08

**** Amedee Hounye ****

I'm very pissed off, what witchcraft is this? Afterwards people will come and say that I'm the culprit, because Madame wants to show the world that she is the perfect woman, even I believed it too. Despite my discreet infidelities and my arrogance, I have never done a few things to disrespect him. People fear me because I don't have fun with anyone but with her I try to be flexible, but in the end to get there?

Me (snarling): I want you to leave my house right now.

Diane (in tears): I swear to you that I will never start again my dear, believe me, I swear to you.

Me (icy): It's already too late and you had to think about it before getting rid of my child.

Azétor wè gni wé (you are a witch Diana).

Diane (whining): Tcho Assou Gbétôr I know you can get over this and I'm really sorry. I wasn't ready to be a mother yet, give me some more time baby.

Me (closes): You know when I say no it means no so you and me are over.

Diane: You can't throw our 4 years of marriage to the ground because of a little bewilderment.

Me (cold): Little misguidance? So killing my child without even telling me about it is a bit of a distraction? You've been acting like you want to have kids with me for 3 years, but now I know you're acting. So get out of here quickly and I'm not going to repeat it to myself.

I leave my house furious, I go back to my Ferrari. When it's like that, even my bodyguards are afraid of me. I see the guards running to open the gate. I go out like a rocket. I need to evacuate and when it's like that, I leave the city I take the road to Grand-Popo and I rally alone. My name is Amèdée, I am 35 years old, I have political ambitions, I have already been offered to be a minister but I do not want to. My father's wish was for me to rule this country which is down to earth. I promised him on his deathbed that I would do everything to be president of this country, even my marriage was calculated. My wife's father is the minister of foreign affairs and my mother-in-law is the current president's cousin. Me on my side I am not left out, I was born of a rich family and politician. My father was a minister and my mother is a director of the public treasury.

I have 2 friends that I consider my brothers, we are inseparable. We have attended since high school and college together. We are the same ages and we frequent the same circles even at the level of women. After our studies, we opened an oil refinery instead of sending our crude oil to Europe to transform it into gasoline, diesel etc... we do it at home, our turnover is billionaire, so we don't envy anyone. I like class and elegance and when I like a girl, I take her. From the start, I make things clear, I don't smile with just anyone, it's reserved for close friends, even them, see my smile once a year, for me there's no second chance you're kidding you get out . I hear my phone ringing, I put on my bluetooth.

Me: Good evening Charbel.

Charbel: Good evening, won't you be there?

Me: I completely forgot, sorry. Saturnin is already there?

Saturnin: yes I'm already there Boby, but sir is conspicuous by his absence.

Me: Ok I see that I am the culprit, I am with diamond (the name of my Ferrari).

Charbel: Who made you angry like that again?

Me: It's a long story, I'll be there in 30 minutes.

Saturnin: Please be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you.

Me: Don't worry, if you think I'm going to die and leave my actions to you, you're putting your finger in your eye.

I hear their laughter. Saturnin is married, but nothing goes in his couple I do not understand why he does not divorce. His wife isn't even beautiful and so bland that I don't understand how a guy like him could marry this kind of girl and especially Diane's cousin who sleeps with him is a hottie I still don't understand, Charbel is the only single one, but I think it's not for long because he's been with my wife's best friend for a year, I tell you we're hanging around. First thing in the morning tomorrow, I'm going to see my lawyer to divorce Diane.

I like Diane a lot but I'm not in love with her. She's the perfect future first lady as from birth she was raised for it but I don't want a murderer of my children in my life and when I think about it, maybe she's not the first time she does! I look in the rear view mirror and I see my guards following me behind I got them out of breath today. I arrive in front of the club, I park my car, I stay in the car for a bit and I take a deep breath. My father always told me that a great man never shows his moods, he must not give his adversaries the means to guess his thoughts. I find my two acolytes sipping their cocktail.

Me: Are you already at the end?

We hug each other.

Charbel: Not even, we can't finish without you man.

Me: I'm going to divorce Diane.

Them: What?

Me: My perfect wife is a liar and above all a murderer.

Saturnin: But what did she do to bring you up like that?

Me: While I want to have children, Madame does abortions when she goes abroad.

Charbel (surprised): Oh no, are you kidding there, brother?

Me: I have the face of a person who jokes? And you know I never take diamond if I'm not mad.

Saturnin: I understand you. Really, if what she did is true, I have your back.

For Saturnin, a child is a sensitive point because his wife became like that because of her miscarriage and afterwards nothing. They are looking everywhere but no pregnancy. Without their problem, they were going to do it by in vitro.

Charbel: I don't even know what to tell you now.

Saturnin: You know that the elections are in a year so what are you doing?

Me: For the moment the elections are the least of my worries, so why this meeting friends?

Charbel: It concerns our Cotonou and Bohicon branch.

Me: But everything is already in place, isn't it? Unless I missed a chapter.

Saturnin: I'm traveling the day after tomorrow and Charbel has to go to Bohicon so you stay alone for a week.

Me: So what? It's not the first time this has happened.

Charbel: With everything that's happening to you, are you going to manage?

Me: There are people for that, it's not up to me to supervise all his stuff, I know that the inauguration is in a month and I will delegate.

Charbel: Ok you are the one who manages several companies.

Me: Oh no Gerard is there for that, now he has pulled himself together.

Gerard is my little brother, he likes the easy life and drugs so much that he has to be sent to a detox center every time.

Saturnin: Each time he does the same thing.

Charbel: Elvina will oversee what you can't do.

Me: I know she's your girlfriend but I don't want her in my pasta sorry.

Charbel: Don't worry, I know my element. Either way, Luna is coming and I'll see how it goes.

Luna is Charbel's daughter who is 6 years old. She lives in France with her brothel mum.

Saturnin: She's coming for the holidays?

Charbel: Not for good.

We're amazed because Luna's mom thinks her daughter is a way to get rich.

Me: She gives it to you like that?

Charbel: Yes, but I'm going to make her sign the papers, I'm not going to take her like that. It is said to have found a Saudi billionaire yègè-man.

Saturnin: Hallelujah, finally some good news.

Me: And Aurora?

Saturnin (sighs): I think she knows I'm sleeping with Marie Claire but she doesn't say anything. I don't know if our marriage will last another year.

Charbel: That will do Marie Claire's business.

This is our world, soon we will govern this poorly managed country, we will see in a year.

**** Emy Sonon ****

My uncle mistreated me he treated me like in the army. I stayed with him until I was 18. As I was not good at school, I dropped everything after doing the bpec 4 times. Now I'm in Calavi, I live my life, I have my sugar daddy who manages me, I no longer have any news from my family. Since my flight to my uncle, I no longer wanted to be linked with them, they had subscribed me, now I am at home. My man does everything for me, I have a nice house that I rent and I have a car, I also have a cleaning lady, so the life I wanted what, what I miss is a child for complete this beautiful story and be linked for life with my man. This child will be my guarantee. He thinks I'm on the pill or I'm not taking anything but the pregnancy doesn't come. When I had fled to my uncle to arrive in Calavi, I had suffered, I had paid my ticket in kind and had done so in a train car. To survive also in my new city, I had done the same thing. Now who can come and tell me that I've failed? (Laughs) I want to see my parents' faces and especially Judith's to see how I got to the top (burst of laughter), I hear someone knocking on the door.

I do ?

Housewife: Madame, it's 6 p.m. I'm going home.

Yes, it's me who they call madam, me who didn't ask anyone for help, me who doesn't even have the baccalaureate.

Me: You gave his food to Jean (caretaker)?

Housewife: Yes madam, the table is also made.

Me: Ok see you tomorrow.

Housewife: Mrs......

Me (exasperated): What else is there?

Housewife: The ticket madam.

Me: Honestly I don't understand, you eat here, I pay you 60,000 francs and now you also want me to pay your ticket every day? If you're going to play the pedestrian, my dear, that's not my problem. Soon you will know how to manage your money well. Do you think I have money to throw away? Tchrrrr...

But people like it too easy. With the money that I earn by the sweat of my ass and I'm going to give him gifts but this girl doesn't know me. I take a shower and get comfortable. I'm at the table when I see Roger returned. I'm amazed, he never comes without telling me.

Me: Good evening honey, I didn't know you were coming.

Roger (icy): Yes myself I did not know it.

But what happens?

Me: Honey, is there a problem?

Roger: May I know why you went to see a doctor who excels in fertility?

My heart is starting to beat very hard but how does it know? He makes me follow where what?

Roger (angry): But I'm talking to you, isn't it? Why are you going to see a doctor to have a child?

I start to shake.

Me: That's not all true.

BAM, I'm shocked this is the first time he's laid hands on me and his face has gone blacker. This guy is starting to scare me.

Roger: I'm waiting, I don't like people doing things behind my back.

I look at him with tears in my eyes. But who changed my sugar daddy? My Roger to me is gentle not this violent person in front of me there.

**** Therese Tchedji *****

10 years have passed, and a lot has happened. I now live alone in the house where I lived before. Anita got it all back. The big house and all the privileges. My son Daniel went to look for himself in town and since we had more support from their father, he only takes care of two children he had with Anita. I wanted to try to do as I had done with Solange but it was turning against myself. I don't know what sect she is in. But it's stronger than me. With my beautiful family, we are not like before. Bety left our group and no longer lives in our village. They went north. My youngest child does the fields and it is he who feeds me.

Without him, I was going to starve even my family turned their backs on me because I don't know who told my father the truth about Solange's death. I'm paralyzed on the right side because of the disappearance of my daughter. I don't have any news, I don't know if she's alive or dead, but her father doesn't care. Regarding the other, no more news, I had been looking for her everywhere but Judith disappeared from my radar. It is because of her that I live as a poor person and above all destitute. It is because of her that I lost my children. It's because of her that I disgust my husband but it's not over until I make her pay, even if I'm going to lose my life, I will. Everyone thinks I'm finished but I'm just recovering all the strength to hit well. I'm not afraid of people.

**** Judith Sena Sonon ****

Me (shouting): For how many people?

Eli: For 200 people.

Me: We can't accept that, we don't even have time to do it.

Credo: Why are you panicking like this? We're going to handle it's our big order this year and that money is going to help a lot with Eli's license and what you know.

Yes you heard right Eli is going to support for his license, he is now 23 years old. He worked hard to get there and we are proud of him. Let me summarize the last ten years for you. Grandma Martine had died in her sleep 3 years after our arrival. We had spent all our savings on the funeral and we had started working hard again. We had deprived ourselves of many things to at least go to university. As soon as we got our license with the little money we saved, we found a rundown house in town that we rented for a bread butcher. We had started selling food. Eli had sold his half plot, so we are only using a half plot. Now we do catering, we rent out our little restaurant for weddings, christenings, all kinds of events, and now she's just taken an order from a classy company. The inauguration of an oil company I believe, in a week, which is really tight, we are more than united, no one has done anything stupid, we continue our way slowly but surely.

Me: Did you start by writing your CV for your internship?

Eli: We are only at the beginning no, I will do it by the middle of the year I promise.

Credo: Oh no you have to do it now. You yourself saw how we had suffered with Judith to have this internship, fortunately this gentleman had helped us.

Eli: Why wouldn't he make for the funniest little brother in the world?

Credo: Do you want his wife to come and make noise for us here again? No thanks.

Me: I know your problem is making a cv that bothers you I'll help you lazy.

Eli (laughs): Not even. In this house, I alone work hard.

I'm grateful, even though we're not rich, we did what we could without selling our souls to the devil or doing prostitution. We worked really hard, now we are fired and the past is buried.

Credo: I have to prepare the stuff for tomorrow. Eli, can you go and give the food to the construction workers in front of the central town hall?

Which is good, our little restaurant is in town and we have customers, but what brings us a lot is the catering service. We're saving so Eli can go abroad to do his master's, he himself doesn't know it will be our surprise and gift for his 25th birthday, he's 23 at the moment.

Eli: I can't do it, I have class in 20 minutes.

Me: I'll do it, can you be alone?

Crédo is still traumatized by her viola so we don't rush her too much. I take the wheelbarrow I put everything and as soon as I arrive, the guys from the construction site help me to transport the food.

Voice (furious): May I know what you are doing here?

I turn and stare at a tall, intimidating man with other people all in costume like in a mobster movie.

Unknown (freezing): This is no place to come looking for men.

But what's gotten into this idiot?

Me: If you're used to prostitutes, that's your problem because it shows that you condemn what you love. That said, goodbye.

Everyone was amazed. They look at me with horror, but why do they look at me as if I made a sacrilege! I turn my back on them and go back to the restaurant.