Twist Of Fate

Chapter 3

The next day,

Enitan overheard from Folake that Jamb results were out,she didn’t tell Mrs Okawe yet,

So that day after working till noon,

She went home and got changed,

Then took her card to a cyber café that was close by.

After scratching the card and filling in necessary details,

The man brought out her result,

She refused to look at it or have the man say the score but the man told her she did very well,

She thanked him and wanted to pay him,

He refused it saying such good results shouldn’t be paid for,

Thanking him several times again,

She left and headed to Mrs Okawe.

The woman was home with her last son who’s in basic one and they were in the verandah of their house when Enitan came in,

“Sister Enitan!” The boy stood up and rushed to her,

She hugged him and touched his cheek,

“Osas,how’re you?” She asked him,

He nodded fine and they both walked to where Mrs Okawe was seated.

“Good afternoon ma.” She greeted the woman,

“Eni,

This one you came this afternoon,

Is everything alright?” She asked her cause her face wasn’t bright,

Enitan gave her the paper and Mrs Okawe opened it,

Seeing the result,

She gasped.

“Jesus!

Three seventy eight!” She exclaimed,

Even Enitan was shocked,

She got 378 in Jamb,

Is this a joke?

“You made it Enitan,

You made it,

I’m so proud of you.” The woman exclaimed with joy,

Enitan was happy even Osas who had little idea of what was happening was happy too for her.

“You really exceeded my expectations Enitan,

You made your mother proud and anywhere she’s now,

She would be very very happy and proud of her daughter.”

Those were Mrs Okawe’s words when Enitan sat down.

Enitan didn’t hear of Folake’s Jamb score and she didn’t bother to ask,

She waited for the results for the scholarships exams to come out,

Then she’ll know her stance and how to prepare,

Meanwhile WAEC was days away,

So she needs the preparation.

Since WAEC exams was sporadic and not everyday,

Enitan made out time to work and still study for her exams,

It didn’t take long,

She got a call from the States Scholarship Program.

She was very nervous when they got there,

She thought maybe she wasn’t accepted but when the attendant handed her the letter,

She was beyond surprise to find out that among the fifty people selected for the scholarship,

She was number five.

“The chairman would love to meet you all.” The attendance told them,

She smiled and together with Mrs Okawe who stood in as her mother,

They went to greet the Chairman alongside the first ten people who we’re chosen.

That night before she slept,

She talked to her mother,

She told her she was going to make her very very proud of her as her daughter.

The next mother

Mrs Okawe called her,

She got she got a mail from the first scholarship examiners and they wanted her to come,

Enitan was surprised,

She hadn’t expected they would call her back,

Not when she didn’t do well in the exam but nevertheless,

They went there the next morning.

They met the same lady who’d given her the suggestion for her trying other scholarship programs and she was very excited to see Enitan and Mrs Okawe who she knew as her mother.

“Congrats.” She smiled at her,

Enitan looked at Mrs Okawe and the woman smiled,

“You made it Enitan,

You made it.” Mrs Okawe said repeatedly,

Enitan smiled,

She was overjoyed and loss of words

Tears of joy just flowed freely from her eyes down to her cheeks,

She’s made her mother happy again.

Later,

They were showered in and that was when she was opportune to meet the woman who was sponsoring the scholarship,

“You’re Enitan Aghedo right?” The woman asked Enitan,

“Yes ma.” Enitan replied politely and the woman smiled.

“You’re one talented child,

I was so impressed when I saw your answer script and I told them I want to see this girl that aced my exam,

You’re very intelligent my child,

Keep it up.” The woman praised her,

Enitan was still at loss with words,

She could only tell the kind woman thank you.

As per what was in the scholarship,

Enitan was offered five hundred thousand naira for her University tuition for the next four years in Unilag and she was awarded fifty thousand extra by the lady who said she was an extraordinary child and should live up to her potentials,

She was overjoyed.

She hadn't expecting things to work out in her favor like they did now,

She was too joyous to even say a word,

Mrs Okawe thanked the board of directors on her behalf.

The drive home was pleasant and emotional though,

When they got home,

Mrs Okawe's kids were already home and they told them the good news,

Everyone was happy for her especially her youngest son Osas,

Who's very fond of Enitan.

She gave the fifty thousand naira to Mrs Okawe,

"No my child,

It's yours and you should...."

"No ma,

You've helped me a lot and this isn't even to be compared with what you've done for me.

You treated me like a child more than the stranger I'm,

I'm so grateful to you and this is the little way I can show my appreciation." Enitan thanked her.

"I did what anyone could have done,

Not anyone would see a real talent like yours and would want it to waste,

I did what everyone really mother would do." Mrs Okawe spread her arms for a hug and Enitan hugged her.

After her mother,

If there's anyone she loves and hold to high standard,

It was Mrs Okawe.

Mrs Okawe suggested Enitan opens a bank account for herself and have all her money transfered there so she won't have to come to her anytime she needs money,

Enitan heeded and the next week after WAEC was over and she'd time,

She went to the bank with Mrs Okawe and after filling necessary forms and giving all the details,

A savings account was opened for her.

Enitan still continued to work after her exams,

Yes she'd two scholarships to her with one worth five hundred thousand naira,

Money enough to cover every of her schooling expenses until she's done but recalling her plan,

She wanted to have a business of her own after graduating from the university,

So this is her time to work it out.

She went to Mrs Okawe and the woman told her not to worry,

The first scholarship is covering all her school expenses to her hostel rent,

What she'd to work for was feeding money and money to cover other little expenses that would come by.

She told Enitan about how living in campus is,

The distractions,

The vices and virtues,

The different things she would see both moral and immoral,

She gave her every possible advice she would give her and lastly warned her about cultist.

She said they were rampant everywhere and especially in campus and warned Enitan to beware of them.

She told Enitan about friend and how they would make or mar you,

"I won't have any friends,

I don't need them at all..."

"No you would,

Friends are one thing you can't avoid.

They would definitely come,

Some because they like you and want to learn from you while some because they're envious of your light and they want to quench it,

Friends can make you or mar you,

They can bring the best in you and the same time bring the worst in you.

You just have to be careful who you befriend,

Who you talk with and who you laugh with cause friends today can be your enemy tomorrow,

So be very careful."

Mrs Okawe advice sunk deep into her.

She paid heed to everything the woman said,

This is her lifeline,her only hope and her way out of ignorance,

She wasn't going to lose it cause of some bunch of friends,

They can wait till whenever she's wealthy and has made her mother proud but for now,

They mean nothing to her.