Story Title: "FARIDA"

PART 3.

A new tenant moved into the compound. Christopher who preferred to be called Chris claimed to be a bachelor and worked as a clearing agent at the port. He was light in complexion and in the eyes of most of the tenants, very handsome. He was tall, averagely built and had a gap tooth. All the ladies in the compound were interested in him. They dropped by his room to collect one thing or the other. Before long, fights began in the compound.

Iya Farida the caretaker called for a meeting about the continuous fights in the compound.

“Oga Chris, is it that you enjoy the fights amongst these girls? Why don’t you choose one girl and leave the rest?”

“Iya Farida, I am not dating any of them. They are just neighbours. Let any of them come out and say I have ever touched her or kissed her before. I haven’t. I have a girlfriend, she is at university. When she comes, all of them will leave me alone. I don’t have any interest in them”

“Have you heard him? Mothers here talk to your daughters. They are the ones throwing themselves at a man who doesn’t want them and they are fighting a lost cause. He is not interested in any of them o. Ladies, have you heard? If you go and meet him you are an ashawo, a prostitute. Leave the man alone”

There were laughter and grumbles but the matter was settled. Everyone departed to their apartments while talking amongst themselves. Iya Farida had dropped a bomb which didn’t go down well with some of the ladies involved but then what could they do?

Farida, now twelve going on thirteen, was fascinated by Chris. To her, she was the most handsome man she had ever seen. She had feelings for him. Whenever she saw him, she shied away. Farida was dark and had never seen a very light complexion guy before except the ones who had different shades of fairness due to use of inferior bleaching cream. Bro Chris was very clean. His complexion was so shiny that she admired it. When he smiled at her, her heart melted and she ran away. He always dropped something for her and her brothers anytime he clears goods from the Port. He brought back toys, plates, biscuits, pasta, can foods, drinks, chocolate, clothes, slippers, shoes and so many other things. He gave other neighbours too but the bulk was always to them because he liked maami.

Farida had begun to run errands for other people apart from the tenants. She goes to the market and buys things for them. She washed clothes, swept compounds and got paid. Her brothers joined her to work too. Their income over the weekend tided them until the next weekend. Public holidays were also a blessing. The new income had helped them a lot. Maami started house lesson in the compound. Her pupils came three times a week. This was another source of income for them too.

Chris asked maami if she knew anyone who could help him with cleaning his house for a token. 

"Farida cleans for people. Ask that useless Ade, Farida used to clean for him before he got married.”

“Why did you call him useless?”

“My dear, you won’t understand. Tell him I said he is useless”

“Ok, ma. So, what can little Farida do for me?”

“Let her work for you tomorrow then you will know”

“She can come. She should come by 10am. Let it be 10am please, I don’t wake up early on Saturdays”

“She will be there”

When maami mentioned it to Farida, she was reluctant to go. Her reason was the way she felt about the man but maami thought it was because of what happened with Ade. 

Eventually, maami taught Ade a bitter lesson. She summoned him to her room and in the presence of Farida warned him never to have sex with her daughter again otherwise she will call the vigilante group for him and make sure they burn him alive. He was also to continue paying Farida for her work. "Anytime she’s in your room and the curtains or the door are closed she will raise alarm for the compound people to gather and call you a rapist". Brother Ade was scared for his life and never touched Farida again. Any young girl that goes near his room, Iya Farida will shout at her to leave there. She didn’t want what happened to Farida to happen to anyone else. 

 She also had a conversation with Farida. “You are now a woman. You became a woman too early but it doesn’t change anything. Do not allow anyone bribe you into using you like Ade did. Do not enter any man’s room and allow him shut the door. Tell him to leave it open, your mother is watching. In as much as I refused to do anything against Ade, I want you to know that it is because of your future. Nobody needs to know what happened; it is our secret. But when it happens again then we are the fools. If anyone touches you in a way you don’t like, my child, shout for the whole neighbours to gather. He will never try it again. From now on you will be wearing mainly trousers; before they can remove the trousers, people have gathered. No matter where it is please, my dear, shout”

That year, Brother Ade got married. Ten months after the wedding, his wife had a daughter for him. During the naming ceremony, Iya Farida walked up to and said in a low voice, “I do not want to curse this beautiful baby girl but if at anytime you touch any small girl like you did my Farida, men will rape your daughter continuously even in your presence”

Brother Ade was startled by her words but quickly regained his composure. He began to make plans to leave the compound before his sins find him. It took him several years to leave.

Farida was smitten by Chris. She loved the way he looked and smiled at her whenever he saw her. He was her first crush. She talked about him to her friends in school that they came around to catch a glimpse of him. They were not disappointed. She was to start work with him with him the next day, how would she cope.

Farida was worried about meeting with him one on one and being alone with him while she did the household chores. Early the next morning, she got ready and wore her best clothes to his house. It was about 7:00am she boldly knocked on his door. There was no reply. She knocked severally before she heard someone grumble and then the door opened. Brother Chris was topless and had on only shorts. He had several black curly hairs on his chest. She thought she would faint at that sight but surprisingly, she kept a straight face. When she looked at his face, he didn’t look happy to see her. “I thought I told your mother you should come by 10:00am. Why did you wake me up from sleep?” he asked.

Farida calmed down inwardly and said, “By 10:00am, the sun will be out and most people would have occupied the lines. I might have to go to the market for you and the freshest items are best bought in the morning. If you give me a list of things you want me to do, I will start from the things that wouldn’t disturb your sleep”

Chris looked at her. He could see she was quite sharp. She was also very beautiful even more beautiful than her mum. She was still a small girl but she was tall for her age and a bit robust. She was a black beauty. This was the first time he was observing her. He liked her. He asked her to come in and take the instructions.

Farida was marveled when she entered his apartment. Her crush on him vapourised and was replaced by the apartment. No wonder all the ladies wanted to kill themselves over him. He occupied a room and parlour self-contained. He had a blue light in the parlour. The walls were painted white with gold shimmery designs. He had a big fluffy brown rug on the floor, three bin bags, a round glass centre table. She was shocked to see a room divder which was white and coffee brown in colour. It housed a 27” coloured television, a stereo, a CD player, and loudspeakers. The door to his bedroom was ajar. It had red light. There was a massive bed on the side of the wall with an equally big mattress, there was a blue rug on the floor and by the side a wardrobe. She couldn’t wait to get in to investigate further.

“Sit down. I can see you came prepared” he said pointing at her notebook and pen she had in her hands. “I needed you to help me clean up the house and wash a few things for me as I send my clothes to dry cleaner. You can go to the market for me. Can you cook?”

“Yes, sir. I can cook very well”

“I am not too sure of that but I wouldn’t mind you making stew for me and maybe something simple like Egusi soup. Can you make that?”

“I can cook any soup. My friends are Igbo, Calabar, Hausa and I help their mothers cook at home so I can cook. Trust me”

Truly, she was sharp. He told her to write the list of things she would need to cook and clean so she could buy them at once. He estimated she would be back after an hour so he could nap a bit more.

Farida was back in 40 minutes. She stayed outside and prepared everything she would need to cook. When she was set, she knocked again. Brother Chris responded grudgingly but this time he made himself decent. She entered into the kitchen first. She tidied up everywhere including mopping the floor. Then she put the meat on fire and started working in the sitting room. She opened the windows and door before she started. She was working and cooking. Brother Chris watched her in amazement. She swept the rug in the parlour and cleaned the room divider and all the electronics. She used soapy water on the windows, left it to dry and then used old newspaper to shine them. She took out the things for washing and soaked them. She changed the bedsheet and pillowcases and asked for a replacement. She poured harpic into the toilet and continued her work. Before 11 am, she was done with everything including the cooking. The quantity of soup and stew she made with the money he gave her surprised him because he gave more to other ladies and he would only get half of what he got and not even as tasty. She boiled rice for him to have with the delicious stew she made. He was so impressed by her that he gave her N2000 and asked her to go with some soup and stew. 

“Maami, you need to enter brother Chris house. It is very fine. His kitchen is like the kitchen we watch on telly. He has something that holds plates, another one that holds knives and another one he hangs his frying spoons and kitchen spoons. His cupboard is not like our own. Each one has a door. That is where he put his fine pots and some plates that have a cover. They are very beautiful. He put his foodstuff in another side. The rice he eats is not like our own. The bag is like semovita bag but the colour is brown” Farida went on and on. She was impressed with what she saw. Then she told her mother, “One day, maami, I am going to live in a big house and have everything brother Chris has and more. Even Nkoyo that is living in a flat doesn’t have what brother Chris has. Maami, I want to be very rich”

“It is my prayer for you my daughter. I want you to be very rich. That is why I push you to work hard in school so you will get good jobs and make plenty money”

“Maami, you went to school, how come you are not rich?”

“I didn’t finish school that is why”

“I am not looking at going to school to be rich. Aunty Chioma is always going for interviews, she still hasn’t gotten a job. I want to marry a very rich man. I will be his only wife. He will take very good care of me; not like Alhaji. He will be young, handsome educated and very rich. He will make me happy”

Maami was perplexed at her daughter’s heart desire. That wasn’t what she wanted for her. She calmly tried to make her understand. “My daughter, it is not as easy as that. Ok, what will you offer him?”

“My beauty of course. He will not be able to resist me”

“Farida, what beauty? See you, you are fat. You eat too much. You refuse to rub cream on your body every morning and night as I instruct you. Look at how white your legs are. You walk around on bare feet, look at the sole of your feet how chipped they are. Apart from that, if he is educated and you are not then you do not match. Can’t you see the men that come for Chioma? See the cars they come in and how they look. They know she is educated but you, you have nothing to offer but the beauty only you can see”

 Maami’s words left Farida sleepless. Farida pondered deeply on her mother’s words. She knew she had something apart from her beauty. She was hard working and she learnt things very fast. This should also be a plus for her. But she realized her mother was right. She was twelve and didn’t take care of herself. She was going to be a teenager in a few weeks and she still dressed and behaved like a child. Maami made them rub ori (shea butter) on their body to moisture it but she hated the smell and the way it made her sweat. She and her friends spent most of their saved money on buying things to eat and show off when they went to school. She resolved to change all that. If she wanted to attract a very rich man, she had to take better care of herself, wear clean uniforms and socks, always make her hair neatly every week and stop eating junk so she could lose weight. She also resolved to walk to and fro the market instead of taking a bike (motorcycle) as she does. She didn’t want to rub ori. Auntie Chioma uses very nice cream, soap and body spray. She always smells nice. What she would do is to negotiate with her. She will work for her and in return, she would buy her a nice cream and soap. Her school bag and sandals were tattered. They did not suit a girl who wants to attract a rich husband. She decided to talk to bro Chris concerning them. He could see at his place of work. This long vacation, she will spend less time with her friends and more time working to make extra money to transform herself. Also, she had to study hard. She will get maami to help her with her academics. She was going to be writing her Junior WAEC examination next session so she needed to sit up. She had it all planned and mapped out.

Farida put all her plans into actions. Immediately after her examinations, she went to all her customers and mapped out the time she would work for them. It helped her know how much she would make in a week. She earmarked how much goes to her contribution at home while the rest went to her saving which she put in a wooden ‘kolo’ also called the piggy bank. She met brother Chris and talked to him about the school bag and sandals.

“What is your size and those of your brothers? I have a customer importing school items, I can get some things for you. What else do you need? Water bottle, math set, pencil holders? Just name them, I will get them for you once his goods arrive”

“Brother Chris, God will bless you. I will work for you for free for …..”

“No, you don’t have to. I am getting them for free. He is bringing them for sale and I am entitled to some as his clearing agent. Once his container lands I will bring for you. What is the colour of your school sandals?”

“Brown sir”

“No problem. You will cook Ogbono soup for me tomorrow. You can cook it at your house and bring it when I get back. I enjoyed the last one you cooked”

“Thank you, sir. I will collect the money in the morning”

Farida was ecstatic. She was going to get new sandals and school bag. Even mathset and water bottles. Her brothers too will have new school things. She was excited but contained it in order to keep it a secret for now. She didn’t want others to know about it and then disturb bro Chris for the same thing thereby jeopardizing her chances.

Next was her uniform. She went to check the price of the material in the market; it was affordable. The sewing was the problem. So, she went to the tailor, told her she would come every morning to sweep her shop and then come in the evening to help run errands in exchange for her to make uniforms for her brothers and herself. The woman was amazed that such a young girl could come confidently with such an offer. She agreed, she took her measurement and the measurements of her brothers who were entering JS1. She told her the number of materials she would need for two sets. She swept the shop every morning and stationed her brothers at the shop to run errands for the woman. She took up extra jobs and within two weeks, she was able to buy the materials. 

She needed soap and cream. Auntie Chioma was a nice lady but she was also snobbish. Farida had to look for a way to get her attention. She observed that Chioma stared at Chris whenever she saw him. It used to prick her heart but now she knew what she wanted, the rich husband wasn’t brother Chris. If getting Chioma close to him will get her what she wants then she would use it to penetrate Chioma. She hacked a plan. She approached Chioma.

“Auntie, brother Chris likes you. He said out of all the ladies in this compound it is you he likes best”

“Are you serious? Farida did he really say that?”

“He did. He said he likes the way you behave. You mind your business and you don’t quarrel with anyone”

“Chris said that? Anyway, he is right. I am not on their level now”

“I said let me tell you”

“Thank you”

“Do you have any work for me to do for you?”

“I don’t have. I just got a job I am managing now. The pay is small but it is better than nothing”

Farida thought for a while. Then she said, “I will ask bro Chris if he can find work for you since I know he likes you”

“Will you? If you help me, I will give you whatever you want”

“Whatever I want? Is that a promise?”

“It’s a promise”

“Ok. Consider it done but you must keep to your promise”

“I will”

Farida waited for bro Chris outside the gate to come back from work. He was surprised when she dragged him to a corner to talk to him.

“Farida, what is it?”

“Brother Chris, I need a favour from you”

“Is that why you had to wait outside? What is it?”

“Sister Chioma needs a job and I know you know people that can employ her”

“Does she really need a job? I was under the impression she was comfortable”

“She’s not o. She needs a job and she said she would have asked you herself but she’s shy. Since I am close to you. she begged me to ask you”

“Ok, I know a maritime company that is recruiting. Let her give you her CV, I will submit it for her. She should have come herself”

‘She is shy. I will get it”

“Is that all?”

“That’s all for now”

“Farida, you can disturb. I will do it for you”

Farida jumped excitedly to sister Chioma’s room. She requested for her CV which she gave her with a look of curiosity. Farida took it to brother Chris. To her it was mission accomplished. She just had to wait.

Sister Chioma came to their house three weeks after to thank Farida. She got the job and she was very happy. She wanted to rush out when Farida stopped her and reminded her of her promise.

“I remember. So, Farida, what do you want?”

“I want a good bathing soap, cream and body spray. You will buy them for me. That is all I want.”

Iya Farida was dumbfounded at her daughter’s request. “Farida, how do you make such demands because you helped someone?”

“Maami, we had a deal. I am not asking for too much”

“Truly, you are not asking for too much. Tomorrow, I will get you the soap, cream and roll on. You don’t need a spray for now. They are not expensive. I will also buy you packs of sanitary pad so you will stop using tissue paper. I can see you are becoming a lady and you are self-conscious. I will gladly supply you the items every month. You are like my younger sister”

Farida’s joy knew no bounds. She ran and hugged sister Chioma. She was happy she understood and didn’t back down on her promise and to always supply them made her even happier.

When Chioma left, maami called Farida and asked her what happened. She explained how she used brother Chris to get a job for sister Chioma and they agreed she would do anything for her if she succeeds. 

“Did you use a rich husband to do this?”

‘No o, but I need those things to attract a rich husband”

Iya Farida was speechless. Her daughter baffled her. She still didn’t get the message. She was still transfixed on getting a rich husband. If attracting a rich husband would . her lose weight and take better care of herself, then she would not discourage her. She never knew there was more to come.PART 5

A new tenant moved into the compound. Christopher who preferred to be called Chris claimed to be a bachelor and worked as a clearing agent at the port. He was light in complexion and in the eyes of most of the tenants, very handsome. He was tall, averagely built and had a gap tooth. All the ladies in the compound were interested in him. They dropped by his room to collect one thing or the other. Before long, fights began in the compound.

Iya Farida the caretaker called for a meeting about the continuous fights in the compound.

“Oga Chris, is it that you enjoy the fights amongst these girls? Why don’t you choose one girl and leave the rest?”

“Iya Farida, I am not dating any of them. They are just neighbours. Let any of them come out and say I have ever touched her or kissed her before. I haven’t. I have a girlfriend, she is at university. When she comes, all of them will leave me alone. I don’t have any interest in them”

“Have you heard him? Mothers here talk to your daughters. They are the ones throwing themselves at a man who doesn’t want them and they are fighting a lost cause. He is not interested in any of them o. Ladies, have you heard? If you go and meet him you are an ashawo, a prostitute. Leave the man alone”

There were laughter and grumbles but the matter was settled. Everyone departed to their apartments while talking amongst themselves. Iya Farida had dropped a bomb which didn’t go down well with some of the ladies involved but then what could they do?

Farida, now twelve going on thirteen, was fascinated by Chris. To her, she was the most handsome man she had ever seen. She had feelings for him. Whenever she saw him, she shied away. Farida was dark and had never seen a very light complexion guy before except the ones who had different shades of fairness due to use of inferior bleaching cream. Bro Chris was very clean. His complexion was so shiny that she admired it. When he smiled at her, her heart melted and she ran away. He always dropped something for her and her brothers anytime he clears goods from the Port. He brought back toys, plates, biscuits, pasta, can foods, drinks, chocolate, clothes, slippers, shoes and so many other things. He gave other neighbours too but the bulk was always to them because he liked maami.

Farida had begun to run errands for other people apart from the tenants. She goes to the market and buys things for them. She washed clothes, swept compounds and got paid. Her brothers joined her to work too. Their income over the weekend tided them until the next weekend. Public holidays were also a blessing. The new income had helped them a lot. Maami started house lesson in the compound. Her pupils came three times a week. This was another source of income for them too.

Chris asked maami if she knew anyone who could help him with cleaning his house for a token. 

"Farida cleans for people. Ask that useless Ade, Farida used to clean for him before he got married.”

“Why did you call him useless?”

“My dear, you won’t understand. Tell him I said he is useless”

“Ok, ma. So, what can little Farida do for me?”

“Let her work for you tomorrow then you will know”

“She can come. She should come by 10am. Let it be 10am please, I don’t wake up early on Saturdays”

“She will be there”

When maami mentioned it to Farida, she was reluctant to go. Her reason was the way she felt about the man but maami thought it was because of what happened with Ade. 

Eventually, maami taught Ade a bitter lesson. She summoned him to her room and in the presence of Farida warned him never to have sex with her daughter again otherwise she will call the vigilante group for him and make sure they burn him alive. He was also to continue paying Farida for her work. "Anytime she’s in your room and the curtains or the door are closed she will raise alarm for the compound people to gather and call you a rapist". Brother Ade was scared for his life and never touched Farida again. Any young girl that goes near his room, Iya Farida will shout at her to leave there. She didn’t want what happened to Farida to happen to anyone else. 

 She also had a conversation with Farida. “You are now a woman. You became a woman too early but it doesn’t change anything. Do not allow anyone bribe you into using you like Ade did. Do not enter any man’s room and allow him shut the door. Tell him to leave it open, your mother is watching. In as much as I refused to do anything against Ade, I want you to know that it is because of your future. Nobody needs to know what happened; it is our secret. But when it happens again then we are the fools. If anyone touches you in a way you don’t like, my child, shout for the whole neighbours to gather. He will never try it again. From now on you will be wearing mainly trousers; before they can remove the trousers, people have gathered. No matter where it is please, my dear, shout”

That year, Brother Ade got married. Ten months after the wedding, his wife had a daughter for him. During the naming ceremony, Iya Farida walked up to and said in a low voice, “I do not want to curse this beautiful baby girl but if at anytime you touch any small girl like you did my Farida, men will rape your daughter continuously even in your presence”

Brother Ade was startled by her words but quickly regained his composure. He began to make plans to leave the compound before his sins find him. It took him several years to leave.

Farida was smitten by Chris. She loved the way he looked and smiled at her whenever he saw her. He was her first crush. She talked about him to her friends in school that they came around to catch a glimpse of him. They were not disappointed. She was to start work with him with him the next day, how would she cope.

Farida was worried about meeting with him one on one and being alone with him while she did the household chores. Early the next morning, she got ready and wore her best clothes to his house. It was about 7:00am she boldly knocked on his door. There was no reply. She knocked severally before she heard someone grumble and then the door opened. Brother Chris was topless and had on only shorts. He had several black curly hairs on his chest. She thought she would faint at that sight but surprisingly, she kept a straight face. When she looked at his face, he didn’t look happy to see her. “I thought I told your mother you should come by 10:00am. Why did you wake me up from sleep?” he asked.

Farida calmed down inwardly and said, “By 10:00am, the sun will be out and most people would have occupied the lines. I might have to go to the market for you and the freshest items are best bought in the morning. If you give me a list of things you want me to do, I will start from the things that wouldn’t disturb your sleep”

Chris looked at her. He could see she was quite sharp. She was also very beautiful even more beautiful than her mum. She was still a small girl but she was tall for her age and a bit robust. She was a black beauty. This was the first time he was observing her. He liked her. He asked her to come in and take the instructions.

Farida was marveled when she entered his apartment. Her crush on him vapourised and was replaced by the apartment. No wonder all the ladies wanted to kill themselves over him. He occupied a room and parlour self-contained. He had a blue light in the parlour. The walls were painted white with gold shimmery designs. He had a big fluffy brown rug on the floor, three bin bags, a round glass centre table. She was shocked to see a room divder which was white and coffee brown in colour. It housed a 27” coloured television, a stereo, a CD player, and loudspeakers. The door to his bedroom was ajar. It had red light. There was a massive bed on the side of the wall with an equally big mattress, there was a blue rug on the floor and by the side a wardrobe. She couldn’t wait to get in to investigate further.

“Sit down. I can see you came prepared” he said pointing at her notebook and pen she had in her hands. “I needed you to help me clean up the house and wash a few things for me as I send my clothes to dry cleaner. You can go to the market for me. Can you cook?”

“Yes, sir. I can cook very well”

“I am not too sure of that but I wouldn’t mind you making stew for me and maybe something simple like Egusi soup. Can you make that?”

“I can cook any soup. My friends are Igbo, Calabar, Hausa and I help their mothers cook at home so I can cook. Trust me”

Truly, she was sharp. He told her to write the list of things she would need to cook and clean so she could buy them at once. He estimated she would be back after an hour so he could nap a bit more.

Farida was back in 40 minutes. She stayed outside and prepared everything she would need to cook. When she was set, she knocked again. Brother Chris responded grudgingly but this time he made himself decent. She entered into the kitchen first. She tidied up everywhere including mopping the floor. Then she put the meat on fire and started working in the sitting room. She opened the windows and door before she started. She was working and cooking. Brother Chris watched her in amazement. She swept the rug in the parlour and cleaned the room divider and all the electronics. She used soapy water on the windows, left it to dry and then used old newspaper to shine them. She took out the things for washing and soaked them. She changed the bedsheet and pillowcases and asked for a replacement. She poured harpic into the toilet and continued her work. Before 11 am, she was done with everything including the cooking. The quantity of soup and stew she made with the money he gave her surprised him because he gave more to other ladies and he would only get half of what he got and not even as tasty. She boiled rice for him to have with the delicious stew she made. He was so impressed by her that he gave her N2000 and asked her to go with some soup and stew. 

“Maami, you need to enter brother Chris house. It is very fine. His kitchen is like the kitchen we watch on telly. He has something that holds plates, another one that holds knives and another one he hangs his frying spoons and kitchen spoons. His cupboard is not like our own. Each one has a door. That is where he put his fine pots and some plates that have a cover. They are very beautiful. He put his foodstuff in another side. The rice he eats is not like our own. The bag is like semovita bag but the colour is brown” Farida went on and on. She was impressed with what she saw. Then she told her mother, “One day, maami, I am going to live in a big house and have everything brother Chris has and more. Even Nkoyo that is living in a flat doesn’t have what brother Chris has. Maami, I want to be very rich”

“It is my prayer for you my daughter. I want you to be very rich. That is why I push you to work hard in school so you will get good jobs and make plenty money”

“Maami, you went to school, how come you are not rich?”

“I didn’t finish school that is why”

“I am not looking at going to school to be rich. Aunty Chioma is always going for interviews, she still hasn’t gotten a job. I want to marry a very rich man. I will be his only wife. He will take very good care of me; not like Alhaji. He will be young, handsome educated and very rich. He will make me happy”

Maami was perplexed at her daughter’s heart desire. That wasn’t what she wanted for her. She calmly tried to make her understand. “My daughter, it is not as easy as that. Ok, what will you offer him?”

“My beauty of course. He will not be able to resist me”

“Farida, what beauty? See you, you are fat. You eat too much. You refuse to rub cream on your body every morning and night as I instruct you. Look at how white your legs are. You walk around on bare feet, look at the sole of your feet how chipped they are. Apart from that, if he is educated and you are not then you do not match. Can’t you see the men that come for Chioma? See the cars they come in and how they look. They know she is educated but you, you have nothing to offer but the beauty only you can see”

 Maami’s words left Farida sleepless. Farida pondered deeply on her mother’s words. She knew she had something apart from her beauty. She was hard working and she learnt things very fast. This should also be a plus for her. But she realized her mother was right. She was twelve and didn’t take care of herself. She was going to be a teenager in a few weeks and she still dressed and behaved like a child. Maami made them rub ori (shea butter) on their body to moisture it but she hated the smell and the way it made her sweat. She and her friends spent most of their saved money on buying things to eat and show off when they went to school. She resolved to change all that. If she wanted to attract a very rich man, she had to take better care of herself, wear clean uniforms and socks, always make her hair neatly every week and stop eating junk so she could lose weight. She also resolved to walk to and fro the market instead of taking a bike (motorcycle) as she does. She didn’t want to rub ori. Auntie Chioma uses very nice cream, soap and body spray. She always smells nice. What she would do is to negotiate with her. She will work for her and in return, she would buy her a nice cream and soap. Her school bag and sandals were tattered. They did not suit a girl who wants to attract a rich husband. She decided to talk to bro Chris concerning them. He could see at his place of work. This long vacation, she will spend less time with her friends and more time working to make extra money to transform herself. Also, she had to study hard. She will get maami to help her with her academics. She was going to be writing her Junior WAEC examination next session so she needed to sit up. She had it all planned and mapped out.

Farida put all her plans into actions. Immediately after her examinations, she went to all her customers and mapped out the time she would work for them. It helped her know how much she would make in a week. She earmarked how much goes to her contribution at home while the rest went to her saving which she put in a wooden ‘kolo’ also called the piggy bank. She met brother Chris and talked to him about the school bag and sandals.

“What is your size and those of your brothers? I have a customer importing school items, I can get some things for you. What else do you need? Water bottle, math set, pencil holders? Just name them, I will get them for you once his goods arrive”

“Brother Chris, God will bless you. I will work for you for free for …..”

“No, you don’t have to. I am getting them for free. He is bringing them for sale and I am entitled to some as his clearing agent. Once his container lands I will bring for you. What is the colour of your school sandals?”

“Brown sir”

“No problem. You will cook Ogbono soup for me tomorrow. You can cook it at your house and bring it when I get back. I enjoyed the last one you cooked”

“Thank you, sir. I will collect the money in the morning”

Farida was ecstatic. She was going to get new sandals and school bag. Even mathset and water bottles. Her brothers too will have new school things. She was excited but contained it in order to keep it a secret for now. She didn’t want others to know about it and then disturb bro Chris for the same thing thereby jeopardizing her chances.

Next was her uniform. She went to check the price of the material in the market; it was affordable. The sewing was the problem. So, she went to the tailor, told her she would come every morning to sweep her shop and then come in the evening to help run errands in exchange for her to make uniforms for her brothers and herself. The woman was amazed that such a young girl could come confidently with such an offer. She agreed, she took her measurement and the measurements of her brothers who were entering JS1. She told her the number of materials she would need for two sets. She swept the shop every morning and stationed her brothers at the shop to run errands for the woman. She took up extra jobs and within two weeks, she was able to buy the materials. 

She needed soap and cream. Auntie Chioma was a nice lady but she was also snobbish. Farida had to look for a way to get her attention. She observed that Chioma stared at Chris whenever she saw him. It used to prick her heart but now she knew what she wanted, the rich husband wasn’t brother Chris. If getting Chioma close to him will get her what she wants then she would use it to penetrate Chioma. She hacked a plan. She approached Chioma.

“Auntie, brother Chris likes you. He said out of all the ladies in this compound it is you he likes best”

“Are you serious? Farida did he really say that?”

“He did. He said he likes the way you behave. You mind your business and you don’t quarrel with anyone”

“Chris said that? Anyway, he is right. I am not on their level now”

“I said let me tell you”

“Thank you”

“Do you have any work for me to do for you?”

“I don’t have. I just got a job I am managing now. The pay is small but it is better than nothing”

Farida thought for a while. Then she said, “I will ask bro Chris if he can find work for you since I know he likes you”

“Will you? If you help me, I will give you whatever you want”

“Whatever I want? Is that a promise?”

“It’s a promise”

“Ok. Consider it done but you must keep to your promise”

“I will”

Farida waited for bro Chris outside the gate to come back from work. He was surprised when she dragged him to a corner to talk to him.

“Farida, what is it?”

“Brother Chris, I need a favour from you”

“Is that why you had to wait outside? What is it?”

“Sister Chioma needs a job and I know you know people that can employ her”

“Does she really need a job? I was under the impression she was comfortable”

“She’s not o. She needs a job and she said she would have asked you herself but she’s shy. Since I am close to you. she begged me to ask you”

“Ok, I know a maritime company that is recruiting. Let her give you her CV, I will submit it for her. She should have come herself”

‘She is shy. I will get it”

“Is that all?”

“That’s all for now”

“Farida, you can disturb. I will do it for you”

Farida jumped excitedly to sister Chioma’s room. She requested for her CV which she gave her with a look of curiosity. Farida took it to brother Chris. To her it was mission accomplished. She just had to wait.

Sister Chioma came to their house three weeks after to thank Farida. She got the job and she was very happy. She wanted to rush out when Farida stopped her and reminded her of her promise.

“I remember. So, Farida, what do you want?”

“I want a good bathing soap, cream and body spray. You will buy them for me. That is all I want.”

Iya Farida was dumbfounded at her daughter’s request. “Farida, how do you make such demands because you helped someone?”

“Maami, we had a deal. I am not asking for too much”

“Truly, you are not asking for too much. Tomorrow, I will get you the soap, cream and roll on. You don’t need a spray for now. They are not expensive. I will also buy you packs of sanitary pad so you will stop using tissue paper. I can see you are becoming a lady and you are self-conscious. I will gladly supply you the items every month. You are like my younger sister”

Farida’s joy knew no bounds. She ran and hugged sister Chioma. She was happy she understood and didn’t back down on her promise and to always supply them made her even happier.

When Chioma left, maami called Farida and asked her what happened. She explained how she used brother Chris to get a job for sister Chioma and they agreed she would do anything for her if she succeeds. 

“Did you use a rich husband to do this?”

‘No o, but I need those things to attract a rich husband”

Iya Farida was speechless. Her daughter baffled her. She still didn’t get the message. She was still transfixed on getting a rich husband. If attracting a rich husband would . her lose weight and take better care of herself, then she would not discourage her. She never knew there was more to come.

STORY CONTINUES...

(Source - IBB MEDIA) 

As I got closer to them, my courage threatened to desert me but I braced myself. My heart was beating a mile in my chest so I took deep breaths to calm myself.

They have pretended to lose interest in me and continued in whatever discussion they were having. It worked for me as none of them was monitoring my movement.

When I finally got close enough I noticed the man in green was stocky and huge. a type I will never have any chance in case of a brawl.

The other two were skinny. I noted the green T-shirt's waist and didn't need a prophet to tell me that the bulge I saw was a butt of a gun.

I parked the pram and Jeremy stared at me with a bit of surprise. If he could talk I'm sure he would have asked " what up bro?"

I pulled out the bat from my back with adrenaline pumping in my veins. 

I have had my own share of problem with adrenaline. If I don't release it, it always makes me sick.

I could remember back in secondary school JSS3 to be precise, when a junior student insulted me, a girl for that matter.

I didn't mind her words but she was the type that doesn't give up.

It was until when she challenged me to a physical combat that I got provoked and charged towards her. With her being a good sprinter she got away before I could get hold of her. I chased her with all my might but she has gotten a reputation of never being caught in a chase. The only bad thing was that she didn't relent in her verbal attack when I decided to abandon the chase making my body to produce more adrenaline.

I decided I'll go to their house and beat her up unfortunately she caught sight of me too early and escaped into the house and continued where she stopped in her verbal attack of vile words.

I went home as I was unable to deal with her. The unreleased adrenaline caused me headache first before taking me through series of fever. It took about two weeks before I recovered, I didn't want such a thing to happen anymore so I always try not to let myself get angry.

I approached green shirt trying hard not to make any sound.

Many thoughts filled my mind, " what if my strike is not strong enough? What if I miss? What if man spots me before i could reach him and then pull out a gun on me.

I thought of my aunt's reaction when she learns that Jeremy has been carried away by these baby napper. She will brand me a devil, she will never smile at me anymore, she might start treating me cruelly. I risked the boy's life the moment I freaked out on Clara.

I have to make things right.

I got to the man and then swung the bat with all the strength I could muster, I stood astride so that I will not lose balance. The bat felt surprisingly lighter that it actually was. The bat smacked into back of the man's head and an " oh" escaped his lips before he crumbled to the ground and didn't move.

Jeremy burst into laughter at this.

The other two stared at me open-mouthed, eyes wide with shock at my surprise attack.

One of the other guys acted fast and reached into his jeans and pull out a pistol. I acted faster and hit his arm strongly with the bat and he howled in pain, the gun flew out of his hand and clattered on the ground. I had broken his arm.

I followed up my attack with a strong hit on his stomach. An " oooofff" escaped his lips as he bent to hold his tummy. I added the third strike on his kneecap and his legs gave way and he collapsed to the ground.

The third guy took off in a run and I followed in a hot chase.

Jeremy was laughing hysterically and shrieking at the same time. The poor boy must have thought that we were playing.

The guy wasn't a good sprinter or maybe what he witnessed has taken some winds out of his sails. I quickly caught up with him and delivered a strong hit on his neck.

He crashed to the ground and made strangling noises and he held his throat with his hands.

He quickly turned on his back and raised a hand in a defensive gesture. I struck his arm with the bat and he howled loudly.

" Abeg no kee me, abeg pity me." he started begging. The hand I had struck has started swelling almost immediately.

I jerked my head to check on Jeremy. He was alright.

I turned back to the guy who was groaning in pain and was begging for his life.

" Where is your gun?" I asked in an ordering tone.

" I no get gun." He replied pronouncing the " gun" as if it is spelt " corn."

" Where is your gun?" I ordered louder than before."

" Oga I swear I no carry gun, I no even get gun." He licked a finger of his good hand and pointed it upward in a bid to convince me that he was telling the truth.

If it was a trick then I wasn't ready to fall for it.

" E be like say you dey use me play ooo, look my face wella I dey look like say I dey joke with you? I say where your gun?" I threatened.

" Oga how I go talk am make you believe me, I no get gun, we been dey plan say when we carry that your brother na him dey go fit buy gun for me."

" You no wan talk true abi?" I shouted then I hit him on the calves close to the knee. He howled again.

" Oga if you kee me wetin you gain?"

Actually I was convinced that he has no gun on him, I only did that to weaken him more.

I checked his waist for weapon of any kind and found none.

I gave him a last punch on his balls and then I held his leg and began to drag him to where his colleagues were.

I felt surprisingly cold and heartless as I didn't have any iota of pity for the pathetic thing.

Jeremy resumed his laugh as I dragged the guy to where the others were.

I didn't mind what the tarred road did to his body.

The guy in green wasn't still moving, blood was pooling out his mouth.

The other guy was still sprawling but in a semi-conscious state.

So I hit him on the head and he was still.

" Look if you move, I will use this stick and break your penis." I threatened the guy that was still conscious.

Thankfully I had saved the police emergency number as my aunt has instructed so I fished my phone out keeping an eye on Jeremy and the other who was moaning in pain. As he seem to be the weakling in the group I preferred him being conscious and alert as the police will be able to threaten the truth out of him.

I hesitated a bit as I was about to take my phone out. The Nigerian police I know would never show up or they might arrest me as a suspect. I decided to call them anyway.

I dailed up the emergency number and soon the phone on the other end rang.

An officer picked the phone and did the normal introduction before I could be able to relay my information to them. 

I told them that three guys attempted to steal my baby cousin.

The officer became excited, " have they succeeded?" He asked excitedly.

" No they haven't." I replied.

" Where did they enter?"

" They entered nowhere I have immobilized them. They are here right now with me."

" what's your location?"

" I don't know, but there is one Telecommunication mast in front of me." I answered scanning around to find what could give them a clue of where I was.

Is there any house painted pink and cream around there?" The officer asked.

" Is it the one with a red Cross flag outside?"

" Yes exactly? Where you are is quite close to the station, we will be there very quickly."

" Thank you officer." I ended the call.

" Oga why you call police na? You no dey pity person?" The guy lying on the ground asked.

" You no go shut up there? I snarled kicking him again in the balls and he screamed.

I tried calling my aunt but her call came in before I could touch the dail button.

" Joe, I've bought a car seat for Jeremy, and don't leave the Thompsons yet, I've heard the news that there are some guys going around stealing babies. 

" I I have already left there." I stammered. My aunt sensed something in my voice.

" Joe are you okay? What happened? Has they.........?"

" No Auntie calm down, it's not what you think, I encountered those guys on my way home but Jeremy is safe. I had to fight to protect him."

" Oh no, where are you right now?" She asked and I gave her the description.

" Don't worry Auntie I have alerted the police they will be here."

" I'll be there right away." My aunt said hastily and disconnected the call.

I took a deep breath to calm myself. Jeremy was staring at me bright eyes wondering what was going on. I tapped his chin and he grinned.

After about a minute I felt some movement in the bush behind me and raised my bat to the ready but it was a policeman aiming his AK-47 at me.

" Drop what you're holding." He barked and I dropped the bat slowly and raised my hands.

More policeman hurried out of the bush and quickly surrounded where I was standing. All had their guns aimed at me.

One of them checked me for weapons and found none

" You're the one that called us?" The policeman said more like a question than a statement.

Before I could answer another policeman yelled, " yea, finally, here is the big dog." Referring to the guy in green. I myself was getting terrified as I feared being double-crossed by the police.

The other policeman has already had the conscious one in handcuffs.

Jeremy was looking at them warily and seemed ready to burst into tears.

One of the senior policeman walked up to me. He was tall and intimidating.

" Boy how did you do this, how did you manage to immobilise them with just a bat?" The policeman asked looking happy. He had a notepad ready to record whatever I will say. I knew I had to apply  a bit of lies so as to not get myself in a tight spot. What I said was, " I was pushing my baby cousin in that pram, I was coming back from a friend's house. I found the three of them standing at this very spot. I didn't know who they were. As I got to here. The one in the green shirt stopped me and showed me the gun in his waist. He told me that they want the child that I shouldn't cough a word or he will shoot me. I couldn't do anything, one of them began to push the pram away.

Suddenly they began to argue among themselves, that was when he turned his attention away from me. I saw it as the right time for me to bring the bat to bear. I hit the one in green shirt first before I attacked the others and was able to save my baby cousin."

The policeman asked me many other questions like where I got the bat and I told him truthfully that Mr Thompson warned me about the baby nappers and told that they might start a new scheme so I should have something at hand to use as a means of self defense. I answered any question they asked carefully so I will not paint myself into a corner with my words.

The policeman congratulated me on my bravery and courage to go on with the attack in order to protect my baby cousin.

Just then my aunt's car came into view. 

" That's my aunt coming, the mother of the boy." I informed the policeman.

" We'll go talk to her." the policeman said and left me.

A police squad car arrived at the that moment along with an ambulance to take them to the hospital. The ambulance was just a Volvo polar hatchback with the word AMBULANCE on the rear windscreen in bold letters.

The policeman swarmed my aunt's car as she screeched to a stop and immediately tried to calm her down. She wasn't disheveled as they had expected. She walked up to me and touched my face as if she didn't believe her eyes that it was me. 

She glanced at Jeremy in the pram who was smiling happily upon seeing his mother. My aunt then hugged me tightly and thanked me for protecting Jeremy. Tears escaped her eyes and I felt a little self conscious seeing my aunt crying.

The policemen watched our show with a smile. 

The senior policeman called my aunt aside and then said something to her probably words of comfort.

My aunt picked Jeremy out of the pram and hugged him. Jeremy melted into the hug.

The policeman approached me and said " young man we will like you to follow us so that we can introduce you to a media personnel so that your heroic acts can be aired on TV and newspapers. This set of criminals has baffled the police a lot, we have been on their tails for long but we couldn't napp them but we have now thanks to your bravery so we have to recognise that."

I shook my head at that. My aunt had walked to my side and heard the last part of what he policeman said. " I'm sorry but I won't like it, why? If my face is seen on TV or newspaper their minions will be able to identify me and can harm me in one way or the other."

" I think the media  knows what to do on the account of your identity protection." The policeman pointed out.

" Yea, I know I just want to me anonymous, you can simply claim that the police are those that caught them. If still want to report to the media, you just shouldn't include my information, I just want the anonymity."

" Okay if you say so then we're good, but we will need your contact information and address incase we have to reach out to you on something."

I gave him my contacts and address after getting a nod of approval from my aunt.

After that all the policemen gave me a handshake.

I felt proud though it would have been the complete opposite was I not successful.

I pushed the empty pram to my aunt's car and popped the trunk before putting it in.

My aunt thanked the policemen for showing up very quickly.

Before walking to the driver's side.

She opened the rear door and placed Jeremy on his new car seat before joining me in the front.

She waited until the police car was out of sight before she hugged me and kissed me hot on the lips.

I felt a bit ashamed as I was the one that endangered Jeremy's life because of my timidity.

" Thank you very much." she said after ending the kiss.

" You're welcome auntie." I replied.

I glanced at the back to look at Jeremy who was peering at his new car seat.

" But what made you leave, I was expecting to come and pick you up there."

" I was hungry and I was craving bread and eggs so I decided to go home and prepare it for myself." I lied.

" Okay let's get home so that you can tell me everything that happened.

She started the car and zoomed off.

In a matter of seconds we were at home.

My aunt parked the car and we got out. She carried Jeremy who has fallen asleep.

We went inside and she laid Jeremy in a cot.

" I'm so sorry aunt." I said apologetically.

" Sorry for what?" My aunt asked.

" For setting for home without telling you, if I had called you to to tell you that I will leave you would have told me that you were coming to pick us and I would have waited."

" It's okay, I don't condemn you, you are my hero. I don't think Phillip would have fought to defend Jeremy like you did, after all he claimed that Jeremy wasn't his even when Jeremy was born. The police told me everything you told them."

" Not everything I told them was entirely true."

" Really? Okay tell me your own side of the story." 

I went ahead and told her everything excluding the fact that it was my freaking out on Clara that caused the whole thing. I told her how Mr Thompson informed me about the whole thing and that I attacked the baby nappers first.

My aunt congratulated me before excusing herself to go prepare the eggs I said I craved.

I sat down on the couch and took stock of the situation. My aunt would have been shedding profuse tears by now had it not been that I had timely information and luck was on my side too.

I thanked God for everything. Soon my aunt was through with the eggs and bread. She brought it on a stainless steel tray and served me in the sitting room. I thanked her and did my best to finish the bread and eggs to make it look as if the lie I told her was genuine.

She went to her room and brought a bottle of dry gin alongside a tumbler. She poured herself a tumbler and poured a tumbler for me which I downed in one gulp.

My aunt began softly, " Joe I know that deep down you are blaming yourself, assuming something bad happened to Jeremy I wouldn't have been happy neither would you or any sane person. But it is not an excuse to kill yourself inside.

Maybe you were destined to be the one to stop them, if that is the case nothing would have stopped it, even if it wasn't today it would still have happened. What I am happy about is that it was you that Jeremy was with at that time and not me because as it happens I am always the one to go get Jeremy from the Thompsons. If I had encountered them I would have been helpless and moreover what if they had stopped the car and hold me to a gun point while the others take the baby away, there's nothing I could have done.

But now your action has saved the live of Jeremy and the lives of many other babies who were on their target list. So don't fear that I am going to judge you wrongly or that I'll begin acting differently towards you. Okay?"

" Okay, I've heard you auntie, seriously it was like a call of siren,

You know sirens right?"

" Yea!" my aunt replied. " Those demons that sing beautifully and captivatingly and cause sailors to wreck their ships and lose their lives."

" Exactly! I think that was what happened, infact the way I felt make it seem as if I haven't eaten anything for two days so I had to take Jeremy and set for home and what happened happened. But you know Jeremy was laughing when I attacked those men."

My aunt smirked. " Poor boy, he must have been thinking that you people were playing."

" I felt the same thing. And the police showed up very quickly quite unlike Nigerian police."

" Well in the midst of criminals there are decent people. So you shouldn't be expecting every police to act the same way."

My aunt thanked me again for saving Jeremy's life and we engaged in some other chit chats especially concerning security situation in the country. Then my aunt said, " I fired one of my employees today."

" Why?" I asked.

" I never knew that she is a thief. I went there and met my chief apprentice in tears saying that they have lost beads and ready-made accessories worth up to 100K. Somebody has been stealing them but she doesn't know who was the thief. She had searched the house of all the employees but it was to no avail she couldn't find anything.

But the beads kept missing. She said she made sure that she locks the door and the security camera was always on. She further told me that she is suspecting the girl I fired because of her nonchalant attitude whenever she complains of the missing items but she couldn't accuse her of the crime because the camera never caught her. I told her not to worry that I will get the thief. So I called her into my office and asked her of the missing beads and other missing items.

She expressed her innocence and claimed she knew nothing about them. I threatened her but she wasn't moved as she feels she got herself covered little did she know.

I took out a Bible and ordered her to swear on it that she doesn't know anything about the missing items then I will let her go. I made her knew that she will go mad if she lies. This was where she softened and began confessing. She told me that she printed the shop keys on a putty when the chief apprentice wasn't looking and then took it to a blacksmith and made a duplicate of them. 

With them she has been able to access the shop when it is closed and steal whatever she wants and then she will go to the control room and delete whatever the camera had picked and will disconnect the recorder to cover her tracks and left no trace of her. I ordered her to go and bring everything she told. She pleaded that she had already sold some of the items and had spent the money. She went and brought everything. I was so shocked so I fired her.

" That's so bad of her." I said shaking my head pitifully.

" And worst of it all, she was the girl I was planning to introduce to you so that two of you can start dating."

I laughed out loud at this.

" What will I need a girlfriend for when you are here?"

" Of course you need a girlfriend." My aunt said softly. " I do have sex with you and might not stop doing that for a long while but remember that you are not going to marry me, age and family relationship being the major factors."

" I'm not sure I need a girlfriend now." I said uneasily," it will only bring unnecessary stress and headache."

" Of course not Joe, you need to change your attitude towards some things because if you continue like like you'll never marry. I wouldn't be young forever if that's what you're thinking."

" I know Auntie, maybe I should just wait a while."

" Suit yourself." My aunt said.

" So any other news?" I asked.

" No nothing more. Let me go change up." She said and got up and made towards her room.

I pulled my T-shirt over my head.

" Let me believe that you are not keeping that T-shirt there." My aunt said without looking back

" No I won't." I answered. 

I turned on the TV and settled down comfortably on the couch.

It was an action movie that was playing. My aunt joined me a minute having changed into a housecoat and had discarded her wig.

She sat on my laps and we watched the TV together. For some reasons my body had grown accustomed to her weight and didn't feel so heavy anymore.

I ran a finger through her glossy hair. Truth be told her hair looked exactly like that of the WWE wrestler Roman Reigns. My aunt turned her slowly to stare at me in the face. Her usual smile on her face.

" Oh sorry." I said quickly withdrawing my hand from her hair.

" Sorry for what?" She asked, confusion creeping into her smile. " For touching my hair?"

I nodded sheepishly. 

" Look you just need to cast this attitude of yours far away, if you can touch my boobs freely what's the big deal in touching my hair."

" I'm sorry Auntie." I said apologetically.

" Sorry for yourself." She snapped before turning to the TV.

For a split second I thought she was really angry. I then poked her midriff with both of my forefingers, she jerked violently and cackled.

" No no no, don't do that I'm too ticklish and................"

I didn't let her finish as I attacked her with my fingers again. My Aunt squealed and jerked off my laps to the carpet. I followed her unrelentingly and she laughed hysterically squealing at the same and she rolled and tried to get out of reach of my fingers. I finally stopped and got up.

" Joe you are a bad boy, bad nephew, bad lover." She said laughing while still lying on the carpet. She then got up and resumed her place on my laps.

Evening came quickly and soon night covered like a black blanket on a theater.

My Aunt has prepared jollof rice for dinner and it was mouthwatering.

After having dinner we watched a little TV before I have to suck my aunt's breasts as Jeremy just sucked a bit and refused to feed more. After that I retired to my room.

That night I kept having dreams of Clara asking to close the door and me freaking out. At a point it happened in the bedroom I'm staying. I kept waking up and always having to force myself back to sleep.

When sleep overtook me I dreamed again. This time I gave into her request and touched her breasts there my aunt saw me and became angry. She told to pack my things and get ready to go back to the village, why should I be cheating on her.

I woke up this time about 4:30 and decided that I won't sleep anymore in my room.

I tiptoed downstairs to my aunt's room. I opened the door and found my aunt sitting on her bed.

She seemed she was about to get up.

" Ah Joe you seem to have been reading my mind, I was about to come to your room. I just can't sleep because of this feeling of loneliness." She smirked. " Come on she beckoned.

The fan was on and made a purring sound. I understood why she was using the fan and not the air conditioner. It was because of Jeremy.

She accepted me into her arms and kissed me before we got onto the bed together. She drew herself closer and laid her head on my chest with a contented smile pasted on her face.

I watched my aunt's face for a while before i closed my eyes.

I didn't have any more dreams that night.

The next morning when I opened my eyes I was alone. My aunt has woken up without waking me.

I quickly hurried downstairs and headed to the kitchen. The smell of hot chocolate was overwhelming.

I walked behind my aubt and hugged her from behind and gave her a kiss at the back of the neck.

" mmmmmm!!" She moaned and cackled.

" Good morning Auntie." I mumbled.

" Good morning lover." She replied. " I'm making fried yam and tomato sauce for breakfast today. Hope you'll like it."

" As far as you are the one preparing it, I'll love it. Your meals are always awesome."

My aunt smiled more.

" Have you noticed that Jeremy has started growing teeth?" My aunt asked.

" No I don't." I replied.

" Look at you bad lover, bad father. Is that how you are going to do when Jeremy grows up and starts calling you daddy?"

" Let me just hope that the Daddy thing doesn't happen. How are you ever going to convince Jeremy that I am not his cousin or big brother but his father."

" Leave that to me, I can handle that one but like it or not, he will be calling you Daddy."

" I don't have anything to say there oo." I said shrugging before going on to pour myself a cup of hot chocolate. I finished three cups of it before stealing a piece of yam and hurried out to the sitting room.

I chewed the yam to a paste and then took some out of my mouth and gave it to Jeremy who was looking at me with bright eyes.

I then carried him out of the cot and places him on the carpet. He could sit but couldn't crawl yet.

Jeremy seemed happy as I placed him on the ground. He began clawing at the thick carpets and bent down to get a mouthful of it. I intercepted and carries him up and placed him back in his cot.

My aunt then called me to come and have my breakfast. We ate together and did some gisting. My aunt laid out her day's plan and asked for my approval. I just told her that she was free to do whatever she planned. This was one part of her that I was uncomfortable with, must she always seek my approval over everything?

We finished our breakfast and my aunt did the dishes. I didn't offer to help as I already knew that she wouldn't agree.

Soon we were out in the sitting room watching some cartoons on the TV. I didn't know that my aunt enjoys cartoons too despite her age. She'll never cease to amaze me. We were still there when the doorbell rang and we jerked our heads to look at each other. 

For a split second I regretted not taking the bat from the car trunk.

My aunt threw on a housecoat over her nightgown and went to answer the door.

It was nothing to panic about. It was the policemen. My aunt invited them in and offered them a seat only the senior police officer took a seat which I got to know that he is a DPO.

He started talking. " Mrs Rose, the police came to thank your nephew for the part he played in the arrest of those criminals. The guy in green shirt has died. 

The blow you delivered to his head was fatal, it gave him severe concussion and that hastened his death. The other one you attacked viscously is in a coma, when he recovers he's moving straight to jail. Fortunately the one you kept conscious is the chicken hearted type so we were able to threaten the truth out of him with little effort, with his help we have recovered 30 babies."

" Jesus Christ." My aunt shouted.

" We have arrested all those involved and we are still on the hunt for others who we haven't found. Unfortunately we found out that five babies has already been slaughtered by ritualists who bought the babies from them. That idiot is swearing to high heavens that he is not connected with them.

So to appreciate your good gesture and to encourage such good acts. The police has decided to reward you. We've made a plaque with your name inscribed on it just for you."

He beckoned on a policeman who moved majestically up to him and handed him something wrapped in a brown paper.

He unwrapped the paper to reveal a gold plaque. He presented it to me and I received with both hands.

My aunt was smiling brightly.

I stared at the plaque. It had the Nigerian police force logo etched into it, followed by the words " Thank you Mr Joseph Harry for aiding and abetting the Police."

I smiled as I read this.

He also took out a brown heavy envelope from his pocket and presented it to me which I received.

" So Mr Joseph, will like to join the police?"

If a random person has asked me that question, my reply would have been, " Join police say I dey craze? I will never join police even if it is the last profession in the world."

But right now I have to watch my tongue.

" Well I do have many ambitions but being a policeman isn't one of them. Being a police is nice, to maintain and enforce the law is not an easy thing."

The DPO smiled approvingly. 

" We would have taken a photo with you, but since you requested anonymity, we have to respect that, keep up the good work. Keep the plaque as a souvenir, you can even show it to the little boy when he's grown and tell, " I got this the day after I saved your life." He will be so proud of you. The police would always like you to report any suspicious activity so that we can help protect and serve the public." He gave me a final handshake. He also shook my aunt before taking his leave alongside others.

I was beaming as I stared at the plaque. " This is nice Auntie."

" I'm proud of you Joe, now what's in the envelope."

" Probably a letter from the police superintendent." I joked.

" It looks too heavy to be just a letter." My aunt pointed out not buying my joke.

I open the envelope and pulled out a wad of cash and handed it to my aunt. It was a bundle of crisp 1000 notes. My aunt collected it and we counted it together.

It was 70K. 

" Hmm? You are big boy now, see money."

" Auntie you can hold the money until there is an important need for it."

" Why would I do that? It's your money and I will never hold it for any reason. Take it and go spoil yourself."

" As things stands, there is nothing I will need, I have clothes, shoes and everything else that you have given to me."

" In that case I will help you open an account so you can deposit the money, so that anytime you want it you go use it."

" That's nice of you Auntie." I said before kissing her on the cheek.

" Uh no, I want it on the lips."

I obliged and she smiled.

" What do you want for lunch?" She asked.

" White soup." I replied.

" Good that means I've got to go to the market early."

She kissed my again and whispered" you're my hero." Before walking to her room.

I smiled and felt proud.

STORY CONTINUES...

(Source - IBB MEDIA)