The President's Daughter Last Part.

She'd thought that when the time came to give up the baby, it would be very easy but now that she was holding the baby- her baby in her arms, she felt protective and resentful of the fact that she had to give her up for any reason. Briefly, she thought about refusing to give up the baby but she knew that the thought was useless. To do that would be tantamount to being bad and ungrateful. What if she'd aborted the pregnancy in the frist place? Was that not her initial plan? The woman doctor had been kind enough in her own strange ways and Kate doesn't want to pay back the woman's kindness with ingratitude so she knew that she had no choice than to agree with their arrangements. Besides, she'd witness two or three cases of like that in the same house over the months when some women had refused to give up their babies after delivery and honour their agreements. Such women had been severely dealt with and their babies had ben forcefully taken away from them anyways without a dime as a punishment for their agreements. Such women had been given enough disgrace to last them throughout their lifetimes. Kate would have endured the same if she was sure that she would be given her baby.

One of such women had been bold enough to go to the police but nothing had come out of it because the police was on the woman's payroll. She made up her mind to let go. She was still crying very hard when the door opened gently and a man and woman came in; both of them were very fine and looked distinguished. The woman doctor came in behind them.. Kate wanted to stop crying in the presence of these strangers that wanted to take her joy away but she couldn't just bring herself to stop. The woman doctor quickly intervened.

"I sincerely apologize for this outburst of emotion….""Don't worry ma, we understand" the husband said kindly, dabbing at a single tear that was speculatively strolling down his cheek, the wife was already crying, her body shook with the throb of her sobs. Expertly, the woman doctor took the baby form Kate's arms and gave her to the woman. The woman, with tears in her eyes held the baby tightly to her bosom and busted into a full blown wailing. Her husband held her tightly. Throughout all these display of emotions, the woman doctor was dry-eyed and indifferent.

After a while when the crying had subsided, the husband brought out an envelope and gave it to the woman. "There's an additional fifty thousand naira for the mother"

"Thank you" Kate said amid tears and sobs.

"Come to my office and sign the papers" the woman said and left the delivery room. The husband followed her but the wife stayed. She sat on the bed beside Kate.

"What's your name dear?"

"R..rose" Kate said, still sobbing quietly.

"Beautiful name you've got. I am Mrs. Nelson Ogundiran." The woman said "Thank you for giving us this baby. It must have been very hard for you to give her up like that. Is she your first?"

"Yyyes" she said with trembling lips.

The woman hesitated before she asked the next question.

"I am sorry to ask this but I am curious. Why do you want to give her up?"

"It's a long story"

"I have the time" the woman said kindly.

Kate told her everything about herself; from the village to Lagos. "I wanted to abort the pregnancy before but I changed my mind when I knew that I could give another woman who needs a baby because I am not ready to be a mother. I don't have what it takes to be a mother. I am happy that she is going into a good family like yours. Please take good care of her"

"I will, I promise…" the woman said solemnly.

Her husband came in with the papers.

"Sweetheart, I was waiting for you in the office to come and sign the forms; and you too Rose"

"Ah, sorry. We were just talking; woman to woman" His wife said "Can we sign the forms here?"

"Yes" The husband said and gave them the forms to sign. Mrs. Ogundiran signed and Kate too signed, making the child legitimately theirs forever. They rose up to go but the wife stopped her husband.

"Darling, I have beautiful idea; let's employ Rose to nurse this baby for us, after all, she is…"

Her husband was already shaking his head before she was through.

"No sweetheart. First and foremost, that would bring back and cause problems. besides, she may not even want to do it because you are travelling out of the country next week to nurse the baby abroad"

"Yea, yeah, I know all that. But darling, Rose is a very nice person and if you have heard her story like I just did, you would have known that she is not the type that could bring any problem to us. Am I right Rose?" she looked anxiously to Kate for support.

Kate smiled.

"Thanks for the offer ma. I would very much love to nurse her for you but like I told you, ma, I want to finish learning the work and open a new shop and start a new life to put all these behind me. I want to start my life afresh and I don't want to think about my sad pasts and whatever will keep bringing back those pasts to my mind, I don't want to relate with them. Accepting your offer would mean a lot to me like an oasis in the middle of the Sahara but it would be tantamount to living in the past"

The woman was obviously disappointed but she quickly rallied and faked a crippled smile.

"Okay if that's what you think. But anytime you have a change of heart, here is our card; call us and we would be ready anytime, any day. Take a very good care of yourself" she hugged Kate affectionately and her husband shook her hand warmly then they departed with the sleeping baby safely tucked in the baby sling hung on Mrs. Ogundiran's chest. Kate too left the place in the evening of that same day with the forty thousand she sold the baby and the extra fifty thousand that was given to her by the couple.

Though it's been almost eight months since Kate left Mrs. Florence and her family, yet she felt at ease and at home immediately she stepped into the compound of their house. When she walked into the living room, the first room that anyone coming from outside would first get to in the house, it was deserted but she could clearly hear voices from the nearest room and Kate knew that her boss and her daughters were in the kitchen; cooking. With heart beating madly with joy and anticipation, she walked softly to the kitchen's door and pushed the door gently open. Annabel, the older of the two girls was the first person to see her so she shouted excitedly.

"Mommy, it's aunty Rose!" she said and ran towards Kate. Kate scooped her up in her arms and hugged her tightly. Before she could put her down Annabel's younger sister too sighted her and jumped at her , Kate caught her as best as she could without letting go of her sister and staggered at the sudden force before they all went down in a giggling and shrieking heap.

After Kate had untangled herself from the human tentacles, she got up and pulled the girls up. Mrs. Florentina left what she was stirring on the fire before Kate's arrival before taking tentative steps towards her. Her arms were crossed on her chest and a sad smile lit up a part of her face. The other part of her face that the smile couldn't lighten was already clouding up with tears. For long moments, both of them stood looking at each other, tears and smiles fighting for dominance on their faces. Finally, Mrs. Florence spoke.

"I thought that I would never see you again. I have been behind myself with grief and sorrows…." Before she could finish her sentence, her voice broke and she couldn't help crying as she held Kate tightly as if she would disappear if she let go.

"I thought I would never see you and this beautiful family again too but ever since I've gone, my mind has always been right here in this family. This is the only place I feel belonged and truly loved my whole life so how could I forget this place? I missed the kids and their dad but most importantly, I missed you. You are like a mother and a big sister that I never had"

They both hugged each other for long and cried. While they were on this, Mrs. Florence's husband came and he was equally surprised and happy to see her back.

"We missed you terribly, we were afraid that we would never see you again"

The following day in the shop, when all the customers had gone, Kate told her boss once again all that she had been through since she left home almost eight months ago.

"Mmm, you have been through quite a lot in the last eight months. But I'm happy that you have made the right decision by giving birth to the child though you shouldn't have given it up. She is your child and the first that you would have in your life. No amount of money could buy that precious gift"

"I know but I didn't give her up because of money; I did it because I don't want her to suffer like I did. What's the point of giving birth to a child that you can't raise properly?"

"I understand better now. About the offer that those people made to you, you would be a very big fool not to take it. This is a lifetime opportunity to travel abroad and to do something positive with your life. This people will pay you to do little or nothing. You are my sister no matter how we met and I am telling you that this is called 'an answered prayer', accept it. Travel out. Get money and build a life in the United States. Can't you see the big picture? In the next four or five years, you would be a very successful young lady so then you can choose any man you want to marry, not someone like that riffraff that betrayed you"

Kate was silent for a very long time as she thought about this. At last, she shrugged her shoulders.

"Thinking about it now, it doesn't look bad anymore. But I won't leave here until I finish learning from you and get my certificate. Wait, I can even open my salon over there!" She said excitedly.

"Exactly! That's what I have been saying. All you just have to do when you get there is to learn their hairstyles too and combine the two together. You will become and international hairstylist!"

"Whoa, yeah, that's it, thanks sis!"

Three months later, she finished her apprenticeship. She had called the Adamus a month earlier to tell them that she had accepted their offer. They had been happy. She was told that Mrs. Ogundiran had travelled to the US but that all her documents would be ready within weeks.

On the last day of the third month, she travelled to USA after so much tears and promises to be calling all the people she was leaving behind in Nigeria. Annabel gave her ring she wove with grass.

"Always wear it for good luck" Annabel said.

"Oh, thank you darling. I promise to always wear it" Kate replied with melancholy. The last person who said that to her was her mother; back then in the village many years ago when she was coming to Lagos. It looked like eternity ago. Since then- almost five years ago, she had not set her eyes on her mother.

"How did she make that, it's beautiful!" Her father asked.

"Aunt Rose taught me" Annabel said.

"Wow, this is part of the reasons I want you to stay. Our kids will miss you terribly and so will I" Mr. Smith said. They all said goodbye and she left when her flight was called.

New Life.

Mr. and Mrs. Lewis quickly adjusted to being in the public spotlight. Being the governor and the frist lady; they had little privacy but being a president and the nation's first lady was entirely different; they had no privacy. Also, they had lesser time to devout to their family affairs. Their two sons who were now grown up young men in their twenties were university graduates. Michael, the older of the two was a lawyer from Yale and his younger brother was a medical doctor from John Hopkins Teaching Hospital, one of the best in the world. Both of them were clamouring for their parents' attention but being who their parents were, they had little or no time together at all.

"Mum, when was the last time you called and asked me if I had eaten?" Michael asked angrily one day when their mother was about to go out again after arriving not more than three minutes before. "No matter whom you and dad are; you don't have to abandon us. Donald told me that it's been almost six months since you visited him last yet you were never like that. Look at dad now, sine last week that we've arrived, we've not been together for five minutes without being disturbed by either foreign dignitaries or local politicians. This doesn't sound fair at all" Michael said angrily. "I am getting married now but you don't know who I want to marry. Anyways, you knew her back then in those when we were all living in the UK…"

"Are you by any means talking about Lisa? The one Kate said you always followed about, bought flowers for and write letters to?" their mother asked jokingly to deflect their anger.

"Yes she is the one but it is not funny mum, won't you say a thing about all that I've said?"

"Yes, you are right; it's not a funny matter though it is not what you think. Sit here beside me, Don, you too, come and sit here on my left" Mrs. Lewis said as she sat between her sons. She draped her arms on their necks. "Zainab, cancel my appointments for today, make sure nobody disturbs us for the rest of the day. You too can take the day off; go swimming or running or cycling or anything. Just make yourself unavailable to me throughout today. All of you are free for the rest of the day as well, go to your families" She said to her personal assistant and all her orderlies and one after the other, all of them left until it remained only her and her children.

"Your father and I never forget you both, neither did we abandon you. You are all we have so how can we forget you? We are proud that even when we are busy serving our fatherland, you hold yourselves together and carry on strongly. We believe in your wisdom foresight to lead the best lives and make the right choices and that's why we have been able to have peaceful rest of mind. We are sorry for the negligence of our parental duties and everything"

"Mum, we have heard all that you said. But, the truth is since Kate's incident happened about ten years ago, everything about you has changed. It is as if when she died, a part of you that cares and loves died too. I am sorry for saying that pointedly but that's the way it looks to me and I must make you understand" Donald chipped in unhappily.

"Hmmm. It's true, you are right Don. When she died, I missed a part of me and I never got it back since then." She confessed.

"But you can't stop caring mum. We need you. We need that part that wants to know what we ate, the colour of cloth we are wearing and the friends that we keep and where we are going"

"I'm sorry my darling boys. I promise that I will make it up to you both…"

Pearl.

The baby was named Pearl. The Ogundirans were kind to Kate. Apart from nursing Pearl, she did nothing again in the house. Mrs. Ogundiran adored the baby and rarely lets her out of her sight for a moment. Every day, she called her husband back in Nigeria and told him all the little progresses that the baby was making. "Oh darling, I wish you were here today to see her laugh, she was soo adorable!"

Once in a while, Kate too was allowed to say hello to Mr. Ogundiran.

"Why can't he come to USA?" Kate asked one night after their usual one hour call "Instead of travelling back and forth every two months?"

"He is seeking a federal government appointment as a minister. He needs to be in the country to consider and that appointment means a lot to him. That's why he has to stay back. Though I have no doubt that he would be considered"

"Hmmm, he must be well connected to be applying for such an important post"

"You could say that. My husband has always been the president's friend since the president was a governor. My husband served under him as the commissioner of finance. He is seeking the same portfolio at the federal level though the competition for the post is very tough."

"God will let him be selected for the post" Kate prayed solemnly.

"A-amen!"

Three months after arriving in the US, Kate enrolled at a training school for hairdressers. school. Given the training she had had in Nigeria, she quickly learnt the ropes and became exceptionally good in a matter of weeks to Mrs. Ogundirans delight.

Seven more months later, a strange thing began to happen to Kate. She began having a dream of being in the midst of people that she's never seen before. It was like she was part of a family she'd known. In her dreams. In these dreams, she saw a very beautiful woman in her early fifties, an equally handsome man in his fifties and two young men. The man was the one she saw on the TV when she was nearing delivery. She dreamt that she and these people were living together in the same house.

At frist, she didn't think much of the dreams, but it became frequent every time she closes her eyes. She told Mrs. Ogundiran but the latter told her not to mind the dreams.

"Dreams can be stupid. Maybe because you like the man in your dream, that's why your subconscious mind that makes up the dreams. There's nothing to it"

Contrary to what Mrs. Susana said, the dreams became more and more vivid till it turned to hallucination. During the days when she walking, she would be seeing the faces of the same people on other people's faces."I don't think this is ordinary, something is wrong with me" she lamented to Mrs. Susana one day "Just today at work, I was calling another woman 'mum'. I almost got myself into trouble"

"Contrary to what you think, I don't think there's anything special in this. I believe that nothing is wrong with you"

Contrary to Mrs. Ogundiran's assurance, the dreams became more vivid till it turned to hallucinating. During the days when she was walking, she would be seeing the faces of the same people and same thing when she was at work or in a banking hall.

"Something is wrong with me!" she lamented. She was fed up of the weird way people look at her whenever she mistakes someone for one of those people in her dreams. She hated the way the dreams disturbed her simple life and it annoyed her more than anything she had ever hated. At last, she decided to seek a psychiatrist's help.

The American Artisans Academy organized a Fashion Exhibition where artisans and designers could exhibit their special works. Kate applied for the competition. She used a black American as a model and combined the Nigerian and American hairstyles to make a very special style that won the award in the hair making category. She was given a cash price of one hundred thousand dollars. Her work was given a special acclamation and copied by various international fashionistas.

Few months later, she finished her training. By then, Pearl was about two years old and was already going to Kindergarten. She told Mrs. Susanna she wanted to return to Nigeria immediately after the training but the latter told her to exercise patience.

"I would be leaving here too in about three months from now. Seeing Pearl properly taken care of was the reason why I came here and now that she is grown up, it's high time we left here. I miss my job and I miss my husband. I can't wait to be with my family again. So wait, let's leave here together"

Three months later, they all travelled back to home. Kate went back to the Smiths' house and Mrs. Ogundiran and Pearl travelled to Abuja where she lives with her husband.

With the help of the money she received from the competition and the little she'd saved from the odd jobs that she was doing back in the US, she leased a big shopping plaza in the heart of Lagos city and made it into a fashion empire with many sections. Women all over Nigeria and beyond went there to have their hairs, faces, nails and parts of their body fixed and beautified, especially the very affluent ones. She soon became the talk of the country and her fame spread to the nooks and crannies of the country.

An Old Friend.

One day, the first lady and her sons were playing in the balcony in the presidential villa when one of the Ministers came in to meet her in confidence. He was the commissioner of finance, a former commissioner of finance when Mr. Lewis was a governor. Though they'd started on a very unfriendly pedestal, but over the years, he had comer to cherish and appreciate the president's leadership style and doggedness for nothing but the best and they had become close friends. Also, his wife had become the first lady's best friend and their families had been close. The president had appointed him the minister of finance again when he became the president.

"Sorry to interrupt you but can I have some moments with you please? I promise that I won't take your time" the minister said apologetically as he walked in and noticed that his presence was intruding on the first lady's privacy with her sons.

Michael and Donald excused their m other.

"Susana sends her greetings" he began immediately they were alone.

"Oh, how is the baby and how is she?" the first lady asked, happy to hear from her friend who had gone to the US to nurse her baby.

"They are both fine. In fact, she sent some of her pictures and said that I should give them to you, here it is" he gave her a bulging brown envelope and she took it and opened it curiously "She said she would be coming back home in a couple of months' time"

"Wow, that's the best piece of news I've heard for the few months" she said as she went to sit on the nearest chaise lounge and began looking at the pictures most of them were about a two year old very beautiful and adorable girl. She felt a rush of love and affection as she looked happily at the laughing girl and she shared in her happiness and innocence, momentarily forgetting her problems.

"Wow, this kid is the cutest kid I've ever seen. I'm so happy for you both Mr. Ogundiran" she said honestly without telling him how the baby looked hundred percent like her deceased daughter when the latter was at that age. "God knows that you deserve the best. It pays a lot to be patient. By the way, did you hear from the woman who let you adopt this baby? I hope she is not making any demands or causing trouble?"

Mr. Ogundiran smiled broadly.

"We've heard from her. The truth is, she is the one who is taking care of Pearl- that's the baby's name when Susanna goes to work…"

"Ah, isn't that dangerous? That's sounds like someone who sets his ceiling on fire and goes to bed. What if she wants to take her child back?"

"No, Rose is a very good girl. She can never do that. We trust her with our lives" He said confidently.

"I am happy to hear that then"

"Sorry for disturbing, I have to go now because the president and I are due for a meeting with the Canadian ambassador t Nigerian in couple of minute's time"

"Haba, you are not disturbing! You've rather brought good news and that is not disturbance at all. I'll give Susanna a call now. Thank you and byer"

"Bye" two years when she'd travelled abroad to take care of her baby there. It was a beautiful distraction for her from all the official and family demands. As the first lady of the whole federation, she had to put the country's affairs before her own and for the past two years, she had done that. She felt she needed a break from all the duties and functions and to truly have fun once in a very long time. "Oh, Susana, it is so good to0 see you back! Oh my, is this the beautiful baby that took you away from Nigeria, what's her name?" she said as she hugged her old friend and scooped Pearl up in her arms. The little girl squirmed and twisted in her arms. "Oh my, she is so strong!" The first lady said amid laughter "She reminds me of Kate when she was her age….my bad, here I go again. I'm so sorry for bringing that up" she said and smiled tightly to suppress a sob that wanted to escape her throat.

"Mya, I perfectly understand. No pain is comparable to a mother's who lost her child. Away from all these unpleasant thoughts, how are you?"

Mrs. Lewis brightened up again.

"You mean personally or as the first lady?" she teased.

"Personally of course, I don't envy you the position of the first lady, I am not strong enough to face it" she said and they both laughed.

"Well, I'm good, honest lt. it's just that once in a while, I have all these troubling of mind and there's no one I could talk ton except of course my personal assistant" she smiled. "Thank you Susana for asking"

"Good to hear that you are okay. How are you coping with being the wife of the president? Is it like carrying the burden of the whole world?"

"Susana, Aso Rock is a battlefield and somehow, I and my husband are in the midst of that war and bullets and shots are just coming from left and right without a moment's respite. It is a place where everyone believes that the first lady has the solutions to all their problems…"

"And you try to solve all these problems?""What choice do I have? I can't turn them back" she said and they both laughed.

"Wait, I love this hairstyle, where did you do it?" the first lady asked, admiring Mrs. Lewis' hairstyle.

Mrs. Susana smiled appreciatively at the complement.

"Thanks for the complement; a friend helped me to do it. She is the one who gave us Pearl. We came back to Nigeria together and she is in Lagos now."

"Oh, such talent! I like it a lot and maybe it's high time I changed salon too"

"No problem, she will make you very happy by the style that she would give you. She is quite popular over ion the USA so in wonder why you don't know about her because she has been causing quite a sensation since she arrived in Nigeria; her works and pictures are in all the fashion magazines in and around the country."

"I don't read those things anymore. I don't even listen to the news again; too bad many bad things are embedded in the news nowadays"

"Maybe it's time you retire from all the active works and take a rest…"

"Don't even say that. I can't leave Lewis alone to the burden of the presidency. We are in this together so I can't leave"

Mrs. Susana smiled tremulously.

"My apologies, I was just joking"

Kate was at home one Sunday afternoon when Mrs. Susana came visiting with Pearl and her husband.

"Aunt Rose!" Pearl screamed excitedly immediately she saw Kate; who opened the door to let them in. Kate took her into a crushing embrace and buried her face in her hair. After several moments, he greeted the Ogundirans.

"Oh Rose" Mrs. Ogundiran began enthusiastically immediately they were seated and offered drinks "The first lady has been disturbing me to bring you to Abuja to open a branch of your plaza there. She said anyone as good as you must not be exclusive to a particular place alone! Rose, as soon as she recommends you to the other women, then there would be no stopping you. Isn't that awesome?" she asked excitedly.

Kate blushed.

"Thanks so much. I'd be very honoured to meet the first lady in person, I've heard so much about her from Mrs. Florence and from you"

"No problem, if you are not tied down when I am going to Abuja next week, I can take you along"

"I wouldn't miss such an important thing for the entire world!" Kate said happily.

"Ehn, Rose, that reminds me; about the dreams that you told me you were having, have they stopped?" Mrs. Susana asked when her husband and Pearl had been whisked away into the garden by one of her neighbours.

"The dreams are still disturbing me. I don't know what I am going to do about them. It's even worse these days to the point of hallucination…"

"But have you consulted a psychiatrist, now I think you should" Mrs. Susana said good naturedly.

"Ugh! I did in the USA but the psychiatrists were not saying something reasonable. Some of them even suggested that those people I am seeing in my dreams and visions are not just imaginary but real and that they are sometimes in my past that I must have suffered a fatal memory loss…"

"That's too serious but Rose it could be true, these people are professionals….." Mrs. Susana said without conviction but Kate waved it off.

"That is arrant nonsense. I know everything and there is nothing or no one in my past that I am not conscious of and familiar with…"

"I know but…

Mr. Ogundiran and Pearl came in.

"Can I say something about what you ladies are discussing?"

Kate blushed but she said yes.

"Darling has told me everything yet I think it highly probable that you have a past that you are not even aware of. When she told me everything about your past; I noticed that there is a deep gap- the story doesn't add up. There are years in your past that are not accounted. For instance from childhood till you reached the age of ten, there was nothing about it that you could say. Rose, you need help urgently" he counseled.

"I know and I'm seriously trying to figure out what's wrong with me too but it seems my efforts are very useless and powerless in controlling whatever is wrong with me" she said miserably.

"Everything would be alright. On a lighter mood, I've seen a place that is big and fit enough to build your new plaza in Abuja. The place is open and very close to the FCT shopping mall. It is the best place in the whole FCT" Mr. Ogundiran said smiling.

"Oh, thank you sir!" Kate beamed with happiness.

"Don't mention"

While she was attending to a high profile customer one day, a score of other important dignitaries are waiting for her in the big reception while her manager; a fresh brilliant graduate from one of the best universities in the country brought in her appointment book.

"Rose, I have a bad news for you" the PA began as she entered the section where Kate was working on the customer's hair.

"Nothing can be worse than being glued to this chair for hours without standing up for a minute so tell me what the bad news is and be done with it"

"That is exactly what I am about to tell you. The number of new customers in the reception that are waiting for you had tripled. They all want you alone to fix them up. Most of them don't want the stylists to do their hairs except you and they are all ready to wait till you are done so be prepared, you may be here for days without a moment's rest; there's a particular Senator's wife who demands your presence now. She is very harsh so be careful when you meet her. Also, there's a young man waiting for you in the reception room, he calls himself Sheriff. He said you would understand when you hear his name…"

Kate's expression changed from bewilderment to shock then to anger.

"What did he say he wants, Sharon?"

"How was I supposed to know? He said he wants to see you personally and he wouldn't tell me why. Should I send him away?"

"Yes please. Tell him I can't be able to see him unless he states his mission or tell him that I am not around or something. Just find something to tell him"

"Gosh, you sound mad at him! Did he break your heart or something?" she teased innocently.

"That's none of your business Sharon; just do what I told you else I'll fire you and employ someone brilliant and intelligent too" she shot back at her after getting over the shock of Sheriff's visit.

"You know you cannot find anyone better than in this country, not even in the whole continent. You said so yourself several times or have you forgotten so quickly?" Sharon said, smiling broadly.

"Please go Sharon, let me concentrate on what I'm doing. I am tired of you" Kate said smiling as Sharon walked away.

One day, Kate had just closed from work for the day. All her staff had left the plaza and even Sharon too had left earlier to prepare their supper because they were living together. She'd employed Sharon when she met her at a lecture that was organized by UNICEF for young African ladies. The lecture was held at UNILAG main auditorium and it had witnessed an unprecedented number of young ladies (both students and non-students) from different parts of the country and Africa and Kate had been the guest speaker. For three hours, the audience had listened with rapt attention as she narrated her story and advised her audience not to give up on whatever they want, not matter what obstacles life bring to their ways. Many people from among the audience had cried to hear the things she passed through.

Three days after the programme, Sharon had visited her in the plaza. Throughout that day and the following day, she was unable to see Kate because the latter was attending elite parties and attending to her customers that she didn't even know that someone was waiting for her.

After a week, Sharon was finally allowed to see Kate in her office that day. Sharon was obviously pleased and thrilled because she didn't hide her excitement.

"Thank God I'm finally in!" She had exclaimed excitedly as she was ushered into Kate's office by her secretary.

Kate was greatly as amused at this.

"O come on, it's not that bad I believe. Please have your seat miss…."

"Sharon. Sharon is my name" she had said and looked appreciatively round the beautiful office. "Wow, I have never seen such beauty anywhere else in this country…."

Kate began to get tired of her exclamations and excitements.

"Please how may I help you Sharon?" Kate asked firmly but politely, not intending to insult or please.

"I need your help. I am challenged and inspired by what you have been through and how you overcame it all. The story of my life is similar to yours though mine is a bit different. The help that I am asking for is not money or any material thing; I just need your help in putting my life in proper shape because it's in shambles now" her excitements vanished immediately as she begins telling Kate the story of her life. A deep frown crossed her face and she looked as if she would cry any moment. Kate's heart ripped in her chest seeing her sadness and sorrow. Even before Sharon could finish her story, Kate had already liked her. By the time Sharon was through with her story, both of them were crying hard and Kate was hugging her and telling her that everything would be okay.

If Kate could be said to have passed through fire, it had not been as bad as Sharon's. She felt very sorry for her and assured her that she would help her every way possible to pu5t her life back in order.

Then, Sharon was a three hundred level student at the University of Lagos. Kate took up her education and made her stop engaging in prostitution. She took her into her house and employed her immediately she graduated from the University with salary that no organization could pay her.

"Rose, I swear that I would work free for you for the rest of my life for all that you have done for me. You picked me from the gutters and made me a better person. You clothed me, and fed me and put a roof over my head. You gave my life meaning and a new beginning just when I thought that all was over and that's the end of me. I am HIV positive yet you took me in and treat me with no difference even when my friends and families run away from me. You are the only one I know who could do such a thing. You brought smile to my face and filled my heart with so much joy that it looks like I'm in a fairy tale…" Sharon had said when Kate broke the news to her that she would employ her after graduation.

One late evening, Kate had left her plaza and she was on her way home when she remembered that she needed some things so she stopped at the supermarket on the road to her house. She was about to enter the supermarket when she heard someone calling her name from behind, she spurned around to see who was calling her and Sherriff was standing right behind her with a big smile.

"Hi" he said conversantly.

"Oh, hi. Have we met before?" she said, faking surprise and misrecognition.. Sheriff was hurt beyond words by this but he quickly rallied round.

"I can't believe that you cannot remember me again; it's barely five years ago…"

"Oh my God, Sherriff, right? How are you doing? Hope you are good? Are you also here to buy something or you are just passing by?" she asked innocently though she knew that he was there because of her.

"No, I have followed you to this place." He confessed.

"Really, why is that?"

"Because you won't let me see you in your office. Anyways, you are now so rich, so powerful, famous and beautiful. Rose please listen; I am sorry for the things that I have done to you in the past. I was foolish to have let you go, I never knew that one day you could be this rich, famous and powerful otherwise; I wouldn't have treated you that way. Now that I realized that you are all that I need in my life to make it complete. We could use your money to fund some of my businesses and both of us would be rich!"

While Sheriff was saying all these, Kate was brimming with anger but she put herself in check and faked a smile throughout his diatribe.

"Sheriff, though I was brokenhearted and felt as if my world had ended when you left me for the dead and walked always but just when I was thinking that there is no hope for me, God came up and turned things around. Long before now, I've forgiven you because I don't dwell too long in the past; it only brings sorrow and sadness because you can never undo what had been done. Thanks for suggesting that we come back together but I can't because I am already in love with someone else and we are already planning out wedding. I will send my secretary to give you invitation card if I don't forget…."

"See, I'm a changed guy…."

"Listen Sheriff, there is no hard feelings about what happened between us; it's just that I don't love you. Then I thought I loved you but I was lonely and desperate then so when you came along and you were always there, I misconstrued that as love not knowing that it was not love. Do you get all that?" She said and smiled sweetly at him the way an adult would smile at a stubborn kid. He felt small, drab and unsophisticated, compared to her elegance, beauty and wealth.

"Okay, what about my child; the pregnancy?" he asked, hoping to use that as his last weapon to get to her.

She frowned and furrowed her brows.

"I have terminated it not long after you left without looking back. What could I do? I was lonely and desperate and there was no one to help. See, I don't want to reopen the past wounds; it is too depressing and unpleasant for me. I have to go now. See you some day" she said and extends her hand for him to shake but he ignored it.

"I know that you are lying to me about the pregnancy….i don't believe you"

"Oh, go ahead and believe whatever you want, that is your problem. I have said too much already and one more thing, stop stalking and following me around. Next time I see you near me, I'll report you immediately to the police. I owe you nothing and won't hesitate to get you arrested if you pester me again. Do have a happy life" She said and breezed into the supermarket. She heaved a sigh of relief as the door closed behind her. "That's settled" she said and smiled then laughed uproariously.

Finally.

Kate opened the Abuja branch of her plaza about a year later. Many dignitaries both within and outside the country attended its opening. That was where she met the first lady –n her mother after almost ten years apart.

Mrs. Lewis waited as her security guards and entourage confirmed the security situation of the premises where the programme was to be held...for reasons unknown, she felt fidgety and nervous. She attributed this to the fact that it had been a very long time since she made an appearance at an unofficial party. Since her husband's inception as the twentieth president of the federal republic of Nigeria, all her appearances at public functions had been official. But this is different and probably that was why she felt that way.it has always been from one donation to giving aids, to meeting and welcoming diplomats into the country and hosting parties at the state house to court international bigwigs. This outing, she knew that there would be fashion contest here especially among the women. From rare jewelries to cloths, bags, shoes and specially made hairstyles. She felt uneasy, thinking she might look out of place among the beauty and the glamour that would soon be unfolded.

"Zai, are you sure I am not underdressed?" She asked her PA for the umpteenth time. "Why do I feel so drab, so out of place even before I reach that place?"

"Come on girl, you are okay. The problem is it's been a long time since you attended such function; that's all" she said and smiled encouragingly. "Now let's get going before the program starts. Remember that you are the chairperson at the occasion?"

"Yeah, I do. Is my speech ready? Paula, how do I speak of a person I've never met before? I've never met this lady personally, yet I have to be the chairperson of her occasion. Isn't that the funniest thing? Each time I try to meet her ort she tries to meet me, something urgent always come up which demands urgent attention" She mused.

"Yes, it's so funny and each time she tries too, things always come up. It is as if some invisible forces are keeping you apart for some unknown reasons. If you want to see her pictures, I have some here…."

Mrs. Lewis waved off the suggestion.

"Don't worry, let's just get going, when I get there I will see her"

At the function, she was welcomed by a string of well-dressed handsome and beautiful ushers. "Where is the celebrant and why is she not here to welcome us?" Mrs. Lewis asked her PA as they were led by the ushers to her chair at the high table.

"Relax your Excellency, we just got here and she might be busy right now, putting one or two things in order…."

"I wonder where Susana too is…."

Paula didn't bother say anything again. She knew that the first lady was nervous and fidgety and that nothing she said would allay her fears and uneasiness. They were led to the ladies room while they were waiting for the programme to start. It was there she met Mrs. Susana who introduced her to the celebrant.

"Hey girl!" Mrs. Susana shouted gleefully as she sighted the first lady and she took her into a warm embrace. After greeting each other, Mrs. Susana did the introductions.

"Mya, meet Rose, the celebrant. Rose, meet my best friend and sister, the First Lady of The Federal Republic of Nigeria!"

Kate went down on her knees to show a sign of respect and reference to the first lady but the first lady was too shocked to respond.

"Oh Lord, no, no it can't be" the first lady kept muttering under her breath, colour drained from her face and in a twinkling of an eye, she lost balance and almost fell but for the timely intervention of the security guards behind her who caught her quickly before she could hit the floor. A pandemonium broke out immediately. She was quickly taken away to the waiting cars amid tight security.

Both Kate and Mrs. Susana drove after the cars that carried the first lady.

"She was perfectly okay until she got here- until she saw you" Mrs. Susana said as they both sat in gloomy silence.

"But what do I have to do with whatever is wrong with her?!" Kate asked angrily. She was not angry at Mrs. Susana, she was angry at the fact that such an unpleasant thing had to happen on of the most memorable days of her life. She began to cry.

"Why does it have to be me, why?!" She wailed as the vehicle sped through the clean streets of Abuja to the nearest well equipped. Mrs. Susana didn't bother to placate her because she felt like crying herself. Besides, she knew it was good to let people shed tears if that's how they feel.

At the hospital, the first lady was taken to the emergency room and all her security men and entourage were told to wait outside while the doctors locked up the emergency room from within. Kate sat tentatively on the iron bench in the reception and wept silently. Mrs. Susana paced the reception restlessly. Paula, the first lady's PA was sobbing and praying silently. The longer it took the doctors to appear from the emergency room, the more the fears of the people in the emergency room increased.

Barely five minutes later, the president and his sons stormed into the reception with all their entourage and security details, tripling the number of the people who were already in the reception.

"Paula, what happened to my wife?!" the president demanded hastily and loudly as he stormed in. Everybody in the room froze to the same spot. The president's voice and presence such powers that those that had seen him at close quarters before were even awed. Paula couldn't find her voice so she simply wept. Then the president's first son spoke.

"Is it true that mum's dead?!" She demanded from Paula. "It's all on social media that she is dead…."

"No…she is not dead" Kate said quietly, almost wishing, almost praying and everyone faced her. "At least we don't know that for sure" She completed tentatively, feeling embarrassed and scared the way everybody seemed to focus on her suddenly.

The president and his sons gasped in surprise.

"Dad, this is Kate!" Michael shouted, horrified.

"Jesus, dad, it is Kate!" Donald shouted as he walked carefully towards her, afraid to touch or move too close to her, yet, curious to confirm. Suddenly, he took her into a crushing embrace. Kate winced and squirmed and twisted, fighting to be released from the vice-like embrace but Donald didn't let go. The president and Michael too joined the embrace, making it impossible for Kate to be free. They all cried and made joyful noises. The people in the reception gaped in wonder at the incidence.

After a very long time, Kate was freed from the embrace and she spoke calmly.

"I am not Kate, I'm sorry you might have mistaken me for someone else…"

"Which Kate are you talking about; she is Rose, not Kate!" Mrs. Susana shouted unbelievably.

"I am so sorry to say this Your Excellency but I am not whoever you are mistaking me to be. My name is Rose and not Kate. I don't know any of you so this is a case of mistaken identity…."

"No Kate, please don't say that. You are my daughter that died…or we thought you were dead. These are your brothers- Michael, Donald. O lord, is this real or am I just imagining it?!" the president exclaimed furiously "Now I understand why my wife went into a coma, she must have seen you, is that not so?"

"Yes but….."

"Ehn, ehn!" the president said and took her into another affectionate hug as if if he lets go of her, she may disappear again.

Kate wanted to believe that she was part of these people. After all, they were the ones that she'd been seeing in her visions for almost three years now but how would she reconcile this story with her mother in the village? This cannot be true.

While all these were going on, the chief medical doctor came out of the emergency room smiling. His smiles alone brought relief to the minds of everyone in the receptions because there were sighs and several people said "thank God!" under their breaths. The doctor spoke and all the people rounded on him.

"Her condition is stable now. She suffered a mild heart attack bu5t she has pulled through now. She is doing quite considerably well now"

Everyone applauded happy and hugged each other excitedly.

"She'd been sedated now so nobody should disturb her till the next two or three hours" the doctor said and sped away in the direction of a nearby ward to attend to the next patient.

Kate left the hospital forty minutes later after she was assured that the first lady was stabilized and doing fine. She went back to the program to assure her guests that the first lady was doing okay but through the programme, her mind was in a swirl. She kept thinking about the possibility of what had transpired in the hospital.

Later in the evening, after the party, while she was at home, discussing with Sharon what had happened earlier in the day, a courier service delivered an envelope to her and after the man who delivered the mail had gone, and she tore open the envelope that bore the seal of the presidency. In the letter, she was told to come to Aso Rock as soon as possible or she should request for a presidential jet if she wanted. She took the early the following day to Nnamdi Azikwe international airport where both Michal and Donald whom the president had called her brothers were waiting for her.

"We are happy and eager to meet you again, Kate. Besides, dad wouldn't hear any excuse; he wanted us to personally bring you to government's house. He called us immediately your flight took off in Lagos." Donald said and they all laughed as they hugged her in turns.

They were driven to Aso Rock by their mother's personal driver. During the drive, both Michael and Donald told her about themselves and about their childhood and how she used to tease them both.

"Honestly, I don't remember any of those things" Kate confessed.

By the time they got to the presidential villa, a small crowd of friends and families had gathered and waiting for them. The president was among them. When Kate alighted, murmurs went through the crowd and Kate could hear snatches of those murmurs. "She is the one!", "the resemblance is undeniable!"

The president greeted her in such an affection, warmth and tenderness that almost brought tears to her eyes.

"Ever since you have gone, I've not woken up in a day without thinking about you. I thought you were dead but God spared you for us" he whispered into her ears as he embraced her. "Let's go in, your mother is waiting…"

Kate held him back.

"Sir, I beg you, this is a big mistake. I am not who you think I am. I may resemble your daughter…"

"Ah, Kate please, don't deny us. We are your parents and these are your brothers" he said and gestured towards Michael and Donald, almost shouting.

"I am not. I don't want you to be excited over nothing sir. Look at me, I am old enough to know who I am and who my family is but you are not my family…"

"No Kate, you shouldn't talk like that. Let's go in first, we will talk better about it" the president said and led the way into the first lady's suite.

Mrs. Lewis was too excited to and overcame by emotions such that she couldn't speak when she saw Kate again. She was standing with her back turned to the doorway when Kate, the president and their two sons came in. but she turn immediately she felt their presence. Kate and the first lady stood few inches from each other, staring eye-ball-to-eyeball at each other but saying nothing. No one said a thing or interrupted them while it lasted. Finally, Mrs. Lewis moved closer to her and said softly.

"When my daughter Kate was seven years old, she fell from a bicycle and badly scrapped her knees, the cut was so deep that it took almost three months to heal. This scar was on her right knee. Also, my daughter has a birthmark on her chest, just above her heart..."

Kate's heart began to pound.

"Do you want me to continue, Kate or is it Rose?" the first lady asked with anger in her voice.

"Please no!" Kate cried.

"My daughter mistakenly shattered a cup of hot tea when she was five and burned the back of her hand. The last time I saw my daughter up close, the wrinkle from that scar was still on the back of her left hand. If this stranger claims not to be my loving daughter Kate after i have grieved over her all these years, let the men excuse us and the women stay, there is nothing to hide. She will strip right here in front of us and I will find the scars in the exact places that I have mentioned and if I don't, she is free to do to me whatever she wants as a punishment for not believing her" the first lady said.

"it's true; I have those marks in the exact places that you mention and until now, I don't know how I got them. If you are truly my mother, then how did we get separated, I don't understand anything anymore!" Kate broke down weeping and the first lady walked up to her and took her in her arms. The president and all the other people in the room excused themselves until it remained only Kate and the first lady. For the next thirty minutes, Kate cried nonstop while the frist lady cradled her head in her arms and wiped her tears.

Kate told the first lady the little she knew about her family and her insane mother, Ayoka, all the things she passed through in the village which led her to Lagos and how she was almost killed in Lagos by the wicked madam.

"Where is the woman that you called your mum now?"

"I've checked her into a mental institution and the doctor told me that she might be healed in a few months' time"

While they were still piecing the pieces together, the president, his sons and Mrs. Susana came in.

"Why don't you tell them Rose, about the visions that you are seeing? I think they are right. Why haven't I thought about the possibility of you being their daughter since all years that I have known you? Anyway, when it happened, I barely knew you and you were very young then too but you have changed a lot over the years"

"What visions?' the president and his wife chorused.

"Well, I keep having these disturbing visions seeing everyone here in my dreams and seeing us living together as if we were a family. It all started about four years ago- before I even physically met any of you or see you on TV but I don't think…."

"Presto!" the president and his sons exclaimed. What more proofs do you need more than all that have been put before you?"

"Lewis, didn't I keep telling you that she is not dead?" The first lady asked solemnly. She was smiling and crying at the same time.

"Yes you did darling, you kept saying it yet I didn't believe you"

"I could feel her but I couldn't say precisely where. There is this emptiness that comes with losing someone you love; there's a vacuum in the place that they occupied in your heart but after the crash, I felt the vacuum but I didn't feel the emptiness which is why I kept saying for the past ten years that she is still alive"

"Please can we exercise patience; I don't want us to come to conclusions yet until everything is decided…" Kate said cautiously.

"What you need now, darling daughter is help. You must have suffered memory loss after the crash and that's why you don't remember us again. Don't worry, I'll refer you to our personal doctor; I don't know if you still remember him; he was the one who used to treat you and your brothers back then in the UK. He will fix you up or hand you over to someone that he can trust and everything would come back easy to you. Would you like to go to him?"

"Yes sir, I need answers to all the questions raging in my head with no answers"

Kate came back to Nigeria father three weeks in the United Kingdom. She had regained her memory and had been reunited with her family. Because of her unique story, she was invited to give many lectures both locally and internationally. Her story was written in the major newspaper and social media was filled with her pictures and biographies. For three full months, she was trending.

To her mother's delight, Kate accepted to relocate from Lagos to Abuja immediately she came back from her trip to the UK. She began living with her family in the presidential villa. Her parents didn't let her out of their sight, even while sleeping, they would both sit on the easy chairs in Kate's room and gaze longingly as she slept.

"Wait," her mother said one day when Kate was telling them about all the things she passed through and she reached the part where she gave up her child. "Let me guess…the child you gave up was Pearl?"

Kate nodded, unable to speak.

"O my good God!" Her mother said, putting her hands on her head to express her grief and loss.

"Hmmm," her father sighed.

"Kate, see, you have to get her back, Susana will understand…"

"No mum, I can't" Kate said solemnly. "That would be highly improper because Pearl is legally theirs. I didn't give her to them under duress or threat, I was fully aware of my actions…"

"But you gave her up because…." Her mother protested strongly.

"Kate is right, she cannot get her back. That is cheating. What if she is not our daughter, would you have given her the same advice?"

"But I can't just lose my first grandchild just like that now!" she said hotly. "I said it that day when Susana's husband first brought the baby's pictures. I said it in my heart that there was a striking resemblance between her and you when you were at that age. That day, I felt as if I was seeing you again. After Susan's husband left, I cried nonstop for hours until Paula was forced to call my husband because I wouldn't tell her what was making me cry"

After three months of being reunited with her family, Kate's family organized a small party to thank God for sparing her life, especially after they'd thought that she was dead and to appreciate those people who have in one way or the order helped Kate while she was a nobody on the streets. After narrating her story to all the invited guests, she said:

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is with pleasure that I call to the podium the people who helped me when the Madam wanted to send me to early grave. These were the neighbours that contributed money and materials for me while in the hospital"

People clapped as the neighbours came forward to the podium. They were six in number. The president and the first lady shook hands with them all then the president surprised everyone.

"In appreciation to your kind gestures to a total stranger, I give you all keys to duplexes here in Abuja or in Lagos, the choice is yours"

The neighbours went crazy with joy. These were people who were living in a room with their family members in Lagos. Most of them never dreamt of having their own lands let alone build houses. This was why most of them wept happily as the keys were handed to them.

After the neighbours had had their seats, Kate continued.

"And now, please join me and welcome the family that took me in and made me a better person when no one was willing to help, Mr. and Mrs. Smith!"

There was a standing ovation as the Smiths mounted the podium with their two daughters. Kate hugged them all in turns while her parents and brothers shook their hands one after the other.

"No amount of money could repay you for your kindness" the president told the Smiths. "You are a beautiful family that I want near mine. Therefore, I have already conversed with my wife and we've both agreed that if you are interested, Mr. Smith, you could do well at the Central Bank of Nigeria. We will talk more about this"

Mr. and Mrs. Smith couldn't believe their ears. To be suddenly elevated from a poor banker at a nondescript bank to the central bank seemed almost impossible. Mr. Smith wept like a baby.

"Ladies and gentlemen, join me and welcome the woman that God used to save my life when the crash occurred, Mrs. Ayoka"

Ayoka was no longer the mad woman that she was when Kate left her in the village. Because Kate had taken her to a mental institution abroad, she had been clinically healed and was now okay; everybody clapped and stood as Ayoka mounted the podium.

"Thank you!" Kate said as she hugged her fiercely.

"I should thank you more Kate because without you, I would still be roaming free in one village, a raving lunatic"

"But I must thank you more. You have helped in many ways that i can't explain" Kate said gratefully. "If you don't mind, I'd like you to stay with me, do you mind?"

Ayoka shook her head "I didn't mind at all. I'll gladly stay. Besides, I have nowhere or no family to turn to; you are all the family that I have now"

Her parents shook Ayoka's hand in turn and welcomed her into their family.

"The more, the merrier!" The president declared exuberantly and everyone clapped.

"And finally, I want to appreciate a family that gave me hope when I thought all hope was lost, please join me and welcome the Ogundirans!"

Mr. and Mrs. Ogundiran came to the podium and the president hugged them in turns and thumped Mr. Ogundiran in the chest.

"Ogundiran is more than just a friend to this family; he is like a brother to me. All the same, I am deeply grateful, Ogundiran for everything you did for Kate even when you don't know who she was and where she came from. "Thank you friend!"

After the party, invited guests began presenting gifts to Kate. Most of the gifts were cash, cheque and kinds and Kate accepted each gift gratefully though she didn't need any of them.

"Kate," Mr. and Mrs. Ogundiran said when everyone else had left and it remained only them and the Lewis alone. "My husband and I have been thinking of what to give you but we don't know that thing that would be very special to you. We are happy that you are finally reconnected with your family and we wish you the very best. However, right there while the party was going, we decided on a perfect gift to give you and though it costs us so much yet, we are giving this as a sacrifice. Please take"

Mrs. Ogundiran handed Pearl to Kate and Kate burst into tears as she held Pearl tightly to her chest.

"We thought it unfair to keep you both separated from each other. No matter the agreement we had when you were giving her up, we still think it is unfair to separate you two" Mr. Ogundiran said and quickly turned away before anyone could see the single tear rolling down his cheek.

The president clapped Mr. Ogundiran's shoulders tightly and said with quivering voice "Thank you Ogundiran. Thank you. You are a true friend"

Mrs. Lewis held Mrs. Ogundiran in a tight embrace and the two ladies cried.

After a very long time, the emotional exchanges abated and the Ogundirans told the Lewis that they were going on vacation for some weeks.

"Take all the time that you want Ogundiran. I will retain your post in my cabinet and I shall be looking forward to the day that you will come back home"

Epilogue.

Somewhere in the United States of America, Mrs. Ogundiran Susana and her husband were in a doctor's office as he told them the results of the test conducted on her previously.

"Doctor, I hope the malaria that my wife has is settled now because I am afraid, she vomited this morning again during breakfast"

"Please tell him that I am also feeling dizzy as well" Mrs. Ogundiran said.

The doctor busted into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. Mr. and Mrs. Ogundiran looked in bewilderment at each other.

"You are pregnant Susana. My God, I couldn't believe it when the first test result arrived, I had to send the sample I took from you again to the lab and the same result came in. from the result I got, you are carrying a set of twins, maybe triplet. I don't believe in miracles but this one is undeniably the greatest I've ever seen given the fact that you will soon be fifty which means you have far passed reproductive stage but here you are, carrying a set of twins or triplets" the doctor said in wonderment.

The doctor busted into another round of a long and happy laughter while Mr. and Mrs. Ogundiran held each other and cried like babies.

THE END.

Life has a way of compensating everyone for his deeds; to those who sow evil, they rarely escape its sour and bitter taste but in rare cases when they escape, their progenies never will. To those who do well, happiness and rest of mind are their rewards.

Oromidayo.

Author's Page.

Hi,

Thank you so much for reading one of my books. I hope you have enjoyed it? Kindly check out these books by the same author:

1. Passion (Prose)

This is a book that chronicles the lives of four young people who were born at different times and different places. But all of them have something in common; they were all Nigerians. The story centers around Michael an orphan who was born in a remote village before his parents died and he had to start living in his uncle's large family. Because the uncle travelled a lot, Michael was abandoned by his uncle's three wives and this led to Michael's decision to go to the next village to find his mother's family but this later led him to the city (Lagos) where his life was changed forever. The book gave a detailed account of his life from childhood to adulthood.

Another Hero from the book was Oladayo, another homeless boy born in a slummy part of Lagos state by a single mother. He is the narrator of the story and the one who put the pieces of the story together and made the reader know that both he and Michael were cousins despite the fact that they were born worlds apart. He became separated with his mum when one day government officials demolished the shed where they were living and sealed off the whole street. After fruitless efforts at finding her, he gave up and began roaming through the streets of Lagos where he was picked up by a gang of armed robbers where he met Michael. Though the two of them met, yet they were separated and for eighteen years, they didn't see each other again until fate brought them together. Rose was one of the two heroines in the book.

She was born and raised in a very rich and influential family but at a tender age, her parents were abducted by kidnappers and eventually killed tragically. Therefore, she was raised by her octogenarian grandmother, Grandma Kate until the latter died at the ripe age of 86. Rose decided to study criminology to avenge the death of her parents though the kidnappers who killed her parents had died some months later when the detective that the family hired unraveled their hideouts. Sharon was also a daughter of a rich man who was a businessman and a politician, her mother was also a very influential woman whose beauty and elegance was rivaled by none other. She came in contact with Oladayo when the latter was ten years old and separated from his mother. She treated him with contempt because of his low birth throughout the six years that he worked with her family until one day; they were both abducted by kidnappers who were working for her father's political rival who intended to use her to make him step down from his political ambitions.

Other major characters in the book were Sharon and Zainab.

2. The Lost Children (Prose)

This is a very touching story of two young Nigerians- Michael and Rose who met each other on the streets of Lagos while begging for alms. From begging for alms, they decided to raise money to send themselves to school. So they began to sing on street corners and public places and soon they were making enough money to make their educational dreams come true. In the end, both kids were united with their family members through sheer luck and they lived happily ever after.

The Magic Pen (Drama)

3.

The magic pen is a metaphysical novel of how an orphan boy who lived with his wicked uncle found an ancient and enchanted pen in a witch's ruined hut. At first, he childishly used the pen to punish his uncle and his wife for every ill treatment he received from them but with the help of his best friend (Rose), he was able to put the pen to better use when he helped the Nigerian government to put an end to Boko Haram insurgency.

4. Kim (Prose)

This novel is a didactic novel. Most Africans have a negative opinion about adoption. Most African cultures believe no child would be better than one's biological child. Kim is about the story of a rich family with four children who by unavoidable coincidence adopted an orphan girl named Kim. After living several years with the family, Kim's long lost aunt and only surviving relative came back to Nigeria from Libya where she'd been living for years until she was deported back home alongside hundreds of other Nigerians who were forced into prostitution. The aunt was mean, unforgiving and inconsiderate because despite her promises, she didn't allow Kim to further her education from where she stopped while she was living with the Smiths. One day, the place where they lived was sealed off by the government for been unsafe for living and all the occupants of the area became homeless. After sleeping three days on the streets without food, Kim decided to go back to the Smiths instead of being starved on the street. Unfortunately, the day she got back to the Smith's house was the day the family was burying their 3rd child who had died from similar sickness that killed his two elder siblings.

Kim was later made to know that the children in the family had a genetic defects that weakens their nervous system within a year once they reach certain age. Despite all the family's efforts at ensuring that Angela, the last child, who was Kim's age mate and closest friend does not die, Angela passed away when she was 21, six years after Kim came back to the family. This last tragic stroke led to Mrs. Smith's mental disorder and Mr. Smith suffered a series of heart attack that left him permanently bed ridden and Kim (who is now a medical doctor of genetics) was the only one left to take care of them at this hour of need and care of them.

Apple of Wisdom (Prose)

This story was purposely written for children and teenagers. It is a story about a girl named Sharon whose father died while he was traveling from their village to the next on a business trip. Her mother soon passed away and her teacher began to take care of her. The girl, who was academically poor suddenly, had a turnaround in her studies two days after she helped an old woman to carry a load to the latter's hut. At the end of the book, it was revealed that the old woman was an angel who gave her an apple of wisdom which made her excel in her studies.

5. Angel Of Hope (Prose)

An eighteen year old boy suddenly finds himself the sole bread winner of his family. His mother who was retrenched at the Nigerian Postal Service lapsed into a sickness and died many months later. Michael pushed aside all thoughts of furthering his education and began working around the clock just to feed his three siblings at different levels of education. Through the and get a room for them to sleep in.

Through destiny, he met a lady through his boss, Sharon. Sharon was the fiancée of his boss and they both were planning their engagement when Michael began working for the thirty year old boss but things changed and Sharon's affection for her fiancé, Michael's boss shifted to Michael himself. This led to war between Michael and his boss. Michael was eventually fired by the boss who hoped that his absence would heal the wounds between him and his fiancé but Sharon was too deeply involved in Michael's life to turn back. Just when Sharon and Michael were finally free to live happily ever after was when Sharon got involved in a plane crash and she died alongside hundreds of other passengers.