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Ada
Chapter One
The girl hardly knew why the boy kept following her. How could she even explain the way she had felt when his hands brushed hers when they bumped into each other as they made a rush out of the lecture hall after afternoon class? It was crazy. Really crazy! Her mum would totally flip out. She had specifically told her not to ever get close to any boy. Now she knew she was doomed. 'It was just a bump for God's sake.' Her mind kept telling her. 'What's in a bump?'
Ada increased her pace a bit. She cast a quick glance over her shoulder one more time. The boy had also increased his pace. He had even started smiling. Gosh! He was so handsome.
Ada was just seventeen. She knew life still lay in a long stretch before her. Coming to Brosli University had been a dream come true for her. They barely had enough to eat. Her mum had scrapped every last penny just to make sure her dreams of being a medical doctor came true. She had also told her never to get close to boys. Ever! She said they used you and dumped you. She also said they made you lose focus... Her mum must have studied boy psychology or something.
The boy was now so close. Just as Ada turned to enter her hostel block she felt a hand on her shoulder. Head pounding, blood racing, heart in her mouth, she halted and turned around, slowly.
"You're Ada, right?" Ovie had to be sure. He had heard someone call the girl's name earlier in the lecture hall. "I'm Ovie. Ovie Ebosele."
Ada was still trying to control her racing heart. She made sure her face was expressionless. "Well... Ovie. Do I know you?"
"I guess not. See, pardon me please. I don't usually barge in on people this way..."
"Could you please hurry up?" Ada was not about to let him know she wanted to stay right there. "I do have to rest."
"Oh sorry, again." Ovie smiled. I'm really sorry. Please don't get mad or anything. You should go get that rest. I will just walk back to my hostel. Thanks for even paying me any mind."
Ada's heart sank. What kind of boy was this? He was just going to give up? Was he not supposed to insist or something? Was he not supposed to sweet talk her or delay her or...
"Ada!"
She turned around again.
"So it's Ada then?"
The girl nodded, smiling.
"You have a rare smile. Reminds me of my mum. By the way, you still haven't moved into your hostel."
"What? Oh yes! I really should get going." Did he have to point that out? Didn't she know she was still standing outside?
"Ada!"
"Oh please! What now?" She didn't even bother to stop or turn around.
"Don't you even want to know why I followed you all the way down here?"
Ada stopped short. She waited a bit and turned around yet again. But the boy was nowhere in sight. It was as though he had disappeared into thin air.
***
The food tasted like sawdust in his mouth. Ovie could not even remember making the eba. He was distracted; lost in thought. Try as he might, he could not forget Ada's face. She looked so much like Esele - the oval shaped face, the smile, the boy like hair cut, even the way she moved... The resemblance was just too striking.
Ovie stared at his unfinished food. He knew he had to eat, but his appetite had gone out the window. He got up from his bed, walked straight into the kitchen, and emptied what was left of the eba and egusi soup into the dusbin. Then he did the dishes and returned to the bed, lost in thought…
... It had been the year before, and Esele had gone to her school which was not too far from their house. She had been preparing to write her WAEC exams the following week. So when she didn't return home early that day they had naturally assumed that she had stayed back for extra lessons. The phone call came much later - just before 7pm. His mother had gone hysterical. Esele had been knocked down by a hit and run driver. She was dead even before they could get her to the hospital. Her body had been barely recognisable. He had held the bruised body of her younger sister in his arms willing and hoping she'd live again. The pain had not been anything he was used to. It was a deep void - an emptiness he could not explain. He had just held that fragile frame close to his heart, wishing someone would wake him up from the nightmare. She would have been seventeen the following month...
... Ovie was still crying when he fell asleep. He was not to know that at that same hour, Ada was tossing about on her bed four blocks away, unable to sleep...
nicewater , deo7 jide217 Vickiey192 evakingz fikfaknuel saraphina missmossy viktohmark xaviercasmir express101 girlyy

Girlyy:
Ghostmode deactivated.I love this story,though short,I learnt from it. Thanks Collinometricx,God bless You! U're too good

.
Tnx

xaviercasmir:
what i like much about this story is that you will sense that street vibe in it.
Keep it up bro!!!!

.thanks bro

xaviercasmir:
at last the update is here. More grease to your elbow. And more update pls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.thanks bro

Idemudia
Chapter Twelve
Bingo ran out of the small room as soon as
Idemudia opened the door. There was absolutely no
fun to be had inside the gate man's house. The dog
ran into the open field, went round in circles, sniffed
randomly at some grasses and ran back toward
them.
"What is he doing?" Uyi asked.
"Who told you its a he?"
"Shoo!" Uyi snapped two fingers in front of her face
and drew a semi circle in the air as girls her age
often did. "I blind?"
"Don't worry, pay attention. You'll see what 'he's' up
to." Idemudia replied, grinning. He had never
thought of Bingo as a he before.
Bingo continued jumping for some more seconds,
before getting down to business.
"All that drama just to pee? Na wa for your dog o."
"Dat na only the first part o. Keep looking."
Idemudia was getting more comfortable with Uyi. It
was easier for him to revert to pidgin English now.
Bingo moved further into the tall grasses.
"What? Is he shy? Awwwww." Uyi blocked her
nostrils with the back of her left palm in a mock
gesture. "Wetin you give am chop?"
"No be me o. That dog eats anything."
Both of them stood watching Bingo in silence.
Thankfully, most of the students had already left the
compound.
"Hope your girlfriends aren't mad at me for stealing
you away from them o?" Idemudia asked.
Uyi laughed. "Am I their mother?"
"Okay. I rest my case!"
"No o, no rest the case. Carry am for head na."
They moved towards the school gate with Bingo
trotting in front of them.
"I was telling you about my mum earlier."
"Please you don't have..."
"I want to tell you about myself na." Uyi cut in. "Am
I complaining? See o!"
Idemudia swallowed what he had wanted to say.
"I'm mostly always alone. But people don't
understand." Uyi paused. "My mum has money sha.
I won't lie about that one. She gets gifts from these
men. They're all married o. So. It's not like I can
even go to any of their houses or play with my
supposed half sisters and brothers sef. Hmmm. It's
frustrating."
Idemudia stepped sideways. Bingo had run back to
them and was trying to jump on him. "Jump on Uyi
as well na. Haba!"
"Bingo respects me. He's a good dog." Uyi retorted,
poking her tongue at him.
Bingo's ears went up in a flash. It jumped on Uyi in
that instant, leaving a long dusty stripe on her blue
skirt. "Awwwww," Uyi pouted as she made an
attempt to wipe the dust off her skirt with both
hands. "You're still a good dog sha. Don't mind
Ides."
Bingo's breath came in short rapid bursts. Tongue
dripping with saliva, it jumped on ahead of them
again.
"So what happened to your dad?" Idemudia asked
as soon as Bingo was gone.
"My mum says he's dead."
"Oh I'm so..."
"Shhhhh!" Uyi placed two fingers on Idemudia's lips.
"I don't believe her jor. One day when she came
back home really drunk, she screamed at me and
said I should go and join my useless father in
Benin."
"Benin?"
"Don't worry. The next day she denied and said he's
dead again. "But Benin is not too far na. It's only
about forty five minutes from Irrua here."
"So?"
"We could go in search of your dad na."
"Really?" Uyi stepped back, her gaze travelling the
length and breadth of Idemudia steadily. "So I go
just enter motor go Bini then reach there and begin
to shout my father's name from the motor park,
abi?"
"Sorry, I wasn't thinking." Idemudia apologised.
"Chai. You too like apology sef." Uyi complained.
"It's not your fault na. It would have been a good
idea if I had the address or even a real name. God!"
Idemudia didn't know what to say. "Does your mum
drink, seriously?"
"No be English I speak? My mum is always drunk."
"Jesu!" Idemudia exclaimed.
"Kristi", Uyi added.
***
Uyi couldn't understand herself anymore. Was she
infatuated with Ides? She didn't think so. Maybe she
needed a male figure in her life since she grew up
without a father. But she knew it wasn't that either.
Well, maybe a bit. She saw something in the boy
that she couldn't explain. It was destiny.
"Uyi!"
"Yes mum!"
"Come and lock the door behind me. And don't stay
up, I'll be late."
"Uyi got off her bed and went downstairs. Her mum
was already by the door. She wore a black flowing
evening dress. Her mum loved looking good. She
had the most expensive dresses and jewellery. And
the shoes? She could start a boutique or something
with them. Uyi blocked her nostrils as she came
closer to her mum.
"What's that for?"
"It's the perf mum. Do you always have to wear it
that much?" Uyi stood by the door as though she
couldn't wait to close the thing.
The older woman rolled her eyes at the ceiling.
"Like I said, I'd be home late." She paused. Her
daughter seemed distracted. "Uyi?"
"Ma'am?"
"Did you hear what I said?"
Uyi hadn't. She'd been too busy wondering why her
mum always had too much make up on, even at
night. She wasn't really a beautiful woman. Why kill
herself trying to be? It was so embarrassing. "No
ma'am." Uyi responded.
"I said I'd come home late. Don't wait up."
'You may as well come tomorrow', Uyi muttered
under her breath.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing!"
"Oh don't you start Uyi. Now I can't go out? What do
you want me to do. You have everything you need in
this beautiful house. What more could you want."
"A dad mum!" Uyi screamed. She felt like breaking
something.
"What?"
"You heard me mum. I need a father. Is that too
much to ask? What am I doing with an empty house
and endless food if I have to always stay here
alone?"
"Uyi! Uyi, come back here."
Ms Juliana watched her daughter run back up the
stairs to her room, a puzzled look on her face.
What has come over her? Where was this coming
from? She shrugged off the thought. Uyi wasn't
going to spoil her evening. She went out
determinedly and locked the door after her. Good afternoon dear. Hope you had a great day?

Idemudia . Chapter Eleven . "You smoke dry bins abi?" Fryo wasn't smiling. His matted hair stood tall and dry. His black lips tightened in a frown. His bloodshot eyes were even redder today. "Bros me, na you be Baba..." "Con, hollan. Jus hollan dia. Abi you dey krays? Na the simall maga wey you drag yestaday dey work you? So afta I don dry my energy train you to be beta area boi you no fia you stan dia dey vomit rubbish comot for your gutter?" Idemudia had known Fryo would be mad. But wasn't he overreacting? "Bros Fryo, Abeg no vex. I just say make I go back to school as my mumsi just gimme my school fees today," he lied. "Conye, shurrup! Close dat your gutter dia." Fryo looked sideways. "Mosquito!" The tall lanky area boy Idemudia had first seen many weeks ago came towards them. "Oya repeat wetin you talk jus na make mosquito hear. See your eye like panla. Bonga fish." Idemudia looked from one to the other. Then his eyes searched round for Bingo. The dog stood at attention some distance from them. Idemudia couldn't tell if it wanted to charge or run. "Talk e. Shuo!" Fryo seemed to be losing patience. "Bros mosquito," Idemudia made a deep bow, "I beg, I been dey tell Baba Fryo say I wan go school..." his voice trailed off. "Ehen? Dey go skul na. Dem use rope tie you?" Fryo got up from the rock he had been sitting on. "Haba! Mosquito! You chop winsh? Make e dey go abi? Jus like dat?" "Baba Fryo, no vex na." Mosquito pleaded. "After you na you again o. But the tin be say, make the boy go skul. You no understand? As e don already wear the cloth so ehn, make e just go. Him mumsi dey try. Dat woman don suffer ehn, no be small. You know him Popsi na, Kai! The man na real waste..." Idemudia flinched. "...You no see?" Mosquito continued. "Even dis boy dey shame for him popsi." He turned to Idemudia. "Guy no fear, your Papa no be you, you no be your papa. Do your own, leave the man mata for am." Mosquito turned to Fryo again. "Bros eh! No vex ehn? Allow am go. Na small pikin." Fryo wasn't pleased. But it seemed he had respect for Mosquito's counsel. "Okay o!" Fryo clapped his hands in the air. "I don comot my hand for dis mata o. Shey una dey hia?" Two other boys drinking Kain Kain under the cashew tree in front of the uncompleted building nodded in their direction. It didn't seem like they had any idea about what was going on in the first place. "If you cry conye again ehn, I go break you and dat your dry dog o. No more free Igbo o, you hia? No more shepe o." Fryo bent his head forward as his right hand dragged his right ear for emphasis. "Yes bros. I swear, I hear!" "Oya disappear..." Before Fryo could change his mind, Idemudia ran like a mad dog out of the compound. Bingo ran after him in hot pursuit. The dog loved it whenever the boy challenged him to morning exercises. *** Mr Ekatah walked into the classroom that morning with a smile playing around his lips. That was odd. He seemed to be in high spirits. After the students had greeted him as usual, he removed his old pair of glasses and sat down. "Since the dog is running outside the classroom again, I cannot but conclude that Idemudia is back to school. It seems the dog went to hospital with you Idemudia. It's almost looking healthy." Idemudia stood up. He had made sure Bingo was locked inside the gate man's house. How did it get outside his class again? He was so in trouble now. "I hope you're better now?" "Sir?" Idemudia had no idea what the man was talking about. Hospital? Better? "Never mind. Now that you're back from hospital you should prepare for the tests you missed." Idemudia continued staring at his form teacher. Did the man mistake him for someone else? He had spent the better part of the morning thinking of how to convince Mr Ekatah to accept him back to school without school fees... "And come for your receipt after the class." Idemudia nodded. "Yes sir!" He added quickly before sitting down. "Idemudia!" "Yes sir." Idemudia stood up again. His classmates were giggling and laughing at his expense. "Please go and get that thing out of there and come right back to class." "Yes sir." Idemudia ran out, almost hitting the door post in the process. The class erupted in laughter. *** "Uyi I am so sorry about yesterday." Idemudia began. It was break time and they were inside the school canteen. "Please forgive me." "Go jor!" Uyi laughed as she paid for two bottles of Coca-Cola. "Did you tell Mr Ekatah anything?" Idemudia couldn't believe his luck. "Shoo? Rest na. Okay, I did. Ehen?" "My school fees?" "Shey I told you I like you the other day." Uyi laughed again and moved towards a bamboo table and chairs. "You thought I was joking?" Idemudia was speechless. "Look I'm so glad you're back to school now. See? At least my waka yesterday no waste at all." Uyi added. "But..." "Yes I know, and I understand." Uyi was silent for a long time. "The thing is, Ides, don't just jump to conclusions. You don't know me yet." "I know, I know," Idemudia still felt a need to keep apologising, "I was stupid yesterday..." His voice trailed off. "No you weren't. You were just hurt. I was as well." Idemudia fought the urge to respond. "I never knew my dad." Uyi said after another long pause. "Don't look so surprised. And my mum has kids for five different men. That means I have half siblings all over the place. Sometimes it's very overwhelming and lonely at the same time. "Jesu!" Idemudia exclaimed. The bell marking the end of break time sounded at that point. Uyi got up. Idemudia rose as well. He had a sheepish look on his face. "You never hear anything o." Uyi said as she started running. "First to get to class," She shouted over her left shoulder. Idemudia ran after her, determined to lose the race. To be continued...

Idemudia Chapter Ten "Are you angry that I came? Shuo!" Uyi fumed. "Kai, I be real mugu. I've been waiting here for over thirty minutes and you can't even say a kind word to me? What happened to 'it's so nice to see you? I'm sorry I've not been coming to school, or I apologise for throwing your offer in your face?' Instead, you're there, looking at me as though my coming to your house to check up on you was a sad mistake." Idemudia became more confused. He hadn't asked to see her in the first place na. What was she angry about? He had only asked what she was doing here. Why was that so wrong? "No worry o," Uyi continued. "Na go I dey so. Please take care of yourself. Your mum is a very kind woman, try to act like her sometimes. Nonsense!" Idemudia looked at Bingo for answers. But the dog wasted no time in trotting after Uyi, tail wagging energetically. "Bingo!" Idemudia called after the dog. It turned in a semi circle, seemingly undecided for a second, then it raised both ears in Idemudia's direction. It may have judged then that it was a better idea to follow the young lady, since the next second had it following Uyi once again. "Bingo!" The dog kept going. It knew the boy was stupid not to follow. *** Ohis stared at the scenario from the window through eyes struggling with dizziness. So Ides had a girlfriend? No wonder he's been running away from home. And he was forming that he was angry because Papa beat him up the other day. His elder brother was always behaving like he was the only one that had sense. Ohis stared at the girl's retreating back. She was too fat sha. Where had Ides gotten such a fat girlfriend? She reminded him of their roundish dark coloured drum of water at the backyard. The thought brought a smile to his lips, as the sleep cleared from his eyes. All these Ajebo children will never stop eating butter. Thank God he wasn't an Ajebo child. He couldn't imagine not being able to run, or play street football because of fat. But why had the drum girl been shouting na? Now she had spoilt his sleep and he wasn't sure he could sleep again that afternoon. Suddenly without warning, large drops of rain hit the roof. Strange! Rain? Inside this hot afternoon? Ohis opened the curtain wider. He was determined to see how the unfolding drama would end. *** Idemudia was at a loss. He knew Uyi wouldn't turn back, even though it had started raining. She was that proud. He'd have to go and beg her to come back. Biting his right Index finger, Idemudia ran inside the ran, towards Uyi and Bingo. *** Uyi was totally soaked. So was Bingo. But the dog wasn't done with the rain. It stood inside the downpour with dripping fur, howling at the skies like a demented creature. Idemudia smiled. "Please come inside for a change of clothes." Idemudia offered. "Never mind. Just give me one of your shirts. My skirt isn't that wet." As Idemudia went inside, Uyi smiled at her stupidity. What if Idemudia had not begged her to come back? Thank God o. She looked at Bingo. The dog seemed to like her. Well, at least there was something around here that wasn't too shy to show some care. "Bingo!" The dog wagged it's tail inside the rain. Idemudia returned with a towel and a neat shirt. "I am sorry Uyi. I shouldn't have been so cold." "Leave me jor." Uyi retorted. She took the towel and shirt and went inside the room Ides had entered a while ago. "Do you know where you're going?" Idemudia called after her. "Dey there na." She called back. Idemudia smiled. He quickly unwrapped a sachet of Tom Tom and placed it inside his mouth. He didn't want Uyi noticing any foul smell. Uyi came back and sat on one of the wooden stools, as her short chubby fingers deftly buttoned the last of the buttons on the shirt Idemudia had lent her. With her short hair she could have passed for a boy. "Just dey thank God for the rain o." She said, patting her low cut hair. Idemudia smiled. Uyi was such a character. "So how did you manage to know my house?" He asked. "Trust me na. A few questions here and there. I just asked around sha." "So what have you been discussing with my mum?" "That's not the point Ides. Have you been going about with these area boys? Drinking and smoking?" Idemudia dropped his gaze. He didn't like the way Uyi's large eyes were burning holes through his face like a night Policeman's torchlight. "Ides!" Idemudia remained silent. "Answer me jor." Uyi pressed. "You weren't even man enough to come and take the money for your fees. Now you've missed many tests. How do you intend to catch up? And you've been home destroying your destiny?" Idemudia had had enough. He stood up from the stool his mum had earlier sat on and took some paces away from Uyi, down the verandah. He was fighting to repress the anger he felt like hot liquid inside his veins. He caught sight of Ohis's face from the left corner of his eye. "Wetin you dey do for there?" Idemudia barked at his younger brother. Ohis quickly drew back the curtain and removed his face from the window. Uyi got up as well. "Idemudia, this is so unlike you. What has come over you?" "What do you know Uyi? Ehn! Wetin you know? My mum told you right? She told you I've been drinking and smoking and going around with area boys. But did she also tell you that we hardly have any food in this house? Ehn? Did she tell you? Did she tell you her husband is a perpetual Kain Kain addict, one who does not care at all about his family? You think everyone's dad is as rich as yours? You think life is as comfortable as it is for you? Tell me? Is your dad a drunk? Is your mum uneducated and jobless?" In few determined strides, Idemudia closed the distance between them. "You think your coming here makes my life better?" He increased his voice, almost drowning the now gentle rap of the rain on the roof. "Don't you see? I am a poor boy. No dreams and no future! Look around you. What do you see? Hopelessness! Yes! I drink and I smoke now. Those area boys have proven themselves better than my drunk and irresponsible dad. They're now my new found family, and there is nothing my mum, my dad or even you can do about it." Uyi stepped back many paces. Her confidence swerved, then failed. This had been a bad idea. The cold air hit her for the first time as a shiver went down her spine. This was not how she had envisaged this visit. She had to go home. Now! Without thinking, she ran inside the rain. Thankfully, her tears mingled with the raindrops. Idemudia sat down on the stool again. He had driven Uyi away. The only one who had shown any interest in his welfare. Placing his hands over his face, he cried like a baby... To be continued...

Idemudia Chapter Nine Bingo refused to let go of the old man. The dog sank its teeth into his flesh and wriggled its head this way and that. It took a scream from Idemudia to get Bingo off the man. "Jesus Christ Bingo! Haba!" Idemudia shouted. He looked around in the semi darkness. Eyes were turned in their direction. He hadn't wanted too much attention tonight, but thanks to Bingo, they were now 'local celebrities'. Bingo growled one more time and stood erect with neck stuck out. It finally wagged its tail in acknowledgment of the younger boy. This man was lucky a better owner had come to the rescue. This would have been death for him. Bingo ran around in the confusion and took a leap out one of the windows. Idemudia was awed. He hadn't known Bingo could leap like that. It was amazing. Idemudia stared at the man for some seconds. He was in obvious pain. But there was no time to worry about that now. He needed to leave this place before it became too late. He decided to run out through the nearest door; it was a more reasonable option than the window. *** Ohis stepped aside as Bingo jumped out the window. Phew! What had happened? He had initially wanted to run after Bingo into the drinking shed, but thought better of it. There was no way he was going in there. He hated all such places of Igbo smoking and Kain Kain drinking. So he had waited outside. But seeing the way Bingo just jumped out of the place, and the sound of the commotion that carried simultaneously to his ears, he knew it was time for another sprint. He never wanted to come here in the first place. Removing his slippers from his feet, Ohis ran after Bingo. He was determined to overtake the dog... *** Uyi knocked on the door a second time. Still no answer. She was getting impatient. Two weeks had passed and no one had seen Idemudia in school. He never came back for the school fees she had been willing to lend him. He had even missed several tests. It was very unlike him. "Who be dat?" Uyi froze. "It's me ma. Uyi! Sorry o, I dey find Ides! Good afternoon ma." Uyi jerked her knees forward as she made the greeting. The middle aged woman was most probably Idemudia's mother. She noticed the striking resemblance immediately. "I been dey knock outside, but nobody answer, na im make I come backyard ma." "Ehen my dear. Good afternoon. Who be Ides?" "Idemudia ma. We dey go the same school and I been dey wonder why e stop to come class. E don miss many tests ma. And exam sef don dey come small small." The woman sighed. She bent down to pick up one more cloth from the bucket in front of her. Uyi rushed to her side and helped her spread the cloth. The woman smiled; a sad smile that didn't get to her face. Her lips only curved a little upwards. "My dear, Idemudia don change o. Since one night wey him come back from one place wit him small broda; since dat day I no know wetin happen. Him papa come house, beat am well well ehn? The boy come vex, shout for him Papa wella, come comot for house. How many I go fit talk? Since dat day Idemudia no dey talk to anybody for dis house. Even Ohis him small broda don tire. Me I just dey look o, since the boy no gree talk to me again." "Heeya!" Uyi didn't know what else to say. "Thank God say you come o. I don try to talk to am tire. Idemudia stubborn no be small. Wait small sha, whether e go come." "Okay ma. I go wait." Uyi continued helping Idemudia's mum with the clothes. She had immediately taken a liking to the older woman. *** Idemudia saw Uyi from a distance. She was sitting in front of their house, laughing and chatting with Ine as though she had known her forever. What was she doing here? Idemudia thought about returning to the uncompleted building, which had become a very useful part of his life these past days. Fryo and the other boys had been keeping him so busy, he had totally forgotten about school. But a part of him wanted to see Uyi again. A part of him wanted to remember school. Bingo seemed not to have any such reservations. The dog ran on ahead, barking and yelping with joy, tail wagging in the afternoon sun. Ine and Uyi looked in his direction. Idemudia had no choice but to comport himself becomingly as one step after another brought him closer to Uyi... To be continued...