The First Love Triangle in Human History (Based on true events)

This is the story of three special people in the Bible; Abraham, Sarah and Hagar.

Sarah and Abraham; rich, influential, elderly and friends of God. One would expect that they would have it all seeing  how close they were to God. However, they lacked something; a child. The irony here is, God had promised to make them both the Father and Mother of many nations and had promised that their descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Yet, they had no child, and time was flying by real quick.

Fast forward a few years after the promise of raising an army of children. God sent three visitors, well technically they were angels. Abraham received them with so much warmth. The angels were so glad with the reception they received and promised them a child. You see, Abraham was 99 years old and Sarah was 89. Humanly speaking it was quite impossible. Sarah, hiding in the tent laughed. In contemporary Nigeria, she probably thought to herself, "These people should resist the urge to shalaye now?! How can I give birth at this old age that I'm in?" Her faith wasn't exactly rock solid at this point in her life... 

Moving on! Kai, let me not get ahead of myself. Let's take this story step by step. 

Yeah, so we're going to rewind a little bit. You see, after God promised to make Sarah and Abraham parents of an uncountable number of descendants, time was slowly passing by and they were both growing older. You know this human thing we allow to engulf us from time to time called "Impatience"? Sadly, it got a hold of Sarah. This gave birth to the first love triangle to be recorded in the history of mankind. The third party in this love story was a servant girl called Hagar. She had been serving Sarah for a while.

I imagine one lovely evening as Abraham was standing and enjoying the cool breeze, gazing at the stars and giving them names, "I'll name you Bitrus, ah... you, you look troublesome, I'll name you Jenom... ah! You! You look like you'll make so much noise, I'll name you Nma, you... well, you'll probably be a leader someday, I'll name you Esrom"... Well you get the gist. Sarah interrupted his "alone time". She had a brilliant idea, or so it seemed.

Anyway, you remember Hagar the servant girl? Sarah, using her womanly charm convinced Abraham to get her pregnant. Abraham must have truly loved Sarah, because he didn't question this idea of hers but agreed to go in and "sup" with Hagar.

So it turns out that Abraham was indeed fruitful, because Hagar conceived. Now, after Hagar conceived, something changed. She was no longer a submissive slave because she had something her mistress didn't have. You know when your sibling finds you doing something wrong and they hang like a dark cloud over your head because you promised to always give them your meat as long as they don't report you? Well, Hagar became that dark cloud over Sarah's head. Mocking her and not being respectful anymore because she was pregnant and her madam was not. This pissed Sarah off. 

You see, at this point, the blame game started. Sarah blamed Hagar's misbehavior on Abraham. Even I am like "What!!! You started it"! Anyway, my opinion doesn't really count. What's done is done. As I was saying, Sarah blamed Abraham for the way Hagar was treating  her because he got her knocked up, and told Abraham she was going to send her away. For peace to reign, Abraham said she should do to her whatsoever she thought was right at the time. After all, Hagar was Sarah's servant not his.

After the big blow out, with Abraham's blessing of course (or not), pregnant Hagar got kicked out.

This marks the end of Part 1...

Food for thought:
- Do you believe the promises God has made to you even though they might seem impossible or do you laugh like Sarah?

-Are you so impatient when God takes His time to fulfill the promises He has made to you, hence tending to jump the gun and take matters into your own hands just like Sarah?

-When someone creates an avenue for good things to happen in your life, do you mock them when things aren't going so well for them as with Hagar?

-When someone dear to you comes up with a crazy idea to solve a pressing issue, do you throw caution to the wind and play along just like Abraham?

#WatchOutForPart2 (Pardon me but I have to add some Nollywood effect to this😃😃😃).

God bless you, wash your hands and stay safe! 💗💗💗💗

Street 365!

Hi Daddy! This lengthy blog post is about you and for you because you love reading articles. On the 16th of December 2017, about 25 minutes after your birthday the previous day, you left! You died! Without warning... It came as a shock to me, Mummy actually thought you had just fainted that night. Death didn't even cross her mind. I believe God loved you so much. He didn't allow you experience any pain. "I want to die in my sleep". "I don't want to stress anyone". You were always making those statements, but each time we'd ask you not to talk about death. God answered your prayers. Indeed you died in your sleep. Your death left us miserable to say the least. 

We cried, and cried, and cried some more. We had lost our hero. Mummy was broken for the most part. She didn't understand it. "I was with him a few minutes ago. He described a house to me and asked me to go there and he'd meet up with me. He asked me to keep a bottle of wine for him. Wait, it was his birthday a few minutes ago. What's going on?" She needed someone to explain. She was detaching from reality a little bit and the five of us had to step up and attempt filling the void. Mannnnn, God is great Daddy! He helped us rally round her like white blood cells coming together to fight war against malaria parasites. We're trying our best but nothing can fill that void in her heart. She misses you a lot. Sometimes I hear her cry and I pretend I'm asleep just so she'd cry and feel better. Meanwhile, I now occupy your bed space. My room is just housing clothes and shoes... If I attempt staying on my own, she "who has the final say", will come and drag me back to her, no, OUR room! Daddy, you were indeed a great listener because you loved and married a story teller. 

So, it's been 365 days without you, and to be very candid, it's been tough. We try to laugh, smile, joke around and put up a happy front, BUT deep down inside we're still patching up the pieces of our broken hearts. God has been faithful and He is indeed the great comforter. We're getting by! 

Pop, I'm going to try to run down some of the major events that took place this year. Events I'm sure you would've loved to attend in person. Some are not events par say. I know you love to read so here goes something... 

Caleb and Maryam had a baby girl. She was named Hannah Shimfwo Banta. She's a gorgeous little girl who loves to laugh. Just like you. She's friendly, hardly cries, and loves to sleep... Yes... Just like you too. 

The last grand child you held in your arms, Menyit. The cry baby who's also extremely cute and loveable. She celebrated her first birthday. She's grown now though. She walks, knows her ABCs, and is a great dancer. Just like her mother. You didn't know how to dance Daddy, so... She didn't get that from you. No vex! Hehehe

Mummy turned 60! She also retired. Her birthday was gloomy. Some of us had to hide and cry because it was obvious... Your space was vacant. The void was just so glaring. Smiling was like a crime at this party. But mummy is aging gracefully. She's so grateful to God for everything and she misses you... She had plans. Let me give you a hint, she was preparing to teach you how to eat Boiled Rice and Egusi soup... You didn't really like Egusi soup, but she was really ready for you! Now I'm at her mercy... Whewww. Egusi and White Rice is yummy though. 

Daddy, I started wearing makeup on a professional level. I'm reporting myself because the last disagreement we had was on the color of my lipstick. Please permit me to slay occasionally! 

Martins got married oh Daddy. He married a cute lady who's name is Nankling. He really felt bad that you didn't get to see him walk down the isle with his girl! 

Kucheli and Williams had a baby girl! Her name is Hadassah. She's so cute. She loves kisses and is very playful. You loved playful babies and I remember you were always asking how Kucheli was coping with her pregnancy. Well, this is the wittu human being she was carrying! You would've loved her. 

Swandys wrote a book in your honor. It's a book that you'd be very proud of. It describes you and enumerates the impact you've had on us your kids and all other people who came in contact with you at some point in your lifetime. I imagine you calling all your friends and telling them to grab a copy of the book. You'd always be evergreen in our hearts. We're looking for ways to keep your memories alive and this book is a great place to start. 

There was a medical outreach to Kaura in January. It held in honor of you. A lot of lives were saved... A guy with torn intestines nearly died but he had to undergo surgery during the outreach. He's doing fine at the moment. We tried going through with it because that was something you had in mind to do. Many people appreciated it and we give glory to God! 

You got an award!!! Yippy!!! Your hard work in church was recognized by both man and God! We are incredibly proud that other people who aren't in our nucleus recognize how amazing you are as a person. 

I can go on and on and on but street 365 has a whole lot of other events that I'm sure you're aware of. We miss you terribly Daddy.  Your grandkids... The older ones, they always talk about you. They ask questions about you... And they always struggle to sleep on your side of the bed whenever they come visiting. 

We miss you Daddy. Life isn't the same without you. I thought I'd take my own life at the demise of one of my family members but God's grace is sufficient for me. We're all getting by and the comforter is incredible. One year, fresh and fond memories of you are in our hearts... Ten or twenty or fifty years later, they'll still remain fresh! I love you daddy. I hope you enjoyed taking a tour down street 365?!? Give God a big handshake (you don't do hugs or kisses) for us all because He's been extremely good to us! I'll always love you! #Selah

Diary of a Biker Girl!

I am pretty sure most or some of you my adorable readers will want to read a story about a biker girl who looks like this:

 



Well, sorry to burst your bubble because the story you are about to read, is the story of a biker girl who actually, looks like this:

 

Biker Girl noni!

Sasha is a teacher, child lover and bad ass driver who dares to drive cars that no one else looks forward to driving. She is a classical example of a voluptuous lady who has flesh in the right places, but people call her a plus size beauty. That's by the way... Sasha had this SUV she loved so much until it packed up. Seeing that Nigeria is facing recession, Sasha decided to park her SUV at her parent's house. Being immobile was what turned Sasha into a biker girl. 'Ah riding Okada can be so much fun' Sasha thought to herself, UNTIL she started experiencing certain things that led her into creating her 'Diary of a Biker Girl'. Find excerpts from Sasha's diary below...

DAY 1: Bad Hair Day

Getting dressed was so much fun today. Yesterday though, I went to Mama Bulus to get my hair made and it is sooooo on point. Fast forward to the time when I walked to the junction to get a bike. 'Resettlement', I said. '150' he answered. 'Smooth', I said to myself. 'Please tilt your bike so that I can get on it', and he did. Our conversation was in Hausa by the way. Zoom, and off we went. 2 seconds into the ride to work, I noticed something was going on....

The Hair

 

'I didn't pick my hair brush', I started feeling nervous cos today I'll be teaching teenagers for the first time and I can clearly remember what I did to my teachers who looked scruffy in class. 'I am in soup', I said to myself. On arrival, I began using my finger to stroke my hair when a student was kind enough to offer some help. Feeeeyuuuu! I will not forget my hairbrush tomorrow. #DiaryofaBikerGirl

 

 

 

DAY 2: Stares and Funny Comments

 

Yes, today was extremely hilarious. As I write this, I can't help but laugh out loud. I got to the junction to catch a bike ride as usual. I noticed all the bikes were taken and I was running kinda late. I was about stopping a cab when I saw this bike man coming towards me in all his glory! Had to put his arrival on 'Slow mo' in my head cos he was a sight for sore eyes at the time. However, he was soooooooo skinny! I was like what the hell, let's go there. On our way though, I noticed a lot of people were staring and I wondered why....

 

 



The Contrast

Disclaimer: This isn't me, I am NOT this big, BUT this is exactly how I looked on the bike with this skinny 'Mai mashin'. At the traffic stop, someone summoned courage to say 'Kai, Oga, Ka yi Kokari', 'Kai Oga you try', and we all burst out laughing. I will know to pick on someone 'My own size' tomorrow. #DiaryofaBikerGirl



 



DAY 3: The Race

So, I kinda had a good day today. I was on a bike heading to work as usual, and then I saw some of my students... 'Aunty good morning', they yelled as they waved and smiled at me with all their strength...

Even the bike man was excited... One of them said 'We'll race you to school'. I looked at them, gave them a batman stare and said 'Game On'. "Mallam mu yi rige rige". "Oga, let's race them". Bad idea... The Bike man was into it, they were winning at some point, I was winning at some point, it was a tie at some point until...

 

For Races and Flat Tyres

 



 'POW'! We got flats! The kids waved and rode away without a care in the world. Good thing we didn't flip over. Lesson learnt! #DiaryofaBikerGirl

DAY 4: Of Tight Dresses and Comfort

Today, I had the most comfortable bike ride to work. The 'Mai Mashin' didn't have to tilt his bike for me to get on cos there was no handbag to weigh me down. Sometime ago, I wore this Straight cut Ankara gown and totally forgot that I was going to go on  a bike ride... This was the struggle...

The Struggle to climb was epic



 

Thighs out, holding on tight to the mai mashin, and hoping 'peek-a-boo' does not take place when I get off the bike eventually. I decided from that day, to always dress the part and look sharp for the 'biker girl' experience. #DiaryofaBikerGirl.

 

 

Sasha is still a biker girl to this day, and she still records her experiences, hoping not to fall off an okada anytime soon. She hopes to be a pro biker girl in future and hopefully own a bike of her own someday soon. Watch this space for when it happens. XoXo. 

 

...School Fathers... Part 3

The well where Valerie met 'Mr Tilt'

Something inexplicable happened to Valerie that day by the well. She couldn't place a finger on it. Filling the numerous buckets with water and dragging them to the front of Senior WilliWilli's bunk seemed like an infinite task, but she did it.

Obiangeli was there to give Valerie a shoulder to cry on. 'We didn't get to introduce ourselves earlier. I'm Obiangeli', she reached out and hugged Val. 'Valerie. You can call me Val for short'. At that moment, they became best of friends. They went to the dining hall together, attended the same class, the very popular Js2c, did their laundry together, went into hiding behind the school clinic whenever there's a mass punishment going on after inspection on Saturdays for no reason. They became besties.

Weeks ran into months and Valerie adjusted just fine. Megan was always checking in on her, making sure she was staying out of trouble. One sunny Saturday, Valerie went to get Obiangeli from the hostel so that they could quickly get charcoal from the kitchen to iron their house wears and school uniforms. Obiangeli was laying under her grey blanket. 'Obs, what's wrong? Its hot. Why are you under a blanket'? Valerie pulled the blanket and found her best friend shivering. Obiangeli had a burning fever. Immediately, Valerie helped her get dressed and put her arms round Obiangeli to render support as they walked to the clinic.

They had passed the dining hall when all of a sudden Obiangeli had a seizure. 'Help... Help... Help me.....' Valerie screamed. Just then she saw two boys running towards her. She was so scared and didn't have the time to look at the boys who had helped her lift Obiangeli to the clinic. The nurse was attending to Obiangeli and Val had to rush to the staff quarters to tell her guardian to place a call forward to Obiangeli's parents which he did.

Valerie began sobbing on her way back to the clinic. She sat on a bench and continued sobbing. 'Its like crying is your hobby'. The voice sounded familiar. Valerie looked up and it was him. The head boy... She had nicknamed him 'Mr Tilt' in her head. 'Its you...' Valerie had to scoot so he could sit beside her. 'She'll be fine. Don't cry'. 'I hope so... Her parents are on their way'. Segun held her hand and told her he'd noticed how close they were and how its okay for her to cry over her best friend's illness. They spent time talking and moments later, Valerie was laughing at the stories he told her about some of the grammatical errors his English teacher made during lectures a day before. 'Who tookted it'? 'Open the window let the atmosphere jump in'. 'I jumpted on the snake and I kills it'. Valerie chucked and chuckled. 'She's so cute when she laughs' Segun thought to himself.

After a while, Obiangeli's parents came and picked her up. 'Please help her put her things together till she returns ok'? Her mum told Valerie. Segun walked Valerie to the front of the dining hall and gave her a hug before they parted ways. She walked quietly to her hostel when Senior Sharon yelled her name. 'Valerieeeeee....come here you boyfriend snatcher'. Valerie was confused but walked straight to Senior Sharon's corner. 'Catch your ears', 'ride machine', 'think about your mother','frog jump'... Valerie served series of punishments without knowing the reason why...

A couple of days had passed and Obiangeli had not returned. Afternoon prep was over and all the Js2 students were asked to go to the dining hall for a general punishment. 'Lie down flat all of you'. Some SS3 boys were looking for an avenue to take care of their testosterone issues. Valerie laid down close to Bilkisu, an asthmatic classmate of hers.

 'Bilkisu, I have an idea that will get us out of here', Valerie whispered. 'What smart plan do you have in mind'? she asked. 'Form asthma attack. I'll carry you and then we'll go to the hostel. I cant allow them flog my bum bum with that fat stick Senior Abiodun is holding oh'. Bilkisu agreed and began to pretend she was having an attack. Sadly though, Bilkisu wasn't exactly smart about it cause she faced the dusty ground and began to inhale deeply. A real asthma attack started. 'AH excuse meeee...' Val sprang up. 'Bilkisu is having asthma attack and her inhaler is in the hostel'. 'Take her out of here before I mess her up with this stick' Senior Abiodun said.

With Bilkisu in her arms, she made her way out of the dining hall. She spotted Segun sitting on the window seal. He waved at her and she smiled back... 'Every where I turn, Mr tilt is always there... He didn't even try to save me', Valerie thought to herself as she dragged Bilkisu to go find her inhaler...

REMARKABLE -The Movie

The movie 'Remarkable' is a highly anticipated Feature film Produced and Directed by the multi award winning Bright Obasi Wonder.  It is a romantic drama that tells the story of a young couple who let a little misunderstanding and albeit pride, turn their marriage into a whirlwind of emotions.

The movie has a rich cast filled with A-Listers and new commers simultaneously. It stars AMVCA and AMAA Awards Best Actor Daniel K Daniel, 2014 AMVCA and AMAA Awards Best Actor Tope Tedela, alongside Titi Joseph, HDFA's 2013 Script to Screen Best Female Actor. Amazing actors like Nita Byack, Apel Orduen, Matilda Lambert and a host of others had roles to play in the movie as well.

Titi Joseph (A still from the movie Remarkable)

The focus of this article is however centred round the multi talented lead actress in the movie, Miss Titi Joseph. I know this first hand because I have worked with her. She is a hardworking, charismatic and down to earth actress who brings almost any character in a story to life. Give her a Zombie role, she'll nail it. Turn her into an Old woman, she'll nail it to the T.  Ask her to play the role of a 13 year old school girl and she'll deliver. The movie Remarkable is the first movie where Miss Titi was laced with the responsibility of playing the role of lead actress.

Titi alongside co-star Tope Tedela (Still from Remarkable)

When asked about how she felt about playing lead in a major movie, Miss Titi said and I quote: "I think for every actor, it gets to that point in your career you know more than ever that you need to step up. Despite the fact that most actors even from the beginning usually set their minds on playing lead where a story is centred round your character and you have the means to show your acting chops. So playing lead in this movie, I took it really seriously. Yes I was happy about it, but there was also this feeling of it being a huge responsibility and challenges like ‘shey you wan act, oya act oo, we don give you na. Act am make we see’. So that’s how I felt. Happy, but with great responsibility".

Titi and Daniel K Daniel

 

One would think that acting along side award winning male actors would intimidate Miss Titi Joseph, but she categorically stated that she learns by feeding off the energies of the people she acts with and is always humble enough to learn from them and take constructive criticisms from them as well. She also mentioned that acting alongside Daniel and Tope was an amazing experience. She said 'Allow me to use this medium to tell them that I appreciate them so much. They were so cool, nice, down to earth, no ego whatsoever and very professional'.

 

Miss Titi Joseph also stated some of the challenges she faced while shooting this movie. She said 'I think most of the challenges were before the shooting. The greatest of it all was the fear of not getting it right because the character ‘Eva’ that I played in the movie Remarkable wasn’t just a lead but a strong and emotional character. With the help of my director and acting coach and also the writer of the movie ‘Bright Wonder’, I made it. We talked about my fears and he walked me through it to a place of strength and hope, and ‘’I can do it and do it well’’. He would always say ‘you won’t fail, we won’t fail, and even if we did, what’s the worst that can happen? We dust ourselves, rise and try all over’. With that kind of great mind around me plus his patience, I overcame my fear'.

As par reactions and expectations, Miss Titi is hopeful that her best will be good enough to enable people allow the story impact their lives and also have a good time watching it.

Remarkable is scheduled to premier on the 27th day of August 2016, and will hold at National Merit House Maitama, Abuja. Find the trailer of the movie after the cut:

                                                             

...School Fathers... Part 2

 

Senior Brenda, an SS3 student was standing right there with a bucket of water and a sachet of So klin detergent in hand. ‘Orobo come here’. Valerie walked past her cos she wasn’t sure she was referring to her. Senior Brenda grabbed her by the arm and said ‘my friend come here. You think because you are coming from home you are better than we are’? Valerie gave her a blank stare. Megan walked away from the scene and the only thing she said was ‘good afternoon Senior Brenda’. ‘My name is Valerie Bulus, not Orobo’.

A crowd of junior students began to build up. A hot smack landed on Val’s face, pushing her to the ground. ‘I have dealt with people tougher than you. I will clip those wings. Take your clothes off’. Valerie was about to say something nasty in return when she spotted a fellow junior student Obiangeli, trying to use body language to tell her to cooperate. ‘This is your welcome ceremony’, senior Brenda said as she began using the detergent and a very tough sponge to scrub Valerie’s body. Val cried uncontrollably from start to finish. She felt betrayed by her big sister for abandoning her when she was faced with this bully.

After the ‘ceremony’ ended, Obiangeli helped her into the box room to change into her house wear. ‘Don't cry. Some of us faced worse. Quickly put on your house wear. This one is just the first step. Senior Williwilli the witch will soon...’’ Just then Senior Willi willi screamed her name. ‘Where is Orobo? Come out for stage 2 before I come there and get you’. Obiangeli began to panic so she urged Valerie to quickly go to Williwilli because according to her, Senior Willi willi is worse than Senior Brenda. Valerie stepped out of the box room and saw nothing less than 50 empty buckets stacked in front of the mean senior.

 

Segun was walking out if the principal’s residence with his school bag and a few books in his hands. ‘I have to go and gather the boys’ he thought. Being the head boy earned him a soft spot with Professor Julius Sanders the school Principal. Segun had the liberty to go in and out of his residence at will, especially when he needed a peaceful place to study. He walked quietly with his eye glasses on, calculating how he’d mobilize the boys to go for afternoon prep. A sobbing sound suddenly caught his attention. He turned towards the spot where the sound was coming from. All he could see was a pile of buckets and someone sitting on the grass beside the school well. ‘she seems helpless’, he said to himself. He tried to walk away from the scene but somehow, the sobbing grew louder and he decided to go and talk to whoever it was and ask them to go back to the hostel or something.

He got to the spot, and that was where his gaze met hers... it was Valerie. Senior Willi Willi had ordered her to fill up the buckets with water as the final stage of her welcome party into boarding school. 'What's your name'? She said nothing. 'What are you doing with all these buckets'? Valerie continued sobbing. 'I am Segun, the Head boy. Are you new?' 'Obviously'. She sniffed. 'Are you going to give me your own version of a welcome ceremony as well?' Segun chuckled as he took his flip flops off and placed them beside her before sitting on them. 'You know, everyone is scared of me. you are the first person to ever clap back at me like that'. Valerie realized he was getting too comfortable so she sprang up immediately. 'Look Senior...' 'Segun' he said... 'Look Senior Segun, please don't add more punishment for me I beg you. Just go'. Segun got up, dusted his bum, stood right in front of Valerie and wiped her tears. 'Tell me your name, promise me you'd stop crying and I'll leave'. She lowered her head and said 'Valerie Bulus, and I promise to stop crying'. Segun smiled and said 'you kinda look like Megan'. Valerie rolled her eyes and said 'she's my big sister'. 'That explains it. black beauties', he said. 'Okay Valerie. It's almost time for afternoon prep. Get this over and done with. See  you in class'. Segun turned and walked away, and for some funny reason, Valerie couldn't come to terms with the reason why he was walking with his shoulders tilted...

...School Fathers... Part 1

It was a rainy Sunday afternoon when mumsie said 'young lady, grab your stuff. We're leaving'. 12 year old Valerie had a lot of jumbled up emotions inside. She was excited she was going to boarding school. A very popular Government School at that. She was also mega excited cos she was going to meet up with her sister. Its not like they were close but at least she would have someone to run to if she ran out of Garri or Cabin biscuit. On the other hand, she was going to miss her Mom and Dad. She was about to experience independence in an environment filled with teenage boys and girls with raging hormones. A life far away from home. Valerie began to cry as she dropped her senior math set (Metallic Box) in the trunk of her Dad's Peugeot 504.

The car began to move slowly to give Valerie an opportunity to wave her band of play friends goodbye. Some of them looked genuinely sad, while the others had an evil smirk on their faces. The kind of smirk that screamed "You go die today". Valerie began to sob uncontrollably and her mom began to give her the talk on how to stay away from boys, attend FCS, manage resources and try not to be 'mother Christmas', look out for your sister and she'll look out for you, read your books, wash your clothes, etc. Twenty minutes into the journey to boarding school, Valerie dozed off.

"Oya oh, Val we're here". She opened her eyes and re-arranged her dress which had exposed her pant due to the Jujitsu she exhibited while sleeping. 'With the way you sleep and scatter your legs, you might fall off your bunk today', said Val's mom. That was exactly what happened. Mom and Dad helped Valerie drag her six foot tall locker to the hostel gate and Dad had to stop at the entrance, leaving mom with the stress of dragging the locker in and Val struggling with her senior math set and Ghana must go filled with provisions. As soon as they got in, Mom was greeted by the matron and then she asked if the matron could go fetch Val's sister Megan. Val was excited to see Megan. She dropped her senior math set and rannnnn to go give her big sister a hug. Big sister Megan was a bit stand off ish but Val didn't make anything of it. 'Oya oh, show us where to put your sister's locker.' Megan helped with the luggage and they arrived at a cramped up box room filled with buckets and other filthy stuff. Valerie began to gag and Megan scoffed. 'Hmmph, you better get used to it'. Mom gave Megan a puzzled look and began to arrange Val's provisions for her.

Megan took Valerie to her bed space. Valerie was a chubby girl and had to sleep up bunk cos she was a junior student. Her bunk mate Suliat was in SS2. 'Hope you don't bed wet?' she asked. 'No I don't' said Valerie. Suliat was Megan's classmate so Megan asked her to please keep an eye on her baby sister. 'If she piss inside my mouth for night Meg walahi I go kill am'. Meg laughed and told her not to worry.

They both headed back to the box room. Mom had arranged everything. 'The milk is here, the garri is hidden inside the shoe box over there, the cornflakes is at the end. Your toiletries and detergent is in your box (Senior Math Set), One Cabin is here and the other is in your box, your bible and books are in your school bag. Sandals over there, etcetera. you'd figure it out eventually'. 'Thank you mommy' she said. They all decided to move together to the parking lot to meet Dad and say their goodbyes.

'Oya Valerie, take this 1000 naira. It should last you till the next visiting day'. Dad was so fond of Valerie but this time he was a bit stern. He was definitely fighting his emotions but didn't want his daughters and wife to see him that way. 'Meg, take 500'. Mom requested that they all hold hands to say a quick word of prayer. 'Father, help Valerie to sleep less, read her books, wash her under wear properly, arrange her things and take care of herself. Amen'. Mom and Dad gave Val and Meg hugs and kisses, then got into the car. Dad tried starting it but it refused to turn on. 'You women will have to push'. The three women pushed the car and then the engine started running. Mom jumped into the car and they drove off. Valerie began to sob uncontrollably and turned to give Meg a hug. Meg turned her down and said 'look, chin up. this is a jungle and only the brave survive. Lets go'. They walked in silence to the hostel. They opened the hostel door and Valerie did not bargain for what she got.....