This is a true life story of Love.

To the cherished memories of Late Ijeoma and Late Allwell. Continue to sleep on in love. We will never stop telling your story.


CHAPTER ONE


Austin woke up. The wristwatch laying to the side of his eight inches mattress told him the time is 5:40am. He immediately stood up and hurriedly picked up his bathing bucket, his soap dish and the fetcher –an essential commodity to those who lives in his compound. He tied his towel over his Calvin Klein boxers in an effort to conceal his bulged morning erection. He placed his bathing sponge around his neck and then headed out for the bathroom.

Austin lives in a twenty-six room house. The house is an old bungalow situated in an economically depressed neighborhood notorious for petty crimes and juvenile delinquencies. The ghetto is located somewhere within Lagos. The rooms in Austin’s house were designed to face each other. Eighteen rooms makes up the main building with each opposing roll consisting of nine rooms each. The compound also has an eight room boy’s quarters adjacent to the main building. The compound has two toilets, two bathroom and a communal kitchen. The Well was dug approximately three meters from the kitchen and about four meters to the side of the partially paved gutter. The gutter runs from behind the house connecting the bathrooms and kitchen; channeling both to the bigger gutter outside the house.

Austin got to the bathroom to find one of them already occupied. He quickly placed his soap dish by the door post inside the empty bathroom and hangs his sponge on the nail meant specifically for that purpose. He then rushed down to the well to fetch his bathwater. At the well, he noticed one of his neighbor Gloria brushing her teeth by the gutter. Her wrapper was tied around her chest covering her bra, with the knot tied and secured under her left armpit. She was slightly bent over. Her legs were both slightly apart in order to prevent slashes of water resulting from her brushing from touching her. She was holding a cup of water to her left hand while she brushed with her right. She had already fetched her bathwater which she left to the side of the Well. On seeing Austin, she rushed up her brushing. Then carried her bucket of water to the empty bathroom. She removed all of Austin’s belongings to the side of the bathroom and went inside to take her bath without saying a word to Austin.

Austin is four years old as an occupant of the compound. He is used to the many characters exhibited by other co-tenants. Austin by his long stay in the compound have come to the realization that it is by far safer and cost effective to ignore trivial provocations as they come. He had always considered his stay in the compound as a preparatory ground for a yet more prosperous future still to come. Austin finished fetching his water. He carried it off to the first bathroom. Then leaned by the kitchen wall to patiently wait for occupants of either of the two bathrooms.

Mazi Okoro is the occupant of the first bathroom. He lives with his wife and their four children in the fourth room of the main house. He has a slender structure that many attributes more to economic hardship than nature. He is very hairy. Black curly hairs covers his chest, arms and legs. On his face, he always seems to wear this mischievous grin that tends to tell the onlooker that he is onto something silly.

Mazi Okoro is a famous early riser. It is often gossiped among tenants that Mazi Okoro is afraid of his fat wife and that is why he is always up early to run off to work in order to avoid her consuming wrath. He is also notorious for spending too much time in the bathroom. He will whistle from one highlife tune to the next with his particular favorite being the “Oriental Brothers’ Ofe Owerri”.
Mazi Okoro is an illiterate spare parts dealer who has no problem at all swindling unsuspecting costumers. He is known for his crafty and deceitful nature. Though he as a matter of fact considers himself an intellectually gifted Mbaise man. He will often tell his friends over a bottle of beer that “passe six is not passe sense”. He will brag at how he can easily beat university graduates in the contest of common sense.

One of such instance was when he defeated Dede Cosmas Nnabike to a game of draught. De Nnabike is considered an educated man by his peers. He has a Grade two teachers certificate which he never fails to refer to in any discussion not minding the subject matter. He came to have a near perfect command of the English language when he worked as a foreman in a British haulage company back in the 60’s. De Nnabike will boast that during his days at the Teacher Training Collage (TTC), he always come first in class and that his white tutor had to give him the one and only German made bicycle he had as price for excellence. The game between Mazi Okoro and Dede Nnabike was like a game of two wrestlers; one trying to throw the other to the ground.

“Mazi Okoro, I will teach you a lesson you will never forget in your earthly existence” boasted De Nnabike

“Ta! Get away!” Mazi Okoro rebuked. His eyes was glued to the game board and his fingers making movements that suggests he is carefully calculating his next move.

“Haven’t I told you that I paid my way through TTC with winnings I made from playing draught? Or do you think it is easy to have a Grade Two Certificate back in the 60’s?” Dede Nnabike asked as he continued his boast.

Many spectators surrounded the players who sat across a wooden bench facing each other with the draught board set upon their thighs. They all had their eyes fixed on the game board while they continually poured cheers on their favorite player…. yet no one foresaw what was to come. Mazi Okoro had just hatched a perfect game plan. He dared Dede Nnabike to make his next move. Dede Nnabike brushed off his threat by the wave of his left hand. As soon as he moved one of his playing seed, everywhere went aglow as the spectators erupted in a load cheer of astonishment. On the board, it was now glaring for all to see that Mazi Okoro has been very clever with his moves. He was now on the verge of making good his threat. Mazi Okoro picked up his winning seed with which he crisscross the draught board, picking up Dede Nnabike’s playing seeds at random. As he pick each seed, he gives out a scornful laugh accompanied by a very hilarious gesture that ended up throwing most of the spectators off their feet in laugher. Dede Cosmas Nnabike seeing that he has been defeated, placed both hands on his head. He gently stood up and quietly walked away. Mazi Okoro had the day.

Maxi Okoro is quite a unique character that outside his gaming skills, he is also famous for his habitual sniffing of snuff (powdered tobacco). His snuffbox is as much a priced possession to him as a rough diamond is to a prospector. Mama Alero–a widow who lives few blocks off the bus stop that service the neighborhood – is his favorite customer. She is popular around the neighborhood for the potency of her snuff. Mama Alero, though in her mid-forties, still possesses every single trace that points to a fading fact that she was once a beauty to behold in her youth. She has the shape of an hour-glass with full hips that perfectly supports her massive buttocks. Her male customers never seizes to make jokes out of her buttocks and some of them –regulars- comes for her snuff as much as they come for the exotic sight her buttocks offers them. Whenever she is a friendlier mood–which in most cases is determined by how brick business is- , she flaunts her assets by dangling it all around as she goes about attending to their various needs. Her local gin is -according to local connoisseurs- the best distilled around the area.

Mazi Okoro is always his chatty self whenever he has his snuffbox in his hands. He will dry his palms on his trousers and then hit the top lid of the snuffbox with his thumb repeatedly in order to have the content settle at the bottom just to prevent it from spilling. He will put his middle finger in his nose as if to search out for debris from last snuffing session; which are not always there. He will then pour himself a sizeable portion which he will pat with his middle finger to ensure even distribution across his palm. Before scooping the first chunk to his nostril, Mazi Okoro will almost subconsciously engage into what seems to be a deep personal contemplation when alone. But when in company of others, he will laugh out heartily at even the most trivial of jokes.

Mazi Okoro is so overly protective of his daughters Chinelo (18) and Ngozi (16). He seems to have a special distrust for almost all the young men in the compound. He will always eye them the way a predator will eye a daring prey. Mazi Okoro will not allow a male to come within five feet of his daughters; even when it’s with good intentions. He will bark at such a male, warning him to stay clear and will instruct the female child present to go inside the room right away. And when he is not in too good a mode, such instructions are usually accompanied with a resounding slap. Mazi Okoro will always say “a young man and a girl are like yam and goat. They should never be left together”.
Just like expected, Gloria finished first and Austin went in after her. He immediately noticed that Gloria has forgotten her bra on the nail he is to hang his towel. Austin called after her but she ignored his calls and continued to her room which is a room after Austin’s in the boy’s quarters. Austin removed the bra from the nail and hanged it over the lintel; directly above the bathroom door. Then he resumed his bath.

The structure that accommodates the compound bathroom is a crude fabrication of stone and wood. This structure is sited at the back of the main building. It also accommodates the compound’s two pit latrine and kitchen, both of which are on either side of the bathroom. The bathrooms as well as the toilets and kitchen have no ceiling board fittings to help cushion the effect of the heat from the burning sun overhead. It could be very hot and uncomfortable when one wishes to use it during a sunny day. It also lack every form of electrical fittings. No light bulbs and no switches. Tenants have to rely on the ray of the morning sunlight to bathe during the day and on their torches for light during sundown. The bathroom door is made out of old, almost rusted, disused zinc roofing sheets. On it are holes at random intervals; a testament to previous engagements with nails.

Gloria came back to retrieve her bra when she discovered inside her room that she did not come along with it. Austin at that point gave out a cheeky mocking laugher. Gloria equally responded in kind with a long hiss.

Gloria is a spinster in her mid-thirties. She works as a salesgirl in a beer parlor and still finds time for her own “runs” whenever her financial conditions dictates so. Gloria is a very sassy and arrogant person. She will never say a word of greeting to anybody no matter who that person may be. She considers herself not to be of the same socio-economic class with other co-tenants. Whatever time she had left after work and while not attending to personal runs, she spends in church. Her frequent churchgoing have only further accentuates the negative perceptions most neighbors nurses about her. Many considers her a bible-hugging hypocrite who will always beam her searchlight on other people’s deficiencies in order to cover up her own inadequacies. But Gloria feels she is of a higher moral standard than any of the other ladies in the compound. This attitude has led to confrontations from time to time between her and the other girls. Gloria who by herself is long due for marriage, will frequently gossip that bad characters exhibited by the other girls is responsible for their lack of suitors. And when asked why she is yet to marriage, she will reply in a rather blithely that “I’m just twenty-one. I will be twenty-two next year. Anyway I am still trying to build up a career before I get married”.

Done with his bath, Austin left Mazi Okoro still in the other bathroom whistling to Oliver D’ Coque’s Opportunity tune. At that point, a considerable line of people waiting to use either the latrine or bathroom was building up. Some of them were already grumbling protestations against Mazi Okoro continued stay in the first bathroom. But none of them will dare make their protest loud enough for fear of the consequence.

Mazi Okoro’s wife popularly known as Lolo Beatrice both within the compound and beyond is a tall, powerful, stocky woman. It is gossiped among co-tenants that she is so strong that her husband dare not challenge her wish for fear of been beaten. Lolo Beatrice is a no nonsense woman who will never get away with offending her. In her town women’s meeting, no one dares cross her part. It was because of her strength and imposing physical presence that she was unanimously elected as the provost of the gathering. She once threw a woman (Mrs Moraine Ejike) to the ground; beating her silly until the other women came to her rescue. Mrs Ejike is one of the new members who joined the women meeting. Her husband is wealth and they are both newly wedded couple. She is one of the very few who drives cars to meeting. It has been previously agreed by the general house that latecomers are to pay the sum of #200 naira as fine for coming late. Lolo Beatrice was put in charge of collecting this money. On that fateful day. Mrs Moraine Ejike was about 30 minutes late. As she was about entering the meeting venue, she was accosted by Lolo Beatrice who demanded the sum of #200 naira as fine for her lateness. Mrs Ejike angered by Lolo Beatrice audacity, gave her a condescending look, hissed and then continued on her way to her sit. As she pass by Lolo Beatrice, she grabbed her by her hair extensions and pulled her back to herself. Before Mrs Ejike could say “jack”, she already had her back to the ground. Lolo Beatrice was on top of her, pulling and drawing on her hair extensions, and hitting her head on the ground in the process. It took the effort of other women to rescue Mrs Ejike from Lolo Beatrice’s claws. She indeed became a tiger from that day onwards as other women began referring to her as “Lolo Agu (Tiger Lady)” behind her back to differentiate her from the other Lolo’s. Outside her trouble making abilities, Lolo Beatrice is also a dutiful mother to her four children. She caters for her family through her pretty groundnut business. Her husband Mazi Okoro will spend whatever little money he makes from his spare parts business on beer and local gin (kiaye kiaye). Lolo Beatrice will normally search her husband pocket for what is left from is drinking session, and when Mazi Okoro is sober enough to resist, it will lead to serious argument and possibly fights. Lolo Beatrice is also aware of her husband’s dubious tendencies. She will scold and castigate him inside the house, but will always come to his defense whenever issues leads to confrontations. On one instance, Mazi Okoro squandered the money contributed by fellow tenants for the dislodgment of the compound’s sewer. Lolo Beatrice on that fateful day stood guard against her door and dared anybody to come and knock on it. She put on her grey camouflaged combat pant, an extra-large polo shirt with a slacked neck and a red bandanna tied around her head. She stood akimbo and her breast juggles in rhythm to the vibration of her body. No one dare came asking after the money.

Austin enters his room and hurriedly got dressed. The time on his wrist watch says 6:15am. He is already 15minutes behind time. He needed to hit the road at about 6:00am if he is to beat the early morning traffic. Austin works as a private surveillance personnel for one of the pharmaceutical firms in Lagos. He is expected to relieve the night shift at 7:00am. Anything later than that could result in a possible query from his superiors. Austin went outside the room. He carefully scanned the veranda for anything too valuable to be left outside. He could not find anything other than his slippers. He took them inside, came out and lock his door. He then strode his way out of the compound, bouncing from side to side with his shoulder hanged as he walk.

“Austin! Austin!!” Lolo Beatrice shouted from inside her room.

Austin turned and saw her opening her netted door.

“Austin, NEPA people have brought the electricity bill for this month. My husband have divided it accordingly and have pasted it directly below the electric meter. You are to pay #850 naira for three points.” She said as she stepped out.

“Ok ma. I will pay mine before the week runs out.” Austin said, trying as much as possible to avoid a long conversation.

“Please do pay up fast to avoid disconnection. You know how these NEPA people behaves.” Lolo Beatrice pleaded.
“Yes I do” said Austin as he turned and continue on his way.

Following

I am following

Nice narration @ op
U should add a little pidgin to keep us glued...nice one!

CHAPTER TWO
Mazi Okoro picked up his bucket and poured the last bail of water over his head. He took of his towel, dried his face with it and then tied it around his waist. He squeeze his sponge to remove the excess water. He then placed it accordingly in his soap dish. He placed the soap dish inside the empty bucket. Then he picked up the bucket by its handle and unlock the bathroom door. Mazi Okoro stepped outside. He ignored everybody who was standing in waiting –most of whom were already wearing long faces. He walked straightfaced to his room. Behind him, Jide the caretaker fourteen years old son mimicked his movement and gesticulated his mannerism. The act amused everyone around and they burst out laughing.
“Papa Ngozi, good morning” greeted Lolo Beatrice as her husband stepped into the room.
Lolo Beatrice was laying on her side on the 12 inches family size mattress she shares with her husband. Her head was raised and rested on her left shoulder while her right hand was nestled between her thighs. She had her Nigerian wax wrapper tied around her chest. Expect for the wrapper, she was obviously naked underneath. She likes sleeping that way. Her four children had to make due with laying on the mat. Mazi Okoro who was still whistling, paused, answered his wife and continued again. Sensing what is to follow this unusual morning greeting, Mazi Okoro hurriedly dressed up while trying to as much as possible look as ease.
“Papa Ngozi, do you remember that my friend that I told you about that buys crayfish from Cameroon to sell in Nigeria? Lolo Beatrice asked
Mazi Okoro ignored the question and continued whistling but on a lower note.
“Is it not you that I am talking to?” Lolo Beatrice interpolated
“What happened to her? Please Mama Ngozi just go straight to the point. I am almost late for work” replied Mazi Okoro.
“But you pretended not to be hearing me” she said.
“Madam, I listen with my ears and not with my mouth.” He replied.
Trying so hard to suppress the anger building up inside her. Lolo Beatrice stood up from the bed and walked towards the wardrobe, carefully picking her way through in order to avoid stepping on Chiagozie and Ebuka, both of whom were still sleeping on the mat. When she got to the wardrobe, she loosen her wrapper and retied it again; this time, more firmly around her chest. Standing directly behind him, she placed her heavy left hand on her husband’s shoulder as he work on the buckle of his belt. She slowly moved her right hand up and down his arm, stroking the hairs that covers almost the entire length. Then she began to speak again.
“Papa Ngozi that my friend have promised to introduce me to the business whenever I am ready” Lolo Beatrice said “she told me that the business has very little risk and that I can be guaranteed to make a sizable profit if I play by the rules of the business”.
Mazi Okoro now feeling tensed by his wife’s closeness knows he has to play nice if he is to beginning the morning on a good note. He stop whistling, kept quiet and avoided eye contact while he search out his shirt form the wardrobe.
“She even said that a lady she once introduced to the business less than six months age is now doing very well on her own. According to her, anyone with a good capital and a little coaching will do well in the business”
“So what do you expect of me?” asked Mazi Okoro trying very much to conceal the anxiety in his voice.
“She said I will need the sum of one hundred thousand naira (#100,000) only to start up with; after which I can invest more if I so wish” Lolo Beatrice said as she pressed her blossom against her husband’s back. Brushing her breast against the skin of his back. Then almost subconsciously she began to search out for any grey hair at the back of her husband’s head, plucking it out anytime she finds any. She will then pat his black curly hair as if to smoothen it.
Mazi Okoro asked “How much have you been able to come up with?” as he continued to play along nicely.
“I have only been able to come up with twenty thousand naira (#20,000). You are aware of the difficult situation of things in the country right now. My small groundnut business is no longer flourishing as it used to ever since those two other women down the street started their own groundnut business. They have been messing up the business by undermining price. They don’t even know how to fry groundnut well” Lolo Beatrice said with scorn.
“You mean you have only been able to come up with just twenty thousand naira (#20,000) for a business of one hundred thousand naira?” Mazi Okoro asked in a voice that seems to be slightly agitated.
Taken aback by her husband’s question, Lolo Beatrice asked “what do you mean by that question Papa Ngozi?
Observing the change in his tone of voice, Mazi Okoro cleared his throat, pressed both lips against each other and remained silent; suppressing the urge to resume his whistling with his powerful wife still breathing down his neck. He located his favorite brown short sleeve shirt, removed it from its hanger and began putting on. He maneuvered the shirt on by stretching out his arms overhead one after the other into the shirt sleeves, adjusted it in order to have it sit properly on his body. His wife helped him adjust the collar orderly while he buttons up. Lolo continued to state the reason for her inability to come up with something tangible but Mazi Okoro was not listening. All he wanted now was to get the hell out without any incident.
Chinelo was returning from the kitchen at the back of the compound when she heard the voice of her mother speaking from inside the room. Chinelo is a brilliant young woman. She is mature way beyond her age. She carries herself with grace and have won for herself the respect and admiration of her peers and those beyond her age grade. The older likes her because she is respectful and well-mannered while the younger likes her because she is compassionate and caring. Chinelo have over the years been disturbed by her parent persistent quarrels. She had once confided in her Sunday teacher Pastor Ruben that she intend taking herself and her siblings out of the house to an unknown destination from where she hoped to begin a new life far away from the embarrassing quarrels of her parents. Pastor Ruben advised her against such a move- that considering her young age and gender, it will be dangerous to survive in a situation like that. When Chinelo was much younger, she had embarked on a hunger strike at protest against her parent’s quarrels. Both parents panicked when they see how definite their daughter was in staving herself to death if they continued in their disgraceful quarrels. Mazi Okoro and Lolo Beatrice both tried to persuade, cajole and compel her; all to no avail. She refused both food and medicine. Her parents both had to beg and pledge never to be hostile to each other again. Though Lolo Beatrice was sincere and hoped to keep her side of the bargain, Mazi Okoro saw it all as means to an end; which is to make her daughter eat and consequently keep her alive. He had viewed the whole event as a conspiracy between mother and daughter to have things go their way. Chinelo have in many cases endured taunts from co-tenants who makes jokes out of her parent’s quarrels. Jide is the most notorious in this category of people. Whenever such a quarrel begins, it is usually accompanied by a ferocious shouting match between both parents and sometimes blows are exchanged. Chinelo will observe in revulsion how her nosy neighbors will continually loiter around her veranda trying to snoop in on what the quarrel was all about. Chinelo knows her dad could at times be mischievous but she is also aware of her mom’s stubbornness. After eighteen years as a child in the family, she has come to know when trouble is brewing. She knows it is impossible to stop her mom must especially when she thinks she is within her rights but she can only save the situation by making her dad walk away. She had in many cases mediated peace between them; but dad’s alcoholism and mom’s domineering tendencies makes the task a very difficult one.
“Daddy, it is 6:40am already. You are running late” Chinelo said as she stepped inside the room.
“Thank you Chi. I am almost through” said Mazi Okoro. Mazi Okoro likes addressing his eldest daughter by her pet name “Chi”. Chi is the first three latters of her name. He habitually calls her “Chi” especially in relation to a good deed and Chinelo loves it when dad calls her by her pet name. Lolo Beatrice is not happy at her daughter’s attempt to draw off attention from the issue been discussed. She immediately instruct her to go warm the food and prepare her siblings for school. Mazi Okoro sensing his daughter intentions seized upon the window created by her.
“When are you expected to begin your exams?” Mazi Okoro further asked
“In two weeks’ time. Revision is expected to start next week” answered Chinelo
“How well are you preparing?” Mazi Okoro asked; trying to establish a long conversation in order to retain his daughter’s presence. He is conscious that his daughter’s continued presence is the only antidote to his wife’s troublesomeness this morning.
“Well… I am trying my best. I just hope it will be good enough”
“I expect you to come out in flying colors. How about Mr. Wale your mathematics teacher?”
“He is fine. He always sends his regards.”
“That’s good. I have heard he is the most hated teacher by the students because of his strictness.”
“Yes dad. Mr. Wale is just too strict and he is very skilled with the cane”
“Yeah” exclaimed Mazi Okoro “that is exactly what children of this generation needs. They all need to be severely disciplined because all they know and care about is boyfriends and girlfriends. I like Mr. Wale’s discipline and that is why I made him my friend so he can keep an extra eye on both you and your younger sister Ngozi over there in school”
At that point, both Ebuka and Chiagozie woke up. They both greeted their parents as Ngozi came inside to announce to both of them that their bath water is ready. Ebuka stood up from the mat. He yawns, stretching himself with both hands spread out wide overhead. He answered a few questions from dad as regards his preparedness for the forthcoming exams. He then proceeded outside to urinate. Chiagozie who is the younger of the two boys was instructed by Ngozi to get up and roll up the mat. He too was interviewed by dad as he off his cloths. He was then led out by Ngozi who will supervise him as he takes his bath.
Mazi Okoro who is not a father to care so much about his children’s welfare only needed every form of conversation in order to continually hot his wife out. A visibly angry Lolo Beatrice sensing the game her husband was trying to play, went and stood by the door with her big right hand to the door post while she rested the left hand on her left hip. Her face is reddened with anger. Mazi Okoro seeing his wife reaction, gave out a little knowingly laughter.
“My beautiful Lolo! Agu Nwanyi! The beloved mother of my children!” called Mazi Okoro as he tries to soften her demeanor through his most infectious smile.
“Mchteeeeu” Lolo Beatrice gave a long hiss as she looked away
At that point, Maxi Okoro knew that the only possible nonviolent way out is through sweet talks and making promises which he has no intention of keeping.
“My Lolo, I have heard all that you said. We do not need to fight over this issue.” Said Mazi Okoro “Okey Abiriba, my neighbor at the shop is still owing me some money from the Brainbox I sold to him last week. Ejike Nwa Aguleri is also owing me some money which he promised to pay this morning when I come to the shop. I will as well ask my very good friend Maduka to lend me some money. I know he will oblige me. With what I will be able to raise, added to the twenty thousand naira (#20,000) you said you have, we will have something decent for you to start with.”
Lolo Beatrice lend back against the door, she folded her arms under her breast and looked away pretending not to be interested in what her husband was saying. Mazi Okoro reached out to touch her by her cheek but she moved her head to avoid his touch. Seeing his wife is defiant, he decided to make promise to provide her with the balance before the week runs out. Lolo Beatrice made her husband swear that he will keep his promise. Mazi Okoro immediately obliged her in order to get off her hook for he was already running late. She brightened up and left the doorpost. Mazi Okoro left the house with a grim on his face. In his heart, he has beaten her to this one.

Thanks for the update

Love the way you write it's so explicit i could easily visualize it. Please continue

CHAPTER THREE
The table looks set. Finely sliced onions, freshly grinded tomatoes, well-beaten eggs, chopped vegetables, a small pilled yam tuber, and other essential condiments were placed orderly on it. Loud sizzling sounds and delicious aroma filled the air as the beaten egg is added to the boiling mix of spiced vegetable oil and onion. This is the typical way Brother Fidelis cooks his food.
Brother Fidelis is what many co-tenants regarded to be a senior bachelor. He does not keep girlfriends and he do not have a fiancée. Whenever he has female visitors, it is always female church members and they are always accompanied by a brother. In absence of any brother, they come in pairs- which for Brother Fidelis effectively remove any possible temptation of committing a “sin of the flesh”. Brother Fidelis is a “fervent worker in the Lord’s vineyard”- as he tells anyone willing to her. He does not drink alcohol or engage in smoking and loathed anyone who does. For him, engaging in these things is against God’s purpose for mankind. At every compound meeting, Brother Fidelis will always insist they start off with prays. “Prayer is the Master’s key” he will say to those who grumbles about the time to be wasted by such an engagement. In further accentuation of his puritanical nature, Brother Fidelis is a very strict disciplinarian who always lament about what he considers “the continuous fall of the world’s moral standard”. In the entire compound, he is the only one with the guts to spank and in some cases severely discipline a child for wrong doing in the presence of their parents. Parents in fact inveigles their children into proper conduct by threatening to report their misdeed to Brother Fidelis. This threat at all times invokes fear in their wards that many of them simply breakdown in tears pleading for forgiveness and promising never to do any wrong again. The easiest ways to get an early morning spank from Brother Fidelis is by forgetting to salute him or any other elder for that matter in the morning. Brother Fidelis will always argue that according to African costumes and traditions, salutation is the debt every child owes his elder. Salutations imbibes the spirit of responsibility in the child and serves as testament that a child was properly brought up. A child that salutes his elders easily accrue favors from them. Salutation as a matter of principle is the very first perimeter upon which a child is judge. Even adults that do not salutes elders are never spoken well of. Many people regards such an adult with disdain.
In the twenty-six (26) room compound, Brother Fidelis is adjudged to have the best room. His room is considered the most beautiful as well as the most organized of all the rooms in the entire compound even though it consist of one wall mounted plasma television, one home-theatre stereo set, one eight inches mattress placed directly on the carpeted floor in one end of the room, one medium size standing refrigerator and many fancy light of different shapes and colors- the lights gives out spectacular light shows that greatly improve the vivacious ambiance in the room. The children of the compound enjoys observing from behind Brother Fidelis’ window how the lights flickers into their different colors. Some intrusively inquisitive co-tenants envious of his apartment will most readily liken it to a disco dancehall. A typical Sunday morning for Brother Fidelis starts off with gospel songs by Jim Reeves and Donnie McClurkin blasting off his stereo. It could as well be said that Brother Fidelis owns the largest copy of the Bible in all of the compound. His Bible comes with a leather jacket that acts as dust cover. The leather jacket has a handle from with he carries it like a briefcase. Brother Fide as he is fondly called by those who admire him is also a very good dresser. Though he rarely put on jeans trousers- which some neighbors on their own accord attributed to be against his church doctrine- but he is always on properly starched and well-ironed clothes at all times. His dressing is always modest and never ostentatious.
Brother Fidelis is particularly fond of eighty years old Nonye. He would buy her sweets and biscuits whenever she cries. He even made it a point of duty to always get her something nice whenever it is her birthday. No one outside her parents dares to touch Nonye whenever Brother Fidelis is around. When he is around, Nonye can get away with almost anything and whenever she feels threatened, she runs to Brother Fidelis for protection. Nonye even ascribed to herself some sort of celebrity status. She was the toast of young girls her age who envies Brother Fidelis fondness for her. Some mothers will openly complain of Brother Fidelis preferential treatment of Nonye; saying it is against Christian ethics for one to do so but they will secretly nurse wishes that their daughters be in Nonye’s shoe.
Brother Fidelis is an excellent cook. Before he starts cooking, he will painstakingly arrange all the ingredients he is to use in an orderly manner. He will neatly slice the onions, pepper and other sliceable and neatly put each condiment in their individual plate. His cooking pots are always the neatest; one could even mistake them as new. Whenever Brother Fidelis is cooking, the atmospheric condition in the kitchen changes instantly.
“Brother Fidelis, have you started again?” Iyawo Akeem jokingly asked
“What have I done this time?” Brother Fidelis replied giving off a knowingly laughter
“We will not run away from the compound because of your cooking” she said emphatically stressing on the cooking
“I never said anyone should run and besides there is nothing to run for.” Answered Brother Fidelis as he continued to stir his pot.
“Ok o!” submitted Iyawo Akeem. She continued on her way to the back of the compound to retrieve her dried cloths. Iyawo Akeem is widely appreciated for her great sense of humor. She is good at cracking jokes and she as well perfectly knows how to sustain a conversation without wearing out the audience.
“Brother Fidelis, eye wey see go chop o!” shouted Jide as he makes to the kitchen through the passage of the main building which directly opposite the kitchen.
Jide the fourteen years old son of the caretaker is regarded by neighbors to be the compound clown. Jide is never serious with anything. He will always make jokes out of very serious matters. His stock in trade is mimicking people behind their back. He will make a show of how people walk, talk and act under any particular situation. Even at school, Jide will never answer any question in class but will entertain the class by mocking those who attempted but did not answer correctly. He will refer to them as ITKs (I too know) just as he would mimic the rebuking reaction of the teacher. Jide’s unserious attitude had at one time nearly costed him his younger sister Bunmi. Bunmi was choking on her food when Jide was called upon to go fetch her a cup of drinking water. Jide felt that his younger sister was only playacting in order to have him go and get her water. So he continued to ignore her repeated plea for water. It took a resounding slap from Aunty Gloria to bring Jide back to his senses and he ran off to get the water.
“Brother Fidelis, it is said in the bible that ‘thou shall be thy brother’s keeper’.” said Jide as he tries to play smart.
Brother Fidelis getting his drift immediately replied “not in all cases.”
“But Jesus said we should all love our neighbors just as we love ourselves.” Jide continued; trying hard to persuade Brother Fidelis in order to partake in his meal. It is commonplace to see co-tenants indicate interest in their fellow tenant’s meal. Sometimes they go as far as dishing the food themselves; though that depends on the level of familiarity that exist between them.
“Backup your claim by quoting a chapter of the Bible that supports it and I will make sure you have some of my food.” said Brother Fidelis.
Jide went dumb. His instinct told him to immediately use his smart phone to google out the answer. As he attempted to reach for his phone, it occurred to him that his internet data bundle expired two days ago and he has not been financially buoyant enough to subscribe to a new one. He bite his lower lip in frustration as he tries to think out another way to savage the situation.
Jide and Bunmi are the only children begotten by Iya Jide –a Christian- for her current husband Baba Jide –a Muslim. Iya Jide have been previously married to two other men. Her first sojourn in marriage started with a man named Kola. Kola she will always say is a woman beater who cares less about her welfare. Their union was blessed with five children. Of all the five children, only the last born Abbas Kola Jr keeps a close contact with his mum. The marriage ended without much of an incident; just the woman waking up one morning and decided she had taken enough to continue in the marriage. She packed out of her matrimonial home and so did her rights as Kola’s wife packed out with her. Her second marriage was with a man named Jamiu. Jamiu was he kind of man Iya Jide had always dreamt about. He was tall, cosmetically light skinned with a pointy nose that sits graciously on the face, broad shouldered and a deep baritone voice. Jamiu was very social. He possesses an aura that seems to liven-up any place he went. A Lothario, Jamiu knows how to almost effortlessly win a woman’s heart. And they-women- simply fall for him. He as well has a beautiful set of ivory white teeth and a dimple on both side of his cheek. He will show if off through his most disarming smile that never fails to loosen even the most reserved of women. Jamiu‘s wardrobe is filled with Ankara of different colours and styles. This is a testament to his proficiency as a partygoer. Iya Jide’s marriage to Jamiu only lasted for one year and some few months before both went their separate ways. Baba Jide, her current husband is a quiet easygoing man. He tries his best to avoid troubles and will always preach peace and tolerance when confronted with one. He is highly respected both within the compound and outside it. As caretaker, he will always plead on behalf of tenants who defaults on their rent. Baba Jide –a devoted Muslim- is very accommodating. He adopts an open-hand policy to life. He never quarrels and will hardly engage one in an argument; even on something he knows too well. During Salah festivities, Baba Jide will ensure that his wife shares food and drinks to every member of the compound and even beyond. Jide will always grumble at how his father will insist on sharing almost all of the meat from the single ram the slaughtered leaving them with next to nothing.
“Is there anything you would want me to do for you Brother Fidelis” asked Jide, trying to divert attention from the question earlier asked.
“Nothing I can remember for now” Brother Fidelis replied absentmindedly as he pours the peeled sliced yams into the hot oil on the stove to begin frying. Fried yams and egg is not a delicacy Jide knows too well. It is in fact rarely eaten in their house. A typical morning begins with Baba Jide handing out the sum of one hundred naira (#100) to Bunmi as money for breakfast and to Jide, the sum of one hundred and fifty naira (#150) before leaving for work. Jide will take a plate and cross over to the other side of the road –sometimes barefooted; that depends on the intensity of the urge for food at that particular time- to buy food form Iya Bola who runs a food canteen. He will carefully pinchpenny his breakfast on a budget of one hundred naira (#100) while he reserves the balance of fifty naira (#50); which is to be spent later in school. Jide has always been envious of Brother Fidelis, not for what he termed his archaic lifestyle but for the exquisite meals he cooks and eat.
Brother Fidelis had just finished frying the first set of yams when the shout of “UP NEPA!!!” rendered the air. He immediately dropped the spoon and the hand-towel he was holding in both hands and ran off for his room. He needed to plug-in his phone which was already on the last bar. Aware that he wasn’t going to spend much time inside, he did not bother asking anyone to look after his food to prevent it from burning. Jide, who in the course of celebrating his “UP NEPA!” ran towards the toilet area quickly noticed that Brother Fidelis had gone inside and Iyawo Akeem is too far behind the backyard to notice any activity going on in the kitchen. His instinct told him that the time to act is now. He immediately strode towards the main building to ascertain that no one is coming from that axis. He as well walked further towards the backyard to double check on Iyawo Akeem. She was too busy gathering and arranging her cloths. He then tiptoed to the kitchen, took out in a single movement three (3) pieces of hot fried yams and all at once shoveled it all into his breast pocket. He bent over in order to prevent the heat from the yams from burning his skin. He then took another piece, but this time it went straight to his mouth. The yam was too hot to be chewed at that point so he held it in place using his frontal teeth while he carefully prevented his lips from making contact. Jide then attempted making a go at the already fried eggs but his criminal instinct told him that there was no room for that and there is absolutely no time to create that room for it now. So he had to make due of what he is already having. He immediately walked out of the kitchen towards the boy’s quarters. He walked slightly bent forward with his back hunched. He used his left hand to hold his shirt forward in order to prevent his breast pocket from touching his skin, while his right hand was used to support the yam in his month being held-on by his teeth. And off to school he went as he had earlier persuaded Bunmi to take his school bag along with her. This was the tactics if he is to escape being punished for late coming.

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CHAPTER FOUR
The ghetto is a place of contrast. The melting pot of many cultures, characters and lifestyles. It is an environment where every tribe irrespective of both cultural and linguistic barriers lives side by side as neighbors and as strangers, as friends and as enemies, as allies and as adversaries. The ghetto is heavily saturated with people that the actual number of inhabitants have been estimated to be about one third of the total population figure of the entire state. It is purely residential. Very little people actually make ends meet working herein. The ghetto is not planned. Shanties and never-to-be completed buildings dots its landscape. Drainage systems are always blocked -and very often spilled into the streets- as very many compounds connects their sewer directly to them. Like disease, the crime rate in the ghetto is way off the chart as next door to a dutiful security agent lives a hardened criminal or next door to a virtuous mother and her growing daughters lives prostitutes and whoremongers. It is a place where innocent school girls shares the same passageway with pedophiles. There is in fact a constant struggle between the forces of good and the forces of evil; one trying to cancel out the other.
It is Saturday morning. The loud knock on the door woke Austin up. As he stood up to check who the person is, a voice came calling.
“Austin, please come out. We are having a compound meeting now and every male occupant of this compound is expected to attend.” The voice said
Austin at once recognized the voice to be that of Baba Jide the caretaker.
“Please come and join us now as we are almost about to start” the voice called again as Baba Jide continued down to the next door on the boys quarters.
As a young man, Austin aspires to own a bus. He had always have eyes for the transport business. He conceives of it to be a business venture where one who is diligent and discipline enough to wade off distractions could actually make it big. He had at one time meticulously calculated what he believes should be the expected daily income of a bus driver after subtracting possible expenses to be incurred, Austin felt that what is left will most certainly make for a decent living for a man with a family of five. Based on personal verifications, he came to discover that the greatest problem to a bus driver is a dishonest conductor. Conductors are notorious for shortchanging their drivers. They will bring up whatever excuses they can muster as to why the proceeds from a trip is small. And when directly confronted with the question of why the proceeds are meager, they will most likely raise their voice in lamentation as to the numerous spots to which they are expected to pay tolls. Though the touts-area boys- that have almost literarily taken over the roads and the policemen who are indiscriminately erecting roadblocks may not be the best of friends to transporters, but the whole problem does not rest solely with them. At the end of a day’s work, conductors are usually stripped naked for searching. But this has proven abortive as conductors are known to have agents at various bus stops. They pass money to these agents during a trip for safekeeping after which they collect at the end of the day’s tolling. These agents are in many cases relatives and lovers. It is common knowledge that some conductors are known to hide considerably large wedge of naira notes –especially higher denomination notes- deep inside their anus. They will wrap the money around latex gotten from cheap condoms; with the lubricant, this will allow for easy insertion.
Austin spent the entire week working really hard. He had hoped for an event-free weekend. He planned to spend the day indoor in order to recoup lost energy. But not attending the compound meeting, he considers it an irresponsible way to behave. He put on a long polo and a knee-length jeans short. He then proceeded out of the room. The older men were standing in groups of threes and fours. Austin joined them to trade banter at each other. The meeting is yet to start as they all await the arrival of Baba Jide who is yet to return from going round.
“You no longer come tom shop to buy spare parts again.” Mazi Okoro said to Akeem.
“Oga Okoro, you don’t sell Belgium parts” replied Akeem “the air pump I bought from you the last time was Taiwan. You persuaded me to take it, promising that it would do the job but the following day the customer came back to quarrel with me for using a substandard parts on his vehicle. He want even demanding a refund. It took the intervention of my neighbors before he agreed to see reason.”
“Well, that is not necessarily all my fault. The amount you came along with was below the cost of a Belgian standard air pump and that was why I gave you the next best thing.”
“Oga Okoro, that is not how to do business. When you don’t have something, you state it in clear terms so that one can go elsewhere. You nearly cost me a customer” protested Akeem.
“No vex!” pleaded Mazi Okoro “but please come back. I will treat you well this time.”
“Have you forgotten that my son Chiagozie is the one that is to marry your daughter Nabila? We are in-laws already.” Mazi Okoro jokingly added. Very one busted out into a hearty laughter and the case was settled.

Akeem was still an apprentice in an auto mechanic workshop owned by Oga Usman when he got Biola pregnant. Biola –later address as Iyawo Akeem (Akeem’s wife) - used to hawk bread for mother after school. On her ways to school, she will branch off at Akeem’s place where she will stay until closing hours helping him with all the domestic chores-sweeping, washing and cooking when there is actually something to cook. The room which was owned by Akeem had two other boys living in. they both liked Biola most especially for her hard work and homeliness. They will sometimes jokes with her that if their friend Akeem ends up not marrying her, then they will have to take him to the Osun River deity for some sever spiritual cleansing. This joke have a way of lightening up Biola. She will give a shy smile facing downwards and jokingly tell them off.
Eventually Biola become pregnant with Nabila and the boys moved out in order to enable Akeem settle down to proper family life. Six months after the birth of Nabila, Akeem done with his apprenticeship, gained freedom. In order to make up for his inability to throw a party in celebration of Nabila’s birth, Akeem pulled out all the stunts to celebrate his freedom. He even borrowed from friends: many of whom were very willing to lend him considering his good nature. At the Freedom Party, there was a lot to eat and drink and make merry. Biola paraded herself as Mrs Akeem the First -considering his Islamic faith permits him up to four wives-even when there are absolutely no legal or customary backing to warrant the title.

Everywhere suddenly went quiet as Baba Jide joined the gathering. Brother Fidelis was signaled to say the opening payers.
“Father; in Jesus name!” bellowed Brother Fidelis as he raised his voice in prayers.
“Amen!” replied the crowd of which Mazi Okoro’s voice was highly distinguishable; for it was the loudest and most sustained of the “amen’s”. Mazi Okoro was already on his knees, his eyes tightly closed and his hands spread overhead in a perfect show of reverence to God.
“Lord and my God. The Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. The One that was, that is, and is to come. The I am that I am. The Mighty One of Israel. The Ancient of Days. The Omnipotent and Omniscience God. Lord, we commit this meeting we are about to start into your able hands. We are asking that you should come and take absolute control of this gathering and that at the end we may find course to glorify your name. Blessed Redeemer, we are asking that you judge us by the content of our hearts and forgive us our shortcomings and may all that we shall say be by our divine guidance and not by the inspiration of local gin and snuff-powdered tobacco. For in Jesus name we have prayed”
“Amen!” chorused the crowd expect Mazi Okoro whose loud voice was noticeably missing.
Mazi Okoro refused to partake in the last amen because he felt the last sentences of the prayers was directly aimed at him. But he knew better than to raise an objection about brother fidelis’ prayer because sure knows that the resistance will be swift. He made his displeasure known by the expression on his face as he dusted off his knees whitened with dust from kneeling down. Austin who was standing opposite him-just as well as others who got the joke-had to bite his lower lip in order to suppress the urge of bursting out in laughter.
“Good morning gentlemen” said Baba Jide who doubles both as the Caretaker and as the statutory Chairman.
“I hope every family in this compound is represented.” He further added as he came to discover that Francis (Baba Oyibo) is not present.

Francis is more commonly known as “Yellow” because of his pepper-red complexion. He is an albino. The color of his hair is a combination of light yellow and patches of darker hair to the rear end of the head. He eyes are colored pink and somewhat robotic that the eyeballs maintain a constant oscillation; shifting from left to right and back again. Francis is photophobic. He shuns and can easily get disorientated by the present of a strong light. He is in his mid-forties, married and with children; all of whom inherited the defect-necessitating him being referred to as Baba Oyibo. In the neighborhood, it is common place for one to be identify by the name of their children or spouse and in very many cases, by their current situation however negative and cruel sounding it may seems. Without much ado, one can comfortably address a cripple as Mr. Cripple, a beggar as Mr. Beggar or a blind man as Mr. Blind man. Francis had all of his children together with his wife sent back to the village while he stayed back in the city when the economic condition became so unbearable. In spite of his predicaments, Francis still maintains his good sense of humor when sober. But he could become excessively aggressive and very hostile when intoxicated. Those who know him well have all learned to ignore his provocative behaviors anytime they notice he is drunk. Outside being a habitual drunk, Francis is also a chain-smoker. Most of his friends will often cajole him that his eyesight is only good for lighting cigarettes. Francis will smoke anywhere and at about any time. But he particularly enjoys smoking in the latrine. He will stay for hours on end, smoking one cigarette after the other. Not have a lighter or matchbox or probably forgetting to come along with one will not in any way be an impediment to his smoking expedition. Only that is needed is just one burning stick of cigarettes and the rest will be properly taken care of. Fellow tenants will always complain at how he litters the toilet floor with burnt-out cigarette sticks and making a complete mess of the facility but all complaints seems to fall on deaf ears. It in fact seems to be that he tries to outdo previous efforts with far more ambitious ones owing to the intensity of the complaints. Francis –a regular at Mama Alero’s place- when drunk, lives in the world of his own fantasy. He will brag at how he was in the Congo’s for peace-keeping or how he served with distinction in Liberia as part of the ECOMOG troops or even how he has repeatedly ignored the plea of the current administration requesting his help in fighting the Boko Haram insurgency. Francis in one of his many tales once claimed he singlehandedly prevented the rebels from taking over Monrovia. And as evident for his gallant expeditions, Francis will raise is trousers by folding it up to his knee to reveal a scar on his shin –front of his lower left leg- claiming it is a gunshot wound that narrowly missed the shin bone. But neighbors knows that the wound was as a result of a fight he had with a stranger at the motor pack. Francis drunk as he was, looked for trouble and the stranger did not fail to give him double.

The meeting was almost at it closure when Francis staggered through the passage door with a cigarette nestled between his fingers.
“So you people are holding a meeting and nobody cared to inform me about it? Well… I guess it is either the meeting does not consigned me or I am by far too impoverished to be considered important or even both. Nobody informs me anything anymore because I am a poor man now.” Protested Francis to the crowd.
“But Baba Jide went round to inform….”
“Shut up your dirty mouth” shouted Francis as he shut Akeem up in the middle of his sentence.
“So, of all the men here, it is you this small boy that have the effrontery to challenge me?” he continued “where were you in 1987 when rebels were ceaselessly assaulting Monrovia? Charles Taylor and I used to know each other. We both fought against each other on Bomi hills as well as on the streets of Monrovia. I Colonel Francis Egemba fcc, gcf. ots. Sector commandant of the dreaded ECOMOG Warriors, taught him the little he knows about guerrilla warfare and he never fail to heed to my warnings. Do you know who Charles Taylor is? Small boy answer me. Do you know him? Or is it because you forced your way on a secondary school student and got her pregnant in the process?”
Baba Jide sensing that the most likely conclusion of this confrontation will do nobody any good quickly stepped in. he motioned to Akeem to remain silent by placing one of his fingers across his lips, the universal sign for “be quiet”. Akeem angered by Francis’ remark simply had to swallow his reply more out of respect for the Caretaker. Well… such a pathological drunk should not be dignified further with a reply.
“Colonel Francis Egemba.” Baba Jide called after Francis who was still vibrating under the rage of being challenged by someone who he considered to be a minor. Baba Jide always uses the military rank of Colonel to soothe Francis in order to have reason along with him. When Francis is addressed that way-especially in the martial way Baba Jide does it, he gives out a smile and nod in affirmation. Even when little children hails him by that rank, he pats them on the head and in some cases calls for biscuits or sweets to be shared to them all. The effect of calling him a colonel is almost instantaneous. He will raise his shoulders high, chest out, look straight ahead and walk as if he is walking on air. He greatly enjoys being called be that which he claims was his last military rank before retirement.
“I actually went round myself to inform everybody of this meeting. I knocked on your door but it was not answered. Probably I did not knock loud enough.” Said Baba Jide as he absolves the blame himself for the sake of peace.
Francis took a long draw on his cigarette and blew off the smoke to the left side of his face, twisting his lips and bending his mouth to the intended direction. He then looked towards the ground as if in a deep contemplation while still wearing his stern war-face. He like the attentions he was getting now. The smoke from Francis’ cigarette was inconveniencing Brother Fidelis. He moved away from his position to where the Chairman was standing -blocking his nose with hands as he walked over. Francis gave off a scornful look after him and murmured some inaudible but most certainly distasteful words to himself, then he took another draw from his cigarette.
The meeting ended without any more serious argument, which is quite rare for compound with this number of occupants.

CHAPTER FIVE
Gloria had just settled down to take her bath. Her wrapper was hanged on the hanging nail and her scooper floating gently on the pail full of bathwater. Her soap-dish was placed on the floor to the right of the bathroom wall. She had her already wetted sponge and a bar of soap in her hands which she scrubbed together to make soapy froths. As she was about pouring overhead the first scoop of water, she noticed a movement on the bathroom door. It seems to her that someone had been peeping in on her through the holes on the door. The bathroom door is made out of disused zinc roofing sheets and some dying woods. On the zinc sheets are holes testifying to its pervious encounter with nails.
Gloria immediately screamed at the top of her voice as she reached for her wrapper to cover her unclothedness. At that point, there was footstep outside of someone that seems to be running away towards the main building. Gloria tied her wrapper, unhooked the door open and came out. She was totally bewildered to find the area completely deserted. She walked towards the direction the sound of the running footstep had come from; only to find that the passage of the main building is equally empty. She then walked towards the boy’s quarters where she found Austin brushing his Jeans trousers.
“Did you see anyone pass through here?” she asked Austin.
Austin stood up to checkout who was talking to him. He saw Gloria standing with her wrapper tied around chest, her face was partially soaped and her hands wet down to the elbows. Austin smiled, bent down and continued his brushing without any attempt at answering her question.
“Is it not you that I am talking to or are you deaf?”
Austin still will not reply, ignoring her completely. He began whistling to a gyration song he had been playing in his mind. This was to further drive home the point he was trying to make. After standing for a few more moments, she turned away for the bathroom cursing the person that had peeped on her.

Jide is laying on the bed. His heart is beating fast. He had just narrowly escaped being catch peeping on Aunty Gloria. Gloria had always been Jide’s adult crush. He frequently fantasizes about her full breast and her sumptuous hips that effortlessly moves from side to side. He had even tried to make up in his head what she would look like behind her cloths. On this mental picture, he will jerk himself to ecstasy. The urge for hedonistic satisfactions backed by curiosity had led him into peeping on female tenants. Jide does this to both young and older women so long as they make you of the bathroom. He even have his favorite peephole. Before embarking on the act, he will first make sure that no one is in and around the vicinity-including the kitchen, the backyard, the passage of the main building, and along the verandas of the boy’s quarters. He prefer carrying out his acts barefooted in order to avoid noise. He had at one time almost gotten himself caught red-handedly by Lolo Beatrice who was on her way to the kitchen. Lolo Beatrice on the fateful day had so much on her mind, she hereby couldn’t give a meaningful interpretation to what she really saw. Jide in his usual position -bent from waist down, his head raised up and his eyes trying to adjust to the act inside- immediately pretended to be looking for something of his that fell in that area. Lolo absentmindedly continued on her way to the kitchen. And that was the closest he had come to being caught. He will always pride himself to be the compound’s equivalent of James Bond –a British spy agent film character that is always evasive of his enemies- who can never be caught on his own game. Jide has an extensive collection of pornographic films and magazines which he keeps in a very secret place he alone knows about. When Baba Jide is not at home and Bunmi is off to assist Mama Jide at the shop, Jide will gather all he boys his age and some below his age inside their room and the will watch these X-rated films together. They will cheer their favorite porn stars, fast-forward scenes they don’t like, mock and banter themselves when any develops an uncontrolled erection. Jide particular favorite porn star is Miss Maserati. He loves her because of supersized boobs. He even follows her on social media trying to keep updated on her latest work. And whenever he goes out for new materials, films with scenes that features her are always his first pick. Almost every parent in the compound warns their wards against associating with Jide but each time they go out to toil for the day, the boys will all run off to Jide like iron fillings attracted by a magnet.

Gloria secretly crushes on Austin. She had grown repeatedly frustrated by his lack of attention for her. Austin is a fine young man of marriageable age and more importantly, he possesses the three most essential commodities ever ghetto girl seems to fancy. First, he has a room to himself to guarantee them shelter and consequently their privacy. Secondly, he has an eight inches mattress to take care of their comfort. And lastly, he has a well-mount plasma television and a complimenting Home Theater stereo set for their entertainment. The issue of moral standing only comes after all the above stated criteria have been met.
Gloria finished her bathe. She tied her wrapper around her chest and then unlock the bathroom door. As she came out, she accosted Iyawo Akeem going to the kitchen. Gloria and Iyawo Akeem are both not on talking terms. A surreptitious battle of supremacy seems to be going on between them even though they are both about the same age. Gloria have always felt Iyawo Akeem is of a far too lower standard and very undeserving of Akeem. She had not been able to get over the fact that an outsider came into the compound to snatch for herself an eligible bachelor while compound girls are still single. Other spinsters earlier shared the same pattern of thought with Gloria on the issue of Iyawo Akeem but have long gotten over it. Iyawo Akeem by means of her silence and stone-cold indifference was able to ignore their many repugnant innuendos. Sometimes she will mockingly laugh at them as “mistresses only good for bed warming and not marriage”. This statement always hurt Gloria the most and only help to deepen her hate for Iyawo Akeem. Gloria will console herself by firing back at Iyawo Akeem that she “prefers remaining a mistress for life than pinning down a man with the very lethal combination of an unplanned pregnancy and fetishism”. Gloria will always complain whenever it is Iyawo Akeem’s turn to wash the toilets that she does not wash it well and Iyawo Akeem will do likewise when it is Gloria’s turn. Akeem and other men in the compound have in the past tried to mediate peace between them all to no avail.
Gloria continued to her room. When she passed by Austin, she gave out a long scornful hiss. Austin pretend no to notice as he continues brushing on his jeans. Gloria went inside her room, got dressed and off to church she went for choir practice.


Francis stood by his door with key in hand. His head is slightly bent over. He has the keys brought to his face as he strain his eyes to sort out from the bunch of keys the specific key that is to unlock the door. For Francis, even the basic act of searching out a key could be very demanding. When he finally located it, he bent even further to locate the keyhole. By mean of feeling with his hands he was able to locate the keyhole sooner than expected. The passage of the main building is always dark most of the time even during the day. It is only lightened up when there is power supply. Francis unlocked the door, went inside and left the door ajar. He made for the side stool on which he dropped his phone and emptied the content of his pocket on it. He then laid on his bed facing up and slept off.
The knock on the door woke Francis up. He had initially wondered if the knock was from his door or from elsewhere down the passageway. Until he heard I again; this more clearly. He looked up to find his fan rotating; an indication that NEPA had restored power. The he checked wall clock to realize he has slept for about 30minutes already. He was just too tired to answer the door so he told whoever I was to please come in without leaving the bed. The door opened a bit further inward and Nkechi stepped in. she was wearing a black flowing skirt that was as long as her knee and a white armless top. Nkechi is one of the four girls that are Gloria’s roommates. She is very jovial and easygoing. She is loved by almost everyone. Children seems to love her most because she occasionally buys them biscuits and sweets.
“Oga Yellow, why are you sleeping by this time of the day?” asked Nkechi in a voice with a note of consigned.
“I am just tired” replied Francis who is indifferent when referred to as Oga Yellow by co-tenants.
“Hope it is not malaria fever? Because tiredness is one of its symptoms.”
“No I don’t think so. I always drink herbs to that effect. His tiredness is as a result of excessive stress”
“Ok o!” Nkechi replied resignedly.
“Yeah!”
“Oga Yellow, did you remember to buy the film we spoke about the last time?” Nkechi further asked.
“You mean Game of Thrones?”
“Yes! But the season three of it.”
“Yes! I bought it together with some other films.”
“Which other film did you buy?” Nkechi asked excitedly as she was now standing by the side of Francis bed with her hands akimbo. She posture seems to further accentuate her breast.
Francis had his sight fixed on her breast. He had never been happier of his kind of eyesight until moment like this one when it difficult for one to determined where he is looking at because of the constant shifting of his eyeballs. His sexuality was already getting the signal very loud and very clear.
“Some Filipino telemundos; about four of them and two Indian movies. You can check them out. They are all on the television cabinet” Francis replied.
Nkechi eagerly strolled towards the cabinet that carries the television. She bend down with her buttock in the direction of the bed. She opened the cabinet and began to sort through the films in it.
Francis has not meet a woman since his wife left with their kids for the village. He has always been a faithful husband to his wife. Nkechi is an attractive girl. She has a moderate sized breast and some very ample bum. She is about 5.8 inches tall and possesses a very charming smile. When she laughs, it seems to radiate from deep down her soul. She lives her life not bothered about what negative perception people may nurse against.
Francis heart is beating fast. Every part of his body seems alert. There is absolutely no time to think now. He knows that what he is about to do is wrong and he will regret it soon. But he just couldn’t bring himself to stop. The urge was too great and overpowering like a volcano that is about to erupt. His penis was now achingly erect. He had sweat on his forehead and neck even as the ceiling fan blows at its highest. Precipitation condensed around his nasal cavity making his entire nasal region sweaty.
Francis stood up and tried to make for the door but his legs simply would not move in that direction. He walked almost without an after-thought towards the television cabinet where Nkechi is sorting out films bent down. He stopped directly behind her. He stood every close enough to have his erection brush against her buttocks. Francis rocked his waist from side to side while keeping his erection firmly between both ass cheeks. Nkechi pretended not to notice the activities directly behind her. Things were going exactly as planned. It was all she had wanted for a long time. After a few moment, Francis pulled back, went straight to the door and bolted it shot. He then returned to Nkechi who is already standing erect now. Francis reached out to cup her breast with his right hand but she gently maneuvered herself out of that attempt. She give off a look of utter confusion. Feigning ignorance, she asked Francis “Oga Yellow, what is all this about?” But the sound of her voice seems to betray the expression on her face. She kind of breath out the question for the sound came out almost as a whisper. Francis ignored her enquiry as he reached out for her breast the second time. This time there was no resistance as his right hand cupped her right breast. He fondles it gently. It was soft and filled his palms with no space to spare. He wondered how something this soft could maintain a perfectly round standing position. Francis then bent slightly forward towards her neck as Nkechi stylishly looked away to the other side in order to give him unrestrained access to the left side of her neck. He gently hissed the soft tissue of her neck, working his way by means of his lips in collaboration with his tongue from the base for the neck to its summit. This act was met by a shivering reaction from Nkechi who had resigned to a hush and was enjoying the game while it lasts. Francis -being a married man- had from experience perfectly understood the complicated sexuality of a woman. He is aware that to satisfy a woman and probably make her beg for more, a man must be ready to painstakingly start slow, then gently build up on his momentum as the game progresses on. He likens a woman to a car. For Francis, it is wrong to just put the key in the ignition and drive it off without first taking the time to fire-up the car and getting it into the mode to acceleration. Francis left hand went behind her back; round her waist to draw her even closer. His right hand left her breast as it traces its way through the soft curves of her body passing her full hips to her buttocks. He grabbed her right ass cheek in a firm jerking grip. Nkechi groaned in what seems like a mixture of pain and excitement. She suddenly pushed him softly away in a manner that clearly says “come and get me….if you can”. As she turned to make for the door, Francis grabbed her by her arms, swiftly swing her around and drew her pressingly close to himself. At that point, by her act, there was no longer doubt in her mind as to Francis consciousness in what he is doing. Without warning, he began to undo her buttons to expose her black bra. As if to give approval, Nkechi unhooked and zipped down her skirt from behind. She let go as the skirt fall right down to the ground. She was wearing a pink lace panties. Francis without hesitation slide his hand into her panties down to the folds of her vagina from where he began to playfully tease her. His left hand went round her back to steady her. Nkechi had her eyes tightly shot, head thrown aback and her back arched in a way that brought her chest forward. She held with both hands Francis’ right hand, a little above the wrist, as she quivers rhythmically to the magic of Francis’ fingers. As the pleasure increases, she unconsciously grabbed Francis by his shirt with one hand while the other still maintained its position on Francis’s wrist as if for reassurance against the fun going off abruptly. She opened her mouth wide but strangely enough, no sound came out of it. When her eyes opened, the eyeballs were nowhere to be found. It as if they had both rolled up into her head in a prefect show of ecstasy. Francis repeatedly work his trigger finger on her clitoris the very same way a policeman will work the trigger of his gun when threatened. With each movement, a shot of shocking wave ripples down her spine. Francis then slide both his index finger and the middle finger into her already moist vagina, with his palm maintaining a steady vibration on her clitoris. She immediately lost every sense of self-awareness as she moans loud –louder than what she would have wanted. Her knee seems to want to give way. Her leg just could no longer support the weight of her body. Francis was the master of the game, for she was now soakingly wet. He pleasured her the way a guitarist manipulates the guitar strings to give off tingling melodies.
Francis could no longer support her with his arms as her body’s trembling movement continues to grow in ferocity to the sustained wave of pleasure from his magic fingers. In one single motion, Francis slide down her panties and with the other hand he unhook her bra. Her breasts fell out eagerly as if to protest being restrained for too long. They were both of a perfect size. Each nipple was pointing in the opposite direction. It was indeed a beauty to behold. Francis led her to the bed and made her lay on her back. He then began undoing the buttons on his already rumpled-up shirt to reveal his hairy almost blood red chest. Black spots dotted his chest at random. He then began to unbuckle his belt. Nkechi who still lying on the bed still had her eyes tightly shot. She was very expectant. For as far as she is concerned, Francis was already a fish in the boat -her boat; to be manipulated at will. To be milked off whatever juice he still has in him. Though an alcoholic, Francis has two buses on the road that when there are no complains of a breakdown, brings returns for him. He had at one time contemplated driving one of the buses himself but Baba Jide advised him against it considering his lifestyle. By Nkechi estimation, Francis is financially responsible. After all there is a guaranteed means of steady income, all that is needed was someone to help control the inflow of cash to him. And that is what she had set out to achieved. Her plans is completely selfish as she gave no after-thought of what will become the plight of his family in the village if she succeeds in ripping him off the little his alcoholism will spare him. “Well…who cares? I have my own needs after all”, a line she had always used to support her conviction.
Francis removed the belt from the belt holders on his trouser and made for the single button that holds the trouser in place. He stopped abruptly as if something had hit him from behind. Then he took a step backwards, turned around and went for the door. He unbolted it open and went outside never to be seen again.

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CHAPTER SIX
It been two weeks since Mazi Okoro promised his wife the start-up money for her business. Mazi Okoro made the promise with the intention of not keeping it. He was compelled to make it in order to get off her hook that fateful morning. He had ever since been careful in avoiding his wife. He will come in when he knows she will be exhausted from the day’s labor and in no mode to make trouble and will ensure that he is out before she wakes. Whenever she is still awake –which he gets to know by means of interrogating the children with the armless question of “where is your mother?”-, he will linger for longer around the compound. And if he makes it to the room for whatever reason, he makes sure he stays close enough to the exit should in case of any eventuality.


Lolo Beatrice loves her husband so dearly. She loves his jokes and his handsomeness. She will often laugh out more to the astonishment of her children when she remembers some of their father’s jokes. When they were both much younger –before the birth of their children, Mazi Okoro used to take her out to exotic places. He will buy her nice things and sing to melodious folk songs. Mazi Okoro was every young girl’s dream. He rocks an afro hairstyle, had a pointed nose, gap teeth and hairy chest which he always flaunts back in the days when he puts on his grey blazers.
Long before Mazi Okoro came knocking in her father’s compound back in the village, Lolo Beatrice had a boyfriend named Somuadina. Somu -as he was fondly called back then- was a very shy guy. He was the only child of his parents and had a mother who was most willing to do everything for him. Being a lone child, Somu was well taken care of. He looked more robust and better dressed than ever other guy his age. Young girls her age likes flocking around Somu because when with him, they may get a chance to eat things like Nasco biscuits –which was foreign to them village girls, eggs –which they never get a chance to have a whole all to themselves, and suya –which was most likened to be a meal for the gods. It was not unnatural for Lolo Beatrice to be attracted to such a guy. But because Sumo had all the better looking girls running rings around him, she had to make due with admiring him from a distance. Most of the girls –especially Ebere who is now married with four grown up children- always had Somu’s name on their lips. Among the girls, no discussion is complete without an issue about Somu. On their way to the stream, Somu is being discussed. On their way to and from school, Somu is the topic. He in fact became the most popular boy in the village. Whichever girl Somu gives his attention to blushes in excitement. For girls who could not wait in line for his attention and were not willing to do anything extraordinary for it, their only chance of getting loved was the willingness to try out other guys. But still Sumo was the standard of measuring their guy’s class. Some of these girl will literarily break up with their boyfriend if they find him unwilling to measure up. Guys were under pressure from their girlfriends to work harder in order to meet up or risk losing them. They will fetch firewood to sell, they will hunt squirrels and other games to sell, and they will tap palm wine and cut down palm fruits to sell. With the money, they will buy Bongo trousers and Apola shoes. But it was all still not enough. Somu never needed to do none of these degrading jobs to stay on. His parents simply would not let him lack. Some of the village boys disliked Somu, while some others simply envy him and wished to be in his shoes.
Lolo Beatrice’s chance with Somuadina came unplanned. On the fateful day, she had gone alone to the stream to fetch a pail of water when she saw Somu coming in behind her also alone. She was shocked that she couldn’t even say a word of greeting to him. She just concentrated on fetching her water while hoping to get out of there as fast as her legs can carry her. She dropped the story book she had been reading along the way on one of the exposed roots of the Iroko tree which was planted next to the stream. Then she took her iron pail to the stream, dip her feet in the water and went to the head of the streambed to get the water from that section. She struggled to lift the bucket full of water to her head alone without bothering to call for help from the only person present which happens to Somuadina. She left the stream without taking a second look at Somu who was now standing on one of the exposed roots of the Iroko tree. When she got home, reflecting on the event at the stream, she wondered why she had reacted the way she did. “Here was the Somuadina she had always been daydreaming about; the very same Somuadina that all the village girls had on their lips and all she could do was to run away?” she wondered. She considered herself stupid for allowing this golden chance she had of letting Somu know her better pass. What a daft thing to do. She resigned to keep the encounter secret, for she knows if she should tell her best friend Ndidi of it, Ndidi will insult her to high heavens for being so foolish.
On the evening of that same fateful day. There was a knock on the door. Lolo Beatrice being the youngest of all her siblings and the one sitting closest to the door stood up to answer it. When she opened the door, she was shocked at who was standing there. She was so dazed as if she had seen an apparition. Somu seeing that she was surprised and probably lost greeted her back to consciousness. She did not reply more as a result of not knowing what to say. Somuadina looked beyond her into the room. He greeted her father who was sitting on the single sitter armchair and her mom who was sitting next to him. They both replied his greetings and in turn enquired about his parents to which he replied “They are fine. Thank you”. Her mom then motioned for him to come inside. Lolo Beatrice stood aside as Somu walked in. in his hands was the story book she was reading on her way to the stream. He told her parents that he had only come to return it because she forgot it at the root of the Iroko tree. They both thanked him and scorned Lolo Beatrice for always being too careless with things. But Lolo Beatrice was not paying attention to it all. Her mind was racing fast thinking of something nice to say to him. She couldn’t come up with something other than the very polite “bye” she said to him as he was about leaving. Lolo Beatrice closed the door after him and went straight to her room in excitement that the might Somuadina came to her house. That visit was the starting point of their affair.
Their relationship –if it were to go by such nomenclature- never blossomed as Lolo Beatrice had expected. Maybe she had expected too or probably Somuadina wasn’t showing much consign about it all. It all felt like nothing really was happening. Somu would not touch her, he would talk to her passively and only need be, does not even know her birthday, no sweet talks and his sense of humor was virtually non-existent. She will often wonder what all the fuss about Somuadina had all been about; for she was not seeing anything to have warranted such. Probably Somu was too naïve and innocent to understand what a woman wants. “Who would have even blamed him?” she will always wonder. Here is a boy who have always had everything done for him; to the extent that even maintaining an eye contact with the opposite gender was so difficult a task. Somuadina cannot start a conversation and knows nothing on how to keep one. He prefers staying largely silent all through a conversation. Apart from nodding his head at intervals mostly in affirmation, he contributes absolutely nothing meaningful to spice up any conversation. In fact, Somu was simply a boring character any vibrant young girl would want to be with. Whatsoever her principal reason was, Lolo Beatrice had her mind made to stop being romantically attached to Somu. She resigned within herself to now see him as just a friend: after all, there was no formal wooing, no first date or any date for that matter, no first kiss, and hardly any memorable moment to cherish about. So why a formal breakup? She had asked herself.
The girls were on their way from school when Ebere broke the news of a guy who just returned to the village from Lagos. To these young village girls, Lagos was considered to be out of this world. The city of Lagos was likened to the moon. It was out of reach, and just as it takes only astronauts to go to the moon, Lagos was seen to be reserved solely for the rich and powerful. Ebere announced to the girls that the guy was donning a hairstyle that is as tall as when one carries firewood on his head –referring to Mazi Okoro’s Afro hairstyle. And that his coat –referring to Mazi Okoro’s Blazers- was like that of the parish priest; only that he wore his on a tee-shirt unlike the parish priest that always wears his own on a long sleeve shirt. Ebere described the guy to be handsome, gaped teeth with a pointed nose.
Mazi Okoro was the best seducer she ever came across. He was really good with words and knows perfectly how to manipulate her with them. No matter how tough a resistance she puts up, her darling husband knows exactly how to get through it. She is always hapless in the face of his soothing words. She will sometimes shed hot tears in secrecy, wondering what have become of the man that swept her off her feet. Lolo Beatrice sincerely misses that man. She misses the old Mazi Okoro and desperately wants him back.
Lolo Beatrice had attributed her current predicament to be the handy work of her enemies who were jealous that she was always having the best men for herself. Now her husband no longer cares about her welfare or even that of his kids. He will spend whatever little money he makes on drinking beer. And when he is drunk, he will entertain the entire street by staggering into the gutter: an embarrassment the family has been finding most difficult to manage. She now have to fend for herself and for her four children from her petty groundnut business. She now frequents prayer houses. Roving from one prayer house to the next in search for a spiritual solution to her problem. She had in the past tried to talk him to reason but all her attempts always ends in futility.
“Mommy, NEPA people are here with their ladder for disconnection.” Chiagozie announced to cut her off her deep thought.
“Where are they?” she tiredly asked
“They are outside the compound and they are asking after the current bill”
Lolo Beatrice struggled to get herself off the bed. When she eventually did, she went straight to the wardrobe and on that very same blazers (which is own old fashioned and worn out) Mazi Okoro wore when they first met, she search out the current electricity bill. With the electricity bill in hand, she went out to meet with the NEPA officials.

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CHAPTER SEVEN
The epileptic state of power distribution in the country has always and always will be a cause for consign if nothing urgent is done about it. One of the surest way to begin a quarrel in the compound is by bringing up the issue of the electricity bill. It is one issue that always gets people feeling cheated. This issue have never for once being amiably settled. To make matters worse, it is the most frequently reoccurring issue. It is guaranteed to reoccur on the least twelve time in a year judging by the number of times the electricity bill is meant to come. When it is not a problem of points sharing, it could be the problem of late or delayed payment. When it is not a problem of accumulated debts, it could be the problem of crazy billing –outrageous billing. But no matter how one goes about solving electricity issues, it never stays solved. Solving electricity issues literary means leaving the customers with all the disadvantages. For a private consumer, this could be understandable and probably bearable, but for public consumers like in the case of a one hundred and fifty (150) tenant compound, it is whole lot different. Divergent views will be considered: everybody will want to be heard and some will even go as much as to try to force their opinions down the throat of others. And many of these views may not air on the side of patience and endurance like in the case of a private user.
The acronym NEPA stands for National Electricity Power Authority. It used to be a public utility company responsible for ensuring and regulating the effective generation and distribution of power in the country; a task –based on common knowledge- they failed completely in. The parastatal just like with many other government parastatal was plagued by mismanagement, corruption, embezzlement, mediocrity, tribalism and nepotism. Based on her gross inefficiency, various governmental regimes have sorted different ways of sanitizing the system. The last of which was the privatization of the agency. NEPA was auctioned off into various concessions but her inefficiency also went with her to her new private owners. The concessions all changed the name –probably believing her inefficiency was in the name. They mostly took up names based upon their area of operations but this did not stop the general public from still referring to them with the former nomenclature of NEPA. The EEDC –Eko Electricity Distribution Company- is the electricity company that oversees power distribution within Lagos and its environment.

Jide is standing outside with Ebuka. In a few moment, his fears will be confirmed. Jide, like other children his age, hates seeing the compound electricity supply get disconnected. Not minding the pathetic state of the nation’s power distribution, for him, he prefers his compound being connected to the grid. For once one is connected and there is no power supply, the situation is bearable, considering that whenever power gets finally restored, he is sure to get it. But with a disconnection, the situation is entirely hopeless and will remain so until a reconnection is done. The inefficiency associated with NEPA have made the reconnection exercise an exercise no one will want to engage twice in. Jide suspects the compound, just as it always does, has defaulted in their payment of the current electricity bill. All that was needed was for Lolo Beatrice –the custodian of the electricity bill- to come out with it so that the NEPA official can determine how much is owed and the correct line of action. Jide knows it will be a miracle if his compound escapes this one. That miracle can only be made possible by mean of a bribe but nobody have any to give. Anyone probably willing to redeem the compound is sure to do so from his own pocket for it will never be refunded.
At this point, strong anger was already building up on the inside of him. It was about time he teaches these NEPA people some very bitter lesson. He had heard tales of streets that have collectively confronted NEPA officials, beating them up mercilessly, seizing their equipment and vandalizing their vehicles. These streets by their action succeeded in instilling fear into the entire NEPA staffs who will not dare go to such streets for disconnections duties. Jide had always wished his street will take up such a hard stand against these NEPA staffs but such a wish is considered farfetched as no one is willing to risk a possible jail sentence for something that is not exclusively his business. This disposition have made Jide to look down on the older boys in his area as chicken livered, pant-wetting mommy’s boys. What the many street boys could not do for the street, Jide was very determined to do for his compound. For him, he must teach every NEPA staff to fear his compound.

Two NEPA staffs were assigned on Jide’s street. The first one who seems to be the boss was a short dark Yoruba man probably from Ibadan judging by the severity of his facial marks. He was wearing blue overall which had its back inscribed the initials EEDC for Eko Electricity Distribution Company. He was standing at the front of the main entrance. He had his right hand against the post. On his left hand, he was carrying what seems like a register. At the back of his ear hangs a blue pen. He bellowed into the passage of the main building in an effort to announce his presence in expectation that whosoever is responsible with the task of attending to NEPA officials will come out and attend to him.
Further out, the younger of the two also a Yoruba on whose nametag is written ‘AREMU’, was adjusting the ladder to have it properly lean against the electric pole. He was also wearing exactly the same kind of clothing like his boss. He had on him the safety harness and around his waist is a brown leather belt on which the various tools needed to effectively carry out his tasks up on the pole were attached. He was tall, dark and slender and as well, had an innocent boyish look to his face. About eight meters to where he had the ladder set, his boss had placed quite large a bundle of seized disconnected wires. Each of these wires were rolled up and a duct tape placed on it, this is to properly identify each from the other. On the duct tapes were written addresses from where the wire was disconnected from.
“Ejor Oga mi, shey them never come outside ni?” Aremu asked his boss in a heavily accented combination of both the Yoruba and Pigin English. Combining Yoruba and English languages seems the unofficial lingo of the staffs that works with electricity companies in Yoruba land.
“I am yet to see anybody o!” his boss replied with a hint of frustration in his voice. With the intensity of the sun and the number of houses yet to cover, one cannot help being frustratingly annoyed when there is a delay in gaining attention. But for customers, anything to spite NEPA officials is encouraged. Getting their pound of flesh against NEPA staffs is sometimes the first thing on the mind of some customers. An intentional delay for a few moments is most likely the only fair as well as legal advantage a customer can ever get against NEPA.
“Oga mi, if they are not forthcoming, then let us disconnect them. Abi they want us to remain here doing nothing ni?” Aremu asked already feeling irritated.
The boss left the doorpost he was standing at to attend to people from the neighboring compounds who happens to share the same electric pole with Jide’s compound as they start trickling in one after the other. It was at this point that Lolo Beatrice came out with the electricity bill. Her eyes looked red and swollen. If not for the rumpling of her wrapper and the roughness of her hair, one would have mistook her for someone who had been shedding tears but hurriedly had to dry her eyes in order to have her sorrow concealed from prying eyes.
“Madam, shey you people did not hear my voice when I was shouting for the bill ni? If we disconnect you now, you will say NEPA people are too wicked? Abi you think this is the only job we have to do all day ni?” The boss inquired from Lolo Beatrice.
“I was trying to remember where I kept the bill and that was what took my time. I am sorry” pleaded Lolo Beatrice.
It is common knowledge that being polite with NEPA staffs on disconnection duties can have a positive effect on the bribe one is to pay. A polite customer could possibly pay less in bribe compared to a rude customer. With NEPA, though illegal, bribing is considered to be a very integral part of the system. The official cost of getting reconnected is two thousand naira (#2000) for the common single phase line. But one could be expected to pay between one thousand (#1000) and one thousand five hundred naira (#1500) in bribe depending on the amount being owed. This will spare the customer the ordeal of staying a few days in hopeless blackout, while giving him a few more days in grace to effect payment. Customers most often prefers the bribe option. Well…who will blame them? Making ends meet in an already messed up economy is one hell of a task.
Lolo Beatrice handed over the bill to the NEPA official and looked away, pretending not to know that the compound have not effect its payment. The NEPA official collected the bill from her and placed it under, in line with other bills as they come, examining them one after the other.
“no 53, here is your bill. I have recorded it on my register.” the Boss said as he hands over the bill to Mama Ejima who is representing that compound.
“no 57, you made part payment. But the problem is that the amount paid is not up to the official 70% current bill charge you are supposed to pay. We are supposed to get you disconnected but because you bothered to pay something, we will spare you. Next time you may not be this lucky.” Said the Boss who is now having a stern look on his face. He registered it on his book and then handed it over to the person representing no 57. Brother Ade who is representing no 57 collected the bill. He thanked him for his consideration by prostrating with his two hands to the ground. “Oga mi!” he hailed, only to sneer back at him three meters off his face.
“no 59, you have not paid even a dime of your current electricity charge and your arrears is well over twenty thousand naira (#20,000). We shall have you disconnected.” said the boss feigning annoyance. He handed the bill over after having entered it on his register. The last bill he was having in his hands is that of no 55 –Jide’s compound. He carefully examined the bill while licking his lips in the process. It is bills like these –that of no 59 and no 55- that they like coming across. With these kind of bills, there are only but two possible outcomes. It is either you pay a bribe and stay connected or you don’t pay and get disconnected. The bribe one has to pay have no official backings. It starts and ends with the team assigned to your street. For the team on Jide’s street, one does not put food on the table by playing nice.
“no 55!” called the boss.
“Sir!” answered Lolo Beatrice in a very nice voice. She looks straight at the boss as he speak, trying to establish eye contact with the sole intention of having him intimidated so she can manipulate him to her own wish. But the boss being someone with a lot of experience in customer’s antics, he deliberately avoided eye contact.
“You people have not even paid a kobo on your current charge and your arrears are way too huge. Is there ever a time no 55 will be devoid of debt? Well….we are going to disconnect you.” Said the boss. And so it began the compulsory pleading session that comes right before the bribe negotiating session. The entire process terminates with the final payment of bribe.
“Aremu, disconnect no 55 and no 59.” Instructed the boss. With this instruction, pleading intensifies and negotiations starts wearing the look of seriousness.

Jide who was patiently watching it all, had intensive anger boiling on the inside of him. He distastes NEPA officials and the way they arrogantly go about their business. For him, people were simply just attaching too much importance to them and the epileptic service they render. He had watched on the sideline how Lolo Beatrice has been following the boss around pleading for the compound to be spared and at the same time promising to pay up but with each plea, the boss puffs up in arrogance. Jide felt like giving him a very hard punch on his face. His tribal marks and dark skin color in collaboration with his mindless arrogance presented the image of the devil to Jide. He hated devils and this devil must be taught a bitter lesson.

“Madam, can you please stop following me about? If you want us not to get your wire disconnected, then go and bring the sum of one thousand five hundred naira (#1500). I would have told you to bring two thousand naira (#2000) considering the amount you people are owing but because I am a God-fearing man that is why I told you to bring a thousand, five hundred naira.” The boss said as he tries to shake off himself from Lolo Beatrice ominous presence.
The boss walked towards the position of the leaning ladder as Aremu prepares himself to get up the ladder. Aremu puts on his red rubber gloves and adjusted the safety harness round his waist. Then up the ladder he ascended. The boss took his place at the foot of the ladder. He had his right leg placed at the first step of the ladder while his left leg maintained its position on the ground. His two hands were both on either of the ladder’s rail. The boss position at the foot of the ladder is a precautionary measure in ensuring that the ladder is safely anchored to the ground as Aremu carries out his task at the top.
“Aremu, fi no59 si ile. Won ti mu owo wa.” Instructs the boss from down below in Yoruba language.
Aremu looked down at his boss who gave him a sign that says only no55 will be disconnected as the person representing no59 has complied with the bride he was asked to pay. The system of communication between NEPA staffs when the issue of bribe is being discourse traditionally becomes part Yoruba and part sign language. This is to effectively confuse anyone who is nosy enough not to mind their own business.

Jide had timed his move to coincide at exactly the time both NEPA staffs will be having their hands full. With the first one up the ladder and the second one helping to hold the ladder in place, the time to act was ripe. Jide made for the bundle of wires laying on the ground. He grabbed two sizeable ones and ran off into the compound passing through the entrance that leads directly into the boy’s quarters and then he disappeared.

Aremu had just hooked on his safety harness by having it around the electric pole and back onto its place on his waist when the shout of “Ole! Ole!!” (Yoruba for Thief! Thief!!) startled him. He at once recognized the voice to be that of his boss form down below. He looked down to see his boss agitating violently while pointing towards the entrance to the boy’s quarters of the compound he is about to disconnect. He boss not knowing whether to let go of the ladder and run after the thief or to first get his colleague safely on the ground and deal with the theft later. His indecision was now taking a toll on the ladder which was now vibrating violently in rhythm to his agitated boss. But strangely enough, Aremu observed that nobody was even making any attempt to go after the thief and possibly recover what has been stolen. They all seems in the least undisturbed by the agitation of his boss. Aremu fearing for his own safety unhooked his safety harness and started to descend from the ladder. His priority now is to recover the stolen wires because every delay decreases the chance of having the thief apprehended.
“Ah Oga mi! Please hold the ladder tight o!” Aremu pleaded as he descends
His boss was too agitated to hear his plea. All that was utmost on his mind was getting that thief. He is well aware that he is to be held responsible for any missing wire. He could be penalized for being careless with public property. Being a family man with five kids to cater for, any threat against his pay check is most likely to be taken seriously.

Lolo Beatrice who was watching it all, couldn’t help but feel admiration for the thief but she did not show it on her face. She felt like jumping for joy but decided against it for fear of being label an accomplice. So she witnessed it all with an indifference look on her face. Without being asked, she made it clear to everyone around and interested to know that the thief is not a member of the compound and that even though he ran into it, one can easily link up with the other streets by passing through the backyard. Lolo Beatrice as well as others retired to their respective compounds leaving the NEPA officials to deal with their problem themselves.

CHAPTER EIGHT
Nkechi is lying still on her bed. She had earlier phoned in to report that she wasn't feeling well and will therefore not be able to make it to work. She boss obliged her owing more to the fact that Nkechi rarely missed work. Her roommates had enquired to know what the problem was but she lied to them that it was just a minor headache that will pass. Nkechi knows what she is suffering is more of heartache than headache, and this will most certainly live with her for the rest of her life. The reality of what had befallen her was beginning to become clearer by each passing moment. She had set out on a hunt only to turn out to be the hunted. She felt herself to be as useless as what has been chewed up and spat out to the trash; for where it rightfully belongs.

Nkechi is the third child in a family of eight girls and no boys. Her father never liked the fact that they are all girls even though he rarely says it to their faces. He believes his personal chi had not been fair to him. He had once spoken harshly to the mom in the privacy of their room stating that “he was ready to sacrifice the life of these worthless girls just for the cry of a baby boy in his compound”. Nkechi was standing by the door when her father made the remark about them. That night was the most troubling for Nkechi. She cried herself to sleep but those words were forever written in heart. Nkechi cannot remember when any one of her sisters have had the chance to sit on their father’s lap or being playfully thrown in the air like other fathers did to their girls. It has, in fact, never happened. Their father celebrates his successes with his brothers. His happiest moments are spent with his friends. He only brings home his misfortunes and dissipates his anger on them girls. Whenever he is around, no form of chatting and giggling is allowed. They will all run into their room and pretend to be asleep. Whenever they do any wrong, he will scold them very harshly calling them ‘good for nothing’. Though he tries to provide for his family, but he more or less does so for fear of what people will say about him.
Her father had always being under stained pressure from his brothers that he take for himself a second wife but he had always pushed the issue aside stating that his financial status is not stable enough for him to do so. His brothers even offered to take up whatever expenses getting a new wife will incur but her father continually puts up resistance.
One day, he came home with tears standing in his eyes. Her mother inquired to know what the problem was about. Her father narrated to them how a boy not older than his daughter Nkechi had used his bicycle to spatter water on him. And when he tried to bring the boy’s attention to it, he told him off by telling him to "get away or better still do you worst". He felt bad and wished if only any of his children had been a male, he would have send him to deal with the boy mercilessly. That day, he placed the blame on Osebuluwa, his personal chi, their mother and on them –the girls. The pressure was too much on her mom that she had to plead with him in private on the need to get a second wife for himself. She stated that both her and her children will live happily with whosoever he picks as second wife. For her, his happiness is what is paramount in her life. She had said these things as hot tears streaming down her eyes. Her husband appreciated his wife effort to see that he is happy but conspicuously refused her request. He stated that that was not the best option as it will only bring further destruction to his family. Being one who grew up in a polygamous family, he totally dislike such a family setup. He told his wife that he plans not to marry off one of the girls. The appointed girl will stay back in his compound and bear children that will bear his name and carry on with his legacies. According to Igbo customs, this practice is absolutely normal. The decision greatly alarmed their mother who, though was well aware that such a tradition exists, never knew that her husband was thinking in that direction.
Nkechi grew up thinking it was perfectly normal as a woman to do everything possible to gain general acceptance among men and society. She had thought being a woman, your dignity starts and ends, more or less, on the man to your side. A woman even with an irresponsible man to her side is always first considered ahead of more successful single ladies. Women were not allowed to attend the meeting of kinsmen. They do not partake in the sharing of their father’s wealth. Their role in life is generally considered to be complimentary to that of their male counterparts.
Being the one among all her sisters to have a bit of a masculine orientation, her father secretly earmarked her as the best candidate to carry on the legacy of preserving his name. Her mother was aware of his plan but she was not in support. She intimated her children on their father’s plan for them and all hell broke loose.

Jide almost overnight transformed from being the compound's clown to becoming the compound's hero. The NEPA officials had enquired about the identity of the boy who stole from them. Their enquires were met with the same answer “I don’t know!”. They had left in frustration without bothering to climb the electric pole a second time for the superstitious fear of what could befall them this time. On his return, the compound women enquired –though more for gossip sake- how he had fared. Jide dished out to them various ego-massaging stories of his sojourn. Many of his stories were greatly exaggerated. Like when he told Iyawo Akeem that he ran ten kilometers to evade capture without even knowing what running ten kilometers entails.
He walked around the compound as if to have spring under his heels. And when electricity was finally restored, instead of the usual shout of "UP NEPA!", those who knew about Jide’s action of the afternoon shouted "UP JIDE!". Jide enjoyed it all. Even Aunty Gloria his secret crush gave him a very warm embrace when she learnt of what he did. Little children his age immediately nicknamed him “Jide the terminator”.
That evening, those tenants who were yet to pay their NEPA bills were almost sliced in two equal halves by the harsh lips of Lolo Beatrice. Their grace period has elapsed.

Nkechi and her sisters all deserted their father’s compound for their mother’s village from where they all went their different ways. Nkechi ran the farthest. While others had sought refuge within the eastern axis of the country, Nkechi set out for Lagos. She was determined to make it big in order to spite her father for not believing in them. But she was even more determined at getting back at the male folks, for they manipulated society and bestowed on themselves power and influence.
She met Gloria at the motor park who later introduced her to the other three girls. They all contributed equal amount in order to secure an apartment for themselves. Going about securing an apartment in Lagos was quite difficult than they expected it to be. No Landlord was willing to offer his house to a group of five girls who are not even blood sisters. The story was almost exactly the same from one Landlord to the next. Nkechi continued to observe with disgust how society have made it difficult for ladies who have set out to survive on their own. Luck eventually shined on them when someone directed them to Baba Jide. Baba Jide took them to the Landlord and introduced them as his children. And just like that, they secure a room on the boy’s quarters in his compound. They were asked to pay for two years; which they did. Then they were told to pay for Agent and Agreement Fees. The girls were taken aback. As newcomers in the state, it has not occurred to them that such was the practice down here. Nkechi was the one that spoke first.
“But Oga Landlord, there is no agent involved. We did not seek the service of any. And do we have to pay a fee for just reaching an agreement with you?” Nkechi queried.
The landlord was not happy with the question, but for the fact that Baba Jide had introduced them as his children he would not speak to them harshly. Baba Jide and the Landlord both have mutual respect for each other. Baba Jide seeing that the facial expression of the Landlord has changed offered to explain to the girls instead; that such is considered norm in Lagos state. He, as well, explained to the Landlord that all five girls are new to the state.
The girls pleaded to be allowed to return the next day with both the Agent and Agreement Fees for they had not anticipated the extra charges. The Landlord obliged them but stated that he will not issue a receipt to them until everything is properly settled. And if for any reason they were unable to come up with the money for the extra charges, they can come and take back the money already paid. They thanked him and left with Baba Jide for the room.
Most of the girls, especially Nkechi, were no longer having much left on them. So the money for the extra charges could not be shared equally but based on what one could afford. All the girls contributed. Gloria contributed the largest amount. The following day. They were all prepared to go and see the Landlord to effect payment. But Gloria convinced them that it was no longer necessary that they all go together since the Landlord had seen them all the previous day. She suggested that the other girls stay behind and try to make the room more livable while only her goes on to see the Landlord. The other ladies considered it a very good idea. So they all stayed back to wash the room clean and decorate it.
When she returned, Nkechi observed that it was Gloria’s full name that was on the receipt. She had wanted to raise alarm but decided against it for it was far too early to start suspecting each other. And so she allowed the sleeping dog to lie. The girls have ever since lived like sisters. Whenever there are challenges, they all face it trusting on the solidarity of each other. Aside a few times Gloria would want to give off the impression that she is the legal owner of the room, which the girls conveniently laugh off and considers childish, they live in relative peace.

Nice story.

Nice story

CHAPTER NINE
Chinelo had the family clothes piled high a couple of meters away from the compound’s Well. She had five empty buckets orderly arranged to the side of the stacked clothes. She intend to have them filled with water. She hopes to wash the clothes once she is through with washing the dishes. She had earlier cleaned the room; having everything placed in their proper positions. She needed to get everything done on time before Mama and Ngozi her younger sister both returns from the market. She also hoped that NEPA will be reliable enough to restore power so she can watch her favorite TV shows.
She finished washing the dishes, got the droplets of water drained out of them and then took them inside to have them neatly arranged in their proper place. Getting the plates and spoons sorted out for proper placement took her quite some time. When she was done, she proceeded out to the backyard to commence the washing of the stacked clothes. To her surprise, she found all five initially empty buckets all filled to the brim with water. Strangely enough, the only people at the Well as at when she went inside was Jide, Mama Nonye and Aunty Happiness –one of the girls who lives in Gloria’s room. She could bet that none of these three persons would have done that for her. For Jide, he is just too lazy to be meaningfully helpful to others. For Aunty Happiness and Mama Nonye, they both already have too much on their plate to be bothered about someone else’s problem. To satisfy her curiosity, she proceeded to ask Mama Nonye who will be serious enough to give her a straight answer on who had helped her to fill up her bucket.
“Mama Nonye, please did you see the person that filled up these five buckets with water?” she asked.
“My dear, I hardly take note of anything going on around me anytime I bend down to wash.” Mama Nonye replied.
But after a few moments, she added “I think I saw Austin come to the well at about the time you took those dishes inside.”
“You mean Brother Austin?” Chinelo asked in a voice that sounded astonished.
“Yes Brother Austin!”

Austin entered his room. He dried his wet feet on the foot mat by the door. In his hands were the stainless plate and spoon he had gone to the Well to have rinsed. But his ultimate intention had not been to have his plate rinsed; for he had more than enough water in his room to get that done. Austin had for some time picked up interest in Chinelo. Chinelo had been a young girl of fourteen when Austin parked into the compound, but she had so rapidly developed into a very respectable confident woman. Her curves have all well shapened up. She was just breathtakingly beautiful. Her beauty was not what had attracted his attentions though. It was her calm maturity in the face of pressure that did. Austin have observed with disguised interest her repeated attempts at managing her family issues without resulting to the assistance of a third party. She had been doing marvelously well in helping her siblings manage the grief of having such an embarrassing father. In fact, a lot of neighbors, both within and outside the compound, finds it so hard to believe that quiet Chinelo is the daughter of quarrelsome Beatrice and her drunkard husband Mazi Okoro. Chinelo is at peace with almost everyone, not minding whether one has quarrels with her parents or not.
Chinelo had brilliantly taken over the emotional and spiritual responsibility of her parents towards her siblings without having both parents feeling displaced. She will counsel them and guide them through their individual challenges. It was her who Ngozi can comfortably talk to about her intimate affairs. It was her that Ebuka can comfortably tell which school girl he is crushing on. It is also her that Chiagozie calls mommy. She was in fact the role model of her siblings, as well as to many other compound kids. They all love her just as she loves them in return. She is also very homely and goes about doing house chores without uttering any word in complaints.
Chinelo carries her hair in low cuts as a result of academic restrictions, but she will be graduating at the end of the current academic year, after which such restrictions will no longer be binding on her. Her low cut hairstyle fits her perfectly well. Austin will always steal glances at her whenever she is washing at the backyard; sometimes in absolute silence and at other times, in melodious tenor tones. Austin loves it when she sings. The tingling sounds of her voice have this strange soothing effect on Austin which he finds absolutely difficult to explain.
Austin had made up his mind that he needs a girl like Chinelo in his life to help him stay focus. He needs a girl who will encourage him when the chips are down. And being the lone child of his mother, he needs a girl with the prospects of possibly becoming his wife. He was going to do it slowly and steadily; one step at a time. Step one: is to get her attention.

Chinelo’s mind was seriously roving, as she was trying to make sense out of what the gesture was all about. “Is it an innocent gift or a Trojan horse?” she wondered. She had never had that much in terms of relationship with the opposite gender. Her only contact -though not intimate- with them (boys) is the innocent classroom chats she usually have with her class boys. These chats were innocent and unpretentious, with no strings attached. She had noticed but without paying much heed to the catcalls made by her street boys anytime she is walking down the street. One of the street boys named Musa is particularly fond of these catcalls and each time, she tries as much as possible to ignore him. Musa doesn’t like to be ignored. He will rush up to her from behind and hold her by her wrist, to which she will struggle herself loose. This attitude usually pissed him off and he will resort to insulting her and her parents. He will mockingly point to the last portion of the gutter her father last fell. Chinelo will not reply him but will continue on her way but within her, those words really hurts. These different encounters helped to build her perception of men.


Barbing saloons, bet shops and local bars are the best places for one to socialize in the neighborhood. Most of the young men of the neighborhood prefers to hang out in any of these three places. While some only come around in the evening after returning from work, the jobless ones –they call themselves by the fancy name of “Homeboys”- will in the morning, at about the time others are preparing for work, take their bath and put on their best cloths as if they have somewhere important to go. These homeboys only end up in one of the three earlier mentioned places. The homeys always seems to know everyone in the area and everybody knows them. The homeboys are always the first know when there is a new babe or chick (Slang for girl) in the neighborhood. A new babe in the neighborhood simply means a new target practice. They will almost immediately begin marshalling out plans on how to get the new chick. The primary goal is to get her laid. The price is a slap on the back of the shoulders as if to say “well-done” and some form of reverence when one is being talked about. The laid chick will then be passed on, from one guy to the next, until they've all had their fill. It is all a game. For every neighborhood babe taken, three points is awarded. The guy with the highest number of accumulated points, tops the league. Although there might not be any formal board responsible for keeping the scores, the guys just consciously seems to know who the best among them is. They know who used to be the best and those giving the leaders a run for their money.


Chinelo’s perception of men is not in the least negative and as well, not overly positive. In spite of having a father that embarrasses the family, there are still good men like Baba Jide; who almost everybody likes. Despite having to share a street with a rude boy like Musa, she still had street boys who will make way for her to pass. One of such time was when she had returned from church ahead of her siblings. The street boys were spending their afternoon playing soccer on the street. They literally stopped kicking the ball around and patiently waited for her to pass before resuming play. The gesture was quite pleasant as well as a little embarrassing. They all had their eyes on her. Walking the few steps off their pitch was in fact the longest walk she had ever made.
Chinelo likes Austin who she refers to as Brother Austin as a mark of respect. Austin is a simple minded soul who is never interested in other people’s business. A character that is very rare in a public compound. He is not ultra-religious and stoic like Brother Fidelis and he is as well not loose and carefree as Oga Francis. He follows the middle course in his quest for uprightness. Austin is very responsible and very hardworking indeed.
Chinelo felt like “having Brother Austin as my first boyfriend would not be such a bad idea; after all he is cute and responsible. But first, he has to ask for it and after he does, I will make him sweat…. I mean real sweat”

Austin avoided Chinelo for the whole of that day and unto the next day. He wanted the effect of his gesture to linger on for a little while. He felt that the effect of a gesture automatically ends whenever the receiver has been able to express his/her gratitude to the giver. He knows Chinelo will be feeling disturbed for not been able to thank him yet, but that was just exactly what he wanted and hoped to achieve.
Austin successfully avoided her when he went to take his bath at the bathroom, when he was having his teeth brushed, and when he had a cobbler polished his shoes. Now he is full dressed and is set to hit the road. He had been avoiding the entrance into the main building like a plague for fear of encountering Chinelo. He prefers the second entrance that leads directly into the boy’s quarters.
He had almost made it out of the compound when heard someone call his name from behind. He turned only to find Chinelo coming out through the main entrance door with a smile that made every single strand of hair on his body rise. His palms suddenly went moist and his eyes were transfixed on her. In his head, it all seems like a goddess emerging from the gate of heaven. It all felt like he was in a trance. He just couldn’t speak; for he was too dumbfounded to do so. Chinelo spook first and her words seems to draw him back away from his dreamlike world into reality.
“Brother Austin, I know it was you that did it. Thank you very much.” She said as she turns to hurry back inside for fear of her father getting to meet them together. Austin was still too dumb to give a proper reply. He would have loved to feign ignorant of what it is she was talking about, but couldn’t help himself to it. He just gave out a smile and continued to watch as Chinelo disappeared back into the darkness of the passage; after which, he realized that his mouth were opened and that there is a shift he has to go relieve. He turned and off to work he went; with a childish excitement in his heart.

Nice story bro

Tanks for the update.



Happy Xmas to u all

skubido:
Tanks for the update.


Happy Xmas to u all

Merry Christmas to you too

keep it up. lovely story and well structured

Thanks for the update dear
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