₦airaland Forum

SunFlow:
Centino centino.. Thanks for this wonderful long update

You're welcome.

EKLE:
wow! nice 1 centino... I wish dis story can b a season film

Me too dey wish

THE OTHERS

Castro lay in bed thinking about his life. He had messed up badly and was now an object of ridicule in the compound. Since he returned from the hospital, he had remained indoors. He was grateful for the fact that they lived in the self-contained and shared nothing but the corridor and frontage with the rest of the compound; meaning that he could take care of his basic needs without needing to be in contact with any neighbor. He wished that they forgot about him soon enough. But he knew that that was not possible. They would all be waiting for him to reappear to make a mockery of him. The truth of what happened that night had come out. Another boy on the street present at the club that night came home with the story. His mother and siblings remained sympathetic and kind towards him. But his father had been as savage as Irikefe was at the hospital. Every morning his dad would come to him and say, “Are you not yet fully recovered? Are you afraid to go out and face your just reward? The whole street is waiting to see their new asewo lover. Don’t disappoint them ehn? Ewu gambia.” What was worst with his father was that he had now stopped calling his younger ones Ewu gambia. He was now the exclusive Ewu gambia in the house. This made him sad. His father was right about the street. Katakata Street thrived on scandals. And with the multitude in the predominantly face-me-I-face-you houses on the street, it meant that he could go a lifetime and not finish meeting all the people that would have interest in his shame. Then an idea struck him. He would give his life to Christ. Yes, that is what he would do. People generally left those brave enough to give up the world for Christ alone. He would say that what happened to him was his Damascus. They would come to see that night at the club as predestination and elevate the event to something close the experience of Saint Paul. The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea. He could in that repented state also be able to get closer to Sister Esther. He had noticed but refused to accept that he was attracted to older women. What he did with Mama Kike’s daughter was just to prove to Irikefe that whatever Irikefe was capable of, he too was. But deep down he knew he fancied older women. She let him touch her breasts once; she could let him again and possibly let him do more. As Irikefe reasoned, she was already giving it to The Undertaker and they were not married. What he would do would be to gain her trust in Christ, ask her to take him as her son, and then see how things went from there. He still wanted to have his father beaten up. But that would wait for the time being.

*

Achike sat up in bed and thought about his life. He was forty years old now and still unmarried. His okrika business had been thriving in the past months. He had been able to put away some money as savings. He was considering a poultry farm on that small property of his at Sango. He also wanted to buy a keke and put on the road for extra income. But all that he knew would not give him happiness. What he needed was a woman: a young beautiful thing with a womb as soft and sharp as a magnet. One that he would not need to fire three times before it caught a foetus. The only such young beautiful woman he knew was Maya – that mama Tobi’s daughter that was more beautiful than a mammy water. The other day as she was coming back from where she went he had taken a good look at her. The movement of her waist. Chineeeeke! But he had to admit that the full transformation into a woman that had taken place with Maya happened since that new Calabar boy started firing her. Achike worried about Ndifreke. He had never seen a man so good looking. On impulse, he stood and regarded himself in the standing mirror in his room. He was short and pudgy and ugly without a doubt. Ndifreke, on the other hand, was tall, broad-shouldered; his face was like it was sculpted with Egyptian clay. He was also well educated; spoke English like he was the son of Queen Elizabeth. It was understandable that Maya opened it for him despite running away from men since her father did that great evil to her. But one thing that was sure was that he did not have shi-shi in his pocket. That made Achike grin. He would approach her mother. Yes, that was what he would do. He would dangle money in front of her and she would let him have her daughter. If she was ready to marry her off to that old cripple the other time, there was no way she would refuse him. Once that was done, he would take her and run far from Katakata street before all his children would look like the Calabar boy as happened to his friend Akunna and the tailor.

*

Awero rolled over and pulled a handkerchief from under her pillow and caught the immotile semen her husband had just deposited into her. That was all she was to him. A sperm receptacle. She sighed, produced a torch, flicked it on, and saw that the baby was sound asleep. She pointed at the floor and saw that the other children were also sleeping easy. She was careful that the beam did not reach where her mother-in-law lay for she knew what would follow if that happened. Satisfied that her family was comfortable she switched off the torch, covered herself properly with her wrapper, and showed her husband her back. She wanted her lover. Simple as that. Talabi was the man for her. It was a miracle that her last child turned out to be her husbands because for the whole time they had been married she had not stopped seeing Talabi. Akunna underestimated what they had even though he knew from the beginning. He had called it infatuation. That now that she was going to be with a real man, she would overcome her ‘childish impulses’ towards Talabi. But eight years on, he was still the only one capable of igniting the fire in her. In the past, whenever her husband came to her and left her like that, she left the room and went to Talabi who would do a proper job on her. Akunna knew but pretended not to. What else was he supposed to do if he still wanted her as a wife given his uselessness as a lover? In return, she remained docile and continued to give him her body to relieve himself into. But now that he had allowed his evil mother into their house for good, she could no longer go to Talabi without being discovered. Add that to the misery the old witch had turned her existence into, no one would blame her if she carried out the plan Talabi had come up with. She thought about it for a while and shuddered. She would do what she had to do.

*

Mama Akunna got up and locked the door. She was the only one in the room now and only needed five minutes. She brought out the twenty-liter keg of ogogoro she just received and unscrewed the cover. She produced a bowl from under the bed, squatted and urinated into it. She then poured the urine into the keg and shook it.

“Dem say person no dey use hin money buy bad tin. So anybody wey pay money as e buy my market make hin drink get peace. But anybody wey buy for credit, or any long-throat wey buy but no gree pay, or anybody wey make mistake tiff my market, when hin lie down to sleep make hin head be like say dem start motorcycle inside. If hin sleep by mistake make masquerade pursue am flog am well well. Make hin suffer until hin come pay me my money.”

She then covered the keg and put it aside. She arranged her cups and tumblers and mixed the various herbs she would offer and then set everything in one corner of the room. She then opened the door and let Awero and her children in and said, “Oya, basitad one. You see this thing wey I put here, no make mistake touch am you hear?
The little boy nodded.

“Basitad two. You hear wetin I tell your broda?”

“Yes mama”

“Basitad three. You nko?”

“I don hear mama.”

“Basitad four. You hear?”

“Yes mama.”

She looked at Awero who had her baby balanced on her hip. There was no need saying anything to her. She dared not trespass and she knew it. She then left the room. Evening could not come soon enough so she could start her business.

*

Cosmas sat and examined his life. It had been three years in Katakata Street and he knew that the journey was still far. He knew about spiritual homogeneity and the fact that if he was there at Katakata Street it was because he had something in common with the people there. He could look at anyone in his compound and see a bit of what he struggled with in them. Until he found his illumination, he succumbed easily to the urgings of his body like Talabi or Ndifreke. He was thieving like Irikefe. Pompous like Zubi, confused like Akunna, manipulative like Akunna’s mother even. Fearful like every single one of them too. But he recognized that he had to work his way through all of his faults to be qualified for the afterlife he wanted. Every time something happened, he always sat and examined himself and looked for what he could learn to be better in similar circumstances, being careful not to judge anyone in doing so. Then one by one, he gave out good thoughts towards everyone and prayed for strength for them all. He then looked out the window and saw Nifreke passing. He stepped out, beckoned him over, and offered him a seat.

“I see you have started going out daily. You found a job now?”

“Not quite sir. I go to the wharf to do this and that. I have been trying for a job but no luck. I don’t have any connections.”

“Good. Movement is a law we all need to obey. Stagnation would have been your ruin. Whatever you can find now do it. By the way, connection for a job is a myth. You know that?”

“I don’t think so Mr. Cosmas. All my friends that graduated the same time as me who knew one big man or the other have jobs now but me, nothing.”

“What you are experiencing now is what you need for your growth. At the right time, the connections you need will show up.”

“I hope you are right sir.”

“We will all pass through phases and if you are mindful, you will understand why what is happening to you is happening at every turn. What you need to do is to embrace it and stay thankful for the opportunity to experience and understand that there are no mistakes in nature.”

“Even as I am poor and jobless when I know I deserve better?”

“You think you deserve better. What you have now is what you deserve.”

Ndifreke let that sink in and then yawned. “I’m hungry,” he said. “I have to go and cook beans before Mkpoikanna returns.”
“You can have a drink with me first.”

They were seated at a bar on their street where the owner had little patronage because she did not have DSTV with football showing that attracted people to the other bars in the area. It suited Cosmas because he liked to do his thinking over a beer in an uncrowded place.

“How come you are drinking alcohol?” Ndifreke said.

“And what is wrong with drinking alcohol?”

“The religions I know condemn the consumption of it.”

“I don’t abide by any creeds. One day when you have the time I will tell you about religions.”

“But you talk about God and stuff and you carry yourself like a holy person.”

“Well, as you can see, I am not holy.”

“Then what are you?”

“I am spiritual, like you, like everyone else. Only that I am conscious of my spirituality, unlike many.”

“Hmm well, thanks for the offer but I don’t drink, I can take away a pet bottle of coke if you don’t mind.”

“That’s fine. Grab one and be on your way.”

“But tell me Mr. Cosmas, how can drinking alcohol be okay? I assume you believe it is that is why you do it?”

“Over two thousand years ago a man who was perhaps the greatest that ever lived, being accosted by religious people of the time over a similar dogma did say and I repeat, “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, that is what defiles a man. You can find that in Matthew 15:11.”


TO BE CONTINUED

Emeralddan:
you are a wonderful writer,emphasis on wonderful. how do u manage to write so beautifully?. I love dis story and I can't wait. for tomorrow

Thanks, Emeralddan Tomorrow coming.

Emperortj93:
centino baba, i like the way you structure the story and the humor are just so nice, neat, refreshing and timely. weldone sah. We know you gat to hustle but can you please try and be dishing out two updates (which would obviously not be enough) every week.

#teamTheUnderTaker

Other things being equal Emperortj93 it's twice a week. Wed and Sun for the moment. Days of the week may change going forward but yeah, twice a week the deal.

okeyben10:
who was it that related d journey btw corporeal mama akuna and d baby??
was it ndifreke??if he cud c all of that make hin sef kwantinue d story lol. his going to hustle shouldn't stop nathing lol

anyway we no send who tells d story so fa yu keep d updates juicy and steady.

thanks centino

You're welcome man. I repeat. The story has only just begun. You don't want to miss what's coming on Sunday

tsharp:
I see a new narrator. Hopefully, it is the more devious characters like irikefe or even mama akuna herself. new year new twist . well done centino.

tsharp, hold my beer

Oh ye of little faith

Story just dey start joor.

Preetiex, INDUSTRIALFAN. I see you.

UncleSnr, better come back hia!

WILLIAMSKECH, ADECULATE, INDUSTRIALFAN, Preetiex , okeyben10, nkay2020 , YINKS89, WHOcarex, Pinkfeet, EKLE, and sheycrown...thanks for checking dear. My own holiday started when others' ended But I'm back now. Missed Y'all.




HUSTLE CALLING

I dwelled on Mama Akunna and her infant grandchild’s exchange much longer than was necessary. For some reason, it kept tugging at my heart. I stood outside wondering, long after the baby stopped crying and everyone had dispersed. The image of the transformation of the baby’s eyes would not leave my consciousness, but I pushed it away all the same because I needed to get busy. I had been considering joining my cousin Mkpoikanna to go hustle at the wharf full time since I have had no luck getting a white collar job. Being a graduate of Forestry, I knew my options were limited, even though in this country you could read Yoruba and become Minister for Science and Technology. But everywhere I went I met a brick wall. I have failed many bank aptitude tests and once got to the final stage of an interview into a top courier company only for one of the interviewers to say he felt uncomfortable about me, that there was something about me that did not go well with him. He said I had an “aura”. I noticed that the others on the panel were concerned as this guy was going over the top. But he excused himself and left the interview midway. He was the most powerful person on the panel. I was never called for the job.

My cousin’s body language in recent weeks suggested that he was beginning to get uncomfortable with me hanging around contributing nothing. At first, he liked it that his graduate brother was living with him. He said he would pray that I got a good job so that when I moved into my three bedroom apartment he would move in with me. He gave me transport money to interviews and the occasional pocket money; even though I made sure I used it to buy something for both of us. I made sure there was always beans porridge to drink garri with – a favorite of ours – or I did concoction rice or boiled yam which we ate with palm oil. I sha made sure that I was not clearly a burden. But all of a sudden my cousin was no longer impressed. I have refused to connect it, but I would say that it all started after Maya slept in our room the first night. I did not think that my cousin would be jealous because he always told me I should enjoy myself in that manner. But when I thought about it well, I remembered that in the morning I insisted that Maya stayed for breakfast and I made indomie and egg and we ate together. Mkpoikanna refused to eat. Since then he had become cold.

I had been to the wharf to hustle before, about that time I began to tell this story. There were always damaged cars to push for the clearing agents, there were always people wanting to smuggle things whom you could lend a helping hand to. In fact, that was what I did most as my education and carriage always fooled officials and I could cross many boundaries for cash. It was Mkpoikanna that discouraged me and said I should concentrate on searching for a proper job. I risked going to jail and he would not forgive himself if that happened while under his care. But now I think I have to go back there for all it was worth. When I mentioned it to him in the night he did not object. So now I know I have to go and earn some money if I want to be treating my girlfriend to meals.

I went to the backyard and fetched water in a bucket and went to join the queue for the bathroom. While there Maya also came with her bucket of water. She only had a towel tied around her breasts and wore a shower cap to protect her hair. I winked at her and she smiled at me. I could not take my eyes off her. There was something about a beautiful girl in only a towel that always threatened to drive me insane. Suddenly I lost my situational awareness. I did not remember that I wanted to go and hustle for money. I could not think that she was out there so early to have her bath because she too had somewhere to go to. I did not consider that there were other neighbors around busy at one thing or the other while aware of whose turn it was to enter the bathroom. I had become afflicted with a serious debilitation that involved the entire weight of my body shifting to my groin.

I spoke to her with my eyes and shortly after I entered my room she turned the doorknob and entered as well. There was no need to say anything. With just a finger I managed to free her from the towel and she was stark nude before me. Even now I cannot remember where I flung my boxers. I pounced on her, kissing and squeezing and sucking like it was the last stage of an interview with an oil company where I could not afford to fail.

“Haa this calabar boy” she mourned.

“Yes sweetie” I replied and continued to work on her.

I explored her readiness for a while with my fingers and then eased up and reached for the pack of condoms I kept in the drawer beside the bed.

“No. This is not happening” she said and sat up.

“Dear, it is happening live.”

“I mean the condom.”

“We should use it. It is for our safety. We are not ready for any additional responsibility yet.”

“This is exactly as I saw it in my dream,” she said.

“What dream honey?” I said, my er*ection getting firmer and looking angry.

“I have never had such a dream before,” she said.

Now, my friends, I don’t know if you understand what I was going through at that moment. There I was with the biggest arousal possible with the most beautiful woman in the world n*ked and ready for me and then in the middle of it she stops and starts talking about a dream.

“Darling, we can worry about the dream later,” I said, as I threw the foil wrapper away and unrolled the prophylactic over me.

“I saw that you were going to use it and I did not let you.”

“Honey, this is real life and I want you right now and I already have it on and it is for our own good.”

“Don’t use it.”

“What?”

“It was a revelation, not just a dream.”

“You could be pregnant Maya.”

“It is my safe period.”

“You don’t know anything about safe periods Maya.”

“I am not a prostitute.”

“Holy Methuselah” I breathed and peeled off the condom.

It was the silkiest entry ever. I rammed for about a minute and exploded like I have never done before and then collapsed on top of her.

“You came quickly,” she said.

“I wanted you too much,” I said.

Then I remembered we were in the queue to have our bath. Then I remembered I did not know where my breakfast was coming from today.

“It will soon be my turn at the bathroom.”

“You have satisfied yourself abi?”

“Come on Maya.”

“No problem. I will sleep here tonight.”

With that, she grabbed her covering and left the room.

Now more than ever I knew I had to go out to find money. It was not good manners to not entertain your girlfriend. With some luck, I could get chicken or fish from the smugglers. Breakfast after Maya tomorrow would be something.

Now that I have to go out to hustle, a lot will be happening in the compound I would not be able to see to tell you. Hopefully, Centino would let you see what is going on through the eyes of another person. For now, I dey go baff. Hustle calling.


TO BE CONTINUED.

Happy new year folks. Been far away from things make una no vex. Will try and update twice this week.

Rajahbite:
Centino happy new Year.... more ink to your pen.

Thanks Rajahbite. Happy New Year.

tsharp:
ndifreke eye don dey clear. ope o! Happy new year Centino. You made my 2017.

Lol. Happy new year to you too man. Glad you were there. Let's make 2018 even better.

SunFlow:
Centino good job. Happy new year in full

Thanks man. Happy New Year to you too.

JustOzito:
centino more ink to your pen.
see you 2018

Thanks JustOzito. Happy 2018.

@ Preetiex, obedugo, YINKS89. Thanks guys and let's have a wonderful 2018.

THE BABY

We got back to the compound and sure enough, papa Efe was still in the bathroom. Mama Akunna was also still standing on Josiah’s head for her table and benches to be made, and others had gathered in front of the shops talking about fuel scarcity and its consequence on the Christmas celebrations. Achike was saying “They do it all the time during Christmas. It is because they don’t want Christians to enjoy their celebration that is why they do it. Lukman said “Oga Achike you lie. It has nothing to do with Christmas. After all, the New Year celebration follows almost immediately and we are all involved. And besides, who told you the Christmas celebration has anything to do with Christianity sef? See all the drinking, all the partying, and all the fvcking that go on everywhere all in the name of Christmas. Me I am a Muslim but I can’t wait for Christmas every year. Go the beaches on the Island every night on the Christmas week and see. No wonder your Christ has no choice but to die for you shortly after at Easter.”

“You shut up there. Because a few sinners have decided to let themselves loose at this time does not mean that the majority of us do not know what it is about. They should give us fuel so that those of us that want to go to church to give thanks to the Almighty can do so.”

“The marketers had warned the federal government since January that by December they would not be able to import again to sell for 145 naira. They did nothing about it. If the authorities say they are surprised by this scarcity they lie,” Mr Zubi said.

“Oga, you see your APC?” Lukman said. “Change change change. You see the change? I no tell una?”

“That is not what we should be talking about now. It is clear for all to see that the last administration was right that total deregulation of the downstream sector is the solution to the problem. They should take the bull by the horn and do it. After all, the people that protested against it the last time are all on their side now and keeping quiet. No one will go to Ojota to mount speakers again. We will adapt. What many don’t know is that fuel is cheapest in Nigeria compared to other parts of the world. With the exchange rate at about N360 to a dollar, in the US fuel is N214 per liter. In South Africa N277, in Canada N300, in Ghana N303, in Angola that overtook Nigeria as the highest exporters of crude oil when those Niger Delta boys were at the peak of their destruction petrol sells for N330.

N145 is not sustainable so let the Government stop playing politics with this thing and just do what they have to do.”

“Mr Zubi. If they like let them sell petrol for one million naira in Jupiter. See how we live na. Do they buy fuel there to power their generators in those countries? Don’t they have light? Do they import refined products in those places too? Don’t they have refineries that also provide jobs for their people with which they can buy the fuel at whatever price it is sold for? Do their graduates dump their certificates and run barbing salons there? Is it the fufu Mama Tobi labours to prepare every day that will feed her children, pay their bills and also buy fuel for N500 per liter? In this Nigeria that we are seeing all the stealing and all the corruption and all the flamboyance of the ruling class with our korokoro eyes, we will not accept any further increment!”

“It will not be up to N500 per litre.”

“Well, I don’t care. One naira more and I will go to Ojota. If no one else will go, Charly Boy will go and I will join him.”

“Oh well. Whatever they like let them do. We are Nigerians, we will survive. For now, let me go to the hospital and bring back Castro.”

“How is he doing?”

“You will see for yourself when he gets back.”

Mr Zubi then gave Irikefe the eyes before jumping the gutter and facing the road.”

“I tank God say I no dey buy fuel o” Mama Akunna said.

“You don’t have to buy fuel to feel the pain mama. Cost of transportation will go up. Prices of foodstuff will continue to go up. Everything will go up with increased fuel price. Everybody living in this country will feel it” I said.

“Na true you talk my pikin. Na why I say make Josiah do my table for me make me sef follow dey make money so dat anyhow e be me sef go still dey chop.”

I patted Irikefe on the back and wished him luck in helping Mama Akunna’s dream come true and went inside to find breakfast.

An hour later, a keke pulled up and Mr Zubi helped his son into the compound. He looked just the way I had seen him earlier that morning. They had not even changed the dressing on his head. Blood was still visible on the bandage. He walked gingerly through the corridor to their self-contain which had a small veranda where he found a stool and sat.

“Enter inside the house nau” His mother said, but Castro would not budge. While many of the adults in the compound gathered to offer their commiserations, I could see the children mimicking his painful movement, some holding their heads and others holding their waists and chortling. If this was not that it was his brother involved, Willy-Willy I knew would have been the ringleader. But I could see him squatted beside Castro with teary eyes.

“Castro. Tell us what happened. What did Irikefe do to you?”

Castro remained silent.

“Did he do this himself or he sent people to attack you?”

“Was it a trap?”

“Did they ambush you?”

“Did he drug you?”

“How did he bring you here?”

“Did you know when he carried you?”

“How did he convince you to take you away?

Then suddenly Castro exploded.

“Leave me alone all of you! No one did anything to me! Why don’t you ask me where I went? Why don’t you ask me if I was forced out of the house? Why don’t you ask me what my mission outside at night was? What makes you think I was not the one that wanted to hurt someone and then got hurt?”

Castro’s outburst surprised everyone. His mother who had been asking the questions looked at his father and then at those gathered, unsure of what to do or say. Then one by one we began to disperse.

*

The crying started at about 3 am. It cried and cried and cried till we all woke up and gathered in the corridor. Akunna and his wife brought out the baby and passed it between themselves as they tried to pacify it, yet it continued to cry. Akunna’s wife tried breastfeeding but the baby pushed the breast out of its face. Someone suggested they took the baby to the hospital.

“This baby never cries like this. In fact, we have even forgotten that there is a newborn baby in this compound. If it is crying like this then something is very wrong.”

“What will they do for him at the hospital? Call Nurse Stella instead.”

Nurse Stella lived down the street and worked at God Dey Hospital. Because the hospital did not offer much and you have to pay for consultation as well, Nurse Stella was the alternative everyone embraced. She would go to homes and administer drips and injections, dress wounds, offer all kind of care for a fraction of the fee you would pay at the hospital.

She came at daybreak with some suspensions she collected from Philemon’s chemist. We watched on as she put some drops of three different medicines in the baby’s mouth but it still continued to cry till it became crimson red. Then someone suggested they seek Mama Akunna’s help.

“Make una leave me o. Na so I say make I play with my pikin dat time una go call police for me.”

“Mama no be so. E get as dat one been be. We been dey fear make e no be say bad tin don happen as we no see you till morning. But we know say you get experience with pikin so you fit know wetin to do.”

We were out in the frontage now as Nurse Stella had advised that the baby needed fresh air and the room and corridor were stuffy. Mama Akunna came from the room and stood and watched as the baby continued to shriek. Its eyes were firmly shut and its fists tight like a determined boxer’s as it continued to redden.

“Na belle dey pain am” she said.

“But mama I don give am medicine for belle” Nurse Stella said.

“Na Awero cause am.”

“Mama. This is not the time to blame anybody. You know wetin we fit do?” Akunna pleaded with his mother.

“Yesterday I see Awero dey lick ice cream. E lick ice cream finish come give d pikin breast. Na wetin cause dis tin be dat.”

“Ah Mama! Ice cream come be bad tin again?” Akunna’s wife ventured.

“Na ice cream your mama give you to suck for breast?”

“Mama, abeg help us.”

Mama Akunna reached out and collected the baby and turned her back on everyone. She began to rock the baby and sing to it. Akunna’s wife lifted her eyes and hands pleadingly to the heavens as her husband sat supporting his chin in his hand. I stayed close enough to Mama Akunna to see the baby open its eyes to behold its grandmother. Then suddenly it stopped crying. And I saw it wink at Mama Akunna. Yes, the baby winked. I have thought about that moment for a long time. I know babies make that kind of blinking eye movements all the time but this one was different. Irikefe would not listen as it had to do with Mama Akunna. I did not think I wanted to discuss it with Castro. Mkpoikanna just laughed and said that I was imagining things. But Akunna’s baby opened its eyes and saw that it was its grandmother that held it and stopped crying at once and winked at Mama Akunna. What I did not mention to anyone was that it was not just that the baby winked, but it did so with eyes that looked for the moment like that of an adult.


TO BE CONTINUED

Dhavido:
I was expecting the next update to come on Sunday but the spirit led me into the thread and I saw this witchcraft infested update.

I wish you a Merry Christmas in arrears and a happy new year in advance centino

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too Dhavido. You can be checking on Wednesdays as well

Didov1:
nice story centino,.even tho uve forgoten me..well no problem

How can I forget you na. I mentioned you in my last mentioning spree

Hope you are good dear. Thanks for the appreciation.

Sirme411:
You af successfully Ruined My Night....Av nt gotten over "the conjuring" Pt 2"The most "scariest" film af ever watched'....centino naw come nd gimme another horror story for.ere.....

Note:Do not.attempt to download nd watch the Film mentioned Above...it is not for the faint-hearted

Oh dear

SunFlow:
Ha,! Centino, my body dey shake oooo



I never expered the hupdate. Thanks

Na so I see am o. You're welcome.

Now twice a week by the way. Wednesday and Sunday

Preetiex:
centino i dont want ndifreke harmed,take him back frm village pple abeg

tsharp:
Centino this is awesome. I salute your ability man, but tell me, why is this so believable? Scary

Thanks man, but... scary? You've been told. Fear not

This one is for kayjay007. Your Christmas gift man. Enjoy it.


THE FIRST TIME

She lay still and listened. They were all asleep. It was that time when they never stirred. It was time. She straightened out and murmured a few words and in a second she was standing next to her corporeal body. She contemplated her next move and only by thinking about it she was already over the little body. She spoke a few words and a full grown man came out of the sleeping infant. She held his hand and thought about the roof and in that instant, they were there.

“How do you feel?” she said in perfect English.

“There’s always a first time isn’t there?”

She chuckled and said “Don’t worry. You will like this life.”

“Why did you choose me?”

“I want to catch them young. The next person will even be younger.”

“I am barely a month old!”

“The next person I will get from the womb.”

“Hmmm. I’m not asking how because I know you know what you are doing. But may I ask who it will be?”

“Ndifreke and Maya’s baby.”

“Is she pregnant?”

“No. I already checked. They had sex when she was not ovulating.”

“He does not want a baby yet.”

“Of course he will have a baby.”

“But he is afraid of his joblessness.”

“If he does not want a baby, he should not have sex. If you play, you will pay.”

“Yeah. But he plans to buy condoms for the next time.”

“I know. He won’t use them don’t worry.”

“You can control that too?”

“Less than ten percent of condoms bought get used. Properly. And consistently. When people claim to be in love, they throw away inhibitions. The condom is the first inhibition they discard. You won’t find many people who have had sex together ten times who have used the condom ten times.”

“So we wait until he throws away the inhibition?”

“We can do that, or Maya will not let him use it.”

“Oh I see.”

“Come,” she said to him and held his hand again and thought about Maya and in that instant, they were in the room Maya shared with her mother and siblings. Maya’s mother lay alone in the bed. Her three children shared the space on the floor. The center table demarcated where her sixteen years old brother Tobi lay from where Maya and her sister lay.

“Mama Tobi misses her husband. That is why she would not share the bed even with her grown daughter. She still wants him back even though she will not admit it. Now Listen.”

She bent and touched her forehead and immediately they could hear Mama Tobi’s voice.

“My husband, come back to me. Come back to me, my love. It is blood that I have flowing in my veins. I have stayed long enough without a man. I cannot come to the prison because I must make them believe I am still unhappy with you. But I miss you, my husband. I want your strong thing inside me again.”

She then turned to him and said: “touch the boy”.

He touched the boy’s forehead and they heard his voice: “Maya. Oh Maya. Why are you my sister? How can the person I love so much be my sister? I want you, Maya, please make it easy for me. I want it by mutual consent.”

He looked at her and she chuckled and said “He is incestuous. It runs in the family. He will rape her too. She is suspicious that is why she put the table between them. But he will attack her sooner rather than later.”

“Should I touch Maya now?”

“No. We want to make sure she doesn’t let him use a condom. Now watch and learn. Come.”

She made him lie on top of her and handle her. When she began to twist in her sleep she put her hand over her face and made different kinds of hand gestures and then went to her ears and said “you don’t love me that is why you want to use it. Am I a prostitute? I told you I am in my safe period.” They then stood aside and watched as Maya twisted and turned and then lay still after a while.

“Let’s go” she said to him and took his hand and imagined they were on the roof and immediately they found themselves there.

“So she had a dream?”

“Precisely.”

“I understand.”

“Good.”

“I want to see the others,” he said.

“Who do you want to see?”

“Sister Esther.”

“I don’t think it is a good idea.”

“Why?”

“She may have prayed.” Then she closed her eyes and said “No she didn’t. But he is with her.”

“Who?”

“Kingsley.”

“The Undertaker?”

“No need for jokes now.”

“Okay.”

“She does not pray when he goes to meet her. She thinks it is a sin to have sex and feels guilty. But as a matter of fact; their coming together usually produces incredible power so much so that I can’t go anywhere near. I have to wait for them to finish if I must enter. And then I will hope the guilt comes and she doesn’t pray. But she always feels my presence and begins to shout that name. Please don’t say the name.”

“I understand.”

“Good.”

“But there are times when she is afraid. It is on days she is afraid that I am able to enter. Fear paralyses. That is why the first thing you must learn to do is how to use fear.”

“How do I do that?”

“Make sounds like they don’t know. Shake something. Blow cool or hot air. It really doesn’t take much for them to start to fear. When they are afraid, even if they say the name, they say it without conviction. You can still strike.”

“All right.”

“What about Irikefe?”

“He has seen me like this before. I managed to confuse him. But he has remained suspicious of me.”

“How did he see you?”

“Every human being has the ability to see in spirit. The inner eyes open every now and again. His opened when I did not expect it to. I have worked on him not to remember exactly what he saw. But I cannot erase it totally. But he is useless. There is nothing to gain with him.”

“So why did he see you?”

“I am out every night. At certain times the blood radiation is such that people can easily transcend planes. Everyone is spiritual. Some are more aware than others. But we are aware in a way many others are not” She closed her eyes and opened it and said “So it was one of those moments. I entered the room and he opened his eyes and recognized that I was there.”

“Sorry about that.”

“No worries. Occupational hazard.”

“What of Ndifreke?”

“I have already finished with him. His people handed him over to me. He will never get a job. Unless…”

“Unless what?”

“Never mind. It is important at the start you know that you can achieve whatever you want to achieve.”

“If you say so.”

“I say so.”

“I want to show you something. Come.”

She took his hand and thought about it and they found themselves in Cosmas’ room.

“What is that light surrounding him?”

“It is protection. They say he blasphemes, they say he is not of God because sometimes the things he says go against the grain. But he stands well.

"Let me tell you this: It doesn’t matter what anyone worships or believes. If you have no fear, nothing can harm you. People do not know the kind of power or protection they have. Fear not, the Christian book says three hundred and sixty-five times. But flap a curtain now and they will sh*t in their pants. They make it easy for us to toy with them. But Cosmas is different. He knows the law. So he is untouchable. He knows who I am but he is not bothered. He even sits and chats with me in the daytime. He is the only one I will say you should not bother troubling.”

“Okay.”

“I think that is enough for one day. It has been a good first time.”

“Thank you.”

“Next time, I will let you have a little fun.”

“I can’t wait.”

“Now when we get back, I want you to cry till daybreak. Cry till Akunna runs mad.”

He chuckled and said “no problem.”


TO BE CONTINUED

OmniSparrow:
Happy Christmas Centino. More grace.

Happy Christmas Man. I receive the grace!

Preetiex:
merry christmas dear

Merry Christmas Preetiex

OmniSparrow:
I don deactivate ismokeweed moniker. Na here I de abeg

OK cool. Finally I understand what the mysterious "Nobody" moniker is. When you deactivate, your posts with the deactivated moniker will now show "Nobody". Went to find ismokeweed's posts here and saw that.

Preetiex:
u MUST update tommorrow centino even if it is as meatless as fowl leg,i just dey joke o,irifife don get sense small abeg make calabar boy do small yahoo

Wednesday dear.

Not sure what will happen but make we dey watch.

kayjay007:
...and please as my own Christmas gift, dedicate the next episode to urs truly. Thanks in advance. Still ur secret admirer. KingJames!

I pray I meet u in person one day.

You have it man. Yes we can meet why not?

YINKS89:
Wakin up to read dis gives mi joy..akunna u juz made ma day.

Akunna ke YINKS89

I come early today o. I don't want to be reminded. Merry Christmas fam


EWU GAMBIA

I looked at Irikefe and felt sorry for him. Josiah now had the carte blanche to do as he liked with Irikefe and Josiah was not going to cut him any slack. It was painful to watch, so I turned my back and engaged Wasiu in small talk while Irikefe labored to be a Carpenter. Then I heard him say "but oga Josiah, my dad wanted me to go and keep water for his bath."

"That's true" Josiah said.

Irikefe then shot out of the shop like a missile and I had to jog to catch up with him. When I did I said what I had been longing to say to him: "O boy your head still correct so? After all that konk wey your papa konk you. Is that what you have been dealing with all your life?"

“I don't know where that came from bros. I swear the man never used to touch me. That’s why they accused him of spoiling me.”

“Maybe that’s what they do in your village.”

“Who knows?” Irikefe shrugged.

"Get used to it man. There is something about the way he curled his knuckles that told me this was now a way of life."

"Well, that confirms my days here are numbered. It was always so the moment he insisted I went back to Josiah's shop.”

"It doesn't look to me like you have too much of a choice in the matter."

"Well, I do. I'm leaving home."

"No, you won't."

"Watch me. At this rate, I'm here maximum one week."

"Where will you go?"

"The streets. There's enough space out there for anyone who dares to live."

"That will be foolish of you Irikefe.”

"Oh really? You know what's foolish? It's an old man thinking he can dictate to a 90s kid how to live his life. I have survived these many months without him. I will survive the rest of my life without him."

"Guy. Think well o. I need you here."

"No you don't. You have Castro now."

"What's that?"

"Bros. I blame you partly for this Castro mess. You should have let him remain where he was. Now see what he's caused?"

"He has learnt his lessons Irikefe.”

"What if he died? What if he dies still? It's not unheard of that people with accidents appear to recover and then die afterward. It's the sort of thing the stupid Castro could do."

"No one dies as a habit, Irikefe."

"He has the posters of Tupac and Biggie on the wall of their home. He admires them."

"That doesn't mean he wants to die like them."

"Well, I'll make sure of that."

"How will you do that?"

"Wait for me outside. We're going to that hospital."

"What?"

"I'm going to make sure he doesn't cause any more trouble. Let me put the water down for the old man."

"But Irikefe…"

"Wait for me at a distance. Make sure those demons out there don't see you."

Ten minutes later Irikefe and I were matching towards "God Dey Hospital". It was the only hospital in our neighborhood. Privately owned and famed as a specialist hospital and maternity home, they are known to pass nurses off as doctors. When you are sick or injured and go there, be prepared to go out to buy everything you need even down to plasters, and it is wisdom also to bring your own mattress from home if you are to be admitted as you will be lucky if you returned home without a new infection.

"What did you say we are going to the hospital to do?"

"Bros, just follow me."

"And what about your work? Your dad will go and check."

"We won't be long. We will be back before he finishes having his bath. Or haven't you heard of my father's baths?"

"What about it?"

"He doesn't stay there for any less than an hour."

"What?"

"It has been so since he contracted gonorrhea.”

"Irikefe!"

"That's what the old tenants say. It happened even before I was born. It is why he never married."

"I imagine in saying that that you are alluding to his sex life. If it happened before you were born, you are a testimony that he has overcome that."

Irikefe shrugged and said, "I don't think I'm his."

My eyes widened as he said that.

"The old woman that brought the baby was only being nice because she believed my father deserved to have his name propagated.”

"Oh my God!"

"She may not have been its biological mother too. She found an abandoned child and decided to do with it what she felt was best for everyone."

"Do you realize you are the baby in question?"

Irikefe shrugged and said “I don’t care. I only know who I am now. All of those are stories that touch the heart"

"Where did you get all that from?"

"A prophet."

"Lord!”

"Bros you won't understand."

"What won’t I understand? A prophet?"

“A friend’s aunt from school took me to him.”

“This is getting interesting.”

"The revelation worried me to the point of depression until I spoke with Mr Cosmas. Now I truly don’t care who fvcked who for me to be born.”

“What did Mr Cosmas tell you?”

“He explained that it was no use worrying about it. That what was important was that I had the opportunity to be born. He said that parents are mere vehicles to bring souls into the world to experience life. That ultimately, we are what we make of our own lives and we alone will be accountable for ourselves in the end. He gave many examples of children of vagabonds and delinquents who have become successful, and also that of so-called successful and loving parents who have become useless. He also said a lot of spiritual things but those ones pass me. In all, I knew to be grateful for the opportunity to be on earth regardless of the mystery surrounding my appearance. Whatever I will become will depend on me and not on Papa Efe or any other person. It made perfect sense to me and I have felt better ever since.”

“So after hearing all that you decide it is a yahoo boy you want to become?”

He scratched his head and looked away as we turned to the street where the hospital was.

“It’s where I found myself bros. I applied for a State scholarship after school but I was told that I am not an indigene so I do not qualify. I was born here, raised here, never left this town for one day, know no other place, yet because my name is Efe I do not qualify.”

“Hmmm.”

“So I will become whatever I can be.”

“Like a furniture maker.”

“Bros you mean carpenter. And that, over my dead body.”

We were at the hospital reception now and there was a woman in blue overall seated there, disinterest etched on her unsmiling face. Irikefe said “Come”, and we walked past her post down a small lobby and then turned right through an open double door into a wide room with six creaky iron beds that were once white but now closer to brown, blending perfectly with the rustiness that had now become their lot.

We found Castro in a bed in the far left corner. His head was heavily bandaged just above his eyebrow and his lips were double their original size and reddened.

“Now what?” I said to Irikefe as we approached him.

“Just some encouragement, that’s all.”

“His people may come in at any time.”

“We are his people too,” Irikefe said and winked at me.

We got to his bedside and Irikefe said “Big boy! I am a big boy! You see your life?”

“How are you doing Castro?” I said and gave Irikefe a heavy nudge. “So sorry about this my man.”

Castro only batted his eyelids and that was all Irikefe needed to go off. “I am a big boy; I am a big boy, see where you land? Na small gehs do you this one o! Christmas with bandage for your head and pomo lips.”

“Irikefe!”

“So Castro, na breast and yansh dey hungry you to touch all this while ehn?”

“The boy is in pains Irikefe. This is not right” I said.”

“Now listen. If you make mistake die, or you open your mouth talk any nonsense to your people, or my name fall out of your mouth even by mistake, I will make sure I finish the job they started on you. Ewu Gambia.”

Irikefe turned his back and stamped away. I was torn between following him out at once as I understood the hurry, and cheering up Castro whom I really felt sorry for. I bent and gave him a hug and squeezed his hand and hurried outside after Irikefe.

“What do you think you have just done?” I said as I caught up with Irikefe.

“Stayed out of trouble.”

“You think that will work?”

“Of course it will.”

“Why are you so sure?”

“Because you were there.”

“Me?”

“The gang was complete. Saying anything will amount to betraying the brotherhood. These little boys take gangs more seriously than you know.”

I let that sink in as we walked back then I said: “I have something I need to tell you.”

“What is that bros? Is Maya pregnant? No, it can’t be that, it’s too soon –“

“Will you shut up and listen?”

“Okay tell me.”

“It’s about Mama Akunna.”

“Ooooo bros. I’ve told you I don’t want to know.”

“She likes your father.”

“Bros abeg stop am if na joke."

“I’m not joking.”

“She is not his type.”

“What do you know about your father’s type?”

“Bros, she a witch. So she can’t be his type.”

“Look, I know what I saw ok? I was only amused and thought you should know.”

“Thanks for the info, but it will never happen.”

“Well, she has her eyes on him. That is a concern.”

“Bros abeg say something else.”

“I will say something my father always said. I have not been around long enough to know if it is true but I believe him.”

“What is it he says?”

“Let a woman not pursue a man, because if a woman is after a man, she will get him.”

“Mama Akunna is not a woman.”

“Then what is she?”

“She is a something.”

“What does that mean?”

“One day, we will find out.”


TO BE CONTINUED.

Godwinfury:
Centino baba, keep it up, am following u back to back.

Good to know man. Welcome