My Quest for Affluence and Money. Episode 12

I found the address at the back of the letter and the picture. Ijora is a slum area in Lagos state very far from the city. It was almost 4 pm in the evening, If I set out to find them, I wouldn't reach Ijora befall night falls and I didn't have enough time on my side anymore. I checked the lawyer's office address, and I realized it was just a stone throw from my house. I immediately drove down to the office.

He was about to leave the office when I got there. We exchanged pleasantries. I told him the reason I was there and he said he had been expecting Dennis's invitation for long. He told me he was not aware Dennis was in Jail which I perceived to be a lie. I told him I would be going to look for the family the next day and we would be expecting him on Monday morning because I had to fulfill Dennis's last wish before his execution on Tuesday. He gave me his card and requested that I give him a call when I found them.

I drove back to the house with a lot of thought in my head. Mum was sitting at the dining table when I got home. I greeted her and wanted to join her but she asked me to go freshen up first. I went to have my bath and came back to join her. She dished my food and watched me eat.

When I finished eating, she told me Damilola, the mother of the girl's birthday I missed brought food and gift items and also asked her to thank me for the decorations even though I didn't show up. I nod my head and yawn. Mum told me to go and sleep because it seemed I was tired. That's unlike my mum. Mum would always ask me to tell her how my day went no matter how tired I was and she doesn't take no for an answer. I was surprised by her change in behavior that night but I didn't have the strength to ask her why she was allowing me go to bed easily without our usual night gist. I told her to pray for me so that I can find those I will be going out to look for tomorrow. She shouted ehn and started asking where? who? why? I said, good night Mum and quickly climbed the stairs. She said goodnight, my daughter. God be with you. I know she would smile and shake her head but I didn't look back.

When I got to my room, I knelt beside my bed to say my night prayers. In my prayers, I asked God to see me through the next day's journey, help me to find the family, and prepare their heart so that they will agree to follow me back to Magodo. I climbed up my bed and slept off.

I set out very early the next morning. It was a long drive to Ijora from Ikeja. I first went to the police station in the street for notifications. The road on the street at the address wasn't motorable. I parked my car and started walking down the street. I couldn't locate the exact house. I approached a girl and showed her the picture. Her eyes widened immediately when she saw the picture. I asked if she recognized those on the picture and she said "sister, you dey whine. How you go show me my family photo still dey ask if I sabi them. You dey ask me whether I sabi me" meaning "are you kidding? How can you show me my family picture and still ask if I recognize the people in the picture?" I looked at the face of the girl in the picture closely and look at her face, then I realized she was the one in the picture.

She led the way to their house. It was an old house with the plaster falling off the walls and the ceiling falling off the roof. She told her mum "Malee, this sister talk say she dey find us" meaning that I was looking for them. She offered me a sit and a glass of water. For a few minutes, I sat there looking. I didn't know where to start or what to say. The woman asked me why I was looking for her. I told her someone sent me to her. I gave her a picture to check if she recognized the people in the picture. She pointed to herself, her son, her daughter, and Nwanike, her ex-husband. I collected that one and gave her another set of pictures; a picture of Sir Jones when he was still healthy, when he was sick, and when he was in a coffin. She shook her head and asked why I was showing her a dead person's picture.

From the look on her face, I can tell she already knows who was in the picture. I told her those were the pictures of his ex-husband, Mr Nwanike Jones. She laughed hysterically and stood up in anger and asked me to leave her house. I begged her and tried to make her calm down but she refused So, I carried my bag and left. I was almost at the sport where I parked my car when I heard a voice from behind calling Aunty. I looked back, it was the girl I met earlier. She told me her mum asked her to call me. I went back to the woman and met her crying. I tried to console her and when she was calm. I told her the reason I was there. She wanted to start talking about how she left him and what she was going through. I quickly stopped her and told her I was aware of everything.

I told her she had to follow me back to Magodo with the kids the same day. After much persuasion and begging. She agreed and we drove back to Magodo. I drove them to my house. It was late into the night before we got to my place.

Mum received them well and made sure they were comfortable in the house. We all had dinner together before I took them to the guest room and gave them something for a change of clothes. We exchanged good night and I went upstairs to my room.

I met Mum waiting for me in my room. I was surprised because Mum doesn't come to my room except when we have something important to discuss or she has something bothering her mind. I asked why she was in my room. She asked me to sit. I did as she said. Then she asked who the strangers I brought to the house were and I told her they were part of Dennis's story. Immediately, she stood up and said, when all this is over, you will tell me everything. well done my beautiful daughter, Good night, and she smiled and left the room.

That night, I felt so relieved. It was a mission accomplished. Before I went to bed, I put a call through to the Lawyer and he promised to be at Sir Jones' first thing the next morning after which I sent an email to work to inform them I'd be taking the whole week off. Then, I said my prayers and climbed my bed to sleep.