt and
highly hyper-active. She has this laughter and smile that makes you
wanna believe life is problem-free and everything is perfect with
her. Her voice and words speaks Bob Marley’s “Every little thing is
gonna be alright. . . Don’t worry be happy, even if your landlord says
your rent is late.”
We met in one of the awkward places most men don’t wanna meet
their future wife; where most ladies beef each other just for the
night. Where ladies who covet each other’s body shape during the
day, bad-mouths the so-called perfect body to sell market. There you
see the realest of all boobs and the fakes; those 3 inches padded
boobs where customers discover say na bobo juice after e don pay
finish.
Ours is a meeting point where different dialects of pidgin is being
spoken; where figure one during the day becomes figure 8 at night;
where people who no sabi each other for day become enemies with
abusive words hurling at each other.
Amaka was the hot type; with the Joselyn Dumas kind of shape and
a Mercy Johnson type of height. She was of high demand and has a
high class taste of customers. She has a zero tolerance for low self
esteem and even though the girls talk bad about her when she’s not
around, they dare not the moment she arrives. My babe get respect
for body. Most times, customers drive off without hooking up with
anyone if she is not available.
Amaka never does multiple per night. She always says, “my body no
be deliverance centre where I attend to many situations per day”
lol. The girl is a piece of work; a human comic relief when everything
turns boring and sour.
Sitting on the couch, staring at the clock; watching the short hand
of the clock on 7 and the long hand on 12; it was as if darkness
was over the face of my earth and the only person to proclaim
‘tada! Let there be light’ has suddenly gone missing.
The house felt so empty without her and I can’t help but feel
something terrible has happened to her. She tells me always, “no
matter what happened to me, I’m a big girl, and I can always
handle the situation”.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Hey, you are not going home tonight?”
“And you are?” I fired back
“Hey, chill! You don’t have to be hard with everyone just because
life is hard on you. Life is hard on everyone girlie, you just have to
handle it pretty well and stop throwing tantrums at everyone that
comes your way. . . Anyway, I was just showing some care, that’s
all.”
She sounded so bitchy as she sounded so cool in one stretch of
sentence.
“I’m sorry I replied you that way.”
“Well, forget it! I don’t take things too seriously. . .
“Well, I am. . .”
“Never mind, I know who you are. I mean beyond the walls of the
streets. I know you don’t remember my face but I do. You are the
girl with the incredible brain. . . Remember that response you gave
Dr. Freeze at LEM 201 class? You made a lot of sense. Anyways,
I’m your course mate.” She said in a long-stretch of utterance
without a pause.
“Ow! Okay. So sorry I couldn’t recognize you, I’m not too good with
faces.”
“No problem.”
I just lied though. I am very much good with faces. Maybe faces
that has hurt me are quite unforgettable to me but I really never
noticed her like I really never noticed any of my course mates
because I love my solitariness.
“So, why are you here?” we both asked each other at the same
time.
“You first!” I responded.
“Why are you working here? You don’t care if anybody who knows
you like our course mates find you here? Even though you don’t
know them, they know you!”
“Do you care?” I asked her.
“Who gives a damn?. . . But why do you work here?”
“Cos I need the money.”
“Really?”
I almost gave her a disdain look.
“What do you mean really?” I asked with so much disgust
“Never mind. So, won’t you go home tonight? After all, the show is
over”
“Well, I have nowhere to stay for tonight and the little money I
have with me is not even enough for my plans.”
That was so unlike me; I just blurted out to a total stranger
without holding back.
“Anyways, this is N50,000; you can add it to whatever you have in
your purse if it’s enough to get you a place to sleep for the night
and maybe solve your problems.”
I collected the money that it felt like a dream holding it between
my hands. I spent almost 15mins caressing the money, as I looked up
to thank her or ask her why she gave it to me, she was almost far
gone.
“Why did you give me the money?” I screamed on top of my voice
hoping she would hear or reply me and sure she did.
“Because I don’t do this for the money. You need it; I don’t.”
“Thanks. . . But who are you? Your name? You didn’t tell me.”
“Amaka Coker” she screamed back.
FORBIDDEN LOVE 12
Continuation…….
I kept on crying in silence until I could cry no more. I just sat
there on the toilet seat and stared into space for as long as five
minutes until I heard the sound of the siren which indicated long
break was over. I heard two other girls come into the washroom so
I wiped my face with my uniform, stood up from the seat, flushed
the toilet and came out pretending like I had just used the toilet. I
found out that the girls were jss2 girls and not my set mates. I
went over to the sink, washed my hands and headed for my class.
When I got to the class, I found Anabelle sitting on her chair and
reading a book so I went over and took my seat beside her. When I
sat down, she looked at me and gave a puzzled look. I looked at her
hoping she wouldn’t start with her questionnaires, then I asked why
she was staring that way.
“What took you so long?” she asked
I told her that I had a running stomach and she believed without
asking further questions. We had Introductory Technology and so Mr.
Alabi walked in, which shut everyone’s mouth. All through class, I
was just thinking and thinking, I didn’t know what I would do next.
If there was anyone I was going to speak to about the child in my
womb, it would be uncle Sam since he caused it all. I needed to act
fast and prevent my tummy from growing bigger so people wouldn’t
suspect. I had heard when other seniors talked about how some
students had been expelled for getting pregnant. I didn’t want my
case to be that way. I am so sure that throughout that day, I
panicked a lot. My heart was pounding and I didn’t think it would
reduce. School ended and the boarders left school for the hostel
while the day students went to their various homes.
When I got to the hostel, I went straight to the room, took off
my shoes, put my school bag aside and layed on my bed without
taking my uniform off. On a normal day, I would have taken it off,
washed it and possibly taken a shower but I was in no mood to do
all that. In fact, I was very weak. I felt sick thinking about
everything all over again. In my mind, I was hoping I wasn’t
pregnant and that I was getting it all wrong. I forced myself to
sleep until I heard the bell ring for dinner. When I got to
the dining hall, I almost felt like throwing up because of the strong
smell the yam and egg possessed which was supposed to be our
dinner. I thought the egg smelled rotten and so I instantly lost my
appetite. I decided to go back to the hostel and prepare for prep
since it was immediately after dinner. We usually had prep in school
and so I got my things ready and without waiting for anything or
anyone, I left the hostel for school. I got into my class, went
straight to the back and sat on one of the chairs. A few minutes
later, senior Daniel walked in. I was surprised because I didn’t think
anyone would guess I was already in school.
“What are you doing here all alone? Waiting for your boyfriend abi”
he said as he walked up to me and took the seat in front of me.
I’m pretty sure he was trying to make me laugh or smile but I just
shook my head and told him I decided to come early for prep. He
said he had asked after me at the girls hostel and was told that
they hadn’t seen me until he found someone who told him she had
seen me going towards school with my school bag. I didn’t mention
not having dinner because he would be upset with me and try to get
me to eat something. He was a nice senior but I just wasn’t in the
mood to talk to him. He saw that I gave him straight answers when
he asked questions and didn’t smile at his joke so he asked if I was
okay. I told him I was fine, just tired and again he believed me so
he came closer and hugged me. I already got used to hugging senior
Daniel and so I hugged him back. I actually felt good hugging him.
It reduced all of the tension and pain I was feeling at that
moment. I actually felt loved but he was another person I wasn’t
willing to share my secret with.
“I love you, my baby!” he finally said and let go of me. He told me
to try to balance school and get enough rest so I wouldn’t feel
tired and weak all the time. I nodded and held back the tears that
were already forming in my eyes. Why couldn’t I tell anyone about
the real pain that I was going through. I wanted to scream and tell
someone that I was being abused by uncle but I just couldn’t. He
stood up when we heard other students voices and told me he would
see me after prep.
During prep, I was asked to jump by my school mother,
senior Onome, who caught me putting my head on the table to sleep
several times. She always tried to make sure I wasn’t wasting my
time during prep and so whenever I was caught doing something
else other than studying, she made sure she punished me for it. I
was really feeling sleepy and tired but she wouldn’t understand any
of that and so I kept jumping until I was able to stay awake a
few minutes before prep was over. When we got to the hostel, I
went straight into the bathroom, washed my uniforms, took a
shower and went straight to sleep. I didn’t even talk to any of
mates throughout that night, including Anabelle.
**********************************************************
******
Uncle Sam’s pov
It was a Friday morning and I was too tired to stand up and
prepare for work. I had slept late thinking of what to say when I
eventually call the girls hostel to speak with Meso. I had collected
the hostel information from my brother’s wife so I could contact
my Meso. I needed to talk to her because since the night of
my misbehaviour, I hadn’t felt peace. I needed to hear her voice. I
needed her sincere forgiveness. I was quite shocked that she hadn’t
said a word to anybody because I thought that would be the case
but I already had a feeling she wasn’t going to spill.
Later that Friday afternoon, I got home early and the first thing I
did was dial the hostel number. It started ringing and before I
knew it, a woman answered;
“Hello? Riverdale girls hostel, how may I help you” the lady on the
other end of the line said.
“Good afternoon, my name is Sam, Meso’s…I mean Mesonma’s uncle.
Please, I would like to speak with her”
“Do you mean Mesonma Okojie?”
“Yes please”
“Okay, please hold on. Let me get her”
“Alright thank you”
After about three minutes waiting, I heard my Meso’s voice;
“Hello?” she said.
“Hello, Meso. It is Sam. How are you?”
“I’m fine, uncle Sam”
“How’s school?”
“fine”
“And the hostel? Hope you’re coping?”
“Uncle Sam, there’s something you need to know,” when she said
this, I suddenly became anxious to know what was up.
“Meso, what is it?” I asked.
“uncle Sam, I can’t tell you on the phone.”
“You can’t tell me on the phone? why?” I asked squeezing my face.
“Did anyone hurt you? Because I’ll come over to your school right
now and give them a warning”
“No, uncle Sam. It’s worse than that. Please just come to school
right now.”
“Meso, are you okay? what’s wrong? I’ll be there in a few minutes
okay? Please just be okay for me. I’m coming,” I said as she replied
with an okay before dropping the call.
What could be wrong with Meso? I thought. I didn’t understand
because it was Meso who barely wanted to see my face and now
she insisted I drive down to her school. Has she told someone about
what happened between us? Is this some sort of plan? Something
doesn’t seem right. I finally told myself that it wouldn’t get up to
that extent. I called her and not the other way round so there was
no possibility of her snitching on me. I took up courage and decided
to drive down to her hostel.
When I got there, I greeted the security officers that were at
the gates and told them I was there to see Meso. One of the went
inside and came out in about two minutes with a woman. I was still
standing at the gate because they said they weren’t allowed to let
unexpected visitors walk in. I greeted the lady and told her I was
there to see Meso so she took me to her office and told me to have
a seat.
**********************************************************
****
Meso’s pov
That Friday morning, I had decided to call uncle Sam and tell him
about my situation. I didn’t want to keep shut and allow my tummy
grow bigger while I was still in the hostel. After school that Friday,
I decided to call him after our afternoon siesta, an hour of the day
when every student was to be in bed, sleeping and just resting. I
was going to tell him about my pregnancy but not long into our
siesta, one of the young house mothers called for me. I went into
her office and she pointed at the landline phone that was on the
table, saying my uncle was on the line. It was at the corner of the
room, the spot where one was to answer calls from home so I
approached the table and picked it up.
“Hello?” I had said before uncle Sam revealed himself. He asked
about my well-being and school and all in which I replied but I
decided to bring up what I had planned on telling him but I couldn’t
talk freely because one of the house mothers was still in the office
with me. So I told him he needed to come to school. I made it
known to him that it was urgent and so he said he would be in
school soon before responding and dropping the phone. I stood up
from the chair I had been sitting on, greeted the house mother
with a thank you before leaving. Not long after, she came to call
me again and this time as I got into the office. I saw uncle Sam in
his corporate clothes sitting on the chair in front of the house
mother’s desk. I falsely smiled at him while he stood up to hug me.
The house mother then said I was excused to talk to him since I
knew him while she left the office to give us some privacy.
Immediately, without beating about the bush, I told uncle Sam that
I was pregnant. I told him that I hadn’t seen my period for the
past two weeks and I wasn’t feeling normal. I told him I got
irritated easily and didn’t have the appetite for the meal we were
being served at the hostel.
When he heard this, I could tell from his eyes that he was shocked.
He put his palm on his mouth and shook his head. He was
disappointed. I even almost burst into tears because I knew this
wasn’t a small issue. Despite it all, I still saw my uncle Sam as the
man I loved like my father but more like an elder brother, that was
why I didn’t want to tell anybody because I knew he would be in
so much trouble. He told me it was going to be okay and that we
would try to get rid of the baby. At first, I objected and didn’t
hesitate to show how scared I was but he calmed me down and
kept on saying it would be okay. He hugged me and I hugged him
back, the man who had hurt me and gotten me pregnant at this
stage of my life.
To be continued………
I kept on crying in silence until I could cry no more. I just sat
there on the toilet seat and stared into space for as long as five
minutes until I heard the sound of the siren which indicated long
break was over. I heard two other girls come into the washroom so
I wiped my face with my uniform, stood up from the seat, flushed
the toilet and came out pretending like I had just used the toilet. I
found out that the girls were jss2 girls and not my set mates. I
went over to the sink, washed my hands and headed for my class.
When I got to the class, I found Anabelle sitting on her chair and
reading a book so I went over and took my seat beside her. When I
sat down, she looked at me and gave a puzzled look. I looked at her
hoping she wouldn’t start with her questionnaires, then I asked why
she was staring that way.
“What took you so long?” she asked
I told her that I had a running stomach and she believed without
asking further questions. We had Introductory Technology and so Mr.
Alabi walked in, which shut everyone’s mouth. All through class, I
was just thinking and thinking, I didn’t know what I would do next.
If there was anyone I was going to speak to about the child in my
womb, it would be uncle Sam since he caused it all. I needed to act
fast and prevent my tummy from growing bigger so people wouldn’t
suspect. I had heard when other seniors talked about how some
students had been expelled for getting pregnant. I didn’t want my
case to be that way. I am so sure that throughout that day, I
panicked a lot. My heart was pounding and I didn’t think it would
reduce. School ended and the boarders left school for the hostel
while the day students went to their various homes.
When I got to the hostel, I went straight to the room, took off
my shoes, put my school bag aside and layed on my bed without
taking my uniform off. On a normal day, I would have taken it off,
washed it and possibly taken a shower but I was in no mood to do
all that. In fact, I was very weak. I felt sick thinking about
everything all over again. In my mind, I was hoping I wasn’t
pregnant and that I was getting it all wrong. I forced myself to
sleep until I heard the bell ring for dinner. When I got to
the dining hall, I almost felt like throwing up because of the strong
smell the yam and egg possessed which was supposed to be our
dinner. I thought the egg smelled rotten and so I instantly lost my
appetite. I decided to go back to the hostel and prepare for prep
since it was immediately after dinner. We usually had prep in school
and so I got my things ready and without waiting for anything or
anyone, I left the hostel for school. I got into my class, went
straight to the back and sat on one of the chairs. A few minutes
later, senior Daniel walked in. I was surprised because I didn’t think
anyone would guess I was already in school.
“What are you doing here all alone? Waiting for your boyfriend abi”
he said as he walked up to me and took the seat in front of me.
I’m pretty sure he was trying to make me laugh or smile but I just
shook my head and told him I decided to come early for prep. He
said he had asked after me at the girls hostel and was told that
they hadn’t seen me until he found someone who told him she had
seen me going towards school with my school bag. I didn’t mention
not having dinner because he would be upset with me and try to get
me to eat something. He was a nice senior but I just wasn’t in the
mood to talk to him. He saw that I gave him straight answers when
he asked questions and didn’t smile at his joke so he asked if I was
okay. I told him I was fine, just tired and again he believed me so
he came closer and hugged me. I already got used to hugging senior
Daniel and so I hugged him back. I actually felt good hugging him.
It reduced all of the tension and pain I was feeling at that
moment. I actually felt loved but he was another person I wasn’t
willing to share my secret with.
“I love you, my baby!” he finally said and let go of me. He told me
to try to balance school and get enough rest so I wouldn’t feel
tired and weak all the time. I nodded and held back the tears that
were already forming in my eyes. Why couldn’t I tell anyone about
the real pain that I was going through. I wanted to scream and tell
someone that I was being abused by uncle but I just couldn’t. He
stood up when we heard other students voices and told me he would
see me after prep.
During prep, I was asked to jump by my school mother,
senior Onome, who caught me putting my head on the table to sleep
several times. She always tried to make sure I wasn’t wasting my
time during prep and so whenever I was caught doing something
else other than studying, she made sure she punished me for it. I
was really feeling sleepy and tired but she wouldn’t understand any
of that and so I kept jumping until I was able to stay awake a
few minutes before prep was over. When we got to the hostel, I
went straight into the bathroom, washed my uniforms, took a
shower and went straight to sleep. I didn’t even talk to any of
mates throughout that night, including Anabelle.
**********************************************************
******
Uncle Sam’s pov
It was a Friday morning and I was too tired to stand up and
prepare for work. I had slept late thinking of what to say when I
eventually call the girls hostel to speak with Meso. I had collected
the hostel information from my brother’s wife so I could contact
my Meso. I needed to talk to her because since the night of
my misbehaviour, I hadn’t felt peace. I needed to hear her voice. I
needed her sincere forgiveness. I was quite shocked that she hadn’t
said a word to anybody because I thought that would be the case
but I already had a feeling she wasn’t going to spill.
Later that Friday afternoon, I got home early and the first thing I
did was dial the hostel number. It started ringing and before I
knew it, a woman answered;
“Hello? Riverdale girls hostel, how may I help you” the lady on the
other end of the line said.
“Good afternoon, my name is Sam, Meso’s…I mean Mesonma’s uncle.
Please, I would like to speak with her”
“Do you mean Mesonma Okojie?”
“Yes please”
“Okay, please hold on. Let me get her”
“Alright thank you”
After about three minutes waiting, I heard my Meso’s voice;
“Hello?” she said.
“Hello, Meso. It is Sam. How are you?”
“I’m fine, uncle Sam”
“How’s school?”
“fine”
“And the hostel? Hope you’re coping?”
“Uncle Sam, there’s something you need to know,” when she said
this, I suddenly became anxious to know what was up.
“Meso, what is it?” I asked.
“uncle Sam, I can’t tell you on the phone.”
“You can’t tell me on the phone? why?” I asked squeezing my face.
“Did anyone hurt you? Because I’ll come over to your school right
now and give them a warning”
“No, uncle Sam. It’s worse than that. Please just come to school
right now.”
“Meso, are you okay? what’s wrong? I’ll be there in a few minutes
okay? Please just be okay for me. I’m coming,” I said as she replied
with an okay before dropping the call.
What could be wrong with Meso? I thought. I didn’t understand
because it was Meso who barely wanted to see my face and now
she insisted I drive down to her school. Has she told someone about
what happened between us? Is this some sort of plan? Something
doesn’t seem right. I finally told myself that it wouldn’t get up to
that extent. I called her and not the other way round so there was
no possibility of her snitching on me. I took up courage and decided
to drive down to her hostel.
When I got there, I greeted the security officers that were at
the gates and told them I was there to see Meso. One of the went
inside and came out in about two minutes with a woman. I was still
standing at the gate because they said they weren’t allowed to let
unexpected visitors walk in. I greeted the lady and told her I was
there to see Meso so she took me to her office and told me to have
a seat.
**********************************************************
****
Meso’s pov
That Friday morning, I had decided to call uncle Sam and tell him
about my situation. I didn’t want to keep shut and allow my tummy
grow bigger while I was still in the hostel. After school that Friday,
I decided to call him after our afternoon siesta, an hour of the day
when every student was to be in bed, sleeping and just resting. I
was going to tell him about my pregnancy but not long into our
siesta, one of the young house mothers called for me. I went into
her office and she pointed at the landline phone that was on the
table, saying my uncle was on the line. It was at the corner of the
room, the spot where one was to answer calls from home so I
approached the table and picked it up.
“Hello?” I had said before uncle Sam revealed himself. He asked
about my well-being and school and all in which I replied but I
decided to bring up what I had planned on telling him but I couldn’t
talk freely because one of the house mothers was still in the office
with me. So I told him he needed to come to school. I made it
known to him that it was urgent and so he said he would be in
school soon before responding and dropping the phone. I stood up
from the chair I had been sitting on, greeted the house mother
with a thank you before leaving. Not long after, she came to call
me again and this time as I got into the office. I saw uncle Sam in
his corporate clothes sitting on the chair in front of the house
mother’s desk. I falsely smiled at him while he stood up to hug me.
The house mother then said I was excused to talk to him since I
knew him while she left the office to give us some privacy.
Immediately, without beating about the bush, I told uncle Sam that
I was pregnant. I told him that I hadn’t seen my period for the
past two weeks and I wasn’t feeling normal. I told him I got
irritated easily and didn’t have the appetite for the meal we were
being served at the hostel.
When he heard this, I could tell from his eyes that he was shocked.
He put his palm on his mouth and shook his head. He was
disappointed. I even almost burst into tears because I knew this
wasn’t a small issue. Despite it all, I still saw my uncle Sam as the
man I loved like my father but more like an elder brother, that was
why I didn’t want to tell anybody because I knew he would be in
so much trouble. He told me it was going to be okay and that we
would try to get rid of the baby. At first, I objected and didn’t
hesitate to show how scared I was but he calmed me down and
kept on saying it would be okay. He hugged me and I hugged him
back, the man who had hurt me and gotten me pregnant at this
stage of my life.
To be continued………
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