Av bin away 4 so long and Guess i've missed so much on nairaland. Well am back so ride on.

The october rain came with its wetness and chills. The down pour had been intense for days and most of the streets with poor drainage were flooded.

The court room was filled with people most of whom had nothing to do with the case. Tension was expressed in silence at the reappearance of the judge to give his verdict.

Patrick stood in the dock with his head bent. He concentrated his gaze on the rough wooden floor beneath his feet and he felt time had stopped for a reason he couldn't tell until he heard the voice of the judge then every thing jolted into a rapid motion.

For the first time since his trial he was having a slim fear in his mind. Doris had done her best and he knew it but he also knew that the prosecution counsel had a more concrete case during the trial.

"...sentence to Five years imprisonment. This is my judgement" were the last words of the judge before he rose from his seat and advanced to the rear of the court.

Patrick lifted his gaze to the look at the people. Their divergent expressions eluded his understanding. Some had made inaudible comments, while others showed pity. He descended his looks to Doris who had a different expression which he had never seen on her face before.

The two officers who had escorted him into the room rush towards him with a hand cuff. One officer stood at both sides and they shoved him out of the room for the "black maria" to convey him to the prison.

Doris could not make a sound. She was certain of losing the case but not expecting such a verdict. Indeed our Justice system is rotten she thought within her self as slowly packed her paraphernalia and walked towards the exit.

Patrick walked on with the two officers at either sides. As he climbed the high security vehicle he saw two people standing at a corner. Everybody around the vicinity was looking at him but something was different about those two. He turned to take a clearer look but receive a violent push from behind. The door of the vehicle flung open and inside the vehicle was darker than Hades.

He peeped through the small holes on the side of the van but it was useless as he couldn't see them from his position. Slowly vehicle drove off the compound for his abode, the prison which would be his home for the next Five years.

The holiday which lingered on for too long finally crept over for a new school session. The students had returned to school, most of them looking bigger than they were before the vacation.

The compound had some over grown weeds and the class rooms were very dusty with cobweb dangling recklessly from the ceiling.

The students were no strangers to the fact that Late comers were going to tidy the month old dirt so most of them had turned up early to school that morning.

In the classroom, Jake and Morris arranged a desk at the back of the class, Morris sat close to he window.

The class remained rowdy as the students clustered in groups discussing the events of the holiday.

The first half of the day went on with few teachers coming to introduce the term's scheme to the class, other however did not bother coming to class at all.

"How are you doing today?" Jake asked Anabel as they walked on the long lawn leading to the cafeteria.

"It's been pretty nice. When did Morris return?" Anabel replied.

"I am certain you saw him in class why didn't you ask him?"

"Because he didn't tell me he was travelling but you did." Anabel answered.

Jake looked at her and shook his head. He didn't reply her as he ordered for snacks from the lady across the counter.

As they walked into the class Jake noticed Morris was still in class. That was strange. Morris was never in class during recession not even when he is sick and he Jake was certain he wasn't sick, for all he knew Morris had never been sick.

"What are you up to" Jake asked as he sat beside his friend.

"How do you mean?" Morris asked. Some how he deduced what Jake was talking about but chose to pretend.

"You can't Just be in one place, not during recession" Jake replied.

"Well I guess there is a better news which would interest you than my being in class." Morris said waving aside Jake's comment. He smiled as he noticed the interest on his friend's face. "The Principal 'll finally be calling out the Prefects today" Morris said.

"Really? I thought he said we weren't qualified to be Prefects, why did change of mind" Jake asked. "By the way how did you know?"

Morris laughed carelessly. That was what he loved most outside talking and eating, the feeling of being important due to the information he possessed.

"You sure don't wanna know how i got that." Morris replied conceitedly.

****** ***** *****
The teachers and students sat in the hall closing Assembly. The hall was noisy and no teacher made any attempt to calm the students.

Few minutes later, the Principal walked into the hall and immediately the place became dead silent. He stood before the crowd with a chordless micro phone and made sure every attention was on him before he spoke.

"Good afternoon all." he greeted. He paused and looked through the teachers then to the students as they responded his greeting.

"Without much ado I'll like to inform you all officially that I have reconsidered and decided to appoint some students who would be saddled with the responsibilities of being the school prefects. However, they would be acting prefects in their various capacities which means I can substitute them if they fail to impress Me" he paused and looked at the paper on his hand.

Morris adjusted his chair and looked at Jake. The look on his eyes were the silent way of saying
"Didn't I tell you?"

The principal proceeded in calling the names of the prefects and asked them to come out in front of the hall. As the prefects were being called Morris kept expecting to hear his name. At least he deserved a post he thought. Only few posts were left and he hadn't heard his name, even if there wasn't anything for him he could do well with being a Library Prefect. He felt beads of sweat forming on his face and he made no attempt to wipe his face .

"Uzo... Morris" the principal's voice came from the loud speakers. The principal had never been able to pronounce his surname. "Labour /sanitary prefect." The principal added. He looked up to see if the student was walking out.

Morris stood up and walked towards other prefects. He couldn't believe his luck. He knew he deserved a post but something as highly placed as the Labour prefect. He never imagined that in all his thought.

"The Head Girl for this section is Adele Anabel."

Jake was the first to start the clapping as she stood up to meet the rest. His face shone with admiration. Jake had continued starring at the prefects, most of them were his classmates when the principal's voice sounded from the speakers again.

"Azubike Jake is the new senior prefect, please step forward." Jake couldn't believe his ears. As he walked on towards the principal the students kept clapping, most of the junior students were already standing and shouting. He had never been so famous in his life. He expected the principal to say he had called his name mistakenly but he received a friendly hand shake and a pat at the back from the Principal. He was the new Senior prefect of the school, he smiled.

Am sowi Was away 4 so long. Am back... Oops! My Back!

beyonDskygirl: Sunday evenin waitin...patiently

Am soo sowi i didnt kip 2 ma wrds... Tins didnt just work out well but anoda plan is in motion...
Tnks Palz

princesa:
@wesslier, ok if you have got a draft of the story, then you can't be stranded. So ride on

yeah ma'am... I'm gonna do just as Sir Frank has said. Min while i'll start rollin 4rm sunday evening. Its nice 2 av heard 4rm u and sir Frank.

frank3.16:
No!!!! You can't do this, you can just skip to two years, this exactly what kay did in his wonderful piece. U can't leave somethings unconcluded and jump to two years. If u want to fasten the pace, do it in present time and conclude a section before takin us to two years.

I see... Den i guess i 'll address it ASAP... Tnks sir

Well i guess i had 2 do wat i did cuz of tym but i knw if i was rytin abt d "2 years " i kinda skipped it won't av anytin eventful. Min while if der is a suggestion of a beta alternative plz bring it on.

beyonDskygirl: my dear, the normal time and work. Sorry i dissapointed you. Anyway, today's update is superb although is somhow short. oliver twist things.

no wahala ma'am, nice 2 see u.

princesa: Hmm, Interesting. This kain fast forward enh...


If i may ask, are you working with an already drafted plot outline?

well ma, I'm tryin 2 speed up tinz b4 i travel cuz wen i do i won't be able 2 ryt no mur. As per d outline i do. I am sure i can handle it.

underage: Two years later Did I miss anything. Am kinda lost.

You didn't miss anytin... I just hope i knw wat am doin anyway

...EDITED...

Splendblex: Nice one, waiting 4 more o

Halo! Tnks dear.

Becketh: wow..interesting piece,u kept me glued to my phone.kip it up.

Tnks u wer glued ma'am. Plz remain dat way as we continue.

beyonDskygirl: Igbo? Wow...*nwanna dalukwa. You're doing great. *jisie ike.

Odinmma lolz pardon ma rusty Igbo. So wer av u bin all dez while? Am not happy o

Enedane:
ok, dts cool. Mine's Radiography, yr 2

wow nice 2 have a Malabress here...

Let me say tnks 2 evry 1 who had read 2ru dis work, i rily appreciate ur tym and comments. Min while as at when i started dis story i was uncertain abt d location 2 use. I wantd Lagos but i neva lived der although I once visited d state. So i decided to opt for Aminata Sow Falls' pattern in "Beggars Strike" in which d location of work won't be disclosed.

However if nid be i may like edit d work and set it in Calabar or warri wer i have adequate knowledge of. Tnks palz.

princesa: Finally, I've caught up with you guyz...i must say, you're improving.

Frank has said what i would have pointed out, so please tie the knots already, and don't use one kain 'yeye' rope to tie it oh, you guys love going for so many sub plots, so let me watch you do the do..

One other thing, am yet to get the particular state this novel is set, maybe i missed it from the earlier posts, but pls be elaborate when stating the location of events therein.


And offcourse, sorry for your over a decade loss, nice poem to commemorate the remembrance too. Kudos!

I always get mur ideas and encouraged wen i see ur comments. I guess ur fone is beta now. Well i stil owe u a wonder and gigantic "THANK YU."

frank3.16:
What more can I say... Thanks for such wonderful write up, believe me, u are really doing a nice job. No dulling.

Sir Frank i truly appreciate u immerse assistance and support... Tnks big bro.

ninja4life: Nice update cant wait for d next.dis is an interesting story

tnks "Jet lee"

Ghozye: U've got a rlly nys piece here.

Gud 2 see u again dearie, tnks and I appreciate.

SPLENDIDFLOZZY: .
It was Superb. Waitin 4 d oda part

Eya tnk dear... U av always bin a DARLING.

Mutaino7: If the first part is gud den the part two can only get better. More muse to ur mind.

Tnks bro... *I'll do ma best* lolz

underage:

Thnks for observing. Please pardon me for d errors (typos, i guess), its because am typing with my phone, its not easy

fone ain't a bit easy. Well just manage ma'am. Min while expectations are high. As 4 Sir Mynd he is enjoyin his omniscient position.

Mornin palz, I guess av don ma part and now I nid 2 knw how y'all feel abt d story . Lets just say d 1st half of the story is ova and d orda half is *en route*

april wise: A wonderful masterpiece

Tnks man

Carry on Sir Frank

Doris managed to remain calm as she left the court room. She had managed a fake smile as she shook hands with the prosecution counsel . Her mood was poor and she didn't want to speak but her assistant was bent on making her talk.

For the second time in their thirty-five minutes drive to the office she had almost screamed and yelled at Anita as if the Assistant was the cause of her problem.

Doris had managed to restrain her self from counting her chicks before they were layed during the hearing but spontaneously things had changed after the recession.

She had been objected a number of times and the only once she had objected, it was over ruled. The looks on the face of the Judge was spiteful and he seemed to have a personal vendetta against her.

Through out the court session her gaze was locked on Patrick. For the first time she had noticed he was an embodiment of handsomeness.

The ill grown beard he had the last time she saw him had been trimmed. She couldn't help but accept the fact that he had a wonderful physique. Perhaps he was a body builder or some thing of that nature.

One thing that really impressed Doris about him was that he was different from her previous client. He maintained a calm disposition through out the session. The confidence in his eyes could only be seen in an accused whose father is the judge presiding over the case. Once when an officer was called in as a witness, he had smiled broadly at the officer's testimony with his eyes peruzing the entire room before finally settling on her, his attorney.

Ignorance is actually more expensive than education she had thought. How could he be smiling and feeling at peace when with the new turn of event he was heading for a death sentence.

"Ma'am." Anita's voice had called after her as she walked briskly through the rowdy complex. She turned to know why the ever talking Anita was calling her. A file had fallen from her hand and she didn't notice as she was highly furious.

Anita bent and picked up the file without saying another word. Doris took a deep breath and continued walking towards her office. She wasn't fine and she won't be until the end of the case and she knew it.

Jake plugged his ear piece cord into his phone and fixed the speaker to his ear. As he walked out of the compound he kept skipping the songs until he got to the music he wanted.

Since Morris travelled his boredom had escalated. He stopped a bike and described his destination to the scraggy looking cyclist.

"How much?" he asked feeling his the back pocket of his jean to make sure his wallet was intact.

"Give me hundred naira" the cyclist said with a deep accent of the locals.

" It eighty bucks" Jake bargained. The cyclist accepted the offer and they zoomed off.

Anabel had hurriedly arranged the house. Had mother had gone to her shop and Jake's company was definitely a splendid idea. She sat on the old couch in the the living room. The television was on but her attention was on the book she was reading. She looked at the small chain wrist watch her mother had given her as a present for her birthday. The time was "11:16" Jake was supposed to there by 10:30. Perhaps he wasn't coming anymore she thought. She shifted her gaze back to the book.

"Even if he chose not to come it doesn't matter." she lied to herself, she just did not want her hopes cascading down and making her feel disappointed.

The soft knock on the door tossed her back from the book. She looked towards the door as if her eyes could penetrate through the curtain.

"Who is there?" she finally asked as she walked towards the door. Jake was about to knock again when her voice stopped him. He clenched his fist and held it close to his chest.

"I'm sorry for being late" Jake said chivalrously to Anabel who had a fake frown.

"I thought you won't even come again" Anabel said with a lean smile. Her pretty face radiated like the sun. They both walked into the living room.

"what should i offer you?" she asked.

"Erh No nothing. Being at home all day was really boring."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean i won't offer you something " she countered as she walked towards the white Haier Thermocool freezer. The green gown she wore was very beautiful and he wished she could wear it forever.

She handed him a packet of juice which he accepted without any fuss. As they spoke and laughed the boredom which had pressed the both of them gradually disappeared into the much spoken about thin air.

**** **** **** ****
As they both walked back, the world seemed to have paused and only them were mobile.

They walked from the Garden Park where they had sat and followed the the adjoining road to the GRA. The group of people coming out of the court caught their attention. Anabel touched Jake's hand and he looked at her and saw she was looking into the court compound fascinated. He directed his gaze into the compound and saw some one being roughed into a police van. The sight was hilarious but the sympathy in her eyes prevented him from laughing.

Anabel felt like something had struck her. She saw two lawyers shaking hands and the female one held her wig on her hand. As the people trooped out of the compound Jake felt it wasn't nice for them to stand and mop. He didn't know what crime those people had committed, but with the sort of stories he had heard most innocent people had been convicted, he allowed him self to feel sorry for them.

"Do you know those guys maybe innocent." her remark was more like comment than a question. Was she think the same thing as he was, Jake thought.

"well You can't be so sure" Jake replied. He glanced at her as they walked on. The look on her face was identical to had seen when she the day they had first spoken. That day she had been made jest of by the arrogant Pamela and her cohorts and she had been really hurt. As he remembered her face that day he smiled.

"what about your friend Pamela?" he asked. suppressing his laughter his oesophagus. Anabel knew he was trying to making fun of her. She laughed and with all the force her feeble hand could muster, she threw a punch at him on the shoulder. He laughed as he jerked a few step away from her and regained his balance.

Anabel had been a timid and frigail fellow then but she was much stronger since she became friends with Jake.

"I can't wait for resumption so I can 'll let the entire class know I'm now a lioness" she said.

Jake looked at her in amazement. Certainly no one was capable of hurting her by their words that he was sure of.

They got to the junction were they would board different taxis.

"Thanks for today." Anabel said in a soft voice.

"you are welcome ma." Jake teased. Anabel entered a cab first before Jake stopped another taxi going his way. A well formed friendship has a significant role in our lives he thought.