Find Her

the new man

Ms Betty is just 38 years old and full of life. She is an attractive woman and it will be difficult for any man to take their eyes off her.

She has also been thinking of getting married again because it has been more than a year and half since she left her last marriage.

Her colleagues who were her friends in the village have always encouraged her to marry again. She really did not want to nurture that thought in the beginning because of the fear of marrying the wrong person or having the same problems as she had with Mr Oluwa but her friends have encouraged her to be positive. Besides am too young to be all alone for the rest of my life; she said to herself. She was beginning to accept the encouragement of her friends and was willing to give it a try.

Ms Betty has had so many men approach her in the village but even though the fear of the history of her first marriage repeating itself always holds her down, she also felt the men were not her class. She just does not want to settle with a mediocre.

So she is willing to settle down but not with just anyone.

Tasha may be young but she is well aware of what is happening around her. She has noticed a particular gentleman who keeps visiting her mother. And he always seems to be nice to the children. So even though her mother did not tell her anything, with her twelve years age she could sense that he may be her mother's lover.

Tasha was not really happy with what she is sensing because to her, the best father is her dad and she does not want anyone else. She wished her mother will not marry this new guy but she has no right to tell her mother.

Few months went by and the man Tasha feared could be her step dad has finally relocated to be with her mother. So officially, she now has a step dad.

Mr Boku, moved in with Ms Betty after some months of dating. Ms Betty was so happy as she finally has someone who she will share her life with and also provide fatherly support to her children. She really does not care what her children think about her decision.

Tasha has no say than to accept the decision of her mother. She has to learn to receive her step dad and also give him that respect. Tasha has been brought up to be respectful so she is prepared to do that.

Mr Boku also has a son and he has also joined the family. He is in the same age with Tobi and Tasha still remains the elderly one. She now has responsibility over three other siblings.

Ms Betty was enjoying every moment with her new found love, so is Mr Boku. And Mr Boku tries his best to give much love to the children as a father.

Tasha's favorites moment was when her mother travels because she is no longer under any restrictions. She loves football and other sports but she is only able to express that when her mother is not around. She plays with the boys in her class or neighborhood. Her step dad really gives her all the freedom she needs but not her mother.

Any time her mother is around, she has to be in the kitchen attending to one chores or the other or just resting in her room.

Her mother does not want to give her that freedom because she is now a teenager and knowing what teenagers of her age indulge in, she is not prepared to put her daughter in danger.

Tasha had her first menstrual cycle without her mother knowing. This is why Ms Betty was upset and always wants to keep her away from the boys in the neighborhood. She just does not want to conceive the thought of her daughter getting pregnant at a teen age.

Tasha wishes to play and visit friends like any normal child in the village but Ms Betty will not have any of that. She is tired of always being alone in the house. This was really affecting Tasha emotionally but has no one to discuss it with because she has not been able to create that relationship with her mother.

It's been almost three years since Tasha saw or spoke to her dad and she really wished to. Because she really wants to talk to him about all that has been going on with her but it does not look like any of that is happening any time soon.

Mr Asiba who is a neighbor to Ms Betty and a good friend of hers has always been admiring Tasha. Therefore anytime Mr Asiba visits Ms Betty he tries to assault Tasha sexually. None of this was made known to her mother because she is afraid her mother will not believe her.

Mr Asiba happens to be one of the elders in the church therefore it will be difficult for anyone to believe he will assault Tasha sexually. As naive as Tasha was, she did not report the incident to her mother neither did she report to her step dad. She kept it all to herself.

Tasha is always the first to come home from school and Mr Asiba knowing this, will always be on the look out for her. He sometimes sends her on errands just because he wants her closer. Tasha may not be able to report the incident to her mother but she is always very careful not to fall into the trap of Mr Asiba. She always tries to keep her distance from him but Ms Betty who knows how friendly Mr Asiba was, thinks her daughter was becoming disrespectful to him. She did not know that Mr Asiba was a threat to her daughter. Most nights, Mr Asiba will try to lure Tasha into his room when Ms Betty goes to church for their choir rehearsals but Tasha will always resist.

One evening, Mr Boku overheard his step daughter having a conversation with someone in the dark behind the house. He could not tell exactly who she was talking to. It was Mr Asiba who was having a conversation with her and since he saw Mr Boku coming, he quickly fled the scene. Her step dad reported the incident to her wife, Ms Betty and she interrogated Tasha. For fear of being punished or disbelieved, Tasha refused to disclose who she was talking to in the dark.

Ms Betty upon realizing that her daughter may be having a secret relationship without her knowledge, almost gave her a slap.

Tasha wished to really tell her mother all that has been happening and the attempted r**e by Mr Asiba but due to her mother's anger and behavior, she decided to keep it to herself.

Ms Betty has not been happy with her daughter because of the secret affair she thought her daughter might be having. And since Tasha realized this, she has been really afraid of what her mother might do to her.

Ms Betty has become more protective of her children especially Tasha, restricting movements just to protect her. But little did she know that the real danger to her family is just a door away and happens to be her neighbor and friend Mr Asiba.

Tasha wished to confide in her best friend Nuna but she is skeptical. She feels unsafe because Nuna might leak the secret to others. Nuna also noticed that Tasha has not really been herself. She always appeared absent minded or looks uncomfortable but she would not open up to her friend when asked about it.

Ms Betty knows that Nuna is a good friend of her daughter so she called her one morning and enquired if she knows anything concerning Tasha's relationship. Nuna informed her friend Tasha about what transpired between Ms Betty and her and she was also surprised because she knows her friend is a descent and responsible girl who will not indulge in any activity that will destroy her future.

Tasha always lives in fear especially when she is at home alone.

Ms Betty was traveling to visit her family at Shai. Tasha was really happy and wished to escort her mother but she has to stay and take care of her three siblings since her mother was not taking them along. She promised to visit their father Mr Oluwa and send their greetings to him.

So that morning, she set of to Shai and left the children in the care of her husband Mr Boku. Tasha was happy to send greetings to her father but she was also more happy that her freedom day has finally arrived.

That morning as her mother left, her step dad made sure they had their meals and took their bath and he left for work. Mr Boku was a commercial driver and he is not expected back home until evening. Tasha and her siblings had a very fun filled day. She played her favorite sport thus football with the boys and for a moment she forgot about her troubles.

Tasha was a tomboy, she really loved and felt more comfortable in the company of the boys and for 2 days continuously, she felt loved, appreciated and had a lot of fun with with her neighbors. Her step dad took them to the farm on Saturday to get firewood and also harvest some food stuffs.

Tasha was also excited when she learnt that Mr Asiba had traveled. It gave her so much relief.

Ms Betty has had the talk with her daughter concerning s****l affairs and pregnancy therefore she is not ready to jeopardise her life.

Ms Betty got back on Sunday and Tasha was happy because she was expecting some good news from her dad. But for a moment she felt sad that her freedom will be curtailed and her mother will scold her most all the time.

Ms Betty called her children and delivered the good news to them as their father, Mr Oluwa will pay them a visit soon.

When Ms Betty got back from Shai, her husband has not been really happy. He is jealous that she went to visit her Ex husband. He just could not stand the thought of that. Ms Betty noticed his attitude and assured him that she has nothing doing with Mr Oluwa again and she visited him just to deliver a message from her children.

Mr Boku failed to believe her and suspects she went to have an affair with him. She could not believe that her husband will suspect her of infidelity whiles all that she did during this times is to remain faithful to him.

Mr Asiba got back to the village and Tasha was griped with fear again. She was not expecting him to come back so soon. Mr Asiba had a wife and two children. His wife is so mean and rude. Tasha was always careful not to get into her way. She knows how promiscuous her husband is and does not take it kindly with his concubines. His children were very stubborn, annoying and disrespectful.

Tasha could hear her mother talking to someone by the window. She peeped through the window to see who it was because the voice sounded familiar. It was one of her teachers from school, Ms Bola. And she wondered, what could she be doing in her house by that time.

That evening after her teacher left, her mother called her in.

Her heart skipped a bit because she was not sure of what to expect. Her mother then asked her if she had any problem that she would like to talk about. Apparently her teacher had noticed how absent minded she had become at school and was worried about the trend. So she used the opportunity to pass by their house as she was in their neighborhood to enquire from Tasha's mother if there was any problem.

Out of fear Tasha could not tell her mother what was really happening to her. She said everything was fine whiles deep in her heart, she felt like crying. She just cannot predict how her mother will react. She was also afraid of what the neighbors, especially her friends will treat her if they hear about it.

Her friends already have a history of teasing her about how her mother punishes her and the little mistakes she makes. This makes her always to appear timid when in the midst of her friends. She is not the type who can stand being teased or humiliated. She is already not comfortable in the midst of her peers so what will then happen if they get to know of the s****l harassment by Mr Asiba.

One evening as Tasha was at the back of her house fetching water from the barrels that were used to harvest water in the morning because it had rain, she heard a footstep. She did not hear the person speak but only the footsteps and she wondered who it could be.

She looked back only to find Mr Asiba standing behind her. She panicked and started to shake. He asked her why she has been avoiding him for sometime now.

Mr Bola knows well that Ms Betty is not at home as well as her step dad. They had gone to the next village to visit Mr Boku's sick relative. So he took that opportunity to sneak into their compound. His wife is also not back from the shop neither is his children, so he knew he will have a free moment.

Tasha upon sensing danger, attempted to run away. He grabbed her by her dress and pulled her closer to him. Tasha pleaded with him to let her go but he just smiled at her and said; as for today i have gotten you.

He then grabbed her small breast and started to fondle them. He was really enjoying what he was doing to her. He then attempted to kiss her on the lips. But suddenly they both heard the sound of a vehicle honking, he quickly withdrew from her as he suspects that her parents may be back and hurriedly left the scene leaving Tasha alone. Tasha run to see who may be in the car since it was not possible for her parents to come back so soon. She went in front of the house and it was her parents. Fortunately or unfortunately they had forgotten a package that was to be delivered to the person they were visiting so they had to return and pick it up and this was what saved Tasha. Her step dad then asked her to bring the package he left in the kitchen and they drove off again. Tasha quickly went into the room and locked herself. Her other siblings were also playing outside and she will open the door only if they knock.

School was about to go on vacation and the exams had began. The academic performance of Tasha was not all that good because at home she is afraid of her mother and Mr Asiba and at school she is being intimidated by her friends who usually teased her. Therefore she is unable to learn in an enabling environment both at school and at home.

The exams were over and the school went on vacation. Tasha feels more comfortable in the school than at home because back at home, she does all the chores. From cooking, washing of their dresses, fetching firewood, water, etc. And she feels so burdened by it but there was no help from anywhere. She is the one responsible for taking care of her younger siblings too.

So she feels a little relieved when she is at school. Therefore spending all the time at home due to the vacation and her mother constantly being around means more work.

Mr Oluwa has really missed his children and really wished to visit them. He wrote and letter to Ms Betty about his intention to visit his children. He went to the lorry station and sent the letter to her through a driver who resides at Agasa.

Tasha and her siblings were very happy when their mother read the letter to them.

When Mr Boku heard the news, he was not really pleased and his wife assured him not to panic. He had not met Mr Oluwa before neither had Mr Oluwa met him and he was anxious of how their meeting will be.

On a faithful Saturday, Mr Oluwa set off to Agasa.

He had been to the Agasa village before but that was in his youthful days when he was a student. He managed to find his way to the village by afternoon. He was welcomed with joy by his children. it had been years since he last saw his children. Tasha was a little girl and Teni was still a baby but they are all grown now. He almost cried when he saw his beautiful children.

Mr Oluwa was not looking bad at all says Ms Betty. Mr Oluwa was beginning to take control of his life therefore he had cut down on the excessive drinking. He has realized that all that he had were his children and he needs to become more responsible and present a good picture.

Mr Oluwa finally had the opportunity to meet his children's step dad. Mr Boku warmly welcomes him. Mr Oluwa was grateful to Mr Boku for taking care of his children.

Tasha and her siblings were in a joyous mood because their father brought them a lot of gifts such as footballs,drawing pads and art colors, tennis balls, bicycle and sweets. Mr Oluwa knows that Tasha loves sports and drawing as a child so he was sure she will be pleased with the gifts.

Tasha's friends who heard that her father was around also went to catch a glimpse of him. Mr Oluwa and the whole family had lunch together.

After the lunch, Mr Oluwa took Tasha and her siblings out so he could have a view of the village and also have sometime alone with the children.

When they roamed the village, they got a lot of people staring at them as they were wondering who the man was.

Mr Oluwa enquired about all that happened since they left Shai but Tasha could not say much. She was afraid her dad might confront her mother if she says anything. She only told his dad how restricted she feels and her desire to go back to Shai and stay with her him. She told him why she does not like the school and wished to attend a different school in the town instead of the village. Her dad promised to think about it and discuss it with her mother.

Mr Oluwa had a really good time with his children.

But it was time for him to take leave of them and Tasha could not hold back her tears. Getting a car from Agasa to Shai was a huge problem. There was no vehicle available so Mr Oluwa had to walk almost a kilometer before he was able to get a vehicle back to Shai.

Tasha and her siblings got home with much excitement and the gifts brought by their dad was just what they needed.

Mr Oluwa got home safely but he felt really sad for abandoning his children. He spent sometime to ponder over it and vowed to redeem his image. He promised himself to be a better man and a responsible father to his children.

The following morning which was a Sunday, Tasha and her siblings decided to try the gifts brought by their dad. Tasha and her siblings now have a football that they can play with. They will now decide who plays with them as this was the same thing other kids do to them.

Tasha loves art, she loves to draw but her mother often considers it as a waste of time and she does not really appreciate her drawings. Tasha feels really ignored anytime her drawings were not appreciated.

Tasha's mother contacted Mr Asiba who was their next door neighbor to teach her children how to ride the bicycle. Tasha hesitated because she knew who Mr Asiba was. And she refused to let him teach her. She rather opted for her step dad to teach her. And this was the first time, Tasha has gone personal with her step dad. She respects her step dad but she does not have that bonding with him. Especially after what she has suffered in the hands of Mr Asiba so she decided to detach herself emotionally from her step dad.

Mr Boku noticed how detached Tasha was from him unlike her other siblings who really connected with their step dad and took him as their father. But Tasha just could not do so. Therefore when Tasha asked that her step dad teach her how to ride a bicycle, he felt really happy. He felt that was the only way he could connect with her as father and daughter.