They played, studied and prayed together. Jessica was about a year older than Sarah. She was plump and of average height. She was light in complexion like Sarah but she did not have a very beautiful face. She was modestly pretty. Jessica had grown up under the care of her very loving mother and a disciplinarian father. She did not live the same life most of her mates lived, not because she fully understood why she shouldn't but she because she feared her father. She and Israel knew their father better than anyone else did. He was always positive, kind and caring, but was strict and sometimes was at fault of not making his children understand why they ought not to live in a certain way. For the two children, life was all about doing only what their father approved.
Although Jessica cared less about fashion when she was much younger, she developed a keen interest in it as she grew older. She envied her fellow teenagers that dressed and made up flamboyantly, she spent more time staring at herself in a standing mirror, but she dared not put on unusual makeups: she feared the Professor could beat the hell out of her if she did.
Besides, Jessica looked out for attention. On many occasions, she went out together with Sarah to buy various things, sometimes, crates or packs of drinks. Whenever they walked together, Jessica had often noted and envied the fact that boys often stared at Sarah only, hence, she couldn't hide her pleasure whenever she noticed someone looked briefly at her.
She once called Sarah’s attention to a group of boys who eyed them whenever they walked past the kiosk in which they sold shoes.
"Sarah, look at those boys."
"Which ones?" asked Sarah.
"The guys sitting in the kiosk by our right."
They both walked up to a nearby shop to buy a pack of Viju Milk. Thereafter, Sarah looked in the direction of the boys and replied, “I can see them.”
"Anytime we pass here, they are always looking at us, especially you," said Jessica.
"That's their problem; I have no business with them," remarked Sarah.
They kept walking and were already a few meters past the kiosk when Jessica brought up the matter again.
"They are still staring at us. I think it is I they are looking at today," said Jessica.
"Why are you looking back? Why are you looking at them? You better don't embarrass yourself," said Sarah.
She found it hard to understand Jessica's behaviour.
Meanwhile, Sarah's class mates, except Roslyn, paid her visits during the holiday. Roslyn had been living in a separate world of her own ever since they departed the camp on St. Patrick Island.
It was one of those despicable evenings which she usually spent in the neighbourhood. She stood in front of a popular chemist shop after buying some pills and was waiting for one of her numerous boyfriends when a Sport Utility Vehicle suddenly stopped beside her.
"May I give you a ride?" asked the driver.
"No, thanks, I am waiting for a friend," replied Roslyn in a subdued tone, for she had actually coveted an invite from a car owner for so long.
"Angel, if you don't mind, I can take you out. We could be friends."
Without further resistance, Roslyn climbed into the SUV and Francis zoomed off. At that moment, Roslyn felt on top of the world and whispered to herself,
“I wonder why some girls wish they were boys.”
She felt she was on the verge of being a super girl who could have whatever she wanted from any man.
Francis was a young, handsome, tall and light in complexioned man. He was about twenty eight years old. They enjoyed a twenty minute drive to an eatery where they ate and discussed. They chatted on end. "You are very lucky to have become very rich early in life. My father is not a poor man but he is not as rich as you are," said Roslyn.
"It is not difficult to become rich," said Francis.
"I am an oil magnate and money is not my problem. I would give you anything you want. All you need to do is ask. "
Roslyn was greatly excited. She beamed with smiles and said to herself again, “Who knew today was my lucky day.”
Roslyn spoke most of the time. She told him everything about her, as well as her ambition to become a medical doctor. Francis listened attentively and responded occasionally. He made gestures that suggested obscured, deeper thoughts going on in his mind which Rosyln failed to notice. She was too lost in her ecstasy to mind them. Thereafter, Francis took her to a dance club where they spent well over two hours just to make the evening more glamorous and memorable for her. They parted afterwards and decided to meet again at Francis’ house in three days. Roslyn returned home at 11:30pm. Any child that has responsible parents would certainly encounter serious trouble for getting home at such an odd hour. But hers was not the case. She walked in majestically without the fear of being questioned. Her parents were watching television when she entered the living room. They simply welcomed her.
She headed straight for her bedroom, changed into her pyjamas and took her diary. She held it for a few moments, returned it to its place and took a new one.
She wrote, "Oh! sweet diary. I feel I am starting a new life and I should take a new diary. I have had many boyfriends but I believe I have finally found true love. Francis is rich and sweet and I will do my best to become his wife. So this is love.... "
She went on and on until she satisfied her writing quest. Thereafter, she closed her diary, placed it in a convenient place and slept off. Such was her immaturity with absolutely no thought as to what the consequences of her unwholesome actions could be. To her, life was to be enjoyed to the fullest. She had dated countless boys and men since she was very young. Being a spoilt child, she had no control over her feelings. She believed life would always be a bed of roses for her, without realizing that a child climbing a tall tree with a thin rope was destined to fall abruptly.
CONTINUE READING
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AUTHOR
John Ishola Olafenwa was born in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria on August 5, 1995. He graduated from Auntie Kemi Model College, Ilaro in the year 2013. He is a software developer and co-founder of Specpal, an engineer at Olafetech Nigeria Limited, where he has been involved in the design and construction of several industrial storage facilities for different companies across different industries. In his spare time, he loves to write poems, books and articles. He is an author of six books including three novels. He is an amiable fellow. His post high school years have been dedicated to vigorous research on computer technology and how it can be used to improve the general well being of mankind. His passion to help make the world a better place is always reflected in his books and write ups.
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Moonless Night (Preview Edition) Page 5