Chapter Nine

"Can I come in" Mrs. Jessie asked peeping through the hall opened door.

"Yes ma" I replied.

"Good morning ma" I greeted as soon as she sat beside me on the bed.

"Morning dear" she responded looking at me with a beaming smile which was contagious making me smile in return.

She looked really beautiful and staring at her felt like I was staring at Folakemi, the resemblance was totally striking and the only difference was that she looked older and she has a lighter skin tone.

"I hope you had a good night rest and you aren't missing your other room?" she asked with a smile tugging on her lips.

"I had a good night rest ma. and I am getting used to this room already" I replied smiling nervously.

I was wondering why she was here.

"Well I am sorry about the tantrum Folakemi pulled yesterday, she was just being childish" she said as if sensing my thought.

"I understand ma" I replied tugging on my fingers.

"And my dear sorry about your mum" she stuttered as if scared she might hurt me.

"From what my husband told me, she was a beautiful and God fearing woman, and it's just so sad that you had to go through such a pain at a young age".

I nodded trying to hold back the tears which were threatening to fall any moment.

"I didn't say that to make you cry or feel bad, I only wanted to comfort you" she said pulling me into a hug while I just burst into tears.

"Stop crying dear" she said softly rocking my body in her arms.

"It's all gone now, the deed is done and we just have to pray that her soul rests in peace, you don't have to cry anymore, you have cried enough, it is well."

"You'll be fine, stop being a cry baby and wipe those tears away now" She joked.

"You are a smart, talented and beautiful young lady, do you know that?" she asked and I responded with a nod.

"And you have a bright and brilliant future ahead of you, so my darling you have to put the past behind you and face the present because it is visibly the only thing left now"

" A wise man once said yesterday is gone and today is a gift that's why it is called present, so all you have is today, you need to let go of yesterday so you can take full access of the present." the way she takes was like she was speaking straight to my soul.

"I wouldn't want you feeling at loss, I don't want you feeling sad because you think you are an orphan, we are here for you, we are one big family " she said beaming brightly.

"I want you to see me as your mother, my husband as your father and Folakemi as a sister, see us as family because that is what we are"

"Thank you ma" I said hugging her back. "Thank you for accepting me, am glad I have a family now and am grateful".

A delighted smile appeared on her lips.

"I have always wanted another child but it isn't possible anymore, am sad I have you now."

I could swear I heard her voice quiver, I was wondering why she said it wasn't possible for her to have another child.

But well, she wasn't wrong, I had a bright future ahead of me and I have a family I can dote on now and I am more than greatful for that.

"You'll be enrolled at Folakemi's school on Monday" she said making my insides go hay wire.

Folakemi told me yesterday but hearing her say it made me ecstatic, maybe I though Folakemi was just bluffing yesterday.

"Really" I almost screamed with my eyes bulging out of its socket.

"I am Going to be enrolled at Folakemi's school on Monday, a big man's school as she put it."

She nodded giving me an amused smile.

"We felt since a new session was kick starting on Monday, there would be no need to delay your enrollment" she explained.

"So what class where you at your village?" she asked.

" I was in Jss 3 ma, I was about taking my junior certificate examinations when my mum died so I couldn't take it anymore" I said looking into space.

"Oh sorry dear, Folakemi also just finished her Jss3 and took her exam, so you both are definitely resuming Ss1 together".

"What would you like to study?" she asked.

"Medicine ma, I want to be a neurosurgeon" I said.

"What, you mean you want to be a neurosurgeon like Ben Carson?" she exclaimed.

"Yes MA, Ben Carson is my role model, I want to be just like him when I get older and even better than him" I replied bravely.

"Wow that's really nice dear, I do love your determination but i hope you know it isn't an easy task" she enquiried wriggling her brows.

"Are you sure you are capable of the stress, lengthy lectures, voluminous text books, late night reading and boring lecturers" she stated indicating her points with her fingers.

"Yes ma" I replied.

"Are you sure you are ready?" she asked again pulling her ears.

"The science class isn't an easy one o, I can personally testify, after a term there I had to beg to change to the commercial class against my father's wish. Mixing chemicals, studying motion and anatomy wasn't just for me, I rather be calculating money and balancing ledgers" she laughed.

"Don't worry ma, it is going to be easy for me" I said.

"Well you seem really determined and ready for whatever it takes and that's really good, you know having plans for the future and working towards it immediately. "

"When I was your age ehn, education wasn't really a luxury like this o, you guys are just really lucky" she said making me laugh.

I found out I felt free and laughed more with her, she was really nice and talented in keeping a conversation going, there wasn't a dull moment with her at all and I was already warming up to her.

She moved closer to my side, placed her hands on my face and turned me so I was facing her directly looking straight into her eyes.

"You have a really good future, you seem ambitious and you have planned everything out so well, just make sure you are focused and nothing is steering you from your ambitions."

"You are going into a new world on monday, a new place of your life. You'll meet new people, make new friends, learn new things and experience a totally different environment. You'll make friends like I said good and bad ones it's now left for you to choose." She said pausing a while.

"Your imperfections are spices to who you really are, and whatever you do in life, do it to the glory of God"

"You are going into a world of teenagers like yourself from different backgrounds and homes, you'll get influenced and you might look focus, you'll get to make decisions at certain points, just make sure you choose right, do not forget that a negative mind would not give you a positive life. "

"Mistakes are bound to happen but then again they are preventable, you also need to carry your heads up high, Confidence comes from within not without, do not be intimidated, be yourself and you'll be just fine."

"Do not also forget that you are you, you can never be anyone else and vice versa, do not change who yo7 are just to fit in because you are perfect just the way you are, just keep working on getting better"

"Make as many friends as you can, but don't build your life on them. Its an unstable relationship. People will change,you will change also.There is nothing wrong with achieving success and enjoying our stuff, but things should never become the center of our lives. In the end, they have no lasting value."

"When you are faced with difficulties, you don't need to see the whole stair case, just take a step

"You just be a good girl, get good grades and do not be distracted, if you are having any issues, just feel free to talk to me, I'll be just here and mind you, I don't bite." she said concluding her talk.

"Of course, thank you for everything ma, I'll be sure to keep them in mind" I said.

"Wheew!" she exclaimed looking at her wrist watch. "We have been talking for over two hours now, am such a talkative o"

I chuckled at her outburst.

"Don't mind me joor, I love talking"

"Get dressed, we are going shopping for all you'll be needing, so be quick about it, the time is far spent". She said walking our of the room while I just sat on the bed thinking on all she has said.

All she said were educating and encouraging and I resolved to make her and my mum proud.

**********

"Anjolaoluwa" she hollered making me hiss in frustration, this was the eighth time Aunty Bola has screamed my name in a minute, she should chill na.

"Am coming ma" I yelled pulling up the jean trousers forcefully, it was as if I was fighting to enter it.

When Aunt Bola brought the clothes, she had told me it was Fola old things which were now small for her, that was probably why I found it hard to put it on.

"You want to sleep there abi" Aunty Bola asked barging into the room with her breasts shaking up and down, her breasts were so voluminous that I wonder why God blessed Some people with big breast like water melon and gave people like ma agbalumo.

"Better be fast before we leave you alone" she threatened.

"There will be no need to leave me alone, I am done" I replied walking out of the room with Aunty Bola trailing behind me. As soon as she walked out, I locked the room and removed the keys into my pocket, I couldn't afford Folakemi entering into this room in my absence.

"I thought you didn't want to come downstairs o" Fola's mum said.

"Aaa no o, I was just dressing up ni" I replied.

"Bola, where is the shopping bag?" She asked Aunty Bola looking at her empty hands meanwhile Aunty Bola looked at her hands also, she looked left and right and didn't find the bag.

"Yee I forgot it inside the kitchen o" she exclaimed scrambling to get it but it was obvious her breasts were an obstacle as it kept bobling left and right hindering her from moving fast.

The driver was even looking at it lustfully.

"See this girl o, so she forgot shopping bag so I can buy another one at the market abi" Folakemi's mother said clapping her hands in a dramatic manner.

"Get into the car my dear" She told me as soon as Aunty Bola emerged from the house, she faced the driver wanting to say something but found out the man was openly drooling at Aunty Bola's shaking breast.

She moved closer to him and slapped his mouth so hard I winced at the impact.

"Nonsense human being, be looking at someone's breast o meanwhile you kept a wife and two children at home and you are still not satisfied."

"You'll want to taste everything under a skirt, you'll follow slim, fat, black even fair. You men can never be satisfied and I wonder why?" she said taking it rather too personal.

"Sorry ma" he muttered.

"Sorry for your self, it's not even your fault, when she herself packed the whole Nigeria on her chest" she replied giving him a death glare.

Immediately Aunty Bola got into the car, everyone except Fola's mum kept quiet, she kept rambling while I just giggled.

"Common drive this car out of here jare."

"Yes ma"

"I didn't ask you to reply me o, I said move this car out of here now" she shouted.

"Oh OK ma" he replied driving the car out.