THE STORY BEGINS …

Comfort came from a humble background. Her father was a thriving farmer with many wives. Comfort’s mother was the first wife. She had four children, two male, and two female with Comfort’s father.

In those days, farmers always strive to marry several wives because of their farm. The children born to them by their numerous wives are easy labour for the farmers.

It was no oddity that Comfort’s father had several wives. The mother was a petty trader, she used the sales to support what her husband gives for her children. She did her best before she gave up the ghost. Her first child was a female. Labake completed her National Certificate of Education (NCE) she got married to a good man. The couple took custody of Comfort when they lost their mum.

Labake became Comfort’s second mother, Comfort was a young girl of 5 years old. She was then in primary one because she started her schooling education early. Her schooling continued in her sister’s custody. She, being a brilliant girl was always topping her class. She was very much loved by the school headmaster and the teachers of her school.

Comfort was the darling of everyone. She increased in wisdom and favour with men. Labake’s husband Barry loved this young beautiful girl called, Comfort especially. He pampers her with gifts. He never wanted the girl to feel the absence of her mother. 

By the way, I forgot to say that Comfort’s father had died in an accident several years back. Long enough before the mother passed away. He was hit by a trailer while coming from the farm. It was a hit and run, leaving numerous wives and many children behind. 

It was a great thing that Barry was taking good care of comfort. People praised him, always showering him with prayers. The relatives of Labake were always exalting his wonderful virtues. He was simply amazing. 

Comfort later entered secondary school years later, having passed the Common Entrance Examination. Labake wanted Comfort to go to the boarding school, but Barry felt she would suffer. It is better to be a day student to continue to take very good care of her. After a long argument, Labake later submitted to her husband’s suggestion, Comfort stayed and became a day student.

She goes to school every day from the house. Though a day student, she was still topping her class to the surprise of her sister Labake. Barry of course was very proud of her “you have not disappointed me at all, I am simply proud of you. If you continue like this, I will take you to the best university in this nation. Face your studies and do not follow boys. Do you understand?”

Barry said in deep satisfaction at Comfort’s performance. Comfort answered, “Yes, uncle Barry”. She uttered in excitement. 

Uncle Barry, as Comfort used to call him decided to take all of them to a five-star restaurant called “Sweet Sensation”, to celebrate the brilliant performance of Comfort. To also motivate the girl to continue to perform well. Labake, Barry, Comfort, and her two children went to the restaurant. Sweet Sensation is one of the best restaurants in Lagos. They do have branches all over Lagos. They have assorted meals including local meals. I remembered when I went to Lagos, to visit my elder sister her husband took us to the place. 

When you go there, you feel satisfied. Everything was going on very well with Comfort. She was quite satisfied living with them. You may wonder why the gap between Labake and Comfort were much. That is another big story. Did I ask Comfort why the age difference? I think it is about 25 years or so.

She took her time to relate all to me. Labake’s mother who was then in secondary school met the young mechanic called Adio in a chemist. Her mother had sent her to go and buy some drugs for her headache. You know women and self-medication (not good though) she rushed to the chemist asking for Panadol when she discovered that this young dashing, boy was looking at her. She quickly removed her eye, and continue with the sales boy. When she was done, she dashed out to go home. On her way home, she realized the young man had been following her. He caught up with her and pleaded to walk her home. She told him to go back because he would put her into a serious problem with her mother. 

He bluntly refused. They continued to go home together, he got to know her name, school, and other things. One thing led to another. They became close. It came to pass that the boy was always hanging around the girl, especially after school. He was also a secondary schoolboy living with his parents. The parents rented apartment was within the same environment. Some few blocks away. 

The young innocent Aduke was drawn away by her lust. She later became pregnant, Adio impregnated her. Before Aduke’s mother discovered it, it was too late. She was several months gone, how? She was hiding the pregnancy until it could no longer be hidden. Aduke’s father heard and became furious. He insisted Adio must marry his daughter. Aduke delivered a bouncing baby girl named, Labake. Adio later married Aduke, they completed their secondary school. Adio became a cocoa farmer, the occupation of his father, he inherited the cocoa farm from his dad. He became rich, thereby marrying many wives, Aduke, was established as a petty trader. Adio’s numerous wives and children became a problem. He was no longer financially stabilized to take care of all of them.

Aduke became a petty trader to sustain her children with the little Adio gives. Aduke gave birth to her second child who was a boy several years later. She had another boy again with several years gap. It took some years before Comfort finally came. When Comfort was five years old in Primary one,  her mother passed on. That led to Comfort coming to stay with Labake, her sister with Barry, her husband. you can now see why the age difference was much.