I left the burial ground with a heavy heart. The mourners were all walking out of the cemetery looking back at Uncle Ben's grave. I couldn't stop thinking about death and its power to take anyone at will. It was a thing of surprise to me as tears dropped down from my innocent eyes. The neighborhood sat at the outskirt of the town. It was like an estate with all houses painted in army green and brown colour. It was the biggest barracks in the whole town. The government were gracious to them - the soldiers and their families. They were given free houses to live as a way to urge them to be diligent in the military world. Uncle Ben put his mind and soul into it. He was a military fanatic. Uncle Franklin said that was his dream profession right from his primary school days and he was so focused to live his dreams. There were many awards at the gallery. They were all presented to him in the course of his service. It was the first room before the living room. That evening when I moved in to
All was not well with Sarah. She woke up to a headache every morning after spending hours thinking about the "public disgrace". Mr. Wellington refused to talk to her. They became like two strangers living under the same roof. Mr. Wellington was so ashamed of his daughter. But he had a hand in it. The only good thing he did was provide Sarah with all of the things she needed but it wasn't enough. She needed his time too rather than money. Money was many things but not everything for Sarah. Sometimes, she had somethings bothering her but her father was never there to listen. He was just jumping from one business trip to the other, neglecting the young lady. He gave her words of encouragement anytime he could but Sarah was already dead inside. Myles did not feel bad that the video went viral. He was just upset to not have made a dime from it. It was his handwork that someone blew away like that without any reasoning. "Damn! This nigga is a motherfucker!" He exclaimed as he watched th
"Matilda would suffer for this!" He said again. He was filled with fury and was determined to see her end. He punched the wall until he started to bleed in a short while. He wished he had entered the room a little earlier that day. Perhaps, Matilda wouldn't have seen the video. He was careless but she would still pay for exposing his little secret for free. Sarah wanted to talk to me. She was love sick. I wasn't committed to checking her up everyday again. Paula had taken her place in my life. Now, I admit that I was so jobless all the while. Being with Paula in a romantic relationship was more than a job already. She loved my presence and did not ever get tired of talking to me. Even if there was nothing to talk about. Sometimes, we would just stare at each other unsure of what to say. The love we shared was second to none. I was with Paula that afternoon when Sarah called. She was talking as if she swallowed her voice. She was so calm and peaceful from the sound of her voice. I r
It was as if Sarah knew I was at the door already. She was there at the entrance to open the door and she closed it back immediately. She didn't want any sort of disturbance or distraction. The way the security men were looking at her provoked her but she didn't have any right to push them away. Her father would break her if she fails to cooperate with them. I was wearing a smile that day. She was on a fine hairdo and her body glittered like gold. I greeted and she responded positively for the first time after many weeks. She was glad to receive me. She gave me a warm hug and planted a kiss on my forehead. Everything happening was weird to me. "What is she up to?" I thought. I wasn't really feeling comfortable anymore. "So, why did you call?" I asked. "Because I miss you, Tony" She replied. I sighed. I thought of the distance from my house to their residence. "So I drove all the way from my place to be told something that could be said on the phone?" I asked myself. "Oh, I mis
I was supposed to be there almost immediately after the incident."Why weren't you picking up your calls?" Paula asked sounding angry. "I'm sorry, Paula. I thought you only wanted to check up on me." I said. We watched the video again. Luckily, I saw the ambulance that took them out of the scene in the video too. It was the state hospital. That was where accident victims were usually taken to. Paula and I left immediately for the hospital and what we saw was...Uloma's business was booming. She was making good money from it. She had so many customers from near and far, coming to patronise her. She also had too many enemies now and her elder sister, Lizzy, was on the top list. Uloma was still bent on keeping her money to herself than giving Lizzy who she was sure would squander it again. The two sisters were now two foes. Uloma was no longer staying with Lizzy and her mother. She moved into a new apartment in one of the most expensive estates in town. She didn't want Mama or anyone e
It was the reality achieved with good money in her pocket. The reality of only the rich. She thought of her life as a pauper and how miserable she was with her two husbands - Emeka and I. Even before then was her father who lived in abject poverty while she was growing up at the family house. Uloma's father was a very generous man before his exit from the world but all of his kindness was repaid with evil. It started from the family members who grew too jealous of him. Then, his so-called friends and distant relations. Things were falling in pleasant places for him until it suddenly began to fall apart. "Poverty is an evil thing" She sighed. She had to forgive those innocent eyes of hers that she kept opened for so long. She slept off as the pilot did his own business. Maggie was fully recovered now. She was basking in good health. Her first day at work after the long "holiday" was a blessing. Maggie, even on the sick bed, talked about the company. She had done all the documentati
"Yes, it is. She sent it some minutes ago" Lizzy replied. "And you believed her?" Mama said, choking in her laughter. She thought Uloma was only playing a prank. "Mama! She sent pictures! See her visa too" Lizzy said as she ran to the gallery on her phone to show Mama. Mama exclaimed. Thunder and Trina were finally discharged after many days of admission. I could not thank Paula enough for her assistant when they were still at the hospital. I admired her strength and might. She was making a good wife already. Trina was much better than Thunder now. She was becoming her old self again. Though, Thunder was trying hard to come back to his feet. He made me recall the night I had the accident that almost took my life. I became gentle as a dove. I couldn't even move my hands. I just laid down, transfixed. I felt really stagnated but I had to endure and I endured for so long. It was depressing. No one could feel the pain I was feeling. I was the only one in the battle, locking heads tog
Mama's head sparked again. She felt like seeing Uloma bark at her and bite those legs she travelled with. Mama jerked the burglary as if to pull it out of its space. She shook out the life in it. She was marvelled at Uloma's audacity to leave the country without her consent. Not even a hint! She stared at the photos on Lizzy's phone again, hoping that it was a prank. She didn't want to believe it even though it was becoming so true. The pictures spoke a volume of truths and it was really getting into her. She began to pace around the living room. The room had a rectangular shape and was long enough for a hundred persons to rest their heads. Lizzy was there. She looked at Mama who was now taking it personal."Don't get too worked up about it, Mama. She will learn. Just leave her. She will regret this that she has done!" Lizzy advised. All of a sudden, Mama began to wail bitterly. She was too sad to take it in. She just had to let the tears flow. "Is this the child I gave birth to? W
I wanted to save his face the disgrace of his past life. I asked him to walk to the cafeteria while I follow him behind and he did as I commanded him. The cafeteria is a big one with so many serving tables here and there. Some of the costumers were eating some Kenyan delicacies and you needed to see how they were devouring the "sumptuous" meal. It had a good aroma that would cause anyone that is famished to salivate but this wasn't the time to try their food. Douglas and I had something important to discuss. We sat at the nearest serving table as I signaled the waiter to get us soft drinks. My kindness caused Douglas to fear the more. He thought I was doing him a favour that he would pay back in a thousand folds. But this wasn't so. He wasn't thinking well enough. I wanted to hear his story. Everything about him. The waiter had served us the drinks. It was enough to calm my nerves down. I gulped it as I was thirsty. Douglas felt very reluctant to take his drink. But I asked him to tak
I wasn't too sure if the idea of naming the child George was a good one. How will John and his wife take it? Will they be happy about it? Will I be mocking them with the name? I hope my son will not die prematurely like the late George? My mind was preoccupied with these thoughts so I had to relax for a while. When there wasn't any other name that my heart desired, we named the child George. Sometimes, our fears only threatens us but if we shun the threat, we would be heading for success. The christening was a success and to my greatest surprise, John and his wife were happy about it. The way they snuggled the child in their arms read a million meanings. Lyda said that he looked like George during his days as a toddler. She smiled and hoped that he lived long. Thank Goodness I didn't change the name. After another week or so, I travelled for a leadership conference at Nairobi - the capital of Kenya. It was hosted by one of the most accomplished business man in the world and it was hel
Maggie and I were having all the fun in this world. It was just she and I. No disturbance. I kept the news of Mama's death at the back of my memory. I wouldn't let it interfere with the nice time I was having with the love of my life. The wailing was for Uloma and Lizzy to do. I wailed enough while she was alive. Even in her wickedness, I loved her. I hope that her soul find rest in heaven or wherever! It's God's choice not mine. It was the first time Maggie had a sexual experience. She was a virgin. No one would believe she was because she was a full grown up lady. All through her years with Malid, they maintained "sexual distancing". Malid must have his own good sides too. Waiting till after marriage before such an experience must have come with a lot of patience. But maybe he wasn't patient enough so he loose his girl and not only his girl, but now, his life. I wonder what explanation he was going to give his creator for taking the life that was given to him on a platter of gold. I
In as much as we all enjoy peace, no one desires an eternal peace or say rest. But this wasn't the case for Mama - Uloma's mother. She desired death even though her children rebuked her severally. "Mama, don't say that!" "Mama, stop!!!" They cautioned. They warn her on a daily basis about her pessimism but she turned deaf to everything they ever said to her. She wanted a ticket to hell or wherever because life was teaching her hard lessons. She suffered from chronic fever, an illness one would consider "minor" or "ordinary" but it was getting worse by the day. There wasn't any kind of treatment Mama didn't receive. They did one thing or the other to ensure they meet up with the bills. They sold some of their properties and even their bodies for money to take good care of Mama. They went out of their comfort and did some menial jobs and secured something profitable for themselves. There was virtually nothing they didn't do. But their efforts were not amounting to any positive result.
I danced David's dance at the reception of my wedding. We were so elated and fulfilled. I now had a woman I could call mine with confidence. Friends and family joined in our dance. The bridal train were not left out too. The songs were so melodious. I mean, it was remedy for any broken heart. The musical instruments synchronized without any flop and we were just taking different steps - from left to right. We heard of the tragedy. It was as though we didn't hear the right thing. But it was true. Zero lies. It was so pathetic - the untimely death of Malid. No one could have thought that he would kick the bucket so quickly with the life of wealth he lived in. It was no news that he killed himself with poison right inside his room. He just wasted his life for nothing. He threw his poor family into mourning and complete bitterness. They hearts were heavier than the stone that was used to cover Jesus' tomb. The rumor was all around the place. It was everywhere that the founder of El-Tech c
Nobody would believe that I "snatched" Maggie from him. After all, I didn't do that. She simply got too tired of him so she "kicked" him out of her life and will not allow him back. Thank God for Thunder who stopped him right at the gate perhaps he would have done something worst. He was such an animal. I think God assigned some angels to create him and that day, they were too tired to add a pitch of calmness in him. He just liked to burn everywhere he is found. But the fire from a lantern is not same as the one that erupts from a cooking gas. Thunder's punches were enough lessons for him and a warning never to thread the path of lions like us. Malid got home badly injured. He collapsed on his couch in tears. He had sacked all his staff and some of them resigned because they could no longer be patient with him. He was acting like a demigod and they wouldn't let another man trample on them like a snake Malid hates to see. He was growing more wild by the day so they all had to leave him
I think Maggie is truly the divine woman made for me because for the first time in my entire life, I felt truly loved by a woman. I was betrothed to Uloma by her father who considered me a responsible man. He was sure that I was going to take good care of his daughter because of the traits I displayed during my stay at his house. I felt like I was marrying my step sister even though we were not in anyway related by blood. This was his death wish so I decided to honour the poor man. But one of the lessons I have learnt in life is never to marry a man or a woman in pity. I had compassion for Uloma and her family especially after the demise of their lovely father. So I married her but I regretted it quite too early. I wonder how Uloma, Lizzy and Mama coped with a man whose spirit provoked their demons. He was just one of a kind. A complete father and an epitome of love. I mean, he took me in without knowing a thing about me. Just assumptions and the fact that I was a human being as him.
Now I had to tell Maggie the story of my life to clear the air. She kept asking too many questions and I couldn't deny her the right answers because she was now very dear to my heart. I mean, can one withhold the truth about the colour of one's skin from one's buttocks? That would be eating beans with the eyes. Maggie was pensive when we got home. It was as though she had just finished watching a Hollywood movie but this time, she didn't watch it on screen but on set! She was amazed to see me take them down, one by one, as if I had prepared for the attack. I didn't prepare for anything but that sharp thought that flashed through my mind was enough to sense something. I usually had such a feeling when something goes wrong. My demons were never asleep. They kept on knocking the door of my heart until it dawn on me that there was something wrong about the route we were taking. I told Maggie about the Dark Dragons something I never mentioned to Uloma. Paula knew about it of course, because
It is true that once a soldier, always a soldier. But I also think once a fool is always a fool or maybe... Once a culprit, is always a culprit! Malid was at it again. His usual display of foolishness. I called it "foolishness" because he thinks he can play smart and get me tied to his trap. Me? What a dream! Malid couldn't sleep well. Of course, he wouldn't have. He was dreaming of the impossible. So how possible was it for him to find sleep? Sweet sleep are for those who have laboured in truth. Not some evildoers like Malid! I sensed it from the smile, the handshake, the gestures, uneasiness, friendliness, useless talks... everything! I knew he was surely up to something. Can I ever forget Aunty Raina? Even if she belongs to the family of evil-doers with Malid as the head. She would say; "a rat does not run in daylight for nothing. He must have seen a cat or something." Malid is the rat here but instead of staying clear, the idiot remains adamant, like a forgotten morsel of pounded