CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER ONE

          Old building detachable to another, Amina and Fatima seen in front of an old bungalow, they wore hijab. sits on a pavement chatting in Hausa language. Fatima third wife of late Mr Ahmed Gowon. a Muslim man, a retired soldier.  She was given to marriage at a very tender age, she’s at her thirty. Amina friend, Fatima's best friend

          Nnenna walks out of an old duplex, with a tray of an unpeeled melon. sits on a bench in front of her home. Nnenna a thirty-five, married to Mazie Okorie.  a civil servant, still in the government depth record, four months past still haven’t received salary, then talk of pension, force to be a brick-layer just to survive with his family. At forty-five years moves around town, looking for work, after his retirement. They were blessed with five Kids

          Kaima, Emeka, Ugo, Mary and chinasa walks in. In their school uniform, backpack hang on their back. At once Nnenna heart was troubled, she knew what had brought them home that early. She has to go to the school and pleaded with the principal “to let them stay for two weeks”. At the agreement time, she promise to pay, she still disappoint. They have to spend most of their school days at home or rum around the school, till they get tired. Kaima would always want to wait, “wishing they will be call back”, but end up having a fight with chinasa who never want to take the risk of losing any of them. when they are chased out of the school, she has to fought and urge with Kaima and Ugo, before she could drag them home. Kaima wants to stay because she doesn’t like missing lesson and note writing in the class. Ugo just want to play around they play ground with his friends During break. Emeka always want to be out of school to get away from bullies and flog he receive from senior students, as well as the teachers.

        Mr Carson. the mathematics teacher, Emeka in his class. he wishes he fall sick to miss classes, just to avoid him. Even when he pretends to be solving some class work he gives, he still comes him up, to answer the question written on the board, as expected he always end up solving it wrong. He received a very hot slash of cane at his bottom.

         You won’t be in Mr Carson class and be dumb. you must sit up and be smart, if you fail one class work you will receive two lash, you fail two that is four stroke. Imagine when you fail all the five classwork, “you won’t want to dare”, you bottom will be burnt with cane. Emeka believes everyone hated him even his own family, he has to keep his pains to himself and cry out his emotions alone with no one to console him. He lives his life feeling less self-esteem, feelings like a failure and a disappointment to his family. Mary smart and obedient, whatever decision take by her siblings she's ok, she is loved by everyone, of cause she’s the last born, she don’t torrent from any one, not even her teachers, she don’t accept been underrated by anyone. When the Social Studies teacher, Miss Patrick flog her for fighting back. “Aunty, I didn’t do anything to her, I was on my own, she came and drag my book from me” she said in tears.

“you should have report her to me” Mrs Patrick said

“you didn’t ask, you just came in and start flogging me” she retort as the tears keep flowing, Mrs Patrick knew she was wrong but she scowl her

Thinking it will end there

“I will tell Sister Chinasa” she brutal

“will you shut up or I will give you more stroke of the cane” she yells at her leaving “who is chinasa rubbish,” she left the class. Mary murmured they whole day not that the cane was painful but because she was punished for fighting for her right. Chinasa was her second mother, she always gets her back and avenge when necessary or pet or buy her sack to calm her down and stop her crying. Kaima always judge her, That’s why they never get along. they walked slowly and dizzy.

“My children, what’s the problem? why are you back by this time?”

Ugo sit on one of the two stairs in front of the house “we were sent home” said fumble his school wear, his face clue with distress.

         “As if you know nothing about it” frown leaning on a pillar, fold her hands “is better we stay home. Is preferable than going to that school to disgrace ourselves” Chinasa brutal adding

        “Did those came out of your mouth or it was a slip of tongue?” she placed the tray beside her as she faces Chinasa, her face terrifies with those words.

Chinasa move a distance from where she stands “see is better, than going to that school to disgrace us in the name of pleading”

Nnenna pick a slippers shot it at chinasa, she hides herself, ran to the house

     “Take a look. so I’m the one disgracing you?  go out there you will see young girls like you, who support their family”

“But mama there’s truth in what she said” Emeka sit up know he might be the next target, stay balanced in case there is an ambush, Nnenna turn to him her face fills with angry and grief, like he adds fuel in a burning fire

“Let me not get you” she yells, fumble her wrapper which was tire around her waist,

         “Last week you went and pleaded with the principal to let us stay for the week and now you haven’t....”, she glare at him, her eye look like pistol, if that was Gun she would have shot him with it, she ran towards him, with so much aggression, Emeka ran as much as his leg could carry him, Nnenna stop, walks back. Emeka walks towards her as he spies her steps

“But, Bro Emeka. you should understand how difficult things are, they are also doing their best, “I know is not that easy, but I know the God I serve will never shame us, I will go to the school tomorrow to plead with them” she console him, they speak in Igbo language. she carried the empty plate in tray and left, he leans on the armchair, face the roof, his heart felt heavy and broken as he run through idea coming into his mind

*************

             Adex and Yusuf strolling down a lonely road in school uniform, they sun hit heavily on them as they walk down the street, there wears wet with sweat, Yusuf always in his bold step, in his fitted uniform that exhibit his body built and chest.  predict age eighteen but look older than his age, cross his backpack across his shoulder. Adex smile which exhibit his dimple, which makes him cuter and can melt a heart, tall, always in a low cut hair, at his sixteen, hang his backpack. Adex is a newbie in the school while Yusuf has been an old student, because of his good grades and summation to the school he has won attention

Adex giggling “Dude you have to be careful”

“I’m a fresh guy” lick his lips, caresses his cheek “I got the swag” he added, Adex blast laughing, they walked to a junction

“your book first, education is the key” Adex caution as he hangs the backpack to his left shoulder

“Of cause a little bit of fun won’t hurt. Look, you have to enjoy now you’re young”. he retorted, feelings right with himself, he adjusts his shirt place one of his hand on his chest

“You know we’re in the last period, by next we will be taken our senior exam. This is the right time to be with your books,” caution, Yusuf fold his arm starring at him with a smile

“See who’s talking, they truth is that you haven’t been in love before, you can say whatever you like” Yusuf sounding so emotional, Adex looks at him with the tip of his eyes smiled

          “Love no, no, no this not the right time for this, Yusuf you need to focus in your study” tact smiling, Yusuf put his two hands in his pocket, gaze at the sky, hold Adex shoulder

“You won’t understand, when you get there you will know what’s like” he exclaimed.

Bisi walks pass them, with a sack bag and a hand bag, as she smuggling with the burden. of which was pulling her shoulder, Adex hush towards her

“welcome mom” Adex firmed as he took the sack bag from her

“Good afternoon ma, how was business?” Yusuf tact meekly, so childish smiling, Bisi smile back

“Thank God for today, how was school?” she retorts, try hiding his eyes from the hot sun, blind by the lights of the sun,

“Adex see you tomorrow, take care ma “he tact

         “Okay now, see you tomorrow” he retorts Yusuf left.  wife of late major general Tunde ladepo, died in a car accident, which left his family stabilize financially, the have to live their comfort zone to the only property left for them by the family, life took turns out of them. She was left with no choice, then to sold out the asset left, before she relocated to the family home with her two children. Adex and Bolade, she was just eight years when her father died, Adex twelve years.

“Bye my dear” she retorts smirk.  turns to Adex as the walk towards a duplex, painted white

 “You, so you don’t want to listen to me, this people they are not called somebody friend, when their people comes he will be the first to rebuke you” she caution

“Mom, this people has done nothing to you, I don’t know why you harbour them this much” he brutal

            She looks at him with empathy. “What an elder see when sitting, even when a child climbed a tree, he won’t see it” she exclaimed, walk into the protector mount in the building, sat on the bench

Adex went in keep the bag beside the front door, it leans on a wall the bag wide open, as he released the two handle which looks like it was captured and now set free.

                                  

“Mom, that’s not what is like, I know you know better than me. your points are always adopting from tribalism and religious, you have to change your intellect set. it not solving problem” he reluctantly viciously. lean on the wall, she glares at him, so fierce mincing her teeth

“Shut up. I too know that is what will kill you, don’t listen to me” she said in Yoruba language “Bolade, my daughter please get me water” she grumble

“Yes ma,” voice reply behind the scene, few minutes Bolade walks in

            “Welcome Ma, good afternoon” she tact, in Yoruba language, beaming with smile she replied. Bolade her father’s copy, chubby and tall, looks more mature than her age, mistake to be older than Adex, known to be notice anywhere she's presence. Bisi drink the sachet water, she brought on a flat plate. she squeezed ever drop of water into her mouth, dump The sachet water under the bench, shows satisfactions by the look on her face Bolade sits beside her. “I have warned you, don’t say I didn’t “she said furiously, in Yoruba language. she stood up in so much energy

 “Mom, what happened?” she asked curiously. waits patiently, she held the bench, point her face up to face Bisi, by the look on her face shows how stressed she was

“he will explain better” she exclaimed walking into the house, Bolade turns to face him

“Adex, what is it this time?” she query

“what!!!” he retaliates. “Mom, Yusuf is a good guy. don’t always think everyone is same” he added

Bolade smirk, twist her mouth “Mom, not again, what has Yusuf done to you, you haven’t stop this discrimination of a thing” he grumbling joins her, Adex sits on the bench, staring at nature.

“where is he? is he gone?” she sits, besides him, interrogating him.

“What” he grunts furiously.

Bolade glare at him, frowned walks into the house, she has always found Yusuf attractive. She so wishes she attend same school, with her brother, to have the chance to be with him, maybe might end up been his girlfriend.  Which Adex would never want it to happen. Yusuf was just a Playboy.

*************

           “That biology teacher is so mean, can you believe after making us lean on that dirty grass, that hot sun. she said we must duplicate the note before we go for break. knowing how big that Subject is even after break we will still be writing” Alisha exclaimed. her hold her hands so furious, her hijab floats down to kneels. Alisha daughter to Fatima, the fourth child of the family

           “You should have known her by now, your notes should always be up to date. look at me, how many times, have I been in school, I have almost spent the whole team at home, I try as much as possible to make sure my notes are updated” she brutal, gazing at her to see her reaction

“So you have started this your I too know” fling her hand as she demonstrates, in aggressive behaviour frowned, Kaima grins, Nnenna walks out of the house

with a sack bag walks towards them “Good afternoon ma” Alisha greeted

“Afternoon, my dear, how are you?” she retorted, adjusting her shirt,

“Fine thank you, ma” she response

“Umm… Kaima I’m off to market, take care of the house” Nnenna tact in Igbo language fumble her hand bag under her armpit, robbing the left over powder in her palm, she went to a glass window, looking at herself

Kaima grinning, as she watches Nnenna, fashioning herself in the mirror. “mama di mama, you’re a beautiful woman” she hails, in her in Igbo language Nnenna turn giggling

“Let me ran alone, I don’t want to be late “she exclaimed, hushing out of the stage

“good market” Kaima grumble. Waving at her

“Kama, when are you going to return to school” Alisha query

“My dear, I don’t have an idea” she exclaimed, her mood changed, as if she was presented with a question she was hiding from

           “What does that mean, are you telling me you’re never going back to school” she asked curiously, waiting patiently to get her respond, her eyes fix on her

         “My dad is on it, in no time we will go back to school” she tries not caught her eyes, clap her back palm on her front palm, felt shade

you know the exam is fast approaching, you still have to cover up all you school work” she exclaimed, has the empathy show in her face she, her fix on Kaima's, her body felt cold feelings shamed, she faced steady at the ground, turns to face Alisha, fold her lips

         "It also not easy for them too, I know all this thing but I know that everything will fall in place"

Fatima sight singing in Hausa language as she steps in motion, sees Alisha and Kaima her mood change, the moment Alisha sight her she stood. "Kama, I will be going now, see you around" hushed out

" Good day ma, welcome" Kaima great

"hmm... thank you" glare at her joined Alisha. in the living room Fatima walks, her eyes so dime and scary, burning with anger" Alisha! Alisha!!, where is this girl" she yell furiously, Alisha rush in trembling in fear " what, where you doing there?"  she roars in Hausa language

          " Mommy, we were just chatting" she whispered in Hausa language, Fatima eye mounted fear in her, she taught she would hit her

          " You are such a foolish girl; you know what would had happened to you if your father was here" mute. "Alisha, respect yourself, be careful, I wouldn't repeat myself" she walks into a room.

               *****

           Kaima and Nnenna in the living room peeling a melon

              

" Mommy, I don't know why she hate me” knock the melon so hard on the tray “when are greets her, she replied so fierce” she expands

" I don't like your association with that girl, I just don't like her for a bit, I even wanted to discuss that with you" Nnenna protest peeling

"Mom, I'm sure you don't have reason for that” moaned. " you know Alisha is not a bad person, is just this mentality we had, that try to create other tribe and religion, evil". Kaima caution

"What do you know, you see my dear. the claim to know God, yet the engage in destruction and taken human lives. what kind of belief is that, and the claim to know God more" she exclaimed furiously.

           Kaima try seeing meaning in what, she said. "Mom, they have diversity in religious. not all believe in killing and destruction, just like ours we also have diversity” she demonstrated

            " What more, are you taught in that school? we know their history, I will educate you and even more” speak competitively, fond and so furious

            "Mom, I don't doubt your intellectual understanding, we also do research in some of this. we only serve one God, the different is the translation and what we were taught to belief " she retort

            "We only have one God and the only God we have is Christ Jesus, who died for the sin of the world, Christianity is the only true religion"   she preached, so optimistic as if she educates Kaima

"Mom, I believe but you can't impose it to one who has same mind-set as yours, when it comes to their religion" she confronts giggling

"Is there problem, see me see heaven" Nnenna grumbling so fond, Kaima blast out chuckling

                     ************