OLE
Daniel jumped into the muddy waters. He waddled through it in a mindless haste. His yellow shirt dripped of mud and slime. He ran. His heart was beating loud in his ears like the Trumpeter in the village church. He was clutching a fat red purse. His wet shirt flew from his sides in the speed of his flight.
'Ole! Ole,thief!,' he heard them chant. The loud thumping of their feet sounded like the mortals of women pounding yam at Olojo festival. Daniel ran for his life. Hot beads of sweat dripped from his brows, gently sliding into his eyes. He blinked.
Daniel darted through the Plantain Plantation.
His hands pushed young stem from his way and his leg crushed sprouting tendrils. He was relentless now. The chants was was close on his heels. Fear fueled his race. He turned left, pushing the tomato hawker from his path as he ran towards the grammar school.
The grammar school stood in sight. Victory beckoned Daniel. The chants was louder now. Fear was almost crippling him. His breath came in short pants. He dared to look back. Angry faces of men with rage in their eyes.
A sharp stick struck Daniel's back. Pain and panic ran down his spine. He brushed pass two men as he ran into the school compound, the chant alerted the men, they turned on Daniel, grabbed him by the sleeves. Daniel slipped from their grasp. Leaving his shirt as their souvenir. He raced madly towards the fence. Freedom was within his grasp.
He jumped with his arms outstretched to reach for the edge. Someone jumped with him, his hand grabbed Daniel's shorts. Dragging him down to a circle of angry men. Fate awaited him.
Daniel let out a wail.. 'please!'