BENECCA’S TALES

Red lipstick on, she smacked her lips in satisfaction of the makeover she had given herself. Despite the fact it was a Monday evening, she decided against an understated look and instead opted for a coral, sleeveless, draped mini dress with deep cutouts on the side. With her long wavy hair running down to her lower back. She dressed just the way they loved her...provocative, sultry, and sexy.  With the silver stiletto heels as high as her standards; Valerie was ready to have another Friday night of her life.   It was weird how everyone wanted her unhappy and sulking always because she was 34 and unmarried. Although she had fantasies, her failed marriage left them all in the gutter. Although she nursed the desire somewhere in her heart, she always gave the tossers that were always in her business something to talk about. From her family to her workplace, church, grocery store, market, mention it! They were always sided talks and whispers. Her mother, who was always v...

Jay-Jay sat at one corner of the counsellor's office. Folding his arms and relaxing on the mini couch, he was not ready to fight any more. Even to explain himself again, he dared not. It was hopeless. Rather, Molly, his wife did all the talking. All. “Jay-Jay said he was helping his secretary! How? Barrister Tola you need to see from my eyes. This man is a monster! 5 years of marriage and all I get is a broken and bleeding nose! Hey God! My mother warned...” Anyone who saw Molly that moment would think she raised hell on earth already with Jay-Jay plunged in it. Her voice like subdued thunder, she behaved like a lunatic. It was indeed a messy sight. “Molly, can you have a seat? This session is booked already, and we are 30 minutes gone. I understand the confusion, but I need to have a conversation here. Let's get this done with please!” Barr Tola said as she adjusted her glasses in irritation, she had kept calm but at that point, Molly had to be put in her place.  Molly refused...

This sun is angry today o,' Ifeoma thought as she walked down the cobbled pathway using her notebook to shelter her face from the scourge of the sun, she quickened her steps, thinking it probably would have been better to deal with the breakouts her face cap would invite than have the heat directed completely on her forehead.  'Expect rain around 2 pm' indeed! She wondered who even did these weather forecasts. It was all that professor's fault; he had previously cancelled today's classes, for reasons he did not give and had called the class rep by ten in the morning to say ' we have class by twelve today' , for reasons he did not also give.  The man, with all his indecisiveness, had mushed up her day and her carefully laid-out agenda to sleep till eleven and not get out of bed till evening, all gone to nought. 'These lecturers need to learn a thing or two about keeping to plans ...mtchew,' she hissed, as she almost bumped into the tree by the corner ...

Nobody talked. The only noise made was Gloria's unending clutter in the kitchen. Gloria, eyebrows furrowed and 'kitchen busy', her no-nonsense face which chewed on the bubble gum like it was one of James Bond's resilient fights.  Abe, Gloria house girl sat dejectedly in the sitting room watching the boy play. A house that used to be a vibrant one turned a graveyard in a space of, say 3 years?  Abe was confused. She could neither see the T. V nor help Gloria out in the kitchen. Gloria had instructed that she sat on the discarded rug which lay carelessly close to the kitchen door. Folding her arms across the hungry tummy, she gawked at Osi who soon walked up to her. “Mummy is busy. I don't want to play” Abe said as she shoved him away. Gloria had brought the tension first, anyway. Her mood was worsened. The 5-year-old, unaware of Abe's statement stood with hands akimbo as a frown played on his lips watching her eyeball to eyeball. Abe unfolded her arms as she noti...

HEAVEN Her smile spread like the orange tint on a ripening fruit as her best song came on the radio. She loved the song not only for it being the ONE #AfricaWithStrongGirl Campaign song but her name was mentioned in it! Sweet heavens! "This Waje can sing oh!"  She said before her attention got stolen by her roadside food vendor. Anyone like her would be over still be over the moon months after this song's release. Her roots were represented and that's what mattered.  Lagos traffic could not hinder the happy moment as she chair-danced gripping the steering with the left hand, and the other was busy with the Aadun which sat carelessly on the passenger's seat and made interval travels to her mouth after which she hummed to the song like a scrunched engine that was fed up with grinding beans at Balogun market. She was late for school runs but unbothered.  "E kassan  Ma!" Her daughter (Sade) said as she hugged her mum, she was surprised when mum hugged her ti...