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2021-08-06 17:30:51“Your daughter is my neighbor.” I began after sipping the cold water I was given then immediately dropped it on the little chair beside me “We share the same compound with your daughter. “ I added. The woman was on edge and her eyes kept rolling all over me. She wanted to hear more. “You know she has a daughter?” I asked. “She was two months pregnant when she left home. Her father and I never got to know the baby’s gender.” replied the woman. “Uhmm I see. She has a beautiful girl... Ajabo.” I said. “I have a granddaughter?” said the woman happily. “I will love to meet them but …” she stopped talking and peeped at the large room close to the living room. I instantly understood what she was doing. She was ensuring her husband wasn’t aware of the entire event going on in the living room. Mama Ajabo once told me of how strict her father is, how her mother was terrified of him and how he vowed to never allow her set foot in their home after she threatened to elope. I knew I had to leave
SADUWOFettys's Father has been murdered .... By who? Why?
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DAWN DETECTIVE FETTY
My father was buried amidst tears, wails and prayers. He was laid to rest in the London cemetery at the outskirt of the neighborhood. At his funeral service, the reverend consoled us with words from the scriptures, my mother was the first to bid him farewell with a hand full of sand as his coffin was lowered into the grave. She cried, stating how she has forgiving him and cursed his murderers. My siblings just discovered that the new neighbor and their favorite tale teller is their father. They cried uncontrollably and Tami our little brother, he cried because everyone around him cried. We were accompanied home from the cemetery in our black apparels and for a long time, no one said anything. While my father was being lowered to his grave, it dawned on me that I was never going to see him again. This journey wasn’t like his trip to Libya. He was going to a land of no return. Ever since my father was murdered, I kept blaming myself for being unreasonable, for being too rude to him an
Last Updated : 2021-08-08DAWN HAUNTED
I held my father’s diary and the weight of the content was making me sink in a literal way. “Lock the door let us go.” said my mother finally after several minutes of silence. I locked the door and my mother and I went to our room. “What should we do Fetty?” said my mother in a confused tone. I felt elated the moment my mother asked me what to do next. I never knew a moment will come when she will have to seek for my counsel. I sat by the edge of the bed then said “Before father died, he tried to warn me.” I began. “He said we were in danger and he moved in to our compound for a reason but I dint listen….I wish I did.” I lamented while rubbing my forehead with my left palm. My mother moved closer to me, held my hands and said “We will be fine Fetty.” “I know why you ignored his warning. The circumstance wasn’t favorable.” She added. “I will open the diary but you must promise me mother.” I said with fixed gaze. She nodded in affirmation.”Whatever outcome the content of this diary pr
Last Updated : 2021-08-11DAWN A NEW CHAPTER
The reverend sprinkled holy water on the congregation waning off evil spirits and other forms of attack. ‘Your bodies and household are covered with the blood of the lamb.” He charged while going round the congregation, sprinkling the holy water. “Amen.” We all answered. After the usual Sunday service, I wasn’t prepared to wait behind and greet people formally the way my mother forced my siblings and I to do every Sunday. I had a mission this Sunday. I was accompanying Mama Ajabo and her daughter to her family home in the town. Three days back, her parents came down to London and formally asked her to return and when her husband dared to object, her father threatened to have him arrested and jailed for abuse. Mama Ajabo was leaving London this Sunday. She was leaving forever. A new chapter awaits her and even if it wasn’t going to be a smooth one all through, it would be better than the chaotic life she had in London. On our way back from church, I ran into an old friend. Dennis Laz
Last Updated : 2021-08-13DAWN A CLUE
I ironed my skimpy denim gown with so much caution paying attention to the rumpled edges. I neatly placed in on top of my bag and proceeded to make my hair. I have a long thick hair and even though I couldn't afford wigs and various kinds of hair extensions, I was glad braids give me an awesome look. I braid my hair every week. Tonight, I'll be going to the annual ghetto Fiesta. The event is to hold in Greenland. It was the event of the moment. It held once a year and we always looked forward to it. I will braid my hair and put on my well ironed denim gown. My golden sandals would definitely make my look complete, simple and a bit dashing. I knocked on Jamila's door and she invited me in. Jamila Ali had magic hands and I believe her braids were made for me. She braided my hair every week and her styles never stop coming. I sat on the little mat spread on the floor. She went inside, grabbed her wrapper because she had only a short skirt on then she came out and sat on the long
Last Updated : 2021-08-17DAWN ANNUAL GHETTO FIESTA
I tip_toed behind the four men with caution. I hid behind the large pillars when any of them looked back. There was something suspicious about the way the moved and talked. They seemed tense and were hurrying to get out of sight unnoticed. They walked into the store room inside Greenland brothel. I walked behind them, watching my steps and making sure I wasn't seen. Immediately they entered the store room, they locked the door from the inside and there was no way I could get in. I was glad my little cell phone had an audio recording feature in it so I took out my sim card to ensure there were no incoming calls. I carefully placed my cell phone in a small space on the opening of the store window after activating the record button. I quietly left the scene and went back to the open arena. I kept checking the hallway anxiously then I saw them coming out, laughing out loud while cracking jokes. I immediately went to the store room and grabbed my cell phone. It had been recording for abo
Last Updated : 2021-08-19DAWN PAIN
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
Last Updated : 2021-08-21DAWN THE GENESIS OF MENTAL ILLNESS
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
Last Updated : 2021-08-24DAWN POETRY
"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
Last Updated : 2021-08-26
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DAWN DAWN
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
DAWN NEW YEAR
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
DAWN CHRISTMAS
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
DAWN FINAL EXAMS
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
DAWN REINVIGORATION
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
DAWN A CALL TO ORDER
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.
DAWN BOYS AT WAR
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
DAWN GREENLAND DINNER PARTY
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
DAWN TWO BOYS AND A GIRL
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
