"Uncle Ken, uncle ken, Anabel ran on high speed, as one competing in the Olympics and grabbed ken's waist where her height got to. "It has started coming out. My pumpkin has started coming out. I can now be your wife so that you will buy candles for me every day", She bawls out all excited in a single breath. That was my 7 years old daughter, Anabel speaking to Ken, a young man who lives two yards away from ours. Ken was friendly with everyone, especially the kids in the neighbourhood as he often shares candles and biscuits with them on his way back from work. But why my daughter was so excited remained a mystery to me. Or what she meant by her pumpkin coming out. I listened to know what Ken's response would be but he bent and whispered to her, maybe so I don't hear, gave her a high-five, smiled and walked away. Anabel, do you have a pumpkin? I asked when she walked back to me on the veranda. "Not yet mum but it's about coming out", she replied blushing "Wow, and you didn't tell me, your mummy about your pumpkin?" "Because you have never asked or talked about your pumpkin to me. Am sure it's Dad you do show your pumpkin to". "Do I have pumpkin too?" "Mommy, you don't know? Why will dad marry you if you don't have pumpkin?" "Ahh! Where's your pumpkin let me see". " It's not out yet mom", she said dragging her top down to reveal her chest." Mommy let me see your own, she bounced on me, trying to expose my breast, and I stared at her dumbfounded. Who told my little Anabel that the breast is pumpkin? What relationship does pumpkin have with marriage for her to ask why her dad married me if I don't have pumpkin? For how long have my little girl harboured such fallacy in her brain? All these and more I pondered upon, yet got no reasonable answer to any. Ann my darling, who told you that it is called pumpkin? Uncle Ken told me Did he tell you it makes someone marry? Yes, he said I will be his wife when my pumpkin comes out and he will buy candy for me every day. Has he touched your pumpkin before? Yes, but don't tell anyone because uncle ken said he won't buy anything for me if I tell anyone. I was furious. Why should ken mislead kids that are in a position to be his. And am sure Ann wasn't his only prey. Ann darling, hope you know that mommy loves you and will never lie to you. You are mommy's best friend and will be forever. Hope you know that? Yes, mommy. Knowing I have gained her full attention, I went further. I want you to know that this (pointing at her breast) is not called a pumpkin. it is your breast and will come when you grow older. Breast is one of the things that makes a girl different from a boy. And no one is meant to touch it. When you grow and become like mommy, you will marry, bear children and feed them with your breast just like you fed in mine. You must not allow anyone to touch because when do, one, it is a bad thing and two, it can make you have diseases like cancer when you grow up. Do you understand? Yes, mom. This is not just about my daughter, Ann but a thousand other girl children out there whose innocence has been taken advantage of by older male adults. As a parent, it is paramount to pay close attention to every child, be it male or female, as evil grows at a rapid rate in society daily. Are they playing over-familiarity with strangers? watch out Too much closeness with adults of the opposite sex especially in the hidden, watch out. When you no longer understand your little girl/boy, especially your choice of words, watch out. Parenting is not just about providing a child's basic needs but more about guiding and ensuring they are safe from social vices. And it's not what one can do by strength or might, pray fervently for your wads. The days are evil but the fervent prayer of the virtuous shall prevail.