Uwa Ata, what Happened to jumoke? pronouncing the jumoke with difficulty. Her mother smiled,she was telling her the story of olajumoke and the head. She drank from the bowl of water lying down on the floor and sighed.

She married wrongly my dear. The handsome man was a beast in the forest. She was caged forever. Aaahh, halimat exclaimed and her pretty face fell. My daughter the main lesson in this story is that not all that glitters are Gold.
Mama, she calls her mother in Yoruba, ajoke looks at her and burst into laughter. Okay, what do you want to say? she sat properly and paid full attention to her daughter, curious to what she wanted to ask.

Mama, why do we only focus on the lesson. Olajumoke may successfully escaped the forest. perhaps the story haven't ended, since she is still alive. I read from Hazeez book that when there is still life, there is still hope.
Ajoke looks at her little daughter and wondered how her brain operates. she looked at herself and state and wish she could undo something's.

if she could hold her self, she wouldn't have gotten married to Ahmed, she would have been able to further her education and have beautiful children. Is there really hope, when there is life?

She opened her mouth but was interrupted by her senior wife. Our husband is around, it is time for dinner. she says as she rushly move to other huts to inform the other household.

It was a tradition in the house to eat dinner all together. The wife whose turn is to cook do the arrangements and the announcement for the whole family to meet n Ahmed's hut.

Another time to talk about halimat inability to release
Omodolapo, her mother's calls. Ajoke named all her children Christian and yoruba names along side their Muslim names. It was so difficult for her because she can only call them those names in her closets. Ahmed said the names were rubbish and will tarnish his name in the society and this is one of the reasons why she and Ahmed doesn't get along. If you don't want to go, I will bring your food here. I will tell him you are having malaria.

Halimat hugged her mother and climbed the bed. she covered herself and pretends to sleep.
After one hour, Ajoke walks into her but with hazeez holding his sister food in a tray. wake up sleeping head, he said in their local dialect. she sluggishly stood from the bed. If there was something unique about halimat is her sharp ears to sounds.

she came down from the bed and collected her food from Hazeez devouring it Asif there was no tomorrow.
I didn't even know you did not come soon. You can't hide forever and he didn't mention you today. He allowed mom to go to church tommorow. Can I follow you Mommy? she asked amidst full mouth

if you want to, just make sure you will wake up by 5 Tomorrow morning. She stands to get the cloth she will be wearing Tomorrow. Motigbo ma, halima said while Hazeez looks at her Asif he spoke in gibberish.

Mother, I was the one who was first interested in Yoruba but it seems haima knows everything now. He said looking pained.
Ajoke looked at her son and laughed. Omodara, create more time to spend withe your mother and you will outshine dolapo.

Her reply wasn't satisfactory to him, instead of dwelling more on the matter, he sat down at stare at the room. The room was silent and it was not comfortable for him. He looked at his mom and asked Can I follow you tommorow?

Ajoke looked at him. and Intentionally ignored his question. Omodara, go and bring your0 siblings In. It is time for bed
Knowing fully well, she was going to ignore him. He stood up and left the room to call his siblings.

Halimat look at her mother, mama, let him come with us. I will speak to him and I promise be will obey.
Ajoke looks at her daughter and smiles. Motigbo, and he fails and misbehave trying things out I will have you wash all the cloth. Halimat and cloth is like an okro soup and onion. Never palatable.

Ajoke who knew it was just a threat smiles and carried her plate outside the hut. she washed her hands and retires to her mother's hut.
By the time she got there, Hazeez was arranging their siblings on bed. Hazeez, you can come with us tomorrow she said smiling

Hazeez looked at her and muttered Thank you and be ready to watch lots of cloth if I misbehave. the smile on her face drop and she walk to him, if you dare I will make sure I tell Zainab how beautiful you see her.

That is why I don't like telling you my secret. Halimat looked at him and laugh. Okay Mister secret, am sorry. But don't go around experimenting things you were thought in church. The last time you tried walking on the village river, Daddy insulted mother and he stopped her from going to church. So just keep whatever you hear in your heart and when you grow up you can start experimenting. She winked at him and left to get her wrapper.

Hazeez smiles at her sister, one reason he can't get rid of her, he loves her so much, more than Zainab and he is glad he accepts whatever he accepts.
He laid down on the mat, he squeezed himself amidst his sleeping brothers and stare at the star.

The open window gave him a clear view of the sky.
There was a lot going on in his mind. He was a young boy, dreaming of a household of one man, one wife with children he can properly take care of and with a woman he loves.

Ruminating on one of the words in his textbook. "When there is life, there is hope." Sleeps quietly calls, those sharp eyes gently closed and the sound of gently moving vehicles were heard from the huts.