Thanks for the mention missmossy. Where are my everywhere you go squad? Dandypearl Sageez donkross1.

heemah:
Thanks for the mention missmossy. Where are my everywhere you go squad? Dandypearl Sageez donkross1.

Hey you how have u been longest time ND hope u rmmba dis guy?

Wow! I never knew Missmossy is a squad commander. I dey your side o

orlaryhincah:

Hey you how have u been longest time ND hope u rmmba dis guy?

Sure! How have u been? Longest tym oo

heemah:

Sure! How have u been? Longest tym oo

Been good. Missed seeing ur face thoo

Chapter 10 b
‘My stomach is upset ‘ I had complained to Dr. Imoi the moment we set on our way ‘
‘I hope you have not taken too many combinations in the party ‘ he asked after he looked at me a little and then held his steering more tightly.
I shook my head amidst a wreath. He perceived I was in pain. Even if I wasn’t, the thought alone that Scorpion may have recognised me at the party was enough to send a rumble into my bowels! Something I had not bargained for.. He pulled off the road.
‘do we get to the nearest pharmacy or you manage to the hospital since that’s where we are going?’ He had asked with some compassion.
‘sir, I think I need to get home. It has happened to me like this before. If I can just get home and sleep. I know I ‘ll be okay.’ He looked at me a little sad. It was quite obvious he was already making good use of my company. He was beginning to like me.
‘okay if you say so.’ He had smiled while I thanked him and quietly got down from the car. ‘No matter what, try and see me by tomorrow. There are some things we need to talk about.’ He smiled. ‘Thank you sir ‘ I replied as he once again, engaged his gears and started to go ‘take care ‘ he cautioned as he drove away. When he left, I was beginning to rehearse how I was going to fight the battle before me. I really regretted not telling Scorpion all about me before then. If Scorpion knew I was the one in the party, he would never trust me again. I thought my stay with him was not going to be long initially, but it had all changed. I sat down by the convert by the road side to figure out what I was going to do. I also knew that somehow, when I would Dr. Imoi the following day, were most likely going to talk extensively about father. Something I had desired for more than four years. But why should I let scorpions sight bother me when what I had been looking for was just within my reach.

Suddenly, an idea occurred to me. The solution was to get home before Scorpion and deny ever knowing any body like Prof Haruna let alone attending any party, but it was already getting late. I should have taken that decision earlier on such I would out run Scorpion. But I didn’t yet have any choice than just to try

I managed to get myself to our street about an hour later. I entered into our close with my heart pumping much more than normal lest by any chance Scorpion should have reached home before me. I was moving forward and forward and forward until I could see the gate. If it was not locked from outside, then Scorpion was back! As I got closer, I had discovered to my sorrow that the gate was locked from inside. I was terrified. For the next few minutes that followed, I was missing my steps as my stomach churned in anxiety. I stood and began to think of what to do.
After some few minutes of confusion, an idea had occurred to me. I turned back immediately and headed for the chemist. Even if Scorpion was back, I could still deny I was not the one he saw if I can change the clothes I was wearing. Good enough, they had never seen the clothes I wore that day on me.
I got back to the tarred Road and luckily I was able to get some okirika clothes to buy and I immediately changed into them before I went to buy some jelosine from the chemist. It was not difficult for me to put on the countenance of a sick person since I was already worried. I went back home.
I moved timidly forward and knocked at the gate. It was always locked. There was no response. I knocked again and again until someone shouted from within
‘who’s there? ‘
‘Hilary ‘ I had responded. I knew the voice. It was Rufus’s From the way he talked, he was drunk again. I gained some confidence at last and moved in when he managed to come to open the door. He was alone at home, and I knew he must have got home drunk, so he couldn’t have really noticed that I was not at home unless someone had come to drop him. I was relived immediately for a while as I began to plan how I was going face Scorpion when eventually he returned and he actually saw me at the venue.


******************************************************************************









It was almost dark when it started drizzling. Well, it was not a serious one because normally, rains are not expected in December. I opened the blinds to look out into the compound and I remembered mother. It has been 4 months and two weeks since I left Abuja. I had promised her I was going to return in three days but the three days was almost becoming five months . At least I knew how much she needed me to get along. I was beginning to feel guilty. I had made promises after promises that I was going to return to her soon, but I knew I was never going to return until could see very his friend off after a very long discussion. At the same time I was still apprehensive of her in one way or the other. I had not forgotten what made me to leave. If mother was actually a witch responsible for our ordeal as Beauty claim, I was going to know the truth before I ever thought of going back. Besides, the promises of help that scorpion has made to me and Dr. Imoi’s gesture of securing change of choice form for me were all indications I was never going to return.

Several raindrops splattered on the plastic window hood at about the end of twilight. At the same time, I was worried for Dr. Imoi. It seems the patient at the hospital is really close to him. Else while would they have to call him. It was my thoughts to try to arrange another audience with him. I must now put all this worry about father behind me and move on, but I must have to vindicate mother first. That’s why I needed Dr. Imoi.
After a few minutes, I heard some sound around the gate and I got up to look out. Yes! Scorpion was back! He had entered the house with one of his friends. At that moment Rufus had woken up. Scorpion did not ask me any questions. He was just himself and preoccupied with the chat with his friend. I was getting nervous again. I was putting one or two things together as to why Scorpion had not asked me any questions because I knew he saw me at the party. I was beginning to feel sleepy. Not long after then I had slept off.


Much later in the night, I was no longer deeply asleep as I had been. I was half asleep and half awake. I couldn’t help wondering why Scorpion had not confronted me about Prof Haruna’s party of which I’m quite sure he knew I was the one. I stood up from the bed and I was hearing a tense argument in low tunes. I looked up at the wallflower. It was sliding gradually to midnight. The rood door had not been closed so I could tiptoe into the verandah where I could here them clearly.
‘That man na mumu now!’ a voice had spoken. ‘Na so im dey be. If you be mumu, you die.
‘Hahaha’ another voice laughed hysterically.
‘Na when we go hit that shief Alabi nah? The mystery voice had asked ‘That one na tomorrow nah!’ Scorpion’s voice had responded. I was putting things together. When I saw Scorpion’s at the party, I was beginning to conclude that they might actually be policemen until this eventual unfortunate discussion. ‘I’m finished’ I said within my heart. Quickly, I walked in another tiptoe back to my room. I was beginning to quake in anxiety. ‘Who really are this guy’s that I unfortunately found myself in their midst. . I had asked my self again. From that night, I started parking my things stylishly and looking for the best excuse I was going to give to everyone just to leave them behind.
That night scorpion never asked me about the party. He had assumed I was sleeping after all. When I was able to calm myself again by thinking about silence, I was able to sleep off.
I woke up the following morning with so much hesitation to open my eyes. I was thinking about so many things. After an intense battle in my mind, I finally decided to open my eyes. I opened one of my eyes first and I was startled a little by what looked like a shadow. I summoned up courage and opened the other eye, and alas! There he was standing by my bedside as I dreamed the morning twilight away. I wanted to say ‘good’, but my mouth was pressed together by the horror of seeing his face.

Chapter 10 b

‘My stomach is upset ‘ I had complained to Dr. Imoi the moment we set on our way ‘
‘I hope you have not taken too many combinations in the party ‘ he asked after he looked at me a little and then held his steering more tightly.
I shook my head amidst a wreath. He perceived I was in pain. Even if I wasn’t, the thought alone that Scorpion may have recognised me at the party was enough to send a rumble into my bowels! Something I had not bargained for.. He pulled off the road.
‘do we get to the nearest pharmacy or you manage to the hospital since that’s where we are going?’ He had asked with some compassion.
‘sir, I think I need to get home. It has happened to me like this before. If I can just get home and sleep. I know I ‘ll be okay.’ He looked at me a little sad. It was quite obvious he was already making good use of my company. He was beginning to like me.
‘okay if you say so.’ He had smiled while I thanked him and quietly got down from the car. ‘No matter what, try and see me by tomorrow. There are some things we need to talk about.’ He smiled. ‘Thank you sir ‘ I replied as he once again, engaged his gears and started to go ‘take care ‘ he cautioned as he drove away. When he left, I was beginning to rehearse how I was going to fight the battle before me. I really regretted not telling Scorpion all about me before then. If Scorpion knew I was the one in the party, he would never trust me again. I thought my stay with him was not going to be long initially, but it had all changed. I sat down by the convert by the road side to figure out what I was going to do. I also knew that somehow, when I would Dr. Imoi the following day, were most likely going to talk extensively about father. Something I had desired for more than four years. But why should I let scorpions sight bother me when what I had been looking for was just within my reach.

Suddenly, an idea occurred to me. The solution was to get home before Scorpion and deny ever knowing any body like Prof Haruna let alone attending any party, but it was already getting late. I should have taken that decision earlier on such I would out run Scorpion. But I didn’t yet have any choice than just to try

I managed to get myself to our street about an hour later. I entered into our close with my heart pumping much more than normal lest by any chance Scorpion should have reached home before me. I was moving forward and forward and forward until I could see the gate. If it was not locked from outside, then Scorpion was back! As I got closer, I had discovered to my sorrow that the gate was locked from inside. I was terrified. For the next few minutes that followed, I was missing my steps as my stomach churned in anxiety. I stood and began to think of what to do.
After some few minutes of confusion, an idea had occurred to me. I turned back immediately and headed for the chemist. Even if Scorpion was back, I could still deny I was not the one he saw if I can change the clothes I was wearing. Good enough, they had never seen the clothes I wore that day on me.
I got back to the tarred Road and luckily I was able to get some okirika clothes to buy and I immediately changed into them before I went to buy some jelosine from the chemist. It was not difficult for me to put on the countenance of a sick person since I was already worried. I went back home.
I moved timidly forward and knocked at the gate. It was always locked. There was no response. I knocked again and again until someone shouted from within
‘who’s there? ‘
‘Hilary ‘ I had responded. I knew the voice. It was Rufus’s From the way he talked, he was drunk again. I gained some confidence at last and moved in when he managed to come to open the door. He was alone at home, and I knew he must have got home drunk, so he couldn’t have really noticed that I was not at home unless someone had come to drop him. I was relived immediately for a while as I began to plan how I was going face Scorpion when eventually he returned and he actually saw me at the venue.


******************************************************************************









It was almost dark when it started drizzling. Well, it was not a serious one because normally, rains are not expected in December. I opened the blinds to look out into the compound and I remembered mother. It has been 4 months and two weeks since I left Abuja. I had promised her I was going to return in three days but the three days was almost becoming five months . At least I knew how much she needed me to get along. I was beginning to feel guilty. I had made promises after promises that I was going to return to her soon, but I knew I was never going to return until could see very his friend off after a very long discussion. At the same time I was still apprehensive of her in one way or the other. I had not forgotten what made me to leave. If mother was actually a witch responsible for our ordeal as Beauty claim, I was going to know the truth before I ever thought of going back. Besides, the promises of help that scorpion has made to me and Dr. Imoi’s gesture of securing change of choice form for me were all indications I was never going to return.

Several raindrops splattered on the plastic window hood at about the end of twilight. At the same time, I was worried for Dr. Imoi. It seems the patient at the hospital is really close to him. Else while would they have to call him. It was my thoughts to try to arrange another audience with him. I must now put all this worry about father behind me and move on, but I must have to vindicate mother first. That’s why I needed Dr. Imoi.
After a few minutes, I heard some sound around the gate and I got up to look out. Yes! Scorpion was back! He had entered the house with one of his friends. At that moment Rufus had woken up. Scorpion did not ask me any questions. He was just himself and preoccupied with the chat with his friend. I was getting nervous again. I was putting one or two things together as to why Scorpion had not asked me any questions because I knew he saw me at the party. I was beginning to feel sleepy. Not long after then I had slept off.


Much later in the night, I was no longer deeply asleep as I had been. I was half asleep and half awake. I couldn’t help wondering why Scorpion had not confronted me about Prof Haruna’s party of which I’m quite sure he knew I was the one. I stood up from the bed and I was hearing a tense argument in low tunes. I looked up at the wallflower. It was sliding gradually to midnight. The rood door had not been closed so I could tiptoe into the verandah where I could here them clearly.
‘That man na mumu now!’ a voice had spoken. ‘Na so im dey be. If you be mumu, you die.
‘Hahaha’ another voice laughed hysterically.
‘Na when we go hit that shief Alabi nah? The mystery voice had asked ‘That one na tomorrow nah!’ Scorpion’s voice had responded. I was putting things together. When I saw Scorpion’s at the party, I was beginning to conclude that they might actually be policemen until this eventual unfortunate discussion. ‘I’m finished’ I said within my heart. Quickly, I walked in another tiptoe back to my room. I was beginning to quake in anxiety. ‘Who really are this guy’s that I unfortunately found myself in their midst. . I had asked my self again. From that night, I started parking my things stylishly and looking for the best excuse I was going to give to everyone just to leave them behind.
That night scorpion never asked me about the party. He had assumed I was sleeping after all. When I was able to calm myself again by thinking about silence, I was able to sleep off.
I woke up the following morning with so much hesitation to open my eyes. I was thinking about so many things. After an intense battle in my mind, I finally decided to open my eyes. I opened one of my eyes first and I was startled a little by what looked like a shadow. I summoned up courage and opened the other eye, and alas! There he was standing by my bedside as I dreamed the morning twilight away. I wanted to say ‘good’, but my mouth was pressed together by the horror of seeing his face.

‘chapter 10 b
My stomach is upset ‘ I had complained to Dr. Imoi the moment we set on our way ‘
‘I hope you have not taken too many combinations in the party ‘ he asked after he looked at me a little and then held his steering more tightly.
I shook my head amidst a wreath. He perceived I was in pain. Even if I wasn’t, the thought alone that Scorpion may have recognised me at the party was enough to send a rumble into my bowels! Something I had not bargained for.. He pulled off the road.
‘do we get to the nearest pharmacy or you manage to the hospital since that’s where we are going?’ He had asked with some compassion.
‘sir, I think I need to get home. It has happened to me like this before. If I can just get home and sleep. I know I ‘ll be okay.’ He looked at me a little sad. It was quite obvious he was already making good use of my company. He was beginning to like me.
‘okay if you say so.’ He had smiled while I thanked him and quietly got down from the car. ‘No matter what, try and see me by tomorrow. There are some things we need to talk about.’ He smiled. ‘Thank you sir ‘ I replied as he once again, engaged his gears and started to go ‘take care ‘ he cautioned as he drove away. When he left, I was beginning to rehearse how I was going to fight the battle before me. I really regretted not telling Scorpion all about me before then. If Scorpion knew I was the one in the party, he would never trust me again. I thought my stay with him was not going to be long initially, but it had all changed. I sat down by the convert by the road side to figure out what I was going to do. I also knew that somehow, when I would Dr. Imoi the following day, were most likely going to talk extensively about father. Something I had desired for more than four years. But why should I let scorpions sight bother me when what I had been looking for was just within my reach.

Suddenly, an idea occurred to me. The solution was to get home before Scorpion and deny ever knowing any body like Prof Haruna let alone attending any party, but it was already getting late. I should have taken that decision earlier on such I would out run Scorpion. But I didn’t yet have any choice than just to try

I managed to get myself to our street about an hour later. I entered into our close with my heart pumping much more than normal lest by any chance Scorpion should have reached home before me. I was moving forward and forward and forward until I could see the gate. If it was not locked from outside, then Scorpion was back! As I got closer, I had discovered to my sorrow that the gate was locked from inside. I was terrified. For the next few minutes that followed, I was missing my steps as my stomach churned in anxiety. I stood and began to think of what to do.
After some few minutes of confusion, an idea had occurred to me. I turned back immediately and headed for the chemist. Even if Scorpion was back, I could still deny I was not the one he saw if I can change the clothes I was wearing. Good enough, they had never seen the clothes I wore that day on me.
I got back to the tarred Road and luckily I was able to get some okirika clothes to buy and I immediately changed into them before I went to buy some jelosine from the chemist. It was not difficult for me to put on the countenance of a sick person since I was already worried. I went back home.
I moved timidly forward and knocked at the gate. It was always locked. There was no response. I knocked again and again until someone shouted from within
‘who’s there? ‘
‘Hilary ‘ I had responded. I knew the voice. It was Rufus’s From the way he talked, he was drunk again. I gained some confidence at last and moved in when he managed to come to open the door. He was alone at home, and I knew he must have got home drunk, so he couldn’t have really noticed that I was not at home unless someone had come to drop him. I was relived immediately for a while as I began to plan how I was going face Scorpion when eventually he returned and he actually saw me at the venue.


******************************************************************************









It was almost dark when it started drizzling. Well, it was not a serious one because normally, rains are not expected in December. I opened the blinds to look out into the compound and I remembered mother. It has been 4 months and two weeks since I left Abuja. I had promised her I was going to return in three days but the three days was almost becoming five months . At least I knew how much she needed me to get along. I was beginning to feel guilty. I had made promises after promises that I was going to return to her soon, but I knew I was never going to return until could see very his friend off after a very long discussion. At the same time I was still apprehensive of her in one way or the other. I had not forgotten what made me to leave. If mother was actually a witch responsible for our ordeal as Beauty claim, I was going to know the truth before I ever thought of going back. Besides, the promises of help that scorpion has made to me and Dr. Imoi’s gesture of securing change of choice form for me were all indications I was never going to return.

Several raindrops splattered on the plastic window hood at about the end of twilight. At the same time, I was worried for Dr. Imoi. It seems the patient at the hospital is really close to him. Else while would they have to call him. It was my thoughts to try to arrange another audience with him. I must now put all this worry about father behind me and move on, but I must have to vindicate mother first. That’s why I needed Dr. Imoi.
After a few minutes, I heard some sound around the gate and I got up to look out. Yes! Scorpion was back! He had entered the house with one of his friends. At that moment Rufus had woken up. Scorpion did not ask me any questions. He was just himself and preoccupied with the chat with his friend. I was getting nervous again. I was putting one or two things together as to why Scorpion had not asked me any questions because I knew he saw me at the party. I was beginning to feel sleepy. Not long after then I had slept off.


Much later in the night, I was no longer deeply asleep as I had been. I was half asleep and half awake. I couldn’t help wondering why Scorpion had not confronted me about Prof Haruna’s party of which I’m quite sure he knew I was the one. I stood up from the bed and I was hearing a tense argument in low tunes. I looked up at the wallflower. It was sliding gradually to midnight. The rood door had not been closed so I could tiptoe into the verandah where I could here them clearly.
‘That man na mumu now!’ a voice had spoken. ‘Na so im dey be. If you be mumu, you die.
‘Hahaha’ another voice laughed hysterically.
‘Na when we go hit that shief Alabi nah? The mystery voice had asked ‘That one na tomorrow nah!’ Scorpion’s voice had responded. I was putting things together. When I saw Scorpion’s at the party, I was beginning to conclude that they might actually be policemen until this eventual unfortunate discussion. ‘I’m finished’ I said within my heart. Quickly, I walked in another tiptoe back to my room. I was beginning to quake in anxiety. ‘Who really are this guy’s that I unfortunately found myself in their midst. . I had asked my self again. From that night, I started parking my things stylishly and looking for the best excuse I was going to give to everyone just to leave them behind.
That night scorpion never asked me about the party. He had assumed I was sleeping after all. When I was able to calm myself again by thinking about silence, I was able to sleep off.
I woke up the following morning with so much hesitation to open my eyes. I was thinking about so many things. After an intense battle in my mind, I finally decided to open my eyes. I opened one of my eyes first and I was startled a little by what looked like a shadow. I summoned up courage and opened the other eye, and alas! There he was standing by my bedside as I dreamed the morning twilight away. I wanted to say ‘good’, but my mouth was pressed together by the horror of seeing his face.

Chapter 11
The True Colour of Sunrise
The sun rose earlier than usual on Sunday 4th December painting the horizon with colors of gold. It made me to remember when we had travelled to Dr. Imoi’s villave in 1987. That is where I always saw the true colour of sunrise!The trees were still and the mountains stout beside mud cottages which staggered along the road on brown roofs. Birds perched at will on the moth eaten windows and doors celebrating the serenity of the natural environment with whispers of love songs. Sounds of bongos and maracas filled the air. It was in preparation for the 10 o’clock mass where the Rev. Father was expected at the St. Anthony Catholic Church under the Diocese of Sabongida Ora.
Soon, the hall exploded with worshippers. It had an average capacity. At the same time, there were provisions of shelter made with palm fronds outside the auditorium. It was not too stylish, not quite of an architectural piece but it had a modern design of its time. It was built with mud but later plastered with cement. The roof was that of palm timber obviously sawn into shape with axe, but it was covered with corrugated iron sheets. That was the only time we had met Dr. Imoi’s mother. At first we didn’t know she waz the one until someone mentioned her name. I only knew that an old woman in her seventies sat in one of the pews facing the corrugated sheets. Her hair were totally grey. She looked very different from every other woman seated in the nave. It seemed she had been touched by a little of western civilization than the rest. She was a woman of letters who retried having served the Federal Government of Nigeria in one of the model schools in potiskum. Her husband was one of the national heroes who paid the prize of their lives for the united Nigeria in September of 1969 when their Army.
I was still dreaming tbe morning twilight away when I felt there was someone standing by my bedside. I opened my eyes. Alas, it was scorpion. After some intense struggle, I managed to open my mouth.
‘Good morning sir!’ I greeted him.
‘morning Kekere. Ha nah?
‘fine sir’ I had responded, my heart beating very fast.
‘Make you no forget to close gate as you take do last time o because we dey commot now.
‘ok sir, I had responded as my heart skipped again. He moved forward, stopped and then turned back as if he wanted to say sometbing. But he noticed I was not comfortable with his presence, so he turned again and finally walked out of tbe room
Some few minutes later,he called from outside the house. I looked up at the time.It was 6:30. I moved out. Every body was all ready to go out. Well, it was never my business where they were going. I opened tbe gate for them and watched tbem drive away looking into the distance until they were out of my sight..
I was a out to close the gate back when I saw a blue Mercedes V-boot car driving towards me. I paused and suddenly and hurriedly I tried to close the gate. The car stopped and Dr. Imoi got down. I was getting surprised,I had never seen him in such a luxury car.
‘good morning sir’ I greeted him and before he could respond, Beauty had come down from the car and then Jeffery, her husband.
‘Jeffery had become more wealthy than any body I ever knew!
I was dumb founded. Everything about them had changed
‘Hillary, how are you’
‘I’m fine sir, I had responded.
‘You didn’t even consider it wise to try to locate your sister since you came to Lagos’ he chided. From the expression on Beauty’s face,it wad obvious she was not happy with me.
Dr. Imoi didn’t say a word. But tbere was this look on his face that suggested that ee had more serious issues to deal with. I looked at Beauty’s fa e again and I remembered immediately how we used to quarrel in Abuja. But things had become diffetent and she was now married, so we needed to put tbat childish part of us away.
They asked to see scorpion, but I was so lucky. Scorpion was the last petson I wanted them to meet at that moment.
‘you actually missed yourselves by a hair’s breadth’ I had told them
‘really:’ Jeffery exclaimed ‘anyway, we only wanted to thank him for being so nice’ he maintained
‘oh yes, he is so nice’ Dr. Imoi responded shaking his head
‘Anyway, extend our greetings to him. We will come back to see him later’
‘ok’I had responded but in my mind, I knew that scorpion was never going to get that massage.
‘We will be on our way now’ Jeffery spoke again and I was getting discomforted by Brauty’s silence. I had known she was not happy with me. I had stood beside mother when she got pregnant two years earlier.Anyways, that was by gone.
‘Please can you drezz up and come with me. I have some work you need to do for me’ Dr. Imoi had requested.
‘Sir,I have not had my birth yet’ I had complained to him.
‘No don’t worry, you can bath at my place he assured me


I got down from the vehicle and waved Beauty a goodbye, and then her husband after which I moved into the house as they drove off. Dr. Imoi ushered me in and with a smile, he had gestured me to sit down. I sat quietly in the well cushioned settee in the living room imagining the subject of discourse for which he had sent for me. He was one of the many people I didn’t want to see at the moment but I didn’t have a choice! It was the 9th of March, 1990 and I had thought to my calculations that all my miseries were winding up except that I wanted to see most of my quests to their logical end. Three years earlier, father had died mysteriously leaving us all at the middle of the road where returning was not possible and going forward was a great difficulty.
‘I have been observing you very closely since you came‘ He started to talk to me ‘first of all you lied to your mother that you were going for a scholarship exam. Next you never even cared to ask after your sister no matter what had happened between the two of you in Abuja. Anyway, lets reserve that for another day` He stopped and was shaking his head. I was getting terribly uncomfortable. Dr. Knows so much more that I knew myself and I waz beginning to suspect he might know much about scorpion. I was becoming restless.
‘ I think I understand what you are doing’ he had squinted as he moved to the bar at the corner of the apartment. I watched him as he pulled a bottle and two wine glasses and carefully he began to empty the content of the bottle into the wine glasses as somehow I was getting a little nervous. I believed he saw the gloominess that hung on my face but somehow decided to ignore it to my sorrow. I knew he did not know where I was coming from and I couldn’t tell him either because I felt he would disapprove of it.
The red wine flowed gently into the innocent cups and finally, he lifted one of the glasses with one of his hands while handing me the other with his second hand as he looked at me from above his big goggles that normally rested on his nostrils making one part of them collapse under the enormous weight of the mammoth sight aid. The glasses were special ones I believe. They could still produce some sparkles of superiority despite the liquid content that had made their appearance altogether dull except the parts that were not covered by the drink. I must not allow him to know that I had been crying over Christine. I had told myself. It was in his opinion that I should have gotten over my loss!
‘My friend!’ he called ‘you are trying to take your place at the table of men despite your numerous challenges. I salute your courage.’ I managed to start to take some sips too, at least to create the impression that I was ready to listen to whatever he wanted to say. The atmosphere was getting a little relaxed. The secret angels by the door had kept the roaring demons quiet to create an ambience of peace and tranquility. I had to bottle up my emotions to listen up!
‘What worries me however is the way you have been going about it.’ He continued. I sat up immediately to know what I will say when I am reproved! ‘You see life is a market place, and just as you can’t go there to pick something without something to exchange for it, you can never get anything out of here without exchanging something for it.’ I paused and felt my entire physical embodiment to be sure I was hearing him right.
‘I don’t understand what you mean sir’ I managed to respond at last.
‘My friend!’ he called again after another sip, looking at me with a crooked smile like someone that knows something he is rather not willing to share. ‘If you must get all the answers you are looking for, you must forget about who your father was and the life he lived if it is possible, ignore your mother’s status if it is possible and concentrate on who you are and the life you want to live.’ I looked at him when he finished and I began to wonder why his tone had changed suddenly. For many years he had been totally supportive. For the few years I had lived without father I had believed strongly in him and for the many parts, he had been my inspiration to move on even when everybody thought otherwise, I looked at him as I lacked words to properly deal with the insult I felt I had received. I was beginning to get nervous again. I couldn’t really what was on my mind because he was an elder. There were a thousand conflicting thoughts in my mind.
When I finally came back to myself, I was still holding the wine glass and to my amazement, his own glass was empty. I guess he realized I was not happy with the hard things he was saying to me about father and our entire family. The invitation was no more productive than this realization that I was fighting a futile battle. I felt bad! Later in the day ,he gave me some money with which I had found my way back to Ketu.
I entered the house and all the scenes of that day started playing back in my head. From the time Beauty and her husband had come to tbe time I spent in Dr. Imoi’s house and all the things he said to me. Usually in the evenings, I do not cook unless I’m asked to so that the food would not be wasted. So I holed myzelf up in the room into latenight till I slept off.
Shortly after the clock chimed, I heard a bang on the gate, so I jerked up from sleep. Normally, when Scorpion returned, I hardly knew, but that last night, when they returned, they were all panting I couldn’t understand but I still pretended to be asleep and to my greatest shock, I saw them carrying different types of guns that I was scared but I just had to pretend that I was scared.
‘Kekere da’ Scorpion asked
‘Oti sun’ another voice had responded
There were some little running around the flat and I didn’t understand why. ‘Olokpa owambe olokpa owanbe’ obi had whispered and suddenly, they all brought out their guns, then, I knew there was trouble, so I quietly jumped to my feet and immediately, Rufus grabbed me by my collar and began to drag me to the balcony, and immediately, Scorpion jumped to the star board still holding his gun and switched off the light in the entire house and there was calmness – and darkness
‘You don’t need to hide we will get you wherever you are, the police announced with a mega phone, you better surrender yourself.’
There was absolute silence. I never knew that with that silence while every body was hiding, the policemen had crept into the house.
Suddenly with the headlamp of the police van had flashed into the house and there was partial illumination and almost simultaneousy, there was a gun shot ‘gbaaah’ I shivered at the sound of the gun and several other gunshots followed, and the house which I once cherished as my sanctuary was turned into a battle ground.
At first, the gunshots, where scanty with time, but then Scorpion and Rufus had begun to return fire and bullets were being released by both sides at an amazing frequency. The compound which I once cherished was turned into a battle ground obi grabbed me by my hands and let me down from the balcony the same way a fetcher is let down in a well. I knew the compound terribly well, but it was all dark and the times were perilous – so I don’t know where to turn – I knew the while house was surrounded with police – I asked myself am I going to be caught or killed just like a robber that I was? Hell no! I must have to survive this I told myself. As the gunshots had ceased for a while and another period of silence followed.
After some time I saw the beam of flash light piecing into the dark places of the house and suddenly we heard two gunshots.
‘Gbaaoo, gbaaoo’
“Ah!” some body had screamed after gunshots and I knew it was Scorpion’s voice –
‘Hey, Ah, Hey,’ He continued to groan and I believed in pains!
I saw there was a sudden change in Obi’s composure after Scorpion was hit, from the way he was acting, it was obvious that tension had taken hold of him –
Suddenly, he lifted me and put me over the fence as he held my hands, and luckily for me, the tips of my toes were able to touch the ground but out of imbalance I fell – As I tried to rise, I heard a voice
‘Hold it right there and put up your hands.’ I froze
‘I’m innocent sir, I pleaded –
‘I don’t care! Just put up your hands or else, you are dead! He warned – as he began to move towards me gently. I dropped to my knees raising my hands and with one of his hands he began to reach out for the cuffs hanging on his waist. I could see him clearly, with the lights from the neighbouring compound. He was so gentle and he talked calmly yet looking sternly at me with all passion – with his name tag hanging on his chest. Jude C.O was written.Then I remembered the four policemen that had saved our lives in the village four years earlier – suddenly, I heard another gunshot ‘gbao’ sending some sparks into the dark, both of us were terribly shocked, but I heard him groan a little as though he was in pains I couldn’t understand, and then slowly, the gun he had pointed at me fell to the ground and then slowly, he dropped on his knees and fell with his face to the ground – After he dropped, Obi suddenly appeared behind him, and gestured me to come over. I was furious! But I didn’t have any choice than to follow him, else, I would be killed like a robber. He held me and we both jumped into the gutter and we began to travel underground in mud and some terribly something sewage. At times he had to practically swim in deep gutters until finally we got out looking like someone had just enter a soaker way. We walked into the bush. It seemed he knew the terrain so well. We walked into the bush and we saw a river. He quickly jumped inside and began to swim away. That was the last I ever saw of him
What was left for me was to wash myself and walk away – I didn’t have any idea of time but it was already dawn. With my clothes still wet and smelly, I had moved into the street to look for where I could sit and mourn.
Good to it, it didn’t take long before my clothes where fully dried though they were still a little smelly. My next challenge was how to get to Dr. Imoi’s house. That was the only place I could go, but I had no money on me. As usual, I had gone to bed without any money on me!.
Towards afternoon, I move closer to the woman selling peanuts by the road side and explained to her that I was stranded, she felt pity and gave me N1 with which I was able to get back to Anthony. I was rehearsing in my mind what I was going to explain to Dr. Imoi, I’m s…, I was involved in accident, I was kidnapped! A lot of things came to my mind. God knows, with the Armageddon I saw the pervious night, I could never return to Scorpion’s house. I could be finished.
I moved timidly forward as I approached Dr. Imoi’s apartment. I discovered to my dismay that my heart was panting as I drew Close to the entrance. The compound was looking strange, canopies, different faces and the small of well formulated stew championed the air. It seemed a party was going to take place – the hunger that was befitting was terribly subdued because I still remembered I had a smell handing around me –
I closed my mind and I opened the door after I heard a voice from within inviting me to come inside.

I wish nairalanders happy easter with this chapter. Please help me with ur comments so i know where to improve. Missmossy, missmalia, donkross1, repogirl,ironkurtain, heemah, dandy and the rezt

Keep it coming,kudos.

Missmossy:
Keep it coming,kudos.

Thanks missmossy

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