She lazed on the bed for several minutes. She thought of what she would be doing with herself that weekend.

  By noon, she would be visiting Emma. He had said he looked forward to seeing her again. Before she would leave, she would just relax and take things easy.

  Still in her night wear, Janet went to the kitchen. The big refrigeration there had assorted juices. She poured the drinks generously in a big mug and returned to her room.

  She played music on her i-phone as she sipped her drinks. Some minutes later, she decided to have her bath. She was still in the bathroom when Zizi came to inform that breakfast was ready.

  After creaming her body, she chose to wear a white t-shirt and a short jeans skirt for now. Her parents were already eating by the time she got to the dining table.

  'Good morning, dad, good morning, mum.'

  "My baby girl, how are you?' Her father smiled up at her. It was the way he used to address her. At almost twenty-eight, her father still called her baby girl.

  Her mother too smiled at her. Julie was a reticent woman. If anyone talked a lot in that house and raised so much fuss, it was daddy.

  'Why is Helen not here?' The man looked at the chair on which Helen normally sat. 'Don't tell me she's still mourning that her boyfriend.'

  'I think she'll soon be here.' Julie nodded and looked at her husband reassuringly.

  The breakfast was toasted bread and beverages. It was one of Janet's favorites. She enjoyed the food and ate to her satisfaction. Truly, just as her mother said, Helen soon came to join them.

  'Helen, baby. How 're you?' LaVos expressed delight that she had finally come.

  'Fine, dad. Morning, mum.'

  'How're you, my dear?' Julie looked at him briefly in I-told-you-so manner. She patted her daughter.

  'Life goes on.' LaVos lifted the tea cup to his mouth. 'I don't understand why you should be brooding over him. You're still young, enjoy your life.'

  The others did not say anything. Janet sometimes wondered how her father was able to take things as calmly as he did. For instance, the way he reacted to the death of Helen's fiancé was rather too cool, almost as if he was expecting the news.

  Janet glanced at her mother. She was sitting calmly beside her husband. As far as Janet could remember, there was no time her mother had any serious argument with her husband, or raised her voice against him. She always seemed to agree with him - both in words and in silence. Mummy was too cool and pliant for Janet's liking.

Later that morning, she was in her room, watching the satellite television. Daddy and mummy had gone out. She suspected that Helen had gone out too. By eleven in the morning, she was watching Channel O, when Funmi, her friend came to visit

Funmi had been her friend since their secondary school days. As a matter of fact, they went to the same federal government girls college. Funmi was the only daughter of the Lawsons and they dotted on her. She was an almost spoilt child.

Thanks for the update.

She was an almost spoilt child.

  Funmi was still with Janet when Emma called her line.

  'When are you coming, baby?' There was a sense of anticipation about him.

  'By mid-day, I should be there.'

  'Have you left home?'

  'Not yet, but I'll soon leave.'

  'How was your night?' The question was an afterthought.

  'It was fine. How was yours?'

  'Fine too. I'll be expecting you, baby.'

  Janet smiled. 'Alright.' She dropped the phone on the bed.

  'Your guy?' Funmi looked at her friend in what looked like envy.

  Janet nodded in the affirmative.

  'I guess I should be on my way. Have a nice time, Janet.'

  With that, Funmi left the house.









                                               Chapter Two

Janet whistled softly to herself as she got up to dress up. Her large wardrobe had scores of clothes, some of which she had no worn from a long time. She checked them one after the other, wondering which one to pick. She finally settled for a designer t-shirt and jeans trousers.

  She applied her designer make up and perfume. It was apparent Janet liked designer wears. She liked to look and smell good. Since she could afford the good things, nothing stopped her from having them.

  She put her sunglasses on as soon as she got to the porch.

  'Happy weekend, small madam.'

  Sule always addressed Janet as madam despite the protest of the latter. He walked towards her with his trade mark grin.

  'Good morning, Sule. How're you?'

  'We dey fine o. We thank God.' He looked at her in expectation.

  'Your car is ready.' He pointed at the car. It had been washed and it was glittering in the morning sun.

  'I can see that.' She nodded in approval, smiling at him. He had, as usual, helped her to wash her car. She dipped her right hand inside her clutch bag and brought some money out.

  'Here, take this.'

  'Ah, thank you so much, madam. This weekend will be very great.'

  She entered her car and put the engine into life. He waved at her while Janet honked the horn. The car was still quite new and she handled it carefully. It was a gift from her father when she clocked twenty seven. She had complained that she was tired of jumping from one cab to another and he had gifted it to her.

  The traffic was light. From Ota, she drove to Abule Egba on her way to Ikeja. Emma lived on a street off Shodipo Close at the GRA. By a few minutes after noon, she was at the front of the gate of his residence.       

  The man at the gate came to the side of her car to properly look at the person behind the wheel. 'Ah, good morning. You're welcome.'

  Janet smiled at him. She was no longer a stranger there. She drove into the compound.

Interesting update.

More please

Madam, although no longer a young woman and was on the fat side, was still attractive. Why couldn't oga be content with that? She knew the man was much older than her own father back in Togo. Why would a man like that stoop so low as to sleep with a house girl?

  Maybe it was because you were still young, she told herself. Maybe as you grew older, you would understand things better. Then, her mind went to the promises oga made. Did he really mean those things, or was he just saying them just to have his way?

  Rhoda wondered on the prospects of what she would do if the man should fulfill the promises he had made. She smiled to herself. That would mean she would be saying bye bye to poverty. But all these would be if he kept to his words.

  An idea flashed through her mind. She had an aunty married to a timber magnate in Lome. Rhoda remembered that the aunty once boasted that she had the key to retaining the attention and the affection (if you could call it that) of any man that crossed her path. Rhoda smiled to herself again. It was time she consulted the aunty.



Janet woke up around six a.m. Then, she remembered that it was Saturday morning and she would not be going to work. She lazed on the bed for several minutes. She thought of what she would be doing with herself that weekend.

  By noon, she would be visiting Emma. He had said he looked forward to seeing her again. Before she would leave, she would just relax and take things easy.

  Still in her night wear, Janet went to the kitchen. The big refrigeration there had assorted juices. She poured the drinks generously in a big mug and returned to her room.

  She played music on her i-phone as she sipped her drinks. Some minutes later, she decided to have her bath. She was still in the bathroom when Zizi came to inform that breakfast was ready.

  After creaming her body, she chose to wear a white t-shirt and a short jeans skirt for now. Her parents were already eating by the time she got to the dining table.

  'Good morning, dad, good morning, mum.'

  "My baby girl, how are you?' Her father smiled up at her. It was the way he used to address her. At almost twenty-eight, her father still called her baby girl.

  Her mother too smiled at her. Julie was a reticent woman. If anyone talked a lot in that house and raised so much fuss, it was daddy.

  'Why is Helen not here?' The man looked at the chair on which Helen normally sat. 'Don't tell me she's still mourning that her boyfriend.'

  'I think she'll soon be here.' Julie nodded and looked at her husband reassuringly.

  The breakfast was toasted bread and beverages. It was one of Janet's favorites. She enjoyed the food and ate to her satisfaction. Truly, just as her mother said, Helen soon came to join them.

  'Helen, baby. How 're you?' LaVos expressed delight that she had finally come.

  'Fine, dad. Morning, mum.'

  'How're you, my dear?' Julie looked at him briefly in I-told-you-so manner. She patted her daughter.

  'Life goes on.' LaVos lifted the tea cup to his mouth. 'I don't understand why you should be brooding over him. You're still young, enjoy your life.'

  The others did not say anything. Janet sometimes wondered how her father was able to take things as calmly as he did. For instance, the way he reacted to the death of Helen's fiancé was rather too cool, almost as if he was expecting the news.

  Janet glanced at her mother. She was sitting calmly beside her husband. As far as Janet could remember, there was no time her mother had any serious argument with her husband, or raised her voice against him. She always seemed to agree with him - both in words and in silence. Mummy was too cool and pliant for Janet's liking.

Later that morning, she was in her room, watching the satellite television. Daddy and mummy had gone out. She suspected that Helen had gone out too. By eleven in the morning, she was watching Channel O, when Funmi, her friend came to visit

Funmi had been her friend since their secondary school days. As a matter of fact, they went to the same federal government girls college. Funmi was the only daughter of the Lawsons and they dotted on her. She was an almost spoilt child.

  Funmi was still with Janet when Emma called her line.

  'When are you coming, baby?' There was a sense of anticipation about him.

  'By mid-day, I should be there.'

  'Have you left home?'

  'Not yet, but I'll soon leave.'

  'How was your night?' The question was an afterthought.

  'It was fine. How was yours?'

  'Fine too. I'll be expecting you, baby.'

  Janet smiled. 'Alright.' She dropped the phone on the bed.

  'Your guy?' Funmi looked at her friend in what looked like envy.

  Janet nodded in the affirmative.

  'I guess I should be on my way. Have a nice time, Janet.'

  With that, Funmi left the house.









                                               Chapter Two

Janet whistled softly to herself as she got up to dress up. Her large wardrobe had scores of clothes, some of which she had no worn from a long time. She checked them one after the other, wondering which one to pick. She finally settled for a designer t-shirt and jeans trousers.

  She applied her designer make up and perfume. It was apparent Janet liked designer wears. She liked to look and smell good. Since she could afford the good things, nothing stopped her from having them.

  She put her sunglasses on as soon as she got to the porch.

  'Happy weekend, small madam.'

  Sule always addressed Janet as madam despite the protest of the latter. He walked towards her with his trade mark grin.

  'Good morning, Sule. How're you?'

  'We dey fine o. We thank God.' He looked at her in expectation.

  'Your car is ready.' He pointed at the car. It had been washed and it was glittering in the morning sun.

  'I can see that.' She nodded in approval, smiling at him. He had, as usual, helped her to wash her car. She dipped her right hand inside her clutch bag and brought some money out.

  'Here, take this.'

  'Ah, thank you so much, madam. This weekend will be very great.'

  She entered her car and put the engine into life. He waved at her while Janet honked the horn. The car was still quite new and she handled it carefully. It was a gift from her father when she clocked twenty seven. She had complained that she was tired of jumping from one cab to another and he had gifted it to her.

Nice one.

She had complained that she was tired of jumping from one cab to another and he had gifted it to her.

  The traffic was light. From Ota, she drove to Abule Egba on her way to Ikeja. Emma lived on a street off Shodipo Close at the GRA. By a few minutes after noon, she was at the front of the gate of his residence.       

  The man at the gate came to the side of her car to properly look at the person behind the wheel. 'Ah, good morning. You're welcome.'

  Janet smiled at him. She was no longer a stranger there. She drove into the compound.

  Emma came to meet her as she was stepping out of the car.

  'My baby.' He was obviously glad to see her. He came over to give a kiss.

Taking her right hand, he ushered her into the expansive sitting room downstairs. Bottles of wine and champagne were already set on the center glass table.

  'I was already expecting you.' He felt there was need to explain the scene.

  'I can see that.'

When she saw that the bottles of exotic drinks were indeed many, she became curious. 'Are you celebrating anything?'

  'Yes.' He laughed. 'Having you around calls for celebration. Take your choice.' He pointed at the drinks.

  'Any that is good with the least content of alcohol.' Any where she went, she always showed that taking alcohol was not her passion.

  He opened one of them with a plop as if there was need to make a toast. He then filled the glasses and handled one to her.

  'To the flavour of a beautiful relationship.' He raised his glass up.

  They clinked glasses. She took a sip to sample the taste. It was good. She looked at him with a smile. She had no doubt that the drinks were very expensive. Maybe he was a connoisseur. Janet did not fancy exotic drinks, but would really not mind to have it moderately if the taste was good.

  They drank and chatted on this and that.

  'Don't you think we should retire to the bedroom? Let me show you one or two things there.' There was a suggestive grin on his face.

  'No o. This place is better. No need to go to any other place.' Her soft protest was significant.

  'You mean you won't mind having the action here?' He laughed over his bawdy comment.

  'I'm not talking about anything like that. Let's just chat for today.'

  'Maybe I should try to put you in the mood.' His right hand went to her chest suggestively as he wrapped his left one around her body.

  'No. I didn't come for anything like that today. Don't even attempt to do that because the mood won't come.'

  'What happens to the mood? Why is it always on flight?' He seemed to be discontent. 'We've done it only once, and that was about three weeks ago.'

  'Yes. You should be satisfied, shouldn't you? It's not food, is it?'

Nice one.

Interesting update.

'Yes. You should be satisfied, shouldn't you? It's not food, is it?'

  Try as much as he did, he could not get her to do what he wanted.

  They talked about other matters. She could see that he was not pleased with her refusal, but he should try to live with that, she thought.

  When it was after one, she stood up to go. He forced a grin and accompanied her to her car.

  'Thanks for the warm reception. You treated me like a queen.' She gave him a peck.

  'You're welcome.'

  He waved at her and she drove off. She joined the main road and drove towards Maryland. She could have driven straight to join Ipaja road, but she wanted to do a little shopping at the shopping complex in Maryland.

  It was the same complex he had met Emma. She bought the laundry items she wanted to buy and realized that her phone was not in her bag. She remembered that she had put it on the armrest of the chair she sat on in his sitting-room. She paid for the items she bought and drove back to Emma's place.

  Instead of driving inside the house, she parked by the gate and got down from the car. The security man was surprised to see her again.

  'Sorry, I forgot my phone. I've come back to pick it.' She smiled apologetically.

  'Your phone?' The question came as if he had not heard her well.

  'Yes.'

  The man was a bit reluctant to open the gate.

  'Make I go get am for you.' He scratched his head and awaited her nod.

  'No, no.' Janet would not want to bother him. 'Let me do it myself. Besides, I want to tell him something.'

  She moved the gate aside herself and went inside. Without bothering to knock, she opened the sitting room door and stepped inside. The scene she saw shocked her.

  Right there on the three-seater, Emma was on top of a lady. They were half naked and he was smooching all over her.

  'What! What's going on? Emma, what are you doing?' Her eyes were wide in surprise.

  He paused in doing what he was doing but did not say a word. He was probably too surprised to say a thing.

  'And who's this? How dare you enter without knocking!' The lady that was with him was full of admonition. She glared at Janet.

  Janet looked at Emma again but he remained mute. She had no business with the lady, so she decided to ignore her. Emma and the lady still remained as they were, without bothering to cover up their semi unclothedness. Shameless lot, Janet thought. She remembered she had come there to pick something.

  'Sorry, I actually came to pick my phone. I forgot it.'

  The phone was still where she had left it. She picked it up and without any ado left them to their shame.

  She went back to her car and zoomed off. Oh God! Her mind was in disarray. How could Emma behave like this? How could he bring another lady into the house? Emma had terribly disappointed her. How long had he been doing that? She had left the house just about half an hour ago; and within that short time, he had brought another girl!

  Janet reflected over her past relationships. They all seemed not to last. In fact, that was an understatement: all her previous serious relationships did not last. The longest was four months. Why? The fault was never hers. This very one for example, was it her fault that she caught them in that lascivious position?

Before she met Emma, there was Niyi who had looked so smooth and promising. Janet had thought she would end up being his wife. A call to his number one evening shattered the idea. It was a lady that had picked his call.

  'Is that Janet?' The voice was cold, to say the least.

  'Yes, please. I'll like to speak with Niyi.'

  'I saw your number stored as ‘’Janet darling’’. Thank God you called.' Now, the tone was icy. 'I was planning to call you, but now that you've called, that’s good. I’ve heard a lot about you. Listen and listen well. I want you to stop prostituting yourself with my husband.'

  'Excuse me.' Janet wasn't sure she had heard correctly.

  'You heard me! I’ll say it again. Leave my husband alone, you husband snatcher. Ashewo! Slut! Useless woman...'

  She had gone on to use the kind of expletives Janet had never heard before. Janet had cut off the line, feeling terribly embarrassed and shocked.

  Somewhere in her mind, she had imagined that Niyi would call and tell her it was all a very big joke, or an error, or something. He never did. Two days later, when he eventually called her, he said he had called to say goodbye. Just like that!

Now, this latest incident was beginning to make her get worried. Why was she so unlucky with the men she had been encountering? Why were her lovers unfaithful men? Why was it that even when she was trying to show a lot of commitment to building a lasting relationship, the other partner never cared?

As she drove home in dejection. Janet had the conviction that something must be wrong somewhere.



Abi drove down the dusty road and parked the car under a big mango tree. The whole surrounding left no one in doubt that it was a sleepy, rural area.

Abi and Helen got down from the car. Helen looked around the place disapprovingly.

  'Are you sure we're in the right place?' Helen stared at Abi, hoping she would get an expected answer.

  'Of course, we are. Come on, let's go.' Abi was certain she had not made a mistake.

  Helen followed her friend. After careful consideration, Helen had decided to follow the advice of her dear friend. They had come to the see the man Abi said could give her spiritual help.

  They went to an old house which only claim to modernization was the rusty corrugated iron sheets. The interior hardly looked better. To make matter worse, the place smelled of something Helen found unpleasant.

Nice update.

The interior hardly looked better. To make matter worse, the place smelled of something Helen found unpleasant.

  The baba welcomed them with what looked like a sly grin.

  'You're welcome, my children.' His greeting was meant to make them feel at home, but Helen would not see anything homely about him or the place.

  'Thank you, baba.' Abi was deferential. 'I've brought my friend,' She pointed at the taciturn companion. 'She needs help. I've told her a lot about you. I believe you can help her.'

  The old man turned his attention to Helen. 'My daughter, you're in the right place. Tell me what the problem is.'

  Helen, in spite of her feelings must open up on her problem and on what had brought them to the place. She briefly told him how she lost two suitors within a short time and how the two had died some months to the fixed days of wedding. The last one happened some days ago and she had become very dispirited. That was when her friend mentioned baba and his prowess in handling such a situation.

  The old man nodded his head meaningfully.

  'You have come to the right place.' His smile revealed brown teeth. 'Let me consult the oracle.' He brought a traditional 'string', made some incantations and spread the 'string' on the floor. He stared at the ground for some moments and then repeated what he just did. Then he looked up to stare at them.

  'I can see that you've got a big problem here, but nothing is too difficult for my god to do.' He stared up the roof as if he was discerning some messages.

  'My daughter.' He turned to Helen and paused briefly. 'You have a spiritual husband who is very jealous. He's the one who does not allow you to have any earthly husband.'

  Helen stared at the old man. There was confusion in her countenance. 'It's like you didn't hear me well.' She made a solemn look. 'I've not yet married. We're just planning it and...'

  'I heard you well.' His interjection had some hints of impatience. ‘And I'm talking about spiritual husband. You're married in the spirit to a very powerful man.'

Helen opened her mouth but did not say anything.

  'Tell me. Don't you sometimes dream that a man was making love to you?' He stared hard at her.

  Abi and the man looked at her expectantly for her answer.

  Countless of times, she had had such dreams. She would wake up to remember them and subsequently throw them at the back of her mind. To her, they were inconsequential.

  Helen nodded. 'Yes, but it's just a dream.'

  The man shook his head almost triumphantly. 'No, it's not just a dream. That was your spirit husband in action. He's the one taking those men who desired to marry you away.'

Nice update