STRANGE MEETING: HOW A PROSTITUTES-PATRONIZING SON MET HIS MOTHER IN A BROTHEL AS HIS ‘WOMAN FOR THE NIGHT’.

Asuquo had always loved and adored his mother.  Since his father was killed by armed robbers many years ago, she had provided for him and his siblings.  They went to a good school and their school fees were paid as at when due.

Asuquo, the first child of three children and now 18, was taught from a very young age, to protect his siblings, Rose and Abel.  He recalls an incident that led to their transfer from their first school.

He was sent on an errand to the Staff Room by his English language teacher and had to pass through Abel’s class.  Peeping through one of the open windows, he saw Abel crying as he struggled to balanced his tired legs in an awkward position.  Asuquo knew the punishment.  It was called ‘Smoke a Cigarette’.   The offender was required to stand on one foot while passing his hand through the second leg, hung in the air.  The fingers would be stretched to the mouth to imitate a smoker.  Everyone knew how painful that punishment was. Being whipped was preferred because as one could easily recover from it, unlike the ‘smoke a cigarette’ punishment which left the whole body aching for many days.

Acting on impulse, Asuquo rushed into the class and freed his brother, interrupting the on-going class.

“How dare you treat my brother like a criminal, you fool,” he screamed at the teacher whose hands were covered in white chalk powder.

“Are you… are you mad?”  The teacher stuttered, surprised that a student, even though big for his age, could challenge a teacher in class.

Without thinking, Asuquo landed a slap on the face of the teacher who was diminutive in size and unprepared for the attack.  A brief fight ensued amidst shouts and screams of excitement and pandemonium before teacher and student were separated. The school came to a standstill as the two brothers were led to the principal’s office. It was unheard of in the school for a student to engage a teacher in a fisticuff.

There was no need to send for Asuquo’s mother.  She was long aware of the situation and was already on her way to the school before the school emissary moved.  Her daughter and Asuquo’s sister; Rose had dashed home to acquaint her mother with ugly development.

Rather than apologize and admonish her sons for disobeying school authority, Asuquo’s mother threw insults in the air like a politician throwing naira notes in the air.  She insulted the principal and the teachers, accusing them of being insensitive to the plight of children without a father. Then disregarding every authority; she took her children home before asking for details of the fight.  Two weeks later, she enrolled them in a new school.

 That was how protective and caring Asuquo’s mother was.  They lacked nothing.  She made sure they were well fed and clothed.  The house rent was regularly paid.  One thing the kids found odd was the regular visits their mother made to Abuja. She would be gone for two weeks every month, claiming to have visited their uncle, and then she’ll come back with goodies for everyone -new clothes and gifts, courtesy of their unknown uncle.  Asuquo and his siblings loved this unknown uncle and craved a visit to his house.  Unknown to them, their mother was a prostitute.  Her so-called visit to see their uncle was a business trip to sell her body for money.

Asuquo had his first girl at the age of 16.  By the time he was 17, he had been initiated into another world by a friend called James:  the world of prostitutes.

From time to time, James took him to a brothel and paid for the services of prostitutes for both of them.  Thereafter, they were ushered into different rooms to meet the women of easy virtue.

Asuquo begin to like the adventure.  No strings were attached, no rejection happened and the women had special skills.  When his friend Jimmy moved to Abuja, Asuquo began to visit him from time to time.  Unknown to his mother, he was already smoking and drinking alcohol.  At home, however, he played the saint.  The only person who knew a little of his other side was his younger brother, Abel.  Abel once caught him smoking a cigarette when their mother had gone to visit their so-called uncle.  He swore his younger brother to secrecy and promised not to repeat the act again.

The days after Asuquo and his brother Abel swore to keep secret his smoking habit, Jimmy invited Asuquo to visit him in Abuja.  This was not the first time he would visit Jimmy in Abuja.  But this would be the first time he travelled when his mother was away.  He had always found a way to trick his mother, claiming he was taking an exam and had to stay in the campus with his friend to learn mathematics.  Now that his mother was away, he was mandated to fend for Abel and Rose.

Tricking his siblings like he’d always done their mother, Asuquo traveled to Abuja and joined his friend Jimmy who was in a jubilant mood.  Jimmy had made some money by selling some abandoned office equipment.  Drinks flowed like a river.

That night, the two friends took several bottles of beer and ate their favorite fish barbecue before agreeing that the night would not end well without a visit to a brothel.

Jimmy claimed to know a new place and took his young friend there.  After Jimmy went in and bargained with the prostitutes, he came back and invited his shy friend to go have fun in Room 3.  His own woman laid waiting in room 4.

Asuquo entered the dark room and excitedly got set for action. While fondling, the rather big woman in the room, she asked if her customer minded a dim light.  Asuquo didn’t mind.  When the light switch by the bed was switched on, mother and son recognized each other in a fraction of a second.  Confusion, shock and pandemonium joined them in the room in an instant!

Asuquo rushed out of the room like he had been stung by a bee, screaming for his friend Jimmy at the same time.  On her own part, Asuquo’s mother could only shout ‘thief!’ Ole” thief! Ole”…

 An attempt was made to arrest Asuquo but he and his adventurous friend managed to flee unhurt. 

In that neighbourhood, they would have been set ablaze if mistaken for thieves.  Perhaps that was what his mother wanted, Asuquo thought later on.  Perhaps she wanted him killed in order to cover her shame. He couldn’t bring himself to return home. How would he face his mother?

Ever today, Asuquo is yet to go back home even though he has been keeping in touch with his family.   He has been unable to gaze upon his mother’s face.  Now working in Abuja, he sends money home to his siblings and communicates with his mother through letters.  She had to provide for them in a tough country, she says but Asuquo finds it difficult to forgive her.

Editor’s Note: do you think Asuquo is justified in blaming his mother for what happened? Leave your comments please.