CHAPTER THREE

Mr. Daniel Adeogun glanced through the newspaper. He enjoyed the ajapa section of the Sunday punch newspaper. He so much loved as a growing child, the Yoruba folktales his mum told him. The tortoise, ajapa, was always the truant, the antagonistic main character of the stories. The stories were aimed at instilling moral virtues into children and keep them away from social vices. He smiled while reading the aspect of the paper in which ajapa had stolen yam pottage from someone's house. He had placed the hot boiling pottage in his hat in order to escape with his theft. His head hurt so much from the scorching heat from the pottage but he would not remove the hat. Finally, when he had escaped the house, he removed the hat to feast on the stolen food to find out that all his hair had been burnt off. Daniel laughs to himself on the sofa in the living room. What a story!

He dropped the newspaper on the glass centre table and reached out for a glass of water. It's been a month since he arrived from London. He wondered where his wife was and what she was doing. She has been a bit cold lately except for some nights when she makes him satisfy her desires. She had never been that craving or urging. He just hoped his wife was not doing anything untrustworthy but he believed his wife could be trusted with life itself. He sure wished she could leave whatever it was that she was doing and talk to him. He missed her dearly and craved her attention as he might soon leave for another business trip. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice his wife who now sat by his side.

"Darling!" she screamed excitedly

"Shirley, what is the matter?" he asked slightly gasping at the sudden fright his wife gave him.

"Oh dear, did I scare you?" she asked still in chit chat mood.

" No, not at all" he lied

" Good news my dear"

He turned an expectant look to her as he stirred himself on the sofa on which they both sat. What was the good news?

She kept quiet without saying a word as if waiting for a dramatic impact.

"Yes, what is it?" he was getting impatient.

"Your wife is…..",she blushed at him

"She is..." he smiled as he got an inkling of the good news she had come to deliver to him.

She handed him a sheet of paper which he read. His smile became joyous laughter and ululation.

"Two weeks pregnant!" he jumped and hugged her. He could not believe it. Thank the Almighty! Praise Jesus! He would become a Dad! A father! The thought intrigued him so much. He was beyond himself with excitement.

"How did this happen?" he asked.

"What do you mean by that question? How does a woman get pregnant?" she teased him and he laughed.

"Well, a doctor prescribed drugs, I took them and when my husband came back, I worked really hard." She replied.

" Yes, you did! You sincerely worked hard."

"Thank you" he smiled and laughed. God is good he thought.

Doctor Johnson took a good look at the happy couple, newborn in their hands. They took pictures upon pictures. He had delivered the baby and had gotten a lot of reward from the baby's daddy. He was very happy for this couple who after waiting seven years had finally gotten a bundle of joy, a miracle baby girl as their own. He continued looking at the couple who stood in the spotlight quietly as he smiled to himself until somebody bumped into him.

"sorry" the slim man said softly.

Doctor Johnson nodded and acknowledged the man as he made his way to the front.

It was a grand celebration with so many people in attendance; no one could really pass through such a crowd so easily. His eyes traced the man as he struggled to get past the crowd and to the front where the family was. The happy grandmother was holding the child at this moment and the man walked over to her and greeted her. Without glancing at the child, he walked over to the couple and greeted them also as he shook hands with Mr. Adeogun. They began a lively discussion….

Wait, why was he looking at all these? Doctor Johnson reprimanded himself of such act of prying. He must certainly be a good friend of the family. He feels a hand at his waist and slides his hand around his wife's waist, returning the favour.

"I am so happy for them, after seven years of marriage" she said

He nods in agreement.

" their baby is going to grow up happily, never lacking anything, a happy family and wealth. This girl is going to have it all"

He wondered why his wife was saying such but did not dare ask her. All he knew was that he was happy to be a part of the friends, family and well wishers that gathered to welcome this new born into the world on the day she gets named. He hopes she grows up in good health, wealth and knowledge and in favour with God and man. He hopes she gets successful and fulfills her destiny and purpose. He prays she lives long.

He had nothing but the best wishes for her, the best wishes for Omotola Lillian Adeogun.