VESSEL

                                                     Rubbing her foot and reluctantly agreeing to lifting her feet off the terrace floor of her office, which truth be told was the only place which had a bit of furnishing than the basic ambience and style of the rest of the company’s space. She was glad to have an assistant that was willing to also butt into her personal life after experiencing her upheaval relationship with her husband. She had waited severally for Rita Ndubisi to bring up what she had witnessed that unfortunate day but rather all she got from her assistant was love and a message of God’s love sent to her WhatsApp three days later. “I hope I didn’t rush you,” relaxing into the sofa that symbolises her seat as the C.E.O of her company. “No Ma, not at all. I got it all jotted down” “Good”. A long pause ensued. Rita adjusted her newly installed wig strand that found its way to her red glossy painted lips. She made a mental note not to break the ice, she focused on her tab

      The black dress with transparent lacy sleeves from TOW by Tete Ayemet fitted like a glove as she took her tag, No 0789, from the front desk officer at Lions Globe Company.  She looked at it as she hurriedly climbed the classic gold marble spiral stairs to the second floor.  She made a note of thanksgiving for having opted for her pink Nike sneakers and not the open toes stiletto she had previously considered. Her silver drop earrings glimmered as it got a ray of sun that pierced into the conference room. "Lord, you are in control" She muttered and went in. "Good morning Mrs Atinuke Dairo, you are rather quite early, please do have your seat," Giving a perfectly rehearsed smile, she accepted the bentwood chair drawn out for her by Mr Gbenga, the Operations Officer in zcharge of the Fruit deliverables in the Company. Exactly thirty minutes after, Mr Tiga, the C.E.O took his seat,  Miss Thelma, the Accounts Officer took her seat and the meeting started officiall

         “In order to move a better Human Rights event, we need to be sure of the percentage of persons expected to turn up for the event, the activists also that will grace the event, the elites and the common man.  We also need to know the budget needed, cost price or at least approximate cost, the venue where the event will be held, the security intel, food, drinks, etc.”  She stared at pregnant boss as she moved effortlessly around the little table positioned at the extreme of a rather small space used as the board room. This was their first major contract since they decided to start up their own business. Ivie was her source of inspiration, juggling a life that she was accustomed to, first by choice, then by marriage.  But she was giving her all into this contract as if nothing was going on. Her thoughts took her back three days ago, the prayers that she prayed so often lately sprung a joy and confirmation of God’s word in her heart as she comforted her boss, encouraging her not t

    Getting recognition for making varieties of fruit juices, smoothies and parfait mix was a talent her Grandma encouraged her daily to profess. Mama Ty would tap her firm but wrinkled lap and gesture for her to sit on it, "Mama Ty, I am quite big now, you can't carry me," Atinuke chuckled as she remembered how Mama Ty would only repeat the motion without uttering a word. Gently sitting on Mama Ty's lap so as to not hear cracked bones, Mama Ty would hop her up with her lap and hold her firmly. "The Bible says in Proverbs 18:16 that a man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men, don't despise what you do my Tea, let God be glorified and watch how he will use your sweet fruits to take you up, cheer up my Tea". Atinuke exhaled as a tear almost dropped on her perfectly blended in face beat, b eing laughed at while growing up was now a testimony as she signed a contract of worth NGN 200,000,000, a starting figure, for being in partn

                             Pushing the ruggedly looking tortoise car as trickle of sweat beaded into the sides of her vanilla rosy cheeks, "cherish this family heirloom" her grandma sweet voice was clear as day, she snickered at the thought of her still having this mechanical deformity of a car by April. Pushing through the busy street of Lukwe with the last fuel the battered car could muster, Atinuke drove into Pa Kem's Filling Station, the only existing one in the whole of Luwe Community. "How much PMS Ma?" The respect was laced with contempt as Bugo, the chubby fuel attendant, stared at her. Bugo never liked her and she knew, what Atinuke could not fathom was why. What did she have that made Bugo hate her so. Atinuke dug into her royal blue off shoulder cap sleeve gown pockets and brought out NGN5,000 crispy notes, " Nine Litres please ". Bugo eyes widened as she spat out her next words " Madam, please look at the pump rate as of this morning

                                                   How could she not think on these things?  The Keke napep swerved at the T-junction to the left as Ivie held on to the iron at the roof of the tricycle for her safety.  The Keke napep got back its balance and the journey continued as roughly as it had started. Osaze constantly reminding her of her past life was not in anyway helping her move forward with the life she found joy in. Trying to remind her of her drinking and smoking habit was a new low for him to hurt her but she found comfort in the word of God. ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but in Spirit’ she smiled as her thoughts aligned to the word. “Wetin be this, why you no tell me sey you no get change” the spit that flew, as the driver angrily rained curses, nearly found its way to Ivie’s forehead. She took a step backwards and the spit found a better abode on the ground just between her legs. She was never goi