******
Lagos is one of the busiest cities in Nigeria and trusts me, you don’t want to be in the position I am in, right now. I am on my way to one of my many Jobs in Lekki from Festac Town and right now, I am stuck on traffic. Not the type of traffic you know, I mean, it has been on a stand-still for like an hour now and this is frustrating because I feel like I’m going to get fired the moment I get to my destination.Since now I am practicing 'long suffering' at the back seat of a commercial vehicle beside an obesed, middle-aged woman on my right, squashing me like an house fly —with all her bodyweight— to the window of the bus. Oh shit, my sleeves are literally drenched in her sweat. Can today go any worst? Not to forget the woman sitting behind me, trying to hush her crying baby. This is how I live my life, every single day and right now, I can’t do anything about my present predicament but grumble as I give you a brief intro about me.My name is Eno-Obong Ekanem (Gift of God), for short I’m called Eno. I’m from IkotEkpene local government, Akwa-ibom state, Nigeria. I’m thirty-one years old and a single mother of a beautiful thirteen year old girl, Unwana (Bright), who presently is in a boarding school.She was a product of a mistaken Relationship but not a —born by mistake— as everyone in the village tag her to be. I mean, can you even imagine, once when we were still at my father's hometown, I went for a P.T.A meeting held in the Government School where my daughter used to attend and then did I realize that my daughter was bullied by her peers and was tagged as a bastard. I was so furious when I heard it and I reacted as any mother would —not going into details about what I did— but for it, I was suspended from the meeting. I was a hot head, no doubt, but I was also a mother.Once upon a time, Unwana’s father was the love of my life, everybody in the village knew us as the perfect couple. One night we met at our usual spot only for him to tell me that he was going to Lagos with his uncle to make money so he can come back one day, to Marry me. He promised all sort and pleaded for me to wait. I was young and naïve and I let his deflower me that night. What do you expect? I waited as promised with a child growing inside of me. When my Mother realized I was Pregnant, she took me to Ubong father’s house, there and then I heard the most shocking news, Ubong was already happily married with two kids and was living in Lagos. This meant he already had a family in the city and his travel was the last a final one. Ubong was never going to Lagos to make money and marry me, how did I not see this coming?I couldn’t, I was blinded by love. Whoever invented the phrase love is blind was a sadist.My friends advised me to abort the pregnancy but I thank God for the kind of Parent he blessed me with, they stood by me till I gave birth to my Bright Star, Unwana.With all the hurtful tags in the village, I had to move my daughter out of there to Lagos so she can have a better life. But my mom didn’t approve, she said that I was going in search of Ubong. She was wrong.Taking care of a teenager is not easy especially for a single parent but I’m not complaining, in fact, she makes me look strong, slim, beautiful and quite younger than my age so, I can have all the strength to work my five jobs and still take care of her.All I’m searching for right now is that perfect catch that will cause me to drop my five different, backbreaking Jobs and still be able to take care of myself and my daughter. If possible, move to the Island. Big dreams. But if we must dream, it has to be big, right?I know what you are thinking, but trust me; I’m so over men troubles. All I need is that perfect Job but before I get it, I need to not lose this one I’m managing.“Thank God, the bus is moving, slowly but, moving”******I arrive at the Adebanjo’s mansion in Lekki ten minutes late cause of the traffic, praying endlessly in my mind not to get fired. There is something about babysitting for rich people, I earn in a day more than I earn in a week in all of my other jobs and that is not something I am ready to give up.I am a babysitter and I’m late. I hurry through the wide, black polished gate, dashing to the front door, frantically knocking on it and mindlessly hurting my knuckles, I continue to knock till I see the head maid opens the door, then I stop. Breathing heavily.“You are late.” She says, confirming the voice in my head that speaks louder than my heart beat.“I know, traffic.” not giving her the chance to scold me, I replied immediately.“Well, you are lucky. Madam is in the garden.” she moved her thumb to the direction behind her head which points to the garden.“Thank you.” I dash to the back of the house, finding Mrs. Adebanjo sitting in the roofed, detached porch-like structure er
*****I return home very early than usual, a little exhausted and famished and at the same time, too lazy to prepare anything. I take out my android phone, click it on and scroll to check if I missed any calls or text but, to my shock, nothing, not even from him, my boyfriend, Chidi. I sigh and drop the phone angrily on the couch. I met Chidi through my friend/neighbor’s boyfriend. They were kind enough to hook me up with him and since then, we’ve been dating for like a year now.I hear a light knock on my door and I rush to it with high expectations“Oh, it’s you” I sigh disappointed seeing Omoh. Remember that friend/neighbor who in agreement with her boyfriend, hooked me up with Chidi? Yes, this is her. My neighbor who happens to be my only close friend since I moved to this neighborhood.Omoh is a beautiful, tall, fair and slim lady who just finished her national youth service. Her dad is a Naval Officer and most of the Sundays, when she goes to Navy town to greet her parent, she
******I scan the bar as I walk in, half empty, I observe, and Chidi is yet to be seen. I take out my phone from the silver purse hanging across my shoulder, tapping twice on my phone screen to reveal the time. 11:48 AM, I'm early. Sighting an empty table, I make my way towards it and draw out a chair tugged under it then, make myself comfortable on it.Unconsciously, I repeatedly Tap my fingers on the polished black, wooden surface while pondering if he will show up or not. I open my contact list on my phone, search out his number and just as I am about dialing his number, a gentleman walks up to where I'm seated.“Can I get you anything ma’am?” The waiter in Black polo with the bar's name —Ricardo— inscribed on it, asks politely.I smile briefly at the young man “Em, I’m waiting for someone. Maybe a bottle of water will be fine for now, thanks.”“Ok ma’am” He replies with a warm smile. He leaves, returning shortly with the water.I hate this situation I find myself in right now. Hav
*****Omoh has gone over to Uche’s house at Ajah which mean, I have no one to witness me in my depress state. I move around the house, from one room to the next, trying to calm the numerous voices speaking all at ones in my head.I have not gotten myself since yesterday, since Chidi shocked me with his fwords. People may say I’m acting like a child when they see how restless I’ve become. But the truth is, I am not restless from the breakup, I am worried.I’m worried I might be cursed, I mean, my history with men has drawn me to that conclusion. It’s either that or I attract the wrong kind of guys. Maybe a just like the saying, you attract who you are; maybe I’m a wrong woman who attracts wrong men. I doubt that. Maybe I’m searching in the wrong places. Argggg! I’m lost in my own self, Ubong deceived me and all the other men despise me but I’m not going to dwell on that any more. I have my priceless Jewel, Unwana, and I have to be the best mother for her.All I need to do is, one, er
******“Thank you for making out time to be here, I’m Ruth,” An elegant looking woman, dressed in a Navy blue, off-shouldered maxi dress, stripped with gold lines on the burst that matches the gold studs earrings revealed under her long box braids and the gold bracelet on her left wrist, introduces as she welcome me into her sitting room, pointing to the couch for me to sit “I was thrilled when my friend called me to inform me about your coming,” she sit comfortably facing me “before then, I was frustrated.”Mrs. Adebanjo had filled me in a little on the personality and need of her friend, Ruth. And while Mrs Adebanjo is away on a trip with her family, I'm really in need of a substitute job so, it's imperative I make a good impression here today.“I had trouble getting a good babysitter so I called my friend who recommended you to me.”“I’m sorry you had to go through the trouble.” I say, smiling“Thank you again Eno.” “You’re welcome.” I reply.“I have a company dinner to attend ne
******Today is what they call visiting day at Unwana’s school, it occurs every last Sunday of every month. I never miss anyone, and I don't plan on missing this one. I won't lie, days like this are usually filled with mix feelings. I'm ecstatic about seeing my daughter and when the visiting day is over, and she's heading back to her dormitory, I feel heart collapse in despair. I wake up early as 5am to prepare all I will take along with me, putting in mind all the things I know my daughter will need I sit on one of the couch n my living to set aside her provision which where; one big tin of Milo and peak milk, one pack of cube sugar, one big cornflakes, golden morn, and a bottle of her favorite drink, Tasty Time blackcurrant. I found a neat nylon which was big enough to contain the seven cups of garri I turned into it, I tie the end tightly to secure the garri from pouring out and then, set it aside also. I instantly recall the bottle of roasted groundnut I bought the previous da
******The buses are already at the mess but the drivers aren’t, yet. So, I sit on a bench in front of a closed kiosk waiting for others to arrive.Bit by bit people start to show up, many are carrying bags much heavier than mine. Some are even carrying boxes “And here I am, thinking I over packed” I laugh out a bit.“Ah, mama Unwana,” that is what we call every woman with children. We call them mama followed by the name of their first child. The name of my daughter is unwana so, I’m called mama unwana. “You done reach?” Mrs. Okolo (mama Chinelo) asks.Seeing mama Chinelo approaching me with the large bag on her head, make me burst out laughing. “Yes oo,” I reply “this one wey you carry Ghana-must-go so, nawa oo, na only Chika get am?” I ask amaze at the size of the bag which is bigger than mine. And Chika happens to be her second child after Chinelo.“My sister, you know how all this our children dey behave, you go buy one thing today, tomorrow, them go thief am finish” She complain
********CHAPTER EIGHT “No, no I can’t go Omoh, besides I have lectures to attend at GREG, I won’t have the time” I inform Omoh who is pestering me in going to her boyfriend’s get-together party at his place. I have finally enrolled at GREG for their entrepreneurship classes, a step I think will be good for me.Omoh and I are at the local market buying groceries. We tour the market, shop to shop unable to find one item on our list, unripe plantain. I plan to prepare plantain porridge this evening but I guess that craving will be postponed. Omoh suggest we buy the ripe one but I protest against it. We halt in front of a provision store when I hear my phone ring. I take out the phone from my purse and found on the screen, Ubong’s number.“It’s him again, isn’t it?” Omoh asks looking at me. I told Omoh everything about I encountered during my interview with Mrs. Ruth. I remember how hard I cried while narrating.. she did her best to console me and encouraged me to forget about him but,