Several months ago "SQUEAK. SQUEAK."That was the evil rat again. I don't need to be told. My eyelids shook firstly, and reluctantly before they paved way for my deep brown pupils.The squeak of the rat came again. Not from under my cupboard, nor in the midst of the sacs where I put my clothes. But close to my ears. The chattering and hissing were like a devilish hymn.Now you know why I call the rat evil. At least, some rats I've known, have some reason of responsibility, reasoning and belonging. They know their places. But this blackish brown huge rat in my single room had no fear of God, let alone a fear of me.Or isn't it obvious? If he does fear me, would it be close to my ears making such wierd noise? You know, a way to look at it is that, the rat is the natural alarm which I don't have to pay for. Because it does wake me every morning. Which had plunged me into a dilemma, whether to be grateful to it or seek its downfall. Becau

At home."I seriously don't know what reply to give to her. Isn't it wierd that a guy me like is a virgin, and if Iya Dare hears about it, Jesu ma sokale."I said to Kola who was seated next to me on a wooden bench at the front of my FACE ME I SLAP YOU. This type of house is typical of buildings in trafficked places in my country. It's built thus; a long lone house which has several rooms facing each other and are divided by a passage. The Landlord (owner) might build twelves rooms, six on the right and six on the left, divided by a passage.Everyone who lives in that house share the same toilet and bathroom and kitchen. And there are a whole of mess going on. Backbiting and treachery and witchery and hatred and jealousy. For the sake of fuck, how could you be jealous of someone living in such a place?But don't be surprised, even my best friend, Kola, had wronged me many times but I've forgiven me. He had snatched a lot of my opportunities but as a good

Few weeks later. Dare."Stick around for a while then in two hours time, close for the day."My boss addressed, on his laps was the secretary I already told you about. At first, he had known too well to hide it from us, but now, he had brought his adultery to work. Even though he already had two kids and wife. Kids who were not doing fine financially. I have no idea why someone could be so inconsequential to give what would sustain his family to a side chick. Pleasing a sidekick at the detriment of his own family. How dumb."Do you want to join us?"He nudged me back into reality. Oops. Why was I still standing there?"Sorry. I'll go now."I turned and walked towards the door."Goodbye, Dare."I heard the secretary call. I didn't want to turn to her but twould be nothing but an insult since she was the mistress of my boss.I turned to her and nodded, but then she winked seductively at me. I turned away immediately and wa

    At the beach   ~Dare Ofegu~"I want to do a lot of crazy things, Lara."I said, looking at the endless water ahead of us. I could see the waves lapping and crashing, the hankering horizon with crazed connection with the clouds, an inexplicable natural advances. I've never heard the call of the seagulls as seen in the movies. Well, that isn't actually my headache at the moment. I took a glance at her, her eyes pacing my face. I have no idea what she was thinking. But I knew she would be wondering why I had brought her to the beach for the first time. Which she didn't know would be the last. You know, it's somewhat a juvenile knack here that when you visit the beach with a lady, you have a nasty thought. For example, when you take a lady to a hotel or brothel, what other explanation is there to make?But even I don't know my stance at that moment. There are a lot of assorted thoughts struggling to dominate

     Lekki.    ~Dare Ofegu~"What are you going to California for? You won't put your mother in the darkness of it all, would you?"I had tried to avoid her gaze in the first place but there is no use anymore. She wasn't the type to be beaten so easily. I knew my mother too well, she wouldn't stop until she had gotten to the root of the matter, believe me. Or better still, you can see for yourself. "We already had this discussion, mom. I got an offer to work with a company over there. You know that I write poetry, so one of the companies in California read one of my poems on allpoetry.com and wanted to meet me in person. I have been postponing it but now that uncle is ready to help, why should I let the opportunity slip off my palms?"I quit talking but the stare she was wearing said it all. She was not ready to give in, I could bet on my life. Then she said,"I had a dream."I stood up at once and