Hi, hello!😊

This surprise update was not planned, btw😂💔.

*in TV presenters voice*

Welcome back to another exciting chapter of The Rare Ones.

Buckle up and hold on to your seats ladies and gentlemen, 'cause this chapter's gonna be a bit of a shock.

Are ya ready?

Let's go!🤸🏽‍♀️🤸🏽‍♀️🤸🏽‍♀️

~~~~~~~
"I know you see me acting sleazy,
I'm working on it,take it easy,
I'll figure it all out
before I break"
~~~~~~~
-Daniel Caesar
(Superposition)

Deja

"....and then I told Kunle that I wanted to be the one to handle the main parts of the project, and he agreed! Just like that!"

I was in the kitchen with Doyin, washing plates as she packed food in separate coolers.

It's Saturday and all my set mates, excluding Chetachi and Beryl, are probably at Ricardo Luiz's pool party.

"It seems you like this Kunle guy," I said with a smile.

Doyin turned to me, hands akimbo on her waist.

She had Derin strapped to her back with a wrapper, and the small girl contented herself with playing with her mum's braids.

"I don't like him, if that's what your trying to say. I just think he's nice and not a total idiot."

"Mmmhmm," I hummed, running a plate under the cold water gushing from the tap.

There was silence for a bit, punctuated briefly by the sound of Derin's yawns.

When I was done with the plates, I rinsed and wiped my hands, only to find Doyin staring at me as I turned round.

"What?" I asked nervously.

She gave me a nostalgic smile.

"Nothing, o. I just remembered Deola for a bit."

I stared at the ground, shuffling my feet on the concrete floor.

Desola and I are lucky because we still have Doyin as our older sister, but Doyin was now the eldest girl in the house, since Sister Deola passed.

That was a job in itself, not to mention that she's still in college and a single mum.

She twisted the cover of the last cooler in place and I simply watched her.

"You know, you're this family's only hope now," Doyin said.

"Me?"

"Yup."

I sighed and leaned against the small sink in this tiny space we used as a kitchen.

My parents had 8 kids, but now we were down to 5, with only 4 of us currently in the house.

The first born, Adeola, died 5 years ago from an abortion, which is part of the reason Doyin kept her own baby.

Oladimeji, the second born and first boy, joined a cult at his University 3 years ago and got shot in a gang battle.

His immediate junior, Oladipo was also killed in school by members of Dimeji's rival cult because they were brothers.

As if this heartbreak wasn't enough, just last year, a few months before Derin was born, our current eldest, Dolapo, got arrested at one of the End SARS protests and has been in custody ever since.

" I mean, I'm coping in school, but Desola and Demi won't be able get nice opportunities except they leave that stupid school they're in. And with Brother Dolapo not around, you're literally our only hope of eventually getting out of this dump," Doyin continued.

She was right.

And that's why I do what I do; to help ny family.

I sucked in the sides of my cheeks, not really knowing what to say.

Again, Doyin broke the silence.

"Mama Solo came last week."

"Like to the house?"

She nodded. "To visit me and to see her grandbaby."

"Where was I when she came?"

"You followed Mummy to the market, naw."

"Oh, yeah, I remember."

I had followed my mum to help her shop for the house and her store, and to also put the extra cash Big Daddy had given me to good use.

"What did you two talk about?" I asked.

"She asked me about school and how Derin and I are doing, basically. She'd been in Port Harcourt for a while and just got back. She tried to tell me about Solomon, but I told her I didn't want to hear it."

"But...I thought you have forgiven him?"

Doyin readjusted the wrapper to comfortably position a now sleeping Derin.

"I love and respect Mama Solo, as a mentor and now as a grandmother to my child. The problem is, I'm trying to distance myself from every thing connected to Solomon. That's the only way I can really forgive him and move on."

I nodded, getting her point.

"I mean, sometimes even just hearing his name gets me upset. And I'm really trying to close that chapter of my life and write a new one. I dunno if you get me."

"I get you, Sis," I replied.

"I was reading my Bible the other day and it clearly said we have to forgive for God to forgive us. Unforgiveness and grudge keeping are sins, and to be very honest, I don't want to be a sinner anymore."

She paused and took a deep breath.

"Which is why I'm going to let Mama Solo talk to me about him today when she comes. Maybe some closure from her will aid the whole process."

I stared at this strong, beautiful, independent young woman I call my older sister and smiled in awe.

Wonder if I'll be able to make something good out of my own cruddy circumstances?

Doyin placed the coolers in a big nylon bag and then kept it near the door.

"You'll have to buy Pure Water from Mama Golibe on your way to visit Dolapo, so when you pass Mama Solo's shop tell one of the girls that I'm at home, okay?"

"Okay."

She smiled at me and yawned.

"I, on the other hand, am going to take a well deserved nap before my visitor arrives," she said, before walking out of the kitchen.

I followed right after her, headed to me and Desola's room.

I opened the door only for me to see Desola sitting on the bed, naked with her towel beside her.

There was an open can of pomade on the floor, so I could tell she had just had a shower.

What I didn't get was why she was just sitting there, staring blankly into space.

Then I saw them. Bruises.

There were bruises decorating both of her knees, and what appeared to be a cut running across her shin.

When I peered closer, I saw that it was bleeding.

"Desola," I called, getting her attention as I bent to observe her injuries better.

She had come into the house a bit late yesterday because she had been manning Mummy's shop, and when she came there was no light and we were using the oil lamps, probably why I hadn't noticed the bruises till now.

"What happened?"

"Oh, I fell."

I raised an eyebrow and looked her in the eyes, chestnut brown like mine.

"You fell?"

She giggled softly. "Yeah, I was running with some of my friends and I fell."

I looked back down and her hurt leg, where a thin stream of blood was slowly flowing from the cut.

"Did you treat this at all?"

"I just washed it with water at school. I was about to go and check for methylated spirit in Mummy and Daddy's room."

I stood up and folded my arms.

"You could've at least told me. There was no way I would have seen this yesterday 'cause it was so dark."

Desola rolled her eyes. "It's not a big deal; I was running and I fell. It's even stupid, sef."

There was something in the way she was talking, like she'd rather just not say anything at all.

She was lying and I knew it, seeing as I do it all the time.

And it scared me.

What on earth could she be hiding?

"Go get the spirit, then," I said when she stayed silent.

She tied the towel firmly round her skinny frame and left the room.

Sighing, I picked my own towel up and went to have a shower.

.......

I was out of the house by 11:00, so as to meet the official visiting time of 12:00.

Armed with the nylon bag of coolers and a purse filled with bills, I made the small trek from our compound to the Keke park just nearby.

"Ė kaaro, ma," I greeted Mama Faje, raising my voice a little so she would hear me over the sound of her grinding machine.

"Ė kaaro, omo mi. Bawo ni?" She hollered back, giving me an open-mouthed smile.

"Mo wa dada."

After her shop was Sister Agnes'.

I waved Chima, the girl who took care of the shop as I passed.

Next was Mama Solo's sewing shop, the biggest one in the whole neighbourhood. While other shops were tiny and could even be called booths, hers was large enough to house 10 seperate machines and 2 industrial ones, with enough space for a big couch, a fitting room and even her own office.

Just at the steps, I saw Bishop, Solomon's younger brother who was my age.

I hadn't seen or talked to him since Doyin found out she was pregnant.

"Is your mum around?" I asked straightaway.

Bishop looked up at me.

He shared many physical characteristics with his brother, and was just as handsome as he was, maybe even more, although Solomon was more social and therefore more popular.

"Weird way to say hi, Adejare," he said, the right corners of his lips going up in a smile.

I smiled a little and shook my head. "Hi Bishop, is your mum around?"

"Yeah, she's in the office."

"Tell her my sister is still up for her visit."

"No p."

I was about to turn round and leave when I noticed the ugly, red gash on his upper arm, feebly covered with a small bandage.

What is it with people and injuries today?

"Maybe I'll come see my niece as well," Bishop added.

"Suit yourself," I replied, taking my eyes off the wound and deciding not to ask him about it.

I walked just a few steps forward to Mama Golibe's and bought the chilled sachets of Pure Water, which I dutifully placed in the nylon bag.

Then I hailed a keke and began the main journey to see my brother.

.......

I arrived at the prison yard 45 minutes later.

After paying the keke man, I made my way inside the reception, clutching the nylon bag and hoping the regular officers on duty hadn't been replaced by any chance.

I heaved a silent sigh of relief when I saw one of the officers I could recognise, scribbling something down in an open notebook.

I cleared my throat and he looked up at me.

"Ah, Pretty! You're here!" he hailed with a smile, pronouncing the word as "pree-tee".

'Pretty' was the nickname I'd earned from constant visits over the past year.

Doyin had earned the name 'Senior', while they simply called our mum 'Mama'.

"Good day, sir," I greeted.

"How are you, my dear? How is school?" he absent-mindedly asked, his eyes already fixed on the bulging bag in my hands.

"I'm fine, sir. School is fine as well,"I answered, keeping my language formal.

He nodded briefly. "You've come to see your brother, abi?"

"Yes, sir," I answered while opening the bag.

I placed two coolers up on the counter, with plastic spoons Doyin had packed and two sachets of water.

"I brought something light for you, sir."

He opened the cooler swiftly, his face taking on an excited expression as the aroma hit his nostrils.

"Wow!" he exclaimed, the way he always did whenever we brought food for them, which happens to almost all the time.

Immediately, he sunk his spoon into the rice and ate a little, humming in satisfaction.

"Na Senior cook dis one?"

"Na she."

" Her hand good well-well!"

I nodded and he kept eating, before calling out.

"Silas, Pretty don show o, she bring lev come!"

A door opened and another familiar officer came out, rubbing his hands together.

"Enhen, I been think say something dey scent for here," he said.

I greeted him as he picked up his own cooler and began eating.

"Pretty, you bring the balance?" the first officer asked and I nodded.

I placed a small bundle of notes on the counter, not even bothering to count how much I'd dropped.

"Na this kine girl go make the country move forward," the second officer said, picking up the money with his free hand.

I gave a small smile and looked at the ground.

"Just go inside, iyeh? Your brother will join you,soon," the first one said, already grabbing at the money in the other's hands.

"Thank you, sirs," I meekly said and turned to the right, before I remembered and placed the last cooler on the counter. "This is for him, please."

The first officer nodded.

I went unguided to the visiting area and sat down in one of the booths.

There was a lady at the farther end, crying into the telephone connected to the other side.

She was probably talking to her husband....or boyfriend, or whatever.

Soon, she got up and stormed out in anger.

I was watching her so attentively that I didn't even notice that Dolapo had gotten seated in front of me.

He tapped on the glass barrier separating us to get my attention.

I turned to face a beaming face that looked just like my dad's and an older version of Demi's; dark skin and our trademark large, chestnut brown eyes.

I picked up my telephone and he did same.

"Hey, sis!" came his baritone voice to my ear. "Long time no see."

"I know," I said guiltily.

I've purposely put off visiting Dolapo because....well...prisons scare me.

Yeah, they scare me.

I mean, here I am committing crime on a daily basis, walking about scot free while my innocent brother sleeps in a cell.

Coming here gives me the creeps, I'm not gonna lie.

But I can't tell Dolapo all this, now can I?

"I'm sorry," I completed.

"It's okay," he replied, his smile not ceasing. "You're an SS3 babe now, na, I can only imagine how your schedule is like."

"Yeah," I said with a slight chuckle.

"So, gist me, what's up? How are you? How's school? How's everything?"

I sighed through my nostrils. "I'm really good actually. School is still as stressful as ever, if not more now."

I punctuated my speech with a giggle and then continued.

"I still have my best friends, Chetachi and Beryl. No boyfriend, in case you're wondering."

Dolapo chuckled at that. "Who wan dash you boyfriend before?"

I rolled my eyes and went on. "At home, things are okay. Derin took her first steps a few days ago and Doyin wanted to freak out!"

I noticed the softening of Dolapo's eyes as I mentioned Derin.

He hasn't seen her at all since her birth, of course, so everything he knows of her has been by description.

"Demi is top of his class and Desola is...well, she's Desola. Mum and Dad are coping well with this Daddy's new job, though I'm sure she's already told you."

"She has," Dolapo nodded.

"That's pretty much it,"  I ended with a shrug. "How about you?"

Dolapo smiled even brighter than before, if that was even possible.

"They're retrying my case next year," he said.

My eyes went wide. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. One judge lady like that started a petition to help wrongfully accused inmates, and I just happen to be one of the guys on the list."

"That's amazing," I said. "You'll actually get justice!"

"I know, right? I'm hoping it works out, but if it doesn't, it's not that bad either."

"What do you mean?"

He leaned back in his chair.

"The one reason I'm grateful for this place is the fact that it has strengthened my relationship with God. Church missions bring Bibles here all the time, and I've actually been studying the Word and trying my hand at preaching."

I blinked at Dolapo as he went on.

"Believe it or not, it has made my prison life much easier. I have a lot more friends now and nobody finds my trouble-"

"-So you're saying you want to stay?" I asked, not recognising my own voice.

"I'm not saying that, Deja," he said, pouting slightly at me in a way that reminded me of Demi. "I want to come home, of course. I miss you all like mad. I want to see my niece. I want to go back to school and continue my life. But, I'm trying to be logical and realise that the retrial might not work. And if it doesn't, I'm fine with it."

"No," I whispered hoarsely.

"What?"

"No!" I came again. "You're retrial will work. You're not going to remain here! You're innocent, Dolapo, you don't deserve this!"

My voice was raised and I was banging my hand on the small wooden hand-rest.

"Hey, calm down. No need to cry, nau," he pleaded gently.

I put a hand to my cheek and felt moisture.

Stupid Deja, always emotional for no reason.

I wiped my eyes dry and twisted the telephone cord round my index, breathing slowly to relax my nerves.

Dolapo was staring at me with concerned eyes.

"Are you calm now?"

I nodded feebly.

He sighed and placed a palm against the glass barrier.

"I really wish I could give you a hug right now," he voiced out with emotion.

I placed my hand on the glass, against his.

"Me too."

Dolapo was that one sibling you had a special connection with because of something  in particular.

Our thing was books, school and the like. He was my gist partner for all things educational and life matters in general, always giving helpful advice, always armed with knowledge on even the smallest things.

He was only one to notice the slight change in my persona when Big Daddy first manipulated me to start stealing.

He was our family's pride and joy, the one with the future so bright that it shone in your eyes.

And now, here he is, in a prison jumpsuit, accepting this life that wasn't intended for him.

"Deja, nothing is a coincidence. We're never in a situation without cause or reason. Maybe this was the only way I could find myself in God, I don't know. But I do know that I'm at peace with this situation right now."

He paused and looked me in the eye.

"The world is...dangerous. We're nearing the end of it, to be honest. Maybe it's good that I'm here, to tell all these others about it."

I swallowed and wiped at my nose, guilt panging against my chest almost painfully.

"But believe me, if this retrial works, I'll be put of here and back to disturbing your life in no time," he added with a sly smirk.

I laughed and he laughed, and we both laughed together.

We spent the rest of the time gisting about mundane things and I got up to leave just as an officer brought his cooler of food.

"Oh, nice. I'm gonna share this with some of my guys. Do you mind?"

"Knock yourself out," I smiled.

"Okay then, shortie. Till we meet again," he said with a smile and a big wave at me.

I waved back and blew a kiss. " Bye, big bro."

He dropped his telephone first and made a finger heart at me, before getting up and heading back.

I got up myself and slipped out of the visiting area.

"You don see am finish?" the second officer asked, now on duty.

"Yes sir, thank you."

I left the reception and went out to get a keke so I could go back home.

I entered one and sat down, shutting my eyes briefly as I ruminated on all Dolapo just told me.

I was interrupted, however, when my phone buzzed unexpectedly, signifying that a text had just come in.

It buzzed again and I pulled it out, the contents if the text making my mouth open slightly.

+82 *** ****

Hey 

It's Jasper❤.

🙂🙂🙂.

This chapter was both fun and a bit challenging to write.

Anyway, I hope the messages I'm trying pass across are being caught and understood🥺.

Deja and all the others are facing different situations that definitely have impact on them spiritually as well as physically, mentally, socially, etc.

Just sit back and lemme take you on this ride😂💔.

Drop a vote and a comment or two, please🥺.

'Kay, bye💖💖💖.