Episode 1
The harmattan breeze was cool on this particular night, Omolola had sneaked stealthily out of her room clutching her mat and her pillow which she had made by tucking all her clothes into her favorite cotton blouse. She always slept at the verandah next to their room because of the unbearable heat which had taken over the atmosphere in the room especially at night. Nineteen other girls slept in the same room as Omolola did, so it was always congested. The little room which they all shared was what Mrs. Modupe the proprietor of the orphanage provided to house all the teenage girls at the home while the smaller girls slept in another room with the matron.
Spreading her mat on her usual spot, Omolola laid on her back lazily, resting her head on her makeshift pillow. She gazed happily at the full moon which shone brightly that night. She didn’t care about the mosquitoes that sang melodious songs close to her ears, or the ones that bit her uncovered legs, or the sound of the barking dogs at night. She enjoyed the cool breeze on her bare skin. The other girls had wondered why she was never afraid to stay alone in the dark, and why she wasn't afraid of Anu the black cat that always patrolled their verandah hunting rats especially at night. The height of their fears were the wandering ghosts who were believed to still be in existence because their spirits refused to rest in the abode of the dead and sacrifices had not been made to appease them.
Whenever Mrs. Kike their matron would tell stories about ghosts, the girls would clutch tightly to each other not willing to be left alone for fear of the spirits coming to take them away to serve as spirit servants. Omolola loved these stories and even wished to see a spirit being in reality. Her friends often times wondered at her nonchalant reaction to these things because each morning Omolola was always found at their verandah smiling and sleeping soundly. These tales never bothered the young teenager, all she wondered about was the beautiful smiling woman whom she always saw in her dreams wearing a lilac dress adorned with beautiful beads.
“Omolola put your books down and go to sleep; you have another beautiful day ahead my child”.
Laraba said pulling Omolola out of her study desk and dragging her to bed. Omolola knew it was playtime, she broke out of her mother’s lazy grip and let her chase her around the room with the both of them laughing excitedly, before Laraba would eventually get hold of her daughter and carry her to bed in her arms. Lying next to her, she would begin a bedtime story which she knew for sure that her daughter would never know the end until the next day when she asked, because Omolola would have been fast asleep long before the end of the story.
The morning sun always woke Omolola to her mother’s face beaming with smiles as she held a tray which contained a teacup filled with hot chocolate and few chocolate bread slices, its aroma engulfing the room. This always accompanied Laraba from the kitchen for Lola’s breakfast.
“Omolola mi” Laraba started placing the tray which carried the items on the dresser and pulling Omolola to herself, the aroma of hot chocolate always made Omolola’s tummy to dance.
“Mummy’s princess and pride” she continued.
“I hope you slept well, you look very beautiful this morning oko mi”. Omolola giggled upon hearing that.
“Oko mi, always know you are my princess and I am your knight. God bless you my dear, mummy loves you very much”
“Ekaaro mummy”, Omolola greeted. “Amin ma, I love you too mom”, Omolola would always respond hugging her mother tightly simultaneously.
“Drink your chocolate before it gets cold and take your bath quickly, your water is already in the bathroom, and I don’t want you to go late to school”. Upon hearing this, Omolola would gulp down her breakfast as fast as possible not minding the burns that the hot chocolate would give her tongue, she always enjoyed it anyway.
