EPISODE 19


A YEAR AFTER.

I was dressing up for Babatunde when Ifeoluwa came inside with her face full of smiles.

"This one that you are laughing, have you finally found a boyfriend" I teased.

"No be only boyfriend, na man friend" she teased back and we both laughed. "I went to town and I saw an advert that a telecommunication company is hosting a scholarship exam very soon, the winner will get a scholarship in university of ilorin till she graduates, there will also be house allowance, feeding allowance, clothing and many more allowances every semester so I decided to buy the form so as to give it a shot" she narrated as she passed me the form and receipt.

"Ohh my dear friend, when is the exam" I asked after reading the contents of the form.

"Next tomorrow"

"Please go and start preparing oh, you must get that scholarship by all means, if only I had some money, I would have purchased the form too" I said with a sober look.

"Errm if only you can cook me that your special Efo riro (vegetable) and pound yam for me then I might perform some magic to duplicate the form I have" she joked.

"Olodo, Pounded and Efo that is already in the kitchen, better go and take it before it gets cold" I replied smiling and she ran to the kitchen to see if was telling the truth, she came back with a plate of pounded yam and joy was written all over her face.

"You too like food joor" I said jokingly.

"If you insult me again, I will not give you this form anymore" she replied as she stretched another form to me.

"You got me a form" I screamed and hugged her almost pouring her food away "if you pour my pounded yam away, I will tear your form" she screamed back and we both laughed.




The for the exam came as anticipated, I and Ifeoluwa hadn't slept a blink ever since we started preparing for the exam which was our last pinch of hope, if we missed the opportunity to pass this exam then we could at least bid education goodbye forever, I told Desmond and Sandra about the exam and they were very happy and hopeful about it. As I was about stepping out to go and hurry Ifeoluwa up so we wouldn't miss the bus going to ilorin, I saw a car zoom into the compound, I did a short prayer that the people in the car shouldn't bring bad news like the bankers that came that other day, as they were about to alight, Ifeoluwa showed up again, I was beginning to get a deja vu feeling because it was just like it happened with the bankers, them dropping from the car and Ifeoluwa showing up, I braced myself for the worst. To my surprise, it was Desmond that drove the car and Sandra at the passenger's seat. I screamed with joy because it has been awhile I saw the both of them, Ifeoluwa also came closer and we all greeted each other with hugs and smiles.

"Are you guys ready, I came to pick you people for the scholarship exam" Desmond said.

"Desmond is this your car" I asked in a surprising tone.

"Yeah my dad got it for me after I did very well in my first year in school" he replied him and I went to hug him again to congratulate him, Ifeoluwa did the same.

"You guys better save the hugging till after your exams" Sandra shouted and we immediately ran inside the car and we drove to ilorin.




The exams wasn't really what I and Ifeoluwa planned for, it was far more difficult. Right inside the exam hall, I had already given up the last hope we had, after the exams, Desmond and Sandra came to pick us up, when they saw how sad I and Ifeoluwa looked they didn't bother to ask us how the exam was because the answer was written all over our faces. We drove back to ilorin in total silence, the journey back to the village reminded me of my last moments with my parents, I couldn't help shedding a tear or two, only Desmond who kept starring at me through the rear mirror noticed but he didn't say anything. The journey seemed faster than usual, we said our goodbyes as Desmond and Sandra said they had to get back to school immediately.

"Juliet" Desmond called me back as I was about to enter the house, Ifeoluwa had already left for her house and Sandra was back in the car.

"Remember that thing I said I wanted to tell you whenever we meet again? " he asked.

"Yes" I replied in a cheerful tone trying to conceal my sadness.

"I planned to tell you today but I guess I can't anymore given the fact about how the exam has weighed you down" he said.

"Noo it's fine, you can tell me" I tried to convince him.

"It's fine, I will just tell you some other time" he replied and got into the car and drove off. I went inside and saw Babatunde lying beside Mama, they were both sleeping, when I saw Babatunde's face, once again I forgot all the sorrows the exam caused me because all I saw hin sleeping face is joy and hope.




The next days weren't has interesting as it used to be, Ifeoluwa hasn't been to my place ever since the day of the exam, I decided to go and check on her but as I got out, I saw Desmond's car coming un, my heart tinged for joy at seeing a good friend.

"Going out "he asked as he got out of his car.

"Yeah I was but it can wait, where's Sandra?"

"Oh Sandra travelled to her parents place, she should be back in two days" he replied and stared directly into my eyes "I have two things to tell you, one is a good news and the other is the thing have always wanted to tell you. So which one should I say first".

"Errmm the good news first, it's been a while I got a good news" I replied.

"Okay the good news is that You and Ifeoluwa passed the scholarship exam" he shouted. Immediately I started jumping for joy, I hugged and immediately ran to Ifeoluwa's house and told her the news, she almost went mad out of happiness, we both went back to my house to meet Desmond but he already left. I was surprised he had to leave so soon and I decided to call him.

"Hello Desmond, why did you leave without saying goodbye" I asked him after he picked up the call.

"Juliet am so sorry, I got an emergency call from school, a test is starting very soon" he replied.

"And the thing you wanted to tell me? "

"Don't worry, I will tell you some other time, I can't talk while driving" he replied again.

"Okay let me know when you get to ilorin " I spoke softly.

"No problem, congratulations to you and Ifeoluwa o, you guys should start preparing for jamb, post ume and blah blah" he said laughing and terminated the call. I smiled and wonder what was the important thing he wants to tell me but then again I remember that we got the scholarship and Happiness be clouded me***


**To Be Continued**


EPISODE 20

In a room filled with dim lights, two people can be seen seating adjacent to each other. One is a woman who should definitely be in her late forties and the other is a young boy who should be in his mid twenties. Tears was rolling down both of their eyes as the woman narrated the story of her life to the young boy.

"Mum, you mean you actually went through all of that" the young boy asked softly.

"Yes Babatunde, I went through all that and more" the woman replied.

"So what happened after you and your friend won the scholarship" Babatunde inquired and Juliet continued with the story.



After that day when Desmond came to inform us of our success in the scholarship exam, I and Ifeoluwa both went to ilorin the following day, we were then informed that we should get prepared to write the UTME and POST UTME exams which was just few days away. I and Ifeoluwa prepared tirelessly for the exam and God in his infinite mercy crowned our efforts with glory, we passed both the utme and post utme exams in flying colours which made the telecommunication company that was sponsoring us to be very happy and delighted with us. I and Ifeoluwa both enrolled for law, Mama was so happy that finally I could fulfil the dreams of my parents. She supported me by taking good care of you during the week but most weekends I will always go back to the village to see the both of you. Desmond and Sandra also did a very huge part in helping us settle down back in school, together we arranged the apartment which the company provided for us, the telecommunication company provided all they promised and even more, we didn't suffer anything, we had everything in excess, foodstuffs, money and all. We had them in excess that I and Ifeoluwa even gave our folks back in the village some foodstuffs and pocket money.


Sandra decided to move in with us after I and Ifeoluwa insisted for a long time, Desmond was always there to take us from lecture halls to our house, most times he stays back at our place to eat his dinner before going to his place. On a very particular day, after taking his dinner, he beckoned on him to walk him to where his car was outside.

"Juliet" he began to speak when we got outside "You have never even bothered to ask me what I have always wanted to tell you" he said and stared into my eyes like he wanted me to reply and I was about to reply, he hushed me and continued "Please don't say anything until am done, Juliet remember back then when I told you I love you? I really did love you truly and the funniest part is that even till now the love I feel for you is still as strong as the one I had for you back then, here I am again doing what almost broke our friendship apart before but honestly I have no choice, my heart can't take it no more, I love you Juliet and I still want you to be my queen, will you be my lover" he asked and paused for a while and then continued "Please don't say anything now, I don't think my heart can withstand you telling me No or you chastising me like you did back then. This is how we will do it, If your answer is a Yes, meet me at the motion ground on campus 3pm tomorrow and if you don't show up, I will know it's a No and I will take it in good fate" he concluded and drove off without waiting for me to say anything.


The next day came and I decided to give Desmond a chance he deserves, I planned to go and see him at the motion ground at 3pm and tell him it's a Yes from me, the lecturer in our class that very day took longer than usual, it was already past 3 and he wasn't ready to leave the class, he delayed us till it was almost 4pm before leaving the class, I stormed out immediately he left, I ran as fast as my legs could take me and when I got to the motion ground, I saw Desmond already leaving the motion ground and just as he was about to enter into his car, I shouted his name, he, everyone on the motion ground and around stopped and turned around to looked at me.

"Yeeeees, it's a yes" I screamed again. Immediately Desmond started running towards where I was standing, I ran towards him also and we hugged and kissed so intimately. We were only brought back from our intimacy by the rounds of applause by the onlookers and people standing around. We were a little ashamed but we appreciated the claps, weeks after that we remained the talk of the campus. Time went by and after the first session, I and Ifeoluwa came out as the best law students in the school, it was like that from the beginning of our first year till our last year. Sandra and Desmond graduated before us and immediately after their graduation, Sandra relocated to the United States of America. Desmond got a job at a very reputable company and he supported I and Ifeoluwa throughout our years in school.


After series of hardwork, I and Ifeoluwa graduated with high grades, we were awarded by N.u.c as the best law students in the whole of South west, immediately we graduated, we were both employed at one of the best law firm back then, we got a very handsome salaries which enabled me to get a beautiful house in town here and I brought you and Mama to stay with me. After couple of years I got married to Desmond whom you have always known as your father and we had your younger ones. Few years later Mama passed away at an old age, we gave her a befitting burial in accordance with her last wish and I guess you know the rest of the story.


"I guess I do now mum" Babatunde replied smiling.

"I just decided to tell you this story for you to learn from my mistakes and to also learn to always pick up yourself anytime you make a mistake in life, you can always make it again Despite all odds" Juliet.

"I love you mum" Babatunde said and hugged his mother "I love you too my son" Juliet replied and held him tight.




***THE END***

EPISODE 16



Days upon days, weeks upon weeks, months upon months and there was still no sign of Gbenga, each time I hear a knock on our door, i'd always say a little prayer to God that it should be him knocking. My parents had stopped me from going to school when my belly started showing and also the doctor said I shouldn't do anything stressful. Sandra and Desmond has been my greatest support ever since I became pregnant, at first they tried to cover up for my missing tests in school but when they realised that there was no way I was gonna catch up with academic works anymore, they stopped. They always come visiting almost everyday, even my parents had grown fond of them, my mum even one day joked that it would have been better if it was Desmond that got me pregnant.


Everything was going on well until my dad told me that I would be going to the village very soon so my grandmother would be able to start making preparations for my delivery. My mum and I tried to talk him out of that idea but he insisted that it was his mum who is my grandma that will take my delivery, each time I tried to convince him to let me deliver in the hospital, he is gonna start the chronicles of how his mother is the best agbebi (mid wife) that he has known all his life, about how she has delivered almost 1 thousand babies and not a single case of still birth.

The appointed date for my village trip seemed far away when I was informed but it approached in a speed of light, Sandra and Desmond also tried to convince my dad that there are modern facilities that is far better than traditional method of delivery but they ended up listening to the same chronicles that he told me too. A day to the appointed date, Sandra and Desmond talked my parents into organising a surprise party for me which will serve as a send off party, I went to the hospital for ante natal and I came back to meet the surprise party, i was overwhelmed and I started crying.

"My daughter, you see in this life, we are bound to make mistakes, we are bound to fall but our ability to dust off our mistake, our ability to pick up again after falling is the thing that will determine our success in life" My dad started a speech I will never forget in my life. "Juliet, do not ever think we are disappointed in you, we are very proud of you because we know that one day you will make us proud, we are sure you will pick up again despite all odds, even if life kicks dust in your face, wipe off the dust and continue on your journey to success" he paused to clean a drop of tears formed in his eyes. My mum and I had already begun crying profusely, even Sandra and Desmond were shedding tears.

"My beautiful daughter, my pride, promise me that irrespective of whatever happens in life, promise me you will make us proud" said my mum.

"I promise" I sobbed as I hugged my mum tight.

"Is there no hug for me, pumkinlicious pie" my dad joked. That was the first time in a long time that I was proud he called me that pet name, I thought I had lost their love and trust forever but their love for me was stronger than I thought. I hugged him tight. "I love you dad" I whispered into his ears and he smiled. After that Sandra and Desmond came to hug me. "You guys are the best thing that has happened to me in a long time" Sandra said with her eyes full of tears as our trio held each other. "I will always love you girls" Desmond said after being silent for a long time, his silence was a way of holding himself from crying but the moment he spoke, he started crying too. We held each other for a long time as we all cried.




The next morning came and everything was already in place, all my suit cases were packed, dad was already outside hooting to hurry I and mum, in no time we embarked on the journey, my dad slotted in his favourite album disc Asha by Asa, we drove through the village in a loud deafening silence, just occasional starring and smiling among us but no word was uttered.. the silence was later broken by the ringtone from my phone, it was Desmond.


"Hello Desmond"...

"I just got to your house but you guys have left already".....

"Ohh yeah we left very early, is there a problem?".....

"I wanted to tell you something but I can't do it on phone, until we meet again then"....

"Okay till we meet again then"..... I replied and smiled as the call was terminated, i remembered how I met Desmond in the taxi, how he paid for my transport, how we grow to become great friends, I remembered Sandra and a couple of tears escaped my eyes. I closed my eyes as I heard that my favourite song off the asha album being played.

*music* He used to be my every thing
Treated me like I was a queen
What spell did you cast on me?
Or is it the make believe
You say girl never be afraid
Of ever, ever loving me
Those words I hung on too
Oh God, I was a fool......*music* ........ It was just like Asa sang the song solely because of me.


We got to the village and I was surprised to see the development that has occurred in the village since the last time I was here, Mama even boasted about the constant supply of electricity in the village, at leas I was glad it was better than what I was expecting. Mum and Dad embarked on their journey back to the city after they ate Pounded yam and vegetable soup, we talked for a while, they advised me more about being focused on the future and not letting the present situation affect me. It has been hours since they left and they had only called me once, I was beginning to get worried after calling them a couple of times and they didn't pick. I was relieved when I saw my phone ringing and the caller was my mum.

"Hello mum, why haven't you guys called me since".....

"Hello ma'am, am sorry. The owner of this phone had an accident alongside the man driving, they were rushed here but am sorry it was too late, they are dead***


***TO BE CONTINUED***


EPISode 17


The news didn't sink into my head for couple of minutes, it was like my ears kept repeating and processing the news before sending it to my brain, after a while when I really comprehended what the caller just told md, I screamed like a mad woman, I kept on screaming until Mama came to where my room. It took a while before I could finally break the news to her. She started screaming immediately, we both were, so much that it a alerted the whole neighbourhood, they tried to console and hold us from crying but their efforts proved abortive, nothing can stop an old woman from crying when she has just lost her only child at a very old age, her son didn't die when she had the time to bore a new one but he died just when she was way way above menopause, I on the other hand couldn't be stopped from crying because I lost both my dad n mum at a time that I will be needing them the most. The memories of what happened yesterday at the surprise party kept on playing in my head, the jokes, the advice, the dance, the meal we had together at the table with Desmond and Sandra, immediately I remembered Desmond and Sandra, I picked up my phone to call them.


"Hello madam village" Desmond said jokingly and Sandra too was saying some funny things, obviously they were together.

"Guys, my parents are dead" I managed to mutter.

"Excuse me? Dead, who, how, when? "Desmond.... I couldn't even reply any of the questions because the tears are now back in full force, one of the neighbours came to grab the phone from me.

"Hello, her parents had an accident on their way back to the city" She said to them in Queens english as she activated the speaker of the phone

"Nooooooo" Sandra screamed "Please send us the address of your village from ilorin, I hope you know how to there from ilorin?"

"Yeah, it's no problem I know it very well" she replied and the call was terminated, she looked at me to confirm if she should send the address and I nodded in affirmation. She came to seat beside ne after sending the message and held me like a true friend, I looked at her face and it was full if smiles, a contagious one which infected me, I also smiled back. By that time Mama was too tired to cry anymore "Poor old woman, who will be bringing her foodstuffs and pocket money every month end, who will she call if she is in an emergency, all she has now is me, me that I am even useless to myself" I kept on thinking and thinking to myself.



The next day, some family members from my paternal and maternal sides were delegated to go and get the corpse, good thing both of them were from the same village, the families decided to bury them right here in the village immediately their bodies get here. Not long after the ambulance and the family delegates left, Desmond and Sandra arrived to the village, immediately I saw them I don't know what happened but the memories of my parents flooded my mind again and I started crying profusely again, we held each other again like we did the day I was leaving ilorin, this further more reminded me of Dad's jokes and Mum's special smile, the three of us cried and sobbed like kids.


"You guys and Mama are all I have now" I said to them after we were now seated in my room. "We will be with you till the very end" Desmond said with paleness written all over his face. "You are not alone in this Juliet" Said Sandra. At that moment, I was so glad I met with the two of them in school, it was one my best decisions in life that I chose them as my best friends, what would I have done without them, what if I didn't choose to forgive Desmond just because he asked me out and all I did was just to prove to myself that I was meant for Gbenga alone, the thought of Gbenga brought tears to my eyes again 'I will never forgive him' I said to myself. A knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts, come in I said.

"Come in"... The girl that helped me send the address to Sandra and Desmond came in with bottles of soft drinks and cups in her hands and placed it in front of Sandra and Desmond.

"Thank you" they chorused.

"Thank you very much errrm"

"Ifeoluwa" she cuts in when she noticed I had probably forgotten her name again.

"Ohh you were the one that spoke to us on phone yesterday yeah?" Sandra asked and Ife nodded her head to confirm.

"Excuse me for this but you look too beautiful and you also speak fluent English to be a village girl" Desmond

"Desmond" I and Sandra snapped at him while Ife just laughed.

"Come on, it's not only city boys and girls that speak good English, anyways I was a student of unilorin until last year" Ife.

"What do you mean by that" Sandra inquired.

"I dropped out" she replied.

"Why" I probed further.

"My dad lost his job, he practically lost everything so we all had to move back to the village here" She explained. We all felt sad for her and I prayed that my story doesn't be like hers, at least I want to graduate in school just like I promised Dad and Mum. Desmond was about to ask her another question and it was starting to look like we were interrogating or interviewing her but he was distracted by a noise outside the compound, it was the siren noise from the ambulance that went to bring my parent's bodies, I started crying again as we all marched outside, they didn't allow Mama come outside because it was forbidden for a mother to See her child's grave **



***TO BE CONTINUED***


EPISODE 18



Few weeks after the burial and I was still yet to really convince myself that my parents were gone for real, there was no coming back for them. The only place I could see them now is in my dreams, even after their deaths their advises still keeps ringing in my brain, the promise I made to them about being successful will never go unfulfilled. I was determined to pursue my education and be successful in life. Desmond And Sandra hadn't stopped calling me ever since they left after the weekend of the burial, they always kept on calling to be sure that I wasn't thinking too much and to make sure they make Ifeoluwa force me to eat every day. Ifeoluwa has been one of the nicest people have ever seen in my life, she has been helping I and Mama selflessly, I was glad that she was there with me. Most times she will always keep me company, especially when she start to explain to me how interesting studying Law is, she practically made me fall in love with studying Law to the extent that I decided to study law anytime I go back home school.


On a very quiet Friday, I was seating in front of Mama's house when a car parked right in front of me, I was already too heavy to stand up or do anything in a hurry as expected delivery date was just around the corner, two people alighted from the car, a boy and a girl, both of them dressed corporately, immediately Ifeoluwa saw them from inside she came outside and I told her to help me get to ny feet.


"Good afternoon ma'am" they both said.

"Good afternoon , am not sure have seen these faces before " I replied.

"First of all, we will like to sympathise with you about the death of your parents" the corporate looking girl said and paused to stare at the corporate looking boy "My name is Adams King and she is Adewunmi Daniels, we are from the Adline Bank" he explained.

"Okay? " I replied getting really impatient.

"We are here to officially inform you that all of your Father's properties and business has been taken over by the bank because he used it all as a collateral for the last loan he obtained from us and unfortunately wasn't able to pay back......." the guy went on and on but I could only see his lips moving, I couldn't hear anymore, I couldn't take it anymore, that was my last hope, how was I supposed to pursue my education if all my dad's business and properties has been taken away, my world has come crashing down all over again, at that moment I wondered if I was the cursed one or it was the baby in my womb that was causing all the misfortunes. As soon as the guy stopped talking, I wanted to at least say something to acknowledged all he had said even though I didn't, I was about to ask him how he could be of help when I felt a sharp pain in my belly, it was a force labour. Ifeoluwa with help from the bankers rushed me inside and she ran to call Mama.



Mama also sent for all her Agbebi (mid wives) team, she started of by giving me some concoctions and some herbal mixture, as soon as her team was completed, they proceeded with the labour process. It took several hours of crying, pushing, sweating, shouting and me cursing Gbenga before finally the baby came out, all I could hear before passing out were the lovely cries of the baby, that was my compensation for all I have went through during labour. I didn't know how long I was out before waking up but when I woke I found Ifeoluwa, Desmond and Sandra right beside me. "Where's my baby was the first thing I asked" at that moment Mama emerged from her room with the baby in her hand, she was full of smiles as she was staring at the baby. "He is indeed Babatunde, he looks exactly like your father when he was an infant" she said as she handed over the baby to me. I held him in my hands and when I saw his pretty little face, I forgot about all my sorrows, the joy of being a mother overwhelmed me. "He shall be called Babatunde" I said.


**To Be CONTINUED**