Chapter 1— Freedom

Eniola Adesanya couldn't wait for her mother to leave.

Her mother sat on the chair opposite the teacher in charge of checking female students in and she didn't look like she was in any hurry to leave.

She only readjusted her Gele on her head and shifted her large buttocks on the chair.

The chair was probably uncomfortable if Eniola relied on how many times her mother had shifted. Her mother, Oluwakemi Adesanya was a woman of luxury, still she doubted the ability of the uncomfortable chair to send her away a minute before she was ready to leave.

The teacher also kept on readjusting the glasses that perched elegantly on her nose. Eniola was tempted to tell her to remove it, if they were causing her that much problem that she kept on readjusting them.

Eniola smiled to herself. The fear of her mother gave her the good sense to know she could never do such a thing in her presence. Oluwakemi Adesanya was prepared to send her through all the fires of hell, if she looked at a person the wrong way talk more if she did something like that. The woman was big on respect.

She shook her head at herself.

She wouldn't dare.

She looked at the teacher's glasses again. They didn't look like they were doctor recommended. They were most likely fashion glasses.

"Please, I'm leaving my daughter in your hands" her mother pulled her to her side.

Eniola sighed inwardly, mama was always spoiling her cool.

Eniola wanted to shake her mother's hands off but that would only result in a slap.

Mama was just like every other woman with money, she was big on appearances and while mama wouldn't say a thing in front of the teacher if she pushed mama's hand away, mama would make sure to punish her when they were alone. Eniola hated her mother's punishments, they were the worst.

Her mother continued "I heard that this school is a good school and that you always have 99% pass in the WAEC and Jamb exams, that is why I brought her here. You see, she is not very strong in her academics"

The woman nodded at what mama said.

Eniola rolled her eyes, there were a lot of great schools in Lagos, in fact in the west, but mama had decided to ship her all the way to Abịa State.

"So, I don't know if she can get a private lesson teacher that will help her.

"No worries ma, we are committed to our students and there are a series of things we can do to help her before you get a lesson teacher. No student is dull and we are committed to proving it to parents." She adjusted her glasses and turned to Eniola. "Hope you are ready to work hard?"

"Yes ma. In fact, I have started reading my books, it's just that I find it difficult to understand quickly".

"Don't worry, we will help you."

A girl with low cut passed them. The teacher called her back.

"Ehss, come here"

The girl turned and pointed to herself, the teacher nodded.

Eniola rolled her eye, who else was the woman calling, no other person was there apart from them.

The girl walked back to them.

"What's your name?" the teacher asked her.

"Chiamaka"

"What class are you?

"Jss3 ma?"

"Okay, help your senior and carry her bags to the hostel. She is in Red house room 128".

The girl reached for one of Eniola's bags in between Eniola and her mother. She couldn't get to it. So, Eniola dragged it and gave it to her. Mama reached for a bag but the woman cut in.

"oh no, ma why are you carrying the bag?"

"I want to help them take it to the hostel"

She smiled at Mama and said softly "We don't let parents into the hostel." She turned to Eniola. "And besides I'm sure Eniola can handle it, can't you?"

"Yes ma" Eniola quickly answered.

"Yes ma". She repeated slowly.

Eniola wanted to hug the teacher and she didn't care about the frown and suspicion on her mother's face.

She had already decided the moment her parents called her into their room to announce that they were sending her to a boarding school in the East that she was going to be the 'it' girl.

The teacher winked at her and Eniola knew she was going to like the woman.

She followed the girl to the hostel. There was nobody around, the place was deserted.

"Why is no one around?"

"They went for lunch but they would soon be back".

She led her to a staircase and they went up. They stopped at a room on the door was written 128.

"This is your room" she pointed at the door. They walked inside together.

"This space here is empty, you should take it." Chiamaka suggested

"Sure."

They went back to her mother after dropping her bags.

"I can be going now or should I wait for you to drop the rest of your bag?" her mother asked her.

"There's no need, you can go. I will carry the rest with Chiamaka here."

"Okay, oh, I have dropped some money with the cashier for you. If it is too small, call me, don't disturb your father. Sho gbo mi?

"Beni, mami"

Her mother walked towards the door outside. Eniola looked on counting the seconds to the time she would no longer see her. At the door, her mother turned.

Almost, she thought.

"Can Eniola follow me to the car?"

"Of course, don't just give her any contraband"

"Ra ra oh, its not like that" mama smiled. "You see, she is my last child and I am already missing her."

Understanding shone in the woman eyes. Eniola could bet that it was fake. The teacher looked like she was barely out of the university and had no business giving birth to children.

Eniola followed her mother after the teacher had given them permission.

At the car, her mother took out some money from her bag. She licked the tips of her fingers and counted some money out.

"This is ₦20, 000 manage it. I left about ₦50, 000 with the cashier, that should last you for two months. If you like spend it all quickly. Don't bother to ask me for more before then."

She wouldn't.

She stretched her right hand to collect the money from her moher but her mother held on to it.

She was confused.

Was her mother planning to give it to her or not?.

Her mother stared into her eye. "Eniola, if you dare embarrass me again, if you try to bring shame on me and your father after this second chance we have given you, you will see." She snapped her fingers in Eniola's face.

Her mother left the money, got into her car and drove off.

Eniola smiled. Finally, the woman was gone.

She felt like spreading her arms in the air and breathing in deeply, but she settled for watching her mother's car as it sped away into the distance.

Freedom at last.

.