She put on her matching heeled shoes, grabbed her bag and head. She couldn't wait to show off to her mum. 'Ha-han! You're not dressed. Morenike was lying on the bed with the duvet covering her midway. 'I don't feel so good dear.' Temilade alarm was overwhelmed with worry. She was beside her mother and felt her neck. 'Do you need to see the doctor?' She smiled,' Baby I'll be fine. Go ahead, go to church and pray for me.' She pat her back. 'you look really good like a small sisi.' Temilade laughed. 'I'm not a small sisi o. How's my scarf?' 'Justok.com dear. I guess you won't be needing my help anymore.' Her smile radiated revealing her dimple and gap tooth.' Thank you mum.' How she reminded her of her father! She pointed to her dressing table. 'Get me my purse.' she sat up. Temilade obeyed. Her mum searched thru the notes. 'This is for offering, the other is for keke, I know you won't be able to trek so far with the shoes and the change is for anything you need to buy.' She received the pair of 200 notes gratefully. 'Thks mum, I hope uncle wale's still home.' he was a member of their church 3 houses away. Her worry returned and she looked at her mother searchingly. 'Just in case u feel worst, don't hesitate to call me.' 'I'll be fine.'She gestured with an open arms and Temilade went in for a quick hug. 'Take care.' 'You too.' She hurried out of the house.

***

Mnenga Akubor stared at his wife then finally spoke up.'Sometimes you behave like a woman who has not seen the four walls of a tertiary institution! How can you go to your child's school and try to strangle his teacher? His voice was laced with anger. 'Haba darling, I didn't strangle her o.' Shadia both hands were up. 'When a child misbehaves, he should be punished.' 'That girl has no right to touch my child!' 'You have no right to strangle his teacher!' 'Darling please calm down.' His gaze lingered on her before he went to seat on an armed chair. 'The school authority want both of us to come to school on wednesday.' She plea with her eyes. 'That thing you started, go and finish me, did you hear me?' He pointed his index finger.'I have no time for frivolities!' Just then a knock on the door. Shadia stood to open and lo and behold, the subject of their arguement. 'Mummy I want icecream.' Prince said 'There should be icecream in the fridge.'She placed a hand on his shoulder. 'I searched there is none.'

simonhabby: Following

Thks

Shadia stepped into the room and glanced around. She found what she was looking for, her phone. She picked it and started pressing the phone. 'What're you doing?' 'Darling I want Yisa to get for him.' 'By few minutes before 9. If he can't do survive without icecream, go get it yourself.' she knew better than protest. 'I'll be out soon. Let me change.'She told him. When the door closed, he hissed. 'Nonsense!' ***

THREE

'Hey baby.' He called sweetly,'How're you my love?' 'I'm good, how about you?' she turned on the travigator light and slowed down. Omoefe Okoh shifted the phone from side to side. 'What's that sound, are you driving?' 'Yes baby but I just parked.' Ima brought the car to halt. 'Okay, I'm well. How're the kids?' 'They are very well, the holiday progress.' 'Hope they are not so much of a handful or two handfuls.' He chuckled at his joke. She laughed,'It's normal, besides I've been in charge and will always be in charge.' 'Trust you babe. I miss you, I miss the kids. I thought I'll be home this time to spend the holiday with then but I've to be at South Africa. After this, they would have no other choice than to grant my leave.' 'I understand dear, we'll wait gladly. Hope you're feeding well.' 'I'm just perfect. How is my baby girl?' 'She's fine.' 'I send some goods across, amongst then is a phone for Ini, do get her a SIM. Tell her I want to be the first calls!' 'I will, thanks dear. Send my apologies to them.' 'I'm sure they do understand.' 'Love you baby.' 'Love you dear. Bye.' Ima smiled as she turned on the ignition. She had the sweetest man in the entire world as her husband. She missed his absence greatly but his coming back was always awesome time for her. It had actually been an arranged marriage between both fathers who had been childhood friends and had retired in the military. Her father had retired as a brigader general, her mum as a military nurse. They had both been reluctant at first but after two dates, they had an understanding and gave room for their love to grow. In two months they got married, she was 29 and he was 4years old. They welcomed their baby 2years later.

Their joy knew no bound! The nature of his job didn't allow him much time for his family but it angered him. If not that he was passionate about his job, he would have quit. He even tried to, but the authority wouldn't hear of such. He was a specialist in handling emergencies and that was one of the characteristics of his work. He was a marine engineer but he worked with the Nigeria Navy.

***

Readers pls am I doing well or not? I appreciate ur contribution. Thks

Queen xstar: Readers pls am I doing well or not? I appreciate ur contribution. Thks

you're doing really well dear, please continue.

Nice story, keep it up but look out for correct punctuations nd spellings so as nt to mar ur work.

yemi2plus2:
you're doing really well dear, please continue.

thks dear.

glowrya: Nice story, keep it up but look out for correct punctuations nd spellings so as nt to mar ur work.

Thks glo. Could u pls give me an example?

Jovy do drop a comment. Thks

[left][/left]Chidubem Ugorji washed the plates whistling. Mama Bisi watched him smiling, she loved the child. He had insisted on washing their plates after the meal of Amala and Vegetable soup. He was free spirited and well brought up. It didn't take an hour of being with him to notice that. 'My dear what do you enjoy doing?' 'I love dancing, knowing the make up electrical appliances, reading and helping out my parents.' 'Woah, dancing,' Mama Bisi,'I love to dance but I do't know how to.' 'It is not hard, we all can dance. It is all about learning to move with the rhythm of the song.'He wiped the plates and arranged them on the rack. She folded her arms beneath her bosom and listened raptly. 'When you dance you move some or all part of your body, it is an expression that can be quick, slow but lively, usually with gestures. That's why you can pass messages via dancing alone.' He turned to look at her and laughed at her seriousness, 'mummy, you make feel like a teacher.' She laughed too and hugged him. 'You're a wonderful child!' 'Thank you ma.' He thought she was a wonderful woman too, she appreciated everything he did like he was doing something extraordinary. She took his hand and led him to the sitting room. 'I need you to teach me how to dance.' She approach the music player. 'No... No ma, theory first then practical.' He led her to seat and went to stand across the centre table. The lecture began... he talked and gestured. At 9years, he was handsome, tall and acted too matured for his age. It was hard to believe he was an only son, the last born and his immediate elder sister was 15 years older. He was his parents' bundle of joy when they least anticipated. They decided to bring him up well.

FOUR

'He goes to the female rest room of Basic 1, 2 and 3, from a hide out, he watches them. Prince sometimes tells them he wants to see and offers biscuits and cakes. He slapped a girl buttocks the other day and because she reported to her teacher, the news got to Prince class teacher and she brought it to my table. I ordered the punishment.' The headmistress sat back on her seat. Shadia met the woman's gaze. 'Yes I did. If you needed to strangle anyone, it should be me not Omolola.' 'I didn't strangle her.' Her voice rose. "what in the world was wrong with everyone?"she wondered. 'Oh yes u did!' She returned firmly, 'if she was asthmatic, that action would have triggered an attack. As an educated mother I expected your any grievance about the handling of your child should come to me.' Her voice conveyed her plea,'Prince's only a boy, what does he know? I expected that I should be consulted before he is punished. I didn't like the way he wept, he could have come down sick.' The older woman couldn't help but smile. 'Mrs Akubor, this is an educational institution and there some degree of lessons and discipline he should leave here with to make him a better individual.' 'I just don't like the way he was disciplined.' 'Frog jump and 4 strokes of cane, hmmmm... Mrs Akubor one of the motto of this school is discipline, we cannot come to take permission from you or anyone else before a child's disciplined. Did you think of the implication of his action on those girls?' 'Whatever it is should not warrant killing my child!' She almost hissed as she shifted from one side of the chair to another. The headmistress shook her head more out of pity. 'Your action was not a good example to your child. Prince is your child and you're his mother. It your right to decide what is best for him.'Her voice was calm, 'This is my school and I cannot and I will not lower the standard of this school for any child or parents. Madam, the ball is in your court.' Shadia was taken aback momentarily, she had not expected the conversation to turn this way but long ago, she had resolved to protect her only child fiercely. 'I withdraw him.' She was not to beg anyone. 'Thank you Madam, extend my greetings to your husband. Please see the secretary on your way out.' Without another glance at her, she punched some numbers, picked the phone and relay instructions to the secretary.

Shadia was the second wife to Mnenga. He had 4girls by his first wife, after the last girl, the gynaecologist had advised him against his wife taking in again, reason being that it might cost her life. He had met Shadia while executing a project in Jos. They had sex and 2 weeks later when she told him she was pregnant. As an only son, he had decided to marry her. Hence, he carried out the proper rites. After the birth of Prince, all other pregnancies didn't get to term. She made Prince her life jacket and didn't care about what anyone else thinks.

***

Morenike stared at the strip and didn't know she had been crying until she felt wetness on her neck. She brushed off the tears with her palm. "Oh God," She muttered, "was I wrong to have chose love?" Her eyes welled with tears. This was what they had prayed for and anticipated for over 7years, she had prayed, gone to the hospital and did all she knew but had not missed he menstrual period, not even for a month. Now the strip confirmed it twice and he was no where to be found! It has been 3 weeks since he left the house, she had done all she knew to contact him to no avail. His office refused to divulge information about his whereabout. She was sick with worry and the pain of not having anyone to tell the good news. Her only friend was out of the country. She suspected Olajide had left the state or worst still the country. She shivered... Morenike poured out the urine and flushed the toilet and discarded the strip. She washed her hands, face and head for the sitting room. The TV was on, Temilade was lying on the sofa and had slept off while watching. The remote was hanging loosely to the chair. She took the remote and adjusted her hands gently not wanting to wake her.

Morenike sat and was about to change the channel for fashion TV. 'Love.'The Man on screen repeated and laughed. It got her attention, how could someone laugh with so much abandon when she felt awful.

[center][/center] "Love is the mistake so many young people make today. Love is a deep affection or fondness. Most single look out for love before marriage. Mind you, you can love anyone, anything so much that you become attached to them in such a way you hurt, skip meals or weep when something bad happens to then. Have you ever wondered why the rate of divorce now is way overboard and alarming?" He paused momentarily, "Then, it was more of arranged marriage but it lasted long and well. Listen, it becomes interesting barely one moth after death of a spouse the other follows." He laughed again. "Love grows, fondness grows. Just get the qualities right- the Intelligence, emotional, religious attraction and the understanding. Love comes." "Are you trying to us that love is not a priority?" The Presenter asked. Morenike switched off and her mind drifted

It a wonderful story but d casts are much.keep up ur gud work.

april wise: It a wonderful story but d casts are much.keep up ur gud work.

Thks April. With time I guess we'll understand d essence of casts.

"Sweetie..." He knelt, "I Love you, I love our daughter. Allow me to be your husband, please let me be the one to be there for you, to protect and cherish you, till death do us part." "No... Bode, I can't do this. I don't love you." "Baby love grows, please let our love grow." "It kills me when you do all you do and it just irks me. I feel guilty. It is not fair to you." He pulled her close via her waist. "Temi, I can wait, I love you that much." "I can't wait, I've found someone I love." He broke down into tears and wept like a baby. The magazine... the very one that she kept beneath her box, it flashed back. The photo of the very man who wept for her love was posed with a beautiful lady with their 5 year old twin boys. His eyes sparkle, his dimple and gap tooth was all out, just like her daughter's. They looked perfect! It was obvious Daddy Temilade had found a reciprocal love. Back to reality, "Where is the man she loved?" She sobbed and ran into her bedroom. Temilade must not see her like this.

FIVE

'You want to play smart and wise with me abi?' The belt cracked on her buttocks and then to her head and over and over it came. 'Stupid girl, you want to corrupt yourself in my house!' The whip descended emphasizing her anger. 'I warned you, didn't I? I'll teach you that have been in the world before you!' Ini used to hands to shield her head, face and eyes. 'Gbam gbam gbam... Mummy open this door! Open the damn door!' Having use his fist for long, he used his legs but the door wouldn't bulge. He was no longer hearing his sister's plea and wailing. He felt every crack of the belt, "what was he going to do?" He pondered. 'Kill her, kill her o!'

Indi couldn't hear his sister's plea nor wailing. The door flung opened and Indi almost fell into the room, he had not heard the key turn. Their gaze locked for a while, he wanted to confront her but on sighting his sister's lifeless form on ties rug, he thought better. 'Ini!' He shook her and she open her eyes, he exhaled. He lifted her to the bed. She groaned. 'Pain.' she whispered 'God!' He gasped on seeing the raw flesh, serum and blisters on her hands. 'what kind of thing's this?' he muttered exasperated and ran out. He came back with Ibuprofen and a table water. He assisted her up to take the drug.

I'm sorry d story's nt paragraphed as I wanted. I tried but 'm using my phone to type. I hope u understand.

Maybe i'll conclude this story on paper. All I get are silent readers.