BUT Episode 30

 Episode  30

(Finale)

"Alright, I will make it brief. Remember that guy that gave us a ride from the market that day?" Selina started. 

"Yes, yes. We remember him.  What's up with him?" Deborah asked.

"We have been talking for a while now and I find him cool, calm and collected. He is always trying to follow up all my activities here in camp and..." 

"... and now we know why you dont have our time again." Deborah cut in jokingly. 

"Nooo now,  it's  not like that. Well it seems he wants more than friendship. Although our plans align and we're  kind of compatible and all.  In fact, he is telling me he can't wait for NYSC to be over so he can make it official." Selina rounded up.

"Don't let your feelings alone lead you. Allow God to lead you o" Beatrice said.

"Yes yes, I sure will. Thank you sisi" Selina said. 

Deborah took it up and shared her experience

"For me, I met this young man in church after one of the services. His name is Chris Obinna and he works with the bank. I didn't want him to see me as being after his money when I am not. I declined severally, then one day I told him I would pray about it. He gave me the go ahead and I was convinced that he is the one, guess what?

"What?" Selina and Beatrice shouted. 

"I'm meeting his parents this coming weekend." Deborah rounded up.

"Congratulations, I'm so happy for you." Beatrice said.

"Oya oya, wedding bells." Selina said.

"What about you Beatrice?" Deborah asked. 

"Mine? My story is a bit different, maybe complicated." Beatrice said.

"You can share with us, what's the matter?" Selina asked. 

"Alright then, 3 different people were on my case. The first lied that he is single but I later found out that he has a kid and a wife abroad. The second one has anger issue and he can crash the whole house down when he is angry. The last guy, I was so open and i told him about my past, he said no man would want to marry a woman without womb, see let's talk about something else" Beatrice said and they could feel her pain. 

They tried to console her and that was how the conversation ended that day. A year later, Selina got married and she relocated with her husband, while Deborah got married as well.

"Hello sisters, I'm getting married next month" Beatrice said with all excitement. 

"Tell us. Who is the lucky man?" 

"You know, I wold pray and pray and think.  There were days when I was so  depressed and would ask why my story is always different, but one day, God sent me an angel in human flesh. His name is Ayanfeoluwa Adesina..."

"The C.E.O of Ayanfe Motors?" Selina cuts in?

"Well, yes he is the one" Beatrice said as they all screamed on the phone. 

"When I told him about the womb thing, we went to his family doctor and they said nothing was wrong. Its either I was diagnosed wrongly or maybe miracle happened on the long run" Beatrice concluded. 

They all planned to meet at the wedding so they can do their girls talk again and do a partial reunion before going back.

Despite the BUT in everyone's story, they all come out of it with testimonies

I will leave you with this message in Isaiah 40:31 

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint"

The END

What have you learnt?

Are you blessed?

BUT Episode 29

 Episode 29

"I think we still have some time, let's go with  Deborah, in case she needs help." Beatrice suggested.

"Don't let me stress you guys, let me just rush down and I'll update you." Deborah declined.

"Are you sure? You sure we don't need to follow you? Selina added, but Deborah insisted not to bother any of them. We all know that Deborah always love to solve her problems without being a burden to anyone.

"Please I will drop at that junction." Deborah pointed towards a major fueling station along the road  to her house. She alighted from the car and appreciated the gentleman for his kind gestures.

"I will call you soon, take care." Deborah said as she bade them goodbye. 

All through the journey, the young man didn't say much asides "okay" and "alright". It didn't even occur to them to ask for his name.

"I will alight at the campus gate." said Beatrice. 

The weather still seemed a bit cloudy and it's looked like the rain would fall anytime soon. Selina's place is farther, so she will be alighting last. Beatrice alighted and it remained Selina and the young man in the car. Selina who is ever inquisitive, wanted to know the name of the young man and other related information.

"Sorry, you didn't tell us your name the other time and you've been quiet throughout this ride. Selina stated.

"Oh, my bad... my name is Jacob Akande and you?" the young man asked.

"Simply Selina." Selina said.

"It's nice meeting you." he said as he got a hold of a complimentary card in the open space beside the gear and handed it to Selina. 

"Thank you very much, I will be alighting here." Selina said as she managed to pull what she got from market together. The young man drove off.

Deborah made a conference call, In order to update them about what happened.

"The network is not clear,  can you talk a little louder?" Selina requested.

"It's nothing as serious as I thought. The NEPA guys  said we didn't pay electricity bill and they are ready to disconnect our light." Deborah said.

"So that's why you shouted JESUS the other time?" Beatrice asked. 

"I'm surprised too, my mind was over calculating everything before." Selina added.

"I'm sorry that my shout got you all worried. Wait, did anyone ask for the name of the guy that carried us?" Deborah asked.

"Jacob Akande, he told me when I got down and also gave me his card." Selina said.

It was when  Selina mentioned card that Beatrice also  remembered that someone gave her a card too.

They ended the call that day and Beatrice finally found the card in the purse she used for convocation. It took her a while before she found it, because she kept it in the inner part of the purse.

NYSC orientation started and they all got busy, with little or no time to stay in touch with each other. Beatrice in the north, Selina in the west and Deborah in the South, they were miles apart. New friends made, new experiences added and so much  gist to talk about.

From camp till halfway through the service year, they couldn't update each other as always until one afternoon when they all finally had some free time, it was a mix of laughter and crying. A lot happened from camp and halfway the service year. Everything happened so fast that it looked like yesterday when they all departed.

"Hello dears, who is going first this time? Beatrice asked. 

"Me... me" Selina said with all excitement on the phone. 

"Oya, we are listening oo."  Deborah added. 

What happened next?

BUT Episode 28

 Episode 28

"Hey sisters, how are you doing?" Beatrice greeted excitedly and apologized for sleeping off and keeping them waiting. 

This is one of the biggest and popular  markets. People come from far and near to buy at wholesale and resell. There are several entrances to the market, but there is a central gate that leads to the main road. The shops were built in rows and columns connected to each other. The shops all have same pattern and painting, such that if one is not familiar with the territory, one can get lost. The market is always busy and there is almost nothing you wouldn't find if you know your way around. 

Whenever there is market related outing, Deborah is fond of making a long list of what she wants to buy, so she wouldn't buy what she doesn't need. As for Selina, she will buy things she never planned for and when she gets home, she will remember the things she really needs, but forgot to buy. Beatrice on the other hand, doesn't need write a list, because she saves all she wants to buy in her head and she doesn't go out of plan. .

When it comes to negotiations, Deborah will always beat down prices to the extent that you will start pitying the seller. For Selina, anything goes, because she feels that any amount given to her is the last price, while  Beatrice is a little considerate when haggling prices compared to Deborah. 

This market day isn't different from the way it used to be in time past. They had not walked a minute before Deborah brought out her list and started pointing at the things she needed.

The market touring started. Whenever they ask for a particular thing and the seller gives them a high price, rather than haggling, they move to another store to check for the same thing. You can begin to read the tiredness on Selina's face. 

"This is one thing about following you people to the market, you will always price endlessly." Selina said

"You better learn how to negotiate before they will sell a pen of 10naira to you for 100 naira." Beatrice said jokingly.

"You know say she get plenty money to dash out." Deborah added and they all laughed. 

"How much is this waist bag?" Deborah asked the round face black woman at the store.

"450 naira for one, this ones na quality o." the woman said, but Deborah with her negotiating skills ended up paying 350 and that was how they all got theirs and moved on to the next item on the list. 

"What of provisions?" Beatrice asked and they all moved towards the provision stores, they made sure they got all provision related needs before moving to the shoe stores and other things.

They bought all the things they needed and concluded on getting anything else they might have forgotten when they get to the camp.

As they moved from one place to another, their bag was getting filled up and heavier. They thought of rounding up so that they can start going home. The hot sun had began to set and the calm breeze was beginning to set in. 

"Let's move fast, it seems it about to rain." Beatrice said.

They moved towards the main gate. There is a  drainage covered with a slab close to the main entrance of the market. Deborah and Beatrice moved quickly to get past the drainage. As Selina tried to move past the drainage, the side of the nylon on her left hand was pulled back by an iron from the gate which tore the nylon and the things in her nylon fell.

A young man tried to be of help and in the bid of bending down along with Selina, they collided and for a minute, they left what they wanted to pick and held each other's head separately.

Beatrice and Deborah went back to help pick the stuff up and kept some in their own bags.

"I'm sorry about what just happened." the young man tried starting a conversation, but Selina hissed out of anger and walked away to join the others.

"Okay, I know it's not your fault too but can I at least drop you guys to where you can easily see a cab or something?" The young man offered to help.

They initially declined, but somehow, they felt it was not a big deal, so they hopped into the car. Deborah's phone started ringing and she picked. 

"Jesus, I am already on my way." Deborah shouted on phone. 

"What happened? What's going on? Selina asked.

What happens next?

Find out in the next episode

BUT Episode 27

Episode 27.

"Hello, we can hear you" Selina said.

"Nasarawa" Beatrice replied. 

"Are you for real right now? Did you choose that place at all?" Selina asked.

"Are you sure you won't work this out and redeploy after camp?" Deborah added.

"I didn't choose Nasarawa but if God wants me there, I will be fine" Beatrice said as she tried to be strong and accept her fate.

She has always wanted a safe and peaceful state where she would enjoy her one year to the fullest. She never prayed for a Northern State. Not with all the insecurity gist she has heard about the North. 

She never envisioned Nasarawa State. She never wanted it as well. She carefully made sure she researched about states before she filled the NYSC form. 

She was very okay with what she filled and was expecting one out of the various but unfortunately, none was given her. Instead a state she never applied for. She thought of the insurgencies in that part of the nation but what could she do? She accepted her fate and prayed that God sees her through.

"Camp is starting on Wednesday, I haven't gotten anything yet" Deborah said.

"Thank God tomorrow is Friday, we can meet up and see the few things we can buy. I really wish we were all posted to the same state ehn" Selina said.

"Is tomorrow okay for you guys? Let's meet at Kokona market by 10am"  Deborah suggested.

They ended the call and Beatrice walks to the hostel. She wasn't sure whether to be happy or sad but her mind couldn't stop thinking about it.

"Nasarawa... Nasarawa, I only do hear of that place whenever we are reciting state and capital but I never saw or thought of a time that I will be in that location" Beatrice said talking to herself.

She got home and fell on her bed. While her mind was roaming, she remembered the complimentary card.

"Oh oh oh, the complimentary card!" Beatrice jumped out of bed and began to search for the card. She couldn't remember exactly where she dropped it. 

She opened the drawer, checked through the wardrobe and her bags but still couldn't find it. She search vainly until she got tired of searching.

After several attempt of searching and couldn't find it, she concluded that she might have misplaced it. She laid back on her bed and put a call across her siblings informing them of her posting. 

They were quite happy that she has been posted but not entirely happy because of the state she was posted to. She assured them she will be fine and Nasarawa will be peaceful for her. They discussed for a while before they bade one another goodbye.

Samson was in his final year as a law student while Binta was in year 3 studying Geology. The twin were in year 1 studying same course, Business administration. 

It has not been easy for Beatrice playing both father and mother role for her siblings but one good part is the fact that helpers were always around for them and this gives her relief.

Aside the fact that Beatrice's younger ones got scholarships of different forms, some people will just send them money randomly and some send them clothes, shoes and many more things.

After the call with her siblings that night, she dropped her phone and slept off. 

It has always been with Beatrice to sleep quite early. She will always say 'Early to bed, early to rise' all through her stay in school you'll hardly find her awake at 11pm. She preferred day time study to night study. 

But her other roommates, Selina and Deborah, where the opposite. They prefer studying at night to day. Deborah will always say 'What works for one cannot work for all'.

It was the sound of her phone that woke her up the following morning as Deborah and Selina were already waiting for Beatrice at the market.

Beatrice put the phone on speaker so she could do other things with her hands. 

"Hello B. where are you now?" Deborah said. 

"We're already at the market o" Selina joined in.

"I will join you guys shortly, I'll soon be done" Beatrice said and the call dropped. 

She quickly washed and got dressed and in an instant she was out of the house.

What happened next?

Find out in the next episode.

BUT Episode 26

 Episode 26

School life has made Beatrice get so used to the alarm that wakes her up at intervals, from 5:30 to 8:30. Different alarms for different activities, but now that school is over, it may take a while to adjust to her new reality.

At 5:30 am, the alarm sounded, waking her abruptly from her sleep. Checking the time and realizing it's still early, she hissed, put off the alarm and repositioned herself to continue her sleep.

Beatrice rarely goes out, she had always been an indoor person. She was either in the classroom, hostel or fellowship. Now that school is over,  she may need to get a personal space or probably relocate to another state entirely. 

A week after the hangout, information began to fly around about NYSC posting.  The National Youth service seemed a good opportunity for Beatrice to change environment and start a new life for herself. 

"Hello, have you checked the NYSC portal?" Selina asked. 

"I haven't checked. Have you checked yours?" Beatrice replied.

"Yes yes. I was posted to Ibadan. Although, dad helped influence my posting so I don't stay too far from home." Selina said  excitedly. 

"Congratulations dear. I will call Deborah and ask her about her posting too." Beatrice said. Just as the call ended, her phone began to ring and coincidentally, it was Deborah calling.  

"Hello Deborah, I was about calling you when your call came in. Where were you posted to?" Beatrice asked.

"I was posted to Delta state. This is the first time I'll be travelling this far oo. A part of me is scared." Deborah said.

"Don't worry, there is no where we can't live in this world as long as God is with us." Beatrice said, encouraging Deborah. 

"I haven't checked mine, but I'm close to the school cafe, I will call you back shortly." Beatrice said as she ended the call. 

The portal was very slow in loading. Firstly, due to bad internet connection and secondly, because there were too many people on the server. A lot of people needed to check their posting so they can prepare in time, especially those who would need to travel a long distance. Also, the time frame between posting and resumption in camp is usually short, so a lot of people wanted to know where they stood early enough. 

"Maybe I will come back and check." Beatrice concluded. Instead of waiting for the school server, she decided to try another Cafe outside the school premises. The IT department of the school has made things very easy, such that everyone can access the school server anywhere. 

Beatrice left the cafe that afternoon and went to eat with the mindset that she would go back to the cafe to check. While she ate, she suddenly remembered that a man handed her his card at the convocation, so she decided to give him a call when she gets home.

On her way back, she met one of her classmates who told her that the network was now running fine and that those on the queue have reduced.  She rushed down to the cafe and took a number. There were only about 4 people before her, which is better compared to the last time that she had 12 people before her.

"Sir, please help me log in, so I can check my posting." Beatrice said.

When she finally saw where she was posted, she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"I need to call this guys so they can know where I was posted to." Beatrice said, reaching out for her phone in her Small bag. 

"Hello Selina, guess where I was posted to?" Beatrice said.

"Hold on, let me switch to conference call, Deborah is also calling me." Selina said.

"Hello, so where were you posted." Deborah asked.

Find out in the next episode.

BUT Episode 25

Episode 25.

"Thank you sir, I left this eatery not long ago. I was about entering my work place, when I realized I had misplaced my ID card. I had to rush down here to check, only to meet these ladies here." Peter explained. 

"You didn't include that you are a rapist and..." Selina tried to bring in the past incident, but Peter cut in immediately.

"...and I have apologised that I messed up. I admitted it and I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention to do what I did, it was the devil's work." Peter said.

"The devil is always responsible for every bad thing." Deborah said angerily and hissed.

"Young man, you almost ruined the tutorial centre. The centre was locked up for 6 good months. We tried all we could to find you but you ran away from your guardian's place and even from this State. When we couldn't find you, the centre was released to us after six months of futile search." the old man said.

"What!" Everyone shouted together in surprise.

"I am Dr Adebare, the owner of Success tutorial Centre" the old man said.

"Wow!" Beatrice said astonished. 

"What a coincidental moment!" Deborah added

"And a good time to arrest this rapist. I know he must have been doing it from one place to another." Selina said with contempt.

Peter wanted to run, but he realised that the more he runs, the more the shadow of his past keep hunting him where ever he goes. He immediately prostrated and began to beg both the old man and Beatrice for what had happened. 

"Sir, I am indeed sorry, i never intended to cause harm to your coaching centre. I am truly sorry for my deeds. It is very true that I wasn't in the state. I realized the gravity of what I did and I couldn't stay back to face the consequences of my actions, so I had to run far away. I am very sorry sir." Peter said kneeling and pleading. He turned to Beatrice who was still in shock, realizing that the old man is Dr Adebare.

"Beatrice, I'm sorry for the hurt I caused you years ago. Sincerely, if I can take back the hands of time I will. I regret my actions. I am very sorry Beatrice. Please, find a place in your heart to forgive me. Please I'm sorry." 

"That's how he will be forming apology. Who are you deceiving?" Selina said 

"I wonder oooo. See guy, we know your type." Deborah added.

"Beatrice, please, can you forgive me?" Peter begged.

Beatrice amidst tears handed over his ID card to him and sighed.

"Thinking about all you did and how much we do to God, he forgives us everytime we hurt him and that's what he also taught us. I forgive you." Beatrice said.

"Ah! You forgive me? Thank you so much Beatrice." Peter said excitedly.

"My friend may forgive you but justice will catch up with you someday and soon." Selina said angrily. 

"It's okay, let's just go. It's all over now." Beatrice said to Selina.

Peter wondered why she would forgive him just like that. A tear dropped from his eyes and he turned to Dr Adebare. "Dr sir, I am very sorry for what happened back then."

"Just as Beatrice said, we offend God and he forgives us. I hope you are a better man now?" Dr Adebare said and Peter nodded affirmatively and thanked him.

"Please ladies, I am sorry for everything. Here is my card, I hope we can still be friends again and this time around, I will love to right my wrong" Peter said as he handed over his card to Beatrice. He thanked them and walked away with Dr Adebare.

"I am going to Kingspark" Dr Adebare said.

"Oh! I'm going towards Kingspark area too sir." Peter said as he offered to drive the Doctor.

The ladies hugged as they bade one another farewell and went their different ways.

"Catch you guys later." Deborah said as she flagged down a taxi.

"Guy, it's 200 naira, you think say I be stranger for here?" Selina said as she negotiated transportation cost with the bike man.

 "Oya enter make we dey go." the bike man said. 

"Campus gate" Beatrice enters a keke-napep(tricycle). "Enter with your change oo, I no get change ooo." the keke driver said.

Beatrice got into the hostel, she flung her shoes across the room and made her way to the bed without even changing her cloth.

What happened next?

Find out in the next episode.

BUT Episode 24

 Episode 24

Deborah and Beatrice rushed towards Selina to see the ID card. The name on the card reads Peter Lakunle-Smith. The name didn't ring a bell until Beatrice took a close look and found out that it is the same Peter Who ran away many years ago. Tears flowed down Beatrice's cheeks.

"Wait, you mean the guy that paid for our meal is the same Peter from your tutorial centre?" Selina asked. 

"Wow, I don't even know what to say right now." Deborah added. 

"How do we go about this now? His number is here, what should we do?" Selina asked. 

"Let's call him and thank him for the meal and tell him about his lost but found ID card." Deborah suggested. 

"It's okay please... let's go" Beatrice said out angerily.

As they were about leaving, they saw a car  coming fast towards the car park. Scarcely had the ignition gone off, when a man rushed out of the car looking disturbed.

"Hello ladies, please did you see any ID card around? A company ID card and..." the young man said before he was interrupted by a resounding slap.

"You slapped me? Are you out of your mind? What's all this rubbish?" the young man said furiously. 

"You deserve even more and if you don't shut that your mouth, we will dish you more slap." Selina said and hissed.

"Peter, you are such an evil monster and you are not worthy of being called human." Deborah added.

"Excuse you? What are you two talking about?" The young man said raising his eye brows.

"Do you remember any Success tutorial Centre?" Beatrice started asking him questions to take him down memory lane. 

"Yes and what has that got to do with the ID card I'm looking for? If you guys don't have any lead on what I'm looking for, you can get out of my sight" Peter couldn't hold in his anger any more. 

"How about we call the police for your arrest now, maybe you will take this conversation seriously." Selina said as she clapped her hands.

"About 10 years ago, you did something really terrible. There is a girl who happened  to be your seat mate and reading partner in that tutorial centre. You were 5 and 6 and  everyone knew you two together untill you drugged her, raped her and fled." Beatrice explained. 

"Oh, wow. That's a long time ago and I'm not sure anyone would remember such, because the  past is past and we don't live there any more." Peter replied. 

"I'm so angry right now, this guy is not even remorseful of his bad deeds." Deborah said.

"We need to take this matter up, we have to involve the police so that he can spend the rest of his life behind bars." Selina said angrily. 

"Do you know that lady's whereabouts?" Beatrice said.

"Well, I don't know. That's a long time ago. After that incidence, we never crossed path again." Peter said.

"What if the lady is here today?" Deborah said.

"You guys should stop negotiating this matter joor, let's involve the police and get justice." Selina said.

Peter began to tremble, he wasn't sure of who amongs't them is the lady involved. 

"Please, I am sorry for whatever happened in the past. I can't really recollect the face or remember the name well, but all I can say right now is I'm very sorry." Peter said. 

"That's the person. Beatrice." Deborah said as she is pointed at Beatrice. 

"Rapist, the whole world will hear what you have done today." Selina brought out her phone while shouting. 

Passers began to stand and watch  the drama going on. 

An old man who had been observing the whole drama through the transparent glass of the eatery, walked out to intervene in the issue. 

What happened next?

Find out in the next episode.

BUT Episode 23

 Episode 23

"As for my dad, I don't know if to say aunty Leah who happened to be our mother was the one that killed him or how best do I make it seem simpler and not confusing" Beatrice started. 

"You can say it anyhow, we will use the idea to pick it up" Deborah suggested.

"So aunty Leah finally gave birth to a boy and everyone was so excited, people from church and street too rallied round, people ate to the fullest and some still took a part of the food home" 

"As the day goes by, there is this young man that has been sending a threat message to my dad but we weren't taking it seriously because we felt maybe there is a mix somewhere. Dad spoke to another close friend of his and they suggested to take it seriously and not assume the person is making mouth"

"What's the threat about?" Selina asked.

"That my father may not live long if he continues to play daddy role to someone else's child. It sounds impossible because I can't at that point assume that any of my siblings are not really my sibling. So it started flying around that my father is raising a bastard."

"Until one Saturday afternoon, we all are at home doing one house chores or the other. Aunty Leah can kill a child with errands. She can almost ask us to come and put food in her mouth, she will be ordering everyone around as she's placing her legs on the table. This afternoon wasn't an exception as she was sending us here and there. My father walked into the house from the street meeting, there is this street meeting they normally have every Saturday morning. Dad came in, looking angry and sad but we didn't know what may have caused it."

"Dad went to this store and pick a cutlass, I was drying the cloth in the backyard and I wanted to step into the store to pick detergent when I saw dad going towards the sitting room with a cutlass in his hand. The next we started hearing was who is the father of this child, tell me before I lose my temper, and cut off your head. The talk became so loud and we started asking dad to please drop the cutlass at least so that things won't get bloody. In the struggles between dad and aunty Leah was when aunty Leah jump on daddy and he mistakenly stabbed himself on the left side of the tummy with the cutlass in his hand"

"We started shouting for help, trying to tie the cut with a wrapper from her room. What we were initially avoiding was what ended up happening. We rushed dad to the hospital, I can still remember how my younger ones were crying and saying dad should please stay with us, we need him alive. I was too weak to talk or even shout, the first hospital we entered rejected him and said there is no bed space even if they have to admit him, we moved again to the next hospital but because they don't want to record any death, they referred us to the 3rd hospital but before we could get there, he died."

"Oh God, this is really sad" Deborah said.

"I think I now get why you don't always want to go home during break and holidays, wow. Just wow" Selina exclaimed.

"Aunty Leah was arrested and was charged to court for murder while we had our father's burial a week later after he passed on. Reality dawn on us and every man to his struggles but we stood by each other and make sure that we move on with life. It was hard but God came through as 2 of my immediate younger ones got a church scholarship to school in the church university and while the twins got merit from the state because of their good grades to school from first degree to any degree they want to get and all expenses will be on the state."

"It has not been a smooth ride but through it all, God is ever faithful." Beatrice concluded. 

"Faithful father, no one will ever think that we all have one thing or the other we have gone through but thank God for his mercies" Deborah said.

"I know I am the youngest here but both of you ehn, you have seen a lot and I thank God for your lives. I know your testimonies will someday inspire the world" Selina added.

"Abeg. What's the time?" Beatrice asked as she turned her phone on.

"After 3" both Deborah and Selina shouted. 

"Oya oya o, we have to start going. We have used almost all day here" Deborah said

"How about that guy that paid for the meal?" Selina playfully asked

"Better let's go and confirm our pay so we can keep going" Beatrice suggested...

They were told at the canter that the Bill's has been settled by this anonymous guy. They were surprised and grateful at the same time, they all made their way to the entrance of the eatery and they sighted an ID card on the floor.

Selina picked it up and check through the details.

"Come come come, come and see this" Salina said.

What did they see?

Find out in the next episode.

BUT Episode 22

 Episode 22

"Aunty Leah called me into the room and told me that if my brain can't catch up with studying again, I should start following bricklayers out  and help them fetch water." Beatrice explained.

"Are you... like for real... are you serious?" Selina said, blinking repeatedly, with disgust written all over her face.

"My dear, That is it oo.  My younger ones were  almost gaining admission before me. There were days I won't feel like eating and dad will try to make out  time to talk to me, but that was only on few occasions. The pain of being  called a failure and seeing my younger ones receiving praises, built up anger in me. However, instead of channelling the anger towards revenge, I saw my only revenge to be that I must come out in flying colours." 

"At a time, I met a guy named Peter. Peter is one of the guys who look older than their age, you would hardly believe that he was not 20 yet. He always reserved a seat for me at the coaching centre and we got fond of each other, that sometimes we wait behind to read and revise together after everyone has gone."

"My friend was in love with Peter." Selina mocked.

"You don't know more than falling in love eh." Deborah interrupted." 

"Actually, it wasn't like love was involved, but I think I got the attention and care I needed untill one afternoon. We waited behind as usual studying, after a while, he said he was hungry and wanted to get snacks outside. There was this small kiosk opposite the coaching centre. He got in and brought doughnuts for me with coke while he got himself plantain and groundnut."

"It never occurred to me that anything can happen because I trusted him blindly and because he was academically sound as well, so I saw it as a plus to being friends with him. After taking the drink, I began to feel feverish and everything became blurred till I lost consciousness."

"I know the coke I took was not fully locked when I opened it but because it still gased up, I felt it was nothing serious. I was actually raped by Peter inside the coaching centre and that was the last time I saw him. He stopped coming to the coaching centre, no one knew his whereabout and  I was left to bear the shame. It was a cleaner who usually come around in the evening to clean the coaching centre, that saw me on the floor, helped me up and rushed me to the nearest clinic."

"Oh my goodness." Selina said amidst tears.

"She found a way to reach out to my family and they all showed up at the hospital. My dad was called into the doctor's office and he was told that the substance had caused damage to my womb and it can only take a miracle for me to have a child. It took me a while to get it over it, sometimes I still wish my journey didn't go that way, but you know, God always have a way of bringing out a message out of someone's mess."

"Let's leave that part sha, I've outgrown some of these things, not by my power but God's. So, the last entrance exam I  wrote which was the sixth, was what got  me admission into the university. Just like I said at the convocation yesterday, I was at the dining when the call came into my mother's phone, that's aunty Leah and I had to check the school portal and found out that I've been admitted. In year 2, I gave my life to christ and it has been a smooth ride since then." 

"I envy your courage really, you have gone through so much." Deborah said.

"Really, you are a strong person and you never acted like you've gone through all this." Selina added.

"So many other things happened but time is running against us. We may need to start getting ready to leave." Beatrice added.

"But there is something I want to ask though." Selina said.

"I know you will always have a question to ask" Deborah mocked Selina.

"Go ahead, what's that?" Beatrice said.

"What later happened to aunty Leah and your dad?" Selina asked.

Beatrice sighed and adjusted her chair as she tried to explain. 

What happened next?

Watch out for the next episode.

BUT Episode 21

 Episode 21 

"Aunty Leah promised to take care of us. She took upon herself all our needs, from feeding to school fees and other basic needs. Anyone who never met our mother would actually think aunty Leah was our real mother. The death of my mother made my father realise that while he was busy trying to feed the sheep out there, the ones at home were staving."

"My father started showing up for us in time of need, but he never visited the school until my graduation day. On my graduation day, he came with some church members. Aunty Leah prepared so much for the graduation that you would think it's more than secondary school graduation. Food and drinks were in surplus. She also distributed souvenirs ; pens, jolters, handkerchiefs and hand fans."

"Awwn that's so sweet of aunty Leah" Deborah said.

"In fact she didn't even make you guys feel the absence of mom at all." Selina added. 

"I got the award for the best student overall, plus I was called out for different subject prizes. Before I got back to where I was sitting, my name would have been called for  the next subject. At a point, my class teacher had to offer me an empty seat near the stage,  so that I won't have to be going and coming. Loud applause and cheering accompanied, as my name was called out for the awards. It was indeed a memorable day for me and I wish my mother was alive to witness it."

"Unfortunately, we never knew the care and attention won't last long. Immediately I finished my graduation, I started processing my university admission. I attempted my first university entrance exam in Senior class 2 but it didn't work out. While in senior class 3, I sat for the exams again, thinking it would click, but surprisingly,  I was told they only saw 2 subjects out of the 4 I wrote."

"Aunty Leah finally took over and she started showing her true color." Beatrice said.

"Took over? True color as per?" Selina the inquisitive asked.

"Yes, she somehow began to fill in the gap for dad in all aspect, even emotionally. Remember she was not married yet and she finally found a place she could call home. One thing led to another, but we never knew she could be pregnant at that age."

"Preg what? For who?" Deborah snapped out of the chair she was sitting on.

"She got pregnant for my dad and that was  when the reality dawned on me and my siblings. Dad decided to opt for a court wedding before the pregnancy became obvious. Now, mummy's friend ended up becoming our step Mom and that was  when I realized that the attention and  care she had been giving us was due to her ulterior motive of becoming my dad's wife. We knew we were in for a bigger trouble when she insisted that we must never call her aunty Leah but mom instead, so  we started regarding her as mummy. She withdrew a larger part of her contribution to the family, leaving my dad with the bigger part of the responsibilities."

"We thought our dad was broken by mother's death, but to me, there was no much difference from who he used to be and what he later became. My siblings were taken away from the boarding school to a nearby government school and all attention was shifted to aunty Leah, our new mummy."

"I began to attend a tutorial centre to help me prepare well for my exams. The tutors knew that I am a bright student, but not passing the exam made me feel like I was behind everyone else. Even those who never got any awards already got admitted into the university. I began to wonder why my case was like that. It seemed like I wasn't going to get into any school."

"Gradually, aunty Leah became aggressive. She would put 2 meat in dad's food, 2 for herself, then share 1 meat between me and my siblings. She started reducing the size of the food she cooked.Most times I would leave the potion of my food for my siblings so that they can eat to their fill, then sort out myself."

"I never saw a time like this coming at all. I cry to bed most nights and sometimes I would see my mother in my dream. It may have been my imagination, but a part of me felt like she was never away from us."

"Beatrice!!! Aunty Leah shouted my name one afternoon."

"Hope no problem?" Selina asked. 

"Well, you can make a guess." Beatrice said, smiling. 

What happened next?

Find out in the next episode.

BUT Episode 20

 Episode 20.

"One afternoon, something happened." Beatrice continued with her story. 

"We are with you, continue." Deborah responded. 

"Someone came to call me from the hostel. Firstly,  it was not a  visiting day.  Secondly,  for you to be called  upon by the principal,  then it must be something serious. I was already playing out different possible scenarios in my head. What if something bad had happened to my siblings or a teacher has gone to complain about my poor results, or could it be that someone reported me for a wrong doing? At a point, I began to think that it could be as a result of the argument I had with a senior the previous day, because a senior came to harass me by sending me to fetch water for her and it turned out bad. I was in my angry mode that day because of so many things."

Getting to the principal's office, I stood at the door for few minutes, my heart was beating so fast and I was trying to hide my fear. My knees were shaking and my head ached.  I knocked and the principal asked me to come in. I saw the principal's face but I couldn't see the face of the person sitting opposite her because her back was  facing the door. Since I wasn't expecting anyone coming for me aside my mom, it was hard to guess."

"But who can it be? Tell us na." Selina cuts in.

"When the principal offered me a seat, I was able to see the person's face, and It happened to be aunty Leah." Beatrice said.

"Aunty Leah?" both Deborah and Selina shouted.

"Yes, it was aunty Leah. I was curious as to why she came and what she wanted, since I wasn't expecting any thing from home. Little did I know that I was in for a great shock. She said to me that I will have to stay strong for not only me but my siblings as well, and that she can't go into details, but the summary is that we lost my mom" Beatrice tried to give a faint smile to cover the pain.

"Oh my God, that's sad." Deborah said.

"Wow, I'm really speechless. What happened?, how did it happen?" Selina asked.

"Calm down, I will go into details. After she told me about what had happened, I cried so much that my eyes became very red from too much  crying and my head began to ache. I couldn't tell my siblings,  but  somehow, they suspected when they stopped seeing her on visiting days. Aunty Leah stood in the gap for us. She tried to at least cater for whatever she could."

"But there is something that is missing here oo." Deborah said.

"What's that?" Beatrice asked 

"Where was your dad in this whole picture?" Deborah asked.

"Exactly my thoughts, where? Selina added.

"Well, Daddy continued his neglegence, while mum continued to cover the loopholes. You won't believe that daddy was so angry at mom for sending us to boarding school without his permission or opinion. It went as bad as daddy reporting mum to her mentor and other people, but mom stood her ground and made her reasons clear. So dad concluded that since she wanted to be the head of the family, she should continue with it." 

"Dad stopped caring completely. He stopped coming home to sleep and would rather sleep at the church. Aunty Leah was the one who stayed with mom at home and kept  her company.  A day before aunty Leah came to my school, mom died due to a sickness that she had been nurturing for a while. She wasn't able to get the necessary medical Care, so she tried self diagnoses, based on what she had learnt from her mother, but it could not avail. Dad on the other hand was not even available to know that his wife was sick."

"Mom was kept in the mortuary pending when we would come home for the holidays. In my head, I was already thinking of how our new life would be without our mother, but whatever happens in one's life, God will always leave room for his name to be glorified."

"The Holidays were over and we went home. My dad that didn't care, pulled up a befitting burial for my mom. Seeing my dad act so caring, when he didn't care for my mom in her lifetime made more angry and bitter towards him. People rallied round to making sure we were fine and strong. A lot of people promised heaven and earth that day, but someone's promise was very peculiar, causing  the biggest twist of our lives."

"What promise?" Selina asked.

"And who was it?, what twist?" Deborah added.

"Of course I will tell you" Beatrice said...

What happened?

Find out in the next episode.

BUT Episode 19

 Episode 19.

"My mother's friend, Aunty Leah as we fondly called her, showed up one afternoon to advise my mother. My mother had been trying to figure out so many things on her own, in order to avoid having any conflict or fight with my father. You won't believe that there was a time my daddy told mum point blank that she should not allow the devil use her to destroy his ministerial work and that he is ready to pull down anyone who would not give him the peace of mind he needs."

"Your dad said all that? Wow! That's serious. " Selina interrupted. 

"So, what advice did Aunty Leah say?" Deborah asked. 

"She advised my mother to send me and my siblings to the boarding house, so we can stay  focused on our studies, away from the turbulence at home. Maybe when it is now my mom and dad alone, he will see the need to start paying attention to my mother."

"The advice sounds like a good one to me though." Deborah said.

"At least all of you will be out of the drama and he can now feed his other sheeps very well." Selina said.

They all bursted into laughter.

"But wait, did mom follow the advise?" Deborah asked.

"Mummy rejected the idea initially, because of money. Secondly, she was used to having us around to keep her company, so leaving us was difficult for her. Also,  She  felt bad that she wasn't going to be fully part of our lives. It wasn't easy, but she needed to do what she had to do."

"Mum's friend had been single for a long while.  She had always been a career woman who doesn't rate marriage at all. She had her money and she was ready to adopt if at the end, she doesn't find a man who matches her taste. That's even the major reason we call her aunty instead of calling her by her children's name. Aunty Leah offered to help us with our education. She paid the larger part of the  bills,  about 90% of what we needed,  and my mom  covered for the remaining 10%."

"Awwn that's so kind of her." Selina said with all excitement.

"On getting to the new school.... We had to change school so that we can go to the one with boarding and day, the one we attend before is only day school. Getting to the new school, my siblings were admitted in their respective classes and their  hall of residence, but I had a little issue that broke my heart. I was told they don't admit new students directly into  senior class 3, so  I had to start from class 2 so that I can get along with the syllabus and produce a better result."

"I cried for days and the more I thought of going back to class 2, the more I hated  my dad. I became withdrawn in class and I didn't associate with my classmates. The female hostel for senior class 3 was a long hall with bunks. No privacy whatsoever,  only that junior students were not mixed with senior students. However, that didn't stop seniors from bullying the juniors."

"The first part of my stay in the school was hectic. It took me a while before I started grabbing anything. I was drained already and I was not even  ready to learn at all. On visiting days, mummy would come visting, bringing whatever she could afford, so that we don't feel left out and since we were all in the same school, it reduced the stress of going from one place to the other. The school is a little big and it is only a fence that demarcated the primary from secondary."

"One afternoon, something happened." Beatrice said.

"It better be something good o" Selina said.

"Lets hope so too." Deborah added. 

What happened?

Find out in the next episode.

BUT Episode 18

 Episode 18

Beatrice joined Deborah and Selina at the table, and continued with her story.

"Where did I..." Beatrice was about asking, but was interrupted by Selina.

"Gradually,  things began to change. That was  what you said before you left." Selina said. 

"Thank you for the reminder." Beatrice said as she drew her chair closer to the table, so she could sit comfortably.  

"We started noticing some distance from dad, but at first, we thought the ministerial assignment was becoming overwhelming for him. We were struggling to stay strong and understand him. We tried to support him in every way we could, so as to make his work easier."

"Dad who always came home during the week and go the branch church on weekends, now became someone who came home twice or thrice in a week. There were days he would close from work and still have to drive down to the branch. By the time he is done,  it would have been too  late for him to come home. He would then sleep over and come back the next day."

"Gradually, things got worse. We  would ask dad for little things like shoes, cloths and other gifts he normally got us and  he would get angry.  Our Father suddenly became a stranger to us. It felt like we never knew him. He suddenly changed after he became a pastor."

"At a point, he told my mother bluntly that if she can't take care of the home, she is not a wise woman. My  mother had to stay strong for the family, she didn't allow anything get through her emotional wall."

"When I told him about some fees regarding my external examinations, all he  could say was that my mother is working, that I should go and  meet her to collect anything I want."

"I tried to be considerate and reasonable. Most times I would place my siblings needs above mine. I had to be patient and seek for ways to be of help to my mother. My siblings were bitter and angry at the situation of things, but there was little they could do."

"You know what amazed me the  most about my father's change of behaviour?" Beatrice asked.

"No, you tell us." Deborah said. 

"Dad was not like that to people outside. I mean to neighbours, colleagues and church members. Many times, dad would pay the school fees of children in the church. Members would walk to him in tears, crying for help. Dad wouldn't even think twice before helping them, not minding whether his own family is doing well or not. He always took care of other people over his family."

"My parents had a joint account, but dad used up all the fund in it  to run church matters and also the welfare of people around us, while we struggled to eat balanced meal at home."

"But what came over him? What was the cause?" Selina asked with curiosity.

"My dear, I don't know too,  but it appeared he wanted to showcase a good image and reputation to the public. At a point, mummy began to get tired, the whole situation was telling on her. She attempted to have a calm conversation with my dad, in other to resolve the issues, but my dad wasn't having it. He didn't see any bad in what he was doing. He believes that when you give to others, God will give back to you. Also, like a good shepherd that he is, he must take care of all the sheeps under him." Beatrice said.

"Are you people not the first sheep he is supposed to take care of? Deborah asked angrily. 

"Well, when it seemed like nothing is ever going to change with plenty of talks and negotiations, my mother had to find other means to make sure we don't suffer or stress over the unavailability of our dad"

"Until one afternoon that one of my mom's friend came around to offer help and give  advise. Don't know whether to call it a good advise or not"

"What advise o?" Selina and Deborah chorus as if it has been planned

What advise will she give?

Watch out for the next episode

BUT Episode 17

 Episode 17

"Continue what you were saying before the coackroach interrupted." Selina said.

"Haba na, you don't call a whole human being cockroach na, that's not good o." Deborah said. 

"Will you now be fighting over an unknown man ni?" Beatrice said, trying to talk them out of the argument and take their focus back to the hangout and their gists.

"Oya sha continue." Selina said.

"We all got ready for church, wearing our best cloths. One of my mother's rule is that you must give your best to God, which is why we dress well when going to church and that Sunday wasn't an exception."

"Church service that Sunday was wonderful. The choir gave beautiful renditions, soul lifting songs. The atmosphere was solemn, it was like heaven on earth. During the announcements, the pastor announced a special announcement. Every one was keen on hearing the special announcement. Somehow, it appeared it was only our family that wasn't aware of what was  going on, until the pastor mentioned  that my daddy;  brother Jimmy Ali was  going to become the pastor of our Ilokoro branch. I was seated close to my mom and she was just shouting 'Jesus'."

"My dad stood from the front sit where he sat and joined the other newly appointed pastors and heads of units at the altar. The Pastor and other elders stood round them to pray for them and thereafter, the congregation was asked to point their hands at them and  pray for them as well. I was looking at my mother's face at intervals, but I wasn't sure whether she was  happy or angry. She kept a faint smile with a straight face. The way she did her face needs to be studied in school" Beatrice said sarcastically. 

"Beatrice you are so  funny. So what happened after then?" Deborah calmly said after laughing. 

"The service was over. Everyone was greeting my parents, some were praying, while some were encouraging them, that there is a reason and purpose why God is taking us to that branch. It's not like the branch is bad really,  but it's kinda far from the main town. I was later told that they moved dad there cause he had a vehicle and also because of his exposure to the things of God."

"The thought of shuttling between the town and the local branch clouded my dad's mind. Mom on the other hand, was a little sad, but she had to surrender to the Will of God. She drew dad close, encouraged him and called us out to pray for God to back up his ministry. Dad was happy that he has a praying family that supports him. He said that he couldn't imagine what he would have done if he came home that night and everyone said they were not going to church again or any thing that could discourage him."

"Days turned into weeks and weeks into months. Dad's work was increasing by the day and he was getting more busy. He decided to get an apartment where he could be staying on Saturdays to make going to church easier for him. Mom was initially against it but later reasoned with dad that getting a place to stay will be a good option."

"Dad eventually got a place, we were lucky to get a room and parlour where we can all be accommodated. Although it wasn't as good as where we lived in, but we knew that it was only dad that would stay over on most days, as the rest of us still  needed to attend school in main town as well as mom who worked in a private school."

"Gradually things began to change..."

"For better or for worse?" Deborah asked. 

"I'd join you shortly. I want to use the rest room" Beatrice said as she walked towards the rest room.

What happens next?

Watch out for the next episode

BUT Episode 16

 Episode 16.

The young man wore a round necked black polo on blue Jean trousers with white sneakers and a brass wristwatch.

The man was heading towards their table initially, but later turned to the waiter's side. They were still trying to recover from Selina's story, but they were also eager to listen to Beatrice's story as well.

Few minutes later, the waiter walked down to their table and told them what the young man did.

"What? What for?" Deborah shouted.

"All I know is that he said everything you  ordered, has paid for and you don't have to pay" the waiter concluded as he walked to other tables to tidy up.

"Why will a stranger we don't know from Adam pay for everything we bought?" Deborah asked worried. 

When they found no answers, they shrugged it off and concluded he may be interested in one of them, or he probably knows one of them somehow or for other reasons best known to him. 

"Where did we stop sef?" Beatrice asked. 

"You haven't started at all, we are waiting for your own story jor" Selina said.

"Well well well... my story may be a bit long but I will try to summarize it sha" Beatrice added. 

"Go ahead, I think we have all day to ourselves." Deborah said. 

"As you all know, my name is Beatrice Ali and I am the first child of five. My parents converted to Christianity before we were given birth to, I mean me and my younger siblings. The conversion created  lot of problems for them. They were threatened severely and given several warnings." 

"As we grew, my dad became so fervent in his walk with God and when I was 13, we moved into this town. In no time, dad looked around for a bible believing church. We all started attending Gospel Light Tabernacle, one of the popular churches around here."

"Yes I know the church, they have branches all over the place" Selina added.

"Dad was working at the ministry of education at the time, so he requested to be transferred to this town when we relocated. It was quite stressful but he was able to move past it and God saw him through the process."

"Mom was able to get a teaching job in a private school not far from home,  while dad decided to move into full time ministry as his retirement was getting closer. Dad was also the head of the evangelism department in church."

"Dad  was very generous. He would buy us goodies when coming home from work. From ice cream to pie, chocolates and so on. He made sure he never came home empty handed. There was a day he bought us this specied suya, it was so delicious that it felt like it shouldn't finish. Every Friday, he would close early and  take us all out to enjoy ourselves to the fullest."

"I was in Senior class 1 and there is this 2 years interval between each of us while the last born happened to be a set of twins. My immediate younger brother Samson, my younger sister Binta and the twins, you get it now right?" She asked and they affirmed that they understood.

" My family was such a loving one. There was  a way my parents acted that makes one desire marriage. Their relationship was so adorable and fun filled.  You won't belive what my dad does every Sunday morning"? Beatrice asked.

"You all know I am bad at guessing." Deborah said.

"Maybe he played gospel music to wake you people from sleep every morning, just like one of our neighbours in the past." Selina added.

"You see, every Sunday morning, regardless of what we wanted to eat, dad would wake up as early as 5am to start the cooking and made sure it was ready before going to have his bath and get ready for church. Mom would be attending to other things like ironing and bathing the twins, while I would bath both Sam and Binta."

"Wow, that's so lovely." Deborah said with excitement. 

"Awwn, this kind love ehn." Selina added.

"It was another Sunday. Mom woke up having a strange feeling, but she couldn't explain how she felt or why she felt that way. However, she managed to get herself up for church."

"so why was she feeling strange, hope nothing bad happened to her?" Deborah asked. 

" No no, not at all" Beatrice said.

"Hello ladies, you all look great...don't bother about the pay, I got you covered" The unfamiliar anonymous guy said as he flaunted his car keys and signal peace out to them, he walked out of the eatery. Selina hissed!

What happened next?

Find out in the next episode.

BUT Episode 15

 Episode 15.

"Fear and confusion was written on everyone's faces ,with the  way my uncle was confidently saying that it's time to let the world know what they cooked that got  the house burnt."

"But what exactly happened?" Beatrice asked, to clear her confusion as well.

"He said that since they were young, grandma would always choose my dad over him, because he is better, smarter and even finer. Many times when they got back from school with their results, my dad would always come top and get the love of their parents. My dad was regarded as the good son who always made them proud, but as for him, he was less appreciated. So since then, the anger and resentment had been building against my dad." Selina said.

"Shuu, that's not enough reason to kill one's brother na" Deborah said

"Don't say that oo, if you have ever been in that shoe, you will relate better. I will tell you why later sha." Beatrice added.

"I'm surprised oo, but  anyways, the heart of man can be desperately wicked." Deborah concluded.

"Continue what you were saying dear." Beatrice said.

"All along, my dad had been  dealing with my uncle with the purest of intentions. Whenever my dad wanted to do anything, he always involved him and sought his opinion. Funnily, he(my uncle) would give his perfect opinions and advice, unknown to us that he had ulterior motives."

"The part that broke my mother was when my uncle mentioned how he and my dad went to a juju man to back up my dad's riches. He mentioned that the herbalist said the glory that is attached to my dad is much but he may not live long. He told them to do some rituals and carry sacrifices to reverse the ill fate.  My uncle supported my dad all through the process, with the intention that when things get better, my dad will give him his own cut, but somehow, he felt my father wasn't doing enough, so he started resenting my dad." 

"My uncle opened up about everything to the very least, even to the part that he was the one who named the company Bright and Sharp Consultancy. He told us how my dad neglected renewing his rituals and how the herbalist tormented  him severally. His only saving grace was that the herbalist died 3 years later."

"But wait, we heard that the company later folded up na? Or is it not the same Bright and Sharp?" Beatrice asked. 

"I will come back to that. So much happened at the same time and it was such a big blow for the family." Selina said and continued. 

"Ever since then, my uncle had been looking for a way to take revenge on his brother and that was why he sent the guy to burn down the building and kill him. unfortunately, he didn't succeed."

"My father wanted to deny everything but it was too late. Immediately, he was handcuffed and locked in detention. Also, the police began an investigation into my father's wealth, company and finance."

"My uncle was charged to court and later sent to the prison after he was found guilty. My father was released but kept under  restrictions, while the police continued their investigation on him.  The staffs of the company was paid  and laid off thereafter." 

"My father's properties within the state were seized and he couldn't afford to travel back that year. We could no longer attend  Best Brain College because of our financial state. In fact, if not that my mother is foresighted and good at managing resources, we would have been completely broke. Fortunately, she was into some investments and contributions, which kept us going,  plus a poultry business on the side." 

"My dad was suspended from all church duties and involvements in no time. The church does not like to be involved in any scandal, because they value the name and image of the church over anything. However, a few close family members and friends rallied round and encouraged my parents."

"By the end January the following year, we moved to another town close by and started over gradually. The whole thing affected my father, but  thanks to my mother, who  stayed with him through those trying times. She was strong enough to pull my father together and we started building everything up little by little. She was there emotionally, spiritually and even mentally."

"Dad rededicated his life to Christ. He renewed his love to God and to his family. It was in the new town we moved to that I continued and completed my secondary education. I was one of the best students and that was one of the reasons my education seemed fast  and I started university education at 16. I am glad we are done now."

"My brother is even smarter and better than I am. He is now in 200 level at the age of 16, as he got double promotion twice before the end of his secondary school education."

"Wow, everyone with their own story. It is so amazing how we can be down today and up tomorrow." Deborah said.

"God of second chance. He is ever faithful and merciful." Beatrice added.

"That's right and I hope we can hear from Beatrice too. Oya tell us your own  story too na." Selina added. 

As Beatrice was about talking, a young unfamiliar face walked into the eatery and began walking towards their table.

Watch out for the next episode.

BUT Episode 14

 Episode 14 

"There is a kind of slap that will make you confess even what you did not do and that was the exact thing that happened to this man. He started narrating how he was paid to come to our compound  earlier that  year to set the house ablaze,  but he couldn't get his full pay because he only tampered with some wires that caused a spark instead of burning down the whole house."

"But who sent him? How did he enter the house in the first place?" Deborah asked.

"I wonder too, that's the same question I wanted to ask." Beatrice added. 

"Wait, I will come back to who sent him but let's take it from how he entered the house. The driver went to do some check up and servicing on the car after dropping my mom at the church. This guy had been following the car with a bike. The moment the driver parked, he payed the bike man and sneaked into the car boot."

"The garage in our house is built close to the building and there is a small door from the garage that leads to the sitting room. We rarely lock that door because we always enter through it, so it gave room for the man to enter the house and carry out his assignment."

"He said he waited till people started coming around to sympathize and quench the fire before sneaking out of the house and quickly joined them to show concern so they don't suspect him."

"When he delivered the report to the person that sent him, he was not paid in full, cause he didn't do as expected. As a result, another task was given to him and he was told  that  if he carried it out well, he would be paid double of their initial agreement. He agreed to do this one very well and then get his full pay."

"What is the assignment this time?" Deborah asked. 

"He was paid to go after my dad, as he already got information that he would be coming back  home on that Friday and if he was able to kill him, he would be rewarded greatly. He only got the first information but didn't get to hear about the rescheduling of his journey."

"wow ! That is serious. Why would anyone want to kill your dad?" Beatrice asked.

"Exactly . what could he have done wrong?" Deborah asked.

"Girls , calm down. I will give you the full gist. So as I was saying, the man  took a bike as usual on that Friday afternoon and started journeying on. They got to a police check point and he instructed the bike man to run past the checkpoint,  but for fear of the police men, the bike man couldn't run as much. Eventually, they were stopped and the bike man's key was seized."

"After a while, they noticed that the man was restless and so asked to search him.At first he refused, but he had no option than to allow them carry out their duty. That was when they found the gun with him and asked him how he came about having a gun. He tried to explain but it didn't  add up .He tried resisting arrest,  but unfortunately it was too late."

"They had been beating him since the day he got to police custody. He was the one that begged and suggested that the police put a call across to my family so he could explain his part of the story."

"Still we don't know who sent him." Beatrice said. 

"It was actually my dad's immediate younger brother that had been trying to kill him and take over all his properties and belongings. 

" Wow! You don't mean it."  Deborah said.

"My  dad was disappointed and pained when he heard who had been after him to bring him down. My dad always sent things, money and many more to him to make him comfortable, but sometimes, the insect that wants to ruin the vegetation is right beneath its leaves."

" Can you imagine? The heart of man is so evil oo." Beatrice said.

"My uncle was traced to his apartment. He lived in same city as my family too, so it was very easy to track him down. He was caught up with and was brought to the police station."

"He was asked why he did all he did and the only thing he replied with was that it was time for everyone to know what they cooked that got the house burnt."

What's happening next?

Wait for it in the next episode.

BUT Episode 13

 Episode 13

The waiter cleared the table and Selina continued with her story. Beatrice checked the time on her small phone and realised that they've been in the eatery for roughly 3 hours.

"But who was at the gate that night?" Deborah asked. 

"Mom was scared and wasn't sure whether to ask the driver to go back or act like we were not coming to the house. As we approached the gate, the person started waving at us. It was as if the person had been given the description of our car. The driver had to dim the lights when we realised it was my dad's mother."

"By that time of the night? How come?" Beatrice asked.

"You're surprised too right? Well, she said she had been on her way since morning,  but the bus she boarded broke down on the road and there was no way she  could communicate with us, but she believed that anytime she got to our house, we would always welcome her. We opened the car doors, everyone got down and went into the house. The chef already made us yam and egg, so we all ate and went to bed."

"Days rolled into weeks and weeks into months and it was the time of the year that dad comes home. He usually comes home in December, but because of the fire accident,  he came home first around April and again in December that year.  We were all excited that we got to see dad twice that year. On one of the phone conversations we had with dad, we told him the things we wanted him to buy for us. Normally, he would bring us lots of things, from clothes to shoes, toys, gadgets and many more."

"Grandma stayed with us for about 3 months before she went back. The purpose of her visit was to check up on us and also to sympathize with us regarding the fire accident and all. Gradma would always tell us the story of how she had my dad and his brother. She said my dad and his younger brother are the only surviving children she has. She got married late and couldn't get pregnant in time. After some years, she gave birth to my dad, then  she waited for years again before she had my dad's younger brother. Unfortunately, she couldn't meet with my dad the day she came and dad wasn't back when she left to her house."

"Dad was meant to come on a Friday, but due to one thing or the other, he couldn't make it, so he had to wait till Sunday. You know sometimes,  some disappointments are blessings in disguise, but we may not know it at the moment." 

"What happened? Hope it was nothing serious?" Deborah  asked.

"Hmm! you see, I don't even know how to answer that question, but as I proceed, you will know If it was serious or not. Dad eventually came on Sunday with lot of things, even beyond what we requested of him. He wanted us to have the best Christmas with  lasting wonderful memories. We went to pick him at the airport that afternoon. Mom doesn't really like driving unless she has no option, she also has her fears due to the bad driving and craziness of the bike men in town."

"A week after he got back, we received a call from the police station that my father should come. We were all confused and worried, wondering why the police would request for my dad. Mom didn't want my dad to go to the station alone, so she decided follow him. The rest of us were also not comfortable leaving the two of them to go alone, so we decided to go with them."

"Police station? What for?" Beatrice asked. 

"They asked my dad if he could identify the person that the sergeant went to bring from the cell. The person had been beaten beyond recognition, so it was difficult for dad to even recognize the face. When they asked the person to narrate what had happened, we couldn't believe our ears."

"The person didn't want to talk, so the DPO gave him a resounding slap and he had no option than to talk." 

"But who is the person?" Beatrice asked.

 Find out who the person is in the next episode.

BUT Episode 12

 Episode 12

"What happened? I don't want to imagine anything bad o" Beatrice said. 

"After school that day, my mom's driver came to pick me and my brother as usual. As we approached the house, we saw many people in our compound. we were confused as to what might have happened. If I didn't know anyone at all, I could recognise our neighbours and the pastor of the church we attended."

"So what happened?" Deborah said. 

"There was a fire outbreak. A spark started from the kitchen store and  escalated to the kitchen, then to a half of the house. The chef had gone to the market. If she were at home, she could have shouted  for help and sought for ways to quench the fire, but no one was at  home asides the Gateman."

"I remember that fire outbreak, I never knew that was your house." Beatrice added. 

"Oh wow, you have a sharp memory oo." Selina said.

"What do you mean? It's not easy na" Beatrice said with a smile.

"When you people are done, sha let me know." Deborah cuts in

"What  is it gan? Be calming down small small o" Selina said

"Alright sorry, let me summarise so that we can hear from Beatrice" Selina added and continued.

"I really don't know the kind of sleep the gateman slept that noon, till the house got half way burnt . Some of dad's awards in his room got burnt, some of his photocopied certificates too and some of his clothing and shoes as well."

"A week later, dad had to travel down from  the UK to inspect the state of the house and the damage incured . That was the first time I saw  my father's tear drop. He managed to hide it but before he could say anything, he started crying again."

"People came from far and near to commiserate with us for the incidence. We were reminded to be grateful to God because no life was lost in the outbreak. If sorrys and sympathy could bring back our loss, it would have, because the rate at which people trooped in to greet us was high. However, the feeling of knowing people cared about us was soothing."

"On one of the afternoons, the pastor came around to pray with us and encourage us, and that all things work together for good, but being a young child,  I didn't see any good in all that had happened."

"Sorry, I didn't mention that this incidence happened when I was in senior class 2 and my brother was in primary class 5. Some of those things still play afresh in my head as if they happened yesterday."

"Daddy started doing some running around to fix the burnt places and renovate the house. The company on the other hand was doing fine, while the staff school became a private property. My father wasn't interested in school, so, he bought the company and another group of people bought the school."

"A month later, my father was set to go back to the UK. He had made sure that every renovation was done under his supervision, to ensure we all lived in a comfortable place." 

"The fact that my father always sent money home didn't make us feel  his absence much. There were days when mom would go to the post office to bring home letters written by dad and read to us, so we could feel connected.  The older I got, the more I realized the importance of having a father who would be physically present due to the pressure and the distractions that I am getting."

"Dad's flight was scheduled for 7pm that night .In order to beat traffic and other delays, he left the house as early as 1pm. Mom's driver was the one that drove us all to the airport. I could read on mom's face how much she would miss dad and trust me, we always miss dad whenever he was not around."

"Whenever other kids flaunt their dad, we either flaunt him by saying he is abroad or not talk at all. We see other dads  come to school to drop and pick up their kids, we see many fathers show up on visiting days and at PTA meetings, but mom was the only one who played both roles. The only thing is that dad always sent money home."

"Is your mom also a full house wife" Deborah asked. 

"I am coming to the part of my mom soon. So after we saw him through the airport procedures, we left the airport a little past 7pm, immediately after his flight took off. ." 

" My brother slept throughout the journey back home. I would have slept as well, save for the fact that I am not one to sleep on a journey, no matter the time and distance. As we got closer to the house, we sighted someone at the gate of our house, but couldn't see the person's face"

"Can I clear the table now?" The waiter said. 

Who was at the gate?

Find out in the next episode

BUT Episode 11

 Episode 11

Selina cleared her  throat, as she took a sip of her drink. Her mouth was dry from too much talking. 

"My dad was one of the Board of Directors of Royal Mill"

"Wait, you mean your dad is Dr. Benson James? Wow! I am just connecting the surname to yours now oo, it didn't even occur to me at all" Deborah said in shock.

"Yes, he is my dad. Back then, my dad was based in the UK and only came home once a year and that was in december. "

"Remember we are 2, myself and Jerry the baby of the house. My brother was over pampered and there was virtually nothing he asked that my parents didn't give him. Maybe because they gave birth to him 7 years after they had me or because he is a boy, but for whatever reasons,  he enjoyed the goodies." 

"We attended the best school in town. I don't know why  my dad didn't allow us attend the staff school like every other staff children. He insisted that my brother and I attend Best Brain College."

"Excuse me ma(s), do you still care for anything else?" The waitress interrupted.

"Give me pie with Pepsi." Deborah requested.

"You and pepsi are like state and capital."  Selina mocked Deborah.

"Na you sabi oo" Deborah rolled her eyes as she ignored the mockery.

"Best Brain college is a really big school. We always see their students in their glowing white over rall uniform, whenever the school bus comes to drop them at their junctions." Beatrice added. 

"You mean your area  also  isn't far from mine?" Selina asked 

"Hellen Avenue, police station roundabout" Beatrice said

"That's my area too.  The street  was actually named after my mother, because we were the first to move to that area when it was just developing." Selina added. 

"Are you for real right now?"  Beatrice added 

"The way you people are passing this to yourself will keep us longer here oo, oya go straight to what happened please." Deborah cuts in.

"Aunty Debo, no chill at all. You sha took your time to tell us yours." Selina reacted but Deborah ignored as she munched her pie.

"Anyways,  dad bought the company and he started operating as a one man business. He didn't employ any old staff as they initially planned.

"One afternoon, the unexpected happened."

Watch out for what next.