Chapter One
Like flowers planted by the rivers side was the beautification of Tope, an ss1 student of Flourish memorial college, Odafe. She was the only child of Mr. and Mrs Alabi, from the Yoruba descent. Everything was going smoothly, until one ill-centered day; one this day Tope returned from school, Hoping to perceive the usual kind of aroma on Tuesday when she would step in their mansion. But on this day, everywhere was engulfed with echoes from people who had gathered in the mansion. It's Mrs Ojairo Alabi, Tope's mum. She had passed on in the early hours of today, being tuesday. Oh! how on earth will i survive? and my dad, he's a flirt. What if he decides to get married to another woman? What would be my fate with her? Will i continue with my education? Those were the touching words of Tope alone in the balcony.
On the day Tope lost her mum, she didn't feel much as though something happened. After some days, she began crying hysterically. Don't you have better things to do In the house, other than stay there and cry? To ba wun e, sun ekun di osu kan, iya e o no pada sa yé
if you like , cry till a month, your mum will not come back to life. Those were from Mr. Alabi. One month passed, Tope didn't go back to school. Her classmates in Flourish memorial college had had a brief meeting as to why Tope hasn't resumed. It shouldn't have been as a result of her mum's demise now, Ogechi, the only igbo girl in her class said quickly. Finally, everyone in the class came to agreement that they will go and check up on her upon dismissal for the day. After everyone had made sure that they were done with school activities for the day, they all embark on the visitation to Hope's house. On getting to their gate, they knocked and knocked, but nobody came to open the gate. About an hour later, a coarsed voice from inside asked ' Na who dey for there? Una nor dey tire ? It was Tope's gate-keeper, who was following instructions that were given to him by Tope's dad. Na who una dey look for? If na Tope, make Una go back oo. Immediately those words were altered, Tope who was sleeping the large compound heard and rushed down to the gate. Musa, who are those? Bu-t they said they are looking for me. Why are u restricting them from entering. Peculiar Ajasin, a smart student in Tope's class quickly made some statements; Tope , it's your classmates, we came to know why you haven't been in school for a month now. Tope on hearing this, started crying and ran back to the house. After about some minutes later, she quickly dipped off her tears and resumed her chores for the day, because if she don't complete them before her dad comes back, it's a way of inviting his wrath on her.
It's a Monday and because Tope has not been going to school, since her mum's death, she decided to prepared for school, as a way of working and striving to achieve her dream of becoming a lawyer. Dad, i'm off. Off to where? Her dad asked. To school, dad. Will you go and sit down? You think I will spoil you just the way your mum did? I was just playing along; how will i train a female child with my hard earned money? I'm not a fool, he said. Later on that day, Tope heard her dad's conversation with her aunt, Mrs Dayo; where she was telling her dad to marry another wife. You know that you don't have a heir yet or do you want to die without having someone who will take up your name when you are gone? Those words from her aunt left her in tears uncontrollably.
