CHAPTER ONE

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I arrive at the Adebanjo’s mansion in Lekki ten minutes late cause of the traffic, praying endlessly in my mind not to get fired. There is something about babysitting for rich people, I earn in a day more than I earn in a week in all of my other jobs and that is not something I am ready to give up.

I am a babysitter and I’m late. I hurry through the wide, black polished gate, dashing to the front door, frantically knocking on it and mindlessly hurting my knuckles, I continue to knock till I see the head maid opens the door, then I stop. Breathing heavily.

“You are late.” She says, confirming the voice in my head that speaks louder than my heart beat.

“I know, traffic.” not giving her the chance to scold me, I replied immediately.

“Well, you are lucky. Madam is in the garden.” she moved her thumb to the direction behind her head which points to the garden.

“Thank you.” I dash to the back of the house, finding Mrs. Adebanjo sitting in the roofed, detached porch-like structure erected behind the palm tree at the far end of the garden, reading a novel in her hand and sipping her glass of red wine.

She doesn’t look like she’d be going to work today. I thought as I approach her “Good morning ma.” I make my presence known just as little Michael, who has been playing with a ball, runs towards me and hugs me.

“Eno, you’re here." she looks up, dropping her novel on the table in front of her “Please, seat” she offers, stretching her left arm towards the empty chair tugged under the table.

I draw out the chair and sit in front of her,

Mrs. Adebanjo appears to look as luxurious as ever, in a simple yet, elegant way. She has on, a white and gold swirl print, v-neck, chiffon maxi dress. And on her feet is a simple, flat, gold colored slippers. She does not have much accessories on except for a pair of modest, round gold earrings and the gold, designers wrist watch her husband have to her on their last anniversary.

Mrs. Adebanjo seems to have been enjoying her book before I Interrupted her.

“You are having fun, no work?” I ask, just to clear my curiosity.

“No my dear, I should have called you but I thought you should come. I need the company. How are you?” she flashes her iconic smile at me

Really? This rich people and their way of thinking. I guess I went through all the trouble to keep you company. Will I even get paid for it? I mentally shake my head off the nagging thought, concealing my disappointment with a fake smile. I guess today is my lucky day. I almost forgot she asked a question. I flutter my eyelashes back to reality. “Oh, I’m fine thank you. And you?” I ask politely.

“Healthy, I thank God.” she replies, looking around then she calls, “Michael!”

“Yes Mommy!” Her little son hugged his soccer ball to his chest with both hands and answers in his cute, baby voice.

“Call Sir Patrick for me, please.”

“Ok mommy.” he dropped the ball and without watching it bounce, he swings his tiny legs in the air while running into the house.

Sir Patrick is the trusted butler of the house, he's in charge of caring for the house when the Adebanjos’ are not around. he's in his mid-forties and is granted due respect that everyone refers to him as sir. He isn't the most handsome piece of work, neither is he close to it. He's average in height, plump, accompanied with a pot belly that makes it difficult for his uniform to button perfectly and plastered on his oval shaped face is a ridiculous mustache that colonized his chin and not complimenting his skinned-cut head. But underneath all this layers is a funny and reliable man who is still nursing the hope that one day, I’ll agree to be his girlfriend. He wish.

“I haven’t seen Daddy yet,” I say.

“Yes, he went out with Bolaji and Tosin, they should be back soon.” she sips her wine again.

Bolaji is the eldest son of the Adebanjos’. He is a stubborn sixteen year old boy in his final year in secondary school. Whenever I come around with Unwana, the house becomes too small for the both of them. My daughter is not gentle, sophisticated neither is she quiet; her nature of school made sure of that.

As Mrs. Adabanjo will say, Unwana is the only girl that has shown Bolaji his place and put him there. It’s funny when I think about it.

Tosin on the other hand is the direct opposite of my daughter, she is at the same age with Unwana and a jewel to the family. Her brother, Bolaji does not joke with her. He sees it as a sense of responsibility to always protect his sister, which is cute. She’s best friend with my daughter and sometimes I think my daughter’s behavior is rubbing off on her little by little.

Unwana speaks fluent English but throws it at the corner when she’s with her friends or with me, a means for me to figuring out who her real friends are. And gradually, Tosin is picking up on that. I just hope that one day, her mom or her dad will not hear her speak Pidgin English. I don't want to imagine their reaction.

“How is my baby, Bright?” Mrs. Adebanjo asks just as Sir Patrick walks into the garden.

They find it a little difficult to pronounce my daughter’s name so they settle for the English version (Bright).

“You sent for me ma” Sir Patrick voice halts me from replying. He walks closer to my side, beaming irksome oculars down at me and smiling.

“Yes, bring me the bottle of wine I kept on the dining table and an extra glass, please.” Maybe Mrs. Adebanjo can be strict but, her speech are always laced with a soft and refined tune. She is very different from the rich women I meet in their estate.

I have worked in the Adebanjo’s mansion for four years now and there is something i always love about Mr. and Mrs. Adebanjo, they are nice, accommodative and always very cultured, except for when they are upset. Mr. Adebanjo is one wealthy man I’ve seen that is very discipline. You should see how he train his children.

“Yes ma.” Sir Patrick straightens himself before leaving..

“Bright is fine. Her visiting day is in two weeks time, I can’t wait to see her.” I finally reply, smiling.

“I still can’t believe you sent your daughter to a boarding school, not just any boarding school but command secondary school, a military school! Eno,” I can see the dreadful look in Mrs. Adabanjo eyes. I never liked the idea too. But I'm a single and struggling mom. If she goes to school from home, my multiple jobs may interfere with her upbringing. I don't want her to witness how hard I work to provide, all she needs to know is that I can provide and make life comfortable for her.

“I know you never supported the idea, I still remember how you even offered to take responsibility for her schooling by sending her to a private school, like the one Tosin is going. I’ll always be thankful for caring about my daughter’s education but, she wanted to go there and I had to step up to take responsibility,” I explain. Don't know if it was a good enough explanation.

“I understand it just that—” Interrupted by Sir Patrick's entry with the bottle of wine and the extra glass on a well carved, brown wooden tray. He place the tray gently on table and I can clearly observe the fine flowery print on the inside of the tray and the edges of it carved in the shape of a butterfly wings. He lift the wine bottle and refills Mrs. Adebanjo’s glass and pours some wine into the second glass, placing it in front of me.

Mrs. Adebanjo waves her left hand, signaling that he can leave then, she continues “—Bright has helped my daughter so much, academically. You need to see how Tosin is performing now in school, it is impressive.” She smiles.

I laughed a bit. Knowing that my daughter has affected a life positively, not just any life, I mean, a life that has everything, it makes me very proud. “I almost forgot, Bright represented her school in the Cowbell Math competition this year and she came out the best out of the twenty schools represented at the competition. And one of the award is a scholarship covering her remaining years in school!” I just can't contain my joy while speaking.

“Oh my God, this is wonderful news.” Mrs. Adebanjo jerked to her feet, expressing so much happiness than I expected “Tosin have to hear this.”

“Thank you ma.” I say gratefully.

Finding her seat, she exhales “That is the kind of news I want to hear.”

I chuckle.

“I will be traveling to Abeokuta with my husband tomorrow. He lost his Father and he’s the only son of five daughters.” She informs in a low tone.

What a sad news “I’m sorry,” I say concern “What about the children wh—“

“They will stay with my sister.” She quickly tells me before I can drop the question.

“How long?”

“My dear, I don’t know but I’m not planning on staying long. I’ll call you when I return. But for the mean time, there is this friend of mine who just returned from the state and requested for a baby sitter. I recommended you but I wasn’t sure if you will want it.”

“Of course, I'd be glad to take the job.” a quick replacement. Thank God. “But I'll quit as soon as you return. I don't want someone else taking care of my little Michael.” I add jokingly.

Earning a heartfelt laughter from Mrs. Adebanjo, she replies “Ahh! Eno, you won't kill me oooh. Well, she lives at Ikeja, I’ll write down the address for you.”

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