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“You’ve exhausted the money sent to you at the beginning of the month? I can believe you!”

“Diane, I’m not joking. The allowance is no longer enough for me. I received it at the end of last month to cater for me this month, look at me now, I’m the real definition of sapa.”

Diane met Bisi, her friend, on her way to class. Bisi complained about not being able to pay her quota concerning the practical they have in a course. Diane, who knows how much Bisi receives from home, is still shocked at how her friend spends the allowance sent to her from home. Diane receives roughly 10k from home and she still manages it well.

“Easy, Bisi. What did you use your allowance for?”

“I don’t even know! The money just comes and flies away into thin air. I’m fed up with not meeting my needs. Gosh!

“You should be able to pinpoint what you used your money for na. Just think”

“Hmm… Okay. I bought a purse, shoes, and sponsored an event coming up in my department….”

“Diane Diane! Diane the money bag”

“Are you mocking me now? Isn’t it good to help when people need your help?”

“Oh my, it’s one of the best things to do, but not at your own detriment dear. Continue, I’m all ears”

“I got some other things too Sha”

“Do you need those things? I mean, do you really need the bag, the shoe and all of that?”

“Of course, yes. The shoes I have, people knows me with them already and you know, as per fine girl I suppose dress fine”

“Really? Who cares about what you wear? Even if they care, should you do it to ruin your finances? The things you got, if you didn’t buy them, could you do without them? Like, if you didn’t buy them you would die?”

“God forbid” Bisi snapped her fingers over her head. “How would you say such a thing? I could do without them sha” 

“Then you didn’t need them. You should know how to differentiate your needs from your wants. Those things you said you bought with your allowance are not really worth it, I know they would add to your fine girl, but you are suffering for it. The things you can do without currently and they won’t affect your living are your wants, while the things that if you don’t have them, you can’t do without are your needs”

“Wants and needs, I will have to do them all later, àbí? So why not do them now? And, how do you even manage to survive with the amount they send to you from home?”

“I know you will get them eventually, but my dear, timing matters. Trying to get the things you desire might later hurt you and I think that’s why we have scale of preference, going for the things needed most first”

“To the last question, my dear, I differentiate my needs from wants ni o”

“Hmmm…So, it’s not everything I’m allowed to buy even if I can afford it?” Bisi asked, frowning at her face. 

“Yes ó” 

“What’s now the joy of having money when I’m not permitted to spend it the way I like? Money is for spending na. Arghh” 

“Absolutely, money is there for you to get the things you desire, but you should weigh them too. Are these things necessary? On the scale of ten, what do they weigh?” 

“The process to go through is even more than the money itself.” Bisi said while she chuckled. 

“Yes ó. Finance is not what we should take with levity, especially as a student. Let’s talk more about it later, I have a class in the next 10 minutes. See ya later”

“Alright, thank you for your time. Bye” They both hugged as Diane departed for class.

KEYNOTE: Everything is not about if you’re able to afford it, it’s about you thinking of its effect on you and your finances in the near future. Self Control is key to financial freedom.

Written by: Awotunde Ifeoluwa Dorcas

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“You’ve exhausted the money sent to you at the beginning of the month? I can believe you!”
“Diane, I’m not joking. The allowance is no longer enough for me. I received it at the end of last month to cater for me this month, look at me now, I’m the real definition of sapa.”
Diane met Bisi, her friend, on her way to class. Bisi complained about not being able to pay her quota concerning the practical they have in a course. Diane, who knows how much Bisi receives from home, is still shocked at how her friend spends the allowance sent to her from home. Diane receives roughly 10k from home and she still manages it well.
“Easy, Bisi. What did you use your allowance for?”

“I don’t even know! The money just comes and flies away into thin air. I’m fed up with not meeting my needs. Gosh!
“You should be able to pinpoint what you used your money for na. Just think”
“Hmm… Okay. I bought a purse, shoes, and sponsored an event coming up in my department….”
“Diane Diane! Diane the money bag”
“Are you mocking me now? Isn’t it good to help when people need your help?”
“Oh my, it’s one of the best things to do, but not at your own detriment dear. Continue, I’m all ears”
“I got some other things too Sha”
“Do you need those things? I mean, do you really need the bag, the shoe and all of that?”
“Of course, yes. The shoes I have, people knows me with them already and you know, as per fine girl I suppose dress fine”
“Really?

Who cares about what you wear? Even if they care, should you do it to ruin your finances? The things you got, if you didn’t buy them, could you do without them? Like, if you didn’t buy them you would die?”
“God forbid” Bisi snapped her fingers over her head. “How would you say such a thing? I could do without them sha”
“Then you didn’t need them. You should know how to differentiate your needs from your wants. Those things you said you bought with your allowance are not really worth it, I know they would add to your fine girl, but you are suffering for it. The things you can do without currently and they won’t affect your living are your wants, while the things that if you don’t have them, you can’t do without are your needs”
“Wants and needs, I will have to do them all later, àbí? So why isnot do them now? And, how do you even manage to survive with the amount they send to you from home?”
“I know you will get them eventually, but my dear, timing matters. Trying to get the things you desire might later hurt you and I think that’s why we have scale of preference, going for the things needed most first”
“To the last question, my dear, I differentiate my needs from wants ni o”
“Hmmm…So, it’s not everything I’m allowed to buy even if I can afford it?” Bisi asked, frowning at her face.
“Yes ó”

“What’s now the joy of having money when I’m not permitted to spend it the way I like? Money is for spending na. Arghh”
“Absolutely, money is there for you to get the things you desire, but you should weigh them too. Are these things necessary? On the scale of ten, what do they weigh?”
“The process to go through is even more than the money itself.” Bisi said while she chuckled.
“Yes ó. Finance is not what we should take with levity, especially as a student. Let’s talk more about it later, I have a class in the next 10 minutes. See ya later”

“Alright, thank you for your time. Bye” They both hugged as Diane departed for class.
KEYNOTE: Everything is not about if you’re able to afford it, it’s about you thinking of its effect on you and your finances in the near future. Self Control is key to financial freedom.
Written by: Awotunde Ifeoluwa Dorcas

CHAPTER 4b

SIBLINGS SITTING ALERT!!!

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Bola learned a lot from her mom who was a renowned fashion designer. She coupled this knowledge with her amazing talent and used it to adjust her brother’s cloth and it suited his body perfectly. On several occasions, Tominwa was advised to maintain this Kungfu panda polo but because he loved it, he refused and wore it every single day. Even when the printing faded, he still insisted on wearing it. We tried cajoling him to wear his ninja top but failed. Then he started crying and complaining that we love Segun more than him because we couldn’t find a solution to the problem he created.
This issue almost resulted in an argument between Bola and I since I lost my temper after begging him for minutes. He wasted the precious time I should have spent reading or taking a nap. At last, Bola won his heart with the promise of a gift. Gbemi refused to let go of the camera so we let her use it after she promised its safety under any circumstance.

“Good afternoon, ma’am. Welcome to Mr. Biggs restaurant” the attendant on duty greeted me humbly.

“Thanks”, I told him.

“So kids, what do you wanna eat today?” he asked my siblings unofficially. “Uncle biggy’s here to serve so you’ll be big like me”, said the pot-bellied guy.

“wow!” Segun exclaimed. “Like Superman?”

“Idiot!” Tominwa hit him on the head, laughing. “It’s a big boy, an indomitable one”.

“I’ll tell my mummy for you”, Segun cried with his two big lips apart.

“It’s okay, my boy” Bola consoled him after giving Tominwa a taste of his own medicine. Even at that, Tominwa stuck his tongue out in reply, indicating he was not hurt, which caused Segun more pain.

“Please take this kid out”, a customer complained.

“Stop acting like you’re barren”, Bola insulted the person in question

“How dare you say that to me, mannerless girl”, the customer left his seat aggressively. As he walked towards Bola, I felt the need to stay in front of her and ended up receiving the terrifying slap meant for her on my cheek.
Still, I apologized on her behalf until I got satisfying forgiving words from the woman then we left the counter with our orders. Segun eventually kept quiet after Tominwa apologized to him, so I got an extra cone of ice cream for him.

“Gbemi, are you sure you can finish that”, I caught her struggling to consume the full plate of fried rice, chicken, beans pudding, fried fish, and fried plantain she ordered.

“Yes”, she took a sip of cold water from her glass.

“Segun, stop picking the spices in your food!”, I ordered him.

“I can’t eat them”, he didn’t realize he was making the other rich kids in the restaurant stare at us ridiculously.

“Then why did you order it in the first place…” I questioned him.

“Have you forgotten you made him do that, Nifemi?” Bola didn’t let me finish talking. “My poor brother wanted ice cream but you forced him to eat this”, she ate her vegetable salad slowly.

“Why are you never satisfied with everything I do?”, I yelled at her. “I did that because I was concerned about him. How could I watch him eat only ice cream for lunch!”

“It’s none of your business”, she yelled back. “It’s his belly, not yours besides people have allergies”, she wiped her mouth with a napkin. “You’re free to leave if you’re ashamed of us”.

“You two look cute when arguing”, Gbemi took a shot of us.
The hangout I thought would be one of a kind turned out to be a nightmare. It became more evident to me that nothing I do would make Bola satisfied with me so I resolved to leave the house for them. On our way home, I had to carry a sleeping Segun on my back yet Bola kept stopping at intervals to greet every school friend she came across for over five minutes. Still, I had to wait for her. Few seconds after unlocking our main gate, a pervert touched her butt while she seemed lost in thought.
Furiously, I ran after the criminal.
Not even a pen which was regarded as mightier than the sword!

Or fists or charisma or energy or a mouth capable of insulting well enough, but I kept not relenting. In my effort to find the idiot who derived pleasure in picking on vulnerable girls and must be afraid of challenging his fellow guys.
“You’re not going anywhere”, I hit him from behind all of a sudden and made him lose stamina.
Wow! Did someone just call me a wonder woman? musketeer? Usain Bolt or the girl with legs filled with dark unyielding spots?
“Who are you to do that to a young vulnerable girl”, The Criminal revealed his face which turns out to be DJ Freaky’s.

“Oh my God!”, I ignored the fact that he messed with my sis a few minutes ago.” Please forgive me, I must have caught the wrong person”.

“Whatever, fool!”he snarled and wiped the dust on his cloth.” I did it so what’re you gonna do about that?”

“Nothing..” I stuttered.

“I don’t know how that girl’s related to you but she’s more pretty than you, pig. I need her number tomorrow”, he walked away like a free bird.
That’s how corruption starts….rich kids bully poor kids and sometimes not necessarily poor, weak people like me, defenseless people. They instill fear in us then use that advantage to steal our money, our hard-earned money. While they cross legs in their offices, we’re out there trekking in the sun yet we have insecurities in our jobs and we still can’t fight for our rights because they’re our superiors, our leaders, our bullies. We’ve succumbed to that mentality but it’s not supposed to be forgotten that we got this people power, fame, popularity, money they have. Then, why is it so hard to take it back?

To be continued……

Written By: Enny’s Blog

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By Iremide.
As the bell rang for the beginning of another school day, the students shuffled into their classrooms, ready to tackle another day of learning. Among them was a young, bright girl named Sarah, who was known for her keen intelligence and love for reading. However, as the day progressed, Sarah noticed a change in the atmosphere of the school. The students seemed less enthusiastic than usual, and the teachers seemed more stressed than ever. Puzzled by this change, Sarah decided to investigate.

She discovered that the school library was closing down due to lack of funding, and students would no longer have access to the books and resources that had been so instrumental in their education. Determined to make a change, Sarah gathered a group of like-minded students to form a student-led initiative to save the library. The group organized a petition, held fundraisers, and even reached out to local businesses for support. Their efforts were met with overwhelming success, as the community rallied behind them to save the beloved library. As the library reopened its doors, the students rejoiced in their success. The sense of accomplishment and unity among the students was palpable and the school was once again filled with energy and excitement for learning.

The story of Sarah and her friends’ triumph was celebrated by the entire school, and their initiative instilled a renewed sense of pride and purpose in the students. It was a testament to the power of determination and collaboration, and a reminder that even the smallest voices can make a big impact.The revival of the school library became a symbol of hope and resilience, and the students were inspired to continue striving for positive change in their school and community. Their story served as a reminder that, with perseverance and teamwork, anything is possible.

Episode 7

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In retaliation and the fact that she was stressed out, Juliet replied to her manager harshly. As a result, she was told to bring her mother the following day before she could work. She had no one to speak with except for her brother Ayomide who always heard her out. Juliet was glad she didn’t call Toheeb a thief directly but only reported what she saw that day of the incident, if not so, more who had happened to her than just calling her mum because he will be defended by the manager and she, she has nobody except God. She later solve the issue peacefully with her boss without her mum’s involvement.

Months later, stole twenty naira notes from his father and put it in his sister’s purse when their father was furious to check them up. He said, “Sorry big sis., you don’t need to take it to heart. After all, dad doesn’t love you in the first place, so, if he learnt that you stole it he will be indifferent. The hatred will always be there. Please, make the sacrifice for me, and bear the whole family’s hatred, don’t let it get to me”.

Juliet couldn’t believe her ears and then she slapped him. The thunderous slap affected their father where he was sitting at the parlor that made him come out. “What’s going on here?” Adeleke requested
“She slapped me because I insisted on checking her purse for your lost money”. Ayomide replied.
“How dare you? Now bring your purse for me to see”, Adeleke said and he found the money in her purse.

“Dad, it is not like that …I … didn’t do it, it… it was………” Juliet tried to say but Ayomide cut in saying, “Don’t you want to pay for your acceptance fee. No wonder— Now, I understand but should have at least asked dad, who knows he might have to pay for it this time around”.

“I never expect that to… you of all people would do this too. And you dad, don’t tell me you also fell for this dad? Right?” she managed to say as she wailed.

Episode 8
Adeleke shook his head in disappointment, “Now I believe you are indeed a bastard. If you could do this to me, definitely you can kill me. Now, I DISOWN YOU”. Adeleke snapped.
“And I am not your daughter. You are not my fucking father. After all, you never loved me. Sometimes I wonder if I ever have a parent or family. Do you know why? BECAUSE YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE”, Juliet started back snorting. That was how she left her family for good hoping everything will be okay with them but on the contrary everything became worse. Since then, Juliet found it difficult to relate with people most especially keeping friends ‘cause she believed they were prejudicial to her.

Few months later, Juliet entered into Federal university of Akure studying political science. It was in her three hundred level that she met Omolara. Omolara had always shared her experience about life with Juliet and always admonished her not to believe in friends. At first, Juliet was reluctant to see her as a friend but seeing her maturity and strong religious belief, she accepted her as a friend and then opened up to her in her area of life experience. Juliet and Lara prayed together and hoped for good things. Whenever Juliet was nowhere to be found Lara would look for her and comfort her. They loved each other. Juliet’s leadership position was even given to someone because she failed to date one of her lecturers.

Two years later, when Juliet was preparing for her national service, that is, NYSC, she met her secondary school mate Emmanuel who had defended her before. He was wealthy by then and he showed what true love really is. Juliet couldn’t help but to fall for him, the person she informed when he started courting her was Omolara and she complimented her saying, “Wow, later on you give in to love. That’s my girl! I told you. Juliet narrated their encounter to Lara and how he melted her heart. It was when Lara saw Emmanuel that she fell in love with him at first sight plus what her friend told her about him together with his wealth, all these attracted her.

Episode 9
That was how Omolara developed jealousy for Juliet. That was when she remembered that all the guys she liked back in school always drooled over Juliet. “Why will she have all the good things to herself, just as she suffered so did I”, Lara said to herself one day when she couldn’t control herself anymore. She found herself always asking about what happened between the two lovers from Juliet including their intimacy.

Lara plotted evil against Juliet by setting her up with a guy who was one of Juliet’s crushers, she took a picture of them kissing each other and sent it to Emmanuel with a private number. Meanwhile, things were not as they were in the picture. Emmanuel tried to find out from Juliet if she was really cheating on him for he did not want to believe it and because such an allegation was once made against her before in her secondary school, and that he disflowered her. He believed she was not capable of hurting him. Juliet assured him she would not do such a thing to him, being indifferent for she believed she did nothing wrong. The strange number sent a message to him again that he should try to notice his girlfriend’s reaction whenever someone called her.

Meanwhile, Lara told Juliet to always stand up from the presence of her fiancée to see his reaction towards her calling and chatting with an unknown person in his presence, and then Lara played the role of the unknown person. Emmanuel was being cool and was indifferent about her behavior. To him, he seemed to deduce sense from the stranger’s message and he started to contemplate it.

His heart was broken when Omolara came to his house to have sex with him and he declined her offer, She called him a fool for being fooled by Juliet and told him that Juliet had no heart to love anyone except herself because of all she had passed through, she had also decided to break every man’s heart because she was traumatized. She told him to stop his obsession with her for it was love. She went as far as showing him her chat with Juliet, where Juliet said she will just collect Emmanuel’s money and then abandon him after she announced her marriage to her beloved Francis. For Emmanuel was her past and he had also humiliated her during her hardship. She also mentioned all sorts of bad things about him. Emmanuel confirmed it and saw it was the fact.

To be continued….
By: M. ABA

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Chapter 3b

THE WALKING DISASTER

Since it was impossible for me to read and understand in my noisy class before our lessons began, I took note of the events happening around me. The first scene that caught my attention was Rose and a group of students talking about her vacation in Rome. I couldn’t help but admire her glowing fair skin and natural pink lips each time she answered various questions from students who cared to listen with poise, confidence, and panache. 

She was a great storyteller and attention seeker!!!

“What can I do you for, Miss Spot Full, Fat Legs”, other students in their homeroom made fun of me as Rose walked up to me with a saucy face. “You’ve been staring at me all day long”, she sat on the spot where my hands were resting on my desk and crossed her fine legs.

“Ouch!” I groaned, still, my classmates continued to make mockery of me. Not even Shola could stand up for me.

“Oh, does that hurt?” she felt no iota of pity for me. “That’s what you get for trying to infect me with your ugliness”.

“Common baby, the poor girl just wanted some attention”, Freaky laughed. ” And still can’t get over the fact that you’re my girlfriend”.

“So ridiculous!” she pointed her well-polished fourth left finger toward me scornfully. “This filthy slut wants to compete with me?” her right palm landed on my cheek.

“Oh, that’s amazing, rosy,” Cynthia remarked while recording a video.

“You should be awarded the best slapper of the year”, they did the high five gesture. Unable to control my emotions, I cried.

“Don’t tell me she’s crying”, Michelle said, and her statement was accompanied by a series of laughter. “Grandma, where are you?” She mimicked a child’s voice. 

Shamefully, I walked out of the classroom to wash my swollen face in the toilet and get some first aid treatment for my injured fingers but it appeared nowhere was safe for me in Marie’s high. Even away from the four walls of my homeroom, students kept staring and saying nasty things about me to my face. They accused me of trying to seduce Dj Freaky on my first day.

“Hey, it’s nice seeing you again”, I bumped into Timmy at the school clinic while escaping from another set of haters ganging up against me.

“Hi”, I replied impolitely to make him leave. 

“You’ll get through this”, he smiled “Lemme get you a hand balm”, he disappeared and returned with one as he promised.

” Thanks”, I replied.

“It’s okay to cry here. No one’s gonna laugh”, he applied the balm on my broken wrist and massaged it gently. I laughed as he did so even though I was in pain

” And congratulations on your new post”, I wished he didn’t mention that.

“You need to take me to Mr. Yemi’s office”, I pleaded with him, afraid of getting another round of physical assault for a post I lacked interest in.

Marie’s high staff quarters had different offices and departments, I would have certainly gotten lost if Timmy hadn’t accompanied me there because my guidebook was ripped apart by Rose’s supporters. Besides, Mr. Jeffrey’s office was far away and when we eventually got there, he wasn’t around. The sign at the top of his door indicated that he was taking a class. After checking my LED wristwatch, I found out we didn’t have enough time to make it to our next lesson and didn’t want Timi to be punished for my sake.

Even though Mathematics was the least of my favorite subjects, I still didn’t want to miss the class or become a teacher’s enemy so as soon as I entered my homeroom, I went on my knees, to plead forgiveness from my new Maths teacher. He ignored me at first and kept on teaching others but when there were twenty-three minutes remaining for a change of class, he ordered me out. He wasn’t even interested in knowing the reason why I was late for his class. 

As I was about to leave the class completely shattered physically and emotionally, a feminine voice pleaded with him on my behalf. I looked back for my savior’s face which turned out to be Aisha’s, whom I least expected. To prove she was on good terms with him, he listened to her.

“Thank you, sir”, We chorused.

In the library where I sat quietly during lunch, every single word in “She Stoops to Conquer” by Oliver Goldsmith amused me. While I was anticipating Tony’s reaction when he got to know the barmaid he fell in love with was also his arranged fiance, Shola hastily took the book from me, disrupting my fun.

“Don’t tell me you’re not eating today also”, she dragged me from the wooden chair I was sitting on.

“I’m not hungry”, I replied.

“Can you at least buy me a hot cup of tea as appreciation?” Aisha made a demand that got me hooked.

“Of course”, I accompanied them out of the library to avoid getting another red-eye from the librarian. 

“Thanks for helping me earlier”, I told her on our way to the school’s biggest cafeteria.

“Shola forced me to do it”, she confessed.

“It’s not a big deal”, Shola didn’t succeed in covering her mouth to stop her from saying those words.

Going to the school’s biggest cafeteria didn’t turn out to be a good idea. There, I felt Esau’s pain when he sold his birthright for a pot of porridge. The food displayed served by the school chefs in cool outfits was quite tempting. Their different dimensions, colors, and shapes almost pushed me to spend the last dime in the new savings account Grandma got me – Jollof rice garnished with cube size carrots, sweet corn, and green pepper, soft golden brown fried plantains stylishly arranged on a plate of boiled beans with stew, doughnuts with chocolate or strawberry frostings and others.

“What can I do for you, Miss?”, One of the attendants at the counter asked me.

“I’d like to buy a hot cup of coffee”, I told her slowly to avoid making a blunder that could make me the center of ridicule. Even though my voice was low, I was glad she got my order correctly so I didn’t have to repeat it and probably make a mistake the second time.

However, the real tragedy happened when I bumped into Rose when returning to Shola and co’s table. She was so engrossed in operating her iPhone that she didn’t notice I was approaching and I couldn’t take my eyes off the meals that interested me.

To be continued…..

By Enny’s Blog

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It was a cold and rainy Saturday. I had worn on my newest shirt and slipped my feet into the new pair of Niké she had gotten me on my own birthday.
Alexia had asked that I took her out for her big day. Her furtive smile gave her away easily. Alexia knew I was not the outgoing type and this request was going to prompt me to go in search of the best restaurant with the nicest view. I had to give her the biggest surprise.

So I made plans with my friends. The plan was for me to arrive at her place very early in the morning with my workers to give her a lovely hairdo. I am a hairdresser _ big time. I own two shops in Lekki. After the hairdo and make-over, my babe and I were to step out in grandstyle under camera light into the ride I had ordered and to the place we were to feast.

But today, a call came in.

Alexia was already waiting for me at a long bistro not so far away. I knew the place. We used to hang out there when we started dating. Business was just sprouting. We would sit over Akara and bread, and threaten to murder eachother with the rhythm of our fart. We would talk about our future children and how they we see shege in our hands. Let’s meet at Mama Rose, the text read. I was still in my singlets, shorts and unkempt hair. I jumped up and went about preparation in a hurried affair.

Minutes later, I saw her.

She sat quietly with her bright smile and beautiful eyes. She was wearing a simple T-shirt and not the gown I had gotten her few days ago. She did not look upset that I was late. She looked fine as she always had looked to me.
And_ Dear God _ there was her hair! Severely drawn into a giant fluffy bun, it looked like a shiny black rose blossoming atop her head. I longed to reach to feel the soft texture. My hand reached out to caress.

She pulled back.

Confusion painted my face and for a moment, surprise tried to make sense of the apologetic look on her face. Her hair was one of the magic features. It smelt nice from all the beautiful oinments I had recommended for her, some of which I had combed the entire Eko market to get for her. Alexia’s hair was like a seal for our promise of love. It was her hair that brought us together.

A frustrated pretty lady had walked into my shop requesting that I dread her hair because it was too much trouble to maintain. But I convinced her to keep it and promised to be her hair personal caregiver if she’d be my personal joy giver. (I have waited all the years of my skill acquisition to use that line)

I can’t do this anymore, she sighed sadly.

“Do what?”I asked foolishly.
“I can’t be with you.”

Then she told me about Daniel James. He was a wealthy lecturer who drove a fine Lexus and spoke in fine English. He had been trying to woo her with so much determination for some months and now she has finally given in. He told her he loves her hair and challenged her that brain beneath the hair was more beautiful. This was how she had been able to bag straight A’s in all her courses from the previous session. So therefore she owed her life and soul to him. In a nutshell, they were getting married in two Saturdays time.

My heart froze.

“What?”I could only blurt out. I struggled to maintain my calm self as she held my hand comfortingly and continued jabbering apologies and excuses so that I saw things from her view. As the reality began dawning on me, I realized that this was really happening.

Then I smiled wanly.

“I understand you, dear. I can’t give you the life you deserve. I am just a hairdresser. I don’t have much to offer you. I am not a graduate, and I am not rich. It’s alright.”

“Thank you for understand.”
“But it doesn’t mean we can not be friends right?”
“Of course! I will continue to come to your shop and when James and I have daughters I’d break them around.”

“I planned a birthday surprise for you.”
“What’s it?”Her eyes glittered
“No.”I said. “I was going to come to your place to style your hair and take you out…at least just this once.”

She smiled. “This is so thoughtful of you, dear. But we can’t go over to my place. My fiance will not like to hear of it. Say, we go to the shop, eh? It’s not so far from here.”

Within my heart sank.

But I managed a plastic smile as the Uber driver brought the car to a halt in front of my shop. Alexia sat in the swirvel chair while applied the special shampoo. I massaged her scalp devotedly_ every strand and undergrowth. My fingers were lost in lather and beautiful black hair that smelled like fresh apples and this was the last time. Tears filled my eyes as I washed.

Alexia smiled and relaxed under my expertise touch. What was she thinking of. A crown on her head? Her hair shining in clips and pins; her face behind a veil as she walked down the aisle with a man that wasn’t me.

I poured what and watched the soap of her head. Fresh air caressed her skin and she beamed gloriously. The air must be seeping through her pores and into that wonderful brain of hers. It wasn’t until I applied the spray that she realized.

Alexia sat up and started at her image in shock. Her head was as smooth as an egg and all her beautiful strands were in a bowl of lather. Her scream almost left a crack on the mirror.

It was 9:00 pm on a cold and rainy Saturday. Every body is in my shop but nobody can free me from Alexia’s fierce grasp or her screeches and curses and threats. I am unperturbed but I hope at the end I will be able to tell her that her hair will never grow again, but Daniel James will love her brain just the way it is.

Written by Ify

Chapter 3a

THE WALKING DISASTER

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“The correct answer is a paradox”, he wrote the word with blue ink on our whiteboard. “You’re wrong, miss Shola”, he diverted his attention toward her as well as others in the class, who were hastily waiting for him to pounce on her. I felt proud of myself for getting the answer correctly yet afraid of what he’ll do to my only ally in the school then.
Mr. Yemi called my name yet again and addressed me as one would do to the Queen of England, “What should I do to Miss Shola?”

“Please pardon her, sir”, I pleaded on her behalf.

“Alright, the new class representative has spoken”, he reached for his black leather briefcase on the teacher’s desk, “class dismissed!”

Class representative? I didn’t know the responsibilities of such a person and wasn’t interested in any school post anyway so I didn’t take him seriously.

After closing hour, in the school’s car park, my eyes scanned through the likes of Range Rovers, Mercedes Benz, Chrysler, and others, as I was looking for the spot where Uncle B parked his car. Coming out of these rides are either nannies or parents who came to pick up elementary kids. High schoolers preferred riding bicycles which were safeguarded in different racks, walking home with friends, or driving their mini sports cars. As I spotted Uncle B and my siblings walking in my direction, I breathed a sigh of relief because I was extremely tired and eager for a nap. My annoying siblings again convinced him to allow them to trek home for their friends’ sake. I didn’t do anything to stop them anyway.

After ringing our doorbell for the fifth time, grandma came to open the door for me with rubber gloves in her fair hands and apologized for coming late because she was trimming the plants in the garden then she went on with a story of how the gardener she employed swindled her and left her precious garden unkempt. When she finally realized neither my siblings nor Uncle B had come home with me, she was alarmed. She was too bothered about Uncle B since he was already a grown man.

With anger, she yelled at me for leaving them, knowing fully well that they were new in our neighborhood. I used my tiredness and fake headache as a disguise. Relentless, she got me some Panadol extra from our medicine box with a bottle of water to ease my pain so I could narrate the events that happened in school but before she returned from the store where she went to drop the implements she used in the garden, I make a quick escape to my bedroom for a long-awaited nap.

Far away in wonderland, as I was about to unveil the face of my charming prince, an excruciating pain from my abdomen brought me to my knees till he disappeared. Then my memory reminded me that I didn’t eat lunch in school. After calling myself a fool for such a stupid imagination, I counted twenty stairs as I climbed down lazily, waiting to get some of the “sweet-smelling savor” coming from the kitchen. By the time I got there, the moon had taken over the clouds which made me realize I had slept for too long.

Besides that, grandma wasn’t in the kitchen preparing dinner, Bola and Gbemi weren’t watching Indian telenovelas on our flat-screen TV, Tominwa and Segun weren’t running around the compound with Scott, and Uncle B wasn’t washing his Honda Accord in the car park. With a sad look on my face, I repeatedly paced the house and searched every hole just to catch a glimpse of them and confirm if they were playing tricks on me or if it was true! Thereafter, a note appeared on the glassy center table which made me a lot better. The words below were written in it:

“Dear Nifemi, I didn’t disturb you because of your headache. Since your siblings refused to return home on time, your uncle and I decided to search for them. I want you to remain calm, pray we find them as soon as possible, and take care of our home till we return. Your loving, grandma”.

As the note fell unconsciously from my trembling hands, I imagined how Aunt Simi would have joyfully scraped off each strand of my hair if something terrible happened to her kids. I switched on the TV for distraction but it failed to do so I turned it off and reminisced on the events that happened in the car park – how I failed to look after my siblings because of my selfishness. I wanted to blame myself for what happened but changed my mind. After all, I didn’t beg them to be a part of the complicated and lonely life I was already used to. I wanted them to leave badly. I also wanted Grandma to take on another job so she wouldn’t have my time anymore and Uncle B to return to “go knows where” he came from. I wanted to explore the independence I once had even more.

While I was lost in thought, my charging phone rang consistently in my bedroom till I finally realized and rushed to get it. On the screen, the picture of Grandma which she took at a summit in Abuja appeared. I immediately unplugged it and answered her call quickly, hoping to hear the news that would eradicate my worries. Unaware of the prevailing weather situation, I dashed into the heavy outpouring of rain to open the main gate and Scott followed behind, wagging his black stroke brown colored tail blissfully. Thanks to his loyalty, didn’t have to go through the cold alone.

With wet clothes stuck in the washing machine, sweaters or hoods, and pajamas on, we sat in the dining room fifteen minutes later to have some steaming potatoes and fried fish sauce for dinner. Grandma also made us hot Lipton tea with milk to make us warm but I didn’t take it because of our food combination.

“From today henceforth..” Grandma gave my siblings a stern look…” You’re not allowed to go out alone”, she ordered Bola to raise her bowed head. “Your big sis, uncle, or I have to be with you”.

“It makes no difference if Nifemi is involved”, she gave me a challenging look. ” If she cared about us, we would have followed her”, she tried to instigate her siblings against me.

“You should never blame anyone for your mistakes”, Uncle B made a disapproving hand gesture, “I had faith in you that was why I let you go”.

“She had a headache” ” Grandma said in my defense, “Don’t just go about blaming innocent souls for your foolishness!” she insulted Bola and that made me feel bad for lying to her.

“Fine. I admit it’s all my fault”, she stood up furiously, ” I’m a bad girl, and this sly, pretentious…..is the best granddaughter in the world”, she dropped her plate carelessly in the kitchen sink then slammed her bedroom door ignoring grandma’s order for her to come back which ceased as uncle B told grandma to let her be.

On Tuesday, Bola left the house pretty early. Then, Grandma had not woken up to have a prayer walk around our new home and observe the beauty of the morning cloud on her porch. Due to her unreasonable act, Gbemi had to do both of their house chores. Forced to be a good big sis yet again, I helped her out, impressing Grandma unintentionally.

“Good morning, babe”, Shola waved from her desk and came to sit on mine as soon as I got to our homeroom.

“Hi”, I told her while unpacking.

“Thanks for yesterday”, she showed me an article written in my honor.

“You shouldn’t have done this”, A blush found its way right to my puffy cheeks. “Thanks, anyway”.

“It’s nothing”, she hibernated her HP laptop and returned it to its bag. “I almost forgot!” she pulled me closer for a tight hug, “Congratulations on your new post.

“Does something like that exist here?”, I asked her confusingly.

“You’re so funny”, she laughed. “Spare me the drama. currently, you’re trending on all of Marie’s high social media platforms!”

When she mentioned the word, “social media, I couldn’t remember if I still had accounts on their apps because I was a dormant user. Yet, Google was my best friend since it made my daily research easy.

“I’m damn serious, Shola”, I removed my android from my backpack’s smallest pocket. ” Does it exist? “

“Yeah, it’s exclusive to Marie’s High. Each subject teacher has one”, she affirmed.

“There must have been a mix-up somewhere”, I stared disgustingly at an ugly picture of me posted on the school website, beneath the article written about my new post “he doesn’t even know me well…must have been a joke”.

“I’ve known Mr. Yemi for a while and he’s not the type to joke with stuff like this”, she ditched me for other girls who I was unfamiliar with. “He must have seen something special about you as I did”, she announced, making me feel embarrassed. Yet, she winked at me when she was done with her public declaration.

To be continued…
Written by Enny’s Blog

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NEW MONEY, DOUBLE TROUBLE

I wanted to ask her which siblings but I kept quiet because I didn’t want it to seem like I was insulting her. As far as I knew, my parents didn’t have any children except me before their death. Aunt Simi’s extraordinarily flat tummy also made it hard to believe she’s had a kid so I didn’t think she could have more but I was wrong.

“Big sis, you’re awake!” Gbemi cuddled me. Her name and that of her two other brothers were printed with white ink on the navy blue polo they were putting on so it saved me the trouble of asking them. The two boys ignored me because they were engrossed in playing with Scott, our new German Shepherd dog.

“Grandma wants you to come in for breakfast”, I announced but still didn’t get any response from the boys. They acted like I didn’t exist.

“Big sis, let’s leave them alone. Only mum knows how to handle them”, she held my right hand and we moved in. Grandma made boiled rice with chicken stew for breakfast. Ignoring the stress she put into preparing the delicious meal, I ate only three spoonfuls with small chunks of chicken. At first, Gbemi scolded her mom for not eating to her satisfaction because she was watching her weight but I was surprised to see her finish the food on her floral-designed plate and take more. I couldn’t figure out the reason why she needed to lose some weight though.

“Don’t you like the food?” Grandma checked the food as if she was hoping to see something as terrible as a dead house fly inside it, so I would at least have had a reasonable excuse for not eating again but I didn’t care.

“No, ma. I’m already filled up. Thanks for the meal”, I grinned but she still didn’t look satisfied.

“Can I have yours?” Tominwa sucked the marrow from his chicken bones as if he had never eaten it before.

“Sure”, I acted like a big sis.

“I’m very happy, mom. We should do this often and invite my fiance to join us since he’s gonna be a part of the fa….” she started coughing so I had to quickly pour her a glass of water.

“That is what happens when you talk too much. What do you want the kids to learn from you?” Grandma howled at her and made me wonder if I was part of the ‘kids’ she was referring to.
I didn’t need anyone to tell me she wasn’t in support of the wedding yet Aunt Simi wasn’t willing to bend to her will. It was hard for me to choose which side to take because I also hated second marriages but I didn’t want to judge a relation of mine for making a decision that made her happy. Grandma once told me to follow my aunt and dad’s footsteps because they had happy marriages. Now, I’m beginning to think it was a lie so I need to find out the truth. Maybe it’s time to face reality. After all, I’m not a little girl who needs fairy tales to be happy anymore.
“Excuse me”, I stood up to leave the dining room.

“Let’s make a toast before you leave”, Aunt Simi poured some orange juice into each of our glass cups.

“To our family and my upcoming wedding”, she said and we clink our glasses peacefully because Grandma chose to ignore her last word.

After the toast, I went to my bedroom to have my siesta but the chattering voices of my new siblings prevented me from doing that early enough. My only wish was to see them gone before I woke up.

A gentle evening breeze was the main reason I finally opened my eyes a few hours later to have my bath and change into my Mickey Mouse outfit. Then, I decided to take some banana and coconut milk smoothies from the fancy fridge near our dining table. While passing by the master’s bedroom to go downstairs, I heard some noise. The sayer’s voice wasn’t audible enough yet I knew it was grandma. Her door was ajar, so I could see Aunt Simi kneeling and crying like a baby whose candy was snatched. A few seconds later, she was already standing upright beside me looking bright as though nothing happened.

She sure had a master’s degree in hiding feelings! “I thought I wouldn’t be able to see you before leaving”, she hugged me and whispered some words in my ear, “Don’t forget our agreement. I’m leaving the kids in your care”.

“I wish you a safe trip”, I didn’t know what else to say.

Gbemi’s wailing prevented me from studying well because I was used to a quiet and peaceful environment. As her mom’s bestie, all efforts made to calm her nerves were futile. Others didn’t give a damn about what she was doing but it affected me. They were acting as if everything was normal and Grandma also didn’t deem it fit to send her back to her mom. I assumed Grandma held the kids down to punish her but wasn’t sure that was enough to make her change her mind.

“Your mum should be in bed, now” Uncle B slammed the silver door in the living room behind him when he returned from Aunt Simi’s home. He offered to drive her there under the pretext that “a beautiful lady deserves nothing but a sweet ride in a private car, not running after public buses”.

“Be careful, Uncle B. Mum’s engaged “, Bola teased him.

“Thanks for reminding me”, he laughed.
The following morning, my annoying alarm clock rang for the fifth time, then I stretched my right hand lazily to turn it off. Anxiety denied me sleep until 5 a.m. Like I do every other school day, I folded my bed sheets quickly and dashed to the bathroom, where I gave in to a cold bath. Afterward, I towel-dried my dark skin and applied some pure Shodam coconut oil. Inside my closet, Marie’s high school uniform (a blue pleated knee-high skirt, short-sleeved pink shirt, and long tie with the school’s badge) hung neatly till I removed it.

Marie’s High was one of the best schools in my country. They had high moral standards, and their admission questions made even an upcoming genius like me sweat in the examination hall that had several air conditioners yet I eventually got admission into the school. Grandma was happy because she heard some kids whose parents were even richer than we were weren’t admitted. Well, she was the one who came up with the idea of transferring to the school. Leaving my previous school wasn’t my plan but Nifemi was in no position to question an order even though it was given as a suggestion.

“Ekaro ma(Good morning, ma)”, I greeted her with my knees on the cold floor of the living room, as she taught me. Grandma was always proud to see me act like a typical Yoruba girl.
“Karoo omo mi. Shey dada loji? (Good morning, my child. Did you sleep well)”, she replied.
“Beni ma (Yes, ma’am)”, I rose to my feet.
“Your uncle’s washing his car in the garage. He’s taking you to school and wants you to be ready before he returns”, she helped Segun knot his tie.
“Yes, Grandma “, I poured some hot coffee from a coffee machine into my favorite mug and added a few cubes of sugar. Uncle B returned as soon as I finished washing my utensils.

Everything that happened: the new money, mansion, car, school, and siblings felt like a dream come true within the twinkle of an eye. Nobody hates comfort but it won’t come without a price. Even the blessings from God require one to face temptations, face ordeals, and make sacrifices. I was required to deal with the four little rats seated close to me on our way to Marie’s high in Uncle B’s car. What I wasn’t ready for was the segregation of students based on social class in my new school.
The morning sun produces vitamin D yet no one on earth will choose trekking over a ride in a fully air-conditioned car. I shed tears of joy when I remembered the days I used to trek to school. Lots of happy memories flashed back to my mind, especially those with my junior high school crush.

“Welcome to Marie’s high school, kids”, Uncle B smiled when we finally arrived at the school gate.

To be continued…
By Enny’s Blog

Written by Enny

When Grandma told me we were moving to our new home, I least expected it to be a mansion because she wasn’t the extravagant type. Besides, we weren’t that rich. “This is for you, Nifemi”, she said while showing off her white set of teeth which I envied so much.

“Thank you, ma’am”, I replied to her with a brief side hug.

“Please, I need your help here. I have a meeting with a client soon”, the Auber driver who drove us to our new home complained. He was her late best friend’s son.

“Pele oko mi “, she said while I helped him move our luggage inside as he was taking them out of the boot of his black sedan car.

After Uncle B left for his meeting, Grandma showed me the nooks and crannies of our new home. Despite being hard to please, I was impressed with what I saw, especially in my bedroom. A silky foot mat was placed on the floor with cream-colored tiles. It also had a well-polished closet opposite a full-length mirror, a white vanity table with a stool, and a brown bedside table holding a lamp and clock radio. Three cute Teddy bears also sat on my king-sized bed, which was covered with white sheets. I was happy with everything I saw yet felt bad for getting angry at Grandma who gave my old teddy bears to some poor kids in our old neighborhood. If only she had told me what was awaiting me. She thought I was against charity but that’s not true. I believe one shouldn’t be forced to do it. I felt it brings great rewards and benefits to both sides when it’s done wholeheartedly.

Yet in life, we have to make some sacrifices to get things we want and those we didn’t expect. If I had known Grandma had this surprise for me, I would have wholeheartedly given out those bears. Moreover, I didn’t expect her to know my taste since we didn’t have an intimate relationship. Grandma became responsible for my upkeep after my parents passed away. They were so much in love that one couldn’t live without the other. Grandma served under the Ministry of Health as a photographer before her retirement and traveled frequently so we barely saw each other. It was so bad that I can’t remember the last time we had meals or long conversations before the grand relocation.

“What would you like for our first dinner here?” She asked as I entered the kitchen to have a glass of water.
“I’m not hungry”, I said, hurting her feelings but that wasn’t intentional. Eating junk for dinner was my daily routine and I wasn’t ready to change that since I wasn’t fat and people frequently tell me I have a high tendency to stay that way till I die.

“It’s okay”, she forced a smile. As I returned to my bedroom on the second floor, she continued, “I want us to watch an interesting movie”

“I’m sorry, grandma. It’s my study time”, she nodded and watched me climb the stairs with S curved railings.

With my pajamas on, I opened my backpack to bring out a book titled ‘Faceless’, written by Amma Darko. During summer coaching when my previous literature teacher told us about the book, I tried imaging an individual without a face. As I was reading the book, I ate my favorite chocolate coated doughnuts with a cold bottle of Pepsi. Few minutes after eating, I retired for the day.
Grandma’s cooking aroma woke my nostril nerves the following day. Stylishly, I went to the kitchen to find out what she was cooking since I couldn’t bring myself to ask her directly. I made her believe my reason for going in there was to take some fruits.

We were the only ones in the house so I was surprised to see Aunt Simi sitting beside the breakfast bar, sipping a hot cup of coffee, and making the description of a runway model as her fiancé to grandma who seemed uninterested. I could remember the last time I saw her vividly. It was my primary school graduation and grandma was on a business trip so she had to bribe her to stand in. That was three years ago but her look didn’t change one bit. Her hair was still long and black. Also, her white skin remained untamed. At times, I wondered who she got those traits from because my grandparents and a few family members I’ve met don’t have them.

“Oh God! Look at those glossy curls!” She exclaimed, staring at my short hair.
“How have you been Aunt?” I asked out of courtesy.
“Fine, dear. My wedding’s coming up soon and I want you to be my best lady”, she replied excitedly, like we were age mates.
Best lady!!!! Why on earth would she want me to be that?
“Then what am I gonna be mum? Your flower girl?” A tall dark girl with twisted braids made with Brazilian wool came into the kitchen. Since that was my first time seeing her, I wouldn’t have known she was my niece if she didn’t call my aunt, “Mum”.
“It will be nice if you become the first oldest flower girl in history “, Aunt Simi laughed.
“Bola, let’s set the table for breakfast “, grandma told my niece then turned to me, “Nifemi, go and call your siblings who are playing outside”.


To be continued…

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Episode 6

She found out when she wanted to give him the positive response he requested for after she passed her exam, through his reaction towards her. He didn’t send her messages as before nor called her often as before. After she found out, she wanted to consider forgiving him at first for she knew he was lonely but Richard did not give room for her because he was too guilty to message her. The excuse he gave was that he was too busy.

By the time Richard summoned the courage to meet her again, it was too late Juliet had determined not to go back to her anything related to her painful past, ‘cause she also cried because of him.

Two months later, Toheeb, the cousin of the manager of ‘Shop Life supermarket’ came to work in the supermarket. Toheeb liked Juliet the most among her co-workers because of her distinguished behaviour and her unique appearance, he told her she is different and the fact that shared some similar views makes her like him. Juliet trusted Toheeb with no emotional and physical attraction.

Suddenly, Juliet started experiencing loss which was unusual. It was to an extent that she didn’t collect salary in December while others collected theirs to celebrate New Year. She found out too late that the person responsible for it was Toheeb the one she saw as a decent person and a saint not knowing he is a green snake under green grass.

She cried a lot ‘cause the person she had always trusted, who enlivened her whenever she lost the money, and also had family problems could steal from her and was comfortable to watch her pass through emotional pain, pretended to pity her despite her kindness and frankness towards him. Like he MADE A FOOL OF HER! Juliet later trapped him and he was exposed plainly.
In the night, when all the staff had gone home, she happened to forget her purse in the office.

On getting there, she met the manager, supervisor and Toheeb talking about the incident IN HER ABSENCE. She was asked to explain what transpired between them and why she did not give Toheeb back the money he gave her after the supervisor had given her the money she claimed missing meaning Toheeb angrily dropped the money on the floor and she, refused to take it for it couldn’t replace all that had lost.

To be continued

By M.ABA

Episode 4

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Juliet threatened to report Lawal to the school authority but he defended saying, “who will believe a slut like you?”

Later, the school principal called her and inquired of the incident, Juliet said she knew nothing about it and that she was framed. She was asked by the principal to defend herself but there was no evidence to prove her innocence. Then he told him to beware of friends, and he has his eyes on her. The principal was only being fair with her because she was known to be a good girl. This had left a deep hole in Juliet’s heart.

To back the scandal up, Anita put her ten thousand naira notes that were meant for her school fee in Juliet’s bag, she started shedding crocodile tears claiming someone stole her money. She was told to search her friends’ bag before checking the rest of the students’ bags and she found it in Juliet’s purse.
Anita was the first person to call her a thief, accusing her, “I never believed you could go as far as stealing from me. Do you want to turn me into aL pauper like you? At first, it was prostitution and then you were shedding tears like Holy Mary and now you are a thief, tell me what you will become next, huh? An armed robber. I can never be a friend with a whore like you, not anymore”. Anita blurted out, so as Racheal, Juliet turned to water and was speechless. She never believed that her intimate friends who knew her appearance and back end could easily declare this and make mockery of her.
They propagated the incident, posting her on all social media platforms with a tag, “The latest notorious klepto you should beware of”. Unfortunate for Juliet she forfeited her leadership right of being the assistant head girl of the school. During that time, she had a shameful, painful and ugly experience in school that made her stooped so low.
Just as the saying, ‘Every day is for the thief but a day is for the owner’, the evil deeds of her two friends became known to her as they had quarreled together. Emmanuel was there as an eye-witness and had reported to the principal because after the truth was revealed, they didn’t feel remorseful and still claimed to be right.

Episode 5
Racheal and Anita were punished publicly and issued a red card. They were suspended from school for three months, so that, by the time they returned they couldn’t sit well for their WAEC. Since then, Juliet refuses to believe in friends because she was afraid of keeping even a friend. She wrote her WAEC and came out in flying colour.

After graduating from secondary school, Juliet had to engage in different work or business in order to gather enough money to sponsor herself to university. She worked as a teacher but later quitted as she started noticing all forms of opposition from her fellow teachers as a result of jealousy plus the amount she was being paid was nowhere to be compared to the services she rendered not to talk of the transport fares.

She got into petty-trading but stopped because of too many debtors and different names were accorded to her for requesting for her money upon the little gain she earned.
Juliet had never enjoyed her life while her siblings were being showered with love though she cared less. Ramota always intimidates her with her kids, sarcastically telling her they are the man of the house and could dominate her, so, by no means they would respect her.

Juliet later worked in a big supermarket where she met her lover Richard. Richard confessed his feelings to her and asked her out. But Juliet was not ready at that time. She requested for time because she was facing a lot of problems from her family at that moment plus she needed to prepare for UNILAG post UTME, and then after she would give him a positive answer.

Richard did not want to understand, he couldn’t control himself. He was desperate to make her his alone at that moment, so he couldn’t wait. Though they chatted everyday. Richard later left the supermarket for handwork to boost the formal education he had received, but still they did not lose contact, they chatted like a couple.

It was so unrealistic to Juliet that ultimately through connection Richard was already having an affair with her junior who came after Richard had left. The lady is Lola who had left by then, who later found out that both Richard and Juliet love each other.

To be continued…

By M.ABA

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Episode 3

Juliet had to struggle to provide for her educational needs since her father failed to sponsor her education even though he sponsored her other siblings. Whenever she wanted to fight for her right Ramota would butt-in saying that it is the consequences of being the first born and more so she is a disaster. Her sister, Joy develops jealousy for her basically on her beauty, so, she cooks up lies against her accusing her of secretly meeting up with. Her father believed all those facts lie and without proper investigation he punished her.

Anita and Racheal tried a lot of ways to frame Juliet but all to no avail, until then they were able to give her sedative pills. They made her sleep in a sophisticating room, and consequently she missed her mathematical examination for that session and failed it. She cried a lot, as usual, her enemy friend came to sympathize with her. Not only that, she was beaten by her father for spending a day out of the house at a very young age. Her friends were satisfied with the bruises on her as they smirked in satisfaction.

As if that was not enough, they set her up, making her lay on a man’s bed and taking her picture. They posted it, and it went viral. Lot of comments were passed against her. Comments like, ‘All that glitters are not gold’, ‘disgrace of woman nature’, ‘public toilet’ and ‘useless beauty’. All her crushers started having  second thoughts of her. Some guys hijacked the situation and proposed to do unlawful things with her.

To be continued…

Written by M.ABA

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Episode 1

Life is not fair, it has never been fair before and will never be and even in the next life to come. It is either it favours the rich against the poor or the powerful against the weak. The only antidote is for you to make life fair for yourself. Some people believe in fate. Yes, true, fate exists. It is so unfortunate that the majority believe that they should wait for what fate brings them. Anywhere it leads they will go. But why don’t you take charge to determine your fate? Some have even forgotten that, “tough times never last but tough people do”.

This is the case with Juliet, she has forgotten this. She has forgotten she has a role she needs to fulfill in life, a mission that is part of her that she must accomplish. Too bad she allowed the storm of life to drive her away because she accepted defeat.

Juliet was the first born of her parents, in a family of five. Juliet was born when her parents were expecting a boy because her father’s family requested for it, they saw female children as useless plus the hatred they had for Adeleke’s wife ‘cause he chose to marry her instead of a rich lady. Despite the fact that Adeleke was looking for a boy to satisfy his family, he accepted his fate with the belief that it is God that giveth and would give him a male child.

After several attempts to have another baby, it was fruitless. There was so much pressure on Adeleke and his wife Olawunmi from his family. Olawunmi was called all sorts of disgusting and ungodly names. They called her a barren. Imagine life! That’s life for you. At first Olawunmi was unfazed and careless of all these until it got out of hand when the husband Family head started disgracing her in the public, calling her a witch and a public toilet, accusing her of charming their son. Adeleke on the other hand so much loves his wife. He refused to heed to their ill-mannered attitude and advice but rather chose to stand by his wife and cheer her up. It was not too long when they started facing spiritual attacks.

Four years later, Adeleke had no other choice than to take for himself a new spouse. Though this really enraged Olawunmi, she blamed her husband for not being fair with her. She later accepted fate and stayed in her husband’s house. After all, she is the real wife and any other woman is an intruder. Ramota, Adeleke’s new wife, gave birth to a set of male twins. 

Episode 2      

Adeleke’s family was very pleased with this achievement. Since children had entered from another source, Adeleke’s love for his wife deviated. This was one of the reasons why Olawunmi detested Juliet so much as his husband because he couldn’t get his so much beloved love attention again. 

A year after, Olawunmi gave birth to a bouncing baby boy which she gladly named Ayomide. For this reason there was a quarrel in Adeleke’s home because Ramota was jealous of her husband’s love toward Olawunmi. This really frustrated and  traumatized him and made him the other side of husband material. Ramota also gave birth to a baby girl named Joy.

Life had never been easy for Juliet, she was the intermediary receiving all the vented anger from each side. She had never experienced what love is. At a very young age Juliet was being molested by their neighbor called ‘Bro. Amen’ but she had no one to run to. Is it her aggressive mother or his father who failed to play his role as a husband are we to talk about? Her prayer had always been to part way with Bro. Amen and other foolish, shameless men like him who had been harassing her because of her beauty. But God had always saved her from these wolves. God finally answered her prayer when her family relocated to another residence based on the expansion of the family.

Juliet is a very beautiful, intelligent and talented girl. She performed excellently in her academics but who to show off to? She loved her siblings so much that she believed they reciprocated. She had two friends in school Anita and Racheal whom she loved so much and trusted. Juliet was always after everyone’s good. Despite the fact that those she taught who refused to do the same to her performed brilliantly than she did, she didn’t mind. It was so unfortunate that the friends who she confided in were her worst enemy.

During the time for prefectship leadership, Juliet was manipulated by her so-called friends to aspire for any post stating out the short coming while they secretly aspired for one, and were being chosen as punctuality prefect. God so good, she was nominated to be the assistant head girl due to her brilliant performance. This made her friends resent her more.

One day a boy named Lawal approached her to have sex with her. “Wait, are you crazy? No, no, no tell me. Are you out of your senses? Me to you?” Juliet replied, taken aback. 

 “What do you mean, you still dey act saint under your dark shadow? Come on, you be bad girl, admit it already, we already know. Or you think we don’t know? Relax, I will treat you well”, Lawal said disrespectfully.

“Well, it is not your fault. I …I…can’t blame you. Only….God knows” Juliet managed to say as water strolled down her cheek.

“Only a liar will say his witness is in heaven”, he said, and attempted to rape her. She screamed for help and Emmanuel came to her rescue.

To be continued…

Written by M.ABA