” I have a way out, but you have to decide if you want it or not. Most of the time, when you want to help, people don’t appreciate it. That’s why I’m careful about how I give advice,” Cindy told Dera.

“Cindy, you know that you are my friend. Please help me out of this mess. The only thing that I don’t want is for anyone to advise me to terminate this pregnancy. I might not survive it. But any other advice on how to scale through this huddle will be appreciated.”

“Both of us are saying the same thing. You need a solution and I have a solution to give. But what I don’t want is for someone to insult me because I tried to help her. I don’t want that at all,”Cindy emphasized.

“I will not insult you because you tried to help me. As a friend what I expect is that we   decide on how best to come out of this mess. Please help me,”Dera assured her.

“It’s okay. What I am about to tell you is what other girls are doing. In Fact they are making real money from it. This pregnancy is a burden to you, but some people want it. I will connect you to them. They will take care of you till you give birth, then you sell the baby to them. They will pay you well,”Cindy informed her.

“Cindy what kind of nonsense advice is this? How dare you suggest this nonsense to me. How does it solve my problem? How does it take away this shame?”

“I hope you are not trying to insult me?”Cindy asked in anger.

“If there is something more than an insult, I will give it to you. You want me to suffer and carry pregnancy and sell it afterwards. What kind of wicked advice is that,”Dera raged on.

“I don’t blame you. You can insult me as much as you want. If I didn’t step on your miserable home, you wouldn’t have the guts to insult me.”

As Cindy was still talking, one of their friends came in and requested to know what was going on.

“Ify dear, can you imagine the kind of advice that Cindy gave me? I was just trying to correct her and she started insulting me,”Dera informed Ify.

Cindy got up and stormed out in anger.

“What did she tell you?”

“It’s concerning this pregnancy. You are aware that Clem abandoned me with it. I didn’t know the way out. I sought advice. Cindy told me to carry this pregnancy to maturity, give birth to the child and sell it. “

“What is wrong with the advice? Everyone is doing it. Why is your case special?” Ify asked Dera

“I can’t believe this. What did you say?”

“I said what you heard. That is how girls are surviving. That is the latest goldmine in town. Let me shock you, I am pregnant.”

“What!”

“Yes. I am pregnant,”Ify said firmly.

“You are pregnant, yet you don’t feel sad. You are playing around.”Dera wondered aloud.

“Why would I be sad? Do you know how much I am going to make? I have already sealed the deal. Next week, I will be moving to the place I will stay till I give birth. Food, medical attention and everything I need would be provided for me, Ify explained.

“Are you pulling my legs?”Dera asked her 

“Who is pulling your legs. Does it look like I am joking? I have already told my parents that I have gotten a job. I told them I want to be working there before I go for my NYSC. I will be sending some stipends to them every month. After giving birth, I will use the remaining money to establish a business for myself. Why would my parents not be proud of me?”

“Hmm! This sounds strange to me. What do you suggest that I should do?”

“Learn from me. Call your parents on the phone and inform them that you have gotten a job that you will do temporarily before you  go for youth service. Afterwards go and visit them. Make sure that you go late in the night and leave there early the next morning. I’m saying it because of your mother. If she see you in day time, she might notice that you are pregnant. Try to explain to them that your employers may not allow you to visit them for about six months,” Ify coached her.

“Ha! This is difficult. How did I get myself into this kind of trouble? Clem you did this to me,”Dera lamented

“This is not trouble. It is a good fortune. It’s just that you don’t know how to play your card well and cash out from it. “I will advise you to think very well and take advantage of this before it becomes late.”

Dera’s phone started ringing, she checked and it was her mother.

“Hei! My mother it’s calling me on the phone. Whenever I see her phone calls, sudden fear will grip me,” Dera cried.

“What is wrong with you? You have to behave yourself before your mother will suspect that something is wrong,”Ify advised her.

Dera quickly took heed to the advice.

“Hello mum!”

“Hello my daughter. How are you?”

“Very well thanks ma.”

“When are you coming back? I thought you have concluded your project defense”

“Mummy, something came up. I was about to call on the phone to inform you. I got a job. I decided to take it instead of sitting at home waiting for the one year National Youth Service,”

“Wow! That’s nice. Though I would have preferred that you come home and rest properly. You have been in school studying. This should have been the time for you to have some rest,”her mum told her.

“Mum I understand but I don’t want to lose this opportunity. There is even a chance that they might offer me a permanent job after my youth service. Mummy this is an answer to your prayers.  I don’t want to miss it.”

“It’s okay my daughter. But won’t you make out time to come and see me and your daddy.”

“Mummy I will come. That will be sooner than you expected.”

When she dropped the call Ify hailed her.

“Babe you are too much. I’m proud of you ”

“Ify, please leave me alone. Didn’t you see how I was telling lies to my mother. Have I not turned into a prodigal daughter?”

“There is nothing like that. Even your mum understands that you have to survive. Do you know the one she did during her time?”

“Ify that’s an insult. Why would you talk about my mum in that manner?”Dera rebuked Ify.

“I am sorry dear. Please, forgive me.”

Both of them were silent for a while.

“Ify I still need to think about this. I’m not really comfortable with giving birth to my child and selling it to a stranger.”

“It’s okay but think fast. Delay is dangerous.”