Godmother

Godmother-Episode 9

Early the following morning, he paid her the full balance

and even added transport fares. She was surprised at his generosity. Before she finally left, she gave him her number in case he needed her service again.

After she had gone, Tope called the real Rita. ‘The second

test is completed,’ he announced, almost proudly.

‘Okay. I’ll be in your place by six p.m. Will you be at home then?’

He thought briefly. ‘Even if I’m not around, won’t you wait for me so that you can sleep over?’

There was a pause. ‘Okay. I’ll be there.’

When he returned home about seven p.m, she was already

in his flat, waiting for him.

‘Sorry. I hope I’ve not been keeping you waiting for long.’

‘No. How was work?’

‘Fine. It’s exciting.’ He went on to bring the seven handkerchiefs to her.

‘Task completed,’ he announced proudly.

Rita nodded and examined the handkerchief one by one.

‘Good,’ she said. ‘Do you realize you’ve got yourself a wife?’

‘You mean you’re now ready to marry me? Wow, that’s great.’

She shook her head. ‘You brought one of the girls to your

home.’

He gazed at her. She was correct, but how did she know that?

‘That’s true,’ he said.

‘That’s your wife.’

He jumped to his feet. ‘Oh, no. Rita, don’t say that. I can never marry a prostitute. No, no, no.’

She smiled. ‘After having intercourse with her, you slept

with her on the same bed and in the same room. You even told her you loved her.’

‘I never said that!’

‘With the way you kissed her, you did. You have sealed

her fate with yours.’

He looked stunned. ‘But, didn’t you and I sleep on the same bed?’

‘My case is different,’ she said calmly. ‘I’m your *godmother* , and I can never marry you. She is your

future wife.’

He shook his head. ‘She looks like a good girl, but she’s just a call girl, for God’s sake. Come to think of it, she said her name is Rita.’

She nodded. ‘She has been made to be your wife. Take good care of her.’

Tope’s mouth was opened. ‘Wait, are you really serious with

this wife stuff?’

‘Of course, I am. Marrying her will further boost you

fortune. The earlier you marry her, the better for you.

One more thing, henceforth, don’t call me Rita again. Call me Iye, for I’m your

 *godmother* .’

He was too stunned to say something. Finally he said,

‘It’s okay calling you Iye. But talking about the other Rita, she’s still young. She’s

still a girl, probably nineteen or twenty. How can I marry her?’

Rita, now known as Iye, looked sternly at him. ‘A nineteen year old is a young lady. It is better you heed to

my words, rather than arguing.’

He suddenly became sober. ‘Alright. Is that the third test?’

‘No.’

‘So what’s the third test?’

Iye regarded him briefly. ‘The third test is the simplest of them.’ She brought a red handkerchief from her hand bag. ‘Take.’

He took it from her gingerly. ‘What’s this for?’

‘By five minutes to midnight today, you must stand on your feet Unclad. Put this handkerchief on your head and remain standing. By midnight, three ladies will come, asking you for

something. Agree to whatever they ask for. That is all.’

He took the handkerchief from her and examined it closely. ‘And that is all?’

She nodded. ‘And that is all.’ She stood up. ‘I’ll be going now.’

‘I thought you’re sleeping over tonight.’

She was emphatic. ‘Henceforth, that is not permitted again. The lady who has that honor is the other Rita.’

She picked her hand bag. ‘Call me tomorrow morning,’ she instructed him. Then, she left the house.

Tope was thoughtful. Just one more hurdle to go, he thought. His mind went to the younger Rita he had

brought home. What if he refused to marry her? He had been told that marrying her would boost his wealth. That meant without marrying her, he would still have some wealth. No, he did not have the mind to marry her. If the original Rita would not marry him, he would have to look for another lady.

He had to remain awake, so that by five minutes to midnight, he followed the instruction given to him. He switched off the light in the room and the place was in darkness. The five minutes he waited till midnight was the longest wait of his life. It looks like he waited for hours. At midnight, everywhere turned absolutely dark.

He could see or hear nothing. Then, there were glints of light and he saw the three

ladies.

They had red clothes tied to their bodies from the chest to the knees, otherwise, they were Unclad.

‘Tope,’ the lady at the middle called his name. ‘You’ll be rich and famous, if only you’ll do this one more thing.’

‘What’s that?’ he found himself asking.

‘Give us your seeds,’ the same lady that had spoken said.

‘My seed? How?’

The lady at the center slowly approached him. She had a small calabash with a cover with her. As she moved closer, he closed his eyes for he was too terrified to look into her eyes

To be continued