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I arrive at the Adebanjoās mansion in Lekki ten minutes late cause of the traffic, praying endlessly in my mind not to get fired. There is something about babysitting for rich people, I earn in a day more than I earn in a week in all of my other jobs and that is not something I am ready to give up.I am a babysitter and Iām late. I hurry through the wide, black polished gate, dashing to the front door, frantically knocking on it and mindlessly hurting my knuckles, I continue to knock till I see the head maid opens the door, then I stop. Breathing heavily.āYou are late.ā She says, confirming the voice in my head that speaks louder than my heart beat.āI know, traffic.ā not giving her the chance to scold me, I replied immediately.āWell, you are lucky. Madam is in the garden.ā she moved her thumb to the direction behind her head which points to the garden.āThank you.ā I dash to the back of the house, finding Mrs. Adebanjo sitting in the roofed, detached porch-like structure erected behind the palm tree at the far end of the garden, reading a novel in her hand and sipping her glass of red wine.She doesnāt look like sheād be going to work today. I thought as I approach her āGood morning ma.ā I make my presence known just as little Michael, who has been playing with a ball, runs towards me and hugs me.āEno, youāre here." she looks up, dropping her novel on the table in front of her āPlease, seatā she offers, stretching her left arm towards the empty chair tugged under the table.I draw out the chair and sit in front of her,Mrs. Adebanjo appears to look as luxurious as ever, in a simple yet, elegant way. She has on, a white and gold swirl print, v-neck, chiffon maxi dress. And on her feet is a simple, flat, gold colored slippers. She does not have much accessories on except for a pair of modest, round gold earrings and the gold, designers wrist watch her husband have to her on their last anniversary.Mrs. Adebanjo seems to have been enjoying her book before I Interrupted her.āYou are having fun, no work?ā I ask, just to clear my curiosity.āNo my dear, I should have called you but I thought you should come. I need the company. How are you?ā she flashes her iconic smile at meReally? This rich people and their way of thinking. I guess I went through all the trouble to keep you company. Will I even get paid for it? I mentally shake my head off the nagging thought, concealing my disappointment with a fake smile. I guess today is my lucky day. I almost forgot she asked a question. I flutter my eyelashes back to reality. āOh, Iām fine thank you. And you?ā I ask politely.āHealthy, I thank God.ā she replies, looking around then she calls, āMichael!āāYes Mommy!ā Her little son hugged his soccer ball to his chest with both hands and answers in his cute, baby voice.āCall Sir Patrick for me, please.āāOk mommy.ā he dropped the ball and without watching it bounce, he swings his tiny legs in the air while running into the house.Sir Patrick is the trusted butler of the house, he's in charge of caring for the house when the Adebanjosā are not around. he's in his mid-forties and is granted due respect that everyone refers to him as sir. He isn't the most handsome piece of work, neither is he close to it. He's average in height, plump, accompanied with a pot belly that makes it difficult for his uniform to button perfectly and plastered on his oval shaped face is a ridiculous mustache that colonized his chin and not complimenting his skinned-cut head. But underneath all this layers is a funny and reliable man who is still nursing the hope that one day, Iāll agree to be his girlfriend. He wish.āI havenāt seen Daddy yet,ā I say.āYes, he went out with Bolaji and Tosin, they should be back soon.ā she sips her wine again.Bolaji is the eldest son of the Adebanjosā. He is a stubborn sixteen year old boy in his final year in secondary school. Whenever I come around with Unwana, the house becomes too small for the both of them. My daughter is not gentle, sophisticated neither is she quiet; her nature of school made sure of that.As Mrs. Adabanjo will say, Unwana is the only girl that has shown Bolaji his place and put him there. Itās funny when I think about it.Tosin on the other hand is the direct opposite of my daughter, she is at the same age with Unwana and a jewel to the family. Her brother, Bolaji does not joke with her. He sees it as a sense of responsibility to always protect his sister, which is cute. Sheās best friend with my daughter and sometimes I think my daughterās behavior is rubbing off on her little by little.Unwana speaks fluent English but throws it at the corner when sheās with her friends or with me, a means for me to figuring out who her real friends are. And gradually, Tosin is picking up on that. I just hope that one day, her mom or her dad will not hear her speak Pidgin English. I don't want to imagine their reaction.āHow is my baby, Bright?ā Mrs. Adebanjo asks just as Sir Patrick walks into the garden.They find it a little difficult to pronounce my daughterās name so they settle for the English version (Bright).āYou sent for me maā Sir Patrick voice halts me from replying. He walks closer to my side, beaming irksome oculars down at me and smiling.āYes, bring me the bottle of wine I kept on the dining table and an extra glass, please.ā Maybe Mrs. Adebanjo can be strict but, her speech are always laced with a soft and refined tune. She is very different from the rich women I meet in their estate.I have worked in the Adebanjoās mansion for four years now and there is something i always love about Mr. and Mrs. Adebanjo, they are nice, accommodative and always very cultured, except for when they are upset. Mr. Adebanjo is one wealthy man Iāve seen that is very discipline. You should see how he train his children.āYes ma.ā Sir Patrick straightens himself before leaving..āBright is fine. Her visiting day is in two weeks time, I canāt wait to see her.ā I finally reply, smiling.āI still canāt believe you sent your daughter to a boarding school, not just any boarding school but command secondary school, a military school! Eno,ā I can see the dreadful look in Mrs. Adabanjo eyes. I never liked the idea too. But I'm a single and struggling mom. If she goes to school from home, my multiple jobs may interfere with her upbringing. I don't want her to witness how hard I work to provide, all she needs to know is that I can provide and make life comfortable for her.āI know you never supported the idea, I still remember how you even offered to take responsibility for her schooling by sending her to a private school, like the one Tosin is going. Iāll always be thankful for caring about my daughterās education but, she wanted to go there and I had to step up to take responsibility,ā I explain. Don't know if it was a good enough explanation.āI understand it just thatāā Interrupted by Sir Patrick's entry with the bottle of wine and the extra glass on a well carved, brown wooden tray. He place the tray gently on table and I can clearly observe the fine flowery print on the inside of the tray and the edges of it carved in the shape of a butterfly wings. He lift the wine bottle and refills Mrs. Adebanjoās glass and pours some wine into the second glass, placing it in front of me.Mrs. Adebanjo waves her left hand, signaling that he can leave then, she continues āāBright has helped my daughter so much, academically. You need to see how Tosin is performing now in school, it is impressive.ā She smiles.I laughed a bit. Knowing that my daughter has affected a life positively, not just any life, I mean, a life that has everything, it makes me very proud. āI almost forgot, Bright represented her school in the Cowbell Math competition this year and she came out the best out of the twenty schools represented at the competition. And one of the award is a scholarship covering her remaining years in school!ā I just can't contain my joy while speaking.āOh my God, this is wonderful news.ā Mrs. Adebanjo jerked to her feet, expressing so much happiness than I expected āTosin have to hear this.āāThank you ma.ā I say gratefully.Finding her seat, she exhales āThat is the kind of news I want to hear.āI chuckle.āI will be traveling to Abeokuta with my husband tomorrow. He lost his Father and heās the only son of five daughters.ā She informs in a low tone.What a sad news āIām sorry,ā I say concern āWhat about the children whāāāThey will stay with my sister.ā She quickly tells me before I can drop the question.āHow long?āāMy dear, I donāt know but Iām not planning on staying long. Iāll call you when I return. But for the mean time, there is this friend of mine who just returned from the state and requested for a baby sitter. I recommended you but I wasnāt sure if you will want it.āāOf course, I'd be glad to take the job.ā a quick replacement. Thank God. āBut I'll quit as soon as you return. I don't want someone else taking care of my little Michael.ā I add jokingly.Earning a heartfelt laughter from Mrs. Adebanjo, she replies āAhh! Eno, you won't kill me oooh. Well, she lives at Ikeja, Iāll write down the address for you.ācontinue readingā¦*****I return home very early than usual, a little exhausted and famished and at the same time, too lazy to prepare anything. I take out my android phone, click it on and scroll to check if I missed any calls or text but, to my shock, nothing, not even from him, my boyfriend, Chidi. I sigh and drop the phone angrily on the couch. I met Chidi through my friend/neighborās boyfriend. They were kind enough to hook me up with him and since then, weāve been dating for like a year now.I hear a light knock on my door and I rush to it with high expectationsāOh, itās youā I sigh disappointed seeing Omoh. Remember that friend/neighbor who in agreement with her boyfriend, hooked me up with Chidi? Yes, this is her. My neighbor who happens to be my only close friend since I moved to this neighborhood.Omoh is a beautiful, tall, fair and slim lady who just finished her national youth service. Her dad is a Naval Officer and most of the Sundays, when she goes to Navy town to greet her parent, she
******I scan the bar as I walk in, half empty, I observe, and Chidi is yet to be seen. I take out my phone from the silver purse hanging across my shoulder, tapping twice on my phone screen to reveal the time. 11:48 AM, I'm early. Sighting an empty table, I make my way towards it and draw out a chair tugged under it then, make myself comfortable on it.Unconsciously, I repeatedly Tap my fingers on the polished black, wooden surface while pondering if he will show up or not. I open my contact list on my phone, search out his number and just as I am about dialing his number, a gentleman walks up to where I'm seated.āCan I get you anything maāam?ā The waiter in Black polo with the bar's name āRicardoā inscribed on it, asks politely.I smile briefly at the young man āEm, Iām waiting for someone. Maybe a bottle of water will be fine for now, thanks.āāOk maāamā He replies with a warm smile. He leaves, returning shortly with the water.I hate this situation I find myself in right now. Hav
*****Omoh has gone over to Ucheās house at Ajah which mean, I have no one to witness me in my depress state. I move around the house, from one room to the next, trying to calm the numerous voices speaking all at ones in my head.I have not gotten myself since yesterday, since Chidi shocked me with his fwords. People may say Iām acting like a child when they see how restless Iāve become. But the truth is, I am not restless from the breakup, I am worried.Iām worried I might be cursed, I mean, my history with men has drawn me to that conclusion. Itās either that or I attract the wrong kind of guys. Maybe a just like the saying, you attract who you are; maybe Iām a wrong woman who attracts wrong men. I doubt that. Maybe Iām searching in the wrong places. Argggg! Iām lost in my own self, Ubong deceived me and all the other men despise me but Iām not going to dwell on that any more. I have my priceless Jewel, Unwana, and I have to be the best mother for her.All I need to do is, one, er
******āThank you for making out time to be here, Iām Ruth,ā An elegant looking woman, dressed in a Navy blue, off-shouldered maxi dress, stripped with gold lines on the burst that matches the gold studs earrings revealed under her long box braids and the gold bracelet on her left wrist, introduces as she welcome me into her sitting room, pointing to the couch for me to sit āI was thrilled when my friend called me to inform me about your coming,ā she sit comfortably facing me ābefore then, I was frustrated.āMrs. Adebanjo had filled me in a little on the personality and need of her friend, Ruth. And while Mrs Adebanjo is away on a trip with her family, I'm really in need of a substitute job so, it's imperative I make a good impression here today.āI had trouble getting a good babysitter so I called my friend who recommended you to me.āāIām sorry you had to go through the trouble.ā I say, smilingāThank you again Eno.ā āYouāre welcome.ā I reply.āI have a company dinner to attend ne
******Today is what they call visiting day at Unwanaās school, it occurs every last Sunday of every month. I never miss anyone, and I don't plan on missing this one. I won't lie, days like this are usually filled with mix feelings. I'm ecstatic about seeing my daughter and when the visiting day is over, and she's heading back to her dormitory, I feel heart collapse in despair. I wake up early as 5am to prepare all I will take along with me, putting in mind all the things I know my daughter will need I sit on one of the couch n my living to set aside her provision which where; one big tin of Milo and peak milk, one pack of cube sugar, one big cornflakes, golden morn, and a bottle of her favorite drink, Tasty Time blackcurrant. I found a neat nylon which was big enough to contain the seven cups of garri I turned into it, I tie the end tightly to secure the garri from pouring out and then, set it aside also. I instantly recall the bottle of roasted groundnut I bought the previous da
******The buses are already at the mess but the drivers arenāt, yet. So, I sit on a bench in front of a closed kiosk waiting for others to arrive.Bit by bit people start to show up, many are carrying bags much heavier than mine. Some are even carrying boxes āAnd here I am, thinking I over packedā I laugh out a bit.āAh, mama Unwana,ā that is what we call every woman with children. We call them mama followed by the name of their first child. The name of my daughter is unwana so, Iām called mama unwana. āYou done reach?ā Mrs. Okolo (mama Chinelo) asks.Seeing mama Chinelo approaching me with the large bag on her head, make me burst out laughing. āYes oo,ā I reply āthis one wey you carry Ghana-must-go so, nawa oo, na only Chika get am?ā I ask amaze at the size of the bag which is bigger than mine. And Chika happens to be her second child after Chinelo.āMy sister, you know how all this our children dey behave, you go buy one thing today, tomorrow, them go thief am finishā She complain
********CHAPTER EIGHT āNo, no I canāt go Omoh, besides I have lectures to attend at GREG, I wonāt have the timeā I inform Omoh who is pestering me in going to her boyfriendās get-together party at his place. I have finally enrolled at GREG for their entrepreneurship classes, a step I think will be good for me.Omoh and I are at the local market buying groceries. We tour the market, shop to shop unable to find one item on our list, unripe plantain. I plan to prepare plantain porridge this evening but I guess that craving will be postponed. Omoh suggest we buy the ripe one but I protest against it. We halt in front of a provision store when I hear my phone ring. I take out the phone from my purse and found on the screen, Ubongās number.āItās him again, isnāt it?ā Omoh asks looking at me. I told Omoh everything about I encountered during my interview with Mrs. Ruth. I remember how hard I cried while narrating.. she did her best to console me and encouraged me to forget about him but,
*****First day at GREG school of entrepreneurship isnāt that bad, everyone here are so nice beyond my expectation. I thought it would be hard to blend in but I thought wrong.GREG school has different department and each of the department has their different uniform color they put on. For instance, the fashion designing department put on the color red, cosmetics department put on purple, catering department which happens to be the department I enrolled in, put on yellow, event planning department put on royal blue, and so on.Locating my department isnāt that difficult from the color diversity. I walk into the building with a big sign board on top of it and a tall yellow flag hanging on the side, signifying the catering department. Seeing other student wearing the same color as me, I follow them up the stairs into a very large hall, having it interior painted white with wide, brown, formica tables arranged in three rows, from the entrance all the way to the back. On each of the tabl