CHANGING UNDER YOUR NOSE

CHANGING UNDER YOUR NOSE
JULIANA, 15, is unaware that she has budded into a mature young woman with all the beauty and curves that will make a man look again. This knowledge is first brought to her notice when a group of masons looking out for hirers bombard her with chants that say she was the hottest thing in the world. Later in the mall that evening, a funny, forty-four year old extols her form in lines that totally subdues her. All that she ever wants now is to be with this man.
She is happy and continues to be at home, even when she discovers that CHIEDU didn’t come perfect. She yields into doing his diseases: his cigar, his drinks and his bed. She grows into addiction. She would rip anyone who tries to deny her this exciting, new life.
MARGARET, Juliana’s seatmate, chaste and pretty was the first to get a hint at what was happening in Juliana’s life. Searching in Juliana’s bag for a pen to use one school day, her fingers cling unto one. On withdrawing her hand however, she discovers that it was a cigarette. Stunned, she drops it, grateful that Juliana didn’t noticed. But Margaret is not the type to keep quiet on things like this.
At home, she reports the incidence to her mother, ROSALINE. Rosaline is a popular columnist who tackles juvenile delinquency issues. Despite Margaret’s pleas, Rosaline comes to school to report the case to the principal, MRS. MENSAH. Juliana is cautioned, a new seatmate, MUSA given to her. But she would not let it end there. Seething with revenge she poisons Margaret’s food and takes her life away.
The long arm of the law catches up with her in time. At the detention centre where she was held, Chiedu visits to meet Juliana’s father who used to be an old time high school pal...
Chiedu owes a last obligation to Juliana despite. The magistrate in charge is a fellow member of his Church Governing Council. With his influence, Juliana is released to her parents.
Home is not where she wants to be, however. Her father had resigned work to ‘police’ her. Her mother’s nagging and preaching will not cease. Once presented with the chance, she escapes to Chiedu’s place again.
She discovers that he had long moved on, to other women, with other women. She recalls the long phone calls he had received in her presence from the past. This did not start today. After a fit of violence, she deserts him.
She throws up, days later and her mother calls it ‘morning sickness’. She was pregnant. For Chiedu. Her religious mother turns the house into a living hell. She cannot bear the house. She cannot go back to Chiedu. She has to find somewhere else.
She lands in Musa’s house seeking revenge against Chiedu. She gets it through Musa's brother who is the leader of a large gang of thieves. But the house is filled with lustful men (and other battles) that loops her in.
It’s Rosaline that comes to the rescue despite the fact that Juliana killed her daughter. She turns deaf ears to Mrs. Mensah who only wants justice for the life of her darling pupil, and a soldier, MAJOR ARISE who was a father to Margaret since she lost hers. Rosaline holds on to forgiving and letting go.
She takes the chance to rehabilitate Juliana. She makes her see that her life was not to be lived to the manipulation of any manfriend. She tackles the smoking and drinking habits strategically and helps her overcome it. She introduces Juliana to books quite bigger than her, opening her eyes to what real worth and meaning was in the process.
She plans her 18th year anniversary to be grand. She has added one more feather to her cap. She has transformed one more life. Juliana was to deliver a speech to thousands of youths in a large stadium. Just as she started garnering ovation from the crowd, Major Arise rides in amongst a line of police cars. 
Juliana was an adult. The law has no excuse now. This was just the right time to make her pay for her sins, especially the sin of snuffing life from Margaret, his goddaughter, Rosaline’s daughter.