Let's join hands and curb the rate of Child Abuse to the barest minimum if not eliminating it totally.
FED UP [Backtoback]
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can round up Season2 and explore some other story lines.
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FED UP [XCIV]
Continued...
She opened the door and saw Risi
standing outside with tears in her eyes.
“Risi how are you?” Mabel asked her.
“I am fine aunty,”
she replied, still standing there.
“Come in na,” Mabel
said and went towards her.
She
held Risi by the hand and gently drew her in.
“Why are you
crying?” Cynthia asked her.
“Did anything happen?”
Mabel also asked.
“My mummy…my mummy…” she managed to say.
“Your mummy what?”
“My mummy said you
paid my school fees.”
“Is that why you are
crying?”
She
nodded.
“Aww. It is nothing
at all.”
Risi
hugged Mabel and held her tight.
“So I will go back
to school,” she said, sobbing.
“Yes sweetie you
will,” Mabel said stroking her hair, with tears forming in her eye.
They
remained in that posture for a while.
“Enough of the
emotions,” Cynthia said as she cleaned a tear that wanted to run down from her
cheek. “Can we have something to eat?”
Risi let go of Mabel.
“Have you eaten?”
Mabel asked her.
“No we have not
eaten since morning,” Risi replied.
“Why?”
“There is nothing in
the house to eat.”
“Eiyaa.”
“Will you eat noodle
and egg?”
“Yes aunty.”
“Ok.”
“Should I call my
brother?”
“He has not eaten
too?”
“No. We went to our
friend’s house with hope that they will include us in their breakfast but when
they were about eating, they told us to go, that they wanted to go pray.”
“Kai. People are
wicked o,” Mabel said.
“You really don’t
know their situation,” Cynthia said. “They may not have enough. It may be their
last which they don’t want to share with two extra mouths.”
“You are right.”
“But they eat in our
house sometimes,” Risi said.
“Meaning they don’t
have sometimes,” Cynthia said. “Maybe they don’t have much today.”
“Whatever be the
case,” Mabel said. “You will eat today ok.”
“Ok aunty.”
Cynthia
went into the kitchen to prepare the noodle.
“Add three extra
mouths,” Mabel said to her.
“Who is the third
mouth?” Cynthia asked.
“Mama Risi. She
should eat also.”
“Ok.”
“Ri, sit on the bed
and wait till the food is ready,” Mabel said to Risi.
Mabel
lay on the bed and went through her phone while Risi watched the TV.
“Pause the movie
till I come o,” Cynthia shouted from the kitchen. “I don’t want to miss
anything.”
“You can rewind it
when you come,” Mabel said to her.
As she
cooked, from time to time, Cynthia would come out to the room and watch the
movie.
“I hope you know you
are using the gas cooker?” Mabel asked her one time.
“No shaking,” Cynthia
said.
When
the food was ready, Cynthia dished for herself and Mabel and brought out to the
room.
“Risi you will eat
here abi?”
“Yes aunty,” Risi
replied.
“Go and call your
brother then.”
“He may not agree to
come o.”
Mabel told Cynthia to put his
food and mama Risi’s own in a food flask so Risi can give to them. Cynthia put
the food in the flask and then dished for Risi.
“Let me go and give
my brother his own,” Risi said.
“Finish your own
first.”
“I am coming now
now,” Risi said and carried the food flask and went out.
“What a caring and
selfless girl,” Cynthia said when she left.
“That is why I opted
to pay half her fees as hard as it will be for me to do. She is a very nice
girl.”
“Let me pour back
her food in the pot till she comes.”
“Just cover it.”
As
Cynthia went to the kitchen to get plate to cover it, Risi ran in, panting.
“Did you run?” Mabel
asked her.
“No aunty,” she said
smiling.
“You did jor. Did
you give it to your mother?”
“Only my brother was
in the house so I told him to keep for mummy.”
“He will keep for
her right?”
“Yes na. He will. My
mum did not go far.”
“Ok, eat your own.”
Risi
carried her food from the table and sat on the floor, eating hungrily. Mabel
and Cynthia just looked at her and shook their head in pity.
“I remember those
days,” Cynthia said.
“It was not easy at
all,” Mabel said.
“You are not
eating,” Risi asked them.
“We are,” Cynthia
replied her. “It is still hot.”
“Blow it with your
mouth na.”
“Abi?”
“Yes.”
“Ok.”
They
stopped looking at her and ate, as they watched the movie. While they were
still eating, Mabel’s phone rang. She checked. It was Coker. He asked her
whether she was in her place. She told him she was. Then he told her that he
was on his way to see her. Then he hung up.
“Let me call mummy
sef and know how the meeting went,” Cynthia said.
She
dialed her mother who picked and told her that they were still in the meeting.
She was talking in hush tones so Cynthia figured she was inside the meeting
place, so she hung up.
“This their meeting
sef,” she said.
They
noticed that someone was standing outside the door, peeping.
“Who is that?” Mabel
asked.
They
heard the footsteps of the person running down the staircase in a hurry.
...to be continued
FED UP [XCIII]
continued...
...to be continued
Mama Risi got up and went to the
window.
“They are not coming
back yet,” she said and came back to where she was sitting.
“Your children?”
Mabel asked.
“Yes.”
“But eeh, won’t Risi’s
school accept half of the fees?”
“I pleaded with them
but they refused.”
“Why?”
“They have really
tried for me. Other terms, they even allow her write exams and I pay later. But
because of the way things are in the country, they have tightened up their
policies. Money is not in circulation, civil servants are being owed, so they
need their pupils to pay up in order for the school to run.”
Mabel
thought for a while and said, “Ok. I will give you the remaining half. Then
work towards paying back the person you borrowed from.”
Tears
rolled down Mama Risi’s cheek.
“Thank you so much,”
she said as she hugged Mabel.
“Risi has to go back to school no matter what,”
Mabel said.
Cynthia
just sat quiet and watched with tears forming in her eyes and lump in her
throat.
“When will you want
it back?” Mama Risi asked Mabel.
“Want what back?”
Mabel asked.
“The money.”
“Don’t worry about
it. It is not a loan.”
“Ahhhh. May God
bless you richly.”
“You need to find
something doing as soon as possible. There are other terms ahead. You can’t
keep living off benevolence.”
“I know, but where
else will I look for work na? I have tried severally, but my lack of academic
qualification has been a challenge. My parents couldn’t afford to train me in
school beyond class 3. That is why I vowed to do whatever I can to make sure my
children get the best education.”
“Eiyaa.”
“Last term, I had to sell some of my wrappers
to pay their fees.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“You must not look
for a paid job. You can start a small business and be making money.”
“It needs capital to
start too. I will have to rent a shop, and buy materials to work with and
things to sell.”
“You can start small
and grow.”
“Ok oo. When I see
money to start, I will.”
“I will talk to my
office people and see if they can grant you a loan.”
“Oh thank you so
much.”
“You need to find
out what line of business you can do, especially one that does not need much
capital to start but will be lucrative.”
“I have some in mind
but I will make enquiries and know which one is best.”
Mabel gently squeezed Mama Risi’s
hand and said, “That is settled. Now please cheer up.”
Mama
Risi smiled and said, “Why will I not cheer up? You people are just Angels sent
to me from heaven.”
Mabel checked her wrist watch.
“Please before you
go, what do I offer you?” Mama Risi asked, trying to get up.
“Do you have pounded
yam and vegetable soup?” Cynthia asked her.
They
laughed.
“I don’t but it can
be arranged,” Mama Risi said.
“Ehe, before you
arrange, tell me what has been happening since Wednesday.”
Mama
Risi told them everything she could remember.
“So apart from those
strange faces, nothing else happened?” Mabel asked.
“None that I
witnessed,” Mama Risi said.
“Did anybody come
looking for me at any time?”
“I didn’t meet
anyone.”
“Ok. Let me go up.”
“Ok. I will see if I
can arrange the pounded yam and vegetable soup. It should be ready by next
month.”
They
laughed.
Mabel
and Cynthia got up to leave. Mama Risi saw them off to the door and hugged them
before they left.
“Greet Risi and her
brother for me when they come back,” Mabel said as she climbed the stairs.
“I will,” Mama Risi
replied.
Mabel
and Cynthia went up to her house. Mama Risi stood for a while looking at them
as they climbed up. When they were out of sight, she went in and closed the
door.
When
Mabel got to her door, she looked around for any note or something that was not
supposed to be there.
“What are you
looking for?” Cynthia asked her.
“I am just doing
security check,” she said.
“Security check
indeed.”
Mabel
did not see anything, so she opened the door and they went in. Inside, she
checked everything in the house. They were as she had left them the last time
she was there.
“You are still doing
security check?” Cynthia asked.
“Just to make sure
nothing is missing,” Mabel replied.
“Ok oo.”
Cynthia
dropped her bag
“This place doesn’t
need any clean up o,” she said, lying on the bed. “Before you go and bring
broom and mop now.”
“It does o,” Mabel
said, laughing. “At least to remove the dust.”
“I am not seeing
anyone. If you see any, you will do it alone o.”
“Lazy girl.”
“Let it be.”
“Don’t worry, you
will soon get your own place, and you will have to clean it yourself.”
“Till then. For now,
I will just watch movie.”
She put
on the Cable TV and flipped through the channels. When she did not see anything
interesting, she got up and went through the movie rack. When she selected one,
she slotted it into the DVD player and lay on the bed to watch it. Mabel
changed into a short and and free polo and swept the room, then she cleaned
some of the places she noticed dust. When she was done, she washed her hands
and lay with Cynthia.
“Are you done?”
Cynthia asked her. “You did not mop o.”
“That one will wait
joor,” she said.
“Lazy girl.”
“I am better than
you.”
They watched the movie and ran
commentary.
“I am hungry,” Mabel
said after a while.
“Do you have
anything to cook?” Cynthia asked her.
“Something like?”
“Maybe noodles and
egg. Do you have them?”
“I think so. Let me
check.”
She
went to the kitchen and checked the cupboard. She came out to the room and told
Cynthia that she had them.
“Let me cook it na,”
Cynthia said.
“Ok.”
They
heard a tap on the door.
“Who is tapping like
that?” Mabel asked rhetorically.
She
opened the door and saw Risi standing outside with tears in her eyes.
...to be continued
FED UP [XCII]
continued...
...to be continued
Mama
Risi told her that she did not notice any strange movement. Mabel hung up. They
flagged down a keke and left for
Mabel’s place.
“Do you need to buy
anything for the house?” Cynthia asked when they got close to the mini market.
“None that I can
think off,” Mabel replied. “Maybe when I get to the house, I will know what I
need.”
“Ok.”
“I will need to use
the ATM sef.”
“Which bank?” the
keke man asked.
Mabel
looked at Cynthia and their eyes met. They were wondering why the man was
interested in their using the ATM.
“I will do that
later,” she said.
They
got to Mabel’s place, paid the keke man and he left.
“All these people
sef,” Mabel said. “If he carries us to ATM now, he will stay in the keke and
call other people who will rob us.”
“See how he jumped
into the ATM matter,” Cynthia said.
“My dear eeh. It
pays to be alert o.”
They entered
the compound. They met some neighbours doing different things in the compound.
They asked Mabel where she had been for some days and she told them she had
been in her mother’s place. When they were done exchanging pleasantries, Mabel
and Cynthia moved on.
“Who knows whether
Mama Risi is around?” Mabel asked when they got to the staircase.
“She has to be
around na.” Cynthia replied. “Today is Saturday.”
“Her curtain is
closed.”
“You mean the one
she peeps through?”
Mabel
laughed and said “Yes, that one.”
They
got to Mama Risi’s flat and knocked. No one responded. Mabel knocked again.
“Who is there?” they
heard Mama Risi ask.
“It’s Mabel,” she
replied.
Mama
Risi opened the door. There was something about her countenance which told them
that all was not well. They noticed that her eyes were red like someone who had
just cried. They greeted her.
“Welcome my dear,”
she replied, forcing a smile. “How is your mother?”
“She is fine,” Mabel
replied.
“Why are you
crying?” Cynthia asked her.
“Who said I am
crying?” Mama Risi asked, still maintaining the forced smile.
“But your eyes are
red.”
She did
not respond. She just sniffed and looked away.
“Mama Risi, what is
going on?” Mabel asked her.
She
turned and went back into her house. They followed her. She sat on the couch
and they sat beside her, Mabel on her left and Cynthia on her right.
“Mama Risi what is
the problem?” Mabel asked, touching her shoulder. “Say something.”
She was
quiet for a while.
“Too many issues,”
she finally said, exhaling from her mouth.
“Like?” Mabel asked.
She
sighed.
“Since my husband
died,” she said. “Things have not been very easy for me.”
“I am aware of
that,” Mabel said. “Did anything happen that is making you cry now? When I
called you in the morning, you sounded normal.”
“I cry like this
sometimes when I feel overwhelmed by the situation. You met me at such a time.”
“What if your
children see you crying, how will they feel?”
“By the time they
come back, I will wash my face and pretend like all is well.”
“Oh, they are not
around?”
“I can’t let them
see me cry. I sent them out to get something when the heaviness was too much
and I needed to let it out.”
“Eiyaa. What is the problem?”
“A lot of money
issues.”
“The house rent is
not due na. Is it?”
“Not that.”
“I know it cannot be
that because I know you have paid for this whole year.”
“Thanks to my
brother abroad who has been carrying my financial burdens. But he was deported
few days ago.”
“O my gosh! What
happened? Why?”
“They said papers this, papers that.”
“Kai, that’s bad o.”
“It is not as if he
is very rich, but he had enough to help me out once in a while. Now they sent
him back, what will I do?”
“What about your
late husband’s family?”
“Those people are
not even an option. When my husband died, they said I killed him.”
“Why?”
“They did not like
me from day one.”
“Ah ah. What did you
do?”
“I am from a
different tribe.”
“What does that
mean? Is it not the same country we are in?”
“They said I forced
myself on my husband. My husband’s parents eventually changed their mind about
me but his siblings didn’t at all. During and after the burial, his brothers
dealt with me. Even though it happened years ago, the experience is still fresh
in my memory.”
“Have you tried to
make them think differently about you?”
“I have o but they
don’t want anything to do with me.”
“Even for the sake
of their nephew and niece?”
“My dear leave those
people.”
Mabel
shook her head and said, “People can be myopic and wicked o.”
“They have never
asked how I am training their niece and nephew in school. One time, I asked one
of them for money, he said I should continue with the prostitution I have been
doing which was the reason why I could not bear more than two children for his
brother.”
“Kai.”
“My dear, the life
of a widow is not easy o.”
“It’s well with you
ma. That reminds me, how far with Risi’s school fees?”
“That is one of the
major issues I am facing now. I have been able to raise half of it after
getting the insult of my life from the person who gave it to me. I am meant to
pay back before the end of the month. Where will I see money to complete the
fees, or even pay back the one I borrowed? And they are writing test this
coming week.”
“I was supposed to
give you something some days ago but my absence here made me forget.”
Mama
Risi got up and went to the window.
...to be continued
FED UP [XCI]
Continued...
He
waved at her, turned and left. Cynthia’s mother stood and watched him go. When
he got to the gate, she turned and went back inside. She met Cynthia peeping
from the window, with sadness written on her face.
Cynthia greeted her.
“Do you want to see
him to say goodbye?” she asked Cynthia.
“No, He has gone
far,” Cynthia said with a lump in her throat as she sat down.
“You can still call
him back and tell him goodbye if you want.”
“When he comes back,
we will see. It is not as if he is traveling not to come back again. He may
even come back today sef.”
“Anyway, he said he
will call you when he gets to the village.”
“I heard him say
it.”
“You mean you have
been peeping?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you come
out since?”
“After what happened
last night…”
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Something must have
happened.”
Mabel
came out to the sitting room.
“What happened?” she
asked after greeting her mother.
“Chuka has traveled,”
her mother said
“I know. Cynthia
said something happened last night.”
They looked at Cynthia, waiting for
an explanation.
“We got a bit
emotional last night,” Cynthia said looking at her fingers.
“Oh my gosh,” Mabel
said sitting close to Cynthia. “Did anything happen?”
“No. I ran back home
before anything could start happening.”
“Good for you,” her
mother said.
“He would have
collected free o,” Mabel said, laughing.
“Am telling you,”
Cynthia said, joining in the laughter. “All these sympathy situations sef.”
“Anyway, enough of
Chuka,” their mother cut in. “We have clean up to do.”
“Now?” they asked
her.
“After our morning
devotion.”
They did their morning devotion.
Then they swept, cleaned and washed. When they were through with inside, they
went to the part of the compound that surrounded them. When they were done,
they bathed and had breakfast.
“When are you going
to your place?” Cynthia asked Mabel when they were eating breakfast.
“In an hour’s time,”
Mabel replied.
“Why so early?”
“I might need to do
clean up there also.
“We will go
together.”
“Ok.”
“Are you sleeping
over there?” their mother asked.
“No. I will move
back by next week.”
“I don’t know what
you saw in that house that you prefer it to here.”
“It is cozy and
private.”
“And there is always
light,” Cynthia added.
“I like it when we
are together here.”
“You have to get
used to staying alone o. What about when we get married?”
“I am getting used to
it but it is not easy.”
“I always sleep here
na,” Cynthia said. “Unless something happened and I had to sleep over in school
or in Mabel’s place. Just like when she wanted to…”
“I will just throw
this spoon on you now,” Mabel said, smiling.
“Finish your food
first so you don’t choke,” their mother said and went into the kitchen to drop
her plate.
They
finished their food and took their medicine. Cynthia brought her balm and Mabel
massaged her.
“Your hand is not
strong today,” Cynthia said as Mabel massaged her.
“Go and call Chuka
na,” Mabel replied.
When
they were done, they got ready to leave. Mabel went into her mother’s room.
“We will soon be
leaving,” she told her mother who was sewing one of her cloths.
“Ok. I just got a
text message about an emergency women’s meeting in church. So I will be leaving
also.”
“Ok. Is it about the
National Women’s Conference?”
“I doubt. I am not
in the planning committee for that one. I think it has to do with the women in
church.”
“Ok.”
“From there I will
go to market.”
“I and Cynthia will
do that in the afternoon. Don’t bother yourself.”
“I just need
something to keep me busy will evening when you will come back.”
“Your radio is still
working abi?”
“Radio is radio.
Human beings are human beings.”
Cynthia
came in and told Mabel that she was set to go.
“Take care of
yourselves,” their mother said to them.
“We will,” they
replied and went back to their room.
They
took their handbags and left the house. Their mother locked the door behind them
and went back to get ready for the women meeting.
“Did you call Mama
Risi?” Cynthia asked as they walked towards the gate.
“No,” Mabel replied.
“Is it necessary?”
“It is o. So you
will know the situation of things.”
“There is nothing to
be afraid of.”
“Just call her and
confirm.”
At the
gate, Mabel brought out her phone and dialed Mama Risi. Mama Risi picked and
told her that there was no problem.
“Any strange
movements?” Mabel asked.
Mama
Risi told her that she did not notice any. Mabel hung up. They flagged down a keke and left for Mabel’s place.
...to be continued
FED UP [XC]
continued...
Cynthia
felt her knees shaking. She freed herself from the hug.
“I really have to go
now,” she said and turned to leave.
“My regards to Mabel
and your mum,” Chuka said as he watched her recede into the darkness, then he
took the food flask and went into his house.
Cynthia
got to the door of her house and stood for a while, calming herself down. When
she was sure she was calm enough, she opened the door and went in. Mabel, who
just had a bath, came out to the sitting room. Her mother was sitting on the couch
listening to a radio program.
“You stayed too long,”
her mother said to her.
“We were talking,”
Cynthia said.
“I know you were
talking because I was hearing your voices from here. But your talk took too
long.”
“You know he is
traveling tomorrow.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“I hope you did not
give him any parting gift?” Mabel teased her.
“For what na?”
Cynthia said laughing. “Am I high?”
“As a reward for all
his labours.”
“You are not
serious.”
“Is he traveling
finally?” her mother asked.
“No,” Cynthia
replied. “He will come back with his brother.”
“His parents in the
village may decide that he should stay with them for a while or ask him to go
stay with his elder sister,” Mabel said.
“But he will still
come here to take his things before going.”
“Even if…”
“Why are we even
talking about this sef? He can go
wherever he wants na.”
“You are forming
iron lady now abi. Continue.”
They
laughed. Their mother tuned to another radio station.
“Every time, you and
radio,” Cynthia said, checking the notifications on her phone.
“What else should I
do?” her mother asked, laughing. “I don’t have your type of phones to keep me
busy.”
“What will you do
with it if you get it?”
“I will find out
what it is you people do that makes you always press phone.”
“We will have to put
on the generator tomorrow if this power outage continues,” Mabel said. “At
least we can be watching TV.”
“Yes we will. It is
very important.”
“As long as I am not
drawing the generator,” Cynthia said.
“And your helper
would have traveled by then.”
Cynthia
giggled.
“I am still feeling
hungry,” their mother said.
“Should I put
another plate of food for you?” Mabel asked her.
“No. The one in the
pot is for tomorrow.”
Mabel
told her mother all the things Ejike got for her and asked her whether she
wanted any one. Her mother asked for the bread and Mabel told Cynthia to get it
for her. Cynthia got it and also came out with her medicine and balm. She gave
her mother the bread.
“Who will massage
me?” she asked, holding up the balm.
“You know I need
rest,” Mabel said. “This dizziness…”
“You know I just
finished cooking,” her mother said. “This my waist…”
“Ok o,” Cynthia
said, laughing. “You are now giving excuses abi.”
“Is the back paining
you badly?” her mother asked.
“Not really. I just
need the massage so I will feel better.”
“Can you take your
pain reliever and manage till tomorrow?” Mabel asked her. “I will massage you
myself.”
“Ok.”
Cynthia
took her tablets. Their mother took the number of slices of bread she wanted
and gave the remaining loaf to Cynthia to keep. Cynthia did and came back to
the parlour. She surfed the internet with her phone. Mabel did the same while
their mother just listened to radio. They talked about whatever topic any of
them brought up. When there was nothing else for them to do or talk about, they
said their prayers and went to bed.
The
following morning, they were woken up by a knock on the door. Their mother
answered the door. It was Chuka, holding the food flask.
“Good morning ma,”
he greeted.
“Morning,” she
replied. “How are you?”
“I am fine ma.”
He
handed over the food flask to her.
“I came to return the food flask,” he said.
“Thank you so much for taking care of me yesterday.”
“You are welcome.
You are like a son to me.”
“Son-in-law. I claim
it.”
“I did not say that
o. It is not in my power at all.”
Chuka
laughed.
“I am going to the
village now ma,” he said.
“Is it not too early
to leave?”
“No ma. My village
is a bit far, and there are some people my brother wants me to meet before they
leave the village.”
“Ok.”
“Is Cynthia awake?”
“Not yet.”
“OK. When she wakes,
tell her I checked on her.”
“Ok. I will.”
“I will call her on
phone when I get to the village.”
“Are you not coming
back here again?”
“I should but it
depends on what my parents decide. I really need something doing.”
“You have people who
can help you; I wonder why they are not.”
“It’s well ma. Let
me be going.”
“Ok my dear. Take
good care of yourself ok.”
“I will.”
“Don’t fight o.”
“I will not,” Chuka
said, laughing.
He turned
and left with his mini travelling bag. Cynthia’s mother stood and watched him
go. When he got to the gate, she turned and went back inside. She met Cynthia
peeping from the window, with sadness written on her face.
...to be continued
Nedu Isaac
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FED UP
This is the story of a lady who gets jilted severally and decided to end her life.
THE UNCLE NEXT DOOR
This is the story of a young 8 year old girl who was sexually molested by her uncle in school. It shows the mistakes parents make and how both the potential victim and the parents can pick up signs of impending abuse.
AGAINST THE TIDE
This is the story of a two young girls who were exposed to domestic and sexual abuse. The story tries to pick out causes and effects of abuse on minors in the society and goes on to proffer solution.
LAZY NIGERIAN YOUTH
I promised to show you a story written in pidgin? Well here it is. You need to read it to understand and enjoy it. It is not going in the direction the title portrays. However, the message in it is strong and timely. The challenges youths face in our society are enormous. How do we turn things around? This story captures the typical conversation of distraught Nigerian youths.
TO SEE ALL WE HAVE DONE, CLICK ON HOME
I
Dave sat on the bed in the one-room apartment he
shared with Ben and Charles. They had been close friends since they met in the
university in the city. Even after serving the Nation, they still came back to
the town and decided to stay together as they sought for jobs. With the little
money they were able to save from their ‘Alawi’, they got a one-bedroom
apartment where they stayed. From there, they went for interviews and did other
job searches. They had done that for months but nothing tangible had come
out. The small job Dave got and decided
to manage did not go well. He was treated badly, overworked and yet his salary
payment was delayed. When he couldn’t bear it anymore, he quit the job. Charles
and Ben did little little contract jobs once in a while. With that they were
able to fend for themselves for the few months they had been together. Yet what
they got put together was still not enough for anything tangible. In fact for
over a month, they had no personal cash inflow. What they spent was what they
got from the generosity of family and friends.
“What do I eat now?” Dave
asked himself.
He looked up to
the ceiling and down. He got up and went to the hanger they shared, and began
searching the pocket of all his trousers, peradventure he had forgotten money
there without knowing. On touching one trouser, he felt something that seemed
like money. He was momentarily glad, only for him to check and it was a program
flyer he had folded and pocketed. He was disappointed. He searched the rest of
the trousers but found nothing. He hissed and went back to the bed and picked
up his phone. He checked the chats messages sent to him but there was none that
could solve his immediate problem. He dropped the phone on the bed and lay
down, still thinking where his next meal would come from.
Few minutes
later, Charles barged into the room shouting “Ben! Dave!”
Dave sat up on the bed.
“Guy wetin happen na?” he asked Charles.
“Oboi, we don hama,” Charles said.
“Serious? You don get job finally?”
“Eeehm, wey Ben?”
“Im go im babe house make im know whether she cook.”
“Why? Food don finish here?”
“No be our last supper wey we chop last night?”
“Youdonmeanit.”
“Hunger just dey waya person since morning o.”
Charles went to their food cupboard and checked:
Nothing. He opened every pot and checked; Nothing.
“Na true o,” he said and sat beside Dave on the bed. “Na the meetings wey I dey go since wey no gree
me notice say foodstuff don finish.”
“Even if you know, wetin you for do?” Dave asked. “Money no dey na.”
“Eeeem that one na old story.”
“Wetin you mean?”
“As you see me so, levels don change.”
“Charlie Charlie, where you get the job?” Dave asked. “The oil company don show you love finally?”
“No be them o. Oboi na one politician like that o wey wan come out for
election.”
Dave’s
countenance changed. He was disappointed.
“Wetin im want make you do for am?” he
asked
“Na just normal work wey politicians dey want make guys like us do for
them,” Charles replied.
“Wey be?”
“To dey follow them everywhere wey dem go and do wetin go make them win
the election.”
“Im wan recruit you as political thug abi?”
“If na wetin you wan call am, na im na.”
“You go even carry ballot box on Election Day sef abi?”
“Im never talk that one o but I no mind, if the money plenty.”
“Nawa o. which kain yeye work be that na?”
“Guy, all work na work, as long as money dey
come out.”
“All work no be work o. If them kpab you nko? If fight break out, they
come kill you nko? Wetin you go tell your people?”
“Guy leave that thing. Nothing dey happen?”
“The politician children, where
dem dey?”
“Na yanki na. Before where they wan dey?”
“You see.”
“See
what?”
Dave shook his
head.
“Person wey you wan go fight for, im own pikin dem no dey here.”
“Na the money be the motivation na. Where im pikin dem dey no concern
me. I do wetin dem send me, I collect my money, I waka. Na simple ABC.”
“E no simple as you dey talk am o. Anything can happen.”
“I no mind taking the risk o. Na today person start to dey find work? I
don tire jare.”
“Na these same people spoil country for our generation. In their days,
economy dey well. To even travel abroad no be difficult thing. This one wey
guys dey sleep for embassy now just to go another African country na rubbish
na. Even sef, na oyibo people dey beg Naija people make dem travel come that
time. Those days, as you dey finish school, jobs dey line up dey wait for you
make you choose.”
“But e no dey like that again na.”
“Na wetin I dey tell you. The best thing to do na to make sure say these
people wey dey spoil spoil things no win election.”
“I never even tell you who wan recruit us, you don dey generalize
everybody. You know whether na this man go make things better for us?”
“Person wey wan hire young men use do thugs and to steal ballot box, how
im go get better plan for us? Na im go just win, lock up everybody.”
“Na why I wan collect my own share now o. Why you dey talk like this
na?”
“I no do, hooha.”
Dave lay back on
the bed.
“Nawa for you o. I carry better
opportunity come, you just dey fall hand. Guy, you dey dull o. Instead of to do
something take help yourself as job no dey, you say na vote you wan go vote.
Oya na.”
Charles was
visibly disappointed in Dave. He got up to remove his trouser.
“If this one na job, I no want abeg.”
“You are a lazy Nigerian Youth.”
“Say I no go do agbero for politician, if na im make me lazy Nigerian
Youth, I like am like that. Say I use my PVC go vote candidate of my choice, if
na im make me lazy Nigerian youth, no wahala.”
The door opened
and Ben entered.
“Why you dey enter like this?” Dave asked him. “Person dey pursue you?”
“Guy na hunger dey pursue me o” Ben said. “Una cook anything?”
“You keep foodstuff for here?” Charles asked. “Your babe wey you go see no cook give you?”
“Why you dey attack me like that na? You no know say everywhere tight.”
“Yet your guy here dey misbehave.”
“Wetin Dave do?”
“I tell Charlie say I don get my PVC ready,” Dave said. “sey I go use am vote who I want on election
day. Na im the guy dey para o.”
Ben burst into
laughter and sat on the bed. Dave and Charles looked at themselves.
“You say you wan do wetin?” Ben asked Dave, touching him on the
shoulder.
“I wan vote the candidate of my choice.”
“My brother who vote epp? The
ones wey we dey vote since, e dey count?”
“Thank you my brother,” Charles added. “Something wey dem go still rig.”
“Me dey find connection to work with politician sef make I collect my
own share now now. No time.”
“You are in the spirit meehn,” Charles said.
“Both of you are not serious,” Dave said and lay on the bed. “Even if na to just satisfy my conscience, I
go still vote. I no go sell my vote, I no go sell my conscience join.”
“Even sef,” Ben continued, “if
the candidate wey you like come win, im go still forget the people, forget you
join, just focus on im family. So bird wey dey for hand better pass two wey dey
for bush.”
“Your head dey there,” Charles said.
“Both of you are the problem
we have in this country,” Dave said. “Is It not high time we stood as youths
and demanded our right?”
“You don dey blow grammar abi,” Charles said.
“Guy leave that thing,” Ben said. “Man must wack. As I dey H now, who wan cook food give me?”
“Exactly. As I dey broke now, who I wan call make im give me money? Na
my papa wey dem dey owe pension for many years abi na my mama wey never collect
the chikini salary wey dem still dey owe civil servants on top?”
“I understand how you feel,”
Dave said. “Me too dey feel am. As I dey
find job, na so my elder brother wey get Masters degree too dey find job. But
the issue now na which way Nigeria? Na like this we go dey dey? Time never
reach make we stand as youths come do wetin we suppose do? Dem say youths na
the leaders of tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow wey no wan reach,”
Charles interjected.
“Exactly. We suppose make the
right decision now and take charge of our tomorrow.”
“If you mean say make I fashi this plan wey dey ground come follow you
go vote, you fail am o.”
“Guy, anything dey ground?” Ben asked Charles.
“Yes oo,” Charles answered. “Na
wetin I been dey yan Dave before im come dey talk off point off point.”
“Tell me na. Wetin dey?”
Charles told Ben
about the opportunity.
“Charlie my man!” Ben shouted and shook Charles when he was done. “You
for tell me since na, you go dey tell Dave”
“I think say na guy man like us,” Charles said. “Im just dey dull like draw soup.”
“You no well o,” Dave said, laughing. “I no dey do. No be by force.”
“But come to think of it,” Ben
said to Dave. “For the first time in our lives, we will be gaining from the
election. Last election wey I vote under
rain, with fight sef, they still rig am. Money, I no get. Even person wey dem
use rigging put, im no do anything. People still dey suffer. So wetin be the
gain?”
“Abi na me wey my own candidate win,” Charles said. “im forget the people; no infrastructure, no
jobs for youths, no plans for education. Upon sey I get conne, to access am
come dey hard. Person wey humble before election come lock up after im win.”
“Guy reason am na. I no go like make we miss this opportunity. You know
say we don come a long way together. I no go like if I dey drive motor
tomorrow, you go still use leg dey waka for road.”
“Good Samaritan,” Dave said.
They laughed.
“But seriously,” Ben said. “Think am na.”
“Hmmm,” Dave sighed.
TO BE CONTINUED……
(c)2018. Nedu Isaac
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#NigeriaSpeaks #LeadershipInNigeria #YouthDevelopment #EmpowerTheYouth #NigeriaFuture
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PIDGIN FICTION
Have you read a story written in pidgin?
[Pidgin is an indigenous language spoken by most Nigerians. It is a derivation of English Language. It is fun to speak and read.]
Something is cooking and I will show you on Independence day (1/10)
FED UP [LXXXIX]
continued.....
...to be continued
He stopped and looked in her
direction without saying anything. She went closer and stood still, expecting
him to say something. He just looked at her without saying a word.
“You are not saying
anything?” Cynthia said.
“What do you want me
to say na?” he asked, a bit indifferent.
“Why are you
sounding like this?”
“Don’t worry about
me. I will be fine.”
He
turned to go in.
“You are walking
away from me,” Cynthia said.
He
turned away from the door and stood for some seconds without doing or saying anything.
“I am sorry,” he eventually
said and sat on the pavement in front of the door. “I just need to rest.”
“You are still sad,”
Cynthia said and sat beside him on the pavement.
“Not really.”
“Then why are you
giving me attitude na?”
Chuka
sighed and said, “I just feel stupid. That’s all.”
Cynthia
didn’t know what to say. It was not her fault but she couldn’t tell him that.
She just kept quiet.
“This is your food,”
she said after a while, passing the food flask to him.
“Ok thank you,”
Chuka said, taking the food flask from her. “You shouldn’t have bothered though.
I already ate something.”
“What did you eat?”
“I ate snacks.”
“Is snacks food?”
“I am ok with it.
But thanks for the food anyway.”
They were quiet for a while. It was
Cynthia who broke the silence.
“How is your face?”
She asked.
She turned towards him and flashed
her phone screen light on his face.
“A bit sore but
better than yesterday,” he replied.
She touched the places he had
injury and he writhed a bit.
“Sorry,” she said.
“Thank you,” he
said.
They
were quiet for a while. This time it was Chuka who broke the silence.
“Are you still angry
with me about what happened today?” he asked.
“I was angry but I
am not anymore. What I feel for you now is more like pity.”
He
burst into laughter.
“I don’t mean that
in a negative way o,” she said.
“I understand what
you mean,” he said. “I didn’t know I was worth anything until today.”
“How do you mean?”
“The way people responded
when they heard the false news.”
“Most of them just
wanted stories to tell. They came to hear the news they will spread first
hand.”
“Yes but it was
amazing. Within minutes, people were everywhere.”
“You are a nice guy.
People like you. So don’t pull that kind of stunt again.”
“I will not, especially,
knowing that you care.”
“Yes. I care about
my friends.”
“Friendsss,” Chuka
said, stressing the ‘s’ and mock-coughed.
“I am not in for any
relationship now. I have to finish school and get a handle on my life.”
“I understand. I
don’t mean to rush you into any decision. The fact that I am crazy about you doesn’t
mean you should feel the same way about me. The only thing I can do is try my
luck. If it does not work out, I move on. Such is life.”
“The funny thing is
that I know fine girls in this neighbourhood who are crazy about you and will
do anything to have you.”
“It’s really crazy.
Being in love with someone who does not feel the same way for you, and the
circle keeps going.”
“Yes. That’s the
reality of life.”
“It is in our hands
sha, to see the signs early and stop our own emotions from going haywire.”
“Sometimes we can’t
do anything about it.”
“We can. We are
meant to be in control of our emotions. At least you are a good example of
that.”
“I was messed up
emotionally before now o. Kai.”
“Really?”
“Yes. A lot
happened.”
“Do you mind
sharing?”
“Nothing that you
don’t already know; guys taking advantage of a girl’s innocent emotion.”
“Oh ok.”
“What helped me was
when I learnt that it was safer to love with my head before my heart.”
“Very true. If you
don’t use your head, they will shatter your heart for you.”
Cynthia
looked at him and said, “I didn’t know you had this mindset about love.”
“I do,” Chuka said
and smiled. “Just that some people come and shatter what you already know and
leave you to pick the pieces.”
Cynthia
burst into laughter.
“I am now a
shatterer now abi.”
“Something like
that,” Chuka said, laughing.
“Please eat your
food. It is getting cold.”
“It’s true. Will you
feed me?”
“I will pour it on
your now,” Cynthia said, laughing.
“Shatterer like
you,” Chuka said, laughing.
He
opened the food and began eating.
“The food is sweet,”
he said.
“Thanks to my mum,”
Cynthia said.
“Yours is sweet too.”
“Story. I cook
potty.”
“You are not serious.”
“Don’t talk while
you are eating.”
“That advice is for
children.”
He ate
half and closed it.
“The night is still
young,” he said. “I will finish it later in the night.”
“It is not good to
eat late,” Cynthia advised.
“That’s for women.
It does not have any harmful effect on me.”
“Okay o.”
“When I am done, I
will wash the plate and return it.”
“Don’t stress
yourself. I will collect it tomorrow.”
“I will be traveling
very early in the morning.”
“That’s true sef.
Will you come back again?”
“Why not? Though it
depends on the outcome of my going to the village.”
“Eiyaa. I am missing
you already.”
“Even if I will go
somewhere else, I will come to take my things here. So we will definitely see.”
“I don’t feel like
you should go sef.”
“What Mabel said to
me earlier made so much sense to me.”
“What?”
“About a man having
security to offer the lady before thinking about a relationship.”
“Oh ok.”
“I came to stay here
with my brother to see if I could get a job, but I have not gotten any. I need
to explore some other options in other places.”
“Sure.”
“Then when I am
standing and you are still available, I will come and try again.”
“You are sounding so
matured.”
“Thanks to Mabel for
shaking me up.”
Cynthia checked the time on her
phone.
“I have to be going
now,” she said and stood up.
“I wish you could
stay longer,” Chuka said, standing up also.
“My mum will be
waiting for me so we can pray before sleeping.”
“Ok.”
Chuka
hugged her tight and held onto her, gently stroking her back, just above her
waist. Cynthia did not resist the hug.
“Thank you so much,”
he said into her ear as he ran his finger from the base of her spine area to
her bra.
Cynthia
felt her knees shaking.
...to be continued
Nedu Isaac
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