Episode 1
She got home that sunny afternoon and the words of encouragement from her
class teacher, Mrs Kikelomo Jinadu flooded her heart. Never in life in her teenage years had she ever been a champion before She never moved so close to being specially applauded for brilliant academic performance. But luck smiled on her that morning as
Mrs Jinadu was overjoyed that Mope, Mopelola Aderounmu finally made her proud.
Mrs Jinadu had reposed much confidence in Mope’s potential and abilities, believing that with a little push, determination and hard work, she would become the toast of the class.
As she sat in a corner in a modestly furnished living room which belonged to her paternal grandmother Mama Lalonpe. She wished her parents were alive to see what they had always prayed for, but death didn't allow her to them.Her joy that afternoon was mixed with some sad memories of the past -the ugly past, the recent past.
Comrade kolade Aderonmu and his wife, Bukola had gone for the celebration of Christmas with the old woman at ogbomoso. She was seeing the eight-month old baby, mopelola Aduni Aderonmu for the first time.Mama was livelier throughout the six days the family spent with her.she ensured that she gave them her best, especially the little baby.
Mopelola grew up to discover she was made to understand that few days to the New Year, as they were traveling back to their base at osogbo where kolade worked as a secondary school teacher, she was the only survivor of the motor accident that claimed the lives of her parents.she was rescued by nearby good Samaritan who rushed her parents to the hospital.
The driver, Kolade did not get to the hospital before he gave up the ghost because he sustained severe head injuries as he did not make use of the seat belt. Bukola was almost recovering but the shock of the incident coupled with the news of the death of her soulmate was too much for her to cope with.
She joined him when arrangement were being made to discharge her. The love between both was so strong that nothing on earth could separate them except death, and it was so. Kolade was the chairman of the local chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) during his lifetime. Mope was in this state when she remembered that she had some clothes to wash.
She was helpful in Mama, and was always never too far from her. Mama sold fruits and Vegetables which she bought from neighbouring villages.
She told Mama all that happened in the school i ' that day and how she was commended in the midst of other students and teachers for doing very well in English Language Continuous Assessment Test and previous assignments given to them.
mama praised the thirteen years old JSS 2 student forthe good performance. Though Mama Lalonpe lacked Western education herself, she. made all her resources available for her only son, Kolade to get What she missed.
Now that what the son left behind was about lifting his legacy Up, mama thought she needed to do much more than she did on kolade.
After the burial of Mape’s parents, the baby became the responsibility of the old woman. She catered for her, day and night and her efforts yielded positive results. She grew up to know Mama as her biological mother though there were some resemblances and natural traits like mother like daughter.
Did Mope lack proper upbringing? No. Did she lack moral discipline? Of course no. She was always reminded of the daughter of whom she was, ’ she never let Mama down anytime. She was always around.
She was always around to read her books, clean the house and to assist her grandmother in the afternoon and weekends and during the holidays in her business. As she was washing the clothes in the
bathroom, she felt convinced that since she had conquered the class,she could conquer the school, she could rule her world