Jovita Ume Novels and Short stories

SELAR OR AMAZON KDP?

In my previous post, where I shared steps on how I was able to successfully self-publish, I added that I would talk about the differences between Selar and Amazon KDP.
Well, I do not think it's Selar or Amazon Kdp, but Selar and Amazon Kdp.

💘 SELAR
Selar is an e-commerce tool that anyone can use to sell their products and services, host courses, and the like.
It's seamless, really, both for the seller and the buyer. It offers payments in a host of currencies. Unlike Amazon KDP, it doesn't offer a medium for people to see your book or course apart from the advertisement you run yourself. It has an affiliate marketplace, though, so you have the option of adding affiliates to promote your ebook or course for a commission.
Adding your course or ebook to the affiliate marketplace is based on conditions I currently do not know of. I tried adding mine but wasn't approved; you can try, though, and see how it works for you.

💘 AMAZON KDP
It is a self-publishing tool for authors and creators. Payments in several currencies plus your book has the chance to get promoted; you can't host courses though.
Amazon KDP is worldwide and offers a means for your book to get seen, but then it's quite harder since there are millions of books there, and unless your advertisement is quite good, your book may end up down the ladder.

My advice? Try out both depending on your needs.
If you are in Nigeria, using Selar will be more profitable in the meantime then you can scale to amazon kdp.

I hope I've helped you with a thing or two. Comment if there's any additional info you think we need to know.

Don't forget to check out my novella, The Three Shades to Love on Selar, https://selar.co/n98l91.

Love, Chiemerie ❤️.

Buy The Three Shades to Love by Umennaka Chiemerie Jovita on Selar.co Kene is grieving the loss of her uncle, and Somto is mourning his mother. In the midst of their sorrow, a complicated entanglement arises—but could it lead to something good?Richard can't imagine life without Ify. Desperate to make her his, he's willing to go to any lengths to win her over…Tobe ...

Long time, no see 🥺 or no write rather 😅

Hi, guys 🤗
I'm not here to continue Iris or start up a new story 🙂
I'm here to tell you I finally published a book 😁
Great news, right? 💯
You can get it through this link https://selar.co/n98l91

I'll really appreciate your support 🙏🏽
You've read my previous books so you know I always deliver.
Click that link, guys 🤗
https://selar.co/n98l91

Iris
Chapter 19: Mum
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"Mummy! Mummy!"
Chima was almost in tears as she ran into the house. It was a chilly Saturday morning. She just went to buy bread from the Mallam shop and one of those nosy neighbours met her and stopped her. At first, she was apprehensive because she thought she wanted to console her about Osinachi's death but then the woman began to inquire about her Jamb exam. It was from the woman she heard that the registration ended the day before.
It wasn't like she didn't know the ending date but she had put it out of her mind so she would stop worrying about when her mother would give her the money to register. Now it was too late.
"Oginidi, Chima?" Mrs. Chinonye asked when Chima bathed into her room. She was bent halfway, a broom in her hand.
"Jamb registration is over!" Chima cried, "I forgot, it was yesterday!"
Mrs. Chinonye's brows went up in surprise then drew together in shock then fell in resignation.
"Don't worry, I'll have money for it by next year."
"Next year..." Chima whimpered with trembling limbs. She burst into tears and ran off to her room, passing Isreal who had come out of his room after hearing her shouts.
Mrs. Chinonye shrugged and continued cleaning her room. She knew about the ending date but money... it was better that she fed her children well and have them sit at home for another year than use food money to pay for the exam and disappoint them later on when she couldn't afford to pay school fees.
Israel hovered at Mrs. Chinonye's door for a moment then went back to his room. He felt sad but a part of him felt glad that she wouldn't leave him alone, they would write Jamb together. He hoped she didn't plan on going to the same school with Somto, he wanted to go to UNN, the great school he had heard so much about. They would be far from home but he would take care of her, he was capable. He only worried that the news would make her change her attitude towards him. For the past weeks since Somto returned to school, she had been nice, respectful, and even a bit considerate; it was an improvement he didn't want to lose.
He sat in his room for a moment thinking about what to do. Mrs. Chinonye worked as an accountant but the pay was too meager and he heard her say on a phone call one time that she was scared to quit and look for another job, what if she didn't find one? He heaved a sigh. He actually had been planning something for a long time but he was scared of Mrs. Chinonye's response.
He wanted to get a job. He would contribute to the upkeep of the house and he would save strictly for their university education. He could work two jobs if possible, one would not be enough.
The sight of the broom lying on the floor reminded him of the fact that he was supposed to be cleaning his room. A sigh escaped his lips. He wanted to help.
He hurried to clean his room, then went to Chima's room. He knocked twice before pushing the door open. Her room looked untouched.
"You haven't cleaned your room," He said as a way of greeting.
She was lying on her bed with her arm over her face. She had been crying.
"We'll make okpa after, will you eat?"
No response. He blew out a breath and picked up the abandoned broom on the floor and began to clean her room. She lay unmoving throughout as he swept, dusted, arranged, and washed. Then he went to mix okpa and set it on fire.
He returned to her room and sat by her side.
"You know it's not your fault," He said quietly, "And mum would have done anything to pay if she had the means."
The only sound from her was a sniff.
"Get up, Chimamanda," He hesitated before patting her shoulder, "Mum will be more sad if you keep staying like this. She's sorry, I'm sorry. Get up."
She was still.
"Please... Okpa is on fire. Go and bath. We'll eat it with pap and milk."
She slowly sat up but her back was to him and she kept running her palms down her face.
"I'll make the pap. Will you be fast?"
She nodded. His cheeks tugged up a little. Even if she wasn't fully opened to him, at least she couldn't hide that she had a special soft spot for food and for being pampered.
He wanted to pat her shoulder again but he withdrew and left her room. He was more happy than he could ever remember being. She was sad and he had consoled her, she let him console her. His light smile stretched into a grin.

Hi guys, I am back 😫😫😫
I've been so busy and stressed.
I just got admission to unn and preparing for school and settling in has been really stressful.
Even now, I am still not so settled in.
Well, why am I a writer if I can't write in season and out of season 🥲?
Game on!!!

Hi guys

I am so so so sorry for my disappearance 😭
Things have been really hectic lately and I just can't find time to concentrate and write Iris.

I assure you that I'll be back as soon as I settle and can find my writing zeal.

Stay blessed and joyful 🥰

Iris
Chapter 18: Jealous
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"I don't know if you are hungry but if you check the time, it's time for breakfast," He spoke.
"Well, you can make your breakfast. I am not hungry," She said casually and looked back at Somto who was looking absentminded.
"Should I get your biscuits for you?"
"No, I..."
"Please get it. I am famished," Somto interrupted.
"On top my biscuit," She eyed him.
"Please na, Chima. Why do you always treat me so badly?" He pouted.
She rolled her eyes and said to Isreal, "You can get it."
She noticed his slight hesitation before he left.
"And you said he's not your house boy," Somto commented with a smirk after Isreal left.
"He's not," She sighed, "Since you are jobless, why don't you offer your services to me for free?"
"Any day, any time, my Chima," He winked and wiggled his brows suggestively.
"Not like that, my goodness, you are so dirty-minded," She laughed, "I just need you to explain some maths stuff to me. Abeg."
"Sure, after I eat."
"Is it not food you are eating?"
"There is love in sharing."
Isreal came back with the biscuits and made tea for three of them. They relocated to the dining and ate in uncomfortable silence. After eating, she made to take her used cup and that of Somto to the kitchen but Isreal was quick to get it before her.
"Thank you," Somto smiled, staring at Isreal with curiosity then he looked at her with a knowing look.
"We can start with the maths, right?" He asked, scrolling through his phone.
"Yeah, just let me bathe first," She said and got up.
"Hmmm, no wonder I've been perceiving one odour ever since."
"Shut up."
She was back thirty minutes later with her books then she remembered she was supposed to tutor Isreal. She sat next to Somto who was texting with whomever and opened her maths textbook. The maths she wanted him to teach her was quite complicated, she didn't know if Isreal could handle it at that point since he was an art student.
She sighed.
"What?" Somto asked without taking his eyes off his phone.
"How much of your time can you give me for free?" She asked pleadingly.
He glanced at her, "All."
She rolled her eyes, "Be serious. How much do you charge for your tutorial sessions?"
"1k per hour. Do you want to pay me? I said I'll teach you for free."
"Yes, but can you teach Isreal too?"
"Who's Isreal?"
She gestured to Isreal's room.
"He's writing Jamb too?"
"No, Waec. I'm supposed to teach him but since you are here, you can explain better. I'll pay you."
He chuckled, "How do you want to pay me? Hmmm, Chima."
"With... a thank you," She blurted out and looked away. She didn't like it when he was close and looking at her like that.
"Okay," He smiled, "Where's he?"
She stood and went to Isreal's room. He opened it immediately she knocked. He had bathed already.
"Somto wants to teach me some maths and I'll need to practice after. You won't mind if he teaches you after?"
He stared at her. "Oh," He finally spoke, "Why can't he teach us together?"
"It's advanced maths," She explained, "And it's not something they teach to art students but if you want to join us, no problem."
"You are done with school?" Somto asked when Isreal joined them.
"Yeah," Isreal answered curtly.
"How old?"
Isreal glanced at him before answering, "Nineteen."
"Wow, we are age mates," Somto said and stretched his hand for a fist bump. Isreal looked startled and his tight posture relaxed as he bumped fists with Somto.
"Proper age for schooling," Somto boasted, "Not like Chima that is rushing as if someone is chasing her. Do you know that this girl is still a baby? How old are you, Chima? Thirteen, abi?"
"Eh, thirteen," She slapped his shoulder, "I am sixteen going on seventeen, a young adult."
"I am sixteen going on seventeen, a young adult," Somto mimicked with a laugh.
"Somto, where's my birthday gift?" She suddenly asked with narrowed eyes.
Somto froze, his eyes wide. "S**t," He muttered lowly.
"Oya, hand over," She smiled, stretching out her hand.
"I forgot," Somto itched his head and covered her palm with his, "It's not that I don't care about you, Chima, you know but... circumstances..."
"But circumstances," She sneered, "Circumstances, your head. You promised me 5k since four months ago."
Somto laughed, slightly embarrassed. "Okay. I'll buy shawarma for you."
"No, I want the 5k."
"See, Isreal is getting annoyed. When we finish, I'll buy shawarma from Ebuka, eh? Biko, abeg."
Isreal indeed looked a bit out of place.
"Okay," She gave in. She had even forgotten about the 5000 naira until he came. She could have used it to register for Jamb.
Twenty minutes into Somto teaching them, Isreal was completely lost. He could barely understand anything of the differentiation and dy/dx that they went on about. He blew out a breath and leaned back in his seat. The Somto guy barely even focused on him, it was all Chima.
He acknowledged the jealous stirring in his chest. Since he came, he could count how many words Chima had spoken to him but this handsome guy just waltzed in all of a sudden and she was more talkative than he had ever seen her be. And why were they sitting so close? They kept laughing over strange jokes and the Somto guy kept touching her.
He blew out another tense breath but his chest only got tighter when they suddenly began laughing again and Somto threw his arms around her and kissed her forehead.
"Stop touching me," Chima complained but she was laughing.
His nostrils flared.

Iris
Chapter 17: House Boy
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Chima scoffed and looked at him with irritation, but the sincerity swirling in his brown orbs made her stop the hurtful words she planned to spew out. She blinked, conflicted with her emotions. He was a victim too. He didn't ask for Osinachi, a stranger to come to see him, neither did he expect Osinachi to get in the middle of a gunfight and save his life. It just happened, life just happened and he was suffering for it. He had no family, no home, had to join a gang to survive and even had to live on the streets when no one took him in. Why was she being so harsh to him?
She looked away, unable to contain her tears. But she had to blame someone. Osinachi was gone, there was no use blaming him; God and Mother Mary seemed too far away to be blamed; Her mother was much in pain like her. Isreal was the only one to be blamed. If Osinachi never met him, Osinachi would still be alive.
He didn't ask for Osinachi to meet him, a voice whispered.
She didn't want him to see her cry so she stalked off abruptly.
The next morning, she was much calmer and less harsh towards him. Just before her mother could leave the house, a knock sounded on her door.
It startled them all a bit because they barely had any visitors since after Osinachi's funeral. She watched Isreal open the door, already knowing who it was. The knock felt so familiar.
"The mummy of my life," Somto hailed once he stepped into their flat and sighted her mother.
"Somto de Somto," Her mother laughed and hugged him fondly.
She rolled her eyes. What was he doing in their house? Wasn't he supposed to be in school?
"How are you? How's school?" Her mother asked, patting his cheek fondly.
"I am fine oo, better than ever. School's stressful but fine. Where's Chima? Is she hiding from me?" He asked, his eyes already searching the living room.
"Why will I hide from you?" She retorted sharply just as he found her. She facepalmed. She planned to not say anything but Somto always managed to get on her nerves.
"Ha," He beamed and came to her, "I knew you'd come running when you hear my voice."
She rolled her eyes and sidestepped his hug.
"You don't want to hug me?" He teased with a chuckle, "Do you know how many girls are dying to hug me?"
"Hug your stinking body?" She wrinkled her nose, "I'll pass. I don't know what they see in your chimpanzee face."
"My chimpanzee face that you like, eh?" He winked.
"Somto, please leave my daughter alone," Mrs. Chinonye intervened, "I'm leaving. Maybe when I come back, we can talk eh?"
"No problem, mummy. You can go, Chima is safe in my care," He said and gently pushed her mother to the door.
"Hapu nwam aka (leave my daughter alone)," Mrs. Chinonye laughed before leaving.
Somto shut the door and was about to continue teasing her when he sighted Isreal.
"Oh, watsup?" He said to Israel and stretched out his hand for a shake.
Isreal glanced at her and then at Somto before accepting the handshake.
"Chima's relative? Friend?" Somto inquired, coming to stand next to her.
"Uh..." Isreal looked at her.
"Houseboy?" Somto added.
She blinked. Israel opened his mouth and shut it.
"He's just staying with us," She finally spoke.
"Alright," Somto shrugged then threw his arm around her shoulder and began pulling her to the kitchen, "How far with your Jamb? I know you are not reading."
"Stop touching me," She huffed and attempted to throw his hand off but he resisted.
"It's because you are crushing on me," He flicked her nose, "Unless you'll not be bothered. Why can't I touch you?"
"You like insinuating rubbish," She rolled her eyes, "Don't touch my mother's groundnut!"
Of course, he didn't listen and cracked one open. It was the groundnut they just boiled that morning that her mother specifically asked them not to finish.
"Do you know the last time I ate groundnut?" Somto asked with a raised brow, grabbed a plate, and filled it with the nuts "You don't care about me again, Chima."
She face palmed. Her mother was in love with Somto anyway, she wouldn't mind. Contrary to her attitude, she felt happy that he came. Somto was full of life and he just knew how to bring her out of her shell but they were still rivals anyway. She would never accept that he was more brilliant than her. If she had written jamb at the same time as him, she would have scored higher. What was 272?
"What are you thinking about?"
She shook her head and looked at him. Their eyes met and for a split second, she felt self-conscious. She looked away.
"Are you not supposed to be in school?"
"Yeah, but I thought, what's a few lectures to miss compared to seeing Chima's face again? So I hopped on a bus and came to see Chima's face."
She hissed and fought a smile. "Be serious for once in your life."
"Nothing much. Sapa wan finish me for school so I decided to come and steal my mother's foodstuff."
She smiled, "You are the one that decided to stay in the hostel. You could have been coming from home."
He shook his head and sat on the chair opposite her, "I am a big boy, I can't be staying with my momma. I need to leave and fly my wings."
"Mumu," She eyed him.
"Who's he?" He nodded his head towards the door. She looked, a bit startled to be reminded about Isreal. He wasn't there, he probably went to his room. "Don't lie, he's your house boy."
She chuckled, "He's not."
"I know you like being a humanitarian, just say the truth. He's your house boy. Where did you bring him from? The Village?"
"He's not," She laughed, "He's... My mum just decided to let him live with us."
"Hmmm," He nodded but didn't seem to believe, "And why does it seem like you don't like him?"
"Mind your business."
"I will, I will," He raised his hands in surrender, "But you are my baby girl and I care about your safety. I can't..."
Isreal suddenly appeared and Somto paused. Her heart thumped in guilt, remembering she just laughed about him.
"What?" She asked, a bit unkindly. He seemed withdrawn.
"I don't know if you are hungry but if you check the time, it's time for breakfast," He spoke.

Don't wish there were less problems, wish you were better 📍

Iris
Chapter 16: I just want you to like me
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Chima awoke with a start. She felt warm all over and there were tears in her eyes. She sat up and pondered over the dream she just had. Osinachi. She saw Osinachi. The details were fuzzy but she felt and remembered that he caressed her hair, hugged her, and kissed her forehead. It felt so real.
She wiped her tears and looked around the dark room. She didn't want to switch on her lights so mother would not know she was awake. Her button phone read 4:31 am. She lay back but she couldn't sleep, so she got up to pray and then relocated to her study to study her accounts textbook.
Isreal was even more active than usual that morning. He woke up by 5 am, she knew because that was when she began hearing noises from his room. By the time her mother called them out for prayer, he had washed the plates, cleaned the kitchen, and swept the living room. She didn't want her mother to question her nonchalance so she pretended to be asleep when she came in.
When her mother left for work, he had already bathed and so he jumped to make tea for them.
She already rolled her eyes a million times since she agreed to tutor him and she couldn't help but roll it again at his actions. She already was regretting the decision but she figured it would create more opportunities for her to put him down.
"Please, be nice," Her mother had pleaded before leaving the house. She huffed and eyed him from her position at the kitchen door. Her mother just kept spoiling things for her.
"Don't put that," She snapped when he was about to add sugar to her tea.
"Oh, you don't like sugar in your tea?" He asked innocently.
"Why will you put sugar in your tea? Return the sugar," She eyed him then added when he made to put sugar in his tea, "Don't waste my mum's money. You can drink tea without sugar."
He paused but did as she said. No wonder the other tea he made for her tasted a little too sweet. Was he so dumb not to know that there was already sugar in the Milo?
She grabbed her tea cup and her agege bread and went to the dining. Of course, he joined her there. She didn't want to make it obvious that she was uncomfortable in his presence so she refrained from leaving.
"Can we start now?" He asked politely when they were done eating.
"Will I teach from the air? Where are your books?" She asked.
He brought the books and sat next to her in the dining. She sniffed the air, the body odour was not there. She frowned internally, she had been looking for an excuse to send him away. She sighed, registering the irritation and anger in her heart. She shut her eyes and said a short prayer then whispered a 'Help me' to Osinachi before turning to Israel.
"What topics do you understand?" She questioned in a less distasteful voice.
"I..." He opened the textbook, flipped through the pages then admitted warily, "None. Maybe a bit of simultaneous equation."
She pressed her lips together and said, "We'll start from the beginning then."
She drew the Ss2 textbook to herself, "The questions for Waec are a combination of all that they taught you from SS1 to SS3 so you need to know everything. What class were you in?"
"SS3. It was just remaining the last term for me before... I was in SS3."
Her jaw ticked. Before he killed her brother and got his life destroyed. She took a deep breath.
"Let's start with the simultaneous equation you claim to know."
It annoyed that he listened to her with every concentration, that he was quick to do anything she asked, that he was fast to understand and get the questions she threw at him.
"Since you understand it, you can just read the rest by yourself."
"No, no," He countered quickly, "It's because of you because you are explaining it to me."
She rolled her eyes and watched him solve the questions she put before him. Unknowingly, she scrutinized him. She had to give it to him for not minding her attitude towards him, she didn't think she could take it if someone else treated her that way but then she didn't cause someone else's brother's death.
When her mother came back later that evening, she expected to receive a thank you with a bribe but Mrs. Chinonye barely even acknowledged their existence. There was barely anything for them to eat and so they had to fry the little potatoes she bought and take it with pap.
"Mummy, I want to work," She blurted out after dinner.
Mrs. Chinonye looked sharply at her, "Maka gini? (Because of what?)"
"I've been asking you for Jamb money since, you've not given me, I know you're managing. I want to work so I'll..."
"kpuchie ọnụ gị (Shut your mouth)," Mrs. Chinonye eyed her harshly, "You want to work. What do you know about working? Did I say that I will not pay for your jamb? Why are you disturbing me?"
"But mummy..."
"I don't want to hear your voice again," Mrs. Chinonye warned, shooting her death glares, "Is it because I begged you to tutor Isreal? That's why you suddenly want to work? Why are you so wicked? Teach the poor boy and let him pass his Waec, you say you want to work, must I beg you for everything? Who are you? What have you achieved in this life?"
Chima was stunned. She just wanted to work! It wasn't to avoid tutoring Isreal. She even planned that she would tutor him in the evenings when she was back from work. Things were difficult at home and she just wanted to help.
"Mummy, that's not..."
"I said shut up."
She clamped her mouth shut and bit her lip as the tears burned her eyes.
"Let me hear that you did not teach him and you'll see what I'll do to you." Mrs. Chinonye hissed, rose roughly, and took her plates to the kitchen.
Chima stared at the table, fighting the anger that threatened to overwhelm her. Israel, Isreal, Isreal... How was she just going to get rid of him?
"I am sorry," Isreal who was still sitting opposite her, spoke up, "I know you didn't mean it like that. She's just stressed."
Who gave him the right to speak to her? And did he know her mother more than her? Of course, she knew her mother was stressed which was why she offered to work to relieve the stress.
She rolled her eyes and got up to leave before she would utter words that would make her mother shout at her again.
"I'll wash the plates," Isreal offered though it was her turn to wash plates for the night.
Of course, she would let him wash the plates but her mother was still in the kitchen and she didn't want a scolding.
She made to refuse but her mother came out at that moment and left for her room. She released the plates to Isreal.
"I know you don't like me," Isreal said when she made to leave. She looked at him with a raised brow. Dislike was an understatement for what she felt for him. "And I understand that it's difficult for you to forgive me because you love your brother but I am sorry."
Tears burned her eyes and she looked away. He rose.
"I'll say it again and again, I am sorry. I don't mean you any harm and I don't like it when your mum shouts at you because of me. I don't want to cause you any trouble, I don't want to replace your brother, I just want to... I just want to repay what I made you lose, I just want you to like me."

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Your girl gets busy with work 🐱

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Iris
Chapter 13: I'll not accept a stinking student
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One week passed since the slap incident and her mother made no comment on her Jamb form. Chima was afraid. What if her mother really meant it? What if she was not going to pay for her form?
It was Sunday and she just returned from Church. Since Isreal came to stay with them, she always went for the 6 am Mass instead of the 8 am Mass that her mother and Isreal attended. She didn't want people to see her with him and begin to ask questions, and it embarrassed her to be seen outside with him. He had this perpetual body odour that didn't leave him even after he bathed, his dressing was too shallow and everything about him just screamed local. She didn't do local. She hoped her mother would get him a deodorant or something for his odour and advise him to dress better.
It was almost nine, they were due to return at ten. The only disadvantage of her returning early was that she had to do the house chores by herself. She didn't mind too much though since she hadn't been doing any work since the past week. Isreal was the house boy. She hoped it would continue that way so her anger towards him would be less.
When they returned, she had cleaned the house and boiled rice already.
"Thank you oo, Madam Chima," Mrs. Chinonye said, looking into the rice pot, "I forgot to ask you to do it and I thought you'd forget."
Isreal had gone to his room to change.
"Oya, wash the fish," Mrs. Chinonye ordered and set the pot of blended tomatoes on fire to boil.
She set to work, Isreal joining them soon. She itched to ask her mother for her Jamb form but anytime she started to ask, the words got stuck in her throat.
"So..." Mrs. Chinonye began with a smile, looking between both of them who were on opposite sides of the narrow kitchen, "How are the two of you doing?"
She stared blankly at her mother.
Mrs. Chinonye rolled her eyes when they both looked confused, "Chima," She turned to her daughter, "I know that you are very busy and you are studying hard..."
Chima's eyes narrowed, sensing it had something to do with Isreal.
"But biko (please), Isreal needs your help."
She almost screamed out loud in frustration. Of course, it had to be the smelling boy!
Mrs. Chinonye looked at her pleadingly, "It's just for you to teach him Maths and English, biko. Waec is fast approaching and he must not fail and you know you are the only intelligent daughter I have, I have not seen anybody that is more intelligent and beautiful than you. My daughter that is 400/400, abeg, biko."
Her face that was scrunched up in disgust softened a bit at the praises. Who wouldn't bend at the praises of a mother?
"I would have asked Somto to coach him but I don't have money to pay, you know he always charges and he is busy with school," Mrs. Chinonye added craftily.
Chima felt jealous. Somto attended her secondary school and there had been a silent rivalry between them on who was more brilliant. She lost after Somto wrote Jamb and got admission to LASU at once while she had to wait because she was underaged.
"Will you help me, Chima?"
She looked at her mother's pleading eyes and looked away, disgruntled.
"Okay," She forced out, almost in tears from frustration. The boy was always in her face! "But you know you have not given me money to register for Jamb," She complained, "Registration will soon close."
"I will give you," Mrs. Chinonye consoled, smiling widely, "Is it not just 4700? Don't worry. Jamb registration does not close so fast na, abi?" She looked at Isreal and winked, "I will get the money and give you. It's even good that you teach him because they say that when you teach, you read twice, it'll help you understand better. Thank you, nwam."
She folded her arms.
"You know that's how I was when I was in university oo, I always teach and teach, everybody knew me. When they don't understand something in class, they'll just come straight to me and I'll teach them. Bookworm, that is what they call me."
Chima battled a smile. Nobody exaggerated more than her mother.
"Go and buy Pepsi na!" Mrs. Chinonye exclaimed, bringing out a five hundred naira note from her pocket, "Do you want us to choke on our rice?"
She collected the bribe money grudgingly and left. As she walked past a struggling-not-to-smile Isreal, the annoyance exploded out her mouth.
"You better tell him to bath well and use deodorant," She spat, "I will not teach a body odour student."
Isreal's smile fell.
"You better do what she says oo," Mrs. Chinonye whispered with wide eyes when Chima left the house, "I've done my part, your own is to do what she says so you'll pass your Waec. There's one deodorant in my room, go and take it and make sure you bathe morning and night with that Dettol. Don't worry, the smell will go."
Isreal turned away, disheartened. Here he was thinking he was a fresh kid, not knowing he had been suffocating everyone with his body odour.