MY GIRL

CHAPTER ONE: A NEW LIFE

"Leila! Leila!! Bia bia bia." ("Come" in the Igbo language), Mrs. Godson shouted from the backyard. "Yes, God-mummy?" said a beautiful dark girl in her teens (long, thick black hair, grey eyes, and a beautiful smile). "Nwa kena (this child), why do you always call me 'god-mummy' and not 'mummy' like the others, eh?" Mrs. Godson asked, amused. "Well... that's because you're my mummy but like a god to me; you saved me. You know how Igbo people say it, err... my small chi?" She replied with a smile. "Hew! Nwam (my child), you know that I cannot be a god to you, but I love you so much my daughter but still, you cannot give the name of God to a human, the bible say..." "You shall have no other gods before me." "It also says you..." "You shall not take the name of your Lord God in vain." Leila completed it for her. "How did you know what I was going to say?" "Well, that's because we have this conversation almost every time. Godmother, I know what the bible says but calling you godmother is not against the bible Pastor Chiamaka Godson. Now I'm sure that's not why you called me." "This girl, eh? I can never win against you. Help me with water so that I can fry this akara (bean cake)." "Okay, on it."

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"Fred we already have two girls why are we adopting another girl instead of boy?" A beautiful dark woman in her late thirties with a British accent asked her husband sitting beside her, "Naomi, we need a daughter, not a son. You'd figure out later by the way daughters are beautiful and cute, right?" a fair man with blonde wavy hair and British accent replied her with a smile. "I get it, but why in Nigeria?" Naomi asked, not fully convinced, "Nigeria's girls are beautiful. Naomi, don't worry; you'd be a great mother. Okay we're here" he said as he went down to open the door for her. They stood in front of Godson's orphanage. "Shall we?" Fredrick said as he held out his hand for his wife.

Inside they met Mrs. Godson, who warmly received them and asked Leila to serve them drinks. "Welcome to godson's orphanage. I am Mrs. Godson Chiamaka, the owner of this orphanage." "I am Fred Kendrick, and here's my wife, Naomi Kendrick. We want to adopt a girl from between 15 and 18." "Have you seen anyone that you want to adopt?" "Yes, the girl that just served us drinks. She looks well-behaved, and I like her. What is her name?" "Err... Leila is her name. Didn't you see anyone else you like?" "Is she troublesome, or is something wrong with her?" Naomi asked "No, Leila is a very good girl, obedient and hardworking but I love her so much that I don't want to release her, she's like my own daughter. Can I ask for her choice?" "Yes, of course. I just hope she comes with us." Mrs. Godson went in and met Leila at the door. "You heard everything, right? They want to adopt you; they'd take you back with them to the UK, they'd train you in a very good school, and I'd be very proud of you." She said. "So you want me to go? Okay, if it makes you happy." "Leila knows that you'd always be my beloved daughter." "You'd always be my godmother." She replied as she hugged her. "I'm sorry for letting you go; I only want the best for you." After they were done hugging, they came out together. "She has agreed to go with you." Mrs. Godson said, "Good morning, sir and ma, I am Leila." She greeted softly, "You can call us Mum and Dad now; we are going to be family soon after the paperwork." Naomi said, smiling. "I'd try; I'm not used to it yet," Leila said. "Of course, take all the time in the world," Naomi said warmly. Now Leila had to prepare for her new life.