Now, the baby squirmed, and Sharon was attracted. She held her close to her chest, and gave her a peck.
“Mummy loves you, my Angel,” she assured the baby. Then, she handed her back to the midwife, who collected the baby at once.
“You need to breastfeed her,” the midwife reminded. Sharon simply said, “Not now. You can give her the infant formula.”
With a heavy heart, the disappointed midwife, who could not explain why she avoided that, laid the baby on the cot and prepared the formula. To her delight, Sharon spoke, “I can feed her.”
She placed the baby on her lap and guided her on how to feed the baby.
“Thank you, midwife,” she appreciated and fed the baby. The midwife observed her and noticed that she was happy with the baby. Then, Sharon requested happily, “Can I have my phone?” “Sure, you can.”
The midwife picked her phone which was on the shelf and handed it over to her. She collected it and appreciated before she began to take selfies with the baby.
“Wait, powder your face a bit. You look disheveled,” the midwife advised.
“I like the memory,” she declared and continued. Thereafter, she fed the baby and they slept off.
At the Village.
The General Manager joined the waiting team, and they greeted him one after the other.
“Good morning, to you all. I hope that you had a good night of rest?” he responded.
“Yes, boss,” they chorused, and Susan swallowed hard. She was mesmerized by his look and was pleased with herself.
“Let's go.” He ordered Richard when everyone embarked.
“Okay, boss.”
From all indications, most of the guests in the hotel were for the funeral and heading to the village. The driver took off and joined the unintended convoy, which slowed down their movement. Tony reasoned that Susan may disappoint Sarah, and he requested, “Silas,”
“Yes, boss,” he responded from the front seat.
“We need to overtake these vehicles. We cannot afford to be late.”
“I got it, boss.”
He got off the bus and followed by his orderly. At the same time, the IGP's orderly was off the vehicle too. They stopped the oncoming vehicles, and Richard veered away from the convoy. Afterward, Silas and his orderly got back to the front seat and they left.
“Thank you, Silas,” Tony appreciated, and after a few minutes, they were at the new house. The driver parked outside because there was no space inside the compound
“Wow! She is from a rich family?” The staff members remarked when they saw the edifice.
“From her story, I expected to see a wretched compound,” the GMD's secretary thought.
Susan got off at once and walked briskly into the compound and Tony, who was out of the vehicle too, was able to observe her keenly with her simple but gorgeous funeral wear.
“Ain't I lucky? What came over Bruno?” He mumbled. Her colleagues also commented on her dressing.
Now, Beck's remains had been brought from the mortuary, and was laid in the burial tent. Nevertheless, many elders were around for the heathen burial. The agitating elders who overlooked his debt of eighty-three thousand Naira, forty-eight Kobo, were awestruck when Ada gave them one hundred thousand Naira and pleaded, “I hope that would clear my father's debt.”
The awestruck treasurer confirmed the money, and declared, “It will clear the debt, and you will have some change.”
“I see. Consider the change as the interest of his debt.”
Before they recovered from the shock, Joe handed two rolls of cattle rope to her, and she presented, “These are the ropes for two cows. They are grazing in the field. You can take them. We have one thousand tubers of yam, and one hundred kegs of palm wine. Thank you, my elders.”
The elders' mouths were open for a few seconds before they appreciated and settled down for the burial. However, the grave was dug by Justin, Gerry, Boniface, and Thomas at no cost, they were delighted to do that.
Now, the General Manager led the delegates in, and they took their seats under the canopy, while he sought Evans and Sarah for salutations. Evans was wowed with his look.
“Tony, what is the secret. You look good.”
“Thank you, boss, for the compliment. I hope all is set?”
“Yes. After this session, we will move to the field.”
“It is okay. The delegates are under the canopy. You may wish to say hello to them.”
He walked the GMD to the convoy and he welcomed the delegates.
Soon, the burial rites were over and Beck was laid to rest. Thereafter, they moved to the field. Now, the convoy just arrived and Evans and his co-in-laws were there to receive them. Barbara Robin also arrived with the eighty girls for the empowerment, and she laid them in their tent. Nevertheless, the villagers were given a special section, and they were happy with it. The twenty girls from the community which were selected by Obidiya and Ugo had joined the eighty girls in the tent, to Oliver's surprise, his sister was not in the group.
“Serves her right.” He chuckled, and walked with the family to the tent.
“Is Oliver related to Beck?” A woman from the villagers' section asked when she saw him putting on the funeral clothes.
“Who is Oliver?” Shane's mother asked.
“Oliver, the son of Bertram the topper.”
“Hiss. That fool? He allowed himself to be used for nothing.”
“For nothing? He is putting on the funeral clothes.” The first woman pointed out.
“Burial clothes? Are you certain that you saw well? Don't allow your eyes to deceive you,” Shane's mother, who would not admit that Oliver is better than her son, pointed out. Nevertheless, she was not settled. It was not a secret that Frank's success was connected to Beck's in-laws. Throughout the program, she was sad, especially when he sighted Oliver with the funeral clothes.
“Why is it not Shane that is putting on those clothes?” She asked herself in frustration.
Now, the event took off. The Masters of the Ceremony, a local and a hired professional, introduced the Chief Mourner, Mr. Emma Aaron. He majestically led the family members to their dedicated tent. They were all dressed in the funeral clothes, and he was proudly walking with his beautiful cane that his in-laws bought for him, and the audience clapped for him. After he was seated, the MC announced the presence of the Governor and the other government officials.