"Cleanliness is next to godliness. Ensure you clean your surroundings thoroughly to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your locality" the teacher's voice rang out in the health education class. The voice was lost in my consciousness as I felt the pressing need to use the toilet for the third time in four hours. I considered going home as the weakness that had resulted from the dysentry enveloped my whole being.
"Nene are you here with us?" The teacher asked having noted my absent mindedness and the beads of sweat that was slowly dripping from my forehead.
"No aunty..yes aunty..." I stuttered looking for he right words to explain my situation.
"Are u alright?" the teacher queried confused by my answer.
"I am not feeling too well. I think am having dysentry. I need to go home"
I heard some laughter behind me but finding out who was mocking me wasn't important at that point so I concentrated on taking permission.
"You can go home" I heard my teacher finally say.
I quickly grabbed my bag and made for school's toilet. The speed at which my system was demanding for release seems to ease a little when the top of the pit toilet appeared messed up. I sought for the bushes that lined the path to my house. By the time I was done, I had begun to feel weaker owing to the dysentry. I slowly walked home praying that my strength would able to carry me home. I pushed the gate open and was shocked to see mother and Chief Lambert all loved up in an embrace in front of our room. The two disengaged immediately they saw me.
"I will be on my way, I thought I should check how you people are faring" Chief Lambert said rummaging in his pocket for his car keys.
I glanced at mother and the guilty look I saw on her told me that there is more to his visit than they were making to understand.
"Good afternoon Sir,good afternoon mother" I greeted them to break the awkward silence.
"School is not over yet, what happened?" Mother asked with a note of uneasiness.
"I am having dysentry" I said looking at Chief Lambert who does not seem in a hurry anymore.
"I should take you to hospital then" he volunteered
expecting mother to approve. Mother hesitated for a a while and then answered.
"Don't worry, I will take care of her. I have giot some medication at home.
"In that case I will be leaving, take care of her" he dangled his keys one time and left.
Mother gave me some tablets she claimed would do wonders and proceeded to prepare home-made drip for me. As I sipped the drip I wondered why Chief Lambert held mother that way and how come he didn't park his car near the house like he does in previous visits.
"Only time will tell" I thought to myself and sipped the remnants of the drip.

Sincere apologies to my faithful followers . Have not been around 4 a yl. But I am back n better and will be right here just 4 u.

Samileey:
Hmm.... D man go get sense afta 5 year when chief don marry him wife

As in ehh

The downpour had subsided and yet Dera and Peter were nowhere to be found. We had combed every nook and cranny in the neighborhood in vain.
"De..ra..."
"De..ra.., De..ra" mother called again but there was no response.
Exhausted, mother sat on a tree trunk and held her head with both hands. The cold sent traces of chill to my spine and I shivered. The thin fabric of my dress plastered on my skin making the goose pimples very obvious and I shivered again. Mother seemed to notice and stood up without uttering a word and headed home. I followed suit while hugging myself tightly to gain a little warmth. Mother walked for a while and then stopped.
"Where else could they be?" Mother asked turning to face me.
"I don't know" I said a little bit confused. Was she expecting me to say yes? I thought to myself or was she expecting me to see beyond the physical like our Pastor used to say when we were churchgoers. Church was quite interesting because of the funny bible stories our sunday school teacher told us. I remembered the story she said about Jesus Christ, the son of God feeding five thousand people with fives loaves of bread and two fishes. Unbelievable! I had wondered how on earth he could have done that if not by magic except if he possesses some supernatural powers just as pastor said. I had loved that story hoping that I will understand better when I grow up. But all that hope had not materialized and I wondered if it will ever cease to be a mirage. Mother had stopped attending church after my sixth birthday lamenting that going to church had not helped her condition. All that the pastor had prayed for her, God had refused to answer. Her financial burden had grown from worse to worst and she decided to save herself from the stress of having to source for offering money for sundays. Every attempt the women group made to convince her to return to church proved abortive as mother stubbornly refused. She had resigned to fate as a cross she must carry for the rest of her life. Since then, attending church services had become history in my house. Father had never cared much about God and so wasn't bothered that mother had stopped being a churchgoer.
"Nene can't you hear me" I snapped out of my reverie.
"Hold the umbrella while I ease my self" she handed the umbrella to me and I waited for her to answer to mother nature.
"I just hope your brothers are safe wherever they are" mother said opening the gate to our compound. I ran into the bathroom to take off my clothes for fear of catching cold. I had barely finished spreading the clothes on the line when I heard Peter's voice shouting out of excitement of seeing mother. I heaved a sigh of relief.
"Wasted effort" I hissed as I rinsed my feet thoroughly.

"Haven't you cried enough?" Chief Lambert said as mother dabbed at her eyes for countless time in five minutes.
"You did your best. We all did our best to save him but the long arm of the law was stronger". He continued and mother's sobbing seemed to subside.
"After all he wasn't of much use to you...." at this, mother shot him a murderous look and he swallowed the rest of the sentence.
We drove in silence for the most part of the journey. Chief Lambert wore a worried expression and kept stealing glance at mother while she stared ahead. He had offered to drive us home even when mother protested, he had insisted noting that mother does not look too well for public transportation. My stomach churned to demand for a refill and I had to take a deep breath to conceal the noise.
"Nene aren't you hungry?" Chief Lambert asked and I stared at him confused at whether to deny or not for fear of what mother might think.
"You must be hungry" he said as if reading my mind. Who said angels doesn't exist? He parked by the road side to get some snacks from a hawker. It was really his lucky day because Chief Lambert almost bought all his wares just to make sure we have enough to eat.
"It wasn't a bad day after all" I thought in my mind as I nibbled at my snacks not wanting it to finish.
"What was that man telling you outside the courtroom" Chief Lambert tried starting a conversation to keep mother from slipping into oblivion.
"You mean mathew, he was just making fun of the whole situation. That's all."
"Why would he do that?"
"I guess that was one of his lucky days" Chief Lambert waited for more explanation but mother only heaved a sigh apparently indicating the end of the discussion.
"Whatever is their problem" I concentrated on my snacks carefully dividing the egg into two equal halves for Dera and Peter while I eat the other half. I had slept off by the time we got home. I stirred and heard clatters of rainfall on our roof. I stood up to close the windows as the rain poured down with veracity. Dera and Peter were not in sight as the small clock on the table said 6:30pm. I was still contemplating if to wake mother when she stretched and woke up.
"Where are your brothers" she noted their absence.
"They have not returned"
Mother jerked up from the bed, grabbed the umbrella and I ran after her into the rain, in search of my brothers.

"Mr Francis Ibe, having been found guilty of attempted murder, you are hereby sentenced to five years imprisonment with an option of fine payment of one million naira. The verdict has been declared". A complete silence descended on the courtroom. Father opened his mouth to plead for leniency but nothing came out. Mother stood up as if to challenge the judgement but sat immediately when she realized that all the pairs of eye in the courtroom stared at her.
"Court arise!" The court clerk announced.
Father's defense counsel starred hopelessly at the chief judge as he left the courtroom. Dede Fabian's brother stood at the far corner of the courtroom, a smile of satisfaction clearly on his face. Mother glared at him for a while and made her way towards the dock where father stood, beads of cold sweat on his forehead. The hatred mother feels towards Dede Fabian brother, Mathew was evident in the way mother glared at him. There was this story about Uncle Mathew wanting to marry mother when she was a maiden. He had done everything humanly possible to win her love but mother was hell-bent on waiting for Father till he had gathered enough money to fulfill the marriage rites. That rancor had lingered for years even after Uncle Mathew eventually got married three years ago.
"So this is it" Mother shrugged fighting back the tears that was threatening to spill in millions.
"I am sorry" Father muttered leaning over the dock to gain strength.
"You have less than five minutes" the police said to their hearing.
"This is not the life you promised me" mother continued.
"Where in the world will I get one million naira to bail you?" Mother asked finally giving in to the tears.
Father drew her into his arms unable to utter a word. I wiped the tears that have escaped from my larcrimal gland as I fidgeted with the hem of my dress.
" Your time is up" the officer shouted this time unable to hide his impatience.
The two disengaged from the embrace and father held out both hands for handcuff.
"Take care of our children" father said as he was being led away when their eyes met and held for a moment.
"Nene I love you and your brothers" father said to me as my eyes caught his own and I couldn't help but wonder at my father's new attitude. The beasty attitude in him had been replaced by something gentle and warm. The officer shoved him inside the awaiting black maria and mother cringed. I stood beside mother as the black maria gathered momentum and zoomed out of the court premises.
"So much for having a fool as a husband abi?" Uncle Mathew muttered behind us.
"Better a fool than a devil" mother retorted without even turning to look at him and pulled me towards Chief Lambert's volvo where he stood patiently waiting for us.

royalguest:
I love it when people have beautiful stories to tell and pass it on so wonderfully well... nice job Clarakings...
Everybody is blocking me, una jus pack una self full for front seat, wetin short latecomers like me go do na? make una shift ooo...

U r wlcm. Abeg make una give am special seat.

Father's court case had dragged on for six months with little or no progress. The proceedings had been quite boring when the chief Judge announced that the hearing had been adjourned till 31st May. Mother appeared unruffled with the turn out of events as she sat in the courtroom with a look of indifference. Chief Lambert had been really gracious to my family and had taken full responsibility of the household. His generosity had rubbed off on me as I have resumed school to our neighbor's disbelieve. Even though I missed a term and some weeks but half bread they say, is better than none. I was glad that father's predicament became a blessing in disguise.
I straightened the rumples on my dress as I readied myself for what later became the last hearing of father's trial case. I cleaned my new sandals and stared at myself in the mirror, a smile of satisfaction playing around my lips. Mother had requested that I accompany her to the court for reasons best known to her when we had known already that Chief Lambert will support with his presence.
"Nene hurry let's go" my mother called from the living room.
"I am ready ma" I said running out the room.
We boarded a bus in the company of two market women who discussed in hushed tones like they were scared of something. I concentrated on the journey reading as many sign-board as possible as I watched the village setting transcend into a city setting. We arrived at the courtroom a little bit earlier than anticipated. Mother sought for a comfortable sitting position when Chief Lambert walked in with father's defense counsel both in deep conversation. She smiled broadly at Chief Lambert before making her way towards them. The first real smile I had seen on mother's face after a long time.
"Court arise!' The court clerk announced as the chief Judge walked in his regalia. My eyes wondered towards the dock where father stood, head bowed.
The chief judge read out the case and both counsels presented their evidence and argued for what seemed like ages. I was almost dozing off when I heard the chief judge pronouncement.

eitsei:
d update is short

sorry about that, will make up soon. Update loading......

CHAPTER THREE
The days had crawled into weeks and Dede Fabian appeared to have recuperated as the hospital management had issued a discharge for him. Mother was greatly relieved because one source of accumulating more debt has been dealt with. At the peak of the incident she had gone to Chief Lambert, the money lender, to borrow some money. However, I wondered what mother must have used as a collateral that made him to borrow such a large amount of money to her. I wouldn't dare ask because mother might think that am becoming disrespectful. I chided my curious mind and continued my washing before the sun drags itself into the cloud. I had barely rinsed the clothers when mother sauntered in, both hands on her head wailing at the same time.
"The worst has happened! What sort of life is this?" She cried.
I cleaned my hands on my dress and stared at her for explanations.
"They are charging your father to court" she announced and sat on the floor.
"But Dede Fabian is well again"
" I don't know what else to do. We have nobody to save us from the clutches of the law. We have no means of getting a lawyer" my mother cried tears streaming down her eyes. I sat quietly beside her confused on what to do.
"Mother why don't you talk to Chief Lambert, maybe he will help us". My mother seems to consider my suggestion for a while and then rose up immediately and made for the gate.
"I am going to see Chief Lambert" she said behind her.

kizzykeziah:

Reverse, how? I hope it's good reverse o, lol.
Thanks, ma'am.

Parents always want to believe they are still in charge of a child as long as they are alive. Half the times, it doesn't go well.

Not all parents really care about that. They're like "So what?"

You got it perfectly right, ma'am.

It's my greatest pleasure writing this and thank you.

Thanks. I'd need a lot of grease, lol.
I hope you got the popcorn

av got a whole bag beside me

"Smallie wetin u want" the officer at the desk asked looking over my head
"I wan give my papa food"
"Wetin be your papa name"
I scribbled my father's name on the paper he indicated on the desk slightly tilting my toes to gain height. The officer smiled at my effort in spite of his stern face and disappeared towards the hallway. He resurfaced with father, both hands behind his back.
"You have ten minutes!" He thundered and resumed his place at the desk.
"Good morning daddy"
"Nene you are here alone" he seemed to notice for the first time.
"Mother asked me to come, she had to go and look for money for Dede Fabian's treatment" I explained to defend my mother's absence.
He seemed to think for a while and then sighed. He appeared remorseful and I felt sorry for him.
"How is your brothers"
"They had gone to school"
"Your time is up!" The officer thundered again
"Nene everything will be fine. Greet your mother and be careful on the road" he said with a note of concern and for the first time, his eyes appeared misty. I gave him the food and he hurriedly ate like one being pursued.
By the time I left the police station, the heat from the sun had intensified and I wished that I could follow the bush path had it not been the tales about the spirit. I got home and mother was no where to be found. I cleaned the food warmer and pulled my school bag from under the bed full of thoughts about school.

To my faithful followers, sorry about the poor update. I had been a little busy of late. Keep following!

Last night wasn't a memorable one as mother kept sniffing for most part of the night after Pa Ikedi paid a visit to my mother. He was sent by the village chief to collect some part-payment for Fabian's treatment. Mother had pleaded for some time to enable her gather some money. Pa ikedi left after taking a cup of water as that was the only decent thing we could offer. Mother had collected the money we realized from the sales that day and yet it amounted to nothing. She had resorted to sobbing after her failed attempt to borrow from Uncle Ibezim, her only surviving brother.
"Nene"
"Mother" I stopped sweeping the room to go and answer her. Dera and Peter had gone to school as usual.
"We won't be selling today. You will take some food to the police station for your father while I go and look for money as Pa Ikedi is due to return tomorrow evening"
I nodded and resumed my sweeping.
After the food was set in a food warmer, I picked up and left taking the road other than the bush path. As stories had it that spirit pass through the bush path by that time of the day. And that any living person the spirit meets will loose his senses and will subsequently begin to see spirits. Coupled with mother's stern warning I avoided the bush path like a plaque.
The station hadn't been the way I anticipated it. Old vehicles littered the compound and the stern look I got from the police officers hadn't done justice to the saying that the police is your friend.

Missmossy:
Eeyah pity Nene and her mom a lot, thank God she wasn't raped. Her irresponsible father will bring his trouble on them. Lets see how it goes. Kudos Clarakings.

I really pity them too. Let's keep going and see how it goes.

"Baba Tunde you still dey?" Someone called from outside the workshop.
Baba Tunde quickly set me on the floor, stuffed the money into my palm and shoved me towards the door. I picked up my tray by the door and almost ran into the caller, a middle-aged man. He gave me a once-over and I hastily muttered a greeting and took off. After covering a considerable distance, I stopped to take a deep breath and continued more slowly. The thought of how Baba Tunde hugged me kept playing in my mind and wondered what could have made him to lift me onto his laps. Could it be the way daddies behave or could it be that he wanted to hurt me? I sought for answers that I could not find in my little mind. My thought went to my mother and I hastened my steps to save her the stress of searching for me.
I opened the gate to see my mother's bloodshot eyes staring into nothingness. I drew close and yet she didn't move a limb.
"Good evening mother" she jerked up slightly
"What kept you out too long" she wiped her eyes.
"Sales were very slow" I said omitting the incident at Baba Tunde' s workshop.
"Your father had been arrested by police" I turned to look at her not sure of what she said.
"He had an argument with Fabian at Mezie's bar and a fight ensued between them. Your father, out of rage hit him with a bottle and he lost consciousness. He has been taken to hospital while your father was handed over to the police." She finished and sniffed for the umpteen time. I stared at her as the words sank in.
"Check the pot for the remaining yam and oil we had for lunch"
The tears that coursed down mother's cheek took my appetite and I longed to hug her. But such sheer display of emotion never existed in my house and I contained myself praying that Mama Udozie would come that minute.

Ashiat39:
Poor nene, i feel sory 4 u, even her moda also. Wat a pity. Gud wk bt d last post was too short o. Al d way, more greece to ur elbow.

tnx ma'am

ritababe:
Make it hot

ritababe:

u are joking right?
Whats the rush why not settle down and write the story very well,
this one is just like a summary

ritababe:
Make it hot

Aite. Will get down to it.

ritababe:
Make it hot

that's the end actually except if you are asking me to develop the story.

(Kokoron...ko, a red cock flapped its wings and announced daybreak. Okoro stood in the bush path half-crouching and darting glances as if he was expecting someone to spring from the bush. From a distance a gong is heard)
"Go..go..go..go..ngo, go..go..go..ngo, go..go..gongo"
A voice: Hear oh people! The land has been desecrated, the ancestors are sorrowful, the gods murmur in bitterness and shame. One man must pay. Our land must be cleansed. The grasses must testify and the soil rejoice. A voice has spoken.
"Go..go..go..ngo, go..go..go..ngo, go..go..go..ngo"
Okoro sighed mournfully and broke into a run. His left feet stumbled on a stone; bad omen. Again he sighed. He dusted himself and continued until an iroko tree standing in the middle of the farm drew his attention. He stopped and made towards it.
"The gods of our land you are my witness. I have done no wrong but fight for revenge. Evil stings in my ear yet have I not committed an atrocity?. Is evil a reward for evil? I fought for my brother's desecrated blood in the grave yet I am cursed. What a tragedy! Yes my hand I soiled with blood. I did it that the blood of the warrior, Gozeni will be appeased. I seek no better reward than this because Gozeni died unjustly. He had to do it. I murdered my conscience for the clan of Umuebe to suffer no more. But must I pay this price for Gozeni to cry no more?"
In a rush, Okoro felt people gathering around him. Murmurs, sighs, and pity echoed in his ears yet their faces blurred in his vision. Hands were touching him in contempt. His head spun a million times. He felt rope tighten around his neck until he went blank.
Suddenly, like a flash, the window banged against the roaring wind, the lighting drifted into the room. Okoro rolled to his left side and sat up cursing at the same time.
Okoro: There is no worse way to kill a man than nightmare. My past, my revenge waiting to clamp on me.
Cursing one more time, he examined himself feeling relieved and uncertain.

The day crawled slowly as the scorching sun threatens to smite the living daylight out of earthly beings. Sales had been quite discouraging as six loaves of bread stared at me from my tray. The dry and dusty weather had caused people to opt for liquid other than snacks. Usually I should have been done with sales as at that time. I sat down to rest my weary feet on a three trunk. I stared at my school mates as they hurried home due to the harsh element and thought of school engulfed me. my teacher hadn't bothered to find out why I had stopped schooling. Probably she had a good guess at the reason. My thought went to my best friend and classmates, Precious who had written to me through Dera asking why I have not been to school. Well, I replied in the most appropriate way I can. The last experience she had in my house did not encourage her to pay another visit. A tap on my shoulder brought me out of my reverie.
" Person dey call you, you sidon here dey look" a mechanic apprentice said to me. I grabbed my tray and made towards my willing customer.
"Fyn geh, hope say your bread fresh today"
"Yes Sir, na this morning we buy am"
He settled for two loaves after scrutinizing the bread.
"Come collect your money when you sell finish, I no get change now".
"Okay Sir"
I lifted my tray on my head and left in search for more customers.
The sun has gone down when I strolled towards the mechanic workshop for my money.
"Who dey here o" I shouted when I could not see any life the workshop.
"Na me o" a voice replied from a little structure that houses their working tool.
I peered into the shop and could barely make out the face of a man that appeared to be counting money.
"Okay na u. Oya come collect na" he said stretching out his hand.
I reached out to collect the money from him but instead he drew me into his arms.
I looked up at him immediately surprised at his action and he smiled at me in response.
"Relax I go give you your money" he said lifting me unto his lap.

Nice work! More grease to your elbow. Tolu seems to me like the proverbial mad woman that set his house on fire and went to dance at the village market. I feel for poor Deola for having an nycom.as a husband. Keep the ball rolling." Waiter! More popcorn".

The gate creaked open and Dera entered dragging Peter behind him. At the sound of the gate opening, my mother hastily wiped her eyes and threw a wrapper over herself to cover her unclothedness. I gently tiptoed from the window before my sin finds me out.
" Good afternoon Sir" I said to my daddy and he stared at me questioningly. The anger and resentment I felt towards him overwhelmed me and I wished that I will never have to refer to him as father again.
"Nene whose money is that?" He asked advancing towards me.
"I...em.." I stuttered darting glances for a way of escape.
"Are u deaf!" he thundered and I shifted uneasily.
Just then my mother emerged from the room.
"I sent her on an errand, Nene let me have the money"
I ran quickly and handed the money to my mother while my father eyed me coldly. His gambling spirit has been aroused at the sight of the money.
"Let me have the money" he said to my mother as she hurriedly knotted the it at the edge of the wrapper.
She ignored him and continued to UnCloth Peter, a defiant look in her eyes.
"Isioma is that your dog barking?"
Mother busied herself with Dera ignoring him further.
As if possessed by a demon, father picked up a plank and made for mother who dashed into the room and bolted the door. I trembled with fear as his eyes went from the door to me. I shut my eyes as he raised his hand over me, silently praying the slap won't deafen me.
"Your lucky day" he muttered after what seemed like ages and strode off.

Missmossy:
Beautiful story already feeling for Nene and her mom. Nice work Clarakings.

oh tnx

I pushed the gate silently and tiptoed into the compound. I heard sounds and what seemed like moans as I approached the room. I went behind the house and peeped though the hole in the window. Daddy was trying to pin my mother to the bed while she struggled to let go.
"What kind of a woman are you? You won't let me reap the fruit of my labor. I paid for it so let me have it"
"Francis you are hurting me" my mother cried
"And I will hurt you even more if you don't stay quite"
"We can't keep making babies, there is no money to take care of them. Let me go, I am fertile now" my mother pleaded.
"Open your legs!" My father thundered and pinned her further on the bed.
My mother squirmed under him and pushed him hard. He fell, got up almost immediately and made a dash for my mother. She wasn't so lucky as he grabbed her by the arm and pushed her on the bed.
"Francis please let me take off my clothes" my mother pleaded as he pinned her two hands behind her head.
"I am not giving you any breathing space" my father said yanking her wrapper from around her waist, her underwear followed. He tore the buttons of her shirt and pulled her brazier roughly from her bosom.
He mounted on her like a disgruntled he-goat and thrust his manhood into her while my mother cried out in pain. A pain that went right through my heart and I covered my ears as if to shut it off. Having satisfied himself of riding on her like a broken wheel, he got off her and wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead. My mother's sob did not even ruffle him a bit as he zipped his trousers and made for the door.

The sun was already casting small shadow behind me. I had just two loaves of bread left on my tray. I smiled to myself as I counted the money I realized for the umpteen times.
"I hope mother will be proud of me and might reconsider sending me back to school" I thought to myself.
I made a mental note on the distance from the central market to the house and decided to take the tarred road. I had barely walked few steps when I slipped and fell. I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I mistakenly stepped on a banana peel tossed by the side of the road. Tears stung to my eyes as I failed to save the two loaves of bread from entering the gutter that almost filled to the brim with muddy water. A sharp pain on my left knee caused me to wipe the little trickle of blood that was slowly rolling from my grazed knee. My tray lay in the middle of the road. A middle-aged man helped to my feet after retrieving my tray.
"Next time be a little more careful because people can be so careless with these banana peels" he said wiping the tears from my eyes.
"By the way you are supposed to be in school. Why are you hawking instead"
My sealed lips refuse to part in response as I stared at my hands still clutching the money.
" I need to see that guardian of yours that sent you to hawk instead of school" the man said dragging me towards the road that lead to my house.
"My mummy is not at home" I lied when I realized that the man was bent on confronting my mother. A confrontation that will cost me tongue-lashing for letting the world know that I had stopped school.
The man stopped in his stride.
"Okay. Take this money for the bread you lost. I will see your mother some other time" he said handing me fifty naira note.
I thanked him profusely and left hastily before he will change his mind. I prayed silently that he would not remember the incident because mother will blame me for not being careful. I sighed in regret as more blood trickled from my knee.

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Humulity:
Just keep updating people are following, though very few will comment. Build the momentum, else you start losing followers. The story already had 300 views. Over 24hours without update will make people lose interest.

Am with u. Tnx.

Humulity:
Just keep updating people are following, though very few will comment. Build the momentum, else you start losing followers. The story already had 300 views. Over 24hours without update will make people lose interest.

Am with u. Tnx

Zenith21:
U are doing a good job here!! Bravo

tnx