Episode 4
sola was sixteen years old when he impregnated Banke a friend to his younger sister.
‘Then what do you want me to do about it. I said I am not responsible for it, and go and find whoever is the father of your unborn baby.’
‘Ah, ah Sola, you could turn out this way after all the promises you have made to me never to let me down.’
‘Didn't you realize it from the onset that we are just too young to go into marriage as husband and wife now, and more so, I am still furthering my education beyond this level.’ ‘
I know Sola, but just accept the paternity of the baby. I know my parents will be disappointed in me when they discover. It is better facing the shame than risking my life with an abortion. We are both fanlty.‘
‘Well, you have your choice. Do not ever come back to me With this news anymore. I am not
responsible, so go and look for whoever impregnated you. Remember I am about sitting for my final exams,’ he roared at her with dismissing demeanour. Now alone, Banke remembered the event which put an end to the first love she ever had with a boy.
* * *
Mope was now two years in the house of Mr Sola Oyegbemi. The girl had been sent by her new guardian, Sola that day on a domestic errand, and Sola remembered vividly Mope was the same age as Banke then.
Sola lay on the bed as his mind was flooded with memories --memories of the past. His mind
raced down and he wished he saw Banke again. As he thought about the deed of betrayal, how he broke the heart of the poor teenager, he remembered how the news came to him when Banke was delivered of a
baby boy. He remembered how her parents accepted the reSponsibilities of a child whose biological father denied of.
The promise of re-enrolling Mope in another secondary school was fulfilled to the letters and she was grateful for this benevolence. She paid him back with hard work in and out of the school and at home. She was known in the area as the daughter of the man, only those very close knew him as her guardian.
Weeks before her SSCE, Mope developed some strange symptoms in her body, she had constant fever and headache. She was spitting and vomiting . Apparently, it was an open secret that the girl had taken in. Had he not forced himself on her that fateful night? Had he not been seducing the girl lately? Had he not sworn to kill her if she ever told anyone of the act? Had he not promised to cater far her academic and financial needs as long as she remained the good git! that she was?
The report of the pregnancy test Showed positive and Sola Oyegbemi, the supposed father and helper had put her in the family way. Since Mope was disflowered and stripped of her treasured chastity, she had always been under threats, intimidations and humiliations.
Without her consent, most times, the poor girl was subjected to sexual assaults.
We will abort that pregnancy, he said.
But I’m afraid, sir. I have heard of the attendant consequences of abortion.’ ‘You do not need to entertain any fear at all. Many girls of your age have done two or three already. Under few minutes, you are back to normal again he encouraged her.
Her mind was with Mama Lalonpe whose ailing health had taken to Keffi where one of her sons had been transferred to. She remembered how much she had drummed it to her ears the need to remain a virgin till the right time when the right man would do the right thing. But it was not to be, never to be again, because the balloon had already been punctured.
The arrangement looked like an abandoned structure of an old clinic. Sola had no iota or picture of idea the helpless victim had in mind. It was never to be, she made up her mind finally as she entered the building. She needed to act fast before it would be too late. She sighted what looked like armed instruments with which her life was to be toyed with experimentally. Mope asked the “quack” where the toilet was. She gained exit through the small window and jumped over the fence. She had escaped,one more time.