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She dropped what she was holding.

"Okay, uncle, let's do it," she said.

"Do what? What's wrong with you?"

I was shocked by the next thing she did. She removed the faded blue t-shirt she was wearing and dropped it on the floor.

In spite of the strangeness and suddeness, a carnal man would find the black bra encasing her boobs to be attractive.

"What has gone over you?" I demanded. "Are you going crazy?"

It was as if she did not hear me. She moved towards me and clung unto me.

"What, this is madness!" I said angrily. I tried to untangle her hands but I was surprised by her strenght. You are the man, my mind screamed at me.

I exerted more strenght to remove her grip, held her hands in vice-grip and pushed her back.

She staggered back, slipped and fell on the floor in an unconscious posture. I found myself breathing hard. Still breathing hard, I stared at her motionless body. Now, I was in panic mood, hoping that everything was alright with her.

"Kubrat!" I called her. "Kubrat!"

[quote author=GodPraise post=94179412]You are the mighty God

The great I Am

Hallelujah, hallelujah!

You are the mighty God

The great I Am

Hallelujah, hallelujah!

Disenchanted


Toyin Raphael


(C) 2024


Seyi's relationship with Queen blossomed into marriage. It was a marriage that was as weird as it was sudden. He hoped to make things work and to love her till death did them apart, but things did not exactly work that way. He became disenchanted and many unpleasant things happened thereafter.






We were still in celebration mood, after all. About four p.m, Queen said she would like to get some groceries in the neighbourhood. "Let me drive you there," I offered.

"Oh, no, don't bother. I will just take a walk."

She left with her ATM card. About a minute after she had gone, I decided to take some additional peppersoup. There were still some in the pot in the kitchen.

Clad only in a pair of boxers, I went to get it. Kubrat was in the kitchen, washing some plates.

"Do you want anything, sir?" she asked.

"Don't worry. Let me help myself."

I picked one of plates she had washed, and opened the pot. There were still four pieces of catfish there.

Good. I would take two while Queen could take the rest. I was putting the fish in the plate when I noticed that Kubrat suddenly jerked her body, like someone
who had been jolted by electricity.

"Are you alright?" I asked in concern.

She turned to stare at me. She looked like someone sleep-walking.

"Is everything alright with you?" I asked again.

She dropped what she was holding.

"Okay, uncle, let's do it," she said.

"Do what? What's wrong with you?"



(The story continues)

It was long overdue.

abhosts:
Useless agbaya elder. Saying yahoo is sustaining the Nigerian economy is crass ignorance. Nigerian Cocoa farmers alone export hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Cocoa yearly and it is legitimate a business. Even foodstuff exporters bring in more money than accursed Yahoo criminals.

Look at this clown blaming government for the Yahoo epidemic. Do yahoo boys stop scamming when they find themselves in wealthy countries with massive legitimate job opportunities? A thief is a thief. Stop justifying criminality.

Yahoo is a net negative to Nigeria because more has been lost in economic opportunities due to the bad reputation yahoo boys have given Nigerians. Have you seen how Nigerian Freelancers are discriminated against?

You are on point.

Who is on The LORD’S side, I want to know o

I am on The LORD’S side x2

I am on The LORD’S side

I will never give up

I am an overcomer

For The LORD God is by my side x2

By my side By my side!!!

I have a very big God O

HE is always by my side

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
Ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high his royal banner,
It must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory
His army shall he lead,
Till every foe is vanquished,
And Christ is Lord indeed.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
Stand in his strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you,
Ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor,
Each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger,
Be never wanting there.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
The strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle,
The next the victor's song.
To those who vanquish evil
A crown of life shall be;
They with the King of Glory
Shall reign eternally.

Take glory, Father

Take glory, son

Take glory, Holy Ghost,

Now and forever more.

.

Amen Amen

Amen Amen

Blessings and glory

Wisdom Thanksgiving

And Honor

Power and Might

Be unto the Lord

Forever and Ever

Amen.

.

E tobi o, Baba e tobi o

E tobi o, Edumare, e tobi o

A fun no ma siregun

Olowo gborogboro

E tobi Baba E tobi o.

She had complained that she was tired of jumping from one cab to another and he had gifted it to her.

  The traffic was light. From Ota, she drove to Abule Egba on her way to Ikeja. Emma lived on a street off Shodipo Close at the GRA. By a few minutes after noon, she was at the front of the gate of his residence.       

  The man at the gate came to the side of her car to properly look at the person behind the wheel. 'Ah, good morning. You're welcome.'

  Janet smiled at him. She was no longer a stranger there. She drove into the compound.

  Emma came to meet her as she was stepping out of the car.

  'My baby.' He was obviously glad to see her. He came over to give a kiss.

Taking her right hand, he ushered her into the expansive sitting room downstairs. Bottles of wine and champagne were already set on the center glass table.

  'I was already expecting you.' He felt there was need to explain the scene.

  'I can see that.'

When she saw that the bottles of exotic drinks were indeed many, she became curious. 'Are you celebrating anything?'

  'Yes.' He laughed. 'Having you around calls for celebration. Take your choice.' He pointed at the drinks.

  'Any that is good with the least content of alcohol.' Any where she went, she always showed that taking alcohol was not her passion.

  He opened one of them with a plop as if there was need to make a toast. He then filled the glasses and handled one to her.

  'To the flavour of a beautiful relationship.' He raised his glass up.

  They clinked glasses. She took a sip to sample the taste. It was good. She looked at him with a smile. She had no doubt that the drinks were very expensive. Maybe he was a connoisseur. Janet did not fancy exotic drinks, but would really not mind to have it moderately if the taste was good.

  They drank and chatted on this and that.

  'Don't you think we should retire to the bedroom? Let me show you one or two things there.' There was a suggestive grin on his face.

  'No o. This place is better. No need to go to any other place.' Her soft protest was significant.

  'You mean you won't mind having the action here?' He laughed over his bawdy comment.

  'I'm not talking about anything like that. Let's just chat for today.'

  'Maybe I should try to put you in the mood.' His right hand went to her chest suggestively as he wrapped his left one around her body.

  'No. I didn't come for anything like that today. Don't even attempt to do that because the mood won't come.'

  'What happens to the mood? Why is it always on flight?' He seemed to be discontent. 'We've done it only once, and that was about three weeks ago.'

  'Yes. You should be satisfied, shouldn't you? It's not food, is it?'

Madam, although no longer a young woman and was on the fat side, was still attractive. Why couldn't oga be content with that? She knew the man was much older than her own father back in Togo. Why would a man like that stoop so low as to sleep with a house girl?

  Maybe it was because you were still young, she told herself. Maybe as you grew older, you would understand things better. Then, her mind went to the promises oga made. Did he really mean those things, or was he just saying them just to have his way?

  Rhoda wondered on the prospects of what she would do if the man should fulfill the promises he had made. She smiled to herself. That would mean she would be saying bye bye to poverty. But all these would be if he kept to his words.

  An idea flashed through her mind. She had an aunty married to a timber magnate in Lome. Rhoda remembered that the aunty once boasted that she had the key to retaining the attention and the affection (if you could call it that) of any man that crossed her path. Rhoda smiled to herself again. It was time she consulted the aunty.



Janet woke up around six a.m. Then, she remembered that it was Saturday morning and she would not be going to work. She lazed on the bed for several minutes. She thought of what she would be doing with herself that weekend.

  By noon, she would be visiting Emma. He had said he looked forward to seeing her again. Before she would leave, she would just relax and take things easy.

  Still in her night wear, Janet went to the kitchen. The big refrigeration there had assorted juices. She poured the drinks generously in a big mug and returned to her room.

  She played music on her i-phone as she sipped her drinks. Some minutes later, she decided to have her bath. She was still in the bathroom when Zizi came to inform that breakfast was ready.

  After creaming her body, she chose to wear a white t-shirt and a short jeans skirt for now. Her parents were already eating by the time she got to the dining table.

  'Good morning, dad, good morning, mum.'

  "My baby girl, how are you?' Her father smiled up at her. It was the way he used to address her. At almost twenty-eight, her father still called her baby girl.

  Her mother too smiled at her. Julie was a reticent woman. If anyone talked a lot in that house and raised so much fuss, it was daddy.

  'Why is Helen not here?' The man looked at the chair on which Helen normally sat. 'Don't tell me she's still mourning that her boyfriend.'

  'I think she'll soon be here.' Julie nodded and looked at her husband reassuringly.

  The breakfast was toasted bread and beverages. It was one of Janet's favorites. She enjoyed the food and ate to her satisfaction. Truly, just as her mother said, Helen soon came to join them.

  'Helen, baby. How 're you?' LaVos expressed delight that she had finally come.

  'Fine, dad. Morning, mum.'

  'How're you, my dear?' Julie looked at him briefly in I-told-you-so manner. She patted her daughter.

  'Life goes on.' LaVos lifted the tea cup to his mouth. 'I don't understand why you should be brooding over him. You're still young, enjoy your life.'

  The others did not say anything. Janet sometimes wondered how her father was able to take things as calmly as he did. For instance, the way he reacted to the death of Helen's fiancé was rather too cool, almost as if he was expecting the news.

  Janet glanced at her mother. She was sitting calmly beside her husband. As far as Janet could remember, there was no time her mother had any serious argument with her husband, or raised her voice against him. She always seemed to agree with him - both in words and in silence. Mummy was too cool and pliant for Janet's liking.

Later that morning, she was in her room, watching the satellite television. Daddy and mummy had gone out. She suspected that Helen had gone out too. By eleven in the morning, she was watching Channel O, when Funmi, her friend came to visit

Funmi had been her friend since their secondary school days. As a matter of fact, they went to the same federal government girls college. Funmi was the only daughter of the Lawsons and they dotted on her. She was an almost spoilt child.

  Funmi was still with Janet when Emma called her line.

  'When are you coming, baby?' There was a sense of anticipation about him.

  'By mid-day, I should be there.'

  'Have you left home?'

  'Not yet, but I'll soon leave.'

  'How was your night?' The question was an afterthought.

  'It was fine. How was yours?'

  'Fine too. I'll be expecting you, baby.'

  Janet smiled. 'Alright.' She dropped the phone on the bed.

  'Your guy?' Funmi looked at her friend in what looked like envy.

  Janet nodded in the affirmative.

  'I guess I should be on my way. Have a nice time, Janet.'

  With that, Funmi left the house.









                                               Chapter Two

Janet whistled softly to herself as she got up to dress up. Her large wardrobe had scores of clothes, some of which she had no worn from a long time. She checked them one after the other, wondering which one to pick. She finally settled for a designer t-shirt and jeans trousers.

  She applied her designer make up and perfume. It was apparent Janet liked designer wears. She liked to look and smell good. Since she could afford the good things, nothing stopped her from having them.

  She put her sunglasses on as soon as she got to the porch.

  'Happy weekend, small madam.'

  Sule always addressed Janet as madam despite the protest of the latter. He walked towards her with his trade mark grin.

  'Good morning, Sule. How're you?'

  'We dey fine o. We thank God.' He looked at her in expectation.

  'Your car is ready.' He pointed at the car. It had been washed and it was glittering in the morning sun.

  'I can see that.' She nodded in approval, smiling at him. He had, as usual, helped her to wash her car. She dipped her right hand inside her clutch bag and brought some money out.

  'Here, take this.'

  'Ah, thank you so much, madam. This weekend will be very great.'

  She entered her car and put the engine into life. He waved at her while Janet honked the horn. The car was still quite new and she handled it carefully. It was a gift from her father when she clocked twenty seven. She had complained that she was tired of jumping from one cab to another and he had gifted it to her.

She was an almost spoilt child.

  Funmi was still with Janet when Emma called her line.

  'When are you coming, baby?' There was a sense of anticipation about him.

  'By mid-day, I should be there.'

  'Have you left home?'

  'Not yet, but I'll soon leave.'

  'How was your night?' The question was an afterthought.

  'It was fine. How was yours?'

  'Fine too. I'll be expecting you, baby.'

  Janet smiled. 'Alright.' She dropped the phone on the bed.

  'Your guy?' Funmi looked at her friend in what looked like envy.

  Janet nodded in the affirmative.

  'I guess I should be on my way. Have a nice time, Janet.'

  With that, Funmi left the house.









                                               Chapter Two

Janet whistled softly to herself as she got up to dress up. Her large wardrobe had scores of clothes, some of which she had no worn from a long time. She checked them one after the other, wondering which one to pick. She finally settled for a designer t-shirt and jeans trousers.

  She applied her designer make up and perfume. It was apparent Janet liked designer wears. She liked to look and smell good. Since she could afford the good things, nothing stopped her from having them.

  She put her sunglasses on as soon as she got to the porch.

  'Happy weekend, small madam.'

  Sule always addressed Janet as madam despite the protest of the latter. He walked towards her with his trade mark grin.

  'Good morning, Sule. How're you?'

  'We dey fine o. We thank God.' He looked at her in expectation.

  'Your car is ready.' He pointed at the car. It had been washed and it was glittering in the morning sun.

  'I can see that.' She nodded in approval, smiling at him. He had, as usual, helped her to wash her car. She dipped her right hand inside her clutch bag and brought some money out.

  'Here, take this.'

  'Ah, thank you so much, madam. This weekend will be very great.'

  She entered her car and put the engine into life. He waved at her while Janet honked the horn. The car was still quite new and she handled it carefully. It was a gift from her father when she clocked twenty seven. She had complained that she was tired of jumping from one cab to another and he had gifted it to her.

  The traffic was light. From Ota, she drove to Abule Egba on her way to Ikeja. Emma lived on a street off Shodipo Close at the GRA. By a few minutes after noon, she was at the front of the gate of his residence.       

  The man at the gate came to the side of her car to properly look at the person behind the wheel. 'Ah, good morning. You're welcome.'

  Janet smiled at him. She was no longer a stranger there. She drove into the compound.

She lazed on the bed for several minutes. She thought of what she would be doing with herself that weekend.

  By noon, she would be visiting Emma. He had said he looked forward to seeing her again. Before she would leave, she would just relax and take things easy.

  Still in her night wear, Janet went to the kitchen. The big refrigeration there had assorted juices. She poured the drinks generously in a big mug and returned to her room.

  She played music on her i-phone as she sipped her drinks. Some minutes later, she decided to have her bath. She was still in the bathroom when Zizi came to inform that breakfast was ready.

  After creaming her body, she chose to wear a white t-shirt and a short jeans skirt for now. Her parents were already eating by the time she got to the dining table.

  'Good morning, dad, good morning, mum.'

  "My baby girl, how are you?' Her father smiled up at her. It was the way he used to address her. At almost twenty-eight, her father still called her baby girl.

  Her mother too smiled at her. Julie was a reticent woman. If anyone talked a lot in that house and raised so much fuss, it was daddy.

  'Why is Helen not here?' The man looked at the chair on which Helen normally sat. 'Don't tell me she's still mourning that her boyfriend.'

  'I think she'll soon be here.' Julie nodded and looked at her husband reassuringly.

  The breakfast was toasted bread and beverages. It was one of Janet's favorites. She enjoyed the food and ate to her satisfaction. Truly, just as her mother said, Helen soon came to join them.

  'Helen, baby. How 're you?' LaVos expressed delight that she had finally come.

  'Fine, dad. Morning, mum.'

  'How're you, my dear?' Julie looked at him briefly in I-told-you-so manner. She patted her daughter.

  'Life goes on.' LaVos lifted the tea cup to his mouth. 'I don't understand why you should be brooding over him. You're still young, enjoy your life.'

  The others did not say anything. Janet sometimes wondered how her father was able to take things as calmly as he did. For instance, the way he reacted to the death of Helen's fiancé was rather too cool, almost as if he was expecting the news.

  Janet glanced at her mother. She was sitting calmly beside her husband. As far as Janet could remember, there was no time her mother had any serious argument with her husband, or raised her voice against him. She always seemed to agree with him - both in words and in silence. Mummy was too cool and pliant for Janet's liking.

Later that morning, she was in her room, watching the satellite television. Daddy and mummy had gone out. She suspected that Helen had gone out too. By eleven in the morning, she was watching Channel O, when Funmi, her friend came to visit

Funmi had been her friend since their secondary school days. As a matter of fact, they went to the same federal government girls college. Funmi was the only daughter of the Lawsons and they dotted on her. She was an almost spoilt child.

'Don't worry. I'll help you.'

  With that, he lifted her and took her straight to the bedroom.

  'We didn't finish yesterday's game.' There was a lustful grin on his face as he flopped her on the bed.

  'I know. Why the hurry? I'm gonna be here all night long.'

  'The earlier the game starts the better.' The lustful grin was still on his face.

  Before she could reply, his cell phone rang. It was a distant call from Nigeria.



Rhoda felt pain in the pelvic area of her body by the time Nonso was through with her. She was not a virgin, but she never found sexual intercourse anything pleasant. She found this particular one painful. It was the way he had handled her.

  He was so forceful and so fierce, as if his life depended on it. She felt used and bruised. She wondered if he could really say he was delighted after the whole thing. Rhoda shook her head. She never understood men and their craving for sex. She had never really enjoyed engaging in the act and she wondered why some men acted as if it was indispensable and as if without it, they would die.

  She went to the bathroom to clean herself up. There was a little bleeding coming from her private part. The man was not gentle at all, to say the least. He had handled her like a man with craze for sex. She did what she could do to clean the mess up and returned to her work. Her mind was in a frenzy. She knew madam must never hear what she and oga just did. She had only spent two weeks in the house and this had happened.

So, oga had been nursing those lustful thoughts since she started working there! Men, she thought in disgusts. Why were they never satisfied with what they had? Madam, although no longer a young woman and was on the fat side, was still attractive. Why couldn't oga be content with that? She knew the man was much older than her own father back in Togo. Why would a man like that stoop so low as to sleep with a house girl?

  Maybe it was because you were still young, she told herself. Maybe as you grew older, you would understand things better. Then, her mind went to the promises oga made. Did he really mean those things, or was he just saying them just to have his way?

  Rhoda wondered on the prospects of what she would do if the man should fulfill the promises he had made. She smiled to herself. That would mean she would be saying bye bye to poverty. But all these would be if he kept to his words.

  An idea flashed through her mind. She had an aunty married to a timber magnate in Lome. Rhoda remembered that the aunty once boasted that she had the key to retaining the attention and the affection (if you could call it that) of any man that crossed her path. Rhoda smiled to herself again. It was time she consulted the aunty.



Janet woke up around six a.m. Then, she remembered that it was Saturday morning and she would not be going to work. She lazed on the bed for several minutes. She thought of what she would be doing with herself that weekend.

Helen could sense the impending indifference. 'No, Abi, don't talk like that. I know you're trying to help. But this thing you're suggesting sounds ...it sounds strange and... and...'

  'Strange or not strange, this man I'm talking about will unravel the whole thing.'

  Helen was in thoughts for some moments again. 'Alright.' She shrugged. 'Let me think over it. In a few days’ time, I'll let you know my decision.'

  "I'll suggest that you act fast. The longer you delay, the more the problem deals with you. Remember that delay is dangerous.'

  Helen nodded. 'I agree that indeed delay is dangerous. Thank you, my friend for the timely advice.'



Laji flipped from one channel to another. He loved music and entertainment and would spend hours watching one station or the other. It was a summer afternoon, his best weather since he came to live in the U.S.

His flat in Indianapolis was a moderate but cozy one. Laji, alias L.A, liked it like that. Laji was the first and only son of Leke LaVos, the business mogul from Nigeria. His siblings were Helen and Janet LaVos.

At thirty-two, he had no plans about marrying and settling down. Some months back when his mother called him from Nigeria, she had asked him how far were his plans about having a better half. Laji had laughed it off as if it was the funniest question on earth.

  He had come to the States since he was nineteen. That meant he had spent about thirteen years there. Over those years, he had acquired a Masters degree in Biotic Engineering from the State university. He worked for a computer firm and was quite doing well.

  The door bell rang. Swiftly, Laji moved to it. Monica, the black-haired lady he was expecting was at the door.

  'Hello, sweetheart.' There was complete delight in him to see her.

  'Hello, honey.' She seemed very delighted too to be there.

  They kissed passionately like lovers who had not seen each other for a long time.

  'I'm so tired.' She yawned to show that she meant what she said.

  'Don't worry. I'll help you.'

'It's me, Zizi.' Zizi was the fat and lively housemaid.

  'Come in.'

  The latter gently opened the door and stepped inside.

  Zizi grinned at her. 'Sorry to disturb you, but that your friend, sister Abi is around to see you.'

  'Where's she right now?'

  'She's in the sitting room downstairs, ma'am.'

  'Please tell her to come up.'

  Abi was Helen's good friend. They were the same age, but Abi had successfully settled down. About four months ago, Abi was joined in wedlock in a very lavish ceremony. Helen had been her best lady and had promised that her own wedding would be grander than Abi's own.

  Abi knocked at the door and without waiting for an answer came in.

  'I should have been here since yesterday.' There was apology over Abi's face. 'I'm sorry I couldn't make it. I'm so sorry to hear the news. What did you say happen to him?'

  Helen told her.

  Abi shook her head in sympathy. 'My condolence. Please, take heart.'

  'Thank you.'

  She sat next to her friend on the bed and sighed. 'I've been thinking about the incident since yesterday. Helen, don't you think this thing is not ordinary?'

  Helen appeared to think over it. 'I don't understand what you mean.'

  Abi moved closer to her friend.

  'Listen carefully. This is your second fiancé to die within a period of two years. If I could recollect, you would've done your wedding before mine. Your first fiancé fell ill and died before the engagement could come up. Now, this has happened again. Don't you think something is wrong somewhere?'

  Helen had a far-away look. 'So, what d'you think is wrong?'

  'I think it has to do with something spiritual. This kind of thing doesn't happen ordinarily. There's something mysterious about the whole thing.'

  Helen appeared thoughtful. 'What can I do now?'

  Abi's voice dropped to the level of a whisper. 'There's a baba I know. He is very powerful. Once you agree and I take you there, the mystery will be unraveled.'

  Helen looked defiant. 'But, I don't believe in such things. I've never gone to such people before.'

  'O.k. I didn't know you prefer that this mysterious occurrence should continue. No problem. Have your way as you wish.'

Nice one.

'Don't worry. I'll make it up. This weekend, I promise to make it up.' His voice over the line was very unambiguous.

  'O.k. That'll be nice. So, how's everything at your end?' She could even predict what his answer would be.

  'All is well, dear. Every thing's cool.'

  She nodded. 'Alright. Bye for now.'

  'Bye bye.'

  Janet cut the line. The office assistant knocked at her door and brought in the burger she had ordered for.

  'Thank you.' Janet took the pack from her. Just then, her cell phone rang. It was Emma on the line again.

  'Hello. I called to fulfill my promise to call.' There was a short laugh and he seemed to find his action very funny.

  'Not so fast, mister. I expect you to call in a couple of hours’ time.'

  'This one too is a call, darling.' He was a smooth operator but Janet would not fall for that.

  'I know, but I'll still be expecting the other call in a couple of hours’ time, or so.'

  'You win.' He laughed again. 'Alright, till then.'

  She cut the line again, smiling to herself. She decided to have her breakfast. As she munched the burger, she opened the plastic bottle of carbonated drinks she would take with it.

  Her mind went to five months ago when she first met Emma. She was at Maryland ShopRite where she had gone for some shopping. She did not know he had been observing and following her inside the expansive shopping hall.

  As she was about to pay through the POS, he came to her side and offered to pay for everything she had bought by cash. She was pleasantly surprised by the offer, but he insisted he should be allowed to do it.

  Later, he chatted her up briefly at the car park. He appeared to be a bit overbearing from the on-set. He had introduced himself as a petroleum engineer and the son of a prominent politician. He got her number and they had started dating since then.

  At twenty-eight, Janet had started looking forward to a lasting relationship. She would not mind having someone that would propose marriage to her, the one she would finally marry. Emma had not made any such proposition. Janet was still studying him, but he, so far, looked like someone who did not have marriage idea in his lexicon. But she might be wrong. Maybe he too was studying her and would soon make the move.

  While Janet was thinking about her relationship with Emma, her sister, Helen too was ruminating over her past relationship with Richard. Helen had already started dreaming of settling down with him. Richard was a consultant in pediatrics. He had looked so promising, but an automobile accident had put an end to any further dream of him.

  There was a gentle rap at the door and Helen was brought back from her reverie.

  'Yes, who is it?' She sat up and looked towards the door.

  'It's me, Zizi.' Zizi was the fat and lively housemaid.