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.