Barrister Ray had become a new man, clubbing, following ladies up and down. He drowned his sorrows in alcohol, ladies, clubbing. He became short tempered. He was no longer interested in his children academics. He never cared again. He leaves early and comes home very late. He leaves money for their food, schooling but that was all. The emotional attachment to the children had gone, “what’s more! My wife has left me and had gone with another man. He blamed himself severally because he knew it was his fault, he had used his hands to destroy his once beautiful home which was the envy of everyone. The joy and peace they enjoyed had gone. The love and care, all gone. His beautiful daughters and sons were there but highly disappointed in their dad. He had failed his children, he is not worthy to be called their father. He became depressed, always blaming himself for all that had happened. “If only my wife had been a little bit more patient with me”, he would always lament remorsefully. He felt deeply lonely within. The church people tried to help him but he was too discouraged to respond. More so, his wife had left and remarried a richer man who was taking excellent care of her. “Look at me, I am pitiable”. Of course he had greatly emaciated, a shadow of himself. He vowed never to marry again. He had been stricken by a woman and would not allow another to strike him again. He had lost the jewel in his life. He had taken her for granted. What a shame! Yes, what a deep shame on him.
His chamber also suffered greatly he had lost so many cases that people were no longer patronizing him. He made up his mind to begin again. He did began again and got revived. He started to win his cases again. Things were actually coming alive bit by bit. Thank God, it was a big relieve.The children had suffered the attacks severally. They felt like orphans. Mother had left, father no longer bothered about them apart from giving them money. Who will listen to their pains. They took solace in one another. Jennifer was badly affected, she was traumatized. It seems as if she had lost everything. By the time she got back to the University, her grades dropped. GP dropped from 4.1 to 3:2, it was very painful. Her lecturers had called her severally to find out what was happening to her but she told them nothing. She felt there was no one to confide in. Her roommates notice her withdrawal from others, confronted her, but they couldn’t make her to open up to them. Many on campus do come to approach her for friendship but she never gave into anyone of them. She kept to herself. Emotionally drained. A once lively, bold, beautiful lady had been torn apart by the divorce saga of her parents. What a world! She reverted into thinking she eats less, skip meals and drinks less water. No appetite for food nor for water. As they were reading in the class at about 8pm in the night, she suddenly gave a shout and slumped to the surprise of her school mates. She had to be rushed to the hospital. She was short of blood. She looked pale and tired. She was given drips of water + glucose. She had to be taking food supplement.Immediately she recovered, she received a call that her brother had an accident. He was hit by a vehicle as he was crossing the road. Of course, he was not looking very well. He was actually thinking of their family problems, when he was hit by the car. The car owner came out and rushed Priye to the hospital. Priye was the last child of the family. He was in secondary school about to write his West African Examination Council Examination. He had no choice but to remain in the hospital until he was fully okay.The first son and of course the first child of the family was in three hundred level. In the University, he was devastated at first because he was emotionally attached to his mother, Mary, but he soon realized that it is of no use crying over spilt milk. He had a girl friend named Rita. Rita helped Ray Junior, to overcome his emotional trauma. Her love and tender care put him quickly back in shape. He was doing well in his academics. He had a steady girl who was a blessing to him, especially at the hour of his needs. The first girl, Janet had a boyfriend that was madly in love with her. He was always there for her. He spoils her very well. He was from a rich family and was willing to spend and be spent. He stood by Janet solidly. She was able to recover from depression. She also was doing very well in her studies, she was in her final year. Her studies also helped. She was buried in her project, though still supported by her boyfriend. Priye was recovering fast. Her brother and sisters took excellent care of him. Although, he missed his WAEC examination, he was willing to do it again the following year. There was hope for him.Mrs. Jennifer Brown coughed a bit, cleared her throat and continued her story. I managed to talk, I said “that must have been really painful” “Yes it was” she uttered. Thank God that was in the past. I have put all behind me now. Please continue to listen to my story and learn from my mistakes. What became of Sandra and her “so called” pregnancy?” Mrs. Jennifer laughed loud and clear, it was a fake pregnancy. She just wanted to hook her victim, my dad. My dad got to know much later through his colleague in the club. He was there as usual to drink after my mum had packed out, when one of his colleagues a barrister strolled in with his girlfriend. The two of them sat in front of his table. He was still thinking of what to do with Jennifer and her threat. He felt, marrying the lady is out of the question. The only thing he could do was to be giving her allowance every month to take care of herself and the baby which he had been doing for sometimes until his friend walked him to the club with his girlfriend. They exchanged pleasant greetings. He introduced his girlfriend as Joan. They got talking and before he knew, he had opened up to his friend about Sandra. He told him, he had been giving a girlfriend who claimed pregnancy monthly allowance. His friend asked for the name and he told him it was Sandra. As soon as he mentioned the name, the girlfriend shouted, S-a-n-d-r-a! “is it the same Sandra I know?” she demanded “which Sandra do you know,” my dad asked her. She laughingly declared: Sandra with four children and all four are having different fathers. They all laughed and laughed. Then my dad replied. “It seems so you know.” He explained further and told them she had been threatening him about marriage. She wanted marriage because she claimed to be pregnant for him. The friend, Joan said, “I know Sandra very well. This is her trade. She is not pregnant. She cannot be, because she had told her, she was done carrying babies for men. She had even escorted her to the hospital to remove her womb. Dr. Jack removed her womb, go and ask him, if you think I am lying. Although I advised her against it but she was adamant until I left her to her own decision. She cannot be pregnant, she just wanted you and your money.’’ “But why me?” Joan laughed mockingly and told him, “because you are gullible. She got you so cheaply’’. Joan later revealed that she was very close to Sandra. Sandra was “her very good friend”. They separated because Sandra betrayed their friendship. She continued to relate to my dad how Sandra went behind her to sleep with her own “money bag” a man who had been financially supportive of her. This man was the best of the best of her numerous man friends. He was extremely wealthy. He had bought her a very expensive car during her 25th birthday. He also bought a house for her, furnished the house and gave her the keys to the house. Sandra got jealous and went to backstab her to the man. She went to show the man pictures of her escapades with other men and showed them to him. He got furious and they separated. He collected the key of the car but left the house for her.You can imagine my dad’s relieve. He went to confront Sandra about the issue of her fake claims of pregnancy to which she could not deny, knowing the source was from her very close friend whom she had fully betrayed. That was how my father became free or should I say delivered from the hand of his tormentor.As I was going for my morning lecture that day, I felt eyes looking at me, both men and ladies. I put on a very lovely, flowery top my dad bought for me. I had never won the top before. It was very beautiful top. I was actually smiling at people, no longer moody and withdrawn. After the last right encounter with Paul, I became free. I entered the lecture theatre, I was greeted by all kinds of eyes, lusty eyes, admiring eyes, cheering eyes… everything was amusing me. I seem to be enjoying being the centre of attraction. I told myself “you are young, beautiful, enjoy yourself, babe. Enjoy yourself while you are still young”.That day, I became free with many of my colleagues, male and female I was laughing freely. Joking with them. I had a nice time. All boundaries off. I released myself from the gap I had created. A lot of my make were surprised. Some of them came and told me, if I had won a jackpot. I told them, what I have is more than a jackpot. I never knew how to shake
I was eager to see Paul, my heart was actually skipping fast, the thought of Paul occupied my heart. I wanted to apologize for my awkward behavior. I wanted him to know that I’ve repented and vowed never to be careless with my life again. I wanted his approval of my person. My heart was actually screaming Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul.What was wrong with me? I asked myself. Was I actually falling in love with Paul. Why was the thought of him making my heart beat so fast? What was really disturbing me. Those were my thoughts until I bumped on one of my colleagues. He asked me where I was hearing to, I told him, I was actually looking for a guy called Paul. Which Paul is that? Is it the Paul I saw you with the other time, walking you to the hostel? I shouted, “what! Have you become my pastor or guardian to be mentoring me about in the school? You this boy, you are simply a monitoring spirit. I never knew you noticed that night how he was walking me home. It was
I was posted to the core North. I travelled by air because my dad felt traveling by road to a strange place could be very dangerous. To be on the safe side, he booked my flight to Kano. That was my first time traveling by air. I boarded the plane having checked my load, I sat down, fastened my seat belt. I wanted the window side neglecting what was on my air ticket, God was so kind, the guy never minded. I watched as the plane was gliding before it moved up and balanced in the air. I saw the city become smaller and smaller. We entered the cloud and I quickly closed my eyes and tried to relax my mind. I was not too comfortable though. I kept on imagining negative things inside the plane, but I saw the hostesses moving up and down, I was relieved. We were given refreshments. I took mine to calm my nerves. Later, we landed, I was happy. The landing could be frightening. It took about fifteen minutes before the plane could land very well. We were able to come down. I took an airport tax
My mom took a bold step, summoned all courage in the midst of her pains and made a call to my dad using a different number to call him. He picked and asked for the caller ‘I spoke with fear and trembling, it must have shown from my voice too.’ He said, “and who is that fearful caller from the other end?” “It is me,” “who is me?” he teased having recognized the voice. “Your w-i-f-e I suppose?” “My wife? Really my very own wife bone of my bone? You mean my estranged wife?” He continued teasing. “Yes, I am Ray I’m on my knees, I’m very sorry for letting you down”. My mom was weeping profusely. My dad joined her and both were actually weeping from both ends. What a love made from heaven! When they were fully satisfied, they exchanged all the greetings pleasantries and what not. My father asked her a very big question, “are you willing to leave your new husband and return to me now?” she sighed deeply, “Yes, I am willing but you have to give me time to work it out from my end. I have mes
THANK God, my mother recorded their conversation the second time he came to beg her. The threats were all recorded. From that day on, they had no peace according to my mom. He would be threatening her almost every day, that if she does not return, he would do his worse. If she does not return, he would kill her. He also vowed not to give the two of them peace. If my mother’s peace is touched, he knew the man would come in and release her.My mother started having terrible nightmares. She would wake up in the middle of the night shouting JESUS!!! My father would ask her, she would be narrating how Mr. Bade came in with a knife wanting to stab her or coming in with a gun or acid to pour on her. Different versions almost every day, it was driving the two of them nuts until my mother told my father to allow her to return for the sake of peace. My father stubbornly refused and told her it would soon pass away. It would become history very soon. She must endure and pay the
I was born out of wedlock to a father I never knew and may never know. My mom was a former sex hawker. She had slept with so many men. She woke up one day to discover, she was feeling dizzy. She went to check in the hospital and got to know she was pregnant. She never knew who the father of her child was.I grew up among women of low easy virtues. I watched men come unto these ladies every time including my mom. Their lives were pathetic. Sleeping with men never made them rich. They used it to survive, that is to keep their bodies alive. They only managed to feed, clothe and pay their house rents. As far as I was concerned they were poor. My mom never could afford the good things of life. I was exposed to these dirty ways of life as soon as I came alive, I knew men as early as the age of ten.Can you imagine a ten-year-old girl sleeping with a man as old as her grandfather? To sponsor my secondary school education, my mom decided to use me in paying for the f
Oh, you looked so beautiful in your wedding gown.” My mom exclaimed. “Radiantly radiant,” my dad said. “I remember when I met your mom several years back, she was just like you, when she appeared during our wedding day, with her white gown, overflowing gown, my heart skipped several times, she was simply adorable like you are looking today,” tears formed in his eyes like mist, “hmm,” he mused, his mouth moving as if he wanted to talk further, but he was controlling the tears from his eyes.My mom was in tears by now. I came in briskly and shouted aloud “Huuu! Here comes the bride! You took my breath away” I quickly disappeared into thin air to continue to attend to other things.My sister’s wedding was like a healing balm soothing to the whole family. After all, we have passed through. It was quite a relief. There was so much joy in the family. The preparation kept all of us busy. The wedding boded the family. All
Hey lady! I will pay.” I turned to see who was stopping me from paying for the things. I had bought it from the mall; it became my wonderful friend, my messiah! The one that had saved me twice from me, Paul. Paul was looking fresh, with his well-tailored suit, slim, tall, confident, he wore the most attractive smile I have ever seen, I was shocked to see him, yet excited, before I could realize what was happening, I had rushed into the arms of the one, I had loved. We embraced for a very long time. He held on to me and of course, I wanted it so, rocking and patting me like a little sister. He looked at me and I did the same. We both laughed and laughed. It was a big surprise.“What are you doing in this place, Paul?” I asked, “I should be asking you, you know?” he replied. I told him how I came there to serve the nation. “Wow! Isn’t it interesting, that you came to meet me here?” He was actually in the town as a manager of an orga