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NEW YEAR
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2021-11-26 23:31:49CHAPTER 59: NEW YEAR
Dr. Amrah was gone and the Christmas day ended in bliss and sadness. I can’t deny the fact that I am going to miss her a lot, however I could call or text her whenever I wanted to and she promised to also keep in touch. Tonight being the 29th of December unable to fall asleep by 1am, my mother and I sat on the mat in our room reviewing how the year had been so far. In this year, I lost my father just when he had returned to us. In the same year, I made acquaintances, learnt a lot of lessons and saved the community from the ills of the demolition. My mother’s bar had recently been progressing and the peace she made with her family is enough to declare the entire year a blessing. “Fetty we have been through a lot this year” began my mother. “And we achieved a lot too.” I said. She nodded. ‘Previous years were worse.” She said. I nodded in affirmation. Our lives had improved and was way better than it used to. In a place that seems like a
SADUWOWhat a way to celebrate the new year
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CHAPTER 60: DAWN Peter and I danced and had fun. He got us some soft drinks and we enjoyed the event till day break. We talked about lots of things enjoying each others company till it was time to leave. Peter will spend the new year with his grandmother so he left London that morning. My mother fried some sweet potatoes known as potatoe chips and complemented it with a meat sauce. According to her, the new year will usher us into bountiful yeilds. We sat on the mat in our room. My mother, Osifa, K**i, Tami and I formed a circle while we ate the delicious potato chips and sauce. While we ate, we joked, laughed and drank the soft drinks my mother had kept for us in her fridge at the bar which made them cold. After our new year breakfast, our mother went to the bar while we began packing. We will be going to our village the next day. What a way to begin the new year? I thought. We have contacted Uncle Awang earlier notifying him of our desire to grace the village and he assure
Last Updated : 2021-11-29DAWN THE REVELATION
I am gradually realizing that my street seems to develop this strange stench over the years and this stink increases with time. The filth reflecting in the worn out clothes of the children aimlessly roaming the streets can choke one to death. From the famous Razzi beer parlor down the street to the GreenLand brothel adjacent my mother's bar, these places birth the disgusting stench of my environment and gradually it is becoming inhabitable. As I struggle to jump across piles of dirt littered all over, I could feel different hands and shoulders all over me. Everyone is always in a hurry in a space so small. I quickly stretched my hand out to greet a fellow who stretched his hand out on a moving bike. We smiled at each other.I got home at exactly 6:30pm and the last thing on my schedule is resting. I took out my shoes that were already soiled with water, dirt and oil. I raised the curtain of our one room apartment and I was greeted by an empty r
Last Updated : 2021-06-30DAWN AWAKENED
I gazed up to our old wooden clock. It was half past 10pm already and my mother was yet to return. When my mother arrives late, she always struggle with customers especially drunk ones who wouldn't want to come home. When thier resistance becomes unbearable, she locks her bar after taking all her stuffs in and deserts the drunk customers addressing thier unseen friends. Shortly later, my mother arrived home. I could hear her fetching water from our drum into the bathing bucket. Each cup of water she fetched was immediately followed by another. She was tired.My mother came in with a wrapper across her chest and hurried to the bed like a child into the arms of his mother. She laid on her back and while facing the ceiling she said "Fetty why aren't you asleep. "? "I was waiting for you Ma. " I quickly replied. She knew I wanted to talk. When I wanted to collect money from her for my final secondary school examination, I waited for her that night to return from her b
Last Updated : 2021-06-30DAWN FAMILY
"Oga give me the money please. Stop wasting my time. I have other customers to attend to. " I said while struggling to get a customer to pay his bill. It was obvious he was drunk but that wasn't my concern. He drank four bottles of Guiness and wasn't willing to pay. "Fine girl I will pay you. Come and sit close to me now. " he replied slowly. "Keep me my money Jor. " I barked. "Sorry oo small madam I will pay you. You are rude. Try and be nice like your mother. " he said while handing me a thousand naira note. "Oga your money is not complete. " I said. "How much did I give you first? " he began. I groaned in frustration and began explaining things to him. I knew the explanation was irrelevant because he was drunk but I still made my point clear. I collected the balance from him and moved to the next customer. This forms one of the major reasons why I hate our bar. You struggle to get customers to pay thier bill then struggle to get them to leave when you want to close. I han
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"Sister where are we going to this night? " asked Tami. "I think its a party" replied Osifa. Meanwhile, I had dressed them in thier best outfits which they used for Christmas recently. We reached Greenland brothel around 8:30pm. My father will be waiting for us at the Greenland front gate at exactly 8:30pm. He wrote that in the note he left. It was obvious I had mixed feelings. My body was slightly trembling and my voice shook when I began addressing my younger ones. "There's something I will be collecting from one man. " I began. I held my ear while speaking to prove I was passing a warning to them. "Under no circumstance must Mother find out that we came here tonight. Do you understand. " "Yes sister " they chorused. "I will get you guys buns and chocolate on the way. " They smiled and I knew our little secret was safe. "But sister, " began Osifa, look at our bar over there. " she said while pointing towards it's direction. "What if Mother sees us.
Last Updated : 2021-07-01DAWN A FALL
"Thank God they brought her here immediately. " said Dr. Charles. He is the only Medical doctor in London clinic. Ever since we discovered my Mother had diabetes, I became more acquainted with Dr. Charles. I sometimes go to the clinic to get drugs for my mother and while she was admitted few months back , I spent three days there with her while my siblings visited during the day and slept in Mama Ajabo's home at night . When my mother had a heart attack that time, we rushed her to the clinic with some neigbohors on a motorcycle. She looked lifeless and today when I saw her in such state, I felt empty. Eventually today, a customer came to the bar with his car so when she fainted, she was placed in the car before my siblings and I came running in tears. "She had another heart attack. " said Dr.Charles. "Is there any older relative around? Maybe her husband, sister or friend? " "I am her daughter. " I quickly replied. He looked at me and I knew what
Last Updated : 2021-07-02DAWN ROOM 127
I always knew Greenland brothel had its protocols like checks with the securities at the gate. I've been there for parties couple of times. Layo and I would normally flash our invitation cards at the gate then hurry in. Unlike the other time when I stood outside the front gate with my siblings to meet our father, I was inside the main building this time around because I meant business. I went straight to the gate keeper and when he asked me which room I was going to, I was silent. "Who do you want to see. " he asked. "I know who I want to see Oga just allow me inside the main building. " I replied. "All this small small girls without respect living here. So am talking to you and you are answering as you please. Is it because Men are coming to pick you girls on and on so you think you've made it abi? " I was furious and I spoke to him harshly. "Oga in the first place I dnt live here. Respect yourself and stop saying what you don't know. Don't you e
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Filled with rage, I hurried out while Layo ran after me. "Hold on Fetty. " he said as he ran behind me. I fastened my steps. "Don't create a scene. Remember your mother must not find out anything especially in her condition. " I stopped, turned around and nodded in affirmation. I clearly understood the point he was making. Outside our compound, my father stood in a dark overall by the corner. I went straight to where he was standing and said "What do you want.? " I turned towards Layo who was panting behind . "You brought him here didn't you? How dare you show him our house. " "I had no choice " responded Layo while scratching his head with the tip of his finger. Before my Father left for Libya, we lived in fourth street. The streets in London are numbered from 1 to 4. While we were staying in London's fourth street, we lived in an apartment with a living room and a bedroom. It was more comfortable than what we have now. My parents sleep in the bedroom while we spr
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CHAPTER 60: DAWN Peter and I danced and had fun. He got us some soft drinks and we enjoyed the event till day break. We talked about lots of things enjoying each others company till it was time to leave. Peter will spend the new year with his grandmother so he left London that morning. My mother fried some sweet potatoes known as potatoe chips and complemented it with a meat sauce. According to her, the new year will usher us into bountiful yeilds. We sat on the mat in our room. My mother, Osifa, K**i, Tami and I formed a circle while we ate the delicious potato chips and sauce. While we ate, we joked, laughed and drank the soft drinks my mother had kept for us in her fridge at the bar which made them cold. After our new year breakfast, our mother went to the bar while we began packing. We will be going to our village the next day. What a way to begin the new year? I thought. We have contacted Uncle Awang earlier notifying him of our desire to grace the village and he assure
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CHAPTER 59: NEW YEAR Dr. Amrah was gone and the Christmas day ended in bliss and sadness. I can’t deny the fact that I am going to miss her a lot, however I could call or text her whenever I wanted to and she promised to also keep in touch. Tonight being the 29th of December unable to fall asleep by 1am, my mother and I sat on the mat in our room reviewing how the year had been so far. In this year, I lost my father just when he had returned to us. In the same year, I made acquaintances, learnt a lot of lessons and saved the community from the ills of the demolition. My mother’s bar had recently been progressing and the peace she made with her family is enough to declare the entire year a blessing. “Fetty we have been through a lot this year” began my mother. “And we achieved a lot too.” I said. She nodded. ‘Previous years were worse.” She said. I nodded in affirmation. Our lives had improved and was way better than it used to. In a place that seems like a
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Christmas in London rings a bell. Despite the poverty that roams around like a wild fire, the people here make Christmas the memorable event that it is. Around the month of October and November, people troop into the town to purchase Christmas foodstuffs and clothes for their children. A child without new clothes on Christmas day will definitely feel out of place so parents place all hands on deck and ensure they save up for the annual event. On Christmas day, there is an exchange of food among neighbors. For instance, my mother cooks and gives to T.K and Mama Funke while they too give us. Such is the tradition. Food and drinks are shared among people celebrating the birth of Christ with love. The children roam around from one house to the other carrying out a ritual which is “Christmas dash” whereby people hand out sweets, gifts or money to the children who knock on their door for Christmas dash just like halloween. At night, teenage boys blow knockout an
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I woke up feeling anxious. It is the day of the final Secondary school examination. I have been studying for a long time and today, the hour has come. Yesterday, I had ironed my school uniform and gotten new pairs of stockings. I was ready but somehow anxious. "You'll be fine. " assured my mother after she must have noticed how tensed I was. I heaved a sigh and nodded then dashed to the kitchen to make breakfast. According to the examination time table, my first paper will commence at exactly 9am. Three days ago, Layo and I spoke and he kept apologizing. I knew tears were flowing down his cheeks they way they did through mine. He told me how far away he was from London, how many villages and towns he passed to get to the state university and how developed the buildings there were. He also told me of how Peter had connected him with a guy that will help him sort things while he is there. We ended the call after he wished me the best in my forthcoming
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I hurried out of the library without signing out. I kept dialing Layo's number but it was unreachable so I took the route to his house. I met his mother cooking inside their compound. "Good morning Ma. " I greeted her panting heavily after a long trek. "Morning my child. " she replied offering me a stool. I sat and said "Where is Layo? " "He is gone. " she immediately replied with her eyes on the firewood that was burning with her cooking pot on it. "I don't understand. He texted me that he left. Left to where? " I asked in a confused tone. "School. " she replied looking at me. "Wait. Layo left for school without telling me? No that's a mistake. " I said confidently. "I pleaded with him to tell you but he said it would better if he didn't. He felt the pain of you guys departing will be less if you are unaware he is leaving. " she said. "Is he crazy? " I yelled. "Why would he take such a decision? " I added with my eyes welling with tears. "I am deeply sorry Fett
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When I got home, I entered our room after throwing off my heels by the door. I saw my mother sitting up on the bed reading the holy bible. Tami and K**i were already far away in dream land. "You are back. " she said. I nodded without uttering a word then went further to take off my dress. "So tell me how your day went. " said my mother. "Fine. " I replied rolling my hair up with the aim of putting a hair net on. "That's a lie. " she said. "If it went well as you alleged, you would have filled my ear drums with news about the event, the dresses people wore, those who had ugly make ups on and the rich fried rice. " she added. I changed into my night wear and sat on the mat. "It was a disaster. " I began. "Really? Tell me about it. " my mother said. "I don't even know how to start this. The thing is, people fought and it was over me. " I revealed with my head lowered feeling awkward. My mother laughed then said "You still didn't tell me what happened. Start from the top.
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Peter drove us to the Greenland open arena and he parked his car where the staff in the brothel park theirs. He was a VIP after all since his father owns the damn brothel. Julia quickly got down from the car and Peter hurried after her. Emjay went to collect a seat number from the ushers around while Layo and I stood waiting for directions. If we were there alone we would have gone to the ushers, gotten our seat numbers and sat awaiting the opening of the grand event. "Madam Fetty. " began Layo in a shrill voice. "Oh boy! " I mumbled knowing he was up to something. "You just made one girl jealous you know? " he said. "I don't know what you are saying. " I replied adjusting my hair which laid on my back. "But I like the arena you know? The car arena. You should have seen her face when Peter said you looked perfect." said Layo who moved very closer to me. "Shut up. " I replied. "Seat 21" said Emjay while walking towards us. "Look Peter is calling us from the
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They say London has a way of pleasing everybody. It suits the wild and the calm. The Greenland dinner is an annual event just like the annual ghetto fiesta. However, this event is more calm, a bit sensitive and kind of boring as others say. It is an event where young men and women dress in fine apparels like suits and gowns then spend the night eating, talking and meeting people. Unlike the annual Ghetto fiesta that houses people from different age groups, this event is for the teens and youths. Two weeks to every Christmas, the events takes place. During every event that I have attended so far, Layo had always been my date. We've been barely spectators so we purchase the tickets which was very affordable because according to Razzi, it was his way of appreciating the youths in the community so the tickets are afforadable then we dress up, have the sumptuous dinner of fried rice and chicken and watch the event till it ends. During the event, there is jazz playing, a piano man played
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I hurried home after Emjay told me he was around our compound. It's been seven months since we last saw each other and hadn't spoken ever since. He never called so did I. He went to study abroad so why was he back? I thought. I had imagined he would take four years to study and come home maybe once a year. Judging by his excitement months earlier, I never thought he could return this early. When I got home, Emajay was seated on the bench outside our door. There he was. Same old Emjay. Nothing has changed about him. He still looked the same. In fact, he got darker. Normally, my heartbeat would quicken at the sight of him but here I was feeling normal. "Hey! " I said hurrying towards him. I sat close to him on the bench and he greeted me with his warm smile. "You are here. " I said. "Yea, av been in London neighborhood for two days now just that I didn't get out till now. " he said staring at me. "Oh really! " I said. "He nodded, lowered his said and said nothing. "So how is sch
