Early Saturday morning, Ada woke up quickly. She went straight to the kitchen, washed all the dirty plates, and tidied the place. She wanted everything to be in order before rushing off to see Chidi. When she was done, she quietly picked the bundle of money she had stolen from her mother’s wardrobe and slipped out of the house. The sun was already rising, and the compound was bright.

At the corpers’ lodge, she knocked gently on the door. Emeka opened it, rubbing his eyes in surprise.

“Ada, what are you doing here so early this morning?” he asked.

She brushed past the question. “Where is Chidi?” she demanded eagerly.

Just then, Chidi appeared. Ada’s face brightened immediately. She ran into his arms, hugging him tightly before bringing out the money.

“Chidi, this is a very huge amount of money. Take it,” she said with a smile.

Chidi’s eyes widened. “Ada! I can’t believe this. I asked for one hundred and fifty thousand naira, and you brought me even more? God bless you!” He hugged her tighter, beaming with joy. “This is how you should be doing. If you were always like this, would I ever complain?”

Ada blushed. “I just hope you won’t disappoint me, Chidi.”

“God forbid!” he said quickly. “Don’t ever say that again. How can I disappoint you after all you’ve done for me? In fact, I should be the one worried. What if another man comes tomorrow, asks for your hand in marriage, and you agree? You will leave me…”

“Leave you kwa?” Ada shook her head firmly. “No, Chidi. I will never leave you. I will always love you. I can never disappoint you.”

Smiling into each other’s eyes, they embraced again. Emeka, still standing by the door, cleared his throat loudly. They turned to look at him and burst into laughter.

“Have you eaten?” Ada asked Chidi.

“No, I haven’t.”

“Okay, let me quickly make something for you before I go.” She headed into the kitchen.

Emeka folded his arms. “Wahala for who no get lover o.”

“Na you no wan get,” Chidi teased, staring happily at the bundle of cash. “Ada really loves me.”

Emeka muttered under his breath, “That’s not love. It’s foolishness.”

“What did you say?” Chidi asked.

“I said yes, she loves you,” Emeka lied quickly.

Meanwhile, at home, Ugochi had woken up. After brushing her teeth, she noticed the compound was messy. She called for Ada but realized she was nowhere to be found. Thinking her daughter had gone to church for the early clean-up, Ugochi quietly picked up a broom and began to sweep, singing to herself.

She was still at the backyard when two women from her village meeting arrived, dressed in polos and wrappers tied under their breasts. They knocked on the gate.

Kpom, kpom!
“Is anyone at home?” one of them called out.
“Ugochi!” the other shouted.

Hearing their voices, Ugochi dropped the broom and hurried to meet them.

“Ha, Njideka, Chikodi… good morning,” she greeted warmly.

“Good morning,” they chorused.

“Ugo, we came to collect the money,” Chikodi explained. “Today is Saturday. We want to go to the market early and buy the things for the ceremony. Things are cheaper at this time.”

“Does the Chairlady know?” Ugochi asked.

“Yes, she’s the one that sent us,” Njideka replied.

Ugochi nodded and adjusted her wrapper. “Alright, let me get it.”

She went inside to her wardrobe, but her heart nearly stopped when she opened it. The huge bundle of money was gone. Only a smaller amount remained. She searched everywhere under her clothes, inside bags, on the table but the money was nowhere to be found. Fear gripped her chest.

“Oh God! Ada… what have I done to deserve this? Why would you disgrace me like this? How do I face these women now? They will think I have eaten the money!” She sat on the bed, trembling, tears filling her eyes.

Outside, the women grew impatient.
“What is keeping her?” Njideka frowned.
“Is the money holding her there?” Chikodi scoffed.

Finally, Ugochi came out, her face pale and shaken.

“Where is the money?” Chikodi demanded.

“My sisters… I can’t find it,” Ugochi said weakly.

“What?!” Njideka exclaimed.

“You can’t find the money?” Chikodi flared. “So you and your shameless daughter have finished spending it, and you’re here telling us stories?”

Njideka shook her head. “Ugochi, you better search again. We need to go to the market now!”

“Please, I have searched everywhere. Come back later… maybe by afternoon I will find it,” Ugochi pleaded, her voice breaking.

“No, Ugochi,” Njideka said sharply. “If we don’t go now, then forget it. We’re not coming back later.”

Chikodi hissed. “Let’s go, Njideka. Ugochi, better find that money or you won’t like us when we return.”

As they left, Njideka muttered angrily, “Imagine! She can’t find the money we all contributed for the ceremony. After all my suffering to get that money, she must be joking.”

Their words pierced Ugochi’s heart. She broke down in tears. “Ada wants to kill me! Ada wants to kill me!” she cried loudly, weeping bitterly.

She sat on a small stool outside, waiting anxiously for Ada to return. She was sure very sure that she had locked the money inside her wardrobe with her own hands.

“Ada had the mind to do this to me… after all I told her yesterday. What wrong have I done? Oh God!”

A while later, Ada entered through the gate, pretending as if she had just returned from church.

“Mama, good morning,” she greeted quickly, trying to slip inside.

But her mother’s sad voice stopped her.

“Ada… what have I done to you?” Ugochi asked, still seated on the stool.

Ada turned with fake innocence. “Mama, I went to church. Today is Saturday, we went for clean-up”

“I didn’t ask you where you’re coming from,” Ugochi cut her off. Her voice trembled. “Ada, where is the money you took from my wardrobe last night?”

“Money? Mama, what are you talking about? I didn’t see any money,” Ada lied.

“Ada, please…” Ugochi suddenly fell on her knees, her wrapper loosening. “I beg you with everything you serve, return the money. My knees are on the ground. Please.”

“Mama, I don’t understand what you’re saying,” Ada said, faking fear. “Which money are you talking about?”

“Ada, are you saying you didn’t take anything from my wardrobe?”

“Why would I steal from you, Mama? Or are you calling me a thief?” Ada flared.

Ugochi wept bitterly. “Ada, it’s three hundred thousand naira. I counted it yesterday with my own hands. Today it is gone. Please, my daughter, if you are with it, return it before I die of shame.”

Ada ran into the room, picked up the small money inside her mother’s wardrobe, and brought it out. “Mama, is this not the money you’re looking for?”

“No,” Ugochi sobbed. “That’s church contribution. I’m talking about the big money… Ada, please, don’t do this to me.”

“Mama, if I was the one that took the money, would I have left this one? I didn’t steal from you,” Ada said firmly, hiding her guilt.

But Ugochi cried uncontrollably, clutching her chest. “Ada, you and I are the only ones in this house. Nobody else. I put the money there with my hands. So where is it?!”

Ada stood her ground, pretending innocence, while her mother broke down completely, helpless and heartbroken…..

Please stop crying mama,let me help you look for it okay….ada said went inside