Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 1
The mesh of voices delivering the happy birthday song jolted Imade back to the present. One of her guests – Mena – was showing off her voice whil…
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24 episodes
Forty and Counting
Begin at episode one, or return to the chapter that has been waiting for you.
Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 2
The lobby at Babangida hospital was freshly-painted nude walls, narrow space lined with metal chairs and frames of smiling babies, old men and pr…
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Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 3
Oluwole & Oluwole was one of the top corporate law firms in Abuja; top on Imade’s Top Law Firms in Abuja list when she got back from her Master’s…
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Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 4
“Yvonne? Can we talk? I have to tell you something.” Imade’s voice was gentle, prodding. “Yvonne,” she called again. This time Yvonne looked up f…
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Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 5
The boyish grin on his face was irresistible and his three-day-old stubble added to his charm; so even though Imade knew she shouldn’t let him in…
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Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 6
The rest of that week, Imade could not get Lamide’s proposal out of her head. Every time she picked her phone to read or check her social media a…
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Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 7
It was Olive Imade hugged first when she met them at the door. Pretty, vivacious Olive who wrapped herself around Imade, like a branch clutching…
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Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 8
After Yvonne and Olive left that evening, Imade didn’t feel up to going out with Mena anymore. What she had wanted to talk to Mena about had alre…
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Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 9
“We have a project that we think you are the perfect person to oversee,” Mrs Ajayi said. “Is it church project?” Imade asked. “No, my dear. It is…
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Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Countinge Episode 10
Benin was demure in a way Abuja wasn’t. There were no men in flashy sports cars zigzagging through the streets, intimidating other road users. So…
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Uncategorized · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 11
Mrs Osakwe’s ‘office’ was a small space carved out in the common room area, with wooden boards demarcating it from the rest of the room and givin…
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Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 12
Smallie had changed, and Imade couldn’t stop stealing glances at the grown man who sat opposite her in the hotel’s restaurant. “What?” he asked,…
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Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 13
Imade had not been sleeping well. And she knew why. It had been three days since she last saw Pastor Dapo, since she almost had an unnecessary br…
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Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 14
Service over, Imade remained seated, unwilling to leave before speaking to Dapo. Intent on dropping the burden on her heart. Through the service,…
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Uncategorized · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 15
DAPO When Dapo had suggested an ‘apology’ lunch, it had been a joke. At first. But the more he thought about it. The more he realized he would lo…
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Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 16
The bad thing happened, but it didn’t happen until a day to the outreach. It didn’t happen until other tiny, good things happened in Imade’s life…
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Uncategorized · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 17
The atmosphere was rife with tension, fear, and accusations. Mrs Osakwe had hidden herself in her office after calling Imade to tell her about La…
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Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 18
“You can’t leave Benin now,” Mrs Ajayi said to Imade on the phone, the next day. “I can’t imagine how chaotic it is over there. What are the poli…
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Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 19
It was 6am when Imade’s phone rang and Mrs Osakwe cried hysterically that the police had called her to the station. “I don’t want to go alone,” s…
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Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 20
Dapo went on his knees in his office, his hands thrown up in gratitude. “Thank you, Father. Oh, thank you!” It was big victories like these that…
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Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 21
Imade had never been great at handling big emotions, mostly because when growing up, her parents were big on poker faces, so much so that even if…
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Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 22
Imade was due to return to Abuja in two days. Mixed feelings were running through her, she had missed Abuja, but she loved who she was in Benin.…
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Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Episode 23
They were in her kitchen – Yvonne had convinced her to come over so they could try their hands on a new carrot cake recipe she had found online.…
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Fiction · Dec 31, 2023
Forty and Counting Finale
SIX WEEKS LATER Imade felt familiar emotions churn up in her as she boarded an airport taxi from the Benin airport. She couldn’t believe how much…
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