Amos smiled when comfort brought breakfast, placed it on the shiny wooden table and smiled. It was good to be married."Best my dear sit down near me" he said patting the space next to him with his left palm. Comfort sat down slightly abashed and lifted the lovers the stainless aluminum plates in front of them. His eyes widened when he set them on the spicy hot jollof rice with slices of ripe plantain spread in deep hot oil spread here and there they widened even more when comfort uncovered a smaller plastic plate containing two large pieces of beef, fried and deep in tomatoes stew. He could hardly wait, he quickly grabbed one of the spoons in the tray pan and was about to download a first spoon into his mouth."Wait first!" comfort said"Bless the food first now""Hmmm practice makes perfect oh … what are we going to teach our children when they start coming"?"Time Talk" Amos said "let's pray""Baba God, we thank you for this delicious package, bless it for us, in Jesus name""Amen" they both echoed "Best my dear, go bring me small dry pepper, I like my jollof rice with plenty pepper" Amos ordered and watched comfort slowly got up,pull down the creases on her flowery designed calico skirt and walked into the tiny adjoining room that served as their kitchen. She was beautiful, he reconfirmed. He kept his eyes on her shapely figure and bottle smooth brown skin until she was out of sight "fine girl, no pimple" he said to himself. As was grateful that had made a good choice for himself. His eyes move to her picture in the wall, she had a flat nose but she was still pretty with well-set lips. Her eyes were, the most beautiful features on her face, pear shaped with hazel not pupil. Her coffee brown skin was a clear contrast with his, which was very fair and has earned him the name "Oyibo" among his neighbors and co-workers, though hardship has tarnished his complexion a lot, working under ablazing sun daily. Looking around the little living room they were about to eat in. He had every reason to be grateful and to God, his sourjourm from his village to the city was rewarding. It was not much but he believed strongly that the future held a lot of good for him and family he had just begun forming.There was still plenty of time for him to make a better life for them, he was only a young man in his thirties. The bright green diapries hanging on the wall got his attention, they were given to him by his God-mother from the church he attended few blocks away when he first rented the tiny apartment. He remembered how empty he had fat when he used all the money had saved from his mechanic work to buy the Miniaturefurniture, Electronic set and the linoleum carpet on the floor. It was worth it after all. He made up his mind to work rain and shine to acquire his own workshop to be able make enough money for a bigger shelter. He looked at the appetizing slices of fried plantain and wondered why comfort was taking so much time he could hardly hold back his crave for a bit, salivating in seconds. He quickly snatched a slice, put it in his mouth and began to chewing with speed, like a little boy stealing from his mother's pot, watching out for his wife with the corner of his eyes. Just then comfort walked it."Na wa oh …. You no fit wait small for me self" she said."You self, why you waste time like that, person dey hungry" he shot back."Oh sorry, I de new here now, I been they find where you dey keep the pepper" she pleaded."No wahala, make one chop" he said.In some minutes, they were through comfort removed all they used to eat, brought a piece of cloth and wiped the table. She then brought a bottle of fant and handed it over to Amos. He was both overwhelmed and grateful unaccustomed to such huxinioustreat. He quickly knocked the metal lid it open with his teeth and almost emptied everything in one gap after which he poured down the empty bottle on flour and comfort picked it up and left then he roped reposition the table that served duat purpose at the center of the living room.*******At the work shop later that day, Amos went about his work with a joyful air around him, humming a tune softly. Working tirelessly and approaching everyone with a broad smile. Ade his closet pal, who had been. Specifically observing him from a distance could not take it anymore, he walked up to him…"Na wa oh… Iyawo good oh" he said."See as you just de fresh, dey happy""Oh man! Thank God for you oh""My brother, no be small thing oh" Amos Said "Na God oh""How she dey now?" Solo asked "She de fine shaa" Amos replied "I know say she dey cook better chop for you naa, na him, make you just dey fresh like this" Ade added"For where!""Na you fresh pass me now" Amos argued "Leave that thing abeg!""Me I go find my own wife marry jare!""No be only you wey like better thing" Solo said."Go marry oh… make time no pass you oh" Amos said."That one de shaa…""Abeg, oga don call me for phone dey hala""Na you hold him work?" Solo asked"Na Akpan him give, but as him no well, him say make I help am" Amos replied"But na only shock absorber na him de worry""No other thing"You done do am?" Solo Asked"Ehn… but I never test am… no vex just help test am abeg, work full my hand""No wahala, where you keep the oil? Ade asked."Check under that bench" Amos said pointing to an old rickcty wooden bench, short of one leg, leaned against an empty oil paint tin for support.Just then, Amos heard the sound of a paring aching their road side workshop, he looked up to see it was a tricycle popular called (keke). It was the life of the owner of the vehicle he was working on the tricycle has brought everybody called her "Oga Madam" she alighted from the keke and scavenged in her enormous hand bag for money which she handed over to the keke driver. She was a big buxom woman in her early fifties, slightly overweight, who made every effort to look good. Though she was light in complexion but everyone could see that it was the result of her investment in skin toning cosmetics which did not favor her well. Her joint areas did not respond to the numerous skin lightening cream as they stubbornly maintained their dark complexion. The left side of her face was greenish black from sunburn and strong body creams. She ran a very flourishing super market on the next street. Amos had been her family mechanic for along time, in fact she met him through her husband. They both took special interest in Amos owing to this hard work and commitment to any task handed over to him and the usual cheerful manner with which he does his work and attends to his patronizes. "Oyibo, wetin dey make you happy every time?" she could ask him."Oga Madam na God wey full my bele oh"On that day, she work an ox-blood official skirt suit, and black shoes with low heels. She had her hair in braids, held together with a white velvet hair ruffle. "Oga madam!" Amos called out."e done tey oh""Ehn ehh …. Oyibo no just call me oh!" she shot back."Me and you get big palava oh!""wetin" he asked "So you de marry for this life, you no tell me abi?" she asked"You just disappear, come back with wife baa?""Chai! Oga madam no vex" he pleaded "Ehn get as e happen""Na my mama oh, she the girl we she arrange for me before she die oh, say na for that ajegunle we she bed live"."The girl mama send message say make I come oh, my been say the girl good, her eye reach ground and she de go church, say she sabi God well well"."Na him I come go naa, na for Lagos wey the small occasion happen, and I know say eh far well well for una"."But no wahala shaa, I plan to bring her come una house come show una"."Chai! Eiyaa, no problem shaa" she said"Wetin be her name""Her name na comfort" he replied "Wetin she de work?" she asked again"She shai plat hair" he said"When money come, I go open shop for her""But for now, she de follow my neighbor wife dey go plat hair for market""If na so, make she de come plat my hair" Oga madam said"I go tell her" he assured her"Ehen! How far?" she said pointing to their car, a green Toyota Camry"Eh done ready Ade been done test am, but wait make I still test am make in see, weda that noise still dey there" he said and hurriedly opened the driver's door started the car and moved out of the workshop, while Oga madam watched. He drove a short distance, then turned and came back to the workshop sport and packed neatly."Finish" he said to her with a wave of his right hand"Carry go""Okay … when you come house with comfort I go give you your money"she said and rolled her eyes"Madam if na so, we go come this might, because I need dat money bad!" he said"Eh better self" she said and took the car keys from him and headed towards the driver's door."Na wa oh Oga madam!" Amos said"This one wey you nak suit today, abi you don begin work for bank?"She laughed and said "Hmm... no be small thing my dear, them just make my husband senior pastor for our church, we do the ordination ceremony today oh""Chai! We go drink oh… thank God!" he said"No wahala now, until una come" she said as she drove off.The worms in Amos! Stomach began to remind him of food. He yawned and sat down on a condemned car tyre. He deeped his hand in the right pocket of his house and brought his wallet opened it and stared at the almost content, empty calculating how much he could spend on lunch."Oyibo!" he heard from behind him and turned to see Oboma the owner of the workshop where he attached himself, a very huge and dark skinned man with a very ugly attitude."Now, now, now you done dey tire" Oboma said"You just dey yawn like mumu""How you want take make enough money to pay me for the two months wey you dey owe me""You carry all the money wey you done try gather go collect house, marry wife, come dey owe person"Those words, like ferracious bees pull through to the heart of Amos and stung him there. But he chose to remain silent."Now small money, wey you done make you go come use am buy after noon food chot no be so?" Oboma added"I no blame you""No worry, my God no go fail me, before April finish, I go complete your money give you" Amos pleaded are suddenly heard a familiar giggle and loud exchange of "How you dey" and turned to see his young comfort approaching one hand holding up the yellow flowing cotton gown she was wearing as she careful crossed the gutters stones and other obstacles scattered here and there an she came into the workshop. Amos could not hide his excitement as he saroured every facet of her beauty. She dazzle in the sunlight like a goddess. All eyes followed her all the way through sprang to his feet and gave her a hug."My best, how you dey" he asked"Wetin carry you come here?""I de fine" she replied"Sun done come out, I know say hunger go done hummer you well""Na him I say, make I bring small chop come for you""So that you no go spend money"Amos was speechless, he didn't know how to express his appreciation to her, he just started at her as she opened the cellophane bag she was holding and brought out two plate neatly covered and handed them to him with two sachets of ice cold water. He however could not stop his head from swelling in pride as the other men in the workshop and few women from the neighboring hair dressing saloon and grocery shop watched with amazement."No forget to bring this plate them come house oh" comfort said intimated"No wahala" he said almost with a whisper, still staring at her"Abeg no de look me like that" she said and she rolled her eyes at him"You do well" he said"How market?""No problem" she said"We de do am small small""Make I rush go I de expect customer" she said and dropped the polythene bag by his side and was about to strip off, when others began calling out at her."Iyaw, na go be that?" Ade called out just coming in from an errand"Oga Ade, good afternoon" she greeted "Yes oh… make I rush""Iyaw!" one of the women around also called out"Amarya" Adamuone of the mechanics called out too"If you no see this women again, know say na me snatch her oh" Ade said to Amos"Nwanyi oma" another woman called out again "Welcome oh, na you de make our Oyibo to fresh like this ehn,thank you oh"At this moment comfort could not contain her shyness anymore, she mashed the ground to open up and swallow her."So you get eye for better woman like this" Oboma added at last inspite of himself, having been observing everything in silence and soccer jealously Comfort finally flew out of sight. Shouting out an instruction to Amos as said fled"No forget say bible study dey today oh by four – thirty"Amos nodded in replied and watched her go. He immediately called out to Ade"Ade small chop de, go wash hand" he said already guessing what the content of plates was, having weighed them in with hands Ade hurriedly washed his hand and came. Amos opened the plates and, sniffed and exhaled loudly as he took in the nice aroma of freshly cooked egusi soup with plenty of stock fish and only two lumps of beef."Oyibo, make I no reduce your ration oh" Ade said "This food plenty, na two people food" Amos said"She carry you for mind put am"Amos washed his hand with half of one of the satchets of ice cold water and they both ate and greedily, without inviting anybody to join them, wearing serious frown on their faces so as to discourage anyone from attempting to join them.In some minutes, they were through, they washed their hands, covered the plates and put them back in the polythene bag drank some water then they both went back to their respective tasks.It was four pm, Amos went into the workshop, removed his hearing dirty cover all went to the tap nearby, washed his hands legs and face, flung his hand in the air to remove excess water, then ripped it on his khaki shorts, buttoned his shirt property, went in and put on his worn – out leather slippers and announced."I done de go oh""Oyibo, you de forget your life plate them oh" Akpan one of the mechanics called outs to him. Amos' eyes widened knowingly then he bent down, and snatched it from the floor."Akpan no forget to call Alhaji say him motor done ready" he said and strode offAmos sat next to his life in the bible study, later that evening. They were among the first persons to arrive. Amos being an usher joined the others to sweep the church clean, wiped clean the white plastic chairs, as well as the pulpit and musical instruments with a slightly damp piece of cotton cloth. It was not long, the pastor came and everything started. Amos fully participated in the prayers, praise and worship sessions. When the study started he was still with the rest of the congregation with heart and mind. He however turned his head at some point, and looked around the church, and the half empty seats it's was just a Thursday bible study, how many would attends such, well except of course, the poor ones like him, who do not have much doing and who look up to the church for certain favour; he thought. By Sunday this church was going to be full to the brim, with all manner of cars parked outside, in the church compound and be the sides of the busy road. The church hall itself was going to be very colourful with all forms of elaborate dressing and him and comfort were just going to be lost in the crowd. He smiled however at the thought that things would be a better in the nearest future. He believed strongly. Amos was lost in the maze of his own thought, it kept go on getting broader and broader, He also thought about the children comfort was going to birth for him. What he would called them. Bible names and words would be preferable he thought. They were of course studying the life of Apostle Paul that evening Paul, that would make a perfect name for his first son. He could also call one victory, he pondered …"Brother Amos, what do you think?" The voice of pastor Obi broke into his thought."I sorry Sir, my mind was not there" he pleaded "I observed" Pastor Obi said"You have to try to overcome wandering mind""The devil is oppressing you with it"Although Amos could not grab all that was, he however got the message and nodded in conformity. Comfort sitting next to him could hardly manage the sudden surge of shame she felt. She swallowed hard in attempt to bottle the shame.*******Bible study was over and they both walked hand in hand in the cool early hours of the night. None of them or had a wrist watch on, so Amos guessed, the time should be around six thirty P.m."Make we go see Oga Madam them" Amos said"No now, make we reach house first" Comfort suggested"E go de too late if we first reach house" Amos said "Plus we fit chop our night food there""Na time shaa" Comfort said and they headed foe number five school road. They got to the big black gate and pressed the door bell …"Who be that!" A Husky voice called from within.It was the security guard, who peeked from the tiny opening on the gate door"Na we oh" Comfort answered for both of them"Wetin una want?" The guard asked"Abeg tell Oga Madam them say Oyibo and him wife want see am" Paul said. With this the guard disappeared and in few minutes flung the gate door open. The house keeper came around and ushered them into the magnificent living room. There was a balcony round, in the upper part of sitting room with door which Amos thought would probably be bed rooms. The house keeper motioned them to sit on any of the sofas which they did. The floor was made of grey ceramic tiles with brown horizontal designs. The drapes on the wall were coffee and cream in colour. There was a big plasma television hanging on the wall. The table in the middle of the large living room was made of glass with colourful artificial flower spread on it. It was beautiful, such that comfort gazed around like a lost sheep and left her mouth open in surprise, which was quite embarrassing to Amos who was already familiar with house from previous visits. He pinched her and motioned to her to comfort herself. Comfort was startled but she immediately got the message. The freezing air that blew from the spilt unit was really chilling on poor comfort, she folded herself and moved closer to Amos for warm and whispered."Harmattan de for this house well well""No be harmattan" Paul whispered back"Na A.C … see that thing for wall" He said pointing to the spilt unit"Na him de bring cool breeze""Money good shaa oh" she said. Just then Oga Madam came, peered from the balcony and smiled. Then she came down into the living room from the staircase. "My darling" she said and gave Comfort a warm embrace"Hmm… Oyibo!" she directed to Amos "You like better thing oh""My dear, you are beautiful" she said to Comfort "You people are highly welcome""Thank you" they said in Unison Oga Madam entertained them with plenty of funny stories, as well as a bottle of fruit wine and some crackers. This was disappointing to them as they expected to be fed symptom shy like the other days Amos had talked of some days are like that a my way. What they however gained from that visit was worth more than a sumptuous meal. Oga madam told Comfort she could come and work for a friend of hers who to start a new hair dressing saloon in the neighborhood. Comfort could hardly curtail her excitement she spring to her felt and embrace Oga in gratitude to the woman Oga Madam later joined them and also promised to connect Amos to a church member whose firm was in need of servicing technician for their long vehicles and equipment's. It was already later, when they were set to go Oga Madam called out their only son to drive them home.That night marked a new beginning for mister and misses Amos Sunday. They were both very silent when they got home. There was no power supply and so the source of light in the house was only an old kerosene lamp; Comfort cleaned and lit. Then she heated the last of the Egusi soup, made garri, put them in plates on an aluminum tray pan and brought it to the living room. They ate in silence still. In some hours it was bed time, they turned down the kerosene lamp, kept it by the side their bed room door and went to bed. Their eyes were wide open for the greater part of the dark night. Heaven was about to smile on them.Comfort shot open the large blue umbrella in her hand as she waited on the road for a means of transport home. She had closed the saloon earlier than normal to the disappointment of many of her customers. Many of them saw reasons with her though it was the ninth month and her apprentices were not there to assist. They had all travelled out of town for the wedding of one of their top customers. Besides many customers retreated on seeing she was the only one in saloon they were all being cautions using to the popular belief that if a pregnant woman touches your hair, it would begin to break off.A blue and white taxi halted in front of her "Anglican Street" she said"Enter" the taxi driver ordered She hurriedly grab a bottle of chill water from the refrigerator when she got home and emptied the bottle with non-shop gulps into her mouth. Then she snatched a plate of left over slices of boiled yam, spread some palm oil on it, some dry pepper and a pinch of salt without heating it headed for the living room, she stopped by her bed room and grabbed two pillow, with her other free hand. In the living room, she laid her head on the two popped up pillows set at the foot of the sofa, raised her two legs and balanced them on the surface of the Centre table she had drawn closer. Just as the pastor's wife had instructed during the workshop she had organized for expectant mothers in the church.She reached for the television remote control on a nearby side stool, powered on the T.V and tuned for "Africa magic". She tried to concentrate and keep up with the Nigerian Home Video that was going, but the baby in her womb had other ideas. It kept on kicking hard and discomforting its mum. Comfort was rather surprised because, the baby is more often than not silent and would only kick softly once in a while, many women had told her it was girl she was carrying that was why the kicks were soft. They also explained that it was a girl because, instead of becoming all swollen, rough and ugly during the period of pregnancy, comfort had become more succulent looking, her complexion became more radiant she glowed. "But this is not a determinant factor for a girl" someone had told her"Why don't you go for a scan?""We would like to be want surprise" she had repliedThis was the first time comfort had closed the salon at the peak of the day since she started on her own years ago, having saved a lot of money from her former employer together with a large contribution from her husband. She would always leave the girls to continue the work till 6pm while she goes home by 3:30 to 4pm.Comfort's mother being the only grandparent the Sunday family had come to stay with them these period of expectation, to help take good care of her. Mama was the best mother in-law, any man could ever pray forshe loved them both dearly. She infact dotted on Amos he was overwhelmed and grateful to have her.Everyone agreed that Mama was an angel.But this could not be said of Angelina whom everyone called angel. Comfort's only sibling who had also come with mama to assist the Sunday couple this period. Right 4pmm their child hood, Comfort had seemed to have it all beauty and brains gird a character that made her everyone's favorite, she was the bright child that participated in every school activity when mama observed this envy, she scoldedher and advised to try to imitate good character of her sister and read her books as well instead of being unnecessarily jealous, but Anje paid deaf ears and grew even worse in indulgence and deep mindedness grew with it to help out. Not because she was too interested but because mama had made her to mama thought that since she was also married with two kids, she would provide a skillful assistance.Comfort however did not have the worn at her feet. Anje did not like her, she infact disliked comfort. When her mother had inquired the reason from her, she had told them it was because comfort acted like she know it all and promised them she was going to change. That was far from reality, her hated for comfort grew worse. She however developed a method of concealing from the notice of people; but within her she knew she could not stop haring comfort and everything about her including the so-called children she was going to have because comfort would not stop being beautiful, intelligent and smart. She secretly envied her charisma everybody loved comfort and she keeps getting favours here and there, most time simply because she was "too beautiful". That day, mama and Anje had gone to the market to buy some house hold items especially for the mother and the forth coming baby. The taxi driver dropped them in front of the house. They had a long day at oil mill market and were both exhausted them items they came back with were very heavy. Mama quickly relapsed into a Cain chair she found nearly and pull off the blue velvet scarf she had worn. Anje pushed the front door hard in an attempt to open it. It did not move an inch. It was locked from within she knocked harder and banged the door, but there was not even a slightest move or sound."Comfort" she shouted and banged again"Come open this door now!" she shouted again; this time around on top of her voice."Calm down" Mama pleaded "May be she done sleep off"They continued knocking, banging and calling out for close to 15 minutes to no avail. They finally gave up. Anje searched for a chair for herself around and found a white plastic chair close to the generator house, wiped it clean and joined mama where she was sitting.Meanwhile, in the sitting room, comfort had switched off the T.V. when her discomfort increased and repositioned herself on the sofa, head on a pillow, in search of relief. When it finally came, it came with a deep sleep. She saw a little gift with a beautiful smile toddling up to her with a call phone in hand, she opened her arms mice to receive her in a warm embrace, and everywhere was brightly lit. "Mummy, your phone is ringing" the child said and put the call phone in Comfort's hand; it vibrated hard against her palm. She woke up. It was Anje calling Comfort answers and was greeted by a very angry voice."Comfort! Abeg come open the door abeg!" She sprang to her feet and hurried to the door. If it were in her power, Anje would have slapped her for keeping them waiting in the blazing sun. She shot her a very angry glance. If eyes were bows, the arrows from Anjes eyes would have gone right through Comfort's chest."Abeg no vex, na sleep" Comfort said and took some bags from her hand. Just then mama showed up at the door and took Comfort in a long embrace, Comfort did not want to let her go, and she felt safe in that warm flesh and wish she could stay there forever."Time no de, make I put food for fire" Mama whispered and Comfort finally let go and took one more bag from mama that made her both hands full."How you dey" Mama said and gave Comfort a sanitizing look from her head to her feet."You no want add small body abi?" Mama chided and hurried off to the kitchen to get herself busy doing what she does best. Comfort looked at the polythene bags in her hands, opened one and spied on an appetizing whole pineapple inside, shut it closed and opened another. She could hardly resist the fresh green apples that stared back at her she took one and headed for the kitchen where she opened faucet of the sink, washed the apple, closed it and picked up a pen knife from the tiny plastic basket that help knives and began to cut the apple in slices as she ate them.Once she was through, she picked up a bunch of pumpkin leaves out of one polythene bag, headed towards the sink to wash it in attempt to help out."No oh, go rest I beg" Mama pleaded"You no need stress this period""Me and Eliza go fit do am, No worry"Comfort was about to insist when Anje came in abruptly"You no go rest, you no like yourself?" she said. At this Comfort reluctantly dropped the bunch of leaves in a large plastic bowl and left. She came out of the house and smiled as a soft breeze greeted her she loved life. Staring around in the opened, she realized again how kind God had been to her things had changed a great deal for them almost in the twinkle of an eye. They had moved from penny to plenty. Though they were not Dangote, but they could pass for a very comfortable middle class family. She thought of how favour had chased after Amos wherever he went. He got into Billiard petroleum as an ordinary junior technician and then he went back to school. He ran evening programmers until he finally badged a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Port Harcourt which almost automatically catapulted to him to a ________ at the company. Comfort had watched her husbandmoved from an ordinary roadside mechanic with only a senior secondary school certificate to a degree holding engineer; by dint of hard work and divide favour. Even the way he spoke had changed.Amos who only attended a state government public secondary school and could barely speak fluent English can now had a fun conversion in proper English and as well tell jokes with it from constant communication with colleagues at work who spoke proficient English and through much schooling. His demeanor had become equally refined he had become a proper gentleman.Comfort on her own part had refused to be left behind in this maze of change. Already possessing a senior secondary certificate she also ran evening part-time programmes in the university and got herself a bachelor's degree in English and interary education though she did not suffer and job yet at heart she was no longer seen as the wife of a poor mechanic who did hair at the market place for a bring. She had become one of the "big man wife". Immediately she takes up driving lessons and complete it, she was going to be landed with her own car, Amos had promised. Soon she too was going to be on the road as a car owner. This thought brought tear to her eye. Life was beautiful and she wanted an overabundance of it. She looked at the large expanse of land that formed her home surrounding she decided she would plant a garden by the corner and put a swing within for relaxation and for the kids too, just as she had seen of on T.V. her children were going to be special kids, born with a silver spoon in their mouth the word "Ajebo" made her smile.Her thought shifted to Amos, how lucky she felt to have him as her husband. They had shopped for the baby's arrival in the famousWhen they went to South Africa on vacation at the early months of the pregnancy. Amos desperately wished for a son, she had decided to keep maintain an open heart and accept any one God gives to her.She felt a sudden surge of thirst and hurried to the tap by the corner of the house, opened it and washed her hands. She enjoyed the flow of the water into her inter-joined palms spread open under the flowing tap. Then she squatted down and began to drink from her palms. By the time she was through her silky green maternity gown was partially soaked she however enjoyed the cool feeling the wet gown supplied her flesh, in combat with the blazing sun they had moved in this four – bedroom bungalow apartment, with a large living room and kitchen. When Amos first got his big promotion. It was one of the houses in the large Billiard petroleum staff quarters. Comfort could hardly wait to start raise her children in this house.Just then, she heard the sound of an approaching automobile and turned to see the familiar black kia spotage turning in. Amos was home she quickly glanced at sky in an attempt to determine the time. How time flies? It was already 5:00pm. Her house home coming time. Amos sided out of the car ran 2 comfort and immediately swept comfort off her feet."My best how are you?" he said looking strength into she nodded and smiled in response, exposing the tiny gap in between her two front teeth her coffee brown eyes. He started at her face for a while taking in her beautiful facial features. "How was your day?" she broke the silence "Very tiring" he said as he put her gently down"Welcome back dear" Comfort said and took his briefcase from him.They walked into the house hand in hand. The smell of steaming fresh fish filled house, Amos immediately knew Mama was at work and also knew exactly where to find her. He strode straight to the kitchen where he found her sprinkling salt into the boiling pot. He walked up to her put one arm around her neck, she settled"My pikin, you done come?""Welcome oh" she said "Home work now" she said again asking many questions at the same time"Fine, mama" Amos finally said"How house dey naa?""We dey for God hand oh my pikin" she replied "Wetin you dey coo?" He asked "Okra soup" she replied He smiled, that was his favorite food especially when it is served freshly cooked, hot with plenty pieces of fresh fish and smoothly pounded yam to go with it."Today na today" he said as he finally let go of mama; neck, and handed for the door where he collided with Anje who dropped the bottle of water she was holding as a result. Thank God it was plastic"Sorry" Amos said as he bent down and picked it up for him immediately. Anje shot him a very angry glance which was usual with her, being a very angry and difficult to please young woman individual. Amos on the one other hand who was an ever cheerful – easy going young man did not have any problem getting along with Anje. He was even grateful to have Angelina and mama as family, being an only child himself and none of his parents in the hand."Anje how far now?" He asked"Fine na him make you want push me down" she saidAmos laughed, refusing to pick an offence and walked away into his bedroom to join the most important person in the world to him."Kily you dey behave like this?" Mama asked, when they were both alone in the kitchen.Why you dey treat your own sister and her husband like this?"Wetin I don do again naa!" Anje sparked "Mama abeg no worry me oh" she said and stalked out of the kitchen angrily. Mama worst her voice for a brief moment hissed and continued her cooking. She began humming a soft tune to ease the burden she felt in her heart. Join she was happy again.The truth was that Angelina was languishing in jealousy towards the Sunday couple. She secretly envied their lovely union that was so full of love and prosperity. See how they grew from grass to grace, from empty to plenty almost overnight and how Amos so loved comfort. Soon they were going to start having gorgeous babies being beautiful themselves. She walked into her room with brisk steps and a huge from on her face."Your turn go come" Mama would always tell her. She stood in front of the long mirror hanging on the wall and looked at herself for a while. Anje failed to see the attractive young woman that stared back at her, lovely ebony skinned, slim straight model – like figure, really tall for a woman with a fine mass of long hair. Anje saw a distorted image hopelessly comparing herself with her sister, without considering the qualities she had better than her sister like her height, long hair, model like slim body and others. Comfort being of an average height, with a fuller body and a scanty hair that had a stunned growth."Anje!" Mama's voice shot through her thoughts"Ma" she shot back and tried to swallowed hard t ease off some of the bitterness that filled their chest. Then she inhaled and exhaled loudly felt better, and rushed to the kitchen to join Mama"I don finish" Mama said"Begin clean this place I beg" Anje grudgingly clean up the kitchen and washed the dished. Mama dished ladles of okra soup into four ceramic soup bowls and four sizable mold of pasty-smooth pounded yam on flat ceramic plates. On the second though she added an extra mould in Amos plate to save herself of stress because with okra soup he would always and for more.The four sat at the table and ate in silence that night. The meal was too delicious to hold any conversation in between. You have to take enough time to savour the rich taste of the freshly cooked soup. As for Amos, he was in a different world altogether. He molded each ball of pounded yam made a deep print in the Centre with his thumb for it to hold enough soup as he dipped it into the bowl of and swallowed them in quick successions. Comfort could never get accustomed to this despite marrying Amos for years now, she would complain about it afresh every time they hand to eat a swallow meal."Best, I beg no do that thing again" she said with a waved of her left hand and a frown irritation clearly written on her face."e dey make my head swell""If you concentrate on your food, you will not notice me" he said and continued enjoying his favorite meal the way he likes it best comfort fell the usual frustration she always felt as she could realized she could do little or nothing to make Amos cooperate with her on this."Commy, you no dey fire to complain" Anje"Abeg free the man to eat how him like, your busy body done too much"Mama had to come in at this point to neutralism the budding conflict, have quickly observed comfort's face and saw that was about to release and angry reply, especially being older than Anje and shouldn't be spoken in such insultive tone. Mama knew Anje herself would never relent"Anje make u no dey talk to your senior sister like that""And you commy mind your own business, leave Amos make him chop the way him like""I wonder oh" Amos broke in"The person on a one break head for no even get una time self"At this they all silently continued eating comfort tried to control her eyes not to tact towards Amos' direction. He noticed this and smiled to himself as he enjoyed the little drama. Soon they were through they solved up in turns to wash their hands at the dinning sink. Mama and Anje stood and went to the sitting room relaxed on the upholstery and powered on the television. It was their turn to sit back and watch Africa magic while the couple take up the rest from there.At the kitchen, comfort had already forgotten about the dinning table disagreement as usual and was her playful self again. They both shared their experiences during day and many other funny experiences as they washed the dishes. Amos washed while comfort rinsed and placed each item where they were meant to be. Their loud giggles could be heard from any point of the house. Each giggle went straight through the heart of comfort where she laid down on sofa na the sittings room pretending to enjoythe Nigerian movie with Mama where as her mind was covered with strong angst and hate for the couple."Hey! Osoufia will not kill me oh" Mama said with a clap of her hands"See oyibo people! Anje you know say them really go London go act this film oh""Yes yes na true" Anje said struggling to follow the movie."Prayer time!" Amos announced as they joined the rest at the sitting room"Bed time!" Comfort echoed "I beg wait small, them go soon finish this film" Mama pleaded. They all continued the movie to the end, however by the time the movie finally ended, they could all hear the soft snoring of the hearing pregnant woman. Amos tapped his wife softly and she got up almost with a jump."Has Osuofia gone back to Nigeria with Samantha" she asked looking from one face to another for answer they all burst into hysterical laughter; which made comfort a bashed."Sleeping slippers" Amos teased"Me? I was not sleeping oh" Comfort argued "I was watching, true!" but her very red eyes told a different story. This them burst into laughter again."Yes, you were watching in your dream" Anje said this time around. *******Comfort was alone that Friday. Amos had gone to work, Anje to see a friend in the neighborhood and Mama to the nearby market to buy beef and some condiments for tomatoes stew. Comfort decided not to go to the saloon that day as her workers had returned. She noticed that their frontage needed an urgent touch as it had not been touched in along time. Weeds had grown among the flowers in the flower bed and the cashew tree in front of the house just by the side of the road had shed enough leaves to fill a basket and had become brown and dry by sunshine. She knew Amos would handle all that on Saturday, but she decided to them also as a form of little impact exercise Oga-madam, the pastor's wife had recommended at the maternity classes she organized in the church, which the Sundays adjusted to. She put on a brown Chinos baggy short and an old white shirt belonging to Amos, made obvious as it almost enveloped her when protruding tummy being quite huge. She set out to work so that her frontage can look like that of the other uniform houses in the quarters. As she worked, neighbors called out from their frontage or as they passed by."Commy!" A honey – skinned young Muslim woman in her middle thirties, veiled in hijab everyone called "Mummy Fatima" called out"Won't you go in and rest with your big tummy" Comfort grinned and waved"I want my frontage to look like your" she threw back"Go and rest, I'll ask Fatima to help you out when she gets back from school" Mummy Fatima said"Okay, that's time" Mama Fatima said, took her car key from her purse went to the garage unlocked her car, got and drove out when she got to the front of the Amos house where Comfort was working she stopped to gossip a little."Hmmm, Commy, do you know that Mrs. Adeboye has finally left her husband" she said. It was if someone had pressed a power button in Comfort's head. Her eyes widened "True?" she asked "Yes oh!" Mummy Fatima said with a clap of her hands"So you have not heard this Commy are you sure you are in this Billiard quarters?""You know one now, I like minding my business""Stay there! She had even moved out of this quarters entirely, it's another small girl that is with her husband now" Mummy Fatima said "God forbid! Why would Mrs. Adeboye do such a thing?" Comfort asked"You wouldn't blame her, Oga Adeboye is womanizing too much, no woman can stand the things he does, I wouldn't bear it that long myself" Mummy Fatima said with a snap of her fingers "Allah kiaye?" "I pity the small girl that is with him, because when the children visit home, they will beat her to death and bring their mother back in" Comfort said and they both laughed "So, where you de go?" she said "Let me get to milk to pick my boys from the boarding house, they've been given sallah break and we've big plans for this sallah!""I trust you now, see you when you come back!" Comfort said and Mummy Fatima drove off.She looked around, the work was near completion but she was already exhausted, and dehydrated too. So, she dropped the rake with which she had brought the dry leaves together in a heap and entered into the house, went straight to the water dispenser, picked up a glass up on the way. She took the glass of water to the sitting room sat on sofa and took the water in small gulps surrounding it little by little as though it had some special taste.She suddenly started to feel pressed to defecate but this one came on only too he artily. Something immediately rang in her mind labour! She crawled to the opposite upholstery and picked up her phone, already whining in an unutterable discomfort and pain.She called Amos's line severalty but he did not pick up then she tried Mama's, mama picked up bought could not hear her as the market place was too noisy. She called Anje's but was told it was currently switched off. Comfort be gang to cry and prayed silently. Then she remembered someone else. "Oga Madam". Who held maternity lectures for them she tried her number and she picked up. Comfort quickly explained everything to her. The wise woman knew exactly what to do upon hearing how tedious the labour was. In about half an hour, oga madam arrived fully armed with some maternity items "We would not be able to get to the hospital anymore, so just relax" she told comfort when she got into the house. Then she crashed into one of the bedroom grabbed too pillows and joined comfort in the room she had crawled into. She set the pillow one on top another against the wall and gently dragged comfort who was already sweating and wreathing in pain to put her back against the pillow, set her knees up and throw her hide apart, having taken off her dross and shorts."Don't scream, else you'll keep screaming while birthing the rest of your babies". Then she pupped her handkerchief into comfort's mouth to make her shut as she noticed comfort was not ready to cooperate with her. Then spread a "_________"on the floor just below comfort's pelvic region. "Breath in and breath out quickly" she ordered and comfort obeyed "Then push… gently…. Push…" she sang repeatedly as comfort clammed teeth together underneath the handkerchief in her mouth and held the window protector tightly as though wanted to pull it out as she pushed. In some minutes, mummy – pastor could see the head of the baby."Yes, you are doing well, push more…. You are almost there!"In no time the baby landed on the "________""Welldone my dear" oga madam said and picked up the little one"It's a girl!" she announced but that did not more comfort, she closed her eyes gently and drifted off oga madam quickly wiped the baby clean with a small towel and warm water she fetched from the dispense. Then she tied the umbilical cord 8 – inches away with
