turn off the light (full story)

Sandra Okoye
groaned when her
phone rang and She
knew better than
not responding to her
P.A’s call whom she
knew was either at
her door waiting for
permission to barge
inside or outside in
one of her dramatic
Limosuine to get her
to one of those crazy
movie Promotions
which she dreaded
attending.
“Yea?” she croaked.
“Wake up sunshine!
“Whatever…, what
time is it?”
“It’s 7am, I’m
almost at the hotel
you lodged in and I
need you to kindly
prepare before I get
to the door and see
something I’m sure
you don’t want me
seeing.”
“Get me espresso on
your way here…”
“Like I need you to
tell me that.” Pamela
giggled. “One day
you’re going to be so
drunk on Caffeine
you’re going to need
Valium to put you
back to sleep.”
“Well, just in case
you don’t know, I
was sleeping before
you woke me up
with your annoying
voice.” She snapped
and hung up before
Pamela could say
anything else.
She sighed and closed
her eyes to rest her
head on the vanity
trying to get her
thoughts together
before a masculine
hand flung itself over
her.
“Hey baby…”
“Marvin, not now…”
she tried to push him
away but he pulled
her closer and held
her trapped beneath
him.
“I have a Movie
Promotion in London
by 8.” She protested
when he started
kissing her. Didn’t
this man just know
when to stop? Just
because she’d agreed
to let him lodge with
her tonight after his
constant begging
didn’t mean she
wanted him to start
acting like he was a
permanent boyfriend.
“Marvin, you have to
leave. Now.” She
succeeded in pushing
him away and
reached for her robe.
Hurriedly putting it on
with trembling
fingers, she avoided
his eyes as much as
possible.
Marvin slumped back
into the bed and
looked at her. ”It’s
still him isn’t it?”
Sandra frowned.
”What?”
“Bayo. And you’d
rather be with him
‘cos he gets you all
those contracts, all
those things I can’t
give you and he
doesn’t treat you the
way I do.”
Sandra was furious.
”I can’t believe you
have the guts to say
that into my face
Marvin.” She went to
pick his clothes from
the floor and flung it
at him. ”Get out! Get
out and don’t call
me!”
“But baby…”
“Get the F- out of my
room, out of my
hotel and out of my
life”
Marvin didn’t know
why Sandra had
snapped at his
statement and
wondered if she was
having her terrible
mood swings again
as usual. But it
wasn’t like he hadn’t
told her the truth.
He was going to give
her time to chill off.
He was sure before
night time, She was
going to be calling his
cell phone telling him
of how she didn’t
want to spend
another night at her
house because Bayo
had a way of always
getting on her
nerves, making her
cry and he was sure
the same man was
responsible for the
little bruises he’d
seen while she was
sleeping after they’d
had sex last night.
But she would never
say. She just liked to
act bossy and bitchy
when he hit the right
notes.
He grabbed his
boxers and struggled
to put it on since he
was sure she
intended to drag him
out as well with the
way her eyes threw
daggers at him.
“You know we can
always talk about
this baby…”
“Talk my a-s.
There’s nothing
you’re saying to me
that I’m gonna sit
down here and listen
to.”
She snapped and
went towards the
door opening it wide
for him to find his
way out. Was this
how far she was
going to humiliate
him and herself as
well? It was like her
moods got better of
her whenever she
was angry and she
often forgot
paparazzis could be
hanging around
taking mental notes
of what was going
on in the life of a
celebrity like her.
He threw on his
checkered shirt and
jeans and pulled on
his timberland boots.
He hated to admit
she was the one
who bought him his
boots and half of his
wardrobe. She’d been
the one to pay for
their dinner and this
hotel where she
lodged or probably
the benefits of
shooting a popular
movie in London
where she was the
supporting actress.
He doubted Women
in Nigeria treated
their Men like she did
to him presently.
She would come
calling, he knew she
would. And he would
let her suffer a little
before he gave in
once more.
Immediately he
stepped out, she
banged the door
behind him and locked
it.
He bounced off and
dusted it off his
shoulders. He had
enough cash to keep
him for the day.
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Sandra sank into the
bed and tried to kill
the very emotion
that threatened to
surface once Marvin
stepped out of the
room. The way she’d
been killing every
emotion just as Bayo
had trained her to do
over the years. She
knew the reason
why she had pushed
Marvin out of the
room. It was
because he had said
the truth right to her
face.
She liked Bayo
because of what he
could give her and
that was why she
had agreed to move
in with him in the
first place. The man
himself enjoyed
what she could give
him. She was the
face out there that
people loved to see
not minding that she
was being controlled
by a slave master. He
dictated what she
would do and which
show she could go
for even if she was
reluctant to accept
such a role. He was
her manager who
showed her the way
and she knew that
without him, she
would be on the
streets.
Where he’d found
her.
And so, she had to
please him, but the
times when she felt
she would die if she
stayed with him one
more day, Marvin
filled up that space
while the b-----d
was out in his bar
getting drunk and
bloated.
Sometimes, she just
hated the sight of
him and couldn’t
stand him.
Right now, there was
nothing to do about
it. She had to endure
just like she’d been
enduring him for 10
years.
He’d been the one
that was there for
her, sending her to
school, acting school,
getting her the
necessary contracts
and letting the whole
world see that he
had her back
anytime. He was
quite older than her.
Divorced and had no
kids. She
remembered the
first time she’d seen
him, he’d been so
charming, so caring,
taking care of her
and giving her the
assurance that he
would do things for
her.
But after a while, he
started getting
drunk, he would
spend late nights
outside, sometimes,
she’d see the
tabloids of
entertainment
magazines and news
where records of his
visit to strip clubs
were detailed and
out of anger, she
would yell at him and
he would get
emotionally violent
and hit her or try to
rape her.
Options of leaving
him often came up
but she realized
there was no way
she could or he’d
track her down and
hurt her.
Or the only people
that were dear to
her heart whom
nobody knew about.
She had achieved so
much in her life. In
the space of 10
years, she’d been a
model, featured in
some known TV
shows that aired
internationally, a well
known actress in her
homeland Nigeria,
Ghana inclusive and
this new movie that
had been shot in
London and Nigeria
had been one of her
major breakthroughs
that she’d always
dreamed of.
Then why after so
much achievement,
after all of these did
she feel like there
was so much more
to life than what she
was presently
experiencing? Why did
she feel like she
hadn’t seen it all?
Why did she feel
amidst all these
freedom that she’d
always dreamed of
ever since she was 5,
she wasn’t fully
liberated? Why did
she sometimes feel
trapped or better
still, someone was
pulling the strings of
her life as a puppet
when that was what
she’d tried running
away from in the
beginning?
Why did she feel the
hole in her heart was
getting larger?
The knock on the
door disrupted her
thoughts and she
yelled knowing it was
Pamela but she had
to be sure it wasn’t
some psycho who
was on the loose for
actresses like her or
someone who she
wasn’t ready to see.
Whoever she saw
had to come through
her Personal
Assistant or
Manager.
They seemed to
have had her life
sorted out for her
better than she did
for herself.
“It’s Pam, your
clothes and your cup
of coffee, so please
open up.” Sandra
noticed her sense of
humor and opened
up.
“I knew you might
not open up if I was
the only one at the
door.” She shrugged
and strolled in as
Sandra snatched the
cup of espresso from
her and opened it
taking a sip.
“Nice.”
“You’re welcome.”
Pamela said and
went to drop her
clothes on the bed
turning to look at her
and at the same
time, glancing at her
wristwatch. ”Do you
know what time it
is? I’ve been up since
5 in the morning
trying to work on
your appointments
and send responses
to those executives
who want you to
show up on their red
carpet with your co-
stars. I had to explain
you’re still promoting
your new movie “Pink
Curtains” but will see
you at the premiers
tonight. And then
your emails keep
filling up not to talk
of the few fans I
have to answer on
your behalf ” She
looked up to watch
Sandra but she
seemed to have
picked the fashion
magazine Pamela had
picked for her on the
way before coming
there.
Pamela groaned. Did
this woman have to
make life miserable
for her?
She pulled off her
trench coat and heels
leaving her in a cream
chiffon blouse tucked
into a black pencil
skirt so as to enable
her mobility. Maybe if
she set the bath
running, her boss
would be forced to
go to the bathroom.
Goodness, they were
running late and even
if Sandra wasn’t
going to fire her,
Bayo Alade could.
“Sandra, we have to
be out here by 8 a.m
to meet your co-
stars.”
“What if I’ve changed
my mind? I mean
what if I don’t feel
like? I mean I have a
choice don’t I?’ She
didn’t bother looking
up but kept sipping
her coffee and
skipping through the
pages mumbling
some words to
herself whenever a
particular bag caught
her attention.
Pamela sighed
rubbing her fingers on
her throbbing
temples. The cons of
this job. For crying
out loud, was she
going to play the role
of a psychologist
while she played P.A?
Just when she was
still thinking up her
chances of convincing
her boss, Sandra
stood up, threw the
book on the bed and
headed into the
bathroom.
Pamela sank into the
bed relieved.
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;
Bayo Alade smiled
into the camera as
the lights kept
flashing and he
wondered why the
woman beside him
seemed to be acting
stiff and unperturbed
as her arms lingered
on his waist. They
stood as a couple
briefly acting like
they were happy and
though she looked
beautiful as usual, he
knew she was trying
to ignore him and if
not for the red
carpet movie premier
tonight, she wouldn’t
even come close to
him.
He knew she’d
lodged in with some
guy into the hotel
some nights ago and
for a while, she
refused to sleep in
his apartment but
preferred the
comfort of her
trashy lover but he
wasn’t going to bring
up the topic now. Let
her enjoy her night.
Let them both enjoy
their night of
celebration.
“You look great.” he
complimented briefly
as the other actors
moved away slightly
to take pictures
alone.
“You’re not so bad
yourself.” She replied
not even looking up
at him.
“I didn’t see you last
night after the
party..’
“Neither did I…” She
was about moving
away from his side
when his grip
tightened on her
waist so much that
she flinched. “Bayo,
you’re hurting me.”
“You’re not going to
leave me without a
kiss would you
baby?”
She knew he wanted
to take things the
hard way and so she
stood still when he
planted a hard kiss
on her lips. She hated
him when he was so
dominating and acted
like she was nothing
more than an object
to him, and the way
he kissed her like he
was reminding her of
her roots and how
far he’d brought her
and so she’d better
behave.
When he broke free,
he smiled. A cynical
smile. ”You’re
sleeping in tonight
with me.
Understood?”
“Why, your hookers
haven’t been
satisfying you so
well recently?”
She smirked when
she saw how her
response had done
well in hitting the
right spot and she
strutted off going to
greet one of her co-
stars with a brief
hug and taking a
picture with him.
‘;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;
“Jeremy just knows
how to set the place
on fire.” Kristen
Stacey the main
actress in the movie
‘Pink Curtains’ where
Sandra had starred
as a supporting
actress giggled as
one of the actors
that starred
alongside them as
the main actor kept
giving hilarious
responses to friends
that were throwing
questions to him
about his role in the
movie.
“I can see that.”
Sandra responded
and smiled before
sipping her vodka and
orange. Kristen
Stacey was the
white woman who
had played a best
friend to Sandra in
the movie even
though racism and
other dark secrets
had kept them apart.
Rumors had began to
spread that the
movie was an award
winning movie for
Kristen, the Screen
writer and the
director. Kristen was
an American but she
had played her role
well as a British
student with an
accent that she’d
taken weeks to
master very well and
the little time Sandra
spent with her, She
knew she was a
pleasant woman to
be with. In her early
20s, this would be
her first movie
award with the likes
of Jennifer Lawrence
and Shailene
Woodley, not to talk
of the black young
girl of 9 years old
that had been
nominated for an
Oscar last year.
Sandra began to
wonder if winning an
award was what
was missing in her
life. Maybe if she
strived towards
that, that empty
feeling, that cold
feeling of loneliness
and fear would leave
her alone.
Maybe she needed to
achieve something.
Maybe it was the
peak of things she
needed to aim for.
“I heard there’s an
after party tonight…”
Kristen whispered
after sipping her
Magarita and winked.
” We get to meet lot
of other stars…”
“Like Denzel?” Sandra
teased.
Kristen’s eyes
widened and she
giggled pushing
Sandra gently. ‘You’re
so funny.” It seemed
Kristen thought
everyone was funny
and if she didn’t
know better, she
would have thought
she was naive. “You
know who I’d like to
meet?”
“Who?”
“George Clooney.” She
winked. ”That guy is
gorgeous!’ she
swooned.
“And too old for you.”
“Sandra! Who said
anything about liking
him? I said I’d like to
meet him. Maybe act
a movie with him or
something…”
“Oh and then, he’d be
your Uncle or your
father in the movie
except you’re talking
behind the scene
stuff…”
Kristen giggled and
shook her head. ‘I’m
not that naughty.
Talk about Hugh
Jackman, Chris Evans,
Chris Hemsworth..”
Sandra raised her
hand. ”I get it….,
goodluck with that.”
“Well, well, well…., If
it isn’t our great
Nigerian actress..” A
woman’s snare
disrupted their
banter and even
without looking up,
Sandra knew who it
was.
Her ‘arch’ enemy
Demi Reeves, a
popular actress who
she was sure had
more chances than
her since her mother
was black and her
father white and
both were citizens.
The same woman
had been the one
whom she had once
caught Bayo cheating
with at a time when
their relationship was
almost hitting the
rocks. Demi Reeves
seemed like she
wanted to compete
with everything she
had and wasn’t going
to be satisfied till she
was beneath her.
Probably because
Bayo still chose to
stay with her, that
must have hurt that
He chose her over a
popular and pretty
actress like her and
the fact that Sandra
had made it from her
modeling career into
the acting world. Not
many models did.
“And I believe you
were just passing?”
Sandra tried to ignore
her.
“Infact, I’m here to
congratulate Kristen
here who seemed to
overshadow
everybody in the
movie.” The biting
remark left a bitter
taste to Sandra’s
tongue but she
shrugged not
revealing anything.
“Thank you Demi. But
I couldn’t have done
it without the rest of
the crew and sweet
Sandra here.” Kristen
giggled pressing her
hands into Sandras’
obviously ignorant of
the little
misunderstanding
between the 2. ”
Demi raised an
eyebrow. ”Indeed.
Don’t get drunk you
two.” she strolled
off.
“Get lost b***.” She
mumbled under her
breath before smiling
at Kristen. Things like
that were not worth
her time and she
wouldn’t let it.
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Anu stared at the
letter in her hand and
tried not to curse and
cry at the same time.
Never in her wildest
dreams would she
imagine herself as
part of the staff
that was going to be
relieved of their jobs
in the coming year
and the cruel director
had waited till
February such that
she’d set down her
guards.
And now, they were
just going to throw
her into the street
because of some so
called problems?
Where was she going
to start from, how
was she going to
start picking up the
pieces with a child
and two parents to
take care of?
Her mother had told
her about this bank
job she had taken in
the first place and
how she had advised
she set her hands on
something else just
in case anything
happened and caught
her unawares.
Well, now that it had
caught her
unawares, she could
almost feel her
mother gloat.
But knowing the kind
of mother she had,
she knew she
wouldn’t. Her parents
were not going to be
happy that she’d lost
her job.
There was only one
person she knew
must have even been
praying for her to get
fired.
Teniola
Ever since she got
the job 2 years ago
at the time Teniola
was 8 and had
announced it to the
house, she’d seen
the fear and anger in
her daughter’s eyes
because it meant
there would be no
mummy and
daughter time like
before anymore. Her
mother was going to
be the one to fill in
for her whenever she
wasn’t home and
most times by the
time she returned,
the young girl had
gone to bed.
Saturdays and
Sundays were her
only free days
though sometimes,
something always
came up.
She missed spending
time with her
daughter too and she
wasn’t surprised
many factors were
playing a role in
preventing her from
settling down with
the man of her
dreams.
She’d fallen in love
with a young man
who had shown
interest in her when
she was working as
a teacher but when
he found out she had
a daughter, probably
from a careless past
life, he pulled back
soon enough. Then,
there was her
Managing Director of
the bank where she
worked who found it
convenient to ask her
out since it felt like
since she had a
daughter and that
posed as a slim
chance for her
getting a suitable
suitor, it’d benefit
her to date him since
he was married and
had kids as well.
She was sure her
rejection had
incensed him to enroll
her name in the list.
She couldn’t find
enough words for
him.
The conductor
brought her mind
back to the present
yelling out her bustop
for those who were
interested in getting
down from the bus.
“O wa o.” She
responded and
adjusted her things
and her letter into
her hand bag and
looked out of the
window as the
sunset orange
settled over the
horizon suddenly
making that area of
Lagos look so
beautiful.
Her mind snapped
back to the present
when the bus
stopped and she
hurriedly got down
before the conductor
had any chance to
utter swearing
words at her.
When she stood at
her bustop, she
sighed and patiently
waited before she
crossed the road and
began walking down
her street.
She suddenly wished
her life would be
beautiful like the
sunset orange which
she’d observed in the
sky as the bus drove
by, not ugly and
depressing that she
wondered how she
was going to survive
the rest of the
month.
Here you go.” Kemi
rubbed her
daughter’s back
gently while passing
her a glass of cold
water. When she
saw her daughter
was still crying, she
settled down beside
her on the couch and
pulled her close to
herself. ”Do you
want Teniola to
come back and see
you like this?”
Her face was still in
her hands but her
shoulders stopped
trembling.
After a while, she
looked up and wiped
her face roughly. Her
mother reached for
the glass of water
once more and placed
it in her hands. ”Oya
drink some water.
Even if you’re not
going to eat my food,
just start with
water.”
Anu obeyed and
gulped the cold
content of the cup.
Her mother continued
to talk though she
wanted the woman
to keep quiet for
now at least. She
wondered the wrath
that would have
poured out from her
mother’s mouth if
she found out that
her boss had tried to
take her to bed.
The woman would
snap and who knew
what more she
would do?
“God’s ways are not
our ways okay? Just
because you’ve lost
this one doesn’t
mean another one
won’t come. Infact,
better ones than
this. I’ll be praying for
you. Maybe we
should go for prayers
holding in church.
There’s a vigil holding
tomorrow night. I’ll
tell Pastor Demola….”
Anu almost choked
on her water and she
shook her head. Right
now, what she
wanted to do was
stay away from
everybody and
everything. Her life
seemed like a mess.
She was serving God
and was this how he
enjoyed treating her?
humiliating her and
letting her friends
laugh at her? Was
this what she got
after spending her
life being a honest,
loving and caring
person, after
sacrificing things for
others and putting
people ahead of her?
Whereas, most of
her colleagues had
beautiful cars,
beautiful homes and
cool husbands. She
doubted if there was
anyone still living in
their parent’s house
at her age stuck up
with a child when the
father was nowhere
to be found?
And all her mother
could do was rant
about how God’s
ways not being
theirs. Then what
kind of way was it if
her life was still like
this at 28? Right
now, she didn’t even
know whom to be
angry with because
everybody in her
family were starting
to get on her nerves
and piss her off.
It seemed like they
had pushed her to
her breaking point
and she couldn’t take
anymore.
“I’m going to my
room to sleep. When
Teniola returns from
lesson, tell her I’m
sleeping and I don’t
want to be disturbed
if she happens to
find her way into the
room.”
And she stood up
and found her way to
the bedroom where
herself and her
daughter shared.
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;
Kemi was making
dinner when her
husband arrived from
work. He looked tired
and worn out though
he tried to hide it and
smiled when his eyes
settled on her.
“Nno…” She greeted
cheerfully rubbing her
hands on her apron
and going to collect
her husband’s bag
and newspaper from
him. He’d been
working as a civil
servant for years
and they had begun
discussing when he
would retire soon
though she knew the
kind of man her
husband was.
She supposed he
would retire when his
bones were starting
to wear out.
Their house wasn’t
the biggest house in
town neither could it
even be compared to
other houses in the
neighborhood but
Nnamdi was a good
man who followed
everything to the
book and she loved
him that he was
content with the
little they had. Their
house was a 2
bedroom flat located
somewhere along
Ikorodu road and
even if there was
not much to boast
about, the house
was something her
husband had built
with his money a
while ago when lands
were still cheap in
the area and they’d
been forced to move
early when the
landlord was
continually disturbing
them for house rent.
It was after they
moved he continued
the finishing works
of the house and
they were glad that
the aspect of house
rent was eliminated
from their lives and
so hereby enabling
them to face other
things.
His old Toyota corolla
2005 model was
what he still drove to
church every Sunday
inclusive of work as
well. He’d assisted
his wife in opening a
shop not far from
the house where she
happened to stock
provisions, drinks,
snacks and toiletries.
Though it couldn’t be
termed as a
Supermart, she made
petty cash from it
coupled with his.
And partly helped
send Teniola to
school since she was
their granddaughter.
Mama Ibeji was
what the people in
the community called
her though it’d been
a while she’d set
eyes on the other
twin and people just
loved poking their
noses into her
business asking
about the other twin
though she’d been
able to put them in
their places.
And so right now,
the ‘iya ibeji‘ name
was more like an
ordinary name that
everybody called her
not giving attention
to what it entailed.
“Nkem.” Nnamdi
greeted
“Nnayi..” Kemi smiled
up at him and kissed
him on the lips letting
her hands linger on
his back.
When they broke
free, she quickly
turned off the gas
and collected his tie
from him while
following him into
their room so as to
help him undress as
was the normal
routine she’d been
doing for years.
“The traffic must
have been bad. See
how your clothes are
soaked already eh?”
she pulled off his
shirt and helped with
his vest as well.
“Fashola noni…”
Kemi rolled her eyes
and shook her head
ignoring her
husband’s usual
banter. It was like he
expected since she
was Yoruba and from
Lagos, she and the
governor of Lagos
state were
somewhat related.
It amazed her how
he kept pulling that
dry joke after 28
years they’d been
together.
But wasn’t that the
whole deal about
marriage? Not
everything that irked
her that she was
meant to spill out
and there was
somethings one had
to just ignore.
Asides that, they
lived like brother and
sister presently.
Nothing new seemed
to be happening and
she didn’t think
anything would
change that anytime
soon.
And she was
content. Nnamdi
loved her in the best
way he knew how to
love her though he’d
had his faults in the
past but they’d
moved on. It may not
be the rosy and
butterfly effect that
she’d felt when she
first met him, neither
was it the way they
portrayed in those
books and Spanish
soap-operas she sat
watching sometimes
in the shop when
there were no
customers around,
but she was happy
being with him.
He’d warned her to
stop reading those
books that gave her
a false image of love,
and most times
when she sat
watching TV with
her husband, she
tried to control the
urge to change it to
one of those
stations where
Telenovas were
consistently playing
while Nnamdi
watched CNN or
Super-sports but she
had learned to endure
it all.
She knew it wasn’t
his handsome yellow
‘pawpaw’ features
that made her last
this long with him.
Well, she couldn’t
deny that was the
first thing that had
thrilled her and how
he’d been so
confident back then
in school, he’d told
her about how much
he wanted from life
and how he intended
giving her the best
romance there was.
He’d been the one to
capture her heart
though there was
Kola Badmus at the
time who had been a
well to do man and a
fine one. He’d been
the one her parents
wanted her to marry.
But things happened
so fast, starting
from her parents not
wanting to see her
and then the twins
came and Nnamdi
had been so
responsible by
standing up to do the
rightful thing.
And how could she
thank him enough?
“Kemi, are you
okay?” Her husband’s
thoughts disrupted
her thoughts and she
hurriedly pulled off
his socks not glancing
at him.
“I’m fine…”
“No, you’re not.” He
tapped the space
beside him. ”Come…,
come sit.”
She obeyed him and
settled beside her
husband on the bed
trying to compose
herself enough not to
reveal anything yet.
He was meant to
have dinner before
she revealed
anything to him.
She didn’t know how
he was going to take
the news about
Anuoluwa losing her
job.
“Why don’t you take
a shower first, then
we’ll talk at the
dining table. It’s late
already and you need
to put something in
your stomach.”
He knew his wife too
well to start querying
her and so he
resigned and left for
the bathroom while
asking about his
daughter and
granddaughter.
“They are asleep. Will
wake them up in
time for dinner” was
all she said as she
said as she headed
out of the room.
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
It was Anu’s phone
ringing that disrupted
her sleep. On seeing
the Caller ID, she
looked around the
room and saw
Teniola asleep with
earpiece in her ears
connected to the
nano ipod her sister
had sent coupled
with other things
late last year.
Her parents had
seen it wondering
how she would buy
that so soon when it
was obvious she
was managing
herself but she’d
been able to dodge
their question.
The girl was so
stubborn. How many
times was she going
to tell her to stop
putting earpiece in
her ears to sleep?
Even if it was a short
nap..
She was too young
to damage her
eardrums so soon.
And then sleeping on
the rug when she
could have slept at
the other end of the
bed if she wanted
“Hello…”
“Sisi…” the voice
greeted at the other
end. ”Why are you
sounding grouchy?
Did I call at the
wrong time?”
Anu shifted on the
bed and sighed
rubbing her eyes and
looking up at the
ceiling trying to
gather her thoughts
together.
“Stop calling me Sisi
abeg…”
“Save the grouchy
tone for mum and
Dad. How are you? I
just thought I should
check on you.”
“Thank you.”
“How’s Teni?”
“She’s doing alright.”
She shifted again to
see if the girl was
still asleep. ”So when
are you coming back
to Nigeria? It’s been
a year already. How
many movies are
shooting at once,
ten?”
“Silly gal..” she
drawled. ”What do
you know about
acting anyway?”
“Not interested
thank you very
much.” she hissed.
”Ebun talk sense.
When are you coming
so that we can talk?”
“I’ll have to get back
to you on that one.”
”I got fired today and
things are not
getting better at
home. Everybody is
moving around the
house like they are
afraid of stepping on
each other’s toes. I
want to leave this
house and come
spend time with you
at Lekki, I need to
clear my head and
stay away from
everybody.”
“Fired? How did it
happen? What went
wrong?”
“That’s story for
another day. I hope
you understood all
that I said over the
phone?”
Her sister sighed.
”Yes, I do. Will call you
when I intend coming
over.”
“Please do…”
The door jerked open
and she mumbled a
“I’ll call you later,
Mum’s here.’ before
hanging up.
“Anu…, you’re awake.
I’m sure you must be
hungry. Dinner is
ready and your
father is back.”
“I’ll join you in a
minute.”
“Okay.” Her gaze
settled on the young
girl curled up on the
soft rug where she
had slept off with
her school bag on the
chair.
”Omo yen o kin
gboron. Stop sleeping
on the floor, iro!”
Kemi lamented.
“She probably didn’t
want to disturb me.”
Anu hissed and got
on her feet to wake
up the sleeping child.
“Teni…, Teni…”
Anu pulled away the
ear pods and shook
her again till she
stirred.
“Oya wake up.
Grandma has made
dinner. You need to
eat so that you don’t
wake up hungry.”
And before the child
could protest, Anu
scooped her from the
floor and into her
arms while heading
out of the room.
Having lived with the
child for so long, once
she settled on the
table, she would be
fully awake especially
when the aroma of
food got to her
nostrils.
It was at the table
while they were
eating Anu broke the
news.
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;
It was late by the
time Teniola retired
to her room after
doing her homework.
In a few month’s
time, she was going
to be in JSS 1 and she
couldn’t tell how
elated she was.
But after hearing the
news at the table,
her excitement had
depreciated and she
was torn between
crying and angry.
She felt sorry for her
mother and though
she knew things
would get better
hopefully, she knew
her mother was
unhappy most
especially with the
way she’d acted
harsh towards her at
dinner and while she
was washing plates.
She suddenly felt
guilty when her mind
flashed back to years
ago when she’d
grumbled about the
new job and said a
few words out of
anger. It was almost
like her wish had
come through though
she had just spoken
out of anger at the
time.
Her grandmother had
retired to bed early
while Grandpa stayed
back in the living
room watching the
news though she
could tell his mind
wasn’t completely on
the TV.
On getting to the
door, she pulled the
knob and peeped in
before entering. Her
mother was fixing
the beddings in the
room and she turned
at the noise from the
door.
“Are you done with
your homework?”
“Yes mommy.”
“And have you said
goodnight to grandpa
and grandma?”
“Yes mommy.”
“Okay…, pull off your
clothes and go clean
up so that you can
come say your
prayers and sleep. I’ll
go through your work
when you return.”
Teniola obediently
pulled off her clothes
and went to get her
yellow towel hanging
beside her wardrobe.
The room was large
enough to
comfortably contain
2 people including
some furniture
necessary such as a
bedside table and
chair which Teniola
and Anu used often.
It also contained
some textbooks so
as to ease the load
which she carried to
school. They couldn’t
afford to be buying
her a new school bag
if the old one became
worn out so quickly
due to excessive
weight.
Anu reached to get
her daughter’s school
uniform and the
pressing iron which
lay under the bed.
”Mummy, are you
angry with me?” Teni
asked her huge eyes
peering into her
mother’s.
“What makes you
say that?” Anu
turned on the switch
hoping the Power
Holding Authorities
would keep the light
still as she ironed.
And before she knew
it, Teni was behind
her, holding her waist
while her head rested
slightly above it. The
girl wasn’t that tall
and had a small
stature just like her
mother though Anu
had surpassed her in
height.
“I never meant it
when I told you I
wish you would lose
your job. Please, I’m
sorry if you think so.”
Anu sighed and
turned towards the
child settling on the
bed and holding her
close to herself. How
she loved the girl. She
was so sensitive and
beautiful. How could
she blame her for her
sudden misfortune or
her present situation.
Things happened and
she hoped she could
get something doing
soon.
But before then, she
would love to spend
time with her just as
she always wanted.
She would go and
pick her from school
tomorrow and they
could go out for
icecream and snacks.
Something that she
could afford for the
time being. And they
would talk, laugh and
have fun.
“It’s okay sweetie.”
She kissed her on the
cheeks and rubbed
her hair fondly letting
her fingers stroke
the beads that clung
to the bottom of her
braids. ”I don’t
blame you for
anything. You’re the
best thing that ever
happened to me
y’know?”
Teni beamed and
hugged her mother.
”I love you.”
“I love you too
honey.” She lifted her
and planted her on
the floor. ”Now go
bathe before you
start smelling.”
Teni giggled and left
the room for the
bathroom just
outside the bedroom.
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;
“Gosh Sandra, does
she have to be
around you
everytime?”
Whitney’s irritated
voice brought Sandra
back to the present
and she frowned
wondering who her
friend was talking
about.
“Who?”
“Like you don’t
know…” She hissed
and rolled her eyes at
Pamela who was
seated a few seats
from them. Though
the young woman
was busy on the
phone while scribbling
somethings into a
notepad and had
hardly touched her
food making it
obvious that she
was busy, Sandra
shrugged.
“Well, she has lots of
errands to run for me
and helping me into
my car when those
crazy fans come
running is one of
them.” Sandra
refused to mention
the fact that
Pamela’s presence
made her feel
somewhat
comfortable. The girl
was just multi-
tasking and seemed
to handle all cases
professionally and
wasn’t a snitch just
like the last one
she’d hired and Bayo
had sued.
What kind of P.A
goes around
discussing your
business after
signing a contract not
to? Oh, probably the
kind that wanted
loads of traffic to her
new blog or website
and was ready to
breach their
agreement on that
note.
Pamela had just
graduated from a
community college
where she studied
Business Writing and
intended to continue
her education much
later and that was
partly the reason she
was working for her.
She had also agreed
to be her P.A since
she was also a fan
of her work which
she’d seen. At the
interview, she’d been
impressed at the
way Pamela had
composed herself.
She was outgoing,
laughed when she
made a sarcastic
remark about her and
minded her business.
She never gave any
advice if she didn’t
ask for it and the
ones she subtly tried
to pass across, she
got shunned.
And she was a good
time keeper. Having
mentioned working
as a secretary and a
customer sales
person in the past
few years as a part
time job since she
attended evening
classes, she knew
how to maximize her
time well.
But Sandra knew
nothing about
Pamela’s personal life
and she wondered if
there was much to it.
She never seemed to
have a life of her
own and gave
accurate responses
to her errands.
”Are you thinking of
firing her?” Ashley
asked when she
noticed Sandra’s
eyes were still on her
P.A
“No, she’s doing a
good job. Why should
I?”
Whitney scoffed and
scooped a spoon of
cold chocolate into
her mouth. Even with
her plus size figure,
she still fed herself
to foods with high
calorie and fattening
content. She had her
own show which she
hosted during the
weekends while
Ashley was an
upcoming music
artist who had won
one of Britain’s X-
factor shows. The
three friends had
met years ago on
one of Sandra’s trips
to Manchester.
”I don’t trust those
skinny things. They
think because
they’ve got great
shape they can
wiggle their way into
a man’s bed. The last
one that I caught my
ex cheating on, you
need to see how
skinny she is. She’s
so skinny I had to
wonder what Joni
saw in her. Just
because they can
wear a bikini, they
think they can do
everything else. I
heard the b** can’t
even cook.”
Ashley laughed and
shook her head. ”Too
bad…”
Sandra laughed. ”Men
don’t need women
who can cook these
days.” Looking over
at Pamela once more
with her slim and
graceful shape, she
tried to imagine her
with Bayo for a
second. She knew
the man was that
loose, but he’d be
stooping so low if he
tried making a move
on Pamela. She didn’t
know why she
suddenly came to
trust Pamela
somewhat that she
couldn’t make such a
move.
Or could she?
She was pretty. In
between Caucasian
and black. But her fair
skin glowed and her
eyes were beautiful.
Hazel eyes, thick and
shapely eyebrows,
nice legs that
complemented those
pencil skirts she
wore often, a
smooth shaped nose
and luscious lips. 5’7.
Her hair was left to
fall on her shoulders
when it wasn’t in a
ruffle. It would be
hard for a man not to
fall for her.
Infact, she looked
like a model and that
was when the
question resonated in
her head.
What the hell was
Pamela doing as her
P.A when she could
easily take her
place?
Sandra knew she
was beautiful, there
was no doubt about
that. She’d been the
cover for several
fashion magazines
and products that
wanted her to be the
their ambassador.
She had the face, the
skin, the legs and the
aura. There was
nothing she did not
have.
And so why did the
sudden jealousy of
Pamela fill her so
much?
Pamela’s gaze
suddenly settled
upon her as she took
a slice of her cheese
cake. The girl smiled
and waved obviously
still on the phone
with one of those
people who wouldn’t
leave her the hell
alone and oblivious of
Sandra’ s thoughts
towards her.
Later while they
drove back to the
hotel in her car and
Pamela began
informing her about
the calls and
appointments she’d
made on her behalf,
Sandra looked at her.
“How’s your
boyfriend?”
Pamela stopped and
looked at her,
wondering what had
prompted the
question. ”What?”
“Don’t tell me a
pretty girl like you
doesn’t have a
boyfriend or fiancee
locked up
somewhere…, so tell
me, what’s his
name?”
Sandra noticed her
blinking and how
much she avoided her
gaze. ”I don’t have a
boyfriend.”
“Are you a lesbian?”
Pamela shook her
head. ”No ma’am.”
“And you don’t have
a boyfriend?”
“I don’t”
“That’s impossible!”
Sandra feigned
interest and turned
her full attention to
her. ”C’mon, tell me.”
“Well, it didn’t really
work out well
between us. If you
don’t mind, my
private life is kind of
a mess and I don’t
want to talk about
it.”
“okay…, no problemo.
But I could hook you
up y’know.”
“I appreciate your
efforts Sandra, but
I’d like to sort myself
out first.” At that
moment, the car
stopped and Pamela
couldn’t tell how
relieved she was.
What in the world
had prompted such
questioning, she
pondered as she
helped Sandra with
some of her things
while her Boss
strolled into the
hotel.
“Sandra!” a young
boy of 7 screamed as
she was about
reaching for the door
the butler opened up
for her.
Sandra turned and
noticed a young boy
running towards her
excitedly. He was
white with dark hair
and some freckles
danced on his face. It
was when he got
close that she
noticed the boy must
be a fan since he
tried to get his
thoughts all out at
once.
“I saw you in Pink
Curtains and I think
that’s my best
movie ever!”
Sandra was
somewhat pleased
that a boy of such a
young age was
interested in a movie
like hers and she
smiled. ”Thank you.”
“I want an
autograph. I want to
show it to my
friends in school. Can
you be my girlfriend?”
Sandra did not have
the time to answer
him as a young man
of her age came
running up to join him
and she realized he
must be the father.
The boy must be
brave to come up to
her like this and she
was amused.
“Do you have a pen?”
She asked sweetly
as the guards came
close. She used that
as a distraction since
she knew the guards
will be pulling father
and son away from
her pretty soon. The
last thing she
wanted to do was
sign an autograph.
She was exhausted.
Emotionally and
Physically.
“Nate…, c’mon son
we have to go..” the
father grabbed his
son’s hand though he
was reluctant. But
when Sandra had
found her way into
the building with her
P.A, Nathan’s face
fell and he followed
his father obediently.
But he wasn’t going
to give up yet
Much love. xo!!
Nathan Olsen
watched his father
make breakfast for
him and mumbling a
short blessing, he
grabbed a waffle and
pushed it into his
mouth.
“Nate, how many
times will I warn you
about table
manners?”
He belched and
smiled sheepishly.
”About 20 times I
think…”
“If you go on like
this, all the girls in
your class are going
to run away from
you.” Brian
threatened since he
knew if nothing
seemed to pique his
son’s interest, that
would.
On the other hand,
Nate had become so
used to the threat
that he slightly
ignored his father
and gulped down his
orange juice.
Brian shook his head
and settled down to
his food so that he
could spend time
with his son today
just as he had
promised. The kid
was on a short
vacation and so
father and son had
decided to spend
time together though
he was going to find
time to work on the
backlogs he had due
to their outing last
night.
Apart from God being
the major reason he
was living, Nathan
was the reason he
thought his life was
worthwhile ever
since his mother
passed away five
years ago and he’d
been trying to make
up for the mother’s
love he was missing
out on. When Debbie
was still alive, she
had poured all her
love and attention on
the only son they had
and though Nate had
been too young to
understand what had
happened to him at
the time but he
unconsciously pointed
out details that hurt
his father inside.
He still hurt anytime
he remembered his
wife, her auburn curly
hair bouncing around
her face and how
beautiful and
spontaneous she had
been. She’d been
good at her duty as a
mother, her job as a
teacher that
everybody loved and
she’d been the only
woman he’d ever
fallen so crazily in
love with. He
remembered meeting
her at a play one of
his friends had
invited him to and
how his best friend
had introduced them
and the rest was
history. He
remembered how
she’d convinced him
to move to England
and with her
convincing him that
things could work out
there as well.
It was at the same
time he’d been
praying about where
to go since he had
intentions of leaving
the States after a
life-changing
encounter for him.
After prayers and a
job offer, he left the
states.
And he hadn’t
regretted it. Getting
married to Debbie
brought him joy,
made him happy and
when she brought
Nathan into the
world, he
remembered how
happy he’d been that
tears rolled down his
cheeks.
He remembered how
they would talk long
hours into the night
and she would try to
help him in all ways
she could while he
worked on his
projects. Even the
days he couldn’t
come home due to
his Boss’ request, he
would call her and
they would talk.
7 years they lived
happy. 7 years it
seemed Heaven
smiled on him, even
the times when they
would argue so much
and feel like they
couldn’t cope being
together. Things
always worked out.
Till that day that
tragedy struck and it
seemed as if
something died in him
at that moment. He
often wondered if
her death was a
push for him to do
what God had called
him to do in the first
place.
He saw her in his
dreams often, saw
her smiling at him.
Saw her looking
happy and running
towards something,
almost as if she was
telling him goodbye.
But he wasn’t ready
to say goodbye.
He doubted he was
anytime soon.
“First to finish!” Nate
yelled disrupting his
thoughts and
jumping up from the
kitchen stool to
prove his point by
throwing his fists
around him
somewhat trying to
make his strength
known.
“Hey…, hey..sit down
because I’m not
gonna clean up any
mess you happen to
pour on the floor.”
Brian scolded.
“C’mon Dad! Do you
have to say that all
the time? It
happened only once
and you just keep
drumming it into my
ears..”
“Anytime you try and
pull macho stunts
immediately after
food, then trust me
to keep reminding
you about it.”
“Great!” he snorted.
”Just great, I’m going
over to Grandma’s
house for dinner.”
Brian had grown
accustomed to his
tricks for a while
now. Father and son
knew their way
around each other.
“Good, I’ll even help
you pack so you can
sleep there. I have
loads of unfinished
business to work on.
The fact that I’m a
freelance Graphic
designer doesn’t
mean I have all day
to play hide and
seek.”
Nathan mimicked him
but in an English
accent and knowing
what was coming
next, he tried running
but his father caught
up with him in time
grabbing him in a
swift movement and
right into the couch
leaving him laughing
excitedly as his
father threw playful
punches in his side.
“I’m sorry, you win!”
he managed to voice
out when his father
refused to relent.
“Never upset the big
man in the house.
Now who’s the
Boss?”
Nathan tried to prove
stubborn but it didn’t
last long. ”You are
the Boss!”
Brian had a
satisfactory grin on
his face and released
his son tousling his
hair fondly before
raising himself and
strolling to pack their
plates to the sink in
the kitchen.
“Come help your
Ol’man in the kitchen.
That’s the deal
before we step out
of the house today.
You up to it?”
Nate smiled. ”Yea…”
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Anu got to Teniola’s
school just before
closing time and
waited patiently
outside trying to
take her mind off
things while breezing
through her phone
absent mindedly. Her
shades in her hair and
a simple white blazer
over a brown
sleeveless gown and
a pair of brown
sandals. One look at
her and you would
doubt Teniola was
her child. Anu didn’t
look like someone
who had dropped
anything from the
womb of hers and it
was no wonder just
one glance didn’t do
justice to her though
she felt it was soon
becoming a thing of
the past if her life
continued this way.
She was pretty but
these days, she
didn’t feel so.
Sometimes, she felt
she was weak, her
faith was weak, so
was her strength
and she couldn’t say
if she could last
anymore. Maybe she
was a
disappointment. All
those words she’d
read in the bible this
morning was
probably not for her,
maybe it was just
her imagination,
maybe she was just
delusional.
She checked her
phone once more and
wondered why Ebun
wouldn’t reply her
message on the
blackberry
messenger since
yesterday and that
was unusual. Even
the mail she sent
hadn’t been replied.
Was she so busy
that she refused to
reply her? At least
she had told her to
return her call right
after she cut the call.
The school bell rang
and the students
came trooping out.
Dropping her phone
into her bag, she put
her shades back on
and waited
expectantly for a
petit framed girl, fair
in complexion with
big eyes, small nose
and lips just like her
mothers’
Soon, she saw her,
her beaded hair
bouncing around her
while her bag hung on
her shoulders. Her
eyes came in contact
with her mothers’
and she ran excitedly
to jump on her.
Anu’s temporary
depression took a
back seat and she
embraced the child
warmly, smiling into
her eyes.
“See this big girl
jumping on her
mother.” Anu teased
collecting her school
bag from her and
Teni reached for her
hand out of impulse.
“Won’t your
classmates call you
momma’s girl?’
Teni shrugged. ”I
don’t care. It’s been
a while you came to
pick me from school
anyway so I just had
to relish the
moment.”
“Sarah!” a voice called
out and Anu turned.
It’d been a long time
anybody called her by
her English name
since she hardly used
it.
It had to be someone
who had grown with
her during her
childhood days.
She turned to see a
dark and tall guy in
brown jacket over a
white vest and blue
jeans and frowned.
His face was vaguely
familiar but she
found a hard time
placing it.
She stopped to wait
while he picked up his
steps and almost
jogged towards her.
“Hi…” he greeted
trying to catch his
breath.
“Hi, have we met
before?” Even as she
uttered those words,
the full realization
that she was
standing before an
old schoolmate
dawned on her and
she cried, ” Gbenro!”
He smiled and his
dimples showed
revealing how
handsome he could
be.
Which he was before
he threw a smile her
way. She
remembered him
well. They’d gone to
the same primary
school and they had
been in the same
class together
though he was a
trouble maker at the
time and her sister
Ebun complained how
the boy was always
pulling the hair that
their mother had
managed to make
for them that week,
most especially when
thread was being
used. Her sister
would come back
with her threaded
hair hanging loosely
on almost all ends
and fuss about how
some boy did it to
look for her trouble
though she later
found out the poor
boy had only been
trying to get the
girl’s attention
though he was doing
a poor job out of it.
And after primary
school, they’d gone
their separate ways.
He seemed to know
which of the sisters
he was relating with
when he called her
Sarah. Well, how
wouldn’t he when
her sister was miles
away from her and
they had nothing in
common.
Anyone who knew
their roots knew the
distinction between
them.
“It’s so good to see
you.” He said
breaking into her
thoughts and leaning
close for a brief hug.
This caught Anu by
surprise and she
acted clumsily
towards him making
him apologize
immediately.
“Oh, you too.” She
swallowed
“And who is this
pretty young lady?”
he looked at Teni and
waved at her. Teni
who had been trained
not to talk to
strangers held tightly
to her mother’s hand
till Anu spoke up.
”It’s okay baby,
Uncle Gbenro is a
friend.”
“Good afternoon sir.”
“Hey, good
afternoon.” He looked
at Sarah and his
eyebrows perked up
expecting an answer.
Anu swallowed the
lump in her throat
and muttered. ”She’s
my daughter.”
“She looks just like
you.” He smiled again
and Anu had to
pretend his smile did
nothing to her
insides. ”How’s your
husband?”
“I’m not married.”
“Oh…, oh…,I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s okay.” Anu
forced a smile. The
conversation was
starting to feel
awkward and she
was about walking
away when he went
on.
“Do you stay around
here?”
“Yes, we do.”
“Great. I just moved
to my new place at
Ogolonto and my
sister sent me to
pick her son from
school. I’ll be driving
back and so I was
thinking I could drop
you two if you don’t
mind.”
“Well, We’re not
heading for the
house immediately.”
“Me neither.” He said
almost immediately.
”I mean David and I
were planning to
stop by for some ice-
cream as well…”
“I don’t want to
inconvenience you..”
“No, you’re not.” He
assured her. ”We can
get to catch up on old
times.”
Anu looked at Teni
as if expecting the
final confirmation
from her. When she
looked up, she
shrugged. ”If you say
we’re not gonna
inconvenience you,
then it’s a Yes.”
“I’ll be back, in less
than 5 minutes.” and
he jogged off.
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;
Anu wasn’t much of
a talker. Her sister
had been the social
one, the one who
enjoyed the
attention wherever
she was. Even while
they were growing
up, Ebun was the one
who people loved
spending time with.
The social one and
the one who never
bored people and the
one who seemed to
have caught Gbenro’s
attention back in
school at the time
though her sister
hadn’t realized it
early, Anu knew the
boy liked her.
But that was many
years ago and right
now, she didn’t know
why Gbenro wanted
to catch up on old
times with her.
Maybe because he
felt she was the only
one who could have
access to Ebun.
Though she hoped
her reasoning was
wrong, she hoped
Gbenro would prove
her right.
She saw him looking
into her eyes and she
looked back into her
cup and briefly
glanced at Teni and
David. The two didn’t
seem to get along
well which meant
she would have to
leave soon.
“How has it been
with you?” he asked.
“Normal I guess.”
“C’mon tell me. I
want to know more
about you. What
have you been up
to?”
She shrugged.
”Honestly, nothing
much. I lost my job
recently and I’m
staying with my
parents in Ikorodu.
Teniola stays with
me as well and I plan
on getting another
job soon hoping to
God that he provides
one while I diligently
seek for it. So there
you go.”
Anu hoped by now
this guy would be
bored and probably
leave her alone.
“What did you study
in the University?”
“Economics.”
“I could make some
calls to help out. Are
you willing to work in
a Bank or an auditing
firm?”
Anu was beginning to
dislike the ‘Bank’
word but felt an
auditing firm would
be a better place to
work.
“Auditing sounds
great.”
Gbenro smiled again
watching her
surreptitiously as her
mind seemed to
graze over several
invisible thoughts and
battles. He wondered
what must be taking
up so much space in
her mind that she
was finding it hard to
talk with him. He
knew they had not
been close back then,
infact the reason
why he remembered
her was because of
her sister who he’d
been crazy about
back then. With time,
after primary six,
they’d gone their
separate ways to
high school but and
he’d moved on,
rounded up, studied
and graduated from
UI all for him to see
her on TV much
more beautiful than
ever and memories
came rushing back
which left him
devastated.
But seeing her sister
right now gave him
some sort of hope,
reminded him of
Sandra in so many
ways and wondered
if she would be like
her sister if he got to
know her.
How wrong he was.
“Mummy, I want to
go home.” Teni had
found her place
beside Anu and
looked sulky. It was
obvious she hadn’t
enjoyed herself.
Whatever had that
David boy done to her
daughter. She mused
as she glanced over
at him and saw him
playing with a phone.
At his age? Where
was the word
discipline in areas
where his parents
were concerned.
She stood up trying
to find her way out
of their enclosed
table. She suddenly
wished she could
stay longer but she
realized she couldn’t.
Maybe she would get
his number.
“I’m sorry, we have
to go home now,
Teni has school
tomorrow and I have
to prepare her and
help with her
homework.”
“Ok..”
“Your number…”
He looked surprised
and Anu felt she had
probably made the
wrong move.
“I’m sorry…, it was
nice meeting you.”
“No, please, let me
have your PIN and
your number.”
After the awkward
exchange of
contacts, Anu forced
up a smile and found
her way out of the
cafeteria leaving
Gbenro and David
watching them.
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
“Do you like him?”
Anu pretended to
look confused.
”Who?”
“That man we met
today. Uncle Gbenro. I
saw the two of you
talking…”
“Well, We just met
honey and he’s an old
classmate of mine.”
“I think he’s cute,
but I don’t like his
nephew David. He’s
such a snob.”
“I could tell.” the two
of them giggled
softly and Teni
snuggled in closer
into her bed spread.
“Do you see him in
school?”
“He’s one of those
spoilt kids in school
who keeps talking
about how rich his
parents are. I don’t
make friends with
snobs or dullards.”
“Teni! What makes
you say that?”
“His grades are bad
enough. I’m not going
to start talking about
the details. Kids like
that make fun of
people like me and
the only thing I have
to boast of is my
grades which I’m
gonna do anytime he
tries to make me
feel bad.”
“You watch lots of
stuff on
Nickelodeon.” Her
mother teased.
“So, are you gonna
marry him? I want
you to be happy and I
want a daddy.”
“Honey, who says
I’m not happy?”
Teni shrugged. ”You
don’t look happy to
me.”
“I am happy..” she
paused sighing
heavily. ”Look,
relationships
between a man and
a woman are quite
complex and Gbenro
and I don’t look like 2
people who are
meant to be.”
“But you’ve got to
try right? You told me
yourself that
whenever things
don’t work out,
you’ve got to push
harder, you’ve got to
make it work.”
Anu smiled as the girl
quoted her exact
words back to her
and she leaned close
to kiss her hair
before wishing her
goodnight.
When she was alone,
she thought about it,
thought about the
whole scenario and
how stiff she’d been
and she knew the
reason why. She
knew she felt
insecure, felt she
wasn’t the one
Gbenro wanted to
see and partly her
reason for acting
that way. Everybody
wanted her sister,
not the shadow, not
the boring one who
was afraid to say
something that could
sound ridiculous.
But remembering
Teni’s words made
her come to a
conclusion. Maybe she
had to start trying.
Make things work
even when they
refused to.
She picked her phone
and dialled Gbenro’s
number.
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Within a few weeks
Anu met Gbenro,
things began
happening so fast
that sometimes, Anu
wished she could
pause and ask
herself if something
like this was what
she really wanted.
She knew she was
getting older, and
things were not
getting better at
home either but
Gbenro looked
promising though he
hadn’t made his
intentions known to
her but she was
beginning to like him.
He wasn’t put off
with the fact that
she had a child and he
was a cool guy who
had the right jokes to
deliver at the right
time. He was calm
and respected her
like a gentleman. He
called her and made
small talks just
before she retired for
the day. He told her
he had made certain
calls for her and she
diligently went for
the interviews that
she got called for.
She didn’t know
what she would do if
Gbenro finally decided
to make it obvious
that he wanted to
marry her though she
knew it was too
early to jump into
conclusions but her
mind was planning so
much that it almost
left her as a person
out of it.
Sometimes, the
doubt about him
having feelings for
her would crawl in
and she doubted if
she was in love the
way she should be.
Maybe it was just
her mind. Gbenro was
a good-looking man
who worked in a
reputable bank.
Someone a woman
of her status would
want to have as a
husband. Someone to
take care of her and
love her.
She was alone at the
dinning table reading
her Bible one night
when her mother
came to further
contribute to her
wavering thoughts
about her feelings for
Gbenro. He’d been to
the house once to
pick her for dinner
and she could tell
how excited her
mother was.
“I hope I’m not
intruding anything
Anu…, but I just
thought I should give
you some motherly
advice.”
Anu raised her head
and closed her Bible
ready to listen to
whatever lecture her
mother had to say
though she could
predict it already.
“I noticed the young
man that came to
the house the other
day to take you out
and I just want to
say I’m happy for
you.”
Anu laughed.
”Mummy, Gbenro
hasn’t asked me to
marry him o. We’ve
only known each
other for about six to
eight weeks…”
“So you want to say
you two are just
friends?”
“Well, maybe…”
“Listen to me young
woman, I want you
to make up your
mind about that
young man at this
moment of your life
because men like
that don’t have
duplicates. I’m not
saying you should do
something foolish by
throwing yourself at
him or sleep with
him, but I want you
to act wisely and do
the right thing. Men
like to know if the
woman they are
interested in feel the
way they feel and so
don’t chase him
away. He’s the only
suitor that has
looked your way ever
since Toyosi. Men in
this part of the world
don’t really like to
date a single mother
talk-less of marry
one and so, do what
you can. I don’t need
to start telling you
the story of Ruth
once more. We both
know what she did
to find her place in
Boaz’ house.”
If there was
anything Anu could
be awarded for, it
was her submissive
response to people
whom she cared
about and her
inability to put up a
rebellious argument.
“I can see Teni has a
liking to him already.”
Kemi went on smiling
to herself rather
than Anu whose
mind had once again
found solace inside
her deepest
thoughts. ”God is
good isn’t he? At the
right time he sends
you your own
husband. Thank God,
we’ll just have to
keep praying that he
will not be snatched
from your hands.
Whoever wants to
manipulate his mind
away from you will
not succeed.”
“Amen.”
Kemi patted her
daughter briefly and
stood up. “And soon,
your job will work
out. Things will begin
to work out for you
in all areas of your
life. Oko ti e lo ma fe,
ise ti tie lo ma ri ni
oruko Jesu…”
“Amin.”
“I’m going to bed. To
ba se tan, pa gbogbo
ina ko to lo sun
sogbo?”
“Yes ma.”
“Odaro oko mi. A ma
ji ire”
“Odaro ma.”
Anu watched her
mother leave and
sighed. Maybe this
was what love was
afterall, this
affection for Gbenro.
It wasn’t like she
even knew what the
word was anyway.
She’d loved in the
past, loved her sister
and her family with
such intensity that
she did so much for
them and
suppressed all her
emotions to please
them.
And look at where it
had her, feeling
empty and lost.
Feeling exhausted.
Maybe this kind of
love she had for
Gbenro was the best
kind. The type that
didn’t require so
much of her. The
type that made her
still cling to other
parts of herself and
the part that would
still cling to her heart
even when she gave
him her body after
they were married.
The part that would
act like a dutiful wife
and do what she
was told. That would
make him happy
while she tried to
seek for happiness in
something else. At
least she would try.
Just as she’d seen
her mother try
several times with
their father.
This was probably
what God had
designed for her
after-all.
She closed her bible
and switched off all
the lights in the
house before going
to join her daughter
in bed.
Gbenro had promised
to take her and Teni
to the mall tomorrow
and she wanted to
look great for him.
She had in mind the
perfect dress that
would make him glad
to be with her and
she hoped their
outing would turn out
well.
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;.;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
For weeks, Sandra
attended events and
red carpets in
different countries
that wanted to host
her for her
breakthrough movie
Pink Curtains with
Kristin Stacey and
though the glamour
was enough to make
a girl swoon, she got
tired easily and was
emotionally spent.
TV shows that
invited her for a little
chat wouldn’t stop
comparing her to the
likes of Halle Berry
and Kerry
Washington. Some
even went as far as
tagging her as the
new face after Halle
and she felt
overwhelmed.
She signed
autographs, took
pictures, traveled
different countries
and got booked for
several
appointments.
And then she got a
nominated as Best
Supporting actress
for one of those
British Awards.
That was when the
fear crept in and
though she could feel
the panic secretly
building up inside, she
hid behind a masked
face of confidence,
make-up and charm.
At night, she looked
at herself in the
mirror and asked
herself if this wasn’t
what she wanted.
What she’d worked
her whole life for. She
should be proud, not
scared. She should be
able to go back to her
country and show
her parents how
much she had
achieved without
them after they
rejected her many
years ago. Her sister
loved her. That was
the only person in the
whole world who
would do anything
for her. Whom she
could still call family
and who still kept in
touch with her.
The one who had a
role to play in bringing
her this far though
that role was
invisible to the whole
world.
She knew she would
need her help once
more and she had to
start thinking fast.
She needed time
away but the world
didn’t want to give
her time. They
wanted her to deliver
every d--n time like
she had no soul of
her own.
Tonight, she sat in
her bubble bath
sipping a glass of red
wine while her mind
battled with crazy
thoughts of how she
could break free from
this invisible prison of
hers. Bayo was out
of his mind if he
thought he could go
on treating her like
something less than
a human being
without a mind. He’d
threatened to liquefy
majority of her
assets that he had
access to if she
refused to move
back to his
apartment and here
she was, allowing
him gain access to
her body when she
couldn’t even stand
him anymore.
He’d been rough with
her yesterday, giving
her a bruise when
she protested and
she hurt while
undergoing her
massage therapy
earlier in the day. She
knew Bayo could kill
her if given to his
unbearable passions
and Marvin refused
to stop calling her.
Pamela had
mentioned her
mother being ill and
how she had to
travel to see her
mother hereby
leaving her to her
fate for one a few
days. At least the girl
had a family to tend
to.
What about hers?
What about a
family’s love?
A few days without
Pamela made her feel
miserable and she
had no excuses to
make or whoever to
hand over her calls to.
Her cell phone rang
and she left it,
resting her head on
the edge of the tub
knowing who it was
and expecting the call
to switch over to
voice-mail.
“Hey babes” Bayo’s
baritone voice filled
the room where Nora
Jone’s voice crooned
from her CD player. ”I
know you’re there
even if you don’t
wanna pick up.
Listen, I got the
contract for you with
Xtreme and they
can’t wait to see you
grace their cover this
month. Topless. I
know we talked
about this before but
they’re offering us a
huge amount of
pounds and you just
have to do it. It’s
gonna boost your
career and I can
assure you they
can’t wait to start
taking the photo-
shoots. It’s
happening tomorrow
morning so get
yourself refreshed.
There’s nothing
make-up artists
can’t cover up if
you’re worrying
about those marks
on your skin.”
Sandra jerked from
her limbo and
watched with
trepidation as Bayo
sold her off with
confidence, almost
as if her opinion
didn’t matter
anymore. So he knew
about the marks and
he was bold enough
to keep this facade
going? No wonder
he’d sent the
massage therapy for
her earlier today. He’d
known about the
whole thing and
didn’t bother to tell
her he’d signed
anything till now.
The scheming devil!
She wanted to stab
him and watch him
beg for mercy. She
couldn’t go on like
this. What will she
do? Where would she
run to?
Her eyes went to her
phone and she
snatched it, scrolling
through her unread
messages
desperately seeking
for the one she had
ignored while ideas
kept running through
her head.
And then she
stopped when her
sister’s nickname
stared back at her
and she didn’t
hesitate to call her.
Her sister picked on
the second ring and
she paused waiting
to gather her acting
wits together.
“Madam Ebun, so you
decided to call me
today…” the voice
snapped a little
angry.
“Oh Anu!” Sandra
sobbed making sure
it was as effective
as she made it
sound. ”I’m coming
home! I can’t talk
right now. Please you
have to help me!”

0