BOOK SERIAL

The secretary said he had gone on inspection to another community within the local government area and it was not likely he would be back before the close of work.

She told him how the only person willing to assist her had requested to take her to bed. Father Akaduchi was moved by the plight of the widow.

“So how’d you intend to raise the money to purchase the cloths?” she asked.

She’d gone a little darker, with her straight and thick eyebrows looking slightly unkempt.

It’s not because of what may have happened before. If I were in a position to help, you know I would, walahi,” she said.

With the logo ‘U&L’ boldly embossed at the front of the uniforms, they became a spectacle in the village, and by the second month, she had rented a bigger house. A large white signpost with black inscription of ‘USMAN & LABARAN’ hung from the roof of the bungalow. She bought power generating sets and moved her equipment and staff from her house to the new location.

“Tell them you opt to marry your son, Afamefune. It’s allowed by the customs of the land for widows to opt to marry their sons in these circumstances. That provision of the tradition has not been invoked in a long while, but it’s there and remains very valid. Go ahead and take your destiny in your hand, my sister. The Lord shall see you through,” Father Akaduchi said and stood to depart.