CHAPTER 24
I held the girl's arm tightly and we ran for almost a minute or more. While we were running, the strange girl kept muttering things I couldn't comprehend. She was still intoxicated with alcohol. We stopped running after I realized we were both tired and were panting heavily. We stood and were resting by a corner. "Where do you live?" I asked while struggling to catch my breath. "1st street."she slowly replied. "What? That's quite far you know? How did you end up there? " I retorted. She didn't utter a word. I felt angry. I held her hand once more but this time not too tightly and we walked down to her street. As we walked down to her street, I couldn't help but imagine what would have happened if I didn't show up that moment. She would have been raped and might get pregnant. I remembered the one night stand Jamila and I joked about in the afternoon and how the annual ghetto fiesta was said to be a major cause of the babies we have around. She was a bit sobbe
Fetty is ill.
CHAPTER 25: THE GENESIS OF MENTAL ILLNESS "She'll be fine." said Dr. Amrah after injecting me in my hand via my vein. "She is much stable right now. Tommorow by Gods grace, we shall carry out some tests on her and give you the results." she added. "Thank You Doctor replied my mother. I loved the way my Mother always carried me on her back as a child. I was six years older than Osifa so I had the liberty of enjoying the entitlements of an only child for a while. Tonight, my Mother carried me on her back from our home all the way to the clinic. I felt awkward when she lifted me and placed me on her bag like she did when I was a baby. I lay on her back like a cooked vegetable. I was weak, helpless and very ill. When my mother returned from the bar, I was on the bed sweating and breathing heavily. My head was aching terribly, my joints ached too and my temperature could set the room ablaze. "Sister Fetty is sick." I heard Tami say. "She didn't eat since afternoon." Kiki sa
"Anxiety disorder" she began is a dimension of mental health disorder that is characterized by feelings of worry, fear and anxiety." I nodded my head even though I couldn't process all she was saying. 'Was I going crazy? " I thought. "Anxiety disorder can be strong enough to interfere with a person's daily activities." She added. "So what can I do to stop it"? I interrupted. "Well since you asked of my oipinion, I'll say you see a specialist... uhm.. Like a therapist.. Psychologist.. " "No I interrupted. " she looked at me surprised. I have read about few kinds of mental illnesses in a book I came across in the library. In some of the novels I read, I read how characters undergo therapy sessions, having baseless conversations and to me the entire activity was a bit dumb. There was a time a character suffering from depression in one of the books was asked what he ate during his first therapy session. I wasn't willing to go down that boring line of therapy sessions and besides g
I walked home basking in the enthusiasm of my new found love. 'My piece of poetry". I held the paper firmly and kept glancing and marveling at it's content. I never knew I could ever write a piece as so. 'Sometimes, circumstances bring out the best in people' they say. After going through the chapter of anxiety disorder contained in the book titled 'THE MIND', I came to realize I had been a victim of this disorder for quite a long period of time. My fears, worries and assumptions kept triggering the disorder and I never realised. My teacher from Junior Secondary School will say "It pays to be informed." and at this point, I can gladly attest how valuable information is. After severally reading the article on anxiety disorder from the book, I got a mental picture of what I was dealing it. I was able to analyze the ailment and work towards realizing the proffered solutions. I hurried home. I just can't wait for my first session with Dr. Amrah the next day. I went inside ou
I wiped the tears running down my cheeks with my left palm. Dr. Amrah watched me keenly without saying a word. She was letting me have a moment. What will she do next? I thought. "Fetty let's go." She said. I wasn't sure whether I properly heard her. "Home? " I retorted. "Yes we are going home. " she said again. I wanted to ask her how she felt after I divulged my secrets to her. I wanted to know what her response will be but instead she said nothing, she wanted us to go home. I got up, folded the traditional indian mat and placed it in the trunk of her car. We drove back into London without uttering a word to each other. "Can you please drop me at the bar? " I pleaded. "Sure." She replied. "But you'll have to show me the way." She added. I nodded. We got to the bar after I gave her directions using my hands and she parked right in front of our bar. Before I hopped down, she held my hand, hugged me tightly saying "I am proud of you." I smiled not knowing what to say or do at t
The demolition notices that came round the neighborhood is a sham. My mother, Shadrach James and I got to know about it with the guidance we had from my late father's diary. Razzi, S.M. G Dangana, Benson Daniel and the Major General form the cabal that rob people of thier entitlements and property in the neighborhood. We got to discover that they print out demolition notices, give it around with the aid of some allies from the government construction site and Urban palnning development then threaten to evict or demolish the buildings. Residents on the other hand, innocently fall victims to such tricks then pay certain amounts to the cabal who parade themselves as saints soliciting on behalf of poor people. If only the victims knew the notices came from the people they put thier faith into. If only these people know that the money they offer to these men as compensation to the construction and demolition body goes no where. My father got to know about the conspiracy and this le
"From what I learned at the bar today, " began my mother. "The notice is exactly what Shadrach described. One month expiration duration and yes people have started seeing Razzi." she said. "This is serious." I said after heaving a deep sigh. "Do you know the most astonishing thing? " she continued. " "No." I repiled. "One customer was hailing Razzi in the bar today. In his words. "Our homes and stores would have gone down the drain if not the Razzi." said my mother. "Poor people." I said. "Poor people indeed." she replied. "What must we do? " I asked. "Nothing Fetty. We can't do anything. This thing is beyond us." answered my mother. "Let's get some sleep. It's really late." she added. I lay close to my sisters thinking about the conspiracy. In my recent poem, I wrote a line that says "You can't play the creator's role." and the Reverend will say "God will not come down from heaven and perform all tasks. Sometimes, you'll have to take it by force." I tossed from on
I was able to convince my mother to let me take Razzi's son on a tour. "You barely know him. " she objected. "He might be the miracle we need to unravel the demolition conspiracy." I had said. If Razzi's son wants a tour, I'll give him a tour. I am even ready to know him and perhaps be his friend as long as I would get what I want. "Are you ready? " he asked from outside. "Almost." I replied while looking for my little purse beside our centre table. "Let's go." I announced. It was few minutes past 4pm. "For how long will the tour lasts? " he inquired. "A year." I jokingly replied. He chuckled. "Touring the whole of London will take long but since your Internship program will last for six months, am sure we have all the time in the world." I maintained while locking our door. "I shall take you to the essential areas today." I began. "We should be back in an hour or more." I added. "Okay." he said. I took him to the book store and we stood outside the building. "This is
"Fetty I am so proud of you. " began Dr. Amrah. I came to her office as soon as I dropped my cookies for the day in the bar. "When did you realize you could write? " she asked. "Can I? " I replied. "Of course my dear. Your content is always genuine, deep and inspirational." she said. I smiled feeling proud. "I'll advice you write more. Write as often as possible. Consistency will bring out the best in you. " she affirmed. "So how do I get inspired? What can I write about.? " I said. "You'll always find your way." she replied with her usual bright smile. "You think I can write the way renowned authors do? " I said. "You can be anything you want." she immediately replied. "As long as you put your heart and soul into it. " she added. I nodded. "You know Fetty, Literature for me depicts another dimension of life." she continued. "Writing is not just a art. It's a gift and that's why we have those who can write and those who were born to write. " she said. I nodded.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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